Chapter 62: A Clash of Fates
"Didn't I already say it? The Phoenix Tailed Crest Serpent is a non venomous snake."
As he spoke, Ye Cheng casually raised his hand and squeezed the air.
"Screech!"
The Phoenix Tailed Crest Serpent, which had been trying to escape at full speed, suddenly froze mid air, as if an invisible force had clamped around its throat.
"The colorful mist it sprayed is just a bluff completely harmless."
With that, Ye Cheng tightened his grip.
"Crack! Crackle!"
A bone breaking sound echoed from the serpent's body. Then, as Ye Cheng released his hold, the completely paralyzed creature plummeted to the ground.
"Boom!"
Its large body crashed down, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Teacher, what should we do with it?" Zhu Zhuqing asked as she leapt down from the tree.
"Just leave it here," Ye Cheng replied. "Neither of you are high enough level to absorb its soul ring. Killing it now would just waste a valuable soul ring.
"Soul beasts are a limited resource. Rare ones like this are even harder to find. If we can't use it, we might as well leave it for someone else."
Just as they were speaking, a loud voice suddenly rang out from the distance.
"STOP!"
Even before the person appeared, the booming voice carried through the forest.
Upon hearing it, both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing froze they immediately recognized who it belonged to.
Shrek Academy's teacher Zhao Wuji.
What a coincidence!
First, they ran into Shrek in the town, and now, in this vast soul beast forest, they ran into them again.
Accompanied by rushed footsteps, a group of five burst through the trees.
Leading them was Zhao Wuji.
"This soul beast was ours first!"
Before even looking at them properly, Zhao Wuji roared, releasing his soul rings seven rings rose around him, and a heavy soul power pressure flooded the area.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, standing in the direct path of the Soul Saint's aura, both turned pale, clearly struggling under the pressure. A Soul Saint was still far too strong for them to handle.
Ye Cheng frowned slightly and released a bit of his own soul power, shielding them.
With the pressure lifted, the girls regained their composure.
"Huh?"
Zhao Wuji finally got a clear look at who he was talking to
It was the two students who had left Shrek Academy… and a plain looking young man standing beside them.
(Ye Cheng had, of course, disguised his appearance using illusion.)
Damn, talk about a small world!
"Zhuqing!"
Dai Mubai's eyes lit up with emotion when he saw her again.
Ever since she vanished without a word, he had been restless, wondering why she had left so suddenly.
But Zhu Zhuqing?
She simply stared at him blankly, feeling absolutely nothing.
Meanwhile, Tang San walked over to the unconscious Phoenix Tailed Crest Serpent, examined it for a moment, and then nodded.
"It's indeed a thousand year Phoenix Tailed Crest Serpent. This is perfect for Oscar. If he absorbs it, he might even gain the ability to fly."
"Really? That's amazing!"
Oscar was thrilled.
Flying was extremely rare for soul masters. Unless one had wings, a flight related martial soul, or a special soul skill, most soul masters could only fly after reaching Title Douluo.
(Though in later eras, due to advancements in techniques, even Soul Saints could fly.)
If Oscar's sausages could grant temporary flight, it would be a game changing ability!
For soul masters who couldn't fly, simply taking to the skies would put them in an unbeatable position.
"Oscar, hurry and absorb it! If it really gives you flight, you'll hit the jackpot!" Zhao Wuji laughed.
"Yeah!"
Oscar nodded and pulled out his dagger, ready to deliver the finishing blow.
But at that moment
Ye Cheng narrowed his eyes.
These guys were acting as if he didn't even exist they were directly taking his kill without so much as asking.
It wasn't that he needed the snake.
If Zhao Wuji had politely asked, Ye Cheng would have gladly given it to them. After all, he actually had a good impression of Oscar one of the rare normal characters in Shrek Academy.
But instead
These people had completely ignored him.
It was as if he and the girls were invisible, as if they were irrelevant.
Did they think we weren't worth acknowledging?
There was nothing more infuriating than being looked down upon.
"I say…"
Ye Cheng released a small wave of soul power not too strong, about Soul Saint level.
(After all, he had never experienced the classic "overpowered expert hiding his strength" trope this was the perfect chance to try it.)
"You guys are a little too arrogant."
The moment his Soul Saint level pressure washed over them
Oscar, who was about to stab the serpent, broke into a cold sweat. His face turned pale.
Beside him, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, and Dai Mubai all felt a sudden weight pressing down on them.
And Zhao Wuji?
His expression completely changed.
He immediately countered with his own aura, pushing back against Ye Cheng's suppression.
For a brief moment the two auras clashed evenly.
"A Soul Saint?!"
Zhao Wuji stared at Ye Cheng's youthful face, his expression darkening.
"Friend, we were the first to track this soul beast."
"Oh? Now you suddenly want to talk things out?"
"The moment you realized I was a Soul Saint, you started acting reasonable."
Ye Cheng couldn't help but chuckle internally.
Zhao Wuji's change in attitude was so blatant that it was almost comical.
But in reality this was just how the world worked.
In the soul master world, power determined respect.
It wasn't really Zhao Wuji's fault this was just how the system was broken.
Ye Cheng understood it.
But that didn't mean he had to like it.
"I don't care if you were chasing it first."
"What matters is that I was the one who captured it."
"You think I'll just hand over my prize just because you demand it?"
Ye Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, voice calm but firm.
Behind him, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stood obediently, clearly treating him as their leader.
Zhao Wuji's face darkened further.
It seemed this wasn't going to end peacefully.
And honestly?
This was his own fault.
If he had just asked politely, Ye Cheng would have given them the beast.
But Shrek's group had clearly gotten too used to getting their way.
They had barged in, ignored everyone else, and acted as if the world revolved around them.
That kind of attitude?
Ye Cheng wasn't going to tolerate it.
"Let's see how this plays out."
(End of chapter)
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