Xiao Hongchen

Compared to his equally gifted granddaughter Meng Hongchen, Jing Hongchen had always held greater hopes for his grandson Xiao Hongchen. Though Meng Hongchen's Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad Martial Soul was just as powerful, it offered little help in crafting Soul Tools. Moreover, the Scarlet-Eyed Ice Toad had a flaw: its frigid poison could backfire on its owner. One careless mistake, and Meng Hongchen could die with the cold poison attacking her heart.

Meng Hongchen's path to growth was far more arduous than Xiao Hongchen's. As long as Xiao Hongchen progressed step by step, he had a chance of surpassing his grandfather, Jing Hongchen. Meng Hongchen, however, might die from her own cold poison before she could even mature. Of course, Jing Hongchen would not simply watch his granddaughter walk toward a dead end. He had long since made preparations for that.

When Xiao Hongchen saw his little sister chatting with someone else while he was absorbing his Soul Ring, his face darkened. He cast an unfriendly look at the only male present besides himself and his grandfather.

Sensing Xiao Hongchen's hostile gaze, Liu Xing was utterly baffled. What was going on? He had not offended this guy who looked down his nose at everyone!

But Liu Xing was not afraid of Xiao Hongchen. Smiling, he greeted him, leaving Xiao Hongchen unable to lash out. He could only turn to Meng Hongchen and ask in a low voice, "Meng, what are you doing?"

Meng Hongchen turned back at him in confusion, looking surprised. "What am I doing? Making friends, of course! What else would I be doing?"

Xiao Hongchen's mouth twitched. Knowing his sister well, he did not believe her nonsense for a second. Though Meng Hongchen did not wear her pride on her face like he did, her pride was no less than his. She disdained making friends with ordinary people and had never taken the initiative to strike up a conversation with anyone.

Unless the other person was exceptionally good-looking. That was right—his sister was an out-and-out looks addict. Looking at Liu Xing's white hair and blue-pink eyes, Xiao Hongchen had to admit that the other boy was slightly more handsome than he was. No wonder Meng had been so proactive.

He was already this adorable at six years old. What would he be like when he grew up? Wasn't this a direct counter to his sister?

With that thought, Xiao Hongchen's hostility toward Liu Xing deepened.

Liu Xing thoughtfully glanced between Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, then suddenly understood. So he's a siscon! I've got him in the palm of my hand.

"Sister Meng, are you heading back to Mingdu? What a pity—we still haven't found suitable Spirit Beasts. Otherwise, we could have gone back together."

Liu Xing leaned closer to Meng Hongchen, his face full of regret.

Looking at Liu Xing's face, Meng Hongchen became dazed. She instinctively patted her small chest and said, "It's alright. What kind of Spirit Beasts are you looking for? Sister Meng can ask Grandpa to help you find them."

"Cough, cough!"

Jing Hongchen's monocle nearly fell off. He pretended to cough twice, while Xiao Hongchen staggered, staring at Meng Hongchen in disbelief.

Luan Yu nearly burst out laughing. Holding back her laughter, she gave Liu Xing a thumbs-up.

Firefly puffed out her cheeks unhappily and glared at Liu Xing. Why was he calling her so intimately? And why was he standing so close to her?

Ye Guyi and Xu Tianzhen watched the scene in confusion, completely bewildered as to what was wrong with everyone.

Liu Xing had not expected such an effective result. Was he some kind of succubus? Meng Hongchen's defenses were way too low. He had only used a basic attack, yet she had already unleashed her ultimate!

"Cough, cough! Meng, come back. There are still matters at Mingde Hall that Grandpa needs to handle. Besides, with Ice Phoenix Douluo here, there's nothing Grandpa can help with."

Jing Hongchen hurriedly called Meng Hongchen back. Heaven knew why his granddaughter was so obsessed with looks. If they stayed any longer, he felt she would abandon him and Xiao Hongchen to remain in Demon Forest with Luan Yu and the others.

"Alright, then! Liu Xing, what kind of Spirit Beasts do you need? We've been wandering around the outskirts of Demon Forest for a long time. Maybe we've encountered the Spirit Beasts you need."

Meng Hongchen gave Liu Xing two regretful looks and reluctantly walked toward Jing Hongchen, turning back as she asked.

Liu Xing's eyes lit up. When they had first arrived in Demon Forest, everything had indeed felt fresh and exciting. But after a while, it became dull and boring. If Meng Hongchen's information could save them time, that would be perfect.

"Thank you, Sister Meng. We need a sacred-attribute Spirit Beast around four hundred years old, and a fire-attribute Spirit Beast around a thousand years old."

"Sacred attribute? A thousand-year Spirit Beast?"

Not only Meng Hongchen, but Jing Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen also looked at Liu Xing in surprise. A sacred-attribute Spirit Beast around four hundred years old was understandable, but what was with the thousand-year Spirit Beast? Surely they were not saying that one of these little kids was a Soul Elder?

Although Meng Hongchen did not know why Liu Xing and the others needed a thousand-year Spirit Beast, with Ice Phoenix Douluo present, they should not do anything reckless. Since they were not close enough to pry, she did not ask further. After pondering for a moment, she looked at Jing Hongchen and said, "Grandpa, I remember seeing a Bird of Paradise in a valley two days ago. That seemed to be a Spirit Beast with sacred and light attributes, right? I just don't know how old it was."

Jing Hongchen gave Liu Xing a deep look. He still cared greatly about why they were seeking a thousand-year Spirit Beast, but with Luan Yu there, it was not his place to ask. Smiling, he said, "You're very lucky. It happens to be a hundred-year Bird of Paradise, between three hundred and five hundred years old. You'll have to confirm its exact age yourselves."

Jing Hongchen then handed Luan Yu a map marking the Bird of Paradise's location.

"Thank you, Hongchen Hall Master. Without you, we don't know how much longer we would have had to search."

Luan Yu's face brightened as she looked at the map of Demon Forest's outskirts marking the Bird of Paradise's location. Sacred-attribute Spirit Beasts were already rare, especially in Demon Forest. As its name suggested, the Spirit Beasts of Demon Forest leaned more toward dark attributes. Light and sacred ones existed as well, but they were extremely scarce and difficult to encounter.

Luan Yu had been mentally prepared from the start. If they could not find a sacred-attribute Spirit Beast, she would have Ye Guyi absorb the Soul Ring of a light-attribute Spirit Beast instead. Though it would not compare to a sacred attribute, it would still be decent.

Now that they had found the hardest type to locate, a sacred-attribute Spirit Beast, finding a fire-attribute one would be much easier. Fire was not a rare attribute among Spirit Beasts, though finding a relatively high-grade one would still take some effort.

"Then, Hongchen Hall Master, we'll take our leave. Three more children here still need Soul Rings."

Luan Yu looked at Jing Hongchen and bid him farewell.

"Alright, we should be heading back as well. See you in Mingdu. I'm looking forward to the day these children are admitted to Sun Moon Royal Spirit Tool Master Academy."

Jing Hongchen smiled broadly. He had set aside his duties this time to find the most suitable Spirit Beasts for Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, and his goal had been achieved. It was time to return. What was more, he had discovered the four great surprises that were Liu Xing and the others. He was already looking forward to the storm they would stir up at Sun Moon Royal Spirit Tool Master Academy once they joined it.

"Goodbye, Sister Meng."

Liu Xing also waved at Meng Hongchen. She had helped them, and without Meng Hongchen speaking up, who knew when they would have found a suitable Spirit Beast for Ye Guyi?