After entering Star Dou Great Forest, the most excited one was Xiao Wu, she did not seem to think this was any kind of dangerous place, bouncing and vivacious, unspeakably happy. Seeing it made Zhao Wuji scowl, but since Xiao Wu still did not overstep the restrictive range, he did not say anything.
The terrain within Star Dou Great Forest was extremely complex, there basically were no roads within the forest, so the work of making a path naturally fell on me in the lead.
I had hardened vines whipping through underbrush and other plants to clear the way. We had to of course be careful of spirit beast nest as that can be some deadly stuff. Sure we can handle quite a few. But what about hundreds or thousands that come when hearing all the fighting.
I mean in the distance there was already chaos being caused by happy go lucky shadows tearing through monsters and absorbing everything from spirit rings to bodies.
Star Dou Great Forest really was too dense, describing it with the words 'hiding the sky and covering the earth' was not a bit an exaggeration, thinking to see sunshine within the forest was not likely.
Everyone moved forward for probably two hours or so. By now it was already noon. In this time, they had also encountered not a few spirit beasts, but for the most part it was ten year and hundred years, and they had avoided the spirit beasts they came across without any direct conflict.
Spilling blood would surely attract attention like the shadows where doing in the far off area. It was a massacre but it helped draw in more monsters to kill. On the ground were thousands of spiked vines covered in gore and blood. In the trees was another shadow waiting to take down flying prey. down below were shadows holding special smoke bombs used to make spirit beasts angry or hungry all sorts of different smells mixing together drove the beasts into an absolute fury.
all sorts of spirit rings little the ground the vast majority being yellow for ten and hundred year old rings. Next up where purple with a few black rings for thousand and tenthousand year old beasts. There were only a few of those so far.
They worked in groups killing and absorbing. a set to absorb rings a set to absorb bodies a set using vines to absorb spirit energy a set sucking up life force.
They slowly moved deeper and deeper into the forest where the more dangerous beasts lived.
Back with our heroes they were being approached by a fast moving creature.
The rustling sounds went from small to large, even if it was the Auxiliary Spirit Masters Oscar and Ning Rongrong both could clearly sense that creature approaching at a very high speed.
"Zhu Zhuqing, take a look at what it is."
Zhao Wuji ordered in a low voice.
Zhu Zhuqing still did not utter a word, quietly leaping up, cats claws extending on her hands, climbing a large tree as if walking on level ground to look in the direction of whence the sound came.
Cat's vision was extremely outstanding, even at night was no exception, let alone now when the sun was still at its zenith.
Very quickly, Zhu Zhuqing's clear and cold voice came from the tree, "It looks like a flying serpent, only it doesn't fly very high, it can only fly about three metres off the ground. On its head is a crest, bright red like blood. Its tail is comparatively unusual, fan shaped."
Zhao Wuji's eyes shone,
"It's a Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent, this kind of spirit beast is rare, the crest on top of its head has many fantastic effects, Oscar, you've been blessed. Unfortunately we don't know how old this Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent is. Zhu Zhuqing, watch closely the direction it moves, as soon as it changes direction report to me."
"Yes. It's heading straight in our direction very quickly, only, its body does not seem to have very good balance."
"It's here."
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing's voice came just in time, with a low shout. She unexpectedly dropped from the air, and without the slightest amount of fear of a thousand year spirit beast opponent, sharp claws shining simultaneously with the first spirit ring, activated Hell Rush Stab.
That was a huge snake, its appearance resembled Zhu Zhuqing's description, appearing six or seven metres long. On the top of its head was a bright red comb, looking somewhat odious. Its rapidly advancing body arriving just right to run into Zhu Zhuqing. Zhu Zhuqing's Hell Rush Stab directly struck at the crest on its head.
The Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent seemed startled. The snake's head askew, opening its mouth wide towards Zhu Zhuqing and spraying a seven colored thick fog. Simultaneously, the bright red crest on top of its head shone, and the speed that had just a moment ago been delayed increased once more.
With a quick slap of some vines it head was flung upwards missing the girl with the odd fog.
After the surprise attack it figured it odds weren't good and tried to flee.
"Thinking to escape? Would it be so easy?"
Zhao Wuji's deep voice echoed. Following this the third spirit ring over his body shone, the thousand year Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent suddenly stiffened at once, speed substantially dropping. Zhao Wuji's third spirit ring ability, Gravity Increase pressuring it and slowing it.
Dealing with the one thousand year spirit beast, to the Motionless Bright King it was like stretching out a hand and grabbing it.
Zhao Wuji's bear paw stretched out, already pinching the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent's head, lifting it before him, the other hand raising its comb and flicking it once. The Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent confronting the Vigorous Vajra Bear's force, directly passed out from the flick. If it was not for Zhao Wuji needing to preserve its life, it would not even be up to enduring this one finger.
"It's done."
Everyone simultaneously cheered excitedly. Oscar was still just fourteen years old, that's all, showing his excitement in his step, running up to Zhao Wuji eagerly.
Xiao Wu standing next to me lowered her head, her big eyes filled with a disturbed expression,
"Must we hunt and kill spirit beasts?"
i sighed gently, saying:
"The weak are prey to the strong, this is the law of survival. If this snake was even stronger than us, do you think it would let food slip out of the side of its mouth?"
Xiao Wu did not say anything else, but she lowered her head all along, her complexion still somewhat pale. I gave her a big hug and patted her back. She strongly squeezed back.
Zhao Wuji pulled out a short blade from his belt and handed it to Oscar "Make it quick and painless" he said, Oscar excitedly took the short blade. Right now, this thousand year spirit beast before him was a lamb waiting for slaughter, on the verge of obtaining the third spirit ability, he was so excited even his hands trembled somewhat.
When Oscar was about to thrust in the knife, suddenly, a hoarse strict shout abruptly echoed,
"Stop."
Immediately following, two people leapt out from the direction the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent had come flying, appearing before everyone.
These two people were one old and one young, both women. The elder looked sixty or seventy years old, a full head of white hair combed very neatly, although she was not young, her mind was extremely hale and hearty, although the wrinkles on her face were not few, it was rosy like a baby's. A pair of eyes bright and shiny. Right hand holding a snake head walking stick three metres long, six spirit rings moving rhythmically up and down her body.
While her body did not show any changes, the spirit rings showed she already used her spirit, without need to ask, the walking stick in her hand should be her spirit.
Following at the old woman's side, was a beautiful young lady, hair even with her ears, looking like sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing neat brilliant clothing, tightly covering her already very well developed figure, big dark brown eyes staring fixedly at that Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent in Zhao Wuji's hand. She also held a snake head walking stick in her hand, but compared to the old woman's it was a bit shorter, only two metres long, the spirit rings on her body were also only two hundred year's.
The old woman and young girl's appearance startled everyone, but as they saw the six spirit rings over the old woman's body, at once they all relaxed their breaths. After all, those seven spirit rings over Zhao Wuji's body could not be inferior, especially those several deep black ten thousand year spirit rings, baring their deterring force.
Previously she spoke loudly to prevent what she heard Zhao Wuji say to Oscar say, but coming close, she caught sight of Zhao Wuji's seven spirit rings.
Spirit Sage, this was just the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest, why would a Spirit Sage appear? The old woman's heart immediately dropped, knowing today's demand might not turn out well.
"What's the matter?"
Zhao Wuji shot the old woman a glance, as his gaze fell on that snake head walking stick in her hand, in his heart he couldn't help but recall a person, and his voice could not at all be considered too harsh, sounding instead somewhat gentle.
The old woman coughed, making her facial expression soften,
"Greetings, respected Spirit Sage, can't you give this Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent to this child."
Zhao Wuji's one hand pinched the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent, making a meaningful expression towards Oscar, hinting he first wait a moment, turning to the old woman saying:
"Why?"
The old woman's mind by now seemed to already have relaxed somewhat,
"Because we found this snake first, and moreover took the lead in hunting it. Otherwise, why would we still have continuously followed its trail until now?"
Oscar somewhat couldn't help himself,
"How can you prove you were first to hunt it? When we discovered it, we could not see a trace of you."
The old woman smiled faintly, saying "Young man, no need to worry. Take a look at this Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent's flank, there are two bruises. They are injuries caused by my walking stick, furthermore under the wings. Only carelessness let this slippery little fellow escape. This granddaughter just reached thirtieth rank and needs this spirit ring. You also saw that she has inherited my Tool Spirit Serpent Cane. High level serpent type spirits are even more suitable for her."
Zhao Wuji lowered his head to look at the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent in his hand. Sure enough like the old woman said, there were indeed those kinds of bruises. But if thinking to to have Zhao Wuji give up with only something like this, that was a fantasy story.
"Elder sister, I'm afraid this matter isn't so easily handled, ah!"
Zhao Wuji showed an embarrassed expression.
The young lady at the elders side couldn't help but speak up, "What 'not so easily handled', this thousand year Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent was clearly found by us first. If not for us already injuring it, could you have done it so easily? Give it to us at once, otherwise we'll be blunt with you."
While speaking, she already raised the Snake Head Cane in her hand.
The elder lady simultaneously wrinkled her brows, staring fixedly at Zhao Wuji and saying.
"Brother, then explain why you don't want to return this Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent to us grandparent and grandchild?"
Zhao Wuji smiled slightly, saying: "Although it is comparatively suitable to your grandchild, at the same time it is also very suitable to my student. This kind of relatively mild spirit beast is a great help to the spirit of this student of mine."
Chao Tian-Xiang stared blankly a moment,
"You are saying, of these students, one has already attained thirtieth ranked Spirit Master?"
Zhao Wuji nodded.
Chao Tian-Xiang in her heart was alarmed, of these young boys and girls before her it would seem the oldest was still only fifteen or sixteen years old, and the majority still appeared twelve or thirteen years old. If saying someone among them had already reached thirtieth rank, then wouldn't it be saying they were even more innately talented than her granddaughter?
Thinking of this, Chao Tian-Xiang's face revealed an expression not daring to be confident, gaze directly falling on the one appearing to be oldest, the appearance brave and extraordinary Evil Eye White Tiger Dai Mubai.
Zhao Wuji said with a smile:
"If senior doesn't believe it, how about this, I will have these children also reveal their spirits to let senior have a look. Shrek minions, use your spirits, brighten your spirit rings to show this senior Serpent Grandmother."
At once under Zhao Wuji's order, everyone released their spirit.
Alarming rings lit up the lowest being hundred year rings the highest being black ten thousand year ring from one of the younger ones no less.
The old lady gasped. Before her these varying between twelve to fifteen year old children, unexpectedly all already possessed Spirit Grandmaster level or more, one of the younger ones, unexpectedly already possessed four spirit rings. And also, each of their spirit rings quality was so good, not a single ten year spirit ring appeared.
Pushing Oscar out in the open he motioned that he was the one who needed the spirit.