One Sword, Then Another!

"Isn't the Storage Bag at your waist just for show?"

Zhao Chen hadn't expected her to dare pawn the Snow White Dagger to him. It was a handy weapon.

If she gave it to him, she would have nothing left.

Then he really would become her guardian.

Put nicely, he would be a guardian.

Put bluntly, he'd freaking be a babysitter!

Zhao Chen definitely couldn't do that. He had been planning to make her his babysitter.

His eye for things was still pretty good.

With just one glance, he spotted the Storage Bag hanging at her waist.

When he had swiped the Crimson Token earlier, he hadn't seen the Storage Bag. It must have been tucked beneath her clothes.

A girl from a major family like hers should have some good stuff, right?

"There's nothing much inside this."

Wu Yingying's gaze darted away.

She tried to tuck the Storage Bag into her chest, avoiding Zhao Chen's eyes.

But Zhao Chen merely smiled and turned to leave.

"Wait! I never said I wouldn't give it to you!"

Wu Yingying panicked. If he really left, what was she supposed to do?

"There are two spiritual herbs in this Storage Bag. Taking them should be enough to condense a Second-Level Spirit Body!"

She hurriedly took out the two spiritual herbs and cried anxiously, "Here, take them! Take them all!"

Zhao Chen immediately stopped. Only after Wu Yingying ran over did he smile and tuck the two spiritual herbs into his clothes.

He did not take the Snow White Dagger. She still needed it to kill spirit beasts or deal with enemies. There was no need.

"Actually, finding your Crimson Token again is quite simple."

Zhao Chen smiled and reminded her, "This place is so big. That person definitely couldn't have gone far. If we kill the spirit beasts here, he'll come out on his own. Of course, other people may also come looking for the Crimson Tokens we collect. You'll have to weigh the pros and cons yourself."

Wu Yingying lightly bit her lip. How could she not understand that?

This had been a decision she made after weighing the pros and cons.

"I'll listen to you. Whatever you say, I'll do."

The fact that he had never shown any Killing Intent put Wu Yingying somewhat at ease.

Before she recovered the Crimson Token and found her brother, she needed to stay alive.

Only by staying alive could she have the ability to do anything else.

Clap, clap, clap.

Zhao Chen clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Very good. You made a wise choice. I hope your brother can be just as wise."

These two spiritual herbs had probably been picked near that stream.

Wu Yingying had planned to use them to refine her spirit body. Given her physical condition, she should already possess a First-Level Spirit Body.

With these two spiritual herbs, she could unlock a Second-Level Spirit Body.

But they would certainly be more suitable for him than for her.

Zhao Chen shamelessly pressed the two spiritual herbs directly against his Crimson Token.

A beam of red light enveloped the herbs before absorbing them completely.

When he grasped the Crimson Token again, abundant energy immediately poured into his body.

His physical condition had clearly improved significantly.

Congratulations! You have unlocked a Second-Level Spirit Body!

The feedback from the Crimson Token greatly satisfied Zhao Chen.

This was a massive profit. His effort to talk Wu Yingying into submission had not been wasted.

"Let's go. Once I reach a Third-Level Spirit Body, I'll take you to the Guardian Land."

Zhao Chen first dangled a tempting promise before her so that she could relax.

"You can't use spirit beast essence, so I'll absorb it. As for spiritual herbs, I'll give them to you later."

After simply settling the distribution, he headed forward again.

Ahead lay the inner region of the Deep Mountain.

Low-Level Spirit Beasts were quite common here.

Zhao Chen had not forgotten his check-in mission.

Kill three Low-Level Spirit Beasts? That was a small matter to him now!

"By the way, is your nose really that sensitive?"

Zhao Chen suddenly thought of something. Turning his head toward Wu Yingying, he asked.

"Y-yes. Why?"

Wu Yingying did not know why he had suddenly asked that and replied nervously.

"Then you should be able to smell the Low-Level Spirit Beasts nearby, right?"

Zhao Chen felt that searching around aimlessly was too inefficient for hunting spirit beasts.

So why not use Wu Yingying's strength to find them?

"..."

Wu Yingying wanted to say something but held it back, only able to nod.

It was her first time meeting someone like this.

He really was difficult to deal with.

After walking for some time, she stopped and pointed at the forest ahead.

"There's an especially strong smell here. It should be where spirit beasts live in groups."

Zhao Chen became alert, his right hand already resting on the hilt of the Asura Sword inside the Blood-Red Sword Sheath on his back as he carefully surveyed the area.

To identify spirit beasts, one did not necessarily need to see their appearance firsthand. Their surrounding habitat could also reveal clues.

The Low-Level Spirit Beast Blood Pig Tiger from before liked ramming trees, and the marks it left behind had allowed Zhao Chen to find it.

The signs of activity here were mostly in the treetops.

That meant the spirit beasts here were likely apes or something similar.

"Wait, these footprints belong to a bear-type spirit beast!"

Zhao Chen discovered a series of huge bear paw prints on the ground. Rather than panicking, he became extremely excited.

This might very well be a Level 2 Spirit Beast!

"Over there... it's a Mountain Bear!"

Wu Yingying's face turned somewhat pale.

She only had a First-Level Spirit Body. Defeating a Level 2 Spirit Beast would be quite difficult.

And among Level 2 Spirit Beasts, the Mountain Bear was an exceptionally powerful existence.

Not only was its strength close to the Spiritual Movement Realm Late Stage, but its fur was also incredibly tough. Its body was enormous and its strength immense. It was the very definition of thick hide and tough flesh, making it extremely troublesome.

Without sufficient strength or an exceptionally sharp weapon to break through its defenses, the best option was definitely to run.

"A Mountain Bear is perfect. I'll kill it!"

Zhao Chen looked at the iron-gray giant bear, more than ten zhang tall, whose every step made the earth tremble. A trace of excitement appeared on his face.

The Low-Level Spirit Beast Blood Pig Tiger from earlier had only been a Level 1 Spirit Beast.

And he had killed it with a single ambush strike, so it had not provided much of a reference for his strength.

But this Mountain Bear, which was about to enter Level 3, was quite the challenge.

Roar!

As though it sensed the threat Zhao Chen posed, the Mountain Bear viciously pounded its massive paws against its chest before charging toward him.

The charge of that mountain-like beast frightened Wu Yingying into turning and running.

"Is it really that scary?"

Zhao Chen's mouth twitched. He drew the Asura Sword from its Blood-Red Sword Sheath and charged toward the Mountain Bear.

"Slash!"

With the sharpness of the Asura Sword and his own Second-Level Spirit Body, he had nothing to fear.

Sshk!

In an instant, Zhao Chen cut off the Mountain Bear's paw with a single sword strike.

Blood gushed from the wound.

Roar!

The sudden pain made the Mountain Bear roar endlessly in shock.

Zhao Chen pressed his advantage, swinging the Asura Sword in his hand and sending a dazzling sword light slashing viciously toward the Mountain Bear's unguarded neck.

Sshk!

Blood splattered everywhere.

A bear head, its face full of disbelief, crashed heavily to the ground.

Its eyes remained wide open, never understanding how it had suddenly died.

Just one sword, then another—how was it gone already!?

Was this a joke!?