Butterfly Valley

"By the way, Ye Guchen, isn't your fifth pet supposed to be of the support type? It just so happens that I know exactly where to find one."

Gongyang Mo patted his chest, finally getting a chance to show off in front of Ye Guchen.

His family's primary inherited martial soul was the Rainbow Dragon, a support-type, making them a standard support soul master clan. With such a long history, it was only natural for him to know about some support-type soul beasts.

"Please, you must tell me!"

Ye Guchen didn't want to dampen the mood, so he performed a cupped-fist salute toward Gongyang Mo, putting on an expression of eager anticipation.

However, there was always someone to keep him in check. Xi Xi was the first to find his act unbearable, stepping up and smacking him on the back of the head.

"If you know, just say it! Stop dawdling, you're acting like a woman!"

Uh, was that supposed to be a compliment?

"On the northwest side of the Star Dou Great Forest, there is a Butterfly Valley. A group of Rainbow-Dwelling Butterflies lives there, and these butterflies are support-type soul beasts."

After a pause, Gongyang Mo continued.

"Among this group of butterflies, if a Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly is born, its support effects would absolutely not lose to the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda."

At this point, Gongyang Mo couldn't help but scratch his head.

"It's just that..."

"Don't drag it out. If there's a difficulty, just say it."

Yao Haoxuan was also growing impatient with Gongyang Mo's stuttering way of speaking.

"It's just that most of these butterflies only have two or three colors. Five-colored ones are extremely rare, and in my family's records, a seven-colored one has only appeared once. Furthermore, this species of soul beast basically cannot break through the twenty-thousand-year mark..."

His voice grew quieter as he spoke.

"That won't do. I know of this soul beast. Although their support abilities aren't bad, their potential is truly too low. Even the soul beast species itself doesn't value them. Better to look for another soul beast!"

Dai Yueheng, who had been keeping a vigilant watch on the surroundings, couldn't help but warn Ye Guchen upon hearing this.

Yet, after hearing that they were comparable to the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, Ye Guchen had developed a special interest in the Rainbow-Dwelling Butterfly. What he hadn't told the academy was that after contracting a soul beast, it would undergo an evolution upon breaking through the ten-thousand-year mark; Ye Guchen believed there would be another one at the hundred-thousand-year mark.

As long as he found a five-colored Rainbow-Dwelling Butterfly, two chances for evolution would be enough to transform it into a Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly. As for the difficulty of breaking through twenty thousand years, that was not an issue for Ye Guchen at all; a contracted soul beast would automatically synchronize its cultivation with his.

If it were truly as Gongyang Mo said, and the seven-colored version was comparable to the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, then this was absolutely the most suitable candidate for his fifth pet!

"That's the one!"

Ye Guchen did not adopt Dai Yueheng's suggestion, but knowing that Dai Yueheng meant well, he still expressed his gratitude.

Seeing this, Dai Yueheng stopped trying to persuade him.

"Then let's head out once Ma Xiaotao finishes absorbing her soul ring!"

Gongyang Mo was full of excitement, nudging Yao Haoxuan beside him.

"See that! When it comes to the critical moment, you still have to rely on me."

Just then, Ma Xiaotao's absorption of her sixth soul ring was nearing its end.

As Ma Xiaotao retracted the soul ring, a scorching aura swept across the entire area the moment she stood up. Mixed with violent evil fire, it forced everyone back, except for Ye Guchen and Dai Yueheng.

"Oh no, Xiaotao's evil fire is erupting!"

Yan Shaozhe, who was protecting the group from the shadows, realized Ma Xiaotao's condition immediately. Just as he was about to intervene, Ye Guchen acted first.

His fiftieth-level soul power, combined with the attribute of the Domain of Extreme Ice and the over-twenty-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion soul ring, was enough to suppress the suddenly erupting evil fire.

"Domain of Extreme Ice!"

This was the ability of the Ice Jade Scorpion, which functioned by freezing a surrounding area. It was similar to a domain effect and could be considered the prototype of a domain.

Under the dual suppression of Xiao Bing and Ye Guchen using this skill simultaneously, Ma Xiaotao's suddenly erupting evil fire was forced back, and she regained her senses.

Ma Xiaotao, having reacted, wore a grave expression. If not for Ye Guchen, the other members of Shrek would not have been enough to handle her alone after she lost control.

Ma Xiaotao automatically ignored her teacher, Yan Shaozhe, and threw herself straight into Ye Guchen's arms.

"That was close. Thank goodness you were here!"

The others also broke out in a cold sweat; a rampaging Ma Xiaotao could easily tear everyone apart, save for Dai Yueheng.

Ye Guchen, however, leaned close to her ear and used mental transmission to say:

"It seems that day didn't clear you out thoroughly enough. You'll have to work hard with me again when we get back so I can clear you out properly!"

Facing Ye Guchen's teasing, Ma Xiaotao wasn't shy; she was even somewhat bold, replying via mental transmission: "Alright! This sister will be waiting for you!"

For a moment, even Ye Guchen was caught off guard, but he couldn't back down now. He said, "Then just wait and see!"

It wasn't great to keep holding her, so Ye Guchen changed the subject.

"My fifth pet is settled. Next, we head to Butterfly Valley."

Hearing this, Ma Xiaotao finally let go of Ye Guchen.

She looked at the other members of the Shrek Seven Devils and bowed slightly to express her apologies.

By now, everyone was collectively dumbfounded. Was this really that hot-tempered big sister? Looking at the situation, she had likely already been conquered by Ye Guchen.

Watching Ma Xiaotao apologize to him, everyone felt as though she had suddenly become gentler.

After three or four days of travel, the group finally arrived at Butterfly Valley.

Butterfly Valley was a U-shaped valley with a waterfall cascading down the center, forming multi-tiered water steps. The water was a clear, emerald green, and paired with the swarms of colorful butterflies and blooming wildflowers, it would have been a world-class tourist attraction in his past life.

"So beautiful!"

As soon as they entered the valley, the group was deeply captivated by the scenery.

Even Dai Yueheng couldn't help but exclaim, "This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen, bar none!"

Although the Rainbow Butterfly was not as highly regarded by soul beasts as the Emerald Swan, Butterfly Valley was still guarded by a soul beast nearly fifty thousand years old.

Faced with the human intrusion, this nearly fifty-thousand-year-old Plate-Armored Rhino was the first to block their path.

It assumed a charging stance toward the group as a warning.

The group snapped out of their admiration of the scenery and looked at the Plate-Armored Rhino before them with wary expressions.

But at this moment, Ma Xiaotao could no longer hold back.

"Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike!"

A phantom of a fire phoenix condensed and surged straight toward the blocking Plate-Armored Rhino, transforming into a giant flame claw as it neared, swatting the beast away.

Watching the massive Plate-Armored Rhino get swatted away, those who had previously claimed Ma Xiaotao had become gentler all gulped in unison.

They finally understood that Ma Xiaotao hadn't changed; she had merely restrained herself in front of Ye Guchen.

Involuntarily, their admiration for Ye Guchen grew even more.

Seeing that Ma Xiaotao was about to continue her attack, Ye Guchen hurriedly pulled her back.

"Alright, Sister Xiaotao, our goal is the Rainbow Butterfly within the valley; there is no need to kill the soul beast protecting them."

After all, once he formed a contract with the Rainbow Butterfly later, it would be family and friends to his contracted beasts, so there was no need to wipe them out completely.