Hunting a Thousand-Year Spirit Beast

The next morning, at dawn.

At the entrance to the outer region of Star Dou Forest.

Zhou Qiubai leaned on his sword with one hand, a blade of grass between his lips, waiting boredly for Shui Bing'er to arrive. About another quarter of an hour later, a lovely figure emerged from the end of the road.

Shui Bing'er wore a fitted combat suit, her expression calm. She drew quite a few unusual looks along the way, and only after she came to stand beside Zhou Qiubai did those gazes reluctantly withdraw.

"Mr. Zhou, sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's nothing. In our line of work, we're supposed to serve our clients." Zhou Qiubai looked Shui Bing'er over, then spat out the blade of grass. "Miss Shui, it seems you came thoroughly prepared. Shall we set off now?"

With that, the two of them leaped onto the treetops ahead and began making their way deeper into the forest.

Zhou Qiubai practiced martial arts regularly and was accustomed to the environment within Star Dou Forest, so he moved swiftly and naturally. Shui Bing'er, meanwhile, looked nothing like an academy-trained student. Her movements were crisp, and her expression focused.

It seemed he needed to find a chance to visit those academies. A true master always needed the heart of an apprentice.

The two maintained that pace for more than two hours. Only when Zhou Qiubai saw that Shui Bing'er was truly running low on strength did he suggest resting for a while beneath a massive tree ahead.

Perhaps because of her age, or perhaps because this was already her third time obtaining a Soul Ring.

Compared to those Soul Masters hunting their first or second Soul Ring, Shui Bing'er already carried herself like a seasoned Soul Master.

"How much longer do we need?" Shui Bing'er asked after taking a bite of dry rations.

Zhou Qiubai surveyed the surroundings before answering, "About another half hour. You're quite fast—much faster than I expected."

The moment she heard that, Shui Bing'er rose to her feet and wiped the corner of her mouth. "I'm rested. Let's go now."

Zhou Qiubai stared at Shui Bing'er beside him in disbelief. "We still have to deal with a Thousand-Year Spirit Beast later. You should rest properly."

After saying that, Zhou Qiubai handed Shui Bing'er some dried meat and leaned back against the tree to rest.

Only after more than half an hour did the two rise and continue onward.

Deep within Star Dou Forest, by a lake.

It was not Lake of Life, but the largest lake in Star Dou Forest closest to the outside. After all, the Azure Bull Python lived in that lake deeper within the forest. Even if Zhou Qiubai had ten times the courage, he would not dare bring Shui Bing'er somewhere like that.

There were many Spirit Beasts at the center of the lake, both carnivores and herbivores. Though they saw Zhou Qiubai arrive with someone, not a single Spirit Beast attacked them.

This was the rule at the center of the lake, a rule that both Soul Masters and Spirit Beasts had to obey.

Polluting the lake's water was forbidden.

Once someone broke that rule, whether Spirit Beast or Soul Master, they would be hunted by higher-level Spirit Beasts. Thus, not only was hunting Spirit Beasts forbidden here, even fighting was prohibited.

"How are we supposed to lure those Spirit Beasts out? If it doesn't leave the lakeshore, are we supposed to keep waiting?" Shui Yue'er complained.

Zhou Qiubai shook his head smugly and pulled out a medicinal herb from his pocket. In the blink of an eye, every Spirit Beast's gaze focused on the two of them.

Shui Yue'er stared at the herb in Zhou Qiubai's hand in surprise. "What is that?"

"Just an herb I grew myself. It has an extraordinary attraction for these Spirit Beasts. With this, I don't believe they won't come out." Zhou Qiubai deliberately waved it before the gathered Spirit Beasts, then stuffed it into his waistband with an especially exaggerated motion.

In an instant, every Spirit Beast stared at Zhou Qiubai as though he were a slab of succulent pork belly.

Zhou Qiubai patted Shui Bing'er and pointed at the swan by the lakeshore, which was equally interested in him. "In a moment, I'll lure these fellows away. Seize the chance and stop that swan."

"Huh? Lure them away?" Shui Bing'er looked at the surrounding Spirit Beasts and warned, "There are more than a dozen Spirit Beasts here. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Zhou Qiubai did not seem to care and merely continued, "You don't need to worry about that. But let me make this clear—I'm only doing this once. If you fail to stop the swan, I won't be responsible."

With that, Zhou Qiubai took off running, so fast that even Shui Bing'er nearly failed to react.

The instant Zhou Qiubai stepped beyond the center of the lake, all the surrounding Spirit Beasts moved. At least five or six Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts charged after him.

Meanwhile, Shui Bing'er, who stood beside Zhou Qiubai, was not harmed in the slightest.

Seeing this, Shui Bing'er circulated the Soul Power within her body. A sharp spike of condensed ice shot straight at the swan Spirit Beast's ankle, striking it and making it stagger, sending it just beyond the center of the lake.

"Quack?"

The swan flapped its wings wildly before finally spotting the true attacker.

Even so, the swan did not attack. It only stared fixedly at Shui Bing'er, seemingly waiting for her to step beyond the center of the lake.

This was not Shui Binger's first time facing a Thousand-Year Spirit Beast.

Back at Skywater Academy, Shui Bing'er had faced Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts raised by the academy more than once. But those Spirit Beasts had already been beaten half to death by the teachers, and in both spirit and body, they could not compare to the swan before her.

This was exactly the battle she wanted.

Shui Binger's combat suit turned ice-blue, and blossoms of ice bloomed in her hands as she walked out of the center of the lake and into the battlefield.

Boom!!!

The instant she stepped out, the swan immediately beat its wings and blasted toward Shui Bing'er.

In an instant, a fierce wind carrying ice shards struck at Shui Bing'er.

Shui Bing'er extended one hand, rolling to the left while forming an ice shield before herself. When the two collided, a series of sharp clanging sounds erupted.

The flowers and grass between them were all frozen into ice. If Shui Bing'er had been hit, she likely would have suffered the same fate.

Perhaps seeing that its attack had failed, the swan beat its wings and soared into the air, charging at Shui Bing'er. Its beak transformed into crystalline blue ice and shot toward her like a javelin.

Not good!

I still overestimated my own strength.

A wild Thousand-Year Spirit Beast was not something I could handle alone yet.

The next second, Zhou Qiubai came flying in with a kick, sending the swan crashing into a giant tree. At the same time, a blast of sword energy slashed open the swan's feet.

Shui Bing'er: ???

What was going on? There had been several Spirit Beasts after him!

Zhou Qiubai had dealt with them so quickly? Even if he had not defeated them, simply escaping should have taken some time, shouldn't it?

Zhou Qiubai stood before Shui Bing'er with his sword in hand, one hand behind his back, looking full of spirit. "Miss Shui, you'll have to pay me a little extra this time. For your sake, I threw away an entire batch of premium medicinal herbs!"