Zhao Wuji's gaze shifted to the girl beside the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent, noticing she held a dagger in her hand, clearly intending to claim the same Soul Ring.
For a moment, Zhao Wuji was caught in a dilemma.
The Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent's Soul Ring was perfect for Oscar; it might grant him a flying Soul Skill, which would greatly benefit both himself and the entire team's tactical options.
Under Oscar's expectant gaze, Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth. He forced himself to walk over and bowed respectfully to Lin Mu, saying:
"Your Excellency, we have been chasing this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent for a while, and our pursuit exhausted quite a bit of its strength. One of my students urgently needs a third Soul Ring, and this serpent's ring is just right. I wonder if Your Excellency could make an exception and allow us to have it?"
Before Lin Mu could speak, the Snake Granny slammed her Serpent Staff down. Her face was full of anger as she snapped:
"We clearly chased this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent all the way here, and it was thanks to this gentleman's intervention that we were able to successfully subdue it. Now you've suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and you dare to say you deserve credit? You're clearly trying to rob us!"
Meng Yiran glared angrily at Oscar and Zhao Wuji. Her face was full of indignation.
"The Senior has already promised to give it to us, so why are you trying to take it?"
She gripped her dagger tightly, her chest heaving slightly with anger. The third Soul Ring that was about to be hers was being threatened by these interlopers, which infuriated her.
Faced with their rebukes, Zhao Wuji had no way to refute them logically. He could only look at Lin Mu not far away. The ultimate ownership of the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent lay entirely in his hands.
If Lin Mu hadn't been there, there would have been no need for such nonsense; they could have decided ownership based on strength (a fight). But with a suspected Titled Douluo present, Zhao Wuji dared not act rashly.
"I said, this Soul Ring belongs to you."
Just as the two sides were about to argue further, Lin Mu made the decision directly, pointing at Meng Yiran.
Hearing this, the Snake Granny immediately breathed a sigh of relief. This middle-aged Soul Master who had suddenly appeared (Zhao Wuji) was clearly not weak; if a fight broke out, she would likely be no match for him without her husband present. With this esteemed figure (Lin Mu) backing them, the stranger shouldn't dare to act recklessly.
Seeing his third Soul Ring on the verge of being taken, Oscar immediately panicked. "But Teacher Zhao..."
"Shut up. I'll find you another thousand-year-old Soul Beast later."
Zhao Wuji frowned, snapping somewhat impatiently. He already felt aggrieved, and now he was being pressured further.
He'd just been brutally beaten by this man yesterday; was he supposed to ask for another beating today?
This was a potential Titled Douluo. If he offended him again, Zhao Wuji might not live to see the sun rise tomorrow.
"Thank you, Senior."
After expressing her gratitude, Meng Yiran crouched down and pierced the vital point of the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent with her dagger.
Soon, a purple Soul Ring floated above the serpent's corpse.
Seeing the Soul Ring appear, Oscar completely gave up hope. Only by personally delivering the final blow to the Soul Beast could a Soul Master absorb its ring. It was gone now.
"Your Excellency, I still need to help my students hunt for Soul Rings, so I'll take my leave now," Zhao Wuji said, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture to Lin Mu.
The Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent's ring was already secured by the girl; rather than staying and risking this "Excellency's" wrath, it was better to leave early and find Oscar a new target.
Lin Mu also didn't linger. He led Tang San and Xiao Wu deeper into the forest.
If Zhao Wuji were to launch a surprise attack on the Snake Granny after he left, that was their problem, not his. Staying behind as a bodyguard wasn't his style.
The deeper they went, the taller and lusher the trees became. The light grew dimmer, and the air was filled with a primal, dangerous aura.
Tang San remained focused, his Purple Demon Eyes constantly observing their surroundings.
They had now entered a rather dangerous area; a Soul Beast over a thousand years old could appear at any moment, and even ten-thousand-year-old beasts were not uncommon here.
Xiao Wu seemed somewhat absent-minded. Although the atmosphere here gave her a feeling of coming home, Tang San's earlier words about Soul Beasts left her feeling hesitant and worried.
Watching Tang San's retreating figure, Xiao Wu thought to herself, 'Brother, if you knew I was also a Soul Beast, what would you do?'
'Shh-'
A very subtle friction sound reached Lin Mu's ears. His eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't speak, only slowing his pace a fraction.
Suddenly, the bushes not far ahead were violently torn apart!
A huge black shadow pounced out with a foul stench!
Eight spear-like spider legs gleamed with an eerie light, its body covered in a hard, glossy carapace. Most terrifyingly, there was a hideous, twisted white pattern on its abdomen that resembled a grimacing human face.
A Man-Faced Demon Spider, approximately two thousand years old!
"Careful!"
Tang San shouted. Reacting extremely quickly, he instantly pushed the distracted Xiao Wu behind him. He used the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, narrowly avoiding the Man-Faced Demon Spider's first fatal thrust.
"Xiao San, Xiao Wu, this Man-Faced Demon Spider is yours."
Lin Mu's voice rang out calmly. He moved swiftly, appearing on the branch of a large tree not far away. He stood with arms crossed, observing from the sidelines, clearly not intending to interfere unless necessary.
Tang San instantly understood his Master's intention: to use this dangerous Soul Beast to train their combat abilities. His eyes narrowed, and he said, "Xiao Wu, cooperate with me!"
"Understood!"
Xiao Wu suppressed her distracting thoughts. Two yellow Soul Rings rose from her feet as she quickly entered battle mode.
"Blue Silver Grass, Bind!"
Tang San shouted. The enhanced Blue Silver Grass swarmed out like serpents. No longer simply binding, they cleverly coiled around the Man-Faced Demon Spider's joints and the base of its legs, attempting to restrict its movement mechanically.
At the same time, his first Soul Ring lit up.
"First Soul Skill: Blue Silver Crystal!"
The entangling Blue Silver Grass instantly became covered with a layer of hard ice crystal keratin, greatly enhancing its binding force and durability.
The Man-Faced Demon Spider let out a sharp hiss. It struggled violently, its legs flailing wildly and severing many vines. However, the crystallized vines were exceptionally tough, temporarily hindering its movements.
"Good opportunity! Xiao Wu!" Tang San shouted, turning to create an opening.
"Watch this!"
Xiao Wu moved like lightning. Her waist arched as she activated "Waist Blow" and "Teleportation", instantly closing the distance. Her long legs clamped down on one of the Man-Faced Demon Spider's relatively slender rear legs, twisting with all her might!
CRACK!
A tooth-grinding sound of bone breaking rang out as Xiao Wu forcefully snapped off one of the spider's legs!
The Man-Faced Demon Spider, in pain, became even more frenzied. Its abdomen contracted sharply, spewing out a huge spider web covered in viscous, toxic liquid, enveloping the area where Xiao Wu landed.
"Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!"
Tang San had anticipated this. His figure flashed like a ghost as he entered the danger zone, grabbing Xiao Wu's wrist. The two narrowly avoided the toxic web.
Just as Tang San was about to counterattack, a sudden change occurred!
A cunning madness flashed in the small eyes of the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
Its remaining forelimb, sharp as a lance, lashed out at Xiao Wu with lightning speed! It struck at an extremely strange and cunning angle, aiming for her just as she regained her footing and her momentum was exhausted!
"Xiao Wu!"
Tang San's eyes widened in fury, but it was too late to push her away completely.