Mutated Spirit Beast: Three-Tailed Swordtail Scorpion King! Hear the Way at Dawn, Die Content at Dusk

Mutated Spirit Beast—Three-Tailed Swordtail Scorpion King! Hear the Way at Dawn, Die Content at Dusk

Deep within the valley.

The rustling sound of pebbles rolling echoed through the air.

One Sword-tailed Scorpion after another retreated fearfully.

A shadow appeared on the rock wall before its body emerged—three savage, sword-like tails swayed and clashed, ringing with the sound of metal striking metal.

The metallic clanging drew closer and closer.

The shadow on the rock wall grew larger until it finally crawled out.

There it was.

Its bronze-colored carapace gleamed with an icy luster, while three narrow blades extended from its tail segments.

As its body moved, the three blades struck one another, sending tiny sparks flying.

An extremely sharp aura spread wantonly through the valley.

The other Sword-tailed Scorpions all prostrated themselves on the ground, their sword tails pressed flat against the earth in submission.

Behind a boulder.

Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes widened, her delicate face filled with disbelief.

"Let's retreat first and think this through."

Li Zhixian stared at the scorpion king with three sword tails and spoke in a low voice.

The two quietly slipped out of the valley.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Li Zhixian and asked in alarm,

"What kind of Spirit Beast was that?"

"A Sword-tailed Scorpion with three tails?!"

Li Zhixian took a huge gulp of wine, wiped the corner of his mouth, and said,

"Humans can experience Martial Soul mutations. Naturally, Spirit Beasts can too."

"This three-tailed Sword-tailed Scorpion... perhaps we can call it the Three-Tailed Swordtail Scorpion King."

After a brief pause, Li Zhixian continued with a sigh,

"Ordinary Sword-tailed Scorpions are already exceptionally powerful among Spirit Beasts of the same rank. This Three-Tailed Swordtail Scorpion King must be even more terrifying."

The shock had yet to fade from Zhu Zhuqing's little face.

The sight of the Three-Tailed Swordtail Scorpion King appearing and all the other Sword-tailed Scorpions submitting to it had been far too visually overwhelming.

"What a pity. A Three-Tailed Swordtail Scorpion King has appeared."

"Li Zhixian, I'm afraid getting a Sword-tailed Scorpion as your Soul Ring is no longer possible. Let's go find another..."

As Zhu Zhuqing spoke.

Li Zhixian suddenly said,

"Zhu Zhuqing, thanks."

"You should go."

"Hm?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Li Zhixian and noticed that, while he guzzled wine, his unblinking eyes remained fixed on the entrance to the valley.

After a long silence.

A trace of alarm entered Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice.

"Li Zhixian, don't tell me you're setting your sights on that Three-Tailed Swordtail Scorpion King?!"

Li Zhixian turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing, the corner of his lips curling upward.

"Why not?"

"You're insane!"

Zhu Zhuqing said in confusion,

"Forget how powerful the Three-Tailed Swordtail Scorpion King is—even those Sword-tailed Scorpions aren't something the two of us can handle!"

"Be reasonable. We'll definitely find another Spirit Beast that suits you!"

Seeing that Li Zhixian remained unmoved.

Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists, and her tone grew much harsher.

"Li Zhixian, are you willing to throw away your life just for a Soul Ring?!"

"Heh..."

Li Zhixian let out an ambiguous chuckle.

"Zhu Zhuqing..."

"If your Soul Power failed to advance even an inch for six years."

"If those who held great hopes for you, cared about you, and loved you all came to reject your mediocrity and gradually left you."

"Then you would understand how rare and precious it is to become stronger."

Li Zhixian stood with his back to Zhu Zhuqing, his voice as faint and ethereal as clouds in the sky.

"If I hear the Way in the morning, I may die content at dusk."

The forest fell silent for a long while, leaving only the rustling of wind through the trees.

Li Zhixian's back was reflected in Zhu Zhuqing's trembling eyes.

The young man's figure was solitary, yet straight as bamboo.

So the genius whose first Soul Ring had already been a thousand-year one had so many unknown experiences behind him.

"Hear the Way at dawn... die content at dusk..."

Zhu Zhuqing began to understand.

Why Li Zhixian had been able to make his first Soul Ring a thousand-year one.

Such a heart that would stop at nothing to grow stronger was truly staggering.

At that moment.

Zhu Zhuqing even felt that her state of mind had become clearer.

She slowly let out a breath, pursed her lips, and said,

"Do you have a plan?"

"Hm?"

Li Zhixian turned around and stared wordlessly at Zhu Zhuqing's cool, beautiful face for a long time.

His gaze made Zhu Zhuqing feel embarrassed. Flushed with shame and annoyance, she said,

"What are you looking at?!"

"I told you already, I, Zhu Zhuqing, keep my word!"

"Since I promised to help you obtain a Soul Ring, I'll definitely do it!"

Li Zhixian was not one to hesitate.

He immediately gave Zhu Zhuqing a thumbs-up.

"My Sister Zhuqing is solid. When something comes up, she really steps up. You're the real deal!"

Upon hearing the words "the real deal," Zhu Zhuqing's delicate face burned as she spat lightly.

"What Sister Zhuqing? That sounds awful!"

Li Zhixian merely smiled without saying anything.

Zhu Zhuqing was being so loyal that he would remember her kindness.

They could let the future speak for itself.

Seeing that dusk was approaching.

Li Zhixian no longer wasted time.

He explained his plan to Zhu Zhuqing.

"The Sword-tailed Scorpion colony in the valley has already formed a complete social system."

"You can think of it as an ant nest. Ants have different roles, and these Sword-tailed Scorpions are the same."

"I don't know whether you noticed, but there are four particularly large Thousand-Year Swordtail Scorpions in the valley. Those four are like worker ants, responsible for leaving the nest to forage."

"Once those four Thousand-Year Swordtail Scorpions leave the valley to hunt, that will be our best chance to act!"

As she watched Li Zhixian explain everything in detail.

Zhu Zhuqing blinked her beautiful eyes, her mind feeling a little muddled.

But that did not stop her from feeling admiration for this boy who was about her age.

To understand Spirit Beasts so well at such a young age was truly remarkable.

"Hey, Sister Zhuqing, are you listening?"

"Hm? I listened. I'm listening. Go on..."

Li Zhixian continued with a grave expression,

"Next, it'll depend on you."

"When an enemy invades, the king of a colony won't be the first to act."

"Sister Zhuqing, I need you to lure the remaining Sword-tailed Scorpions out of the valley."

"Even if the four Thousand-Year Swordtail Scorpions leave to forage, it will still be quite dangerous."

"Can you do it?"

Zhu Zhuqing's delicate face tightened as she slowly nodded.

"My Martial Soul specializes in speed. It should be fine."

Li Zhixian said,

"One minute. I only need one minute. Just hold them off for one minute."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the sharp glint surging in Li Zhixian's eyes and frowned.

"Won't one minute be too short?"

"It's enough."

Li Zhixian slapped the green bamboo beside him with one palm.

With a crack, the bamboo snapped.

Then, he held two fingers together like a sword and carved out a simple bamboo tube.

He took out the Clear Spring Wine Gourd at his waist and poured the clear wine into the bamboo tube.

He held the bamboo tube out before Zhu Zhuqing.

"Scorpions move quickly across flat ground. Stay within the forest as much as possible."

Li Zhixian stared at Zhu Zhuqing and said seriously,

"While you're running, make sure you drink the wine I gave you."

Zhu Zhuqing took the bamboo tube and nodded heavily.

"Mm!"

Dusk drew near.

The setting sun stained half the sky blood-red.

Li Zhixian and Zhu Zhuqing hid in the shrubs several dozen meters from the valley.

When they saw four Thousand-Year Swordtail Scorpions crawl out from within the valley.

Li Zhixian's spirits rose.

"Move!"