No, I can't lose. Meng Yiran gritted her teeth and forced herself to hold on. Watching Tang San's soul power close in step by step, she refused to give up no matter what. If she lost, the Thousand-Year Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent would belong to the other side.
Since childhood, Meng Yiran had grown up doted upon by Dragon Grandpa and Snake Granny. Anything she had ever wanted, she had gotten. As for the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent, she was absolutely determined to have it. Even though she was gradually falling behind, she simply could not bring herself to give up, constantly pushing her own potential to the limit.
Meng Yiran's tenacity secretly surprised Tang San. His Mysterious Heaven Skill recovered noticeably faster than the soul power of this world. After all this time, he had already gained the upper hand, yet Meng Yiran persisted with such stubborn resolve.
A contest of soul power was just like a contest of internal energy. Tang San understood the consequences all too well. If one side's soul power was completely drained, the damage sustained would be enormous and irreversible—at the very least, severely crippling injuries with most of the body's meridians snapped. One wrong move and a life could be lost. He had no deep enmity with Meng Yiran, and in some ways even sympathized with her. He didn't want to hurt or kill his opponent, but at this point, it was no longer a matter of whether he wanted to let her go.
Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang sighed and said to Zhao Wuji, "Forget it. Count it as our loss. What if we both intervene together?"
With Zhao Wuji looming like a tiger at the side, Chao Tianxiang naturally dared not act rashly. Now, to protect her granddaughter, she had no other choice. After all, a soul ring was nice, but her granddaughter's life was more important.
Zhao Wuji was only too happy to oblige and nodded immediately. The two powerhouses—one with the strength of a Soul Saint and the other a Soul Emperor—simultaneously floated forward, positioning themselves behind Tang San and Meng Yiran respectively, channeling their soul power.
"Release." Zhao Wuji gave a deep command. His powerful soul power surged into Tang San's body. Tang San had heard the conversation between Zhao Wuji and Chao Tianxiang clearly. Protected by Zhao Wuji's soul power, he immediately let go and allowed himself to be carried several steps backward.
On the other side, Chao Tianxiang also used her own soul power to shield Meng Yiran, grabbing hold of her body to prevent her from continuing the attack.
Meng Yiran's face was deathly pale. She let out a cry and spat out a mouthful of blood, collapsing weakly to the ground.
She had been at a disadvantage earlier, desperately holding on under the pressure of Tang San's soul power. Now that the pressure was gone, the potential she had been squeezing out dissipated like air from a punctured ball. She could no longer maintain herself and slumped to the ground. With Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang's help, she immediately entered a meditative state to heal her injuries.
Oscar hurried over to Tang San's side and pressed a pre-prepared Recovery Sausage into his hand, winking as he said, "Brother, eat this quick. If I make it big in the future, I'll never forget you."
Tang San said reproachfully, "We're on the same side—no need for that." He took the sausage and ate it, but he didn't ask Zhao Wuji to help him recover his soul power the way Chao Tianxiang was helping Meng Yiran. Instead, he walked off to one side by himself and sat down to cultivate on his own. With Oscar's sausage to assist, his recovery wouldn't be too slow. Zhao Wuji was the only powerhouse on Shrek Academy's side—it was best to keep his strength in reserve. Who knew if that Dragon Grandpa might suddenly appear?
Zhao Wuji seemed quite pleased that Tang San had refused his help. Watching Tang San walk away, a smile crept onto his face.
Xiao Wu was the first to stand guard beside Tang San as he began cultivating to recover his soul power. Dai Mubai, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun followed one after another, surrounding Tang San in the center to watch over him. Tang San had defeated Meng Yiran for Oscar's sake, and it stirred something in all of them. The distance between them seemed to have drawn a little closer.
Zhao Wuji looked at Snake Granny with a smile. "Big Sister Chao, what do you say?"
Snake Granny said calmly, "A wager lost is a wager lost. The Thousand-Year Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent is yours. I will remember today's events."
Zhao Wuji pretended not to hear Chao Tianxiang's veiled threat. He turned to Oscar and winked. "Brat, what are you waiting for? Hurry up."
Overjoyed, Oscar dashed to Zhao Wuji in a single stride. He took the short blade Zhao Wuji offered and, without a shred of hesitation, plunged it into the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent's vital point.
Under Zhao Wuji's soul power lock, the serpent struggled violently after being struck, but how could it possibly break free? Its life force drained away rapidly, and in a short while, it lay still.
Only after sensing that the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent's life energy had truly faded did Zhao Wuji toss its body to the ground.
Oscar sat down right beside the serpent and summoned his Big Sausage. Bathed in a soft pink glow, he drew the serpent's soul ring into his body. He was beginning to absorb the third soul ring of his life.
Zhao Wuji did not relax simply because Oscar had started absorbing the soul ring. His gaze remained locked on Chao Tianxiang the entire time. They had called it a wager, but who could be certain this Snake Granny wouldn't suddenly renege and launch an attack?
The name of the Peerless Dragon Snake was formidable, but they weren't exactly paragons of justice. Even if they were somewhat better than him, the Immovable Bright King, it wasn't by much.
Chao Tianxiang made no move. She simply assisted her granddaughter in silence. Zhao Wuji watched her, and she watched him with equal wariness. Their silent standoff left both of them in a state of extreme mental tension.