After Qi Ling returned to the hotel, Ma Hongjun was the first to rush up, saying admiringly, "Wow! Boss Qi, you're practically my idol!"
"The seven of us spent ages fighting that old turtle without getting the better of him, and you finished him with one punch. Isn't that a bit outrageous?"
"Of course! There's nothing Brother Qi can't do!" Xiao Wu said excitedly.
"You little brats, what the hell are you so excited about?" Zhao Wuji said as he came downstairs. "Get to bed right now. We have to get up early tomorrow!"
Xiao Wu stuck out her tongue. "Teacher Zhao, Brother Qi was so impressive just now! Can't you give him a little praise?"
"Does he need praise from me? You've already praised him to the skies!" Zhao Wuji said irritably. "That old turtle really had rotten luck. Of all the people he could have provoked, he had to pick a little monster like you!"
"Wrong, Teacher Zhao. Boss Qi isn't the only monster. Everyone at Shrek Academy is a monster!" Ma Hongjun said. "It's just that Boss Qi is the king of monsters among us!"
"The king of monsters? That does sound imposing!" Zhao Wuji said with a laugh. "All right, you lot, get some rest. No being late tomorrow!"
Everyone then returned to their rooms to rest. Qi Ling was about to leave when Ning Rongrong stopped him and handed him the cloak from earlier.
Qi Ling smiled and took the cloak, but Ning Rongrong did not let go. Instead, she smiled rather slyly and asked, "Why aren't you taking it with your right hand?"
"Uh..." Qi Ling smiled helplessly. "You noticed after all."
"Hmph! You might be able to fool them, but how could you fool me?" Ning Rongrong said with a touch of pride. "I'm Ning Rongrong!"
"Yes, yes, you're the cleverest," Qi Ling said helplessly. Then he held out his right hand. "Keep it a secret for me."
Looking at Qi Ling's right hand, Ning Rongrong frowned. "Why do you boys love putting on a brave front so much? How long will an injury this serious take to heal?"
"Haha, I can't help it. Looking cool is in a boy's nature!" Qi Ling laughed. "But this little injury will be healed by tomorrow."
"Hmph, you're bragging!" Ning Rongrong said disbelievingly.
After Ning Rongrong carefully bandaged Qi Ling's wound, the two returned to their respective rooms to sleep.
But what Ning Rongrong did not know was that Qi Ling really was not bragging.
Having cultivated the Nine Revolutions True Dragon Art, Qi Ling possessed truly incredible physical recovery abilities. In just one night, the injury to his right hand healed completely.
The next day, Ning Rongrong blinked at Qi Ling's fully healed right hand, wondering whether she had been hallucinating yesterday.
Once everyone had gathered, Zhao Wuji led them toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
From here, they could already enter the bounds of the Star Dou Great Forest. They needed to guard against not only vicious Soul Beasts, but also Soul Masters even more vicious than those beasts.
Unlike the Soul Hunting Forest run by the empire, the Star Dou Great Forest was a true paradise for Soul Beasts. Almost any Soul Beast could be found here, and the closer one ventured to the depths of the forest, the stronger the Soul Beasts became.
As they traveled, Qi Ling opened the Wheel of Fate he carried. Its needle still pointed toward the Star Dou Great Forest. It seemed this trip really would yield something for him.
After another half day of travel, they finally entered the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Looking at the lush, towering ancient trees before them, everyone felt a little more apprehensive, unsure of what they would encounter on this trip.
"All right! Everyone stop!" Zhao Wuji motioned for them to halt. "From here on, we'll be entering the Star Dou Great Forest. You all remember the precautions, don't you?"
After receiving an affirmative response from everyone, Zhao Wuji nodded. "Very good! Remember, once we enter the forest, don't provoke Soul Beasts unnecessarily. Whatever happens, discuss it with everyone first."
"Naturally, we're looking for a Soul Beast at least a thousand years old for Oscar. Once we find a suitable target, aim to take it down in one strike! Without my orders, no one is to attack a Soul Beast rashly. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Then, maintaining their basic formation, they began searching for a suitable Soul Beast. But the vastness of the Star Dou Forest far exceeded everyone's imagination. How could finding a Soul Beast that was just right be so easy?
Two hours later, although Qi Ling and the others had encountered quite a few Soul Beasts, including several more than a thousand years old, none of their attributes suited Oscar.
Seeing that the forest environment had worn everyone out, Zhao Wuji could only order them to rest where they were for two hours.
After all, this was still the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. If they ventured deeper, there was no telling what dangers they might encounter, so getting themselves into peak condition was essential.
Of everyone who had come to the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Wu was naturally the happiest. Qi Ling knew the reason too: this was where she had lived as she grew up.
After everyone had rested for an hour, Qi Ling suddenly raised his head and silently thought, It's here!
Within the vision of his Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils, several thousand meters away, a flying serpent was speeding toward them.
The serpent had a fleshy crest on its head and a fan-shaped tail. It was precisely the Soul Beast Oscar was supposed to obtain: a Thousand-Year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.
"Everyone, be careful! Something's coming!" Qi Ling stood and called out to them all.
"To the southeast! A Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent around a thousand years old is flying toward us! Oscar, we've found your Soul Ring!"
Everyone wore a shocked expression, including Zhao Wuji.
As a Soul Saint, he had yet to detect even a trace of the serpent, yet Qi Ling already knew its age. Was he even human?
But regardless, just as Qi Ling had said, this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was the most suitable choice for Oscar in every respect. There was no reason to let it slip away.
And so, under Zhao Wuji's direction, the Shrek group successfully cornered the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.
After all, although it was a Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had little of note besides its speed. Under Zhao Wuji's Gravity Enhancement and Position Tracking, no amount of speed could help it.
"Hahaha, we've got it!" Zhao Wuji held the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent firmly in one hand while taking out a small knife and handing it to Oscar.
"The longer the night, the more dreams can arise. Oscar, hurry and do it! Strike beneath its fleshy crest. A single stab will destroy its brain, and you can obtain its Soul Ring!"
Oscar excitedly took the dagger and approached the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, his excitement written all over his face.
After all, he was only a fourteen-year-old boy, and he was about to become the youngest Food System Soul Elder in history. How could such an achievement not fill him with delighted surprise?
"Brother Serpent, I'm sorry, but I really need your Soul Ring!" Oscar hardened his heart, raised the dagger in his hand, and stabbed toward the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.