Chapter 106: The Overlord Dragon Snake
Time passed by with each ticking second, and the tension in the air grew heavier with every step.
As they continued their journey, the spirit beasts they encountered had increasingly higher years of age, and the battle with them became progressively more difficult.
Nonetheless, their encounters were eye-opening, as the beasts appeared in various forms—some hidden among dead leaves, others disguised as rocks—demonstrating the incredible diversity of spirit beasts in the Star Dou Forest.
Dai Yao carefully studied the surrounding beasts, applying his knowledge from his academy lessons to identify the types and ages of the spirit beasts, quietly recording his findings in his mind.
"Hm?"
Dai Yao, who was leading the group, noticed something unusual ahead and called back to the two girls, "Spirit beasts are approaching! Stay alert!"
Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing nodded seriously, their expressions tense as they turned their attention forward.
After encountering several spirit beasts along the way, the three of them had developed a seamless coordination. Ordinary beasts posed no real threat to them anymore.
Zhu Zhuqing, without a word, leaped up and with her claws extended, effortlessly scaled a nearby tall tree. Her cat-like vision made her an ideal scout for detecting enemy movements.
Before long, a cold voice came from the tree above.
"It's a flying snake, with a fleshy crown on its head, larger than its head, bright red like blood, and with a fan-shaped tail."
Zhu Zhuqing's concise description allowed Dai Yao to quickly identify the spirit beast.
"Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake?"
He was slightly uncertain.
"Could this be another legendary spirit beast of the Star Dou Forest, besides Master Su Yuntao? Why does every novel mention the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake as the first beast encountered here?"
Dai Yao couldn't help but grumble internally.
"Release your martial souls!"
He ordered.
In the vast Star Dou Forest, running out of soul power could mean death, as soul masters would be as vulnerable as ordinary people. The three were conserving their soul power, only releasing their martial souls when facing a beast.
After a brief moment, the sound of air being disturbed grew louder, and the beast finally revealed itself.
The creature was a seven-meter-long snake with pale red wings. Most notably, it had a large, crimson fleshy crown on its head. The snake slithered through the air three meters above the ground with incredible speed.
The trio met the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake head-on, but it ignored them completely and continued flying in the opposite direction.
Dai Yao watched the snake fly farther and farther away before his tense nerves relaxed.
"Why did the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake completely ignore us? It clearly saw us, so why is it just flying away?"
"Could it be that there are soul masters chasing after it?"
Just then, three figures appeared in the direction where the snake had flown from.
In the lead was a young girl, followed by two elderly figures, one man and one woman.
The girl was very beautiful, with short hair at ear length and appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. She wore a practical and tight-fitting outfit that accentuated her mature figure, and her deep brown eyes swept over Dai Yao and the others with a hint of disdain.
The elderly woman had silver hair neatly styled, her face lined with wrinkles but still full of vitality. Her eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence, and she held a three-meter-long serpent-headed staff, with six soul rings rhythmically pulsing around her.
What shocked Dai Yao the most was the elderly man, who appeared to be in his seventies with long silver hair. He wielded a four-meter-high dragon-headed staff, the dragon head lifelike and stunning, with eight soul rings pulsating around it.
Two yellow, three purple, and three black rings—though not the highest configuration, eight soul rings meant this person was a Soul Douluo, a powerful figure at the pinnacle of soul masters!
"This is..."
Dai Yao's gaze sharpened, suddenly recalling something, and he exclaimed in recognition, "The Overlord Dragon Snake?"
"Hm?"
The elderly man, Meng Shu, initially paid no attention to Dai Yao and the others, but when he heard Dai Yao call out his and his wife's name, he turned and smiled.
"Not bad, little one, you actually know the name of this old man."
Dai Yao couldn't help but internally complain, "I should've known. After the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake, the Overlord Dragon Snake couple must be close behind."
He immediately assumed a respectful stance, cupping his hands and saying,
"The Overlord Dragon Snake's reputation precedes them, as a junior, I naturally know of you."
"I am Dai Yao, having broken through level thirty, and have come to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for soul rings."
"Oh?"
This time, the elderly woman, Chao Tianxiang, looked Dai Yao up and down with some surprise, then asked,
"How old are you, little one?"
"Fourteen."
Dai Yao respectfully answered.
In reality, he was only twelve, but when he enrolled at the Oaklan Academy, he had exaggerated his age a little to avoid standing out too much.
Even so, it was hard to believe.
"Fourteen? Are you lying?"
The young girl gave Dai Yao a disbelieving glance.
"We're in a place where thousand-year spirit beasts dwell. If you're hunting thousand-year beasts, then you must be at least level thirty."
Dai Yao smiled and replied,
"I assure you, I am indeed hunting thousand-year spirit beasts."
Meng Yiran, looking at her grandparents, appeared somewhat shocked.
Chao Tianxiang lovingly patted Meng Yiran's head and said with a smile,
"I told you not to be arrogant. There's always someone better. Surely now you believe me?"
Meng Yiran pouted, unwilling to accept that Dai Yao was more talented than she was.
Seeing the talent in Dai Yao, Meng Shu couldn't resist saying,
"Dai Yao, how about joining my faction? With your talent and my guidance, you could very well become a Title Douluo."
Before Dai Yao could respond, a cold snort suddenly came from the jungle behind them.
An invisible pressure enveloped the area, and Meng Shu's eyes narrowed instinctively. He turned to look toward the sound, sensing some danger from the aura it carried.
Jackson slowly stepped out of the woods, his gaze clearly hostile as he looked at the Overlord Dragon Snake couple.
"Meng Shu, Chao Tianxiang, long time no see! What, are you trying to poach from our Oaklan?"
Meng Shu paused, his dragon-headed staff tapping the ground before a slow smile spread across his wrinkled face. He looked past Jackson and said,
"I see, it's Jackson. I guess you've broken through to Soul Douluo as well?"
"About a year ago."
Jackson and Meng Shu were from the same generation, so they knew each other. In the vast Star Dou Forest, after exchanging a few pleasantries, they bid each other farewell.
"Since he's Jackson's prized disciple, I won't steal from you,"
Meng Shu said, then instructed Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran, "Let's go, follow the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake."
With a respectful bow, he added, "Farewell."
The three of them gradually disappeared into the forest.
Jackson gave Dai Yao a helpless look.
Because of Dai Yao's talents, three years ago the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Spirit Hall had already caused trouble for him, and now even the Overlord Dragon Snake had their eye on him.
Jackson couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Even if they were from the Spirit Hall, the second strongest sect in the world, Dai Yao was still in his Oaklan Academy.
(End of Chapter)
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