A Perilous Ring Hunt

Jia Youcai nodded hurriedly and willingly took on the duty of her personal bodyguard, sticking close behind Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue moved with light, nimble steps. Every so often, she looked back at Jia Youcai. Though her eyes held a trace of disdain, she still quietly reminded him to watch his step, lest he trip over a branch or step on some danger hidden in the grass.

The two slowly made their way down the secluded path, surrounded by towering trees whose branches and leaves interwove overhead.

Jia Youcai looked around curiously, finding everything around him novel.

Suddenly, he spotted a strange patch of grass not far ahead. Specks of faint light flickered within it, brightening and dimming as if some mysterious treasure were hidden inside, instantly piquing his curiosity.

"Xuexue, look over there!" Jia Youcai pointed at the grass and shouted excitedly.

Qian Renxue looked in the direction he indicated, her brows drawing together slightly as a hint of wariness appeared on her face. "That patch of grass seems strange. Stay here and don't move. I'll go take a look."

Qian Renxue cautiously approached the grass, the Light Sword in her hand glimmering faintly as she prepared for any danger that might appear.

As she neared the grass, the flickering lights suddenly brightened. Then, a small soul beast sprang out from within.

The soul beast resembled a fox, its body covered in pale blue fur. The fur was soft and sleek, shimmering with an enchanting luster beneath the faint light.

Its eyes resembled two brilliant sapphires, giving off a captivating glow. Upon seeing Qian Renxue, it did not immediately flee. Instead, it tilted its head and looked at her curiously, letting out soft "woo woo" cries.

Qian Renxue's heart stirred. She could sense a pure yet powerful fluctuation of Soul Power coming from the soul beast. It might be an exceptionally rare soul beast.

"This little fellow doesn't seem simple," Qian Renxue said softly. Then she slowly crouched down, trying to get closer to it.

The Little Fox seemed to sense that Qian Renxue meant it no harm. It actually walked toward her slowly and gently rubbed its head against her leg. The affectionate gesture warmed Qian Renxue's heart.

Qian Renxue gently stroked the Little Fox's head and said tenderly, "Little one, would you like to come with me?"

The Little Fox raised its head and looked at her with its sapphire-like eyes, then nodded gently. It looked incredibly obedient.

However, just as Qian Renxue let down her guard, a sudden change occurred. The fox-like soul beast suddenly let out a low, terrifying roar. Its originally tiny body rapidly expanded, while its pale blue fur turned coarse and hard.

Before long, its eyes turned blood-red as well, and its entire body radiated greed and savagery. Its adorable appearance vanished without a trace.

Taking advantage of Qian Renxue's moment of carelessness, it lunged at her. Its claws were as sharp as blades, and it opened its bloody maw to reveal pointed fangs, biting straight for Qian Renxue's head. It clearly intended to devour her outright to increase its cultivation.

Qian Renxue was startled. She had never imagined that this seemingly docile Little Fox had been putting on an act. Yet at such close range, she had no time to dodge and could only close her eyes in near despair.

Seeing this, Jia Youcai hurriedly mobilized the Soul Power within his body and shouted, "Cleaver Enhancement!"

A kitchen knife emitting a faint glow appeared in his hand. Though it looked somewhat comical, it still possessed a certain degree of offensive power.

Jia Youcai brandished the kitchen knife and charged at the mutated soul beast. Along the way, he set his pain sensitivity to fifty percent. With the resolve that he might as well die, he thought that even if he did die, it would only cost him another ten yuan to buy Revival Coins.

The soul beast saw Jia Youcai charging toward it and did not take him seriously at all, merely swiping its claw casually. However, it had not expected Jia Youcai's strike to contain such force. With a loud clang, Jia Youcai's kitchen knife jolted its claw painfully.

Qian Renxue seized this rare opportunity and immediately fled the danger zone.

Jia Youcai ignored the limits of his body and engaged the soul beast in a desperate fight.

Jia Youcai's strike thoroughly enraged the soul beast. A fiercer savage gleam erupted from its blood-red eyes. It threw back its head and let out an earth-shaking roar, its aura suddenly intensifying.

It leaped into the air, tracing a fierce arc as it pounced viciously down at Jia Youcai. As its claws swung, they brought a sharp whistle of tearing wind.

Jia Youcai did not retreat. He pushed off the ground with all his strength and shot toward the soul beast like an arrow loosed from a bow, raising the kitchen knife high in his hand.

"Take this—Chaotic Wind Slash!" he roared, wildly hacking at the soul beast with his kitchen knife.

Naturally, Jia Youcai was the one who suffered most of the losses.

Yet Jia Youcai only grew braver as he fought. Completely disregarding the expenditure of his own Soul Power, he mechanically swung his kitchen knife, trying to force the soul beast back.

The soul beast spotted an opening, suddenly twisted to the side, and nimbly evaded Jia Youcai's attack. Then it lashed out with its tail, striking Jia Youcai hard in the chest.

"Pfft!" Jia Youcai felt a burst of agonizing pain in his chest. He staggered back several steps and spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale as paper.

Just as Jia Youcai wanted to catch his breath, the soul beast gave him no such chance. It pounced at him again, so fast that Jia Youcai had no time to react. He could only watch helplessly as its claws closed in.

Just as the soul beast's claws were about to strike Jia Youcai, a golden flash suddenly streaked through the air. Qian Renxue arrived in time, and the Light Sword in her hand pierced toward the soul beast first.

For this strike, Qian Renxue had used almost all of her Soul Power.

The soul beast sensed the immense power and tried to evade, but it was already too late. The blade pierced straight into its body, drawing wave after wave of agonized howls from it.

What followed was Qian Renxue's one-sided slaughter.

Finally, with an earth-shaking crash, the soul beast collapsed weakly onto the ground. A yellow Hundred-Year Spirit Ring rose from its body.

"I didn't expect your Cleaver Spirit to be so impressive at a crucial moment," Qian Renxue said as she looked at Jia Youcai, a trace of approval in her eyes.

Jia Youcai scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. "Hehe, I really gave it everything I had."

Qian Renxue said no more. She sat down cross-legged, her gaze fixed on the slowly rising Hundred-Year Spirit Ring. Taking a deep breath, she circulated the Soul Power within her body, and a faint golden glow gradually spread around her.

As though drawn by some force, the yellow spirit ring slowly drifted toward Qian Renxue. It eventually settled steadily above her head and began rotating in circle after circle.

As the spirit ring rotated, threads of Soul Power continuously flowed into Qian Renxue's body. Her brows furrowed slightly as she endured the impact of that power.

Jia Youcai stood guard nearby, his eyes fixed on Qian Renxue without daring to relax for even a moment, afraid that something might go wrong.

Time slowly passed, and the light around Qian Renxue grew increasingly dazzling. Finally, with a clear hum, the yellow spirit ring completely merged into her body. The absorption was a success.