"Auspicious Beast, don't be so reckless next time. Xiao Qing is human, so he can't go around without clothes like you. You tore his clothes, and now he has to go around naked. That's not good."
Bi Ji looked helplessly at Di Yueyao, who was rolling around on the ground, while she sewed Su Qing's clothes. Ever since this little rascal got a name, she'd been doing this constantly: rolling around in front of people and making them guess her name. If they couldn't guess, she wouldn't stop. But really, who could possibly guess it out of the blue?
Still, she was much better now than when she'd just returned. Back then, she'd charged in recklessly, and with Su Qing looking so disheveled, Di Tian had nearly thought they'd run into some danger in the Star Dou Great Forest. He'd been about to go kill whoever had attacked them on the spot, only to learn that the Auspicious Beast had gotten a new name and was too excited to calm down.
Although they were all at a loss when it came to the little rascal, Di Tian had been quite happy to hear the Auspicious Beast's name. After all, it was his surname. The little girl hadn't been raised in vain. He was even more pleased with Su Qing, the brains behind the operation.
He'd always felt that, as the Lord's illegitimate son, this fellow shouldn't have spent all his time in the human world. Not only was he out of touch with Soul Beasts, but he even hunted his own people. It was simply unacceptable.
Yes, in their eyes, Su Qing was Gu Yuena's illegitimate son. They didn't know when he'd been born, but the two looked alike and could both control all kinds of elements. More absurd still, the Lord had never denied it. Of course, she hadn't confirmed it either, but there was no need to say it aloud. Any sharp-eyed Ferocious Beast could see it.
That was why Bi Ji had offered to mend his clothes. She'd never done anything like it before, and there wasn't any fabric in the Land of Great Calamity, but she was Bi Ji, the leader of the Emerald Swan clan. Getting her hands on some swan down was easy enough, and so Su Qing ended up with a colorful "new outfit."
As for why it was colorful, that was because Di Yueyao wasn't satisfied with the plain green outfit Bi Ji had made from Emerald Swan feathers. After a heated debate in which she made no sense whatsoever and refused to back down, Bi Ji had no choice but to agree to sew on some fur shed by the Ferocious Beasts of the Land of Great Calamity.
Though the sudden addition of another person had left the Ferocious Beasts somewhat uncomfortable, his arrival had undeniably brought some life to the somber Land of Great Calamity. After spending this time together, they'd come to regard Su Qing as being on the same level as Di Yueyao. Of course, Su Qing couldn't compare with how they felt about Di Yueyao.
After spending well over a year in the Land of Great Calamity, Su Qing's cultivation had advanced rapidly thanks to the abundant spiritual energy. He'd now reached level thirty-five, three levels higher than when he'd first obtained the Silver Hero Beast Soul Ring. As for his Soul Skill, naturally, it was Imprint. Perhaps because of Ring Jade, any Soul Skill he imprinted was one he could learn outright, as long as he wanted to.
During his year or so in the Land of Great Calamity, he'd tested his newly developed Soul Skills with the Ferocious Beasts more than a few times. His basic combos were beginning to take shape, and he'd even secretly kept the Dragon God Claw up his sleeve. He could now be called invincible among those of his rank, and even against opponents a rank higher. Of course, going another rank beyond that would be a struggle. His skills consumed too much Soul Power, especially the Soul Skills that combined multiple elements.
Time flew by, and soon it was time to part.
When they learned he was leaving, all the Ferocious Beasts gathered at the outskirts of Life Lake to see him off. Di Yueyao was the most reluctant to let him go. After he left, who knew when he'd return? She'd be without a playmate again. Thinking of that, she couldn't help pouncing on Su Qing and rubbing her face against his. With a "rrrip," his clothes were torn yet again.
"Hehe, sorry..."
Di Yueyao smiled awkwardly. She didn't know why Su Qing's clothes were so fragile, tearing at the slightest touch. But if they were torn, wouldn't he have to stay a few more days? Bi Ji had told her that humans couldn't go out without clothes!
"Uh, Xiao Qing, why don't you leave in a few days? I can mend your clothes again."
Bi Ji asked tentatively. How could she not tell that Di Yueyao couldn't bear to see him go? But Su Qing had made up his mind. He shook his head slightly.
"It's not really a problem for boys to go without a shirt, but if I don't leave now, I'll miss out on a lot."
"All right. Be careful on the way. If you run into trouble you can't handle, head into the forest."
Bi Ji reminded him. She didn't say much more. There was a sense of urgency in Su Qing's emotions. Perhaps he had some plan he absolutely had to carry out...
"Okay, then. Di Tian, Auntie Bi Ji, I'm off!"
As he spoke, he used Wind-Gathering Wing-Weaving to conjure a pair of translucent wings and flew toward the outer area.
"Wait, why didn't he call me Uncle?"
Di Tian was a little puzzled. Had he offended the boy somehow? That couldn't be right. The most he'd done was toss him onto the ground when they first met. Was this kid really that petty?
"Maybe because you didn't mend his clothes."
Seeing Di Tian's rare look of defeat, Bi Ji pressed her lips together to suppress a smile, then turned and walked into Life Lake. The other Ferocious Beasts followed after her, leaving only Scarlet King behind, keeping watch over Di Yueyao as she stared fixedly in the direction Su Qing had gone.
The reason he was in such a hurry to leave was simple. During a mental exchange with Gu Yuena over the past couple of days, she'd told him that Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had crawled into the outer area. That meant Huo Gua was about to appear, and the gears of fate were finally going to turn...
He hadn't gone far into the outer area when the wind suddenly howled toward him. Su Qing immediately released his spiritual power and discovered dozens of Wind Baboons hanging from the nearby trees.
"Good. If there are Wind Baboons here, Huo Gua can't be far away."
He had no intention of killing Huo Gua, and he wasn't interested in the Ice Silkworm either. What he wanted was Electrolux. Even if Electrolux still chose Huo Yuhao, Su Qing could learn some Necromancy from him later through a deal. As for what he'd offer in exchange, he'd already decided: the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife. But of course, he wouldn't trade the intact knife. He planned to use Ring Jade to refine some of the Life Gold first, then make the deal. He wasn't foolish enough to hand over the opportunity in its entirety.
And why didn't he just ask Gu Yuena for Life Gold? Come on, she needed it to heal. He couldn't bear to take it from her.
Ahem, he was getting ahead of himself. Right now, he was facing dozens of Wind Baboons—the most dangerous Soul Beasts in Peerless Tang Sect, known as "Godslayers"!
Su Qing's eyes burned as he faced them.
"Just in time. I'll put looking for Huo Gua aside for now. Let me try out the new large-scale Soul Skill I just learned!"