Seeing the despondent expression on Meng Yiran's face and her tightly pressed lips, Su Yu sighed inwardly and turned to Chao Tianxiang:
"Serpent Woman, with all due respect, this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent isn't particularly suitable for your granddaughter."
Chao Tianxiang was taken aback, a flicker of surprise in her eyes:
"What does Teacher Su mean by that?"
"Your granddaughter's Martial Soul is the Serpent Staff, which belongs to the Weapon Spirit category, leaning more towards control and Toxin attacks,"
"While the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent is indeed a serpent, its core ability lies in speed bursts."
"If she absorbs its Soul Ring, it would most likely grant a speed-related Spirit Ability."
"This doesn't enhance the core capabilities of the Serpent Staff Martial Soul and instead deviates from it."
He paused, looking at Meng Yiran who still had her head lowered, and continued:
"In my opinion, if Miss Meng Yiran wishes to maximize her Martial Soul's potential, she should seek a highly toxic Soul Beast for her third Soul Ring."
"For example, the Taipan Serpent - its Toxin would perfectly complement the Serpent Staff Martial Soul. Absorbing its Soul Ring could significantly boost the toxicity and corrosive power of her Spirit Abilities!"
"Alternatively, she could choose a serpent Soul Beast known for its strength, like the Black Scaled Python, which would enhance the Serpent Staff's physical attacks and binding capabilities."
"Both of these directions align better with the Serpent Staff's characteristics than the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent's speed."
Chao Tianxiang's grip on her serpent staff tightened slightly, her eyes showing both shock and realization.
She naturally understood that Su Yu made sense, but she had been so fixated on the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent that she overlooked the compatibility between the Soul Ring and the Martial Soul.
"This..."
Chao Tianxiang looked at Su Yu with a complex expression.
"Teacher Su has such deep understanding of serpent-type Martial Souls?"
"I only know a little! I just feel that Miss Meng shows great promise, and it would be a shame if she hindered her Martial Soul's potential by choosing the wrong Soul Ring."
Chao Tianxiang remained silent for a moment before bowing respectfully to Su Yu:
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher Su. This old woman has learned her lesson - we were too stubborn before."
She turned to Meng Yiran, her tone softening, "Yiran, Teacher Su makes a good point. We don't necessarily have to focus solely on this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent."
Meng Yiran bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then whispered to Su Yu:
"Thank you."
Chao Tianxiang nodded and, without lingering any longer, turned and left with Meng Yiran.
Perhaps missing this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent wasn't such a bad thing after all.
Watching the two figures recede into the distance, Oscar turned back and couldn't help but marvel to Su Yu:
"Teacher Su, you really know so much."
Su Yu smiled and patted his shoulder: "Teacher Zhao was right - if you read more books regularly, you'd know these things too. Now stop dawdling and go absorb that Soul Ring."
He gripped the short blade in his hand and walked over to the dying Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent.
Taking a deep breath, he didn't hesitate any longer, precisely inserting the short blade into the vital spot beneath the serpent's crest.
With a soft "thud," the blade sank to the hilt.
The Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent's body convulsed violently once before completely losing its vitality, the fleshy crest on its head quickly fading.
Moments later, a solid purple Soul Ring slowly rose from the serpent's body, emitting a soft, enticing glow.
Watching the slowly rotating Soul Ring before him, Oscar hesitated no longer. He immediately sat cross-legged beside the corpse of the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent and raised his hand to summon his Martial Soul.
A large sausage emitting a faint meaty aroma floated before him, while two yellow Soul Rings gently pulsed around his body.
Focusing his mind and calming his breath, he channeled the Soul Power within his body, guiding the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent's Soul Ring to slowly draw closer to him.
The purple Soul Ring seemed to be pulled, drifting over bit by bit until it finally settled around him, beginning to merge with his Soul Power.
Zhao Wuji and Su Yu stood guard with Dai Mubai and the others, quietly observing the surroundings for any movement.
Time passed slowly, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and Oscar's steady breathing breaking the forest's silence.
Soon, two hours had passed.
Oscar's absorption had reached its final stage. He suddenly let out a long exhale, and his tightly closed eyes slowly opened.
In that instant, the faint pink glow surrounding him abruptly transformed, as if infused with new vitality.
A dazzling pink halo enveloped his entire body, even seeming to tinge the surrounding air with a hint of sweetness.
Immediately after, three Soul Rings slowly rose from his feet.
In addition to his original two yellow Soul Rings, a bright purple Soul Ring now hovered prominently at the top.
"He did it!" Dai Mubai was the first to exclaim in a low voice, a joyful smile spreading across his face.
Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands together excitedly: "Oscar, you've finally broken through to Soul Elder!"
Feeling the surge of new power within him, Oscar couldn't help but break into a wide grin.
He stood up and, with a thought, another large sausage appeared before him.
However, this sausage was different from before - its surface shimmered with a faint pink luster and was surrounded by a circle of delicate flowing light.
Su Yu brought Ning Rongrong and the others forward one by one to congratulate Oscar on his breakthrough to Soul Elder.
Just as he was basking in this joy and praise, Zhao Wuji asked:
"Little Oscar, what's your third Spirit Ability?"
Oscar's previously excited expression immediately fell, replaced by an awkward look as he stammered:
"Teacher Zhao, can we... can we talk about this when we get back?"
Seeing his reaction, Ma Hongjun immediately became interested. Embracing a troublemaking mentality, he poked Oscar and said impatiently:
"Oscar, what are you afraid of? Do you really think we'll laugh at you?"
"Your third Spirit Incantation couldn't possibly be funnier than the first two - 'I've got a big sausage' and 'I've got a little sausage,' right?"
"We've been working hard for you all this time - you should at least let us see the results."
Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others all showed curious expressions, and even Su Yu watched him with interest.
Unable to withstand everyone's gazes, Oscar could only nod helplessly and warn with a pained expression:
"Well... alright, but you have to promise me - no matter what my Spirit Incantation is, you absolutely cannot laugh!"
"Don't worry!" Ma Hongjun patted his stomach in assurance, though he couldn't hide the smile on his face.
"We've undergone strict training - no matter how funny it is, we definitely won't laugh!"
The others nodded in agreement, their promises clearly not to be taken seriously as the corners of their mouths twitched upward.
Oscar took a deep breath, as if steeling himself for a great ordeal. He raised his right hand, closed his eyes, and quickly recited his third Spirit Incantation:
"Third Spirit Ability — Daydreaming Mushroom Sausage!"
The words hung in the air for a moment, followed by utter silence.
Then—
"Pfft—!"
Nearly everyone burst into laughter simultaneously, unable to hold back.
Ma Hongjun doubled over, clutching his stomach as he crouched on the ground:
"Hahaha... Daydreaming? And... and Mushroom Sausage? Oscar, what kind of brain do you even have?"
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