Starfall Unicorn

The group spent a full week searching the Star Dou Great Forest for a Light Attribute soul beast over ten thousand years old.

Although they had found several Light Attribute ones along the way, either their age was unsuitable or their skills were a poor match.

They had finally come across a twenty-thousand-year Bright Armor Beast. Its age was suitable, and its innate skill, Bright Body Armor, was a rare and powerful ability that combined enhancement with protection. Yet Ouyang Xi and Xiao Linyi both rejected it.

The Bright Armor Beast was powerful, but its entire body, including its face, was covered in irregular plates of armor. It looked exceedingly rough and was one of the few ugly soul beasts among those with the Light Attribute.

Generally speaking, Light Attribute soul beasts were known for their good looks among soul beasts. Yet no one knew how the Bright Armor Beast had offended the God of Light. Forget Light Attribute soul beasts—even among all soul beasts, it ranked near the bottom in appearance.

Ouyang Xi possessed the Bright Phoenix Spirit and had always been picky. What was more, she was choosing a soul ring for her own son.

As an outstanding graduate of Shrek Academy's Inner Court, Ouyang Xi naturally knew that soul rings, martial souls, and even soul masters themselves could influence one another. If that Bright Armor Beast affected her precious baby's looks, she would not even know where to cry.

Though Light Attribute soul beasts were rare, Ouyang Xi would rather spend more time searching than take that risk.

As for Xiao Linyi, no matter how mature he was for his age, he was still only a six-year-old child. Naturally, he was easily influenced by his mother. Seeing that she had rejected the soul beast for being ugly, Xiao Linyi immediately voiced his agreement.

Raised single-handedly by Ouyang Xi, Xiao Linyi had a temperament very similar to his mother's. Both of them liked pretty things.

Lin Qingxuan already spoiled his wife. Since both his wife and son had rejected it, what else could he say? Of course, he agreed.

Still, Lin Qingxuan recalled how his son would cling to the legs of those female Inner Court students who were close to his wife whenever they came to the shop. He quietly grew wary. In the future, he would have to keep a close eye on the boy and make sure his son did not turn into some fickle little flirt.

As for Mu En, although their reason for refusing was absurd, seeing that the family of three had all agreed, he, their newly appointed and rather nominal master, could not say much. He could only shake his head and sigh before continuing the search.

Completely unaware of the danger it had escaped, the Bright Armor Beast continued lazily basking in the sun. It did not know that it had just walked past the gates of death, nor that its natural ugliness had saved its life.

Yet after encountering the Bright Armor Beast, it seemed the group's luck had run out. They wandered through the Mixed Zone for more than half a month without finding another suitable soul beast.

Mu En was beginning to lose patience. As the Pavilion Master of Sea God Pavilion and Shrek Academy's stabilizing pillar, it was hardly appropriate for him to vanish for nearly a month. What if the academy encountered an emergency?

Finally, after wandering through the Mixed Zone for another two hours without finding anything, Mu En decided to enter the Core Zone to search for a suitable soul beast.

Sure enough, the Core Zone lived up to its name. Soul beasts over ten thousand years old, which they had not seen even one of in the Mixed Zone for days, appeared twice within three hours of entering the Core Zone.

However, one was a twenty-thousand-year Ghost Tiger, while the other was a forty-thousand-year Giant Unicorn Rhinoceros. Neither was suitable for Xiao Linyi.

Seeing that night was approaching, Mu En decided to withdraw and rest before continuing the search the next day.

The following day, the group headed for the Core Zone once more. This time, the goddess of fortune seemed to favor them. Near a stream, Mu En sensed that a Light Attribute soul beast had drunk there only moments earlier.

The family of three was overjoyed and hurriedly followed Mu En, tracking the aura he had sensed.

Before long, three exceptionally majestic soul beasts appeared before them. Their outstanding appearance conquered everyone at first sight. Even the picky Ouyang Xi had to admit that these were the most beautiful soul beasts she had ever seen.

The three soul beasts resembled fine horses, but the enormous white wings on their backs, along with the golden feathers lining the outer edges of those wings, revealed that they were different from ordinary horses. A spiraling golden horn stood proudly atop each head. Their bodies were snow-white, while the manes along their necks radiated golden light. Even as they walked normally, rich Light Power gathered around them on its own, vaguely forming rings of golden halos.

Mu En recognized the soul beasts the instant he saw them, and undisguised delight filled his eyes.

"Starfall Unicorns! They're actually Starfall Unicorns! I never thought this kind of soul beast truly existed!"

Mu En's voice even trembled.

"Elder Mu, you know this kind of soul beast? How come we've never heard of it before?"

Ouyang Xi had fallen for these soul beasts at first sight, but liking them did not change the fact that she truly did not recognize them.

Mu En explained, "It's normal that you don't know them, because these soul beasts were never native to Douluo Continent."

"They aren't soul beasts from Douluo Continent?"

"That's right. Legend says that Starfall Unicorns came from the Otherworld, arriving here through Space Rifts. I once saw a description of them in a collection of miscellaneous tales from a thousand years ago. I had assumed it was fabricated, since there had never been any record of such soul beasts on Douluo Continent. Only that one book mentioned them in passing. Who would have thought that I would truly see them today?"

Mu En then looked at Xiao Linyi, his tone carrying relief. "Good thing your mother did not let you absorb that Bright Armor Beast earlier. Compared to these Starfall Unicorns, that Bright Armor Beast falls far short."

"Master, are Starfall Unicorns very powerful?"

Hearing his disciple's question, Mu En sighed with emotion. "If the records in that book are true, then Starfall Unicorns are supreme-grade soul beasts. To any soul master with the Light Attribute, a Starfall Unicorn is equivalent to—or even surpasses—a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. They are the favored children of light..."

Listening to Mu En's description, everyone realized just how extraordinary the Starfall Unicorns were.

"Humans, state your purpose!"

A voice that was imposing yet gentle rang out. Everyone followed the sound and found that it came from the leading Starfall Unicorn. Unlike the other two, its eyes were pale gold.

"You can speak?"

Xiao Linyi blurted out in surprise. The books said that speaking human language was a standard trait of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. Could this unicorn be one hundred thousand years old?

"Human child, my race is naturally intelligent. Human language is not difficult for adult members of my race."

Mu En watched the soul beasts warily. "The leader is probably around forty thousand years old. Of the other two, the larger one is thirty thousand years old, while the smaller one is nine thousand."

Lin Qingxuan and Ouyang Xi's hearts stirred. Thirty thousand years was just right for Xiao Linyi. Although it was five thousand years higher than their original estimate, taking a slight risk was worthwhile for such a supreme-grade soul beast.

"Humans, state your purpose!"

Having answered Xiao Linyi's question, the Starfall Unicorn's enormous pale golden eyes remained guarded as it spoke again in a deep voice.

"We came to find a suitable soul beast to serve as a soul ring."

While the three adults were still choosing their words and wondering how to broach the subject, Xiao Linyi directly stated their purpose.

Before they could reprimand Xiao Linyi, the three quietly went on guard, afraid that the Starfall Unicorn might suddenly attack. They were not afraid for themselves, but they also had to protect Xiao Linyi. He was their precious treasure; they could not afford to be careless.

Yet contrary to their expectations, the Starfall Unicorn did not attack. Instead, it focused and sensed their auras.

"Human child, I can sense your auras. Aside from the human with the aura of life, all of you possess the Light Attribute. Yet light tells me that only you need a soul ring. Is that correct?"

"Yes." Xiao Linyi did not avoid the Starfall Unicorn's question and answered directly.

Sensing Xiao Linyi's honesty, the Starfall Unicorn's gaze softened slightly. "Based on the limits of your human body, our Soul Rings do not seem suitable for you. Even if one of my children became a Soul Ring, it would still be enough to make your body burst apart."

The Starfall Unicorn's words caught the three adults off guard, leaving them somewhat bewildered. For the first time in their lives, the Soul Hunting Operation had encountered a Soul Beast willing to reason with them. Even though they had come to kill its kin for their Soul Rings, it showed no extreme reaction.

Xiao Linyi explained seriously, "My body and spiritual endurance far exceed those of Soul Masters at the same level. That is why I came looking for you."

After hearing Xiao Linyi's words, the three adults' expressions turned even stranger. Translated bluntly, it basically meant: I'm very strong. I can absorb your power. So I came to kill you. Wouldn't the Starfall Unicorn go mad after hearing that?

The facts proved otherwise.

Rather than getting angry, the Starfall Unicorn activated the horn atop its head.

A dense golden radiance surged from its horn, spreading into a curtain of golden light that enveloped Xiao Linyi.

Ouyang Xi was startled and immediately moved to act, but Mu En stopped her. "Calm down. It means no harm."

Sure enough, a moment later, the Starfall Unicorn withdrew the golden light. Its pale golden eyes stared fixedly at Xiao Linyi, filled with astonishment.

"Please forgive my offense, honorable Child of Light."

"???"

Deep confusion filled everyone's hearts. It was one thing that the Starfall Unicorn had not gotten angry after Xiao Linyi said something like that, but now it was acting even more inexplicably—it had actually used an honorific?