Chapter 72: Phoenix-tail Rooster Comb Snake

The next morning at dawn!

After a night of rest, the revitalized group set out again.

Zhao Wuji, leading the five members of the Shrek group, continued to run forward. Yu Tianyun still cradled the three women and flapped his wings to fly, but he did not fly too fast; instead he matched the speed of the Shrek group, soaring at a height of a dozen meters above their heads.

Anyone in the Shrek party who looked up could see Yu Tianyun flying in midair, cradling the three women. Envy, jealousy, hatred and other emotions filled the Shrek members' hearts along the way.

Before long, the 100 km stretch came to an end, and the Star Dou Great Forest appeared before them. Viewed from above, the entire forest resembled an endless green sea, with trees so dense that even at the outermost edge, the trees towered over twenty meters.

Yu Tianyun then slowly descended to the ground and reunited with the group.

"Hold on a moment." The Star Dou Great Forest was just within reach, and Zhao Wuji's expression grew especially solemn as he solemnly warned, "This is the Star Dou Great Forest; the Soul Beasts here are far beyond the century-old Soul Beasts domesticated by those nations. Thousand-year Soul Beasts, even ten‑thousand-year Soul Beasts, could appear at any time. After entering the forest, none of you may stray more than twenty meters from me. Oscar, stay close by my side; Ning Rongrong, you must stay close to Yu Tianyun. No one may attack a Soul Beast without my order. Understood?"

"Understood."

The group responded, and even Yu Tianyun had no objections. The Star Dou Great Forest was indeed very dangerous; Zhao Wuji's words were actually a bit conservative, because soon they would encounter a ten‑thousand-year cultivation Titanic Giant Ape! However, Yu Tianyun could see that Xiao Wu seemed a little nonchalant. He understood this, after all this was her home where she had lived for a hundred thousand years! Zhao Wuji also noticed Xiao Wu's attitude, slightly furrowed his brows, glanced at Tang San beside her, said little, and signaled the group to set off.

With that, the group officially stepped into the Star Dou Great Forest.

Regarding this soul hunt, Yu Tianyun's only interest was the two‑thousand-year cultivation Human‑faced Demon Spider.

At that moment, Oscar hesitated and said, "I've got a big sausage."

He recited the incantation four times in a row, condensing four sausages.

He handed them to Yu Tianyun and said, "After entering the Star Dou Great Forest, it's best to stay in top condition. As a protected auxiliary Soul Master, I must also play my part, and this soul hunt will need the Tianyun brothers' extra care!"

Yu Tianyun gladly accepted Oscar's kindness, took the sausages, handed one to each of the three women, and then said, "Thanks. Since I've joined the team, I'll naturally contribute."

Oscar was very grateful for Yu Tianyun's promise, then after glancing at him a few times, mustered the courage to ask, "Brother Tianyun, you seem about the same age as us; how old are you, and how did you become so strong?"

When the question was asked, aside from Yu Tianyun's three girlfriends, everyone else perked up, clearly interested in the question.

Yu Tianyun, seeing this, said calmly, "I'm fifteen this year, my soul power is Level 48. As for why I'm so strong, on one hand I have been cultivating under the careful guidance of my grandfather, the Title Douluo; on the other hand I constantly push my body's limits, undergoing devilish training to improve my physical condition.

However, it's best not to follow my path; my cultivation was done under the Title Douluo's guidance and consumed vast heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Without those two conditions, copying my methods would be life‑threatening!"

Yu Tianyun's advantage, though built up step by step, is also non‑replicable. He is indeed diligent, but effort alone cannot reach his current level; his greatest edge is his foresight, which grants him opportunistic boosts. Without the external aids from Dragon Valley and the Ice‑Fire Dual Eye, his strength would at most be a five‑ring Soul King (one yellow, three purple, one black), which, while talented, only rivals an ordinary Soul Emperor. Yet his present power can contend with a four‑ring Soul Ancestor of the Soul Douluo.

When he finished speaking, everyone inhaled sharply, a fifteen‑year‑old at Level 48 Soul Ancestor! Compared with Yu Tianyun, they were not even fit to be called monsters!

Everyone reacted differently, but all felt complicated emotions; Oscar even regretted his nosy question, feeling shaken. Among them, Dai Mubai and Tang San were especially heavy‑hearted. Dai Mubai had originally thought Yu Tianyun's age would be much older than his, perhaps leaving a chance to win back his fiancée.

But now learning that the other is his own age yet eleven levels higher in cultivation, he saw little hope; his gaze darkened considerably.

Tang San wasn't any better; since arriving in this world, he never regarded peers as rivals.

In his view, he had been practicing the Profound Heaven Technique since childhood, possessed a Dual Birth Martial Soul, innate full soul power, and was taught by a famous master; now at twelve years old his soul power is Level 29, making peers impossible opponents.

But at this moment he suddenly realized his shortsightedness; for the first time he truly recognized the top geniuses of this world, and saw how far he still lagged.

In his six years, his soul power has risen about three levels per year; even after entering the Soul Elder stage he could maintain it, yet he lacks confidence that in three years he could reach Level 48, and even Level 40 seems hard to break through.

A bitterness rose in Tang San's heart; perhaps it was jealousy, but jealousy of what?

Tang San mused silently, jealous of Yu Tianyun's noble lineage—his own father was merely a blacksmith, while Yu Tianyun's grandfather is a Title Douluo;

jealous that his own teacher only has Level 29 soul power, whereas Yu Tianyun's teacher boasts over ninety levels; jealous of Yu Tianyun's talent—though I, Tang San, have a Dual Birth Martial Soul, a once‑in‑ten‑thousand genius, Yu Tianyun's talent must be inferior!

In that brief instant, Tang San felt resentment toward his father and teacher, yet remained confident in his own talent. This sparked a faint thought of cultivating a second martial soul; though small, it quietly took root in his heart, ready to sprout when the time is right.

At that moment, Yu Tianyun sensed rustling sounds in the forest and swiftly turned toward the source.

Zhao Wuji also noticed the movement and immediately barked, "Everyone stay alert! A Soul Beast is approaching!"

The group reacted instantly, each unleashing their martial soul.

Yu Tianyun also instantly completed martial soul embodiment, and as Dragon Transformation manifested Dragon Wings, his form rose swiftly into the air to scout.

In Yu Tianyun's perception, the Soul Beast moved at extreme speed; any Soul Beast with such speed must be at least five thousand years old. For his three wives, the danger coefficient was huge, so he had to investigate immediately.

Just as Yu Tianyun reached the treetop, he saw the rapidly approaching Soul Beast and let out a sigh of relief.

The speed was such that it turned out to be a Phoenix‑tail Rooster Comb Snake of under two thousand years cultivation—a false alarm, yet the inertia of events proved strong!

After confirming the Soul Beast, Yu Tianyun immediately informed those below, "It's a Phoenix‑tail Rooster Comb Snake, about six to just under seven meters long, cultivation roughly between 1,600 and 1,700 years."

"A 1,600‑1,700‑year‑old Phoenix‑tail Rooster Comb Snake?" Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up at Yu Tianyun's description, saying, "Oscar, you're lucky! This kind of Soul Beast is rare, and its age is perfect for you!"

"Indeed." Tang San added, "The Phoenix‑tail Rooster Comb Snake's trait is its extremely fast flight, so if you, Little Oscar, obtain its Soul Ring, you should gain a soul skill that boosts speed or grants flight—both excellent soul skills!"

Their words thrilled Oscar, who hurriedly said, "Since everyone says this Soul Beast is good, I'll choose it!"

In fact, Yu Tianyun also saw several sharp‑weapon attack marks on the snake's abdomen and beneath its left wing.

But he kept silent, because according to the inertia of events, if Oscar successfully absorbs the snake's Soul Ring, he might more easily encounter the Human‑faced Demon Spider later.

If his meddling caused Zhao Wuji and Oscar to abandon this Soul Beast, preventing them from meeting the Human‑faced Demon Spider, that would be a huge loss! Having decided, Yu Tianyun acted swiftly; although he knew the pursuer of this snake was the Dragon‑Lord Snake‑Lady, he was unafraid.

"Ang~" Yu Tianyun's Dragon Transformation sprouted Dragon Wings and Dragon Arms, a stirring dragon roar emanated from his mouth, and the dragon's might instantly startled the Phoenix‑tail Rooster Comb Snake, making it stagger and plunge from the air.

At that moment, Yu Tianyun followed closely, swinging his Dragon Arm encircled by fine electric currents; lightning flashed as his Dragon Claw struck, hitting the snake's head directly.

Under the heavy blow of the Dragon Claw and the electric stimulation, the Phoenix‑tail Rooster Comb Snake instantly fell unconscious, though its body continued to convulse.

Then Yu Tianyun lifted the snake's head and walked to Oscar's front.

Thus, with ease, the Phoenix‑tail Rooster Comb Snake was captured by Yu Tianyun.

Seeing Yu Tianyun needed no assistance and did not use any soul skill, yet easily captured the thousand‑year Soul Beast, the group was instantly astonished, gaining a completely new perception of his strength.

During this process, Xiao Wu felt a pang of remorse, but after Tang San's consolation she said little.

Oscar, shocked yet delighted, thanked Yu Tianyun, "Boss Tianyun, thank you. Thanks to you I could absorb such a fine Soul Ring!"

Yu Tianyun lightly laughed, "I said, since I've joined the team, I'll contribute; hurry and absorb it, lest the night grows long with many dreams."

"Hmm, hmm~" Oscar was overjoyed; he hadn't expected to encounter a suitable Soul Beast right after entering the Star Dou Great Forest.

Zhao Wuji, now closer, also noticed the sharp‑weapon scars on the snake, frowned, said nothing, then produced a small knife, handed it to Oscar, urging, "Oscar, hurry and kill this Soul Beast, absorb its Soul Ring!"

Oscar took the knife without hesitation and thrust it straight into the Phoenix‑tail Rooster Comb Snake's eye (End of chapter).