Soul Hunting Forest
As the group ventured deeper, the forest gradually grew darker and more secluded, and all manner of strange Spirit Beasts began to appear.
There were ten-year Wind Baboons, thirty-year Shadow Leopards, fifty-year Gale Wolves, hundred-year One-Eyed Owls...
The Dean of Notting merely released the aura of a Soul Ancestor, frightening them away at once.
"Look there!"
At last, after walking through the forest for most of the day, the Dean of Notting spotted a Spirit Beast worth considering.
In the shadows beneath a massive boulder grew a cluster of small grass with leaves that glimmered faint blue. Mist drifted around it, and the air was exceptionally fresh, as though it could cleanse away all filth.
"This is a Sweet Dew Grass that is roughly one hundred and fifty years old."
After stating its species and age, Yu Xiaogang merely stood by and watched without saying anything further.
"Sweet Dew Grass itself possesses healing abilities. Although its age is a little low, it is still a decent Spirit Beast."
The Dean of Notting considered it before asking, "Bai Mu, do you want this one?"
"No."
Bai Mu decisively shook his head. "Although Sweet Dew Grass has healing abilities, they mainly lean toward Soul Power recovery and purification. If Zygarde absorbs it, the Spirit Skill it gains will most likely be a purification ability."
Zygarde already knew Safeguard. As a Divine Beast, it might also gain purification abilities after taking on stronger forms in the future, so there was no need to waste a Spirit Skill slot.
Seeing that Bai Mu even recognized such an obscure Spirit Beast, Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly but said nothing.
"Fine. Plant-type Spirit Beasts that are only a few hundred years old will not run away anyway. We can keep it as an alternative and continue looking."
The Dean of Notting did not dwell on it too much. After all, spending ten days or half a month to find a suitable Spirit Beast was perfectly normal. There was no need to rush.
The group continued deeper into the forest, advancing slowly.
After the sun began to set, they found an open area, scattered beast-repelling powder around it, and rested on the spot.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
They successfully found Healing Mushrooms, Jade Spirit Flowers, and other Spirit Beasts with healing abilities, but either their ages were below a hundred years or their abilities were unsuitable, leaving them no choice but to give up.
Without realizing it, they had already entered the depths of the forest, where they had to remain constantly alert for sneak attacks from Spirit Beasts over five hundred years old.
"Woof~"
At that moment, Zygarde, walking beside Bai Mu, stopped and barked in a certain direction.
"You sensed a pure life aura?"
Through their mental connection, Bai Mu understood what it meant.
As the Monitor of the Ecosystem, Zygarde possessed exceptionally powerful perception of life energy.
For its current self to notice such a life aura, it had to be extraordinary!
"Aw~"
Zygarde gave a soft cry and took the lead in burrowing into the grass.
The others exchanged glances and decisively followed. After passing through a dense patch of shrubs, their view suddenly opened up.
A swamp hidden deep within the forest appeared before them.
Mud and fallen leaves covered it, while corroded bones lay scattered everywhere. At a glance, it was clearly an ominous place.
Yet in the center of the swamp, atop a mound of accumulated silt, a blue-and-white lotus as beautiful as jade quietly bloomed.
It had twenty-nine petals in total. Each petal was crystalline and translucent, as if flowing light moved across it. A warm, pure life aura radiated from the flower, making people unconsciously lose themselves in it.
"Rising from the mud unstained, washed by clear ripples yet never alluring."
Tang San could not help murmuring in admiration.
"What kind of Spirit Beast is that?"
Notting Academy's collection of books contained no record of such a Spirit Beast, so Bai Mu could only turn his questioning gaze toward the dean.
"Xiao Gang, you know more. Tell us about it."
The Dean of Notting naturally looked toward Yu Xiaogang.
"Spirit Epiphyllum Jade Lotus. It is named for being as mysterious as an epiphyllum and as pure as a lotus. It is not aggressive by nature.
"It can absorb the surrounding energy and release life aura to heal nearby creatures. It can also accelerate the growth of Spirit Beasts. For that reason, Spirit Beasts often guard it nearby."
Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back and spoke at length:
"The Spirit Epiphyllum Jade Lotus grows one jade-colored petal for every ten years of cultivation. Therefore, this one has two hundred and ninety years of cultivation. If it is killed, there is a high probability of obtaining a healing-type Spirit Skill."
The dean asked, "Although it has not reached four hundred years, its ability seems highly compatible. What do you think, Bai Mu?"
"It may not be easy to come across such a suitable Spirit Beast again. This is the one!"
Bai Mu stared at the jade lotus and nodded heavily.
Two hundred and ninety years was not especially high, but it was not low either.
In his view, as long as the Spirit Skill obtained was suitable and powerful, there was no need to pursue some so-called age limit.
Having transmigrated here with such difficulty, why should he risk his life for no reason when he did not need to?
"..."
Yu Xiaogang seemed as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he merely pressed his lips together.
"There may be hidden Spirit Beasts around here. Xiao San, use Blue Silver Grass to take the lotus. I will stand guard."
Soul Power surged around the dean, and he summoned a Wind Fire Staff in his hand.
At the same time, one white, two yellow, and one purple Spirit Rings rose from beneath his feet. He was unmistakably a Soul Ancestor!
Blue Silver Entanglement!
Tang San raised his hand in a sweep, and the Blue Silver Grass immediately stretched out, flying toward the Spirit Epiphyllum Jade Lotus like a Datura Snake ready to bite.
Suddenly...
Splash—!
Mud and water exploded as a figure shot out from the swamp, opening its mouth to spew forth a terrifying purple poisonous mist.
The incoming Blue Silver Grass had barely touched the mist when its leaves were instantly corroded and withered.
Wind-Supporting Staff!
The dean, who had been on guard all along, flashed his third Spirit Ring. His aura surged as he fiercely swung his staff.
Whoosh~
The force of the staff was like wind, and his mighty Soul Power instantly scattered all the incoming poisonous mist!
"Hiss~"
The group looked over and saw a giant snake covered in dark green scales, as thick as a washbasin.
Its head was triangular, its vertical pupils icy. It coiled beside the jade lotus, and the purple poisonous mist spilling from its tongue-flicking mouth stained the surrounding air a faint violet.
"This is a seven-hundred-year Poison Mist Snake. It has exceptional resilience and excels at spraying terrifying poisonous mist, which can slow an afflicted person's speed and rapidly drain their Soul Power!"
Yu Xiaogang was not alarmed but delighted, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.
"Although it is not the Ghost Vine we planned for, the Poison Mist Snake's abilities and venom are highly suited to Blue Silver Grass. Moreover, like the Datura Snake of the first Spirit Ring, it is also a snake-type Spirit Beast."
He looked at Tang San. "Xiao San, what do you think?"
"If Blue Silver Grass can spray poisonous mist, it really would be suitable as my Second Spirit Ring."
A smile appeared at the corner of Tang San's mouth, as though he could already see his Blue Silver Grass ambushing people like a hidden weapon!
"It really is not bad."
Bai Mu smiled as well.
Although a poisonous mist ability combined with Blue Silver Grass might be stronger in actual combat than the Parasite ability from the original story, it posed less of a threat to him instead.
Without the Parasite ability, Tang San would be missing one of his control methods, reducing the threat he would pose in the future.
"Then we will take them both. Blazing Fire Staff!"
A Spirit Ring flashed on the dean's body. He leaped lightly into the air, flames igniting at the end of his staff as it smashed toward the Poison Mist Snake like a blazing meteor.
"Hiss~"
The Poison Mist Snake showed no fear, opening its bloody maw and biting head-on toward the incoming staff.
Boom—!
The instant they collided, the swamp's surface violently shook, sending water splashing everywhere.
Their strength seemed evenly matched, and for a moment, they were locked in a stalemate.
Just then...
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