A Soul Sage appearing in the outer region of the Star Dou Forest was truly unexpected. Zhao Wuji's heart sank slightly—this was not going to be an easy situation to resolve.
The elderly woman was no less tense. She knew that today's conflict might not end in her favor.
"Is there something you need?" Zhao Wuji's gaze swept over the elderly woman, briefly resting on her snake-headed staff. Something clicked in his memory, but his tone remained surprisingly calm—an unusual display for someone as brash as Zhao Wuji. Dai Mubai, if present, would have been shocked. It was rare for the unyielding "Motionless Bright King" to address a weaker opponent so civilly, especially in such a potentially adversarial situation.
The elderly woman coughed lightly, a faint smile forming on her face as she softened her expression. "Honored Soul Sage, this thousand-year-old Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake is not something you can simply hand over to this young man."
Zhao Wuji, still gripping the snake's head tightly, glanced at Oscar and gestured for him to hold back for a moment. Turning back to the elderly woman, he asked, "And why not?"
The elderly woman seemed to relax slightly and replied, "Because we discovered and began hunting it first. How else would it have been injured? My granddaughter and I have been tracking it for some time."
Hearing this, Zhao Wuji realized this situation was growing more complicated than anticipated. Were it not for Yun Feng's earlier warning, Oscar might have already absorbed the snake's spirit ring, rendering this discussion moot.
Zhao Wuji shot Yun Feng a glance, his annoyance barely concealed. If not for this kid's meddling, this matter would have been resolved cleanly. Now, they were stuck in an argument over ownership.
Before Zhao Wuji could speak further, Oscar stepped forward and challenged the elderly woman, "How can you prove this snake was your target? When we found it, there was no sign of anyone else pursuing it."
The elderly woman smiled faintly. "There's no need for impatience, young man. Look at the snake's abdomen—there are two distinct wounds caused by my staff. There's also a similar mark beneath its wings. This creature was injured during our pursuit but managed to escape. My granddaughter recently reached Rank 30 and is in dire need of a suitable spirit ring. As you can see, her martial spirit is an inheritance of my own—a Snake-Headed Staff. A high-grade snake-type martial spirit like this one is ideal for her."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Wuji and the students exchanged glances, their gazes drawn to the snake's injuries. It was evident that this creature had indeed been hunted before they encountered it. Still, that didn't mean they would simply relinquish such a valuable prize.
Oscar hesitated but turned his gaze toward Zhao Wuji, silently pleading for support. Zhao Wuji responded with a cold smile and addressed the elderly woman directly.
"May I ask for your name, senior?"
The elderly woman maintained her composed demeanor and replied, "I am called Chao Tianxiang, though in the spirit master world, I am more commonly known by the title 'Snake Granny.' My husband, Meng Shu, is often referred to as 'Dragon Duke.' We have come to the Star Dou Forest specifically to find a suitable spirit ring for our granddaughter."
Hearing her self-introduction, Zhao Wuji's eyes narrowed slightly, and he raised a hand to stop Oscar from protesting further. In a measured tone, he said, "So, you are the famed Snake Granny of the Twin Dragon Serpents. It's an honor to meet you."
Chao Tianxiang smiled faintly, though her sharp eyes observed Zhao Wuji carefully. "Indeed, and you must be the renowned 'Motionless Bright King,' Zhao Wuji."
Zhao Wuji forced a smile, his thoughts racing. The reputation of the Twin Dragon Serpents preceded them. Even in his wilder days, he had heard of their exploits. Chao Tianxiang's husband, Meng Shu, was rumored to have reached the level of Soul Sage years ago, and Zhao Wuji wouldn't be surprised if the Dragon Duke had since ascended to the rank of Soul Douluo. The couple's fearsome martial spirit fusion technique was said to be nearly unstoppable, and few below the rank of Titled Douluo could challenge them.
If Chao Tianxiang was here, her husband likely wasn't far behind. Though Zhao Wuji was confident in his strength, he couldn't afford to be careless. Killing the grandmother and granddaughter pair to avoid future trouble might seem like a simple solution, but Chao Tianxiang was not someone easy to kill, especially not with her agility. Should she escape, the relentless vengeance of the Dragon Duke would be inevitable.
"Yes, that's me," Zhao Wuji replied, his tone softening slightly. "It seems fate has brought us together. As you can see, I now work as a teacher at Shrek Academy, guiding these young ones on their path as spirit masters. We came to the Star Dou Forest to help two of my students obtain spirit rings. I must admit, it's an honor to encounter someone as esteemed as yourself here."
Chao Tianxiang's expression grew more amiable as she replied, "Zhao Wuji, you're being too modest. With your strength and reputation, how could anyone not respect you?"
Despite the pleasantries, Zhao Wuji's wariness only deepened. He knew Chao Tianxiang wasn't here for idle conversation. She quickly shifted the discussion back to the snake.
"Zhao Wuji, this Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake is of utmost importance to my granddaughter. We discovered it first and inflicted the injuries you see. It narrowly escaped us, but we've pursued it this far. Could I trouble you to show some understanding and allow us to take it back? I would remember this favor deeply and repay it in the future."
Zhao Wuji's lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes remained calculating. "Senior Chao, this is indeed a dilemma. While I acknowledge the injuries on the snake, it's also true that we were the ones to capture it. By the unwritten rules of the Star Dou Forest, spirit beasts are unclaimed until successfully subdued. This snake is as suitable for my student as it is for your granddaughter. Surely you understand the difficulty of this situation."
Chao Tianxiang's granddaughter, Meng Yiran, could no longer hold back. She stepped forward, gripping her Snake-Headed Staff tightly. "What difficulty? This snake is ours! If we hadn't injured it, you wouldn't have captured it so easily. Return it now, or we won't let this slide!"
Chao Tianxiang frowned slightly at her granddaughter's outburst but didn't stop her. Instead, her gaze locked with Zhao Wuji's, and her voice turned cold.
"Zhao Wuji, are you saying you're unwilling to return the snake?"
Zhao Wuji chuckled and spread his hands in mock helplessness. "Senior Chao, I only wish to follow the established customs of our world. Spirit beasts in the Star Dou Forest belong to those capable of capturing them. While I respect your claim, I must also consider my students' needs. Surely you understand the position I'm in."
Both sides braced themselves, the tension rising with each word exchanged. It was clear that neither would back down easily.
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