Chapter 68: Tang San's Mysterious Confidence
The next morning, Tang San and the others limped out of the tavern, wary of encountering Qian Renchuan and his group again.
They headed outside to find a healing soul master for treatment. After eating a few recovery sausages and allowing their injuries to heal somewhat, they re-entered the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Damn Yinchuan! Didn't I just look at you sister? You gauge out one of my eyes!" Ma Hongjun was furious as he kept his distance from the tavern. His left eye was covered with an eye patch. After all, his eye socket was empty, which looked creepy.
"Stop talking. Isn't this all your fault? If you hadn't been so lust-struck, how would you have gotten beaten?"
Ning Rongrong said with some dissatisfaction. She had been terrified at the time. Although she had joined Shrek Academy, it didn't mean she was completely brainwashed yet, and she looked at Ma Hongjun with disdain.
"Humph, it was just a glance," Ma Hongjun retorted. Knowing Ning Rongrong's background was extraordinary, he didn't dare to argue. Instead, he secretly ran away, a trace of resentment in his eyes.
Strangely, a touch of divine power seemed to linger around him—different from the pure divine power of the God Realm. It appeared to be a mixed divine power, full of lust, greed, and other Seven Deadly Sins.
And quietly, a soul of the same origin as Ma Hongjun rested in his spiritual sea, hiding.
"Alright, stop arguing. The Star Dou Great Forest is very dangerous. You're not here to argue."
Teacher Zhao was not in a good mood either. After all, being hung up and beaten by a junior had completely disgraced his Motionless Bright King's reputation.
"Zhu Zhuqing, pay close attention to your surroundings. Report immediately if there's any danger," he added. "Ning Rongrong, use your second soul skill to accelerate the team's pace and try to find a suitable soul beast as soon as possible. Nightfall is coming, and even the outer edges of the forest are unsafe at night."
"As for Xiao San—" he looked at Tang San and the others—"follow me closely. Oscar, start making recovery sausages now."
Zhao Wuji arranged everything carefully, leading the team with Tang San and others walking in front while he stayed behind to guard against sneak attacks.
At noon, Zhu Zhuqing, who had climbed onto a tall tree, suddenly shouted, "Attention! Something's coming!"
She pointed ahead. "A flying soul beast is heading toward us!"
As soon as she finished, Zhao Wuji released his martial soul. His face instantly became vigilant.
"That's a phoenix-tail crest serpent!" Zhao Wuji's expression changed. As a Soul Saint, he recognized the beast immediately.
The phoenix-tail crest serpent grows about half a meter every hundred years. The one in front of them was about seven meters long, aged roughly 1,400 to 1,500 years—just the right for Oscar.
"Don't move. I'll take it down first," Zhao Wuji said decisively, rushing forward.
"Second soul skill—Vigorous Vajra Palm!"
The injured phoenix-tail crest serpent was too slow to escape. Zhao Wuji struck it down with a crushing blow, slamming it to the ground.
"Xiao Ao, come here quickly."
Zhao Wuji also noticed the Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent's injuries. Otherwise, even he might not have been able to catch up to the Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent's escape speed. He wanted Oscar to quickly kill it so that even if others came looking, there would be nothing they could do.
This phoenix-tail crest serpent was a rare soul beast, especially one of this age, and its soul skills might have the ability to fly. If Oscar managed to produce a sausage that granted flight, it would be a huge gain.
As the serpent lay dying, Oscar approached, prepared to act, but an old voice stopped him.
"Stop!"
As the voice came, rustling leaves could be seen all around, and a serpent shadow appeared, slowly landing on the ground.
Serpent Grandmother looked at the dying Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent on the ground and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If it had been killed, she would have been helpless. Moreover, she had spent a lot of effort to injure this Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent. She didn't know when she would encounter one again.
However, seeing Zhao Wuji's seven soul rings, she hesitated. Although the Dragon Duke was nearby, her granddaughter was still here, and she couldn't risk her life.
"This old woman is Serpent Grandmother. We chased this Soul Beast for half a day to heavily injure it. I hope the Motionless Bright Phoenix can return it to us."
It turned out to be the Dragon Duke and the Serpent Grandmother. This complicated the situation.
Zhao Wuji's expression was solemn. If it were other forces, he would simply kill them to silence them and not fear trouble. But with Serpent Grandmother here, Dragon Duke must be nearby. He couldn't directly attack Serpent Grandmother. If he got entangled, and Dragon Duke arrived, he would be the one to suffer.
"Our Academy's disciple also needs this Soul Ring. I apologize, but we cannot give it up."
How could Zhao Wuji give up the meat that was already within his grasp? Naturally, he would try if he could. Maybe he could get it. He immediately said,
"How about this: let two juniors of the same age fight. Whoever wins gets the Soul Ring."
This was a common rule in the world of soul masters, so the serpent grandmother agreed without hesitation. Yiran was only a Level 30 quasi-Soul Elder at age 13—No matter how talented the opponent was, they wouldn't be able to surpass Yiran.
Seeing she agree, Zhao Wuji's expression softened, but then he looked at the injured Tang San and others, his face darkening again. Their main force was hurt—fighting now was pointless.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, who was only Level 27, her strength was far from outstanding. Her martial soul was just an ordinary high-level martial soul. How could she fight Meng Yiran, who was three levels higher?
"Let me do it, teacher," Tang San said confidently, eyeing Meng Yiran with a hint of arrogance. Back then, with just a slight move, he had defeated her. This time, even though he was severely injured, a mere Meng Yiran couldn't defeat him.
"Can you do it?"
Zhao Wuji didn't know about Tang San's strength because that assessment had been disrupted by Qian Renchuan.
"Trust me, Teacher. My injuries are seventy to eighty percent healed. There won't be any problems."
Dai Mubai nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, teacher Zhao. Tang San's strength is not weaker than mine. You can safely let him fight."
Zhao Wuji looked at Tang San skeptically but nodded. He thought—maybe this kid was stronger than he looked. After all, both Tang San and Yinchuan had blue-silver grass martial souls. Perhaps he had some strength.
As for Zhu Zhuqing, she lowered her head, her fists clenched. Was she really that useless? "I must become stronger." At this moment, her desire to become stronger reached an unprecedented height, making her almost frantically want to improve her strength quickly.
Unfortunately, her strength was insufficient, and she and Ning Rongrong were like plastic sisters. At this time, no one paid attention to her change.
Tang San stepped out from the group, his head held high with arrogance. After being suppressed for so long, it was finally his time to show off. When had he, Tang San, ever been so miserable?
That Yinchuan had suppressed him for a full six years, year after year. Sometimes, he even suspected that Yinchuan was the true reincarnation of a God King.
Now, he was determined to rise again. This was the absolute confidence of Tang San—The God King.
He looked at Meng Yiran and said calmly, "I'm Tang San, a Level 29 Soul Grandmaster with a Blue Silver Grass martial soul. Do you dare to fight?"
At first, Meng Yiran was stunned. She thought Tang San was a genius Soul Master, but it turned out he was only level 29. And with a useless martial soul like Blue Silver Grass? Who gave him the courage?
End of Chapter