Mutant Spirit Beast: Three-tailed Sword Scorpion King! If One Hears the Way in the Morning, One May Die That Evening

Mutant Spirit Beast—Three-tailed Sword Scorpion King! If One Hears the Way in the Morning, One May Die That Evening

Deep within the valley.

The faint rustle of pebbles rolling could be heard.

Sword Scorpions retreated fearfully, one after another.

A shadow appeared on the rock wall before its body emerged—three savage, sword-like tails swayed and collided, ringing with the clash of 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 a cold luster, three long, narrow blades extending from its tail segments.

As its scorpion body moved, the three blades struck one another, scattering tiny sparks.

An exceptionally sharp aura spread wildly throughout the valley.

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

Behind a boulder.

Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes widened, her pretty face full of disbelief.

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

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

The two quietly left the valley.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Li Zhexian and asked in alarm, "What kind of Spirit Beast was that?"

"A Sword Scorpion with three tails?!"

Li Zhexian took a huge gulp of wine, wiped the corner of his mouth, and said, "Humans can undergo Martial Soul mutations. Naturally, Spirit Beasts can as well."

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

After a brief pause, Li Zhexian continued with a sigh, "Ordinary Sword Scorpions are already extremely formidable among Spirit Beasts of the same rank. This Three-tailed Sword Scorpion King must be even more terrifying."

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

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

"Unfortunately, a Three-tailed Sword Scorpion King appeared."

"Li Zhexian, I'm afraid you can't use a Sword Scorpion as your Spirit Ring. Let's look for something else..."

As Zhu Zhuqing spoke.

Li Zhexian suddenly said, "Zhu Zhuqing, thanks."

"You should go."

"Hm?"

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

After a long silence.

A hint of suspicion entered Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice.

"Li Zhexian, don't tell me you're setting your sights on that Three-tailed Sword Scorpion King?!"

Li Zhexian turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing, a slight curve rising at the corner of his lips.

"Why not?"

"You're insane!"

Zhu Zhuqing said in disbelief, "Never mind how powerful the Three-tailed Sword Scorpion King is—even those Sword Scorpions aren't something the two of us can handle!"

"Be rational. We can definitely find another Spirit Beast suitable for you!"

Seeing that Li Zhexian remained unmoved.

Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists, her tone growing much harsher.

"Li Zhexian, are you willing to throw your life away for a Spirit Ring?!"

"Heh..."

Li Zhexian let out an unreadable laugh.

"Zhu Zhuqing..."

"If six years pass and your Soul Power does not advance even a step."

"Those who placed high hopes on you, cared for you, and loved you will all be unable to accept your mediocrity, and will gradually leave you."

"Then you'll understand just how rare and precious it is to grow stronger."

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

"To hear the Way in the morning, and die without regret that evening."

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

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

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

So the genius whose First Soul Ring had been a thousand years old had so many unknown experiences behind him.

"To hear the Way in the morning... and die without regret that evening..."

Zhu Zhuqing began to understand a little.

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

That determination to grow stronger at any cost was truly shocking.

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 asked:

"Do you have a plan?"

"Hm?"

Li Zhexian turned around and stared silently at Zhu Zhuqing's cool, lovely face for a long time.

He stared until Zhu Zhuqing grew embarrassed and angry, snapping:

"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 Zhexian 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 in. You're a real one!"

At the words "you're a real one," Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face burned as she spat lightly.

"What Sister Zhuqing? That's such an awful way to address me!"

Li Zhexian merely smiled without saying anything.

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

The future would prove everything.

Seeing that the sky was growing dark.

Li Zhexian stopped wasting time.

He told Zhu Zhuqing his plan.

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

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

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

"Once those four Thousand-year Sword Scorpions leave the valley to hunt for food, that will be the best time for us to act!"

As she watched Li Zhexian explain 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 even listening to me?"

"Hm? I listened. I'm listening, go on..."

With a grave expression, Li Zhexian continued:

"Next, it'll depend on you."

"When an enemy invades, the king of a clan will not be the first to make a move."

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

"Although the four Thousand-year Sword Scorpions have gone out to forage, it's still extremely dangerous."

"Can you do it?"

Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face tightened, and she slowly nodded.

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

Li Zhexian said, "One minute. I only need one minute. Just hold them off for one minute."

Seeing the sharp edge surging in Li Zhexian's eyes, Zhu Zhuqing frowned.

"Wouldn't one minute be too short?"

"It's enough."

Li Zhexian struck a green bamboo stalk beside him with his palm.

With a snap, the bamboo broke.

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

He took out the Clear Spring Wine Gourd from his waist and poured its clear liquor into the tube.

He held the bamboo tube out before Zhu Zhuqing.

"Scorpions move quickly on flat ground. Keep weaving through the forest."

Li Zhexian stared at Zhu Zhuqing and said seriously, "While you're running, make sure to drink the wine I gave you."

Zhu Zhuqing took the bamboo tube and nodded firmly.

"Mm!"

The sky gradually darkened.

The setting sun stained half the sky blood-red.

Li Zhexian and Zhu Zhuqing hid in the bushes dozens of meters from the valley.

When they saw the four Thousand-year Sword Scorpions crawl out of the valley, Li Zhexian's spirits lifted.

"Move!"