"What is it?" Zhao Wuji's gaze lingered a moment longer on the other party's two Snake-Head Canes. He deliberately softened his tone, a hint of caution showing through.
Chao Tianxiang stared fixedly at the seven Soul Rings on Zhao Wuji, a flicker of wariness crossing her eyes. She first coughed lightly, adopting an extremely humble posture as she spoke respectfully. "Greetings, esteemed Soul Saint. Might you be willing to let us have this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent?"
Zhao Wuji's brows knitted, displeasure creeping into his voice. "On what grounds?"
Just as the two sides stood with swords drawn and bows bent, Lin Kong suddenly sighed helplessly. His voice was quiet, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. "Little Ao, you really are hopelessly stupid!"
His words drew everyone's attention.
Oscar turned his head blankly, his face vacant. "Huh?"
Lin Kong spread his hands, his tone full of exasperation at Oscar's failure to do better. "When you saw that the other side only had six Soul Rings, you should've just stabbed the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent to death! Once the raw rice was cooked, wouldn't that have settled everything?"
"Oh, right!" Oscar slapped his forehead in sudden realization. Tightening his grip on his short sword, he raised his hand and thrust at the unconscious Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.
"Stop!"
Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran shouted furiously almost in unison, their voices full of shock and anger.
Zhao Wuji tilted his wrist slightly, deftly shifting the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent he held just enough to avoid Oscar's strike.
In an instant, sparks erupted in the air, and the previously fairly peaceful atmosphere abruptly turned into one of drawn swords and bent bows.
"You bastard!" Meng Yiran glared at Lin Kong, her almond-shaped eyes wide and her chest heaving slightly with anger-she had come so close to losing the Third Soul Ring she had dreamed of!
"Children shouldn't interrupt when adults are speaking." Chao Tianxiang also shot Lin Kong a cold glance, her eyes filled with displeasure. Clearly, she was extremely wary of this boy who had suddenly disrupted the situation.
Zhao Wuji looked at the utterly composed Lin Kong, then at the deeply regretful Oscar. His brows knitted even tighter as he barked, "Get away from here!"
"Oh..." Oscar answered listlessly, retreating to one side with his head hanging.
The more he thought about it, the stupider he felt. He really was stupid beyond belief. He walked over to Lin Kong with his head drooping, his face full of guilt. "Brother Lin, I'm sorry."
First, he had failed to seize the chance to act swiftly and kill the Soul Beast. Then, with both sides on their guard, he had rashly tried to "force the kill." Not only had he failed, he had also dragged Lin Kong, who had suggested the idea, into it.
"Allow me to introduce myself. This old woman is Chao Tianxiang, and my husband is Meng Shu. Our friends in the Soul Master World have shown us some regard and bestowed upon us the title of 'Dragon Duke and Snake Granny.'" Chao Tianxiang straightened her back, her voice carrying barely concealed pride. That title held considerable weight in the Soul Master World.
At those words, Zhao Wuji's expression shifted slightly. Meng Shu was a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, an entire major realm above him! More importantly, given how inseparable Dragon Duke and Snake Granny were, Meng Shu was most likely somewhere nearby.
"Zhao Wuji. Martial Soul: Great Strength Vajra Bear." He gave his own name as well, his tone unconsciously growing more courteous. Clearly, he was wary of the Dragon Duke's formidable reputation.
Seeing Zhao Wuji's apprehension, Meng Yiran immediately felt more confident. She stepped forward, raised her chin, and declared self-righteously, "We wounded this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent first! If you hadn't interfered halfway through, we would've captured it long ago! If you know what's good for you, hurry up and give it back!"
Zhao Wuji lifted the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent in his hand. Sure enough, he saw a wound on its belly so deep that bone was visible. Clearly, Meng Yiran had spoken the truth. Even so, the Soul Ring this Soul Beast could provide suited Oscar so well that he truly could not bear to give it up just like that.
"Well... that wouldn't be quite right, would it?" Zhao Wuji frowned, his tone hesitant.
Did they really think they could take the juicy meat right out of their mouths just by flapping their lips? Did they take the people of Shrek for soft persimmons to be squeezed?
"What exactly do you want?" Enraged by his refusal to budge, Meng Yiran pointed her small hand at him indignantly.
"Yiran!" Chao Tianxiang snapped, warning in her eyes.
She knew perfectly well that the man before them was a Soul Saint-level powerhouse, stronger than herself. If they truly pushed him too far, here in the Star Dou Great Forest, he could simply kill both grandmother and granddaughter and blame it on the Soul Beasts. When that happened, even if Meng Shu wanted revenge, he would have no way to pursue it.
In the Soul Master World, one must never lightly provoke someone stronger than oneself, especially in a deserted place like this.
"Grandma! That's my Soul Ring!" Meng Yiran stamped her foot anxiously, her eyes reddening, her heart full of grievance.
Chao Tianxiang's eyes shifted, and she soon had an idea. Looking at Zhao Wuji, she spoke slowly. "How about this? Let's follow the rules of the Soul Master World-the two children will fight a one-on-one duel! The winner takes this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. What do you say?"
"No!" Zhao Wuji rejected it with a shake of his head, without a moment's thought.
Chao Tianxiang frowned and asked in confusion, "Why not?"
Zhao Wuji tilted his head, indicating Oscar behind him.
Oscar immediately stepped forward and glared at Meng Yiran, speaking irritably. "I'm a food-type Soul Master! You want me to duel this chick? Isn't that just bullying?"
This chick dared to steal his Soul Ring. Everything about her rubbed him the wrong way!
As it happened, Meng Yiran felt exactly the same. Hearing Oscar call her a "chick" only sent her fury blazing three feet high. She rolled up her sleeves and was about to charge at him. "You bastard! I'm going to beat you flat today!"
Oscar immediately panicked. No longer daring to act tough, he hastily darted behind Lin Kong, only daring to peek half his head out and steal glances at Meng Yiran.
Lin Kong gave a helpless sigh and stepped forward. His gaze settled on the furious Meng Yiran as he spoke calmly. "Hey! In that case, why don't the two of us duel? How about it?"
"No!"
Meng Yiran refused without even thinking.
The moment she appeared, she had already swept her gaze over everyone from Shrek, taking in each person's Martial Soul and Soul Rings.
That was right!
The Shrek group were no fools. Before Oscar killed the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, none of them had withdrawn their Martial Souls. They weren't planning on summoning them a second time to intimidate the other side.
In Meng Yiran's eyes, Lin Kong only had two Soul Rings, and his Soul Power Level was clearly a fair bit below hers. There would be no glory in defeating such a low-level Soul Master in a duel. People might even say she was bullying the weak.
"No!"
Everyone from Shrek also refused in unison, but for an entirely different reason from Meng Yiran-they were afraid Lin Kong couldn't win!
Lin Kong was only level twenty-one, while Meng Yiran had already reached level thirty. There was an entire major realm between them, a gap as vast as heaven and earth!
They didn't know that Lin Kong had already reached level twenty-two!
Chao Tianxiang's gaze roamed over the Shrek group once more, seemingly assessing each person's strength.
Dai Mubai, three Soul Rings. No.
Oscar, food-type. He couldn't fight at all. No.
Ning Rongrong, support-type. Her Martial Soul was actually... the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!!!
She couldn't afford to offend her.
Ma Hongjun, his Martial Soul was a phoenix. Phoenixes countered snakes. No.
Finally, her gaze settled on Xiao Wu and Tang San.
"Let's decide who gets this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent with a duel. As for your contestant, how about her?" Chao Tianxiang pointed at Xiao Wu.
In her view, this "little rabbit" would be the easiest to handle.
As for that boy with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul... reaching this realm at such a young age was somewhat strange. Better not to provoke him.
That left only Xiao Wu!
"No!" Tang San immediately stepped forward and stood in front of Xiao Wu, his tone firm. "Xiao Wu isn't in good condition. She can't fight. I'll fight her!"
Chao Tianxiang snorted softly, her voice mocking. "Hmph! On the battlefield, your enemies won't always wait for you to get into proper condition before attacking."
Tang San gritted his teeth, refusing to give an inch. "...Either way, no. I'm level twenty-nine, about as strong as her. I'll duel her!"
Chao Tianxiang frowned, her gaze sweeping over the Shrek group's expressions.
That glance made her heart lurch-why did every one of these brats look as though victory was already in their grasp?
This was far too strange! The more they acted like this, the less she could choose Tang San!
Chao Tianxiang sneered, her finger pointing unwaveringly at Xiao Wu. "Hmph, I say it'll be her! Otherwise, this old woman will leave right now. But afterward, my husband and I will have plenty of time to make trouble for you!"
This was a naked threat!
Lin Kong sighed and stepped out of the group, standing in front of Xiao Wu. He looked calmly at Chao Tianxiang. "Let me do it. Xiao Wu really isn't in good condition. I'll take this duel."
Chao Tianxiang said, "Good! Then it's settled!"