Chapter 103: Unrivaled Dragon and Serpent — Serpent Women Chao Tianxiang, and Meng Yiran
Lin Qingmo suddenly spoke up.
"Wait."
Oscar's movement froze mid-action.
He turned his head to look at Lin Qingmo, confusion and a trace of irritation written across his face.
"Lin Qingmo, what are you trying to do now?"
His tone had already grown impatient.
"I'm about to absorb the soul ring. Can you not cause trouble?"
Even Zhao Wuji frowned slightly.
"Qingmo, what is it this time?"
Lin Qingmo didn't answer immediately. He walked over to the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent and crouched down beside it.
He pointed at several inconspicuous wounds on the serpent's body.
"Look here."
Everyone looked in the direction of his finger.
On the serpent's abdomen and back were several deep puncture wounds. The edges were clean and neat, clearly indicating they were caused by a sharp weapon.
And these wounds were obviously not inflicted during their recent battle.
"This…"
Dai Mubai and the others were stunned.
"It was being hunted before?" Ning Rongrong blinked, immediately thinking of the possibility.
Lin Qingmo stood up and dusted off his hands.
"Mm. And judging from the wounds, it didn't escape from its pursuers long ago. They might still be nearby."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Zhao Wuji's expression darkened.
If that were true, things would become troublesome.
Within the soul master world, there was an unspoken rule: whoever first discovered and severely wounded a soul beast had priority over it.
But if the other party had also been hunting this soul beast and had put in real effort… conflict would be unavoidable.
"Who cares!"
Ma Hongjun curled his lips, unconcerned.
"We're the ones who caught it. The soul ring should be ours!"
"Exactly!"
Oscar echoed, his eyes locked tightly on the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent as if afraid it would escape.
Such a high-quality soul ring that suited him perfectly—he had no intention of giving it up.
"Who can prove they were chasing it? Maybe it injured itself!"
Lin Qingmo glanced at him but said nothing more.
He had already given the warning. Whether they listened was up to them.
"Heh. Prove it?"
An aged voice suddenly echoed from deep within the forest.
It was hoarse, yet carried a chilling sharpness.
"This old woman is the proof."
"!!!"
Everyone instantly became alert.
Lin Qingmo's lips curved slightly. Heh, the original plot is still unfolding~
Zhao Wuji stepped forward at once, shielding the students behind him as his soul power began circulating silently.
From the shadows of the dense forest, two figures slowly emerged.
The one in front was an old woman. Her back was hunched. She leaned on a peculiar serpent-headed cane. Her face was covered in wrinkles, yet her eyes were as sharp as a serpent's.
The soul power fluctuations radiating from her body… were unmistakably at the Soul Emperor level.
Behind her stood a young girl dressed in green.
The girl had delicate features, with a hint of spirited charm between her brows.
But at the moment, her lips were pressed tightly together, and her gaze was hostile as she stared at Oscar and the others.
They had clearly heard Oscar's words.
Her eyes lingered especially long on the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent as if she were looking at something that already belonged to her.
When Zhao Wuji saw the serpent-headed cane in the old woman's hand, his pupils contracted sharply.
Combining it with her soul power characteristics a name escaped his lips.
"Serpent Women? Unrivaled Dragon Serpent?!"
Serpent Women slightly lifted her eyelids at the words.
"Oh? You know this old woman?"
Her gaze swept across Zhao Wuji, then paused one by one on the students behind him.
When she saw that each of these young boys and girls carried themselves with extraordinary bearing and solid soul power foundations, a flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes.
But soon, that surprise turned into something deeper.
"A group of outstanding young talents, it seems."
She tapped her cane lightly against the ground.
"Since that's the case, this old woman won't beat around the bush."
"This Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent is prey, my granddaughter, and I have hunted it for two full days."
"The blunt-force wounds on its body were caused by my granddaughter Yiran's martial soul."
As she spoke, she stepped aside slightly.
Her granddaughter released her martial soul—a serpent cane.
The Shrek group fell silent.
The evidence was conclusive.
This serpent truly had been their prey.
Zhao Wuji's expression turned unsightly.
He took a deep breath and cupped his fists.
"So it is, Senior Serpent Lady. Forgive my disrespect."
"This junior, Zhao Wuji, is from Shrek Academy. I brought these students here to hunt for soul rings."
As he spoke, he released his own soul power. Seven soul rings rose into view, and the aura of a Soul Saint spread outward.
"Zhao Wuji… the Immovable King?"
Chao Tianxiang's expression instantly grew solemn.
She naturally had heard of this name.
Back in the day, this ruthless figure had stirred up no small waves within the soul master world.
If it were any other time, she might have given him face.
But not this time.
This Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent was one of the most suitable soul rings for Meng Yiran's breakthrough to Rank 30.
She and Yiran had searched the forest for five full days before finally finding such a suitable one.
"I didn't expect to encounter the Unmoving King here."
Chao Tianxiang spoke slowly. Her tone remained courteous, but her stance was firm.
She indeed couldn't do much against Zhao Wuji herself. Without her husband, she wouldn't win.
But there were other ways.
"Senior Serpent Lady, since this Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent has already been captured by my students,"
Zhao Wuji cupped his fists again. His tone was respectful, yet his position was clear.
"I ask that you show mercy and yield it to my student."
"No!"
Meng Yiran immediately stepped forward, her small face taut.
She stared at the dying Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent, her eyes filled with unwillingness.
"My grandmother and I chased this serpent for two days. Why should we give it to you?"
Chao Tianxiang leaned on her serpent cane, her gaze sweeping across Zhao Wuji and the group of youths.
She was calculating rapidly in her mind.
Opposite her stood the Immovable King Zhao Wuji, a genuine Soul Saint.
Forcefully snatching it was impossible.
But simply giving it up… she was unwilling.
After all, suitable soul beasts for Yiran were extremely hard to find.
"This Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent is indeed very important to Yiran."
"Brother Zhao."
After a moment of contemplation, Chao Tianxiang spoke again.
"How about this: we follow the rules of the soul master world."
"Let the young ones settle the matter themselves."
She paused, glancing at Meng Yiran, then at the Shrek group.
"Let your student fight Yiran."
"Whoever wins gets the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent."
"How about it?"
"This…"
Zhao Wuji frowned.
He could see that Chao Tianxiang had taken a step back, giving both sides a way out.
If things escalated directly, even though she was only a Soul Emperor, the title of Unrivaled Dragon Serpent wasn't for show.
If matters truly fell apart and Dragon Duke arrived, things would become far more troublesome.
But…
Let Oscar fight Meng Yiran?
Was this a joke?
Oscar was a food-type soul master. How could he fight a battle-type soul master?
He glanced back at Oscar. The boy was staring longingly at the soul beast, rubbing his hands anxiously.
Then he looked at the others.
"Senior, it's not that I refuse."
Zhao Wuji gave a bitter smile.
"The student who needs this soul ring on our side is a food-type soul master. He simply cannot fight."
He pointed at Oscar.
"How about this? Aside from Xiao Ao and our other support-type students, you may choose anyone else."
"They're about the same age. One battle to determine ownership. We'll accept the outcome."
—
End of Chapter