Chapter 203 Lightning Serpent and the "Little Sun" that Follows It.
Kong Xuan's multi-functional soul guide shelter can shield auras. At the boundary between the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest and the mixed zone, basically no soul beast's senses can penetrate the shelter's formation.
To those soul beasts, the metal box was no different from a large rock.
Therefore, nothing unexpected happened that night, and everyone had a good night's sleep.
The next day, after everyone had a peaceful breakfast, they left the "metal house".
Chu Qingtian looked like he hadn't had enough. Although he wasn't interested in soul tools under the academy's teachings, he couldn't help but ask Kong Xuan, "Junior Brother Kong, are you selling this soul tool?"
After saying that, he realized that his question was inappropriate and quickly corrected himself: "No... I mean, are there any extras? And what would be the price if they were for sale?"
Kong Xuan smiled and said, "This is my first finished product, so there are no extras."
Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Chu Qingtian's eyes. Having experienced Kong Xuan's little hut, he really didn't want to stay in a tent again when he came to Hunt Soul.
Zhang Lexuan then spoke up: "Alright, everyone slept well last night. Next, we're going to enter the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest. Everyone be on high alert. Maintain the same formation as yesterday and stick close to me!"
As they ventured deeper, the surrounding vegetation became increasingly ancient and lush, with towering trees blocking out the sun and thick vines, requiring several people to encircle them, coiling around them like pythons.
The layer of fallen leaves on the ground was so thick it reached up to your ankles, and the air was filled with an even stronger sense of primitiveness and danger.
They have officially entered the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest, an area where ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts frequently appear.
Upon arriving here, the intimidating effect of Zhang Lexuan's Contra was significantly reduced.
Ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts are powerful and have a strong sense of territory. They may be wary of intruders, but they will never retreat as easily as the outer soul beasts.
Fortunately, Zhang Lexuan was experienced in hunting souls. By observing the claw marks on the ground, the scratches on the trees, and the subtle changes in the surrounding environment, she could determine whether it was the territory of a powerful soul beast and skillfully avoided many dangers.
Nevertheless, during the two hours they spent in the mixed zone, they still encountered two ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts.
At Zhang Lexuan's request, Kong Xuan did not take direct action again, but instead gave the opportunity to gain experience to the other three.
The strength that Gu Yuena and Xu Tianyi displayed afterward, although not as terrifying as Kong Xuan's, still shocked Zhang Lexuan and Chu Qingtian.
In particular, the power unleashed by Gu Yuena's elemental fusion was unbelievable even to Zhang Lexuan; in her opinion, it might even be comparable to a peak Soul Emperor.
The soul beasts they encountered twice were only a little over ten thousand years old, and they did not cause them too much trouble. After resting for a while, they continued to slowly make their way to the center of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"careful!"
Zhang Lexuan, who was walking at the front, suddenly issued a sharp warning, her voice carrying a hint of seriousness!
This time, she didn't even observe or try to avoid it as before; instead, she attacked without hesitation almost as soon as she made a sound.
The reason was simple: the attackers were just too fast! So fast that she felt threatened!
Above her head, a pale, clear crescent moon suddenly appeared, radiating a soft yet vast moonlight.
At the same time, her first and third spirit rings shone brightly!
The clear moonlight, like a searchlight, instantly illuminated a previously dark clearing in the woods ahead.
In the sudden burst of moonlight, a blurry black shadow was clearly outlined.
It was a large snake, its body completely black, its scales gleaming with a cold metallic light.
It is over seven meters long, and its body does not move on the ground, but rather it flies three feet off the ground, skimming the ground like a ghost.
Its speed was astonishing, leaving afterimages in the air like a black lightning bolt, pouncing towards the flank of the team at a tricky angle.
If not for the moonlight locking on, it would be almost impossible for a Soul Master to detect its movement with the naked eye.
Zhang Lexuan clasped her hands together, her expression focused, and continuously unleashed her powerful soul energy.
Strands of condensed moonlight, like invisible ribbons, were cast from her hands, precisely intercepting the black serpent's path, attempting to slow it down and restrain its movements.
The black serpent clearly loathed the moonlight, which was filled with a binding power. It let out a sharp hiss, its body twisting violently, and it burst into even greater speed, trying to break through the moonlight's obstruction.
The moonlight band was constantly twisted and rippled by it, but it was incredibly resilient, always keeping it firmly within a certain range.
Taking this opportunity, Zhang Lexuan's sharp eyes quickly swept over the strange snake, taking in all its features.
A name instantly popped into her mind, followed by a surge of joy!
She immediately turned around and quickly said to Chu Qingtian, who had just reacted and was about to possess her martial spirit, "It's a Lightning Serpent that's about 20,000 years old."
"Qingtian, this soul beast's attributes and characteristics are a perfect match for your Electric Leopard Martial Soul, making it ideal as your sixth soul ring!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingtian was first taken aback, then his face instantly lit up with immense joy and excitement!
Zhang Lexuan didn't waste any more words, and her fifth spirit ring shone brightly.
In an instant, a golden phantom suddenly separated from the crescent moon overhead and fell from the sky.
It was her fifth soul skill, Moonfall!
The golden crescent moon had now transformed into the scythe of death, instantly slashing down at the controlled lightning serpent.
The 20,000-year-old lightning serpent stood up, opened its mouth and spat out a blue lightning bolt, meeting the golden crescent moon falling from the sky.
When the two collided, the lightning was shattered, but the disruption was only temporary.
As the golden crescent moon fell, the lightning serpent, as thick as an adult's thigh, was cut in half at the waist, losing its ability to fly and falling to the ground in two pieces.
"Heaven-shattering!"
Zhang Lexuan released the control of the moonlight and called out to those behind her.
Chu Qingtian had already been imbued with a martial spirit, and upon hearing the sound, he instantly shot out.
With his peak Soul King speed, he covered the distance of several dozen meters in an instant, and his claws, after being possessed by his Martial Soul, slammed directly towards the head of the Lightning Serpent.
With the life force of a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast, even if it is cut in half at the waist, it will not die immediately.
With a single swipe of his claw, Chu Qingtian crushed the Lightning Serpent's skull, finally killing it completely.
Seeing the black spirit ring rising from the corpse of the Lightning Serpent, Chu Qingtian's breathing became heavier. As long as he absorbed this spirit ring, he would become a Spirit Emperor.
Zhang Lexuan glanced around again and then said, "Qingtian, hurry up and absorb the soul ring."
Then he looked at Kong Xuan and the others: "Everyone else, stay alert!"
Danger could arise at any time in the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest, so they had to protect Chu Qingtian while he absorbed the soul ring.
"Sister Lexuan!"
Kong Xuan's voice suddenly came, and Zhang Lexuan looked at him with a question in her eyes.
"This lightning serpent was probably chased here by some kind of soul beast. We need to be careful from now on."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lexuan's gaze sharpened, and she quickly went to the side of the Lightning Serpent's corpse.
After a careful examination, several claw marks that had broken through its scales were indeed found on its abdomen, indicating that the injuries had been inflicted not long ago.
She didn't know how Kong Xuan had discovered it, but the reminder was timely. She looked in the direction from which the lightning serpent had fled, and a crescent moon rose above her head once more.
Sure enough, not long after, a golden streak of light appeared in her eyes, like a small sun streaking across the Starry Sky Forest.
(End of chapter)