Regarding the enigmatic little beast he'd whimsically named 'Pikachu' (nicknamed Xiao Qiu), Lin Feng had never fully grasped its true species or traits. Yet, over months of observation, he'd pieced together its peculiarities.
First, despite the name, Xiao Qiu couldn't discharge lightning. Its combat power was negligible. Its most baffling trait was devouring spirit stones—exclusively spirit stones. While useless in battle, another feature proved vital: an uncanny sensitivity to danger. While heightened alertness could be attributed to bestial instinct, one ability defied that explanation...
Lin Feng vividly recalled Xiao Qiu guiding him through the Scarlet Rock Mountains to the underground magma cavern—and the Otherworldly Fire. That incident suggested Xiao Qiu possessed a unique gift: detecting Otherworldly Fires, or perhaps... all types of heaven-earth spiritual treasures!
Spirit-Seeking!
Lin Feng suspected Xiao Qiu belonged to a legendary, vanishingly rare breed of spirit beasts gifted with the Spirit-Seeking ability. Such creatures possessed an innate sensitivity to spiritual energies, locating treasures imperceptible to others. They were the ultimate companions countless cultivators dreamed of taming!
After Scarlet Rock Mountain, Lin Feng had theorized this—but lacked proof.
Now, Xiao Qiu's sudden excitement reignited that hope. Heart pounding, Lin Feng chased after the darting figure.
"Xiao Qiu! Slow down! Be careful!"
He kept his voice low, scanning the shadowed valley. Catching up, he scooped the creature onto his right shoulder.
"Easy now," he murmured, stroking its silver fur. "Tell me—did you find something good?"
"Squeak!" Xiao Qiu bobbed its head vigorously.
Lin Feng's pulse quickened. "Good! Stay put. Just point the way."
"Squeak!" Xiao Qiu stood upright, tiny left claw gripping Lin Feng's hair, right claw stabbing insistently toward the two o'clock direction ahead.
"That way? Let's go!" Hope surging, Lin Feng moved swiftly into the deepening gloom.
Guided by Xiao Qiu, Lin Feng navigated the valley's treacherous folds. They skirted two lairs housing Grade Two mid/late-stage demon beasts and evaded a squad of searching cultivators, pressing deeper into uncharted terrain.
"Not yet? Xiao Qiu... further in?"
Lin Feng slowed, senses straining. An oppressive silence had fallen. No rustle of beasts, no chatter of rival seekers—only the damp whisper of ancient trees. This was a dead zone, abandoned for a reason.
"Squeak! Squeak-squeak!" Xiao Qiu tugged his hair urgently, tiny body quivering with impatience as it pointed ahead.
"Alright. But if danger comes, stay close. Understand?"
After a firm nod from the creature, Lin Feng advanced.
"BOOM!!"
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
Seven minutes later, the clash of steel and detonations of qi shattered the stillness. Lin Feng froze.
"A fight?" he whispered, parsing the sounds. No beastial roars—just human conflict. They've reached the depths already? Could they have found the treasure?
Dread coiled in his gut. Suppressing his aura with the "Yinyuan Art", he ghosted toward the commotion.
A thousand meters later, the battle raged in full view from a wooded slope. Below, seven figures clashed:
Four male cultivators, rough-hewn and vicious, formed the attacking force.Three defenders wore identical azure robes—two women and a man carrying an unconscious fourth woman on his back. Their coordinated garb screamed sect disciples.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. Azure Spring Sect! He'd seen these robes during their disciple recruitment in Greencloud City weeks prior.
"We surrendered the Blue Vein Spirit Fruit! Enough! Must you push us to annihilation?!"
The older of the two conscious female disciples shouted, her voice raw. She wielded a glowing jade hairpin, its light flickering as it deflected a barrage of dark energy bolts. Her figure was striking, her robes straining over heaving breaths that drew lewd stares from her attackers.
"Hah! Think your sect's name frightens us here?!" sneered a scarred man, likely the leader. "Azure Spring Sect is a thousand li away! Who'll know it was us?"
"Exactly!" cackled a thinner man beside him. "Save your strength, beauties! Die happy—let us show you a real good time first!"
"Tsk, tsk... so watery," another licked his lips, eyeing the younger girl. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you scream in pleasure before you scream in death!"
"Heh, Second Brother," the fourth man grinned, pointing at the unconscious woman on the defender's back. "Don't forget the third one! Older, but still ripe... and a Core Formation female! Imagine the taste!"
Their vile laughter echoed. The azure-robed woman trembled, fury and terror warring on her face. The male disciple beside her gritted his teeth, shifting the weight of his unconscious elder. The younger girl's face was deathly pale, her defensive spells wavering.
Lin Feng pieced it together instantly. Blue Vein Spirit Fruit—a rare Grade Three water-attribute spirit herb. The Azure Spring group likely found it, their strongest member (the unconscious Core Formation elder) grievously wounded defeating its guardian beast. These scavengers had pounced, seizing the fruit and now aiming to eliminate witnesses... and indulge their depravity.
The math was grim:
Four attackers: All late Foundation Building.Defenders: One late Foundation Building man burdened by an invalid, one late Foundation Building woman, one mid-Foundation Building girl.
The outcome was inevitable—a slaughter, followed by unspeakable horrors. Such scenes were grimly common in the lawless wilds, especially on Great Python Mountain.
But Lin Feng was here.
Filth.
Cold rage solidified in Lin Feng's eyes. These men forfeited their right to breathe.
With a thought, crimson light coalesced beside him—the Soulrend Flying Sword.
"SHIIING—!!!"
A crystalline chime split the air as the blade ignited. It streaked like a silver-crimson comet, plunging from the shadows straight into the heart of the battlefield!