Zhu Zhuqing hadn't fully recovered her senses.
She returned to her human form, her beautiful eyes staring blankly at Li Dixian.
Her first spirit ring was a thousand-year one!
No one would believe it if she told them!
What kind of monster was this person?!
"Alright."
Li Dixian reached out and waved his hand in front of Zhu Zhuqing.
"Snap out of it."
"I said, as per our agreement, you owe me a favor."
"Hmm? Mm."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded:
"I'll naturally do what I promised you."
"As long as you don't ask for anything strange."
Li Dixian pouted.
"You think too highly of yourself."
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's flushed face, he continued with a smile:
"I want you to help me get my second spirit ring."
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned at first, then a glimmer of light flashed in her beautiful eyes, and she nodded without hesitation.
"Okay."
Her quick agreement threw Li Dixian off.
After all, hunting soul beasts still carried considerable danger.
Li Dixian thought for a moment and said:
"Let me tell you beforehand, my target is a thousand-year soul beast."
"If you find it difficult, I understand."
Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face was calm as she stepped forward.
"I've already made up my mind."
She naturally knew the danger.
But compared to the danger, she was more curious about how this young man managed to absorb spirit rings beyond his level.
After a few steps.
She noticed Li Dixian hadn't followed.
Zhu Zhuqing turned her head, frowning:
"Even a girl like me agreed, what are you still hesitating about?"
Li Dixian pointed in the opposite direction.
"You're going the wrong way."
Zhu Zhuqing: "..."
"My name is Li Dixian."
Li Dixian tilted his head and took a swig of wine, saying:
"This time you help me, I owe you a favor."
Zhu Zhuqing recovered from her embarrassment and said calmly:
"I promised you I'd help you with something."
"Besides, you're much stronger than me, I'm afraid I won't be much help."
Li Dixian smiled and said nothing more.
The two walked for another stretch.
Seeing Li Dixian constantly holding a bottle of wine, Zhu Zhuqing finally couldn't help but ask:
"Drinking so much, aren't you afraid you won't be able to hold your sword steady later?"
Li Dixian wiped the corner of his mouth and shook his head, saying:
"You don't understand."
"To me, wine is the soul of the sword."
"The more I drink, the wilder I become; the drunker I get, the sharper my edge."
Zhu Zhuqing stopped, looking at the unrestrained back of the young man, a hint of unusual brilliance in her beautiful eyes.
They walked for about another incense stick's time.
The towering trees grew even taller, and the leaves of the vegetation turned a deep, inky green.
This indicated that the two had gradually entered the deeper parts of the Star Dou Great Forest's periphery.
A faint, lingering stench permeated the air.
This was a warning from the soul beasts to external invaders.
Zhu Zhuqing vigilantly scanned her surroundings.
"Li Dixian, what kind of soul beast are you targeting?"
Li Dixian's brows furrowed slightly.
Even he himself was conflicted.
He had long planned a perfect path for his spirit rings.
However, his first spirit ring unexpectedly became a thousand-year one.
This fueled his ambition, causing him to overturn his previous ideas.
"My target is the Sword Tail Scorpion."
The Sword Tail Scorpion is a type of soul beast that inhabits dark places.
Unlike ordinary scorpions, its tail is like a sword, non-venomous but extremely sharp.
The books said that a single sweep of a Sword Tail Scorpion's tail could instantly kill a soul beast of comparable age.
Its combat power could be described as terrifyingly extreme.
Li Dixian wanted his Azure Lotus Sword Spirit to follow an extreme offensive path.
The Sword Tail Scorpion was the best choice.
"Sword Tail Scorpion?"
Zhu Zhuqing's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
She hadn't heard of this type of soul beast.
But just by the name, she knew its combat power must be extraordinary.
"Then let's speed up our search."
"Otherwise, after dark, the Star Dou Great Forest will be too dangerous."
Finally.
Half an hour later.
A valley hidden behind dense jungle appeared in the sights of Li Dixian and Zhu Zhuqing.
A slightly foul-smelling cold wind blew from the mouth of the valley, making a whimpering, weeping sound.
Li Dixian warned:
"Be careful, this valley is very suitable for Sword Tail Scorpions to live in."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded gravely.
The two cautiously walked into the valley.
Inside the valley, it was about four or five zhang wide, with damp weeds growing wantonly.
On the rock walls on both sides of the valley, deep ravines crisscrossed, looking shocking.
Li Dixian reached out and touched the gully.
It felt smooth, with no obstruction at all.
This showed how sharp the object that carved the gully was.
"Excellent, excellent!"
Li Dixian praised repeatedly.
These gullies were undoubtedly left by Sword Tail Scorpions.
And the sharpness of the Sword Tail Scorpion's tail appendage exceeded his expectations.
"The Sword Tail Scorpion is indeed very compatible with sword Spirits."
"If I absorb the Sword Tail Scorpion's spirit ring, the power of the Azure Lotus Sword will surely reach a new level."
Thinking this in his heart.
Li Dixian looked at Zhu Zhuqing, whose small face was taut, and smiled:
"Zhu Zhuqing, if you want to back out now, you can still leave the valley."
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Li Dixian.
"Hmph, don't underestimate me."
"What I, Zhu Zhuqing, promise, I always follow through on."
Li Dixian was about to reply.
From deep within the valley, a rustling sound came, growing closer.
Li Dixian's expression changed slightly.
He quickly pulled Zhu Zhuqing and hid behind a large rock.
Zhu Zhuqing watched her small hand being held by Li Dixian, and a blush spread across her cool, delicate face.
She wanted to break free.
But then she immediately heard Li Dixian's voice.
"Look!"
Zhu Zhuqing followed Li Dixian's gaze.
Then, she saw half-meter-long scorpions, like a tide, pouring out from the depths of the valley.
These scorpions were entirely dark green, their highly raised tail appendages resembling long swords, even revealing a glint of cold light from their tips.
They came to the open area of the valley, swung their sword-like tails, and attacked the rock wall.
Screech—!
Screech—!
Under the tail appendages of these Sword Tail Scorpions.
The solid rock wall was as fragile as thin paper.
Stone chips fell rustling.
"Wh-what do we do next?"
They were too close.
Almost body to body.
Zhu Zhuqing's voice trembled slightly.
Li Dixian didn't notice Zhu Zhuqing's unusual behavior; his attention was entirely on these Sword Tail Scorpions, and he felt a little strange in his heart.
What were these Sword Tail Scorpions doing?
Group training?
Wasn't that a bit too disciplined?
Seeing Li Dixian not responding, Zhu Zhuqing, whose nose was filled with the boy's scent, couldn't take it anymore.
Her pretty face was burning, and she wanted to shift her body slightly.
"Li Dixian, you..."
The words had just left her mouth.
The next second, Li Dixian suddenly covered Zhu Zhuqing's small mouth.
"Mmm..."
Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes widened as she looked at Li Dixian.
Li Dixian slowly shook his head with a solemn expression.
Zhu Zhuqing understood.
The two paused for a moment, then looked towards the valley.
They saw... the Sword Tail Scorpions had stopped their training.
They lowered their heads, their raised tails dropped, and they quickly retreated to both sides in fear, leaving a wide space.
And at this moment.
Accompanied by rolling, foul wind.
A hideous beast shadow slowly crawled out.