Entering Sunset Forest, Hunting Clear-Heart Foxes

"The Sunset Forest is home to quite a few wolf-type spirit beasts; Gale War Wolves, Iron-Back Wolves, and Shadow Wolves are all present. There are many packs that have formed a scale and possess clear leaders. However, these spirit beasts are vengeful and coordinate tightly; once you provoke them, it becomes a fight to the death. Are you certain you still want to try?"

Zhao Wuji asked again.

"Certain."

Xiao Qing's reply was without the slightest hesitation.

Zhao Wuji stared at Xiao Qing for a few seconds; he understood that this was not an impulsive act of hot-bloodedness, but a choice made after careful consideration.

"Fine." Zhao Wuji finally nodded. "First, we find the Clear-Heart Fox for Oscar. Afterward, I will take you to an area where wolf packs are active."

"But remember one thing: the moment I deem the situation out of control and beyond your ability to handle, I will intervene immediately. Your life is very important—far more important than a single live-combat training session. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

Xiao Qing replied. With a Spirit Saint like Zhao Wuji holding the line, his own safety was guaranteed; even if he didn't succeed, he would still be able to run.

While they spoke, they arrived at the Sunset Forest.

The carriage stopped outside a crude campsite on the edge of the forest.

Many spirit master teams were gathered here; some were preparing to enter the forest, while others had just emerged, their bodies stained with blood and exhaustion.

The sounds of noise, bargaining, and information exchange were all mixed together.

Zhao Wuji led Xiao Qing and Oscar toward the entrance.

His burly physique and the unhidden, formidable aura he exuded caused many of the surrounding spirit master teams to cast looks of awe or wariness, and they automatically cleared a path.

"Stay close to me, don't look around, and don't talk too much."

Zhao Wuji gave a low-voiced instruction and was the first to step into the Sunset Forest.

Unlike the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest, which was untouched by axes and filled with an aura of primitive wildness and uncertain danger, the traces of human activity in the Sunset Forest were quite obvious.

Although the path underfoot was winding, it had clearly been trodden many times, and on some sections, one could even see traces of crude repairs.

Between the trees, one could occasionally see the remains of campfires from abandoned temporary sites.

This made the Sunset Forest feel less like a gathering place for spirit beasts and more like a hunting ground that had been repeatedly explored and developed.

The path Zhao Wuji chose avoided several areas that were clearly popular hunting grounds, where spirit master teams gathered and unnecessary conflicts were prone to arise.

He led the two along the transition zone between the forest and a relatively open meadow.

"Clear-Heart Foxes like to be active at the junction of the forest and the meadow; they can use the trees for cover while being able to quickly enter the open ground to escape. They dislike fighting and have keen senses; they will flee at the slightest sign of trouble. To find them, patience is more important than strength."

Zhao Wuji explained in a low voice as they walked, primarily for Oscar's benefit.

They searched the edge of this transition zone for four full days.

Oscar, initially excited, gradually became somewhat restless. Four days of coming up empty-handed was a torment for someone in urgent need of a spirit ring.

Zhao Wuji saw this in his eyes and simply said, "In spirit hunting, not finding your target is the norm. If you are restless and impatient, you will never become a good hunter."

Oscar took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.

On the afternoon of the fifth day, as the sun began to slant westward, Zhao Wuji stopped beside the damp mud of a clear stream.

He crouched down, his fingers brushing over a few faint, plum-blossom-shaped footprints, and then leaned in to sniff a cluster of plants with small, pale blue flowers that had been touched nearby.

"Fresh traces, no more than two hours old. The size and depth of the footprints match the physique of a Clear-Heart Fox of about seven hundred years. It should be right around here; be careful, don't startle it."

Zhao Wuji's voice dropped even lower, and he gestured for Xiao Qing and Oscar to suppress all spirit power fluctuations, slow their breathing, and follow him.

After passing through a thicket, Zhao Wuji signaled them to stop and look forward through the gaps in the branches.

About thirty meters away, a spirit beast was lowering its head to drink water by the stream.

It was not large, slightly smaller than a common fox, with fur that was a rare moon-white color. A long, fluffy tail swayed gently behind it, its posture elegant.

Most striking were its eyes, which were a clear, pale purple, appearing very spiritual.

This was their target: a Clear-Heart Fox with a cultivation of about seven hundred and thirty years.

Zhao Wuji did not rush to act. He observed the surroundings, confirming that no other spirit beasts were lurking and no other spirit master teams were in the vicinity.

Then, he gave Xiao Qing a "watch closely" gesture and mouthed the word "prepare" to Oscar.

The next moment, Zhao Wuji moved.

Without any dazzling spirit skill light, he relied solely on his physical body to suddenly erupt with astonishing speed, almost leaving an afterimage in their line of sight as he headed straight for the Clear-Heart Fox by the stream.

The Clear-Heart Fox had extremely high vigilance; it sensed the fatal crisis almost the moment Zhao Wuji lunged.

It let out a short, sharp cry of alarm, its four legs pushing hard against the ground as it prepared to bolt into the dense forest to the side.

However, the Spirit Saint pressure Zhao Wuji released instantly caused its movements to lag for a split second.

It was this split second that decided the outcome.

Zhao Wuji's large hand had already descended, sealing off all its paths of retreat.

Just as Zhao Wuji's hand was about to touch the Clear-Heart Fox's body, a strange light suddenly flashed in the fox's pale purple eyes. Its long, gently swaying tail suddenly went rigid and began to vibrate at high speed at a peculiar frequency.

An intangible, yet clearly perceptible, strange fluctuation spread out instantly with the Clear-Heart Fox at its center, sweeping over the charging Zhao Wuji and also sweeping over Xiao Qing and Oscar, who were watching from behind.

Xiao Qing's pupils constricted slightly; the moment the fluctuation touched his body, he felt a gentle yet irresistible force brush across his spirit.

At this moment, only an absolute, desireless tranquility remained within Xiao Qing, like a handful of spring water under a scorching sun, or an absolute silence that had suddenly descended upon a bustling crowd.

He clearly saw Zhao Wuji charging forward and the Clear-Heart Fox attempting to flee, but it was as if all of this were separated by a pane of transparent glass, unable to stir even the slightest ripple in his heart; even the act of "observing" itself seemed to have become inconsequential.

This was the ability of the Clear-Heart Fox: it was neither an attack nor a form of control, but a forced, deep-seated "peace." It did not strip away one's consciousness, but it drained away all desire for action and emotional drive.

Zhao Wuji's charging figure did not falter; his powerful Spirit Saint-level mental strength allowed him to remain immune to this influence.

With a muffled thud, his palm, wrapped in thick spirit power, struck the side of the Clear-Heart Fox's neck with precision, enough to incapacitate it without being fatal.

The Clear-Heart Fox let out a mournful cry and collapsed to the ground, the strange fluctuations of its spirit power dissipating along with it.

Xiao Qing felt that forced sense of calm lingering in his heart recede like a tide, and his normal thoughts and emotional perceptions rapidly returned.

Zhao Wuji walked back, carrying the unconscious Clear-Heart Fox, and placed it on the ground in front of Oscar.

Oscar gripped the short blade Zhao Wuji had handed him earlier, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He looked down at the Clear-Heart Fox at his feet, his eyes complex. Even in its unconscious state, the Clear-Heart Fox continued to radiate a faint aura of peace, constantly affecting Oscar, who was in close proximity to it.

He raised the blade, aiming it at the Clear-Heart Fox's throat, but his arm trembled slightly. He tried to exert force, only to find it difficult to muster any "intent to kill" within his heart.

Under the influence of the Clear-Heart Fox's aura, emotions that might have spurred him to act—anger, fear, resolve—were all smoothed away, leaving only a vacant tranquility.

He even felt that simply putting down the blade and turning to leave wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"Oscar!"

Zhao Wuji's deep, stern voice exploded in his ears like a thunderclap.