Flender followed Oscar's finger and, sure enough, saw a small silver-white beast crouched on a branch, warily watching them.
"Moon Shadow Spirit Fox, around seven hundred years old... just right for your Second Soul Ring."
Flender nodded, about to signal Zhao Wuji to take action.
"Wait."
Fu Wen suddenly spoke, interrupting Flender.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"What is it?"
Flender asked.
Fu Wen stepped forward, glanced at the Moon Shadow Spirit Fox, and shook his head.
"Dad, I don't think the Moon Shadow Spirit Fox is suitable."
"Not suitable?"
Flender was taken aback. "Why? The Moon Shadow Spirit Fox's Soul Ring can boost speed. That'd be very useful for Xiao Ao."
"And seven hundred years is just right. There'd be no risk in absorbing it."
"There's no risk, but its potential is too low."
Fu Wen spoke unhurriedly. "At most, the Moon Shadow Spirit Fox can boost speed by thirty or forty percent."
"And it boosts running speed, not flying speed."
"If danger strikes, Xiao Ao might be able to run on the ground, but can he outrun a flying Soul Beast? Can he outrun an agility-type Soul Master?"
Flender fell silent.
Zhao Wuji also furrowed his brow.
Oscar opened his mouth as if to say something, then swallowed his words.
Fu Wen continued, "Xiao Ao is a food-type Soul Master. His combat strength is practically zero."
"His ability to save himself matters more than anything."
"Rather than running on the ground, he'd be better off flying through the sky."
"Flying?"
Flender's eyes lit up. "You mean..."
"Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow."
Fu Wen uttered four words.
"Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow?!"
Li Yusong was the first to react. He pushed up his glasses, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Xiao Wen, do you mean the Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow, hailed as the continent's number-one flying Soul Beast?"
"That's right."
Fu Wen nodded. "The Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow is universally recognized as the fastest flying Soul Beast on the continent. An adult can reach several hundred li per hour."
"And its Soul Ring doesn't just grant a speed boost. More importantly, it gives a Soul Master the ability to fly."
"Wings to fly, soaring through the skies."
"If you can't win, you can still get away fast."
"Not every Soul Master can fly. Flying is far safer than running on the ground."
At those words, everyone fell silent.
Zhao Wuji stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Flender furrowed his brow, rapidly weighing the options.
Oscar's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Ma Hongjun hadn't quite understood, but he nodded along anyway.
"Xiao Wen has a point."
Li Yusong spoke first. "The Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow's Soul Ring really is far better than the Moon Shadow Spirit Fox's."
"But the problem is, Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallows are hard to find."
"There aren't many of them, and they're incredibly fast. Ordinary people can't catch up."
"And a young swallow of the right age is even harder to come by."
"Hard to find doesn't mean impossible."
Fu Wen said, "Let's look in the rainforest deep inside the Soul Hunting Forest first. If we don't find one, we'll go to the Star Dou Great Forest."
"The rainforests in the Star Dou Great Forest are bound to have Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallows."
"Besides, Xiao Ao can look for one himself. Soul Beasts won't be very hostile toward a food-type Soul Master."
"It'll be easier for him to find one than for us."
Flender thought it over, then clenched his teeth.
"Fine! We'll do what Xiao Wen says!"
"We'll look for a Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow!"
"Dad, you agree?"
Oscar was both surprised and delighted.
"I agree!"
Flender waved his hand grandly. "You're my son. Why would I harm you?"
"Xiao Wen is right. If you're going to choose, choose the best!"
"Trash like the Moon Shadow Spirit Fox isn't worthy of you!"
The Moon Shadow Spirit Fox crouched on its branch, unaware that it had already been dismissed.
The group left Dawn Marsh and headed deeper into the Soul Hunting Forest.
Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallows didn't live in marshes. They preferred open woodlands or rainforests near water.
Flender led the way, recalling what he had read in old books as they walked.
"Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallows aren't large. Adults are only about as long as an arm."
"Their feathers are deep blue, and their forked tails look like a pair of scissors."
"They fly incredibly fast and turn with ease. They're the overlords of the skies."
"These Soul Beasts are wary by nature and won't approach humans easily."
"To find them, we need to go deep into the rainforest, near a water source."
Zhao Wuji walked beside him, brows slightly furrowed.
"Dean, you and I both know how fast Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallows are."
"Even if we find one, how are we going to catch it?"
"Once it takes off, even a Seven-Ring Soul Sage might not catch up."
"Who said we were going to chase it?"
Fu Wen interjected.
Zhao Wuji looked at him. "How do we catch it if we don't chase it?"
"Let Xiao Ao go."
Fu Wen said, "Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallows are hardly hostile toward food-type Soul Masters. If Xiao Ao approaches alone, they won't fly away."
"Once he gets close, you and Dad can make your move, Teacher Zhao."
"With the two of you at Seven-Ring Soul Sage strength, a surprise attack will be enough. A few-hundred-year-old swallow won't get away."
Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance and nodded at the same time.
"Good point."
Flender said, "We'll do that."
The group walked through the Soul Hunting Forest for about an hour, passing through several groves. Gradually, the scenery changed.
The trees grew tall and dense, their branches and leaves blotting out the sky.
The air grew damp and stifling, and moss and ferns carpeted the ground.
The sound of flowing water came from ahead.
"We're at the rainforest."
Flender lowered his voice. "Keep quiet. Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallows have keen hearing."
Oscar nervously swallowed and followed behind Flender, tiptoeing.
Fu Wen brought up the rear, scanning their surroundings.
He was looking for a water source.
Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallows liked to gather near water, where insects were plentiful and food was abundant.
"Over there."
Fu Wen pointed to the front left.
A stream ran there, its water crystal clear and glimmering in the sunlight.
Low bushes and wildflowers grew along both banks.
Several blue shapes skimmed over the stream, moving so fast they were almost impossible to see.
"Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallows!"
Flender's eyes lit up.
He counted four of them.
Three large ones and one small one.
The little one was clearly smaller than the others, and its feathers weren't as deep blue as those of an adult swallow. They were more of a grayish blue.
"About seven hundred years old."
Flender estimated, "Just right for Xiao Ao!"
"That little one is our target."
Oscar stared at the young swallow, his heart racing.
That was his Second Soul Ring.
"Xiao Ao, it's your turn."
Flender patted Oscar on the shoulder. "Don't be nervous. Just walk over."
"Don't stare at it, and don't release any Soul Power. Just act like you're passing by."
"Once you're within ten steps, we'll move."
Oscar took a deep breath and nodded.
He started walking, pretending to be at ease as he headed toward the stream.
His heart pounded, but he tried to keep his expression calm.
The young swallow circled over the stream, catching flying insects.
It saw Oscar approach and cocked its head, but didn't fly away.
The presence of a food-type Soul Master really didn't make Soul Beasts feel threatened.
Oscar walked forward, one step at a time.
Twenty steps, fifteen steps, ten steps...
Before you continue