Returning to Star Dou Forest, Thousand-Year Blood-Vein Python

After purchasing the insect repellent and other backup supplies, the group did not delay any further. Carrying the information about the Blood-Vein Python and their newly acquired goods, they swiftly returned to Shrek Academy.

Back at the academy, Xiao Qing handed the note containing the Blood-Vein Python's information directly to Flender and Zhao Wuji.

Flender took the slip of paper, pushed up his glasses, and examined it carefully.

When he saw the words "Blood-Vein Python" and "1,300 to 1,500 years," the eyes behind his lenses brightened noticeably, and Zhao Wuji leaned in to take a look as well.

"Blood-Vein Python? It's been a long time since I've heard of that creature," Zhao Wuji said, rubbing the stubble on his chin. "Is this information reliable? Fifty Gold Soul Coins—the price is reasonable enough, at least."

Flender handed the note to Zhao Wuji and looked at Xiao Qing and the others. "You bought this at the Spirit Master market? What kind of person sold you this information?"

"An old man in a grey robe. He was setting up a stall in a corner, selling only information," Dai Mubai replied. "Judging by his demeanor, he seemed like a veteran who specializes in this trade, not someone prone to spouting nonsense."

Flender nodded. While such underground information brokers were not exactly reputable, they often possessed unique ways of surviving, and the information they provided usually had some basis in reality.

Zhao Wuji slapped the note onto the table, his voice booming. "To hell with whether it's reliable or not, we'll know once we go! I know that area in the southwest of the Star Dou Forest outskirts like the back of my hand!"

"We leave at dawn tomorrow. We'll follow this lead first! If we find the Blood-Vein Python, that's for the best. If not, we'll stick to the original plan and look for other suitable spirit beasts. This hunt is a practical exercise for you all—no one is allowed to slack off!"

The next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, eight students stood in a neat line at the entrance of Shrek Academy.

Flender gave a few brief instructions and handed the responsibility of leading the team entirely to Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji didn't waste words; he swept his gaze over the group and gave a wave of his hand. "Move out."

The group left the academy and hurried toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

As spirit masters, they traveled at a brisk pace. After a brief rest and a quick meal along the way, they arrived at the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest by the afternoon.

Zhao Wuji took the yellowed slip of paper from his pocket and confirmed the general area described on it once more.

The southwest sector of the Star Dou Forest outskirts, near a tributary known as "Greywater Creek."

He identified the direction and said in a low voice, "Follow me. Stay alert, keep your formation, and don't fall behind."

Under Zhao Wuji's lead, the team ventured deep into the forest along its edge, heading southwest.

Along the way, they encountered a few low-level ten-year and hundred-year spirit beasts, but all of them fled far away upon sensing the Spirit Saint aura that Zhao Wuji intentionally exuded.

About an hour later, they found the "Greywater Creek" mentioned on the note. It was a small, murky, slow-moving stream less than three meters wide, with soft mud and dense shrubs lining both banks.

"According to the information seller, the 'Grey Rat' team discovered signs of a struggle and lingering scents about two hundred paces from the east bank of the creek."

Zhao Wuji's sharp eyes scanned the woodland on the east bank. "Spread out and search carefully. Watch your feet and the tree trunks. Look for signs of fighting, bloodstains, scales, or the indentations left by a large snake."

The group complied, searching the woodland on the east bank in a fan formation with Zhao Wuji at the center.

Xiao Qing released Thunder Feather, letting it overlook the area from the sky to coordinate with Xiao Feng and take charge of reconnaissance.

The search continued for about half an hour, but they found nothing.

In an environment like the forest, traces from several days ago were easily covered by fallen leaves, washed away by rain, or disturbed by the activities of other small animals.

"Teacher Zhao, I found something!"

Tang San's voice came from behind a cluster of ferns.

As the others gathered around, Tang San quickly stopped using his Purple Demon Eye, the purple light in his eyes vanishing instantly.

Looking at the patch of ground in front of him, which was noticeably more chaotic than the surrounding area with several ferns snapped, Zhao Wuji crouched down. He touched the marks with his hand, leaned in to sniff them, and frowned.

"The traces are too faint, and they've been disturbed. While the timing matches, this alone isn't enough to confirm it was a Blood-Vein Python. It could be another large snake-type spirit beast, or something else entirely."

The group expanded their search range for a while longer, but they only found a few vague bloodstains.

The trail seemed to have gone cold.

"Damn it, too much time has passed; the tracks are almost gone."

Zhao Wuji stood up and brushed the dirt off his hands, his expression looking rather grim.

If they had spent fifty Gold Soul Coins only to find these ambiguous traces, the trip would be a waste.

In the vast Star Dou Forest, trying to find a specific thousand-year spirit beast based on such vague clues was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Just then, the sharp-eyed Ma Hongjun dug a small object out from a crack in a rock near the creek.

"Teacher Zhao, look at this!"

Zhao Wuji took the dark red scale, which was about the size of a palm, and a flash of light appeared in his eyes.

"It's a snake scale, no doubt. This color, this texture... and these markings..."

"What about the age?" Oscar was the most concerned about this question.

Zhao Wuji weighed the scale in his hand. "Judging by the size of the scale and the residual spirit power I can sense, it's around 1,500 years old; the margin of error shouldn't be large. But the problem is, which direction did it go?"

The trail was almost completely broken here. The forest was so vast that the Blood-Vein Python could have gone anywhere—to a cave, a swamp, or deep into the dense woods.

Just as Zhao Wuji was struggling and the group felt at a loss, Xiao Qing stepped forward and said, "Teacher Zhao, give me the scale."

Zhao Wuji glanced at him and handed the scale over.

Xiao Qing took the scale, but instead of inspecting it himself, he held the Blood-Vein Python scale up to Xiao Feng's nose.

"Xiao Feng, remember this scent. See if there is any lingering, identical scent nearby, and which direction it leads."

Xiao Feng lowered his head, his nose twitching gently as he carefully sniffed the scent on the scale.

A moment later, Xiao Feng raised its head and let out a low whimper from its throat, signaling that it had understood.

Then, it began to lower its head, carefully sniffing the scent left behind by the Blood-Vein Python, using the spot where the scale was found as its center.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Just as everyone began to feel that hope was slim, Xiao Feng stopped in front of a patch of soil near a cluster of pungent night-fragrance shrubs.

It confirmed the scent with its nose several times before looking up at Xiao Qing and letting out a low whine.

"Did you find it?" Zhao Wuji's spirits lifted.

Xiao Qing felt the information transmitted by Xiao Feng through their mental link.

"There is a very faint lingering scent pointing that way. The scent is very scattered and intermittent; we will need Xiao Feng to lead the way, so we won't be able to move very fast."

"Speed doesn't matter as long as we have a direction!" Zhao Wuji slapped his thigh. "Let it lead the way, and we will follow. Everyone, stay quiet, keep concealed, and be ready for battle at any moment."

Receiving the order, Xiao Feng began to move toward the southeast of the forest, following the faint trail of scent it had captured.

Its speed was indeed slow, as it frequently had to stop to reconfirm the direction and navigate around areas where the scent trail was broken.

The group followed behind Xiao Feng, trying their best to tread lightly and minimize unnecessary noise and the leakage of soul power.

After walking for the better part of the day, the sun began to slant toward the west.

Everyone's stamina had been somewhat depleted, but their nerves remained tightly coiled.

Just as they crossed a dried-up riverbed and entered a shaded mountain hollow, Xiao Feng, which had been sniffing the ground the entire time, suddenly came to a halt.

Its muscles tensed slightly, and it stared fixedly into the depths of the hollow, a very low growl rumbling in its throat.

At the same time, the Thunder Feather atop Xiao Qing's head vibrated its wings slightly, locking onto a cave entrance partially hidden by dense vines and scattered rocks on the right side of the hollow.

Xiao Qing immediately raised his hand, signaling the group behind him to stop.

Seeing this, Zhao Wuji made a hand gesture, and everyone instantly entered a state of high alert, each finding cover as their gazes converged on that cave.