Xu Xiaoyan's Struggle

Mother Xu blinked in confusion as she watched Xu Xiaoyan's actions on the screen. As for what the Spirit Pagoda staff member had said, she merely responded instinctively.

What Mother Xu was thinking was: When had her obedient daughter prepared all those strange things? And could those things really be used against Spirit Beasts?

Inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, Xu Xiaoyan used a small shovel to dig a pit around a tree, then crouched pitifully beneath it. She felt that if a Spirit Beast saw her, it would definitely rush over to bite her. So, as long as she waited under the tree and dodged when the Spirit Beast charged at her, it would crash into the tree and fall into the pit she had dug. That way, she would be safe.

This idea came from a story Yun Chen had told her when she was little, called "Waiting by a Tree Stump for a Rabbit." Xu Xiaoyan felt that she was now like the hunter in that story, waiting for Spirit Beasts to come to her. Unfortunately, her thoughts were still a little too naive. Not to mention that, with her strength, the pit she had dug was less than half a meter deep—would a Spirit Beast be afraid even if she had dug a deep pit?

However, Xu Xiaoyan did not see it that way. She felt that she had prepared thoroughly, and her luck was good enough to last until Yun Chen found her.

Unfortunately, Xu Xiaoyan had miscalculated completely this time. The Spirit Ascension Platform had been simulated entirely after the original Star Dou Great Forest, but for the sake of realism, the distribution of Spirit Beasts inside had not been restricted.

The place Xu Xiaoyan had entered was an area frequented by ten-year Spirit Beasts, yet for some reason, a hundred-year Spirit Beast had appeared here and discovered the pitiful Xu Xiaoyan crouching beneath the tree.

"That's a Moon-Scar Bear. Judging by its size, it should be around a hundred years old. Madam, do we need to teleport your daughter out?" Outside, the staff member who had been monitoring Xu Xiaoyan's situation turned to ask Mother Xu.

Mother Xu shook her head. "Continue. This child is too timid. She needs to be tempered."

She was also deeply worried about Xu Xiaoyan, but since her daughter wanted to become a Soul Master, she had to face these things. Even in this relatively peaceful era, Soul Masters had more career choices. Still, Father Xu and Mother Xu felt that she should give it a try.

If Xu Xiaoyan truly was not suited to becoming a combat Soul Master, they would make other career plans for her in the future. But before that, they decided to let her experience it firsthand before making a decision.

Xu Xiaoyan quickly noticed the Moon-Scar Bear's appearance. Such a huge creature was approaching, and she immediately grew nervous. Her little face turned pale with fright as she instinctively summoned her martial soul, the Star Wheel Ice Staff.

The Soul Power fluctuations caused by summoning her martial soul seemed to enrage the approaching Moon-Scar Bear. It rose onto its hind legs and roared at Xu Xiaoyan before charging straight at her. That mountain-like bear rushed directly toward her, and Xu Xiaoyan was so frightened that she curled up and crouched down, whimpering.

Outside, Mother Xu's heart leaped into her throat at the sight. Just as she could not bear to see her daughter harmed and was about to tell the staff to teleport Xu Xiaoyan out, Xu Xiaoyan suddenly moved within the Spirit Ascension Platform.

As though it were an instinctive reaction born from panic, Xu Xiaoyan unleashed her first soul skill at the charging Moon-Scar Bear: Star Wheel Chain! However, because of the fear in her heart, the soul skill failed to activate successfully. Yet the Soul Power fluctuations and the light flashing from the Star Wheel Ice Staff further provoked the Moon-Scar Bear.

Just as the Moon-Scar Bear neared the trap Xu Xiaoyan had dug, her first soul ring lit up once more. A brilliant gleam flashed from the tip of the Star Wheel Ice Staff, and a chain of frost wrapped around the Moon-Scar Bear's hind leg!

The hundred-year Moon-Scar Bear broke free from Xu Xiaoyan's first soul skill, the ice chain, through the force of its charge. However, it also threw off its balance. Carried forward by its momentum, the Moon-Scar Bear slammed its head viciously into the large tree behind Xu Xiaoyan.

By then, Xu Xiaoyan had already dodged to the side. She really was terrified, but she also knew that if she did nothing, death was her only path. Xu Xiaoyan was very afraid of pain. To avoid getting hurt, she had to struggle no matter what.

But when she saw the Moon-Scar Bear crash into the tree, Xu Xiaoyan immediately wore an expression as though her scheme had succeeded. Although the fallen Moon-Scar Bear had not dropped directly into the trap she had dug as she had imagined, she could still do something while its head was spinning.

"First Soul Skill, Star Wheel Chain!" Xu Xiaoyan unleashed her first soul skill again, and the ice chain bound the Moon-Scar Bear's massive body.

But the Moon-Scar Bear immediately snapped out of its daze when it sensed the attack. For a bear-type Spirit Beast, crashing into a tree was truly nothing, but breaking free from the ice chains binding its entire body would still take some effort.

After releasing her first soul skill, Xu Xiaoyan immediately turned and ran. However, before fleeing, she left this Moon-Scar Bear a small "gift."

The Moon-Scar Bear, which had been preparing to break free from the ice chains, watched its prey gradually flee away and the little ball rolling to a stop before it. Countless question marks seemed to appear over its huge head.

But just as it stared at the small round ball, it suddenly exploded. The liquid stored inside splashed directly onto the Moon-Scar Bear's face, with some even spraying into its eyes. Agonizing pain instantly swept through the Moon-Scar Bear's mind. It rose onto its hind legs and wildly swung its front paws, snapping several nearby trees in half.

When the staff outside and Mother Xu saw this scene, they were all stunned on the spot. Was this really a battle between a Soul Master and a Spirit Beast? Why did it look like a little girl was fighting wits against a sleazy pervert? That thing Xu Xiaoyan had thrown out just now was something specially made for women to deal with perverts, wasn't it? The stuff inside could be used against Spirit Beasts too? And how could such a little girl carry something like that with her?

This scene was also witnessed by the staff in another room, along with an important figure from the Spirit Pagoda. That important figure looked at the fleeing little girl inside the Spirit Ascension Platform, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "Kids these days are becoming harder and harder to understand."

Meanwhile, in the forest within the Spirit Pagoda, Gu Yue, who had been hiding in the shadows and watching Xu Xiaoyan and the Moon-Scar Bear battle wits, secretly let out a sigh of relief. She had come to the Spirit Pagoda today for certain reasons and entered the Spirit Ascension Platform for a trial. Not long after entering, she spotted Xu Xiaoyan nearby.

Although most of Na'er's memories were about that little blond, Xu Xiaoyan had also left a deep impression on her. So Gu Yue had decided to watch this timid little girl from those memories. If Xu Xiaoyan encountered danger, she could help her. Then she saw what had just happened—and what came next left her even more dumbfounded.