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When Su Wen and the other two returned, Tang Ya and Bei Bei had already taught Huo Yuhao the Xuan Tian Skill and related techniques. In the process, Tang Ya took Huo Yuhao as her disciple, officially making him a member of the Tang Sect. Naturally, she also gifted him something precious—a recommendation letter to Shrek Academy.
"Thank you, Teacher Tang Ya!"
The smile on Huo Yuhao's face grew noticeably brighter. From his initial self-consciousness, a faint glimmer of hope for the future had begun to take root.
What a pity…
Su Wen sighed inwardly.
"Have you come across any suitable spirit beasts for Xiao Tian recently?" Bei Bei asked. Seeing Su Wen tactfully keeping his distance, he became more polite, even slightly apologetic. After all, the so-called "secret arts" of the Tang Sect were somewhat outdated on the ever-changing continent. Nowadays, which major clan or sect didn't have its own top-tier techniques? Most were probably superior to the Xuan Tian Skill.
Su Wen's keeping his distance was a sign of respect for their rules—Tang Sect techniques were never taught to outsiders.
Bei Bei felt a slight warmth in his heart.
"No, I haven't. If everything here is settled, let's continue deeper," Su Wen said with a smile. They were still in the outermost part of the Star Dou Forest's periphery. Even ten-year spirit beasts were scarce, let alone finding a thousand-year one—that was just a daydream.
"Alright! Let's go!" Tang Ya waved her hand.
The group headed north.
…
"Hm…?"
Within Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, the Skydream Iceworm suddenly awoke with a startled sound.
"Brother Skydream, what's wrong?" Huo Yuhao asked inwardly as they traveled.
"A familiar scent… Is it the Ice Empress?! No, it's only an Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion. Could there be another Emperor Scorpion in this world besides the Ice Empress? Wait… could that be his martial soul?" Skydream drew in a sharp breath.
"Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion?" Huo Yuhao was bewildered.
"It's one of the most top-tier bloodlines among all spirit beasts on this continent—just a single step below a pure-blooded dragon. That kid's martial soul is actually an Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion? What a monster…" Skydream's expression was filled with doubt. Su Wen gave him a very strange feeling; probing him with spiritual power yielded a sensation as sharp as a needle's point.
"You mean Senior Su Wen?" Huo Yuhao stole a cautious glance at Su Wen. The latter's expression was calm as he held the hands of the two beautiful girls—a sight that made Yuhao somewhat envious.
"That's right. This person is dangerous. Remember to stay far away from him in the future," Skydream warned, his eyes narrowing to slits.
"And whenever I see him, I feel an inexplicable… agitation. Just be careful when you're around him," Skydream added, taking a deep breath.
"Alright!" Huo Yuhao nodded seriously, committing the warning to memory.
Although Senior Su Wen had left a good impression on him, he trusted Brother Skydream more.
…
Roughly two hours later, the forest grew denser. Vast woodlands and towering ancient trees that seemed to touch the clouds made the Star Dou Forest appear increasingly majestic—even though this was still only the outer region.
Thud!
With a palm shaped like a blade, Bei Bei sent a pale blue arc of lightning flashing through the air.
A white blur that had been darting past dropped to the ground, convulsing from the electric shock. Its neck was charred black.
"These Wind Baboons are the worst. Not only do they attack on sight, they also love ambushes," Tang Ya said angrily, hands on her hips.
Wu Feng glanced at Su Wen with a mischievous grin.
Su Wen only shrugged. My Hurricane spirit… well, it can be pretty mischievous too.
"We've now reached the true outer region of the Star Dou Forest. Hundred-year spirit beasts are everywhere, and even thousand-year ones aren't rare. There's even a chance of encountering a ten-thousand-year spirit beast… so we can't let our guard down," Bei Bei said with a serious expression.
Even with Su Wen here as their safety net, he still needed to be careful not to become a burden.
"Got it."
Tang Ya seemed unconcerned, but Huo Yuhao quickly nodded.
A mere ten-year spirit beast had nearly killed him—he couldn't imagine how terrifying hundred-year or thousand-year ones would be.
"Hehe, curious about that move your Senior Bei Bei just used? That was a true hundred-year spirit skill—Thunder Dragon Claw!" Tang Ya said smugly. Seeing Huo Yuhao was intrigued, she prepared to show off the Tang Sect's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and hidden weapons.
"Watch closely—Ghost Shadow Perpl…"
Before she could finish, Bei Bei shouted, "Careful!"
He moved in an instant, pulling Tang Ya into his arms and blocking a dense black shadow hurtling toward them with another Thunder Dragon Claw.
The shadow recoiled from the violent lightning, but not before releasing a faint, sweet fragrance with a soft puff.
"It's poison!" Bei Bei yelled.
"Mandala Snake, around a thousand years old," Ning Tian stated calmly, identifying the massive black serpent that had landed nearby, its tongue flickering.
Su Wen once again took the hands of the two girls beside him.
The Ultimate Ice he commanded dispersed the poisonous mist. With a hint of the Ice Empress's poison attribute within him, he was immune to most ordinary toxins—the Mandala Snake's poison included.
Huo Yuhao, protected by the Skydream Iceworm, exhaled a trace of icy breath, causing the poison gas around him to dissipate.
"Bei Bei, I want this one!" Tang Ya exclaimed excitedly, leaping behind him.
"Alright!"
Bei Bei flexed his numb arm, his eyes turning sharp as lightning surged from his body.
"Third Spirit Skill—Thunder's Fury!"
A purple spirit ring pulsed from beneath his feet.
He clashed head-on with the just-over-a-thousand-year-old Mandala Snake. Pale violet lightning danced across his body like countless thunder serpents. Unleashing his martial soul's full power, the two battled on even terms.
"So cool!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed.
This was his first time witnessing a battle between such powerful combatants. This was the level of the elite among human Spirit Elders.
Su Wen, however, only shook his head slightly.
It seems that at the same rank, spirit beasts are stronger than humans—perhaps due to their long lifespans, their tough hides, or their immense physical strength…
"Second Spirit Skill—Myriad Thunderbolts!"
With a loud roar, Bei Bei cast a net of lightning at the Mandala Snake.
"Hiss~"
The serpent flicked its tongue, spitting a highly corrosive liquid that burned a large hole through the net. Droplets that splattered onto the nearby plants caused them to sizzle and melt.
"So strong!" Huo Yuhao's face paled.
So this is a thousand-year spirit beast…
"Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Bei Bei roared, his deep blue hair standing on end as if possessed by a thunder god. Raising his claw wreathed in lightning, he struck downward.
"Hiss~"
The Mandala Snake cried out in pain. Its vertical pupils scanned the group with a cunning gleam. Realizing it would be difficult to defeat them, it used the force of the blow to launch itself toward Su Wen and the others.
"Careful!" Bei Bei's pupils contracted as he shouted a warning.
But Su Wen remained perfectly still.
The rapidly approaching Mandala Snake was reflected in his calm eyes—its gaze was cold, cruel, and filled with the sly satisfaction of a successful gambit. It drew closer, its maw already wide open, impatient to bite off the human's head and drag away his torn body.
Then, in the next instant—
Just as it was about to swallow him, a searing pain shot through its tail. A tremendous force hoisted it into the air, leaving it completely immobilized.
(End of Chapter)