That was a thousand-year Soul Beast!
And it was taken down with a single punch from the young man before them! Even if the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent was already at its limit, it wasn't something one person could handle alone.
The seven of them had gone all out and still nearly let the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent escape.
Yet this person, alone, had subdued it.
Judging by his age, he was only twelve or thirteen, yet he possessed such combat prowess! This left everyone present utterly astonished.
However, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong looked at Ye Feng with slightly different expressions. Beyond shock, there was something else in their gazes…
It was because Ye Feng was simply too handsome. His dragon lineage, combined with the life force he absorbed daily from the Tianmeng Iceworm, had elevated his appearance to near perfection.
…
Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted as he witnessed this scene! While the others might not have realized it, he clearly understood that the punch Ye Feng had just delivered was purely physical strength—no Soul Skill had been used!
What did that mean…
He had taken down a thousand-year Soul Beast with just his physical body! Back in his youth, even going all out, Zhao Wuji couldn't have achieved such a feat!
What on earth was this suddenly appearing kid??
He had thought Tang San and the others were already monsters among monsters, but now, someone even more monstrous than them had appeared.
This was simply outrageous!
Ye Feng ignored the stunned expressions of the others and walked straight toward the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent.
He had previously drawn a purple Lexical Trait called [Culinary King], which not only granted him exceptional culinary skills but also made him particularly sensitive to ingredients.
His intuition told him that this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent would make an incredibly delicious braised dish! Just the thought of it made Ye Feng's mouth water.
As for his hunting of Soul Beasts, neither the Silver Dragon King nor Di Tian would object.
After all, for powerful Soul Beasts, weaker ones were naturally food, not kin.
Especially for carnivorous Soul Beasts, although cultivation could reduce the need for food, they still required additional sustenance.
Only herbivorous Soul Beasts like Xiao Wu would consider most weaker Soul Beasts as friends and be reluctant to kill.
"Stop!"
"Don't move!"
At that moment, two distinct voices rang out simultaneously from two different directions.
The first voice came from Tang San.
The second voice came from the dense forest to the west.
The sudden appearance of a third party drew everyone's attention toward the western forest.
In the next moment, the forest slowly parted, and two figures—one large, one small—emerged.
Both were women, one old and one young.
The older woman appeared to be in her sixties or seventies, with a head of white hair, yet her face was full of vitality and energy. Her eyes gleamed with sharpness, and in her right hand, she held a three-meter-long snake-headed staff. Six Soul Rings floated rhythmically around her.
Beside the old woman stood a beautiful girl with short hair that reached her ears, looking about sixteen or seventeen years old. She wore a sleek, form-fitting outfit that accentuated her well-developed figure.
Her deep brown eyes were fixed intently on the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent at Ye Feng's feet, and two hundred-year Soul Rings behind her rose and fell with her breathing, clearly indicating her displeasure.
The old woman hadn't seen Ye Feng make his move and assumed he was on Zhao Wuji's side. Coupled with the seven Soul Rings behind Zhao Wuji, she immediately felt a sense of caution and slightly lowered her posture as she said, "Sir, this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent was discovered by us first. Could you let us have it?"
"Oh? May I ask who you are, senior?"
Zhao Wuji didn't argue but instead furrowed his brows slightly, feeling that the old woman before him looked somewhat familiar.
"This old one is Chao Tianxiang. Thanks to the respect of friends in the Soul Master world, I've been given the title of 'Snake Woman.'"
Chao Tianxiang smiled slightly as she spoke. Though her words were humble, her tone still carried a hint of pride and threat.
"Could you be one of the Peerless Dragon Serpent?" Zhao Wuji was startled upon hearing this.
The Peerless Dragon Serpent—even alone, they were already formidable. When the two worked together, few below the level of a Titled Douluo could match them.
If Snake Woman was here, then Dragon Duke must be nearby. Naturally, Zhao Wuji felt a sense of wariness.
"Indeed, it is this old one. May I ask for the Soul Saint's esteemed name?"
"Zhao Wuji."
Zhao Wuji spoke indifferently.
"So it's the Unmoving Bright King! My apologies, my apologies!" Upon hearing this, Chao Tianxiang also felt a chill in her heart. She had naturally heard of Zhao Wuji's notorious reputation.
He was a man wanted by the Spirit Hall, so he was certainly not someone to be trifled with.
After exchanging some pleasantries, Chao Tianxiang finally spoke up, "Lord Bright King, this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent was discovered by us first, and we even injured it. It was only due to a moment of carelessness that the beast managed to escape. My granddaughter is only sixteen and has just reached the 30th level. She is in great need of this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent. Could you, Lord Bright King, let us have it?"
"Why should—"
Oscar was about to speak up and ask why they should, but Zhao Wuji stopped him. He looked at Chao Tianxiang with a faint smile and said, "Heh, Sister Chao, I think you've misunderstood. This Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent wasn't defeated by us, but by this young friend here. You should ask him instead."
Zhao Wuji was an old hand in the martial world.
He knew that Ye Feng, being so young yet possessing such strength, must come from an incredibly powerful background. There was undoubtedly a terrifying elder guarding him, even if they hadn't shown themselves yet.
So he wasn't in a hurry to argue with the old woman. Instead, he let her test the young man's depths first.
"What? This kid isn't one of yours?"
Sure enough, as soon as Zhao Wuji's words fell, Chao Tianxiang was startled, and her gaze instinctively fell on Ye Feng.
"Alright, alright, everyone, no need to argue. Since we all want this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent, how about we settle it with a competition? Whoever wins gets it."
Ye Feng suggested with a smile.
"I agree. This is their opportunity. Let them fight for it themselves." Zhao Wuji naturally had no objections and was the first to agree.
But in truth, he had already given up on the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent. After all, he couldn't defeat the elders behind the other party, and the people he brought with him couldn't defeat that young man either. It was a guaranteed loss.
However, though he didn't hold much hope, he still wanted to see the gap between his students and the other party.
Of course, it was also a test.
After all, he felt that the old woman Chao Tianxiang would surely refuse to admit defeat. When the elders behind the young man made their move, things would get interesting…
Though the legendary Peerless Dragon Serpent was strong, facing the elders behind this young man, they would likely be in for a tough time…
Of course, these were merely Zhao Wuji's speculations.
In truth, Ye Feng didn't have any powerful elders backing him.
Even before awakening his Martial Soul, Ye Feng possessed the combat strength of a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.
Now that he had awakened his Martial Soul, defeating a mere Soul Emperor like Chao Tianxiang was as easy as flipping his hand. Naturally, he had nothing to fear.
If the Snake Woman were to summon the Dragon Duke, Ye Feng would simply have the Titan Giant Ape step in. At that point, it wouldn't be too late for the Titan Giant Ape to "accidentally" kill both of them.
The reason for engaging in this duel was simply because he found it amusing and wanted to test Tang San's skills.
That was all.
As for Chao Tianxiang's granddaughter, Meng Yiran…
Although her figure wasn't bad, her looks were rather average. She was just someone who could be taken down with a single punch, and Ye Feng truly didn't pay her any mind.
(End of Chapter)