"Remember this—The Star Dou Great Forest is nothing like the empire's tame hunting grounds," Zhao Wuji warned seriously as they ventured deeper. "Where we are now, thousand-year or even ten-thousand-year soul beasts could appear at any time."
"Everyone must stay on high alert. Don't stray more than twenty meters from me. Especially Oscar and Ning Rongrong—stay within two meters of me."
They continued moving slowly through the dense forest. By noon, they had entered the area where hundred- and thousand-year soul beasts roamed.
"Understood, Teacher Zhao," Dai Mubai and the others replied in unison.
"Good. Move ahead, but slow down and proceed cautiously," Zhao Wuji instructed.
Lin Fan remained leisurely perched on a tree branch, keeping roughly fifty meters away from the group. He was calm and relaxed, watching everything from above.
As the sun began to tilt westward, around 2 PM, Lin Fan suddenly caught sight of a soul beast speeding through the forest ahead.
"It's here—Oscar's soul ring," Lin Fan muttered with a faint smile, folding his arms.
It was a thousand-year Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent, nearly nine meters long, slithering rapidly through the forest.
About ten minutes later, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been scouting ahead, also noticed it.
"Teacher Zhao! Movement ahead! It's moving fast—it looks like a serpent-type soul beast heading toward us," Zhu Zhuqing immediately reported.
"It's about eight to ten meters long, with a red crest on its head resembling a rooster's comb, wings on its body, and a fan-shaped tail," she added.
Tang San's eyes narrowed. "I know it. That's a thousand-year Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent—quite rare. The energy stored in that red crest can allow it to accelerate. It should be perfect for Oscar."
"Good. Since you're familiar with this soul beast, I'll let you lead the battle," Zhao Wuji said immediately.
Snakes fear birds. Fatty's Evil Fire Phoenix can intimidate and block it. I'll seize the chance to control it with my skills," Tang San planned calmly.
"Begin!" Zhao Wuji ordered, simultaneously releasing his martial soul.
Though he didn't intend to intervene unless necessary, he activated his martial soul in advance to be ready for backup.
Lin Fan watched from his tree, silently observing the scene below.
Tang San's battle strategy was indeed well executed, but the Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent was just too fast. Eventually, Zhao Wuji had to step in before it could escape.
Realizing the students' limit, Zhao Wuji ended the fight himself, unleashing his fourth and fifth soul skills in tandem, violently pummeling the serpent into submission.
Once the beast lay motionless, Zhao Wuji flung it before the others.
"Oscar, stab it through the crest. This soul ring is yours," Zhao Wuji said domineeringly.
"Thank you, Teacher Zhao! Thanks, everyone!" Oscar accepted a dagger from Tang San.
But just as Oscar was about to land the finishing blow, an unexpected voice interrupted.
"Stop!"
The familiar small "twist" of the original story arrived, but Lin Fan didn't move to intervene.
He had no intention of stopping Chaotianxiang—the Snake Lady.
Tang San was still at rank 29—he wouldn't break through immediately without a bit of dramatic conflict.
The arrival of Chaotianxiang and her granddaughter, Meng Yiran, was precisely what Tang San needed to push him to rank 30.
Lin Fan didn't dare interfere recklessly; if his actions disrupted the natural course of the story and prevented Tang San's breakthrough, he'd miss out on his system's mission.
If he failed this mission, it wouldn't just be a simple loss—it would also cost him the chance to acquire the Eight Spider Lances, a soul bone that could become a divine artifact in the future.
That's why Lin Fan had remained a quiet observer throughout their time in the forest, offering no hints or assistance.
After all, even Tang Hao wasn't in a rush—why should he be?
Besides, Chaotianxiang was only a Soul Emperor, and Zhao Wuji, a Soul Saint, could easily handle her.