Worried about her granddaughter's safety, the Snake Woman, Chao Tianxiang, had directly intervened to block Huo Feng's attack and had admitted defeat on Meng Yiran's behalf. This sudden turn of events surprised everyone.
At that moment, Meng Yiran's face was pale. She could no longer hold on. With a choked gasp, she spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground in dejection. The "sacrifice" effect had already put her body in a terrible state, yet she had forced herself to continue fighting. Now, the adrenaline that had sustained her vanished like air from a punctured ball. She couldn't support herself any longer. With Chao Tianxiang's help, she immediately sat down and entered a state of cultivation to heal her wounds.
She kept her eyes tightly shut, unwilling to even look at Huo Feng, who stood not far away. She had been defeated, utterly and completely. Only she knew the truth: she was no match for him. There hadn't been the slightest chance of resistance. It was only now that she finally understood. When Huo Feng had offered to fight without his spirit skills, it wasn't arrogance at all. He truly had the confidence and the ability to back it up.
Oscar quickly ran over to Huo Feng and handed him a recovery sausage he had prepared earlier. He winked and said, "Brother, eat up. If I ever make it big, I'll never forget you for this!"
Huo Feng looked embarrassed and waved his hands, refusing with a helpless smile. "Thanks for the thought, but I feel fine. I don't need a sausage." The sparring match with Meng Yiran had barely consumed any of his spirit power. Another, more important reason for his refusal was Oscar's goofy grin combined with the sausage in his hand. It was an image that most people would find difficult to stomach.
Seeing this, Oscar didn't insist. He was in an excellent mood, barely able to contain his excitement. The Snake Woman had admitted defeat herself. It was now a foregone conclusion that the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake would become his third Spirit Ring.
Zhao Wuji looked at the Snake Woman with a smile. "Sister Chao, you were saying?"
Chao Tianxiang's expression was calm, but a strange glint was hidden deep in her eyes. "A loss is a loss. The thousand-year Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake is yours. But I'll remember what happened today."
Zhao Wuji acted as if he didn't understand her veiled threat. He turned his head and winked at Oscar. "Hurry up, kid." He was reminding him to quickly kill the snake and begin absorbing the Spirit Ring. Once they succeeded, they could get out of here before any more trouble started.
Oscar was overjoyed. He had been waiting for this moment for far too long. He rushed to Zhao Wuji's side and took the short blade he was offered. With lightning speed, he plunged it into the snake's vital point without hesitation. With Zhao Wuji's spirit power locking it down, the snake struggled violently after being stabbed, but there was no escape. Its life faded rapidly, and after a moment, it stopped moving.
Once Zhao Wuji was certain the snake was dead, he tossed it to the ground. Oscar immediately sat down beside the corpse and summoned his own Spirit. Under a faint pink light, the purple Spirit Ring of the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake began to flow into his body. He was finally absorbing the third Spirit Ring of his life.
Even as the absorption began, Zhao Wuji didn't relax. His eyes remained fixed on Chao Tianxiang. A bet was just a bet. Who could guarantee that this Snake Woman wouldn't suddenly go back on her word and launch a sneak attack? Verbal promises had no real binding power. The reputation of the Unrivaled Dragon Serpent duo, while great, was not a good one. It was hardly any better than his own infamous name, Acala.
Chao Tianxiang didn't move. She just silently assisted her granddaughter with her healing. Zhao Wuji watched her, and she watched him back warily. The silent confrontation kept them both on high alert.
After a few minutes, Chao Tianxiang withdrew her hands from Meng Yiran's back and helped her to her feet. Although her granddaughter's face was still pale, she seemed to be in better spirits. She glared fiercely at Huo Feng, who was leaning against a tree not far away. Her legs still felt strangely numb. It would probably take a few days of rest for the feeling to disappear completely.
Huo Feng's Spirit was truly bizarre. Not only could it change forms, but its abilities were unlike anything she had ever encountered. The moment his lightning-infused sword had made contact, her body had reacted strangely. It felt as if her own muscles had betrayed her, moving against her will. The feeling of violation filled her with a deep-seated anger and hatred.
At that moment, her eyes fell on Oscar, who was absorbing her Spirit Ring, and she grew even more furious. She looked up at her grandmother, stomped her foot, and said angrily, "Grandma, you have to stand up for me!"
Chao Tianxiang frowned slightly, then sighed. "Let's go. We've already lost. We'll discuss this after we find your grandfather." She then turned her gaze to Zhao Wuji. "Acala, the mountains don't change, but the rivers keep flowing. We'll meet again someday." She deliberately emphasized the last words, and her eyes flickered with a cold light.
Fearing that Zhao Wuji might attack them, she didn't even dare to fully heal her granddaughter. She only suppressed the injury, deciding it would be safer to finish the treatment after they had left. The experienced Snake Woman wasn't about to give Zhao Wuji any opportunity to strike. After saying her piece, she took off into the woods with her granddaughter, disappearing into the depths of the forest.
Watching them leave, Zhao Wuji secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The Dragon Lord had never shown up. Now that the Spirit Ring was theirs, even if the couple wanted revenge, they would have to think twice about whether it was worth the trouble. Still, it was best to leave as soon as Oscar was finished.
The sky had gradually darkened. The air in the Star Dou Forest was moist and filled with the rich fragrance of plants. If it weren't for the constant threat of Spirit Beasts, this place could be a paradise.
Just then, Oscar slowly opened his eyes. The light pink glow around him suddenly intensified, turning into a bright, vibrant pink. Three Spirit Rings rose from his feet. In addition to his two original yellow rings, a brilliant new purple ring demonstrated its power. Oscar had finally broken through and entered a new realm.
Oscar, a level 31 Food-Type Spirit Elder.
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