Magic Core Obtained

"Bang!"

Xiao Ling casually tossed a second-tier Gale Wolf King aside. Feeling the increase in his lifespan within his body, he couldn't help but smile with satisfaction and said.

"Xiao Zi, go see if there's a Magic Beast core."

"Chi..."

The Purple Sable King let out a cry and darted toward the carcass. With one claw, it twisted the head off the Gale Wolf, and after rummaging through it twice, a look of disappointment appeared in its small eyes.

Seeing this, Xiao Ling gave a shout and took the Purple Sable King with him to continue his grand undertaking of treasure hunting and plundering.

As for why he didn't directly absorb the Earth Core Life Pulse Marrow, it was because it wasn't worth it. He intended to save this item to refine it into the ninth-grade Heaven-Defying Fate-Changing Pill later. Once consumed, he would have a thirty percent chance of breaking through to Dou Di, which was far more enticing than directly plundering lifespan.

Besides, he could always use Magic Beasts and enemies to replenish his lifespan.

It was simply a case of not needing to use a butcher's knife to slaughter a chicken; after all, waste is shameful.

Stepping on the forest path paved with fallen leaves, which crunched underfoot, Xiao Ling raised his slightly pale, youthful face, shook his head, and decided to change direction to continue his search.

He had just scanned the surroundings with his soul power, yet he still hadn't found that cave, which could only mean his direction was wrong.

Therefore, he planned to follow the vague route in his memory and continue searching to see.

If that didn't work, he would have no choice but to find a reason to follow the Wanyao Pavilion herb-gathering team to search.

Although there would be a risk of exposure, he had no fear given his current strength.

After all, that was all potential lifespan.

Amidst Xiao Ling's rampant plundering and searching, time quickly reached noon. Unfortunately, throughout the entire morning, not only did he fail to find that cliffside cave, but he hadn't even encountered the Green Wood Demon Python or the Iron Wood Ape.

It could only be said that his good luck had truly run out, but this was normal; after all, he wasn't the protagonist of this world. He was just a stowaway, and the true protagonist was his Yan Di.

Various thoughts flashed through Xiao Ling's mind, and he gave a helpless, bitter smile. He then looked at his surroundings, noticing that he was currently by a small stream, with a waterfall not far away and dense shrubbery all around.

"This..."

Gazing at the familiar environment, Xiao Ling froze for a moment. In that instant, he thought of many things, and then a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Just then, an angry roar suddenly came from afar.

"Roar..."

"Chi..."

Startled, Xiao Zi let out a cry, a trace of anger appearing in its spirited little eyes.

Xiao Ling's eyes lit up. He could tell that the Magic Beast making that sound was at least third-tier, and for him, a third-tier Magic Beast was a potent supplement.

Without hesitation, Xiao Ling immediately took Xiao Zi and rushed toward the direction of the sound.

Along the way, Xiao Ling and Xiao Zi darted rapidly through the dense jungle. The speed of the man and beast was incredibly fast, charging toward their target without any concealment.

After leaping over a large boulder, the view before them suddenly opened up.

In a small clearing ahead, two Magic Beasts were confronting each other.

One of them was a third-tier Iron Wood Ape, while the other was a severely wounded fourth-tier Jellyfish Lizard, named for the eight tentacles behind its tail.

Looking at the two Magic Beasts, Xiao Ling's eyes narrowed slightly. The scene before him was clearly the Iron Wood Ape trying to take advantage of the situation to hunt the injured Jellyfish Lizard.

The goal, of course, was the Magic Beast core inside the Jellyfish Lizard. The beast likely wanted to use the principle of water and wood generating each other to break through to the fourth tier.

After all, on the Dou Qi Continent, the gap between a third-tier Magic Beast and a fourth-tier Magic Beast was quite significant, much like the difference between a Da Dou Shi and a Dou Ling among humans.

It seems that no matter where you go, resources always concentrate upward. What the bottom-dwellers fight to the death to obtain is often just what others don't want...

"Roar, roar."

The upright Iron Wood Ape looked at the human who had suddenly appeared, as well as the third-tier peer beside him, and issued a warning, signaling the other party not to compete for its prey.

However, it did not attack immediately, because its not-so-low intelligence told it that the human before it was not to be trifled with, and combined with the third-tier peer at his side, it chose to warn them instead.

"Xiao Zi, what is this beast saying?"

Xiao Ling was very annoyed at this moment. Damn it, this beast couldn't even tell who was boss and dared to warn him? It was truly seeking death!

"Master, this big guy said for us to get lost," Xiao Zi replied, understanding his intent.

"Vile beast, you're courting death!"

Xiao Ling didn't care if it was true or not; he attacked directly. In any case, he just wanted an excuse.

Iron Wood Ape: "???"

When did it ever tell them to get lost?

The miserable Iron Wood Ape was still wondering if it had said the wrong thing even as it died.

At this moment, Xiao Ling was looking quite satisfied as he accepted the Magic Beast core handed over by Xiao Zi, took a wooden box from his storage ring to store it, and then looked at the Jellyfish Lizard that had chosen not to flee.

With his strength, he could naturally tell that the Jellyfish Lizard was at the end of its rope, but he chose not to attack.

Regardless, this Jellyfish Lizard was a fourth-tier Magic Beast; its desperate final struggle before death would certainly be enough to give him a hard time.

This was also the reason why the Iron Wood Ape had been blocking the opponent without actually attacking.

"Human, how about we make a deal?"

"With your methods and that mutated Purple Sable, while I may not be your match, my final strike would definitely be enough to take one of you down with me."

Hearing the voice resonate within his mind, a flicker of surprise crossed the eyes of Xiao Ling. Could it be that this Jellyfish Lizard he encountered belonged to some prominent Magic Beast clan? Otherwise, it would be impossible for a Tier 4 beast to understand telepathic communication.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ling let out a cold snort: "State your terms first, then we can discuss the deal."

"Very well. My payment shall be my Magic Core, as well as the materials from my body. These are the most valuable things I can offer. How about it?"

The Jellyfish Lizard said gently.

Xiao Ling was not surprised by this, as it was clear at a glance that this fellow wasn't exactly well-regarded; he probably didn't even have a storage space on him... Thinking of this, his tone softened considerably.

"Speak, what is your request? I'll say this upfront: if it's too much trouble, I won't agree to it. Besides, once you're dead, your Magic Core and body will be mine anyway."

Hearing this, the Jellyfish Lizard did not show any anger; on the contrary, she now preferred such a sincere person.

"It is no trouble at all. I only need you to help look after my child and let him follow you from now on. He can handle any dirty or tiring work; I only ask that you spare his life."

Listening to the calm telepathic message from the Jellyfish Lizard before him, and the sacrifice she was willing to make so her child could survive, even Xiao Ling was moved. Whether in his past life or his current one, he was never a cold-blooded person; it was simply that the environments he lived in were different.

He wanted to strive for a more brilliant life, and that meant some things had to be sacrificed.

"Fine! I promise you. As long as I am around, it shall be the guardian spirit beast of my Xiao Clan."