Chapter 71: The Unrivaled Dragon and Serpent Duo

Chapter 71: The Unrivaled Dragon and Serpent Duo

"Esteemed ones, please don't misunderstand!"

From the shadows emerged a tall, thin elderly man, holding a bright silver dragon-headed cane. He bowed respectfully and said, "I am Meng Shu. I've come to hunt a third soul ring for my granddaughter. We recently found a suitable soul beast and have been chasing it to this place. Hearing the intense battle sounds here, my curiosity got the better of me, so I came to take a look. I mean no harm!"

Dragon Duke Meng Shu!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. It was indeed a case of "searching high and low, only to find it effortlessly." After hunting the Titan Giant Ape, Xiao Yu had planned to seek out Meng Yiran and her grandparents to track down the legendary Man-Faced Demon Spider. To his surprise, Meng Shu had shown up on his own.

It was easy to guess that the soul beast Meng Shu was chasing must be the Man-Faced Demon Spider.

"So it's the renowned Dragon Duke. I am Xiao Yu from the Nine Stars Palace. I've long admired your reputation, Senior!"

Xiao Yu smiled slightly and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture toward Meng Shu.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu was a veteran powerhouse, well-known in the Soul Master world. Unlike Tang Hao, who was destined to be an enemy, Meng Shu was someone Xiao Yu could potentially win over. A respectful first impression could only help.

"So, you're the Young Palace Master of Nine Stars Palace!"

Unlike Tang Hao, who had secluded himself in Nuoding City to protect his son, Meng Shu had continued to travel the continent in recent years. Naturally, he had heard of the rising Nine Stars Palace. However, he never imagined that Nine Stars Palace possessed such terrifying strength. Not counting the near-Title Douluo who was currently absorbing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, there were already three Title Douluo present. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan couldn't match this level of high-end power.

"Grandfather!"

At that moment, two more figures emerged swiftly from the dense forest—it was Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran.

Meng Yiran, full of confidence, didn't bother to survey her surroundings. In her mind, her grandfather, a Soul Douluo, was among the continent's elite. What could possibly threaten him? She ran straight to Meng Shu's side, shaking his arm playfully, "Grandfather, let's not waste any more time. If we delay any longer, that soul beast might escape!"

But Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang, with decades of experience as a Soul Master, had developed a cautious nature. She instinctively scanned the surroundings, and her eyes quickly locked onto the massive corpse lying nearby. Instantly, she gasped, "The... Titan Giant Ape!"

Seeing this, Xiao Yu smiled slightly, bowed slightly, and said to Chao Tianxiang, "I presume you must be Senior Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang and Dragon Duke's granddaughter. I am Xiao Yu from Nine Stars Palace, at your service!"

Xiao Yu's voice drew Meng Yiran's attention to him for the first time. She looked over, momentarily stunned.

So handsome!

That was Meng Yiran's first thought. The man before her had chiseled features, a strikingly handsome face, and a head of jet-black hair that fell freely. His dark eyes had a subtle purple tint, making them appear even deeper. The cold light that flickered in his eyes added a touch of aloofness.

Noticing the intensity in Meng Yiran's gaze, Ye Lingling stepped forward and looped her arm through Xiao Yu's, as if to declare her claim, giving Meng Yiran a pointed look.

Unlike Meng Yiran, Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang, though initially struck by Xiao Yu's appearance, was far beyond the age of infatuation. She quickly grasped the situation and exchanged a questioning glance with Meng Shu.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu nodded slightly in response.

Chao Tianxiang's heart sank instantly. It really was the Forest King, the hundred-thousand-year-old Titan Giant Ape. This meant there were at least two Title Douluo-level experts present. If they harbored ill intentions, she and her grandchildren would be powerless to resist.

Both Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang were filled with apprehension, and neither spoke, creating an awkward silence.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu continued, "Senior Dragon Duke mentioned earlier that you were chasing a soul beast for your granddaughter's third soul ring. May I ask what kind of soul beast it is? Perhaps I can offer some assistance."

This young man seems to be trying to win us over, Meng Shu thought to himself.

However, Meng Yiran, being straightforward, immediately replied, "It's a Man-Faced Demon Spider. My grandfather already blinded its eyes, so it's easy to identify. We've been chasing it here, and it must be nearby."

Earlier, she had already lost out on a suitable soul beast, the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent, both in terms of its age and its compatibility with her martial spirit. She didn't want to lose the Man-Faced Demon Spider as well.

Seeing that Meng Yiran had laid everything out in the open, Meng Shu, who had been contemplating whether to accept Xiao Yu's offer of help, nodded and said, "If it's convenient for you, Young Palace Master Xiao, we would be grateful for your assistance!"

"It would be an honor for us at Nine Stars Palace to assist you, Senior Dragon Duke."

Xiao Yu smiled slightly and then turned to Aiolia, saying, "Aiolia, would you mind?"

For a Title Douluo, dealing with a mere thousand-year-old soul beast was as easy as lifting a finger. Aiolia nodded and stepped forward.

Everyone, whether it was Dragon Duke and Serpent Granny or Ye Lingling and Huo Wu, assumed that Xiao Yu's goal was to forge a good relationship with the renowned Dragon and Serpent couple. None of them expected that his true target was the thousand-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider.

It didn't take long before Aiolia returned, carrying the barely alive Man-Faced Demon Spider. Xiao Yu observed the creature, which was on the brink of death after Aiolia's thunderous attack, with great interest. This was, after all, a soul beast that, like the Mandala Snake and the Wind Baboon, had nearly achieved god-slaying status.

Just as Meng Yiran stepped forward to finish it off, Xiao Yu spoke up, "Senior Dragon Duke, are you sure you want your granddaughter to absorb this Man-Faced Demon Spider's soul ring?"

"What do you mean?"

Meng Shu was slightly taken aback. He didn't think Nine Stars Palace would help him hunt a soul beast only to try and take it now.

Xiao Yu pointed at the spider's legs and said gravely, "This Man-Faced Demon Spider's legs are over three meters long. That's a sign it's over two thousand years old. Since your granddaughter is absorbing her third soul ring, I'm afraid..."

Before Xiao Yu could finish, Meng Shu's expression changed drastically. He rushed forward to closely examine the Man-Faced Demon Spider.

With his extensive experience traveling the continent, Meng Shu was well-versed in the traits of the Man-Faced Demon Spider.

However, because of the urgency after his granddaughter's earlier soul ring was taken and the darkness of the night, he hadn't inspected it carefully.

After confirming that Xiao Yu was telling the truth, Meng Shu silently thanked his luck.

If he had carelessly allowed his granddaughter to absorb a soul ring that exceeded the age limit, especially from a vicious beast like the Man-Faced Demon Spider, her body wouldn't have withstood the impact of the soul ring's energy.

The result would have been her death by explosion. With his son long gone, Meng Yiran was the only remaining bloodline of the Meng family. If something happened to her, what purpose would there be in his life?

Meng Yiran's face turned pale, and cold sweat began to pour down her forehead. If it weren't for Xiao Yu's intervention, today would have been the day of her death.

Filled with fear and gratitude, the three of them quickly thanked Xiao Yu, "Young Palace Master Xiao, words cannot express our gratitude. If you ever need anything, the Unrivaled Dragon and Serpent will follow you through fire and water without hesitation!"

(End of Chapter)

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