First Battle!

Upon hearing "Nether Wolf," Ning Rongrong instinctively shrank into Su Yu's arms, but she still asked curiously:

"Are those flowers... completely black?"

Zi Ji shook her head. "Not exactly."

"The Petals are dark purple, with faint blue glimmers along the edges. At night, they look like clusters of dancing ghostfire, which is how they got their name.

"However, their Roots are highly poisonous. They must be collected in jade containers and cannot touch even the slightest bit of iron."

Su Yu nodded. "Let's try our luck around the outskirts first. If we can't find any, we'll make other plans."

Lowering his head, he smiled at Ning Rongrong. "Don't be afraid. With Zi Ji and me here, a few Nether Wolves won't be able to hurt you."

Ning Rongrong nodded firmly, anticipation returning to her little face.

"Mhm! I want to pick one myself!"

Zi Ji led the way, weaving lightly through the forest. From time to time, she brushed aside vines blocking the path and quietly reminded them:

"The Misty Marsh is just ahead. The miasma is heavy, so follow my footprints and don't step in the wrong places. Nether Spirit Flowers are most likely to grow beneath the old banyan trees at the edge of the marsh."

Zi Ji released her Dragon Might and led Su Yu and Ning Rongrong forward.

Ning Rongrong carefully held Su Yu's hand, following behind him with a mixture of fear and faint excitement.

After walking for about half an hour, Zi Ji stopped ahead of them.

"Lord Su Yu, Miss Rongrong, the valley I mentioned is just ahead."

Ning Rongrong released Su Yu's hand and ran forward a few steps on tiptoe like a little deer breaking free of its restraints.

Then she abruptly stopped and looked back at Su Yu. Only after seeing him smile and nod did she dare move closer.

The entrance to the valley was concealed by dense vines. Once they pushed aside the hanging green creepers, an entirely different scene appeared within.

Several ancient banyan trees, each thick enough for several people to encircle, had tangled Roots. Their massive canopies blotted out the sky and sealed away the sunlight.

In the shade behind the thickest banyan tree, several clusters of dark purple flowers bloomed quietly.

Faint blue light flowed along the edges of their Petals, like fallen stars in the forest, flickering in the gloom.

"Nether Spirit Flowers!"

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up at once. She covered her mouth with her little hand, afraid that speaking too loudly would disturb the strange flowers.

"Brother Su Yu, look! They're really here!"

Su Yu stepped forward and followed her gaze. The Nether Spirit Flowers were rooted in damp humus.

Their leaves were slender as swords, their Petals layered upon layer. Just as Zi Ji had said, they gave off a mysterious ghostly glow.

He had just opened his mouth when Zi Ji pressed a hand against his arm.

"Careful."

Zi Ji kept her voice extremely low, her eyes warily sweeping toward the rear of the banyan trees.

"There's something there."

As soon as she spoke, a series of faint footsteps came from behind the trees. Several gray-black shadows darted out. They were the Nether Wolves Zi Ji had mentioned.

They were a full size larger than ordinary wild wolves, their fur shimmering with ghostly light. Greedy, vicious glints flashed in their wolf eyes as they stared fixedly at the three intruders in their territory, low growls rumbling from their throats.

Ning Rongrong instinctively hid farther behind Su Yu, but she could not resist peeking out at the Nether Wolves, her little hand tightly clutching the hem of his clothes.

Zi Ji stepped forward, quietly releasing her Dragon Might.

Sensing Zi Ji's Dragon Might, the Nether Wolves trembled and arched their bodies, letting out a series of howls.

"They're only a few hundred-year Nether Wolves. Leave them to me."

As Zi Ji spoke, a faint purple radiance had already gathered at her fingertips.

But Su Yu gently shook his head. "No need."

These Nether Wolves had only a little over two hundred years of cultivation. They were perfect for Rongrong to practice on.

He looked at Ning Rongrong and said gently, "Didn't Rongrong want to try the swordsmanship she just learned? This is a good chance to practice."

Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then her eyes lit up as she nodded vigorously.

"Mhm!"

She took the Glimmering Sword from her Soul Tool and gripped the hilt tightly with both hands. Though she was still somewhat nervous, her gaze became serious.

Su Yu stood at her side and instructed her softly, "Remember the opening stance I taught you. Sink your shoulders, drop your elbows, focus your mind..."

The ghostly blue floral light reflected off the young girl's serious profile. In the distance, the Nether Wolves waited to strike. A small trial had quietly begun.

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath. Following the principles Su Yu had taught her, she lowered her shoulders and gave her wrist a light flick. The Glimmering Sword traced a clear, gleaming arc.

A faint seven-colored halo spread across the blade—she had quietly activated the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, and her speed and strength rose under the enhancement of her Soul Rings.

"Don't be afraid. Watch their movements carefully." Su Yu's voice sounded behind her, steady as a mountain.

The leading Nether Wolf pounced first, its claws carrying a stench as they shot straight toward Ning Rongrong's face.

The Young Girl's gaze sharpened. Rather than retreat, she advanced, nimbly shifting sideways with the footwork Su Yu had taught her.

As she dodged the wolf's claws, the Glimmering Sword swept upward, slicing precisely across its belly.

With a soft splat, red wolf blood scattered across the fallen leaves.

The Nether Wolf let out a brief cry of pain and crashed heavily to the ground. It twitched twice, then fell silent.

Even Ning Rongrong was stunned, seemingly not expecting it to go so smoothly.

Seeing this, the remaining Nether Wolves pounced even more frantically. Yet she used her footwork to twist and move among them, her figure as nimble as a swallow darting through the woods.

She remembered Su Yu's words: do not greedily press an advantage, do not meet force with force. Every strike came during the gaps between the Nether Wolves' attacks.

Though the Glimmering Sword was light, under the enhancement of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, it carried sharp, fierce force.

Either it severed a wolf's leg or Pierced its throat. Her movements were still somewhat unpracticed, yet they carried an accuracy that could not be underestimated.

Before long, the last Nether Wolf fell beneath her sword as well.

Ning Rongrong leaned on her sword and breathed lightly, her little face flushed from exertion, while excitement gleamed in her eyes.

She turned to look at Su Yu, her bright eyes sparkling as though she were asking for praise.

"You did very well." Su Yu stepped forward and rubbed her hair, his tone full of approval.

Ning Rongrong grinned. Just as she was about to say something, she noticed Zi Ji staring at her with a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Zi Ji had clearly not expected this delicate Young Girl to strike so decisively.

She was obviously only a Support System Soul Master at just over level thirty, yet with exquisite swordsmanship and perfectly timed enhancements, she had easily dealt with several hundred-year Soul Beasts.

A thick smell of blood drifted over, and Ning Rongrong turned around to see the Nether Wolf corpses scattered all over the ground.

She could even see the Nether Wolves' intestines and other organs on the ground!

This! These! Had she done all this?

She had felt nothing during the battle, but now that it had ended, a powerful wave of nausea surged up from her stomach.

Unable to endure it any longer, Ning Rongrong clutched her chest and staggered toward a clump of bushes, where she began vomiting violently.

The sour fluid made tears stream from her eyes. Her stomach was completely empty, yet she still could not stop retching.

The sense of accomplishment from killing the Soul Beasts was instantly drowned beneath the enormous shock.

Su Yu quickly followed her over and gently patted her back. He did not say much, merely using a clean handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth.