Chapter 218: Encounter

"Black Night Silent Illumination, Moonlight Fills the Sky!"

Radiance surged in Ning Feiliu's hands, transforming into two peculiar weapons: a strange, long, heavy sword radiating golden brilliance, and a jade-green long spear.

The Crescent Moon King Sword and Calibrum.

He summoned his martial soul directly to go over, which would save a lot of time.

At the same time, five Soul Rings, strange to the extreme, spiraled out from beneath his feet.

The first Soul Ring was a black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, but the second Soul Ring had unexpectedly turned into a purple Soul Ring, and the following three Soul Rings had turned back into black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.

It was simply baffling; why would his Soul Ring configuration have a Thousand-Year Soul Ring in the middle that looked like a regression?

However, very soon, Ning Feiliu would be able to replace this last discordant Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

After forging the Crescent Moon King Sword, Ning Feiliu discovered after several attempts that the Crescent Moon King Sword was quite compatible with the two melee Crescent Moon Divine Weapons, Severum and Aphelios.

Especially Severum; one could say that the pairing with the Crescent Moon King Sword was truly similar to the compatibility of the red-and-white blade combination.

Besides this, Ning Feiliu also discovered that the Crescent Moon King Sword paired with Gravitum also had quite good effects.

Because the Crescent Moon King Sword is a mid-range melee weapon, the defense Enhancement and slow control effects provided by Gravitum could coordinate very well with the Crescent Moon King Sword to attack and apply control.

Other than that, the pairings of Calibrum and the Crescent Moon King Sword were also passable; the worst compatibility was only with the pairing of Infernum.

The coordination between the two Crescent Moon Divine Weapons was to let Infernum stack "passives" for the Crescent Moon King Sword.

Apart from that, it really wasn't suitable anywhere.

But... the combination of the Crescent Moon King Sword and Severum, one of the strongest melee blade sets, was right there.

Therefore, Ning Feiliu's current plan for the blade control sequence was to add the newly acquired Crescent Moon King Sword between Infernum and Severum, so that he could consecutively use the two strongest melee combinations: the "gold-red blade" and the "red-white blade."

However, he felt very helpless; if only the Crescent Moon Divine Weapons didn't have this blade control mechanism, then he could switch to whatever Crescent Moon Divine Weapon he wanted.

For example, even if the red-white blade ran out of "charges," he could directly use Gravitum and the Crescent Moon King Sword, or when dealing with long-range Spirit Masters, fight directly using the long-range control weapon combination of Calibrum/Gravitum.

It is a pity that in reality, things often go against one's wishes.

He still had to control the sequence in which the Crescent Moon Divine Weapons appeared, and then make trade-offs among them.

If only there were a time when he could freely manipulate and use the Crescent Moon Divine Weapons, then his combat power would once again have a very huge increase.

He didn't think that much right now, but instead ordered Wang Xiao, Feng Ximei, and the other Elder disciples to all take the Invisibility Potion with him, and then follow closely behind the scouting disciple who was leading the way.

Ning Feiliu soon arrived at a dense forest with the two accompanying Elders and the other Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples who were the main attackers, following that scouting disciple.

What they saw before them was a "small hill."

A peculiar giant snake was tightly coiled around the body of an ape, and then it opened its bloody maw, swallowing the ape before it bit by bit with an extremely exaggerated amplitude.

This was, of course, a Cockscomb Serpent, and it was clearly hunting.

Soul Beasts naturally also have predatory behaviors; after all, they are beasts, and the law of the jungle is the rule of survival.

Of course, the predatory behavior of Soul Beasts would be regarded as "evil" behavior by the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape in the original work.

If it were like the Dark Devilgod Tiger, hunting and devouring Soul Beasts in large quantities in a short period, it would be completely regarded as an "evil" Soul Beast by the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape.

According to the setting they and Tang San later had for "evil" Soul Beasts that only hunt, then perhaps in this Star Dou Great Forest, besides the vegetarian Xiao Wu and the herbivorous Soul Beasts they represented, all other Soul Beasts were unclean.

But for the sake of survival, the predatory behavior between Soul Beasts was certainly not wrong.

At least the bystanders who were not devoured had no right to say that this kind of predatory behavior between Soul Beasts was wrong; only the side being devoured had the right to condemn the side committing the crime.

The Soul Beast that this Cockscomb Serpent was devouring was clearly far weaker than it; otherwise, for a Soul Beast like the Cockscomb Serpent, it would truly only have the path of escape when facing a Soul Beast of the same level.

After all, it had no attack methods and relied purely on speed, so it could only strangle animals weaker than itself like a python before swallowing them.

And since the Cockscomb Serpent had a hunting method like a python, it naturally also had the same weakness as a python.

That is, during the time of swallowing food, their mobility would be greatly reduced because the swallowed prey had not yet been digested!

Therefore, if snakes generally sensed danger in advance, they would quickly spit out the prey in their bodies that had not been fully digested, and then flee quickly.

But now, because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples had taken the Invisibility Potion, it didn't feel the danger about to descend at all, and was still working hard to swallow the prey that was more than halfway stuffed in.

Even because its attention was entirely on swallowing the prey, its vigilance toward the surrounding environment had decreased somewhat.

Under such circumstances, even if it spat out the prey now, its speed would be very slow.

And isn't speed the most important thing to watch out for with a Cockscomb Serpent? Since its mobility was now greatly reduced due to swallowing food, it was even more the best opportunity to take action.

"This Cockscomb Serpent looks to be about forty or fifty meters long; it definitely has a cultivation of over forty thousand years. Pavilion Master, what do you think?" At this moment, Feng Ximei asked in a low voice using soul power conduction toward Ning Feiliu.

Ning Feiliu nodded and said in a low voice, "Then let it be this one. Prepare to take action! Everyone!"

Suddenly, Feng Ximei, Wang Xiao, and the few Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples closest to them all breathed a sigh of relief.

Feng Ximei saying that just now was also hoping that Ning Feiliu would make a decision directly; after all, it was not easy to finally find a Cockscomb Serpent that looked like it met Ning Feiliu's requirements.

The thing they feared most was Ning Feiliu insisting on confirming it was a Cockscomb Serpent over fifty thousand years old; then they would have to continue working hard.

And actually, Feng Ximei didn't want to deceive Ning Feiliu by saying that this was definitely a Cockscomb Serpent over fifty thousand years old.

After all, once Ning Feiliu discovered she was lying, that would be equivalent to offending Ning Feiliu.

Offending a future direct-line Supreme Elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect... unless she and her descendants didn't want to stay in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect anymore.

"Alright... everyone prepare! Take action!" Wang Xiao immediately shouted directly, "Spirit Possession!"

In an instant, he transformed into a Fierce Tiger and pounced out; it was the most common War Tiger martial soul, but it was a very powerful Assault System martial soul.

Beneath his feet, seven Soul Rings—one white, one yellow, two purple, and three black—spiraled out. Although there was a Ten-Year Spirit Ring, his other six Soul Rings were completely not inferior!

Feng Ximei also summoned her martial soul directly at this time, "Spirit Possession!"

Her martial soul was the light and agile Wind Bell Bird, the same type as Yufeng's martial soul, but her Soul Ring configuration was also seven Soul Rings: one white, one yellow, two purple, and three black.

This proved that her talent was certainly not as good as Yufeng's.

After all, even with the same martial soul, because of the difference in Innate Soul Power, there was also a gap in talent and aptitude.

However, although Feng Ximei's talent was not as good as Yufeng's, this did not prevent her from still cultivating to the Soul Saint realm.

As Wang Xiao and Feng Ximei used their martial souls, they instantly rushed toward the Cockscomb Serpent that was still swallowing its prey.

"Ha—!"

At the same time, the remaining Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect scout disciples who had been hiding in various positions around the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake, along with other Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples serving as the main force, all appeared and surrounded the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake. The Cockscomb Phoenix Snake, which had been happily swallowing its prey, was startled and immediately wanted to retreat to spit out the ape in its belly.

However, the next moment—

"Form up! Attack!" Under Wang Xiao's shout, the fifth Soul Ring behind him lit up!

"Fifth soul skill! Tiger Roaring Heaven-Shaking Strike!"

Feng Ximei also unleashed her sixth soul skill, "Sixth soul skill! Storm Feather Slash!"

The powerful soul skills of the two Soul Saints landed on the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake, which was still in the process of spitting out its prey. In an instant, snake scales and flesh splattered from its massive body.

At the same time, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples who had formed the array all attacked the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake together.

The Cockscomb Phoenix Snake looked truly pitiful; it had been eating its meal perfectly fine, only for a group of people to suddenly appear from nowhere and beat it up.

Ning Feiliu felt it was a bit miserable to watch at this moment...

But the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake was a Soul Beast after all, with thick skin and flesh, and the two strongest Soul Saints, Wang Xiao and Feng Ximei, had not directly dealt a lethal blow.

After all, this was Ning Feiliu's Soul Ring; if they accidentally dealt a lethal blow and snatched the Soul Ring, it would have all been for nothing.

After enduring a long barrage of attacks from Wang Xiao, Feng Ximei, and the other Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Elders and disciples, and with many wounds appearing on its massive snake body, the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake finally spat out the prey in its belly.

Then, it abruptly opened its mouth and sprayed a mouthful of colorful thick fog at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples and Elders.

At the same time, the bright red meat crown on its head lit up, and its speed, which had been significantly sluggish due to swallowing the prey, recovered somewhat.

That colorful thick fog instantly blurred its figure.

However, this thick fog was not poisonous.

It took flight into mid-air in an instant, preparing to escape the area with lightning speed.

However...

"Seventh soul skill! War Tiger True Body!"

"Seventh soul skill! Wind Bell Bird True Body!"

Accompanied by two different voices, two massive figures appeared within the colorful mist.

A giant tiger ten meters long and four meters tall, and a cyan giant bird with a ten-meter wingspan and a height of three meters, charged directly at the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake that was trying to escape!

The two Soul Saints displayed their strongest forms, all to control the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake that wanted to flee!

Fighting side by side, they left the already injured Cockscomb Phoenix Snake even more battered.

In just a few minutes, the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake was on the verge of death.

"Now is the time!" Ning Feiliu's eyes lit up, and he shouted loudly, "Elder Wang, Elder Feng! I'm going in!"

"Understood!" the giant tiger and giant bird replied in unison.

Then, the two of them tightly pinned the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake beneath them.

The next moment, the second, unique, and somewhat eyesore purple Thousand-Year Spirit Ring behind Ning Feiliu released an extremely terrifying pressure, and then... it shattered directly! "Summoning of the... God of Melting!"

Ning Feiliu shouted loudly. The next moment, the shattered Soul Ring released a heat so extreme that a massive lava goat surged through the void toward the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake held down by Wang Xiao and Feng Ximei!

Just as it looked like the lava element was about to collide with the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake along with Wang Xiao and Feng Ximei, Wang Xiao and Feng Ximei directly deactivated their Martial Soul True Body forms and moved with extreme speed to escape the impact range of the lava element.

Only the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake remained in place, watching in despair as the terrifying lava element struck and completely blasted it to death.

The flames and the massive impact force riddled the Cockscomb Phoenix Snake's giant body with holes.

"Boom—"

The Cockscomb Phoenix Snake's body collapsed like a falling small mountain peak, but the next moment.

"Clang—!"

A pale golden Sword was driven straight into its brain center, severing all its life force.

It was Ning Feiliu who had delivered the final blow.

However, his pale face remained calm.

The paleness was due to the side effects of his Exploding Ring. In fact, as his physical fitness grew stronger and with the blessing of the Indomitable Will of Atreus, the side effects of Exploding Ring were no longer as severe for him.

At the very least, Ning Feiliu no longer found the mental impact of Exploding Ring as unbearable as he did at the beginning.

One could even say he could ignore it.

One day later.

Without any thrills or accidents, Ning Feiliu, who had finished re-absorbing his second Soul Ring, smiled at Wang Xiao, Feng Ximei, and the others and said, "Alright, you can go back now; there's no need to follow me anymore."

Having finished re-absorbing his second Soul Ring and having left the ten-thousand-year Soul Beast region of the Star Dou Great Forest, it was time for Ning Feiliu to continue his travels through the Bei Jing.

However, since Heaven Dou City was also considered part of the Bei Jing, the route Ning Feiliu took was quite similar to that of Wang Xiao and Feng Ximei.

It was just that according to the route, Ning Feiliu still needed to continue heading north to exit through a town near the Star Dou Great Forest in the Bei Jing.

Wang Xiao, Feng Ximei, and the others could head straight from here to return to Heaven Dou City.

"Very well, then we shall take our leave here." Wang Xiao and Feng Ximei, having completed their mission, had no objections and spoke immediately.

"Go." Ning Feiliu stopped paying attention to them and headed north on his own.

Along the way, he felt a bit uncomfortable, as there was no one to escort him or maintain security in the vicinity.

Consequently, he encountered quite a few disturbances from low-level Soul Beasts.

Predators like the Crypt Demon Spider or the Ghost Leopard, lacking the judgment to see who they were dealing with, set their sights on Ning Feiliu.

Ning Feiliu generally tried to let them go, but for those who were truly courting death, he wouldn't indulge them and would kill them outright.

He continued straight for two days, and just as he was about to leave this Thousand-Year Spirit Ring region, just as he was about to walk out of the Star Dou Great Forest...

He encountered some unexpected events.

"Watch out! Xiao Wu!" A girl's voice filled with terror came from the direction to Ning Feiliu's right.

(End of chapter)