Burning Heaven Demon Fox

"There's a large snake ahead, eighteen thousand years old, lightning-attributed," Qin Chuan warned.

Yue Guan looked up and nodded. "I see it. The Thunder-Patterned Python is highly territorial; we can't go around it, so we have to push through. You all stay behind."

Yue Guan flipped his right hand, and a golden chrysanthemum bloomed in his palm. Its petals were sharp, their edges shimmering with a cold light.

The Thunder-Patterned Python coiled atop the canopy had also discovered the intruders. It poked its head out from its coiled body, its vertical pupils locking onto Yue Guan. It opened its mouth, revealing two finger-long fangs with silver electricity dancing on their tips.

"Hiss~!"

The Thunder-Patterned Python launched itself from the canopy with incredible speed, its body stretching into a straight line like a purple arrow, aiming directly for Yue Guan's face.

Yue Guan flicked his hand gently.

Three golden petals flew out, carving three arcs through the air.

"Pfft!"

The petals sliced into the snake's body; one grazed the side of its head, another cut through the scales on its belly, and the third pinned itself into its tail.

The Thunder-Patterned Python rolled in mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground. Fresh blood gushed from the three wounds, staining the fallen leaves beneath.

It wasn't dead yet, writhing violently and letting out angry hisses. Arcs of electricity surged across its body, crackling and popping; nearby saplings were struck by the discharge, their bark turning charred and black.

Yue Guan took two steps forward and flicked his right hand again. This time, seven or eight petals flew in unison, densely embedding themselves into the python's head and its vital "seven-inch" spot.

The snake's body twitched violently a few times before going limp.

"Let's go." Yue Guan retracted his Martial Soul and walked past the snake's corpse without looking back.

Yan followed behind, glancing down as he passed the python's body and clicking his tongue. "Elder Yue Guan's petal-blade technique—it's been so many years, and it's still as sharp as ever."

Xie Yue didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the cuts; the surfaces were as smooth as if sliced by a razor.

The five of them continued deeper.

The further they went, the higher the level of the spirit beasts they encountered. After walking for another twenty minutes or so, a giant dragon over ten meters long flew overhead.

It had ice-blue scales, bat-like wings, and a clump of transparent ice crystals at the end of its tail. As it flew past, a wave of cold air pressed down from above, instantly raising goosebumps on Qin Chuan's arms.

A twenty-five-thousand-year-old Frost Flying Dragon.

This creature was even more territorial than the Thunder-Patterned Python. After circling once, it dove down, opened its mouth, and spewed a stream of ice-blue dragon breath.

Yue Guan sighed and raised his hand.

The golden petals of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum formed a shield, blocking the space above the group. The dragon breath slammed into the petal shield, sending ice shards flying, but not a single petal shattered.

Yue Guan released his Fifth Spirit Ability in an instant.

[Myriad Chrysanthemums Withering!]

Golden petals filled the sky, rising like a golden rainstorm and sweeping upward in retaliation. The Frost Flying Dragon was engulfed by the petal rain, letting out a shrill roar as several gashes were carved into its wings.

It wasn't stupid. It knew this human before it was not to be trifled with. It flapped its wings violently and, dragging its injured body, flew off into the distance.

"A twenty-five-thousand-year-old Frost Flying Dragon. What a pity; it would have made a decent spirit ring if we'd killed it," Yan said, watching the giant dragon retreat with a look of longing.

"That's ice-attributed; it conflicts with your Flame Overlord. It would be useless to you even if you had it," Xie Yue replied.

"Tch." Yan curled his lip.

Yue Guan brushed the ice shards off his sleeves. "Keep moving. Our target is a control-type spirit beast over thirty thousand years old. Don't let these small fry distract you."

The group continued forward.

Qin Chuan walked at the back of the team, appearing to look around just like the others, but in reality, his spiritual power had already spread out into a ten-kilometer perception net.

After searching for another half hour or so, they entered the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

The environment here was a completely different world from the outer perimeter. The tree trunks were generally over eight meters in diameter, and some ancient trees required seven or eight people to encircle them. Their roots were exposed above ground, twisted and tangled.

The concentration of Soul Power in the air was much higher; with every breath, one could feel wisps of energy pouring into the body through the nasal cavity.

Qin Chuan's Samsara Eye captured a signal.

About ten kilometers away, to the east-southeast, there was a very strong source of energy fluctuation.

He focused his spiritual power on it, carefully identifying the attribute characteristics of the target.

It was primarily fire-attributed, but not purely so. Mixed within was a very unique mental-type fluctuation, completely different from ordinary fire-attributed spirit beasts.

Thirty-six thousand years.

Qin Chuan went through Yu Xiaogang's notes in his mind. Fire attribute combined with mental control, over thirty thousand years old—there was only one spirit beast in the Star Dou Great Forest that fit these criteria.

Burning Heaven Demon Fox.

A top-tier control-type spirit beast with extremely powerful fire-attributed mental interference capabilities.

Its mental attacks carried a burning effect; those struck would not only fall into mental confusion but also feel as if their brains were on fire. It was a perfect match for Hu Liena's Demon Fox Martial Soul.

Qin Chuan felt confident, but he didn't say it outright, as the others didn't know he possessed a ten-kilometer range of spiritual perception.

"Let's head that way," Qin Chuan said, pointing in a direction. "I have a feeling there might be something good over there."

Yue Guan looked in the direction he was pointing and pondered for a moment. "Hmm, that direction leads to a volcanic geological belt in the deep forest zone. It is indeed prone to producing high-age spirit beasts. Let's go."

Qin Chuan breathed a silent sigh of relief.

The five of them adjusted their direction and advanced rapidly toward the spot Qin Chuan had pointed out.

While moving at high speed, Qin Chuan began to adjust the team's route, whether intentionally or not.

A little to the left, then a little to the right; it looked like they were exploring, but in reality, he was leading everyone toward the location of the Burning Heaven Demon Fox.

Yan walked in front, fiddling with a twig in his hand and humming an off-key tune. Xie Yue walked beside him, his eyes and ears alert to everything around them.

Hu Liena traveled by Qin Chuan's side, their arms occasionally brushing against each other.

After three years of spending time together, the relationship between the two was no longer as distant as it had been in the beginning. Although Hu Liena would always say, "Your soul skills are too evil," she loved him dearly in her heart, and her physical actions were far more honest than her words.

Not long after, Yue Guan suddenly stopped in his tracks and raised his right hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

His nose twitched as he took a deep breath.

"There is the scent of a fire-attribute soul beast. It's very strong, and the age is not low."

Qin Chuan silently gave a thumbs-up in his heart.

Yue Guan was a level 95 Title Douluo. Although his perception was not as precise as Qin Chuan's Samsara Eye, it was still effortless for him to detect the aura of a powerful soul beast within a two-kilometer radius.

"It's up ahead," Yue Guan's voice dropped, "and... it's a fox type."

Hu Liena's eyes lit up. "A fox type? What species?"

Yue Guan took another breath, identifying it for a few seconds. "A fire-attribute fox, at least thirty thousand years old. If I'm not mistaken, it should be a Burning Heaven Demon Fox."

"A Burning Heaven Demon Fox!" Hu Liena's voice rose in excitement. "The top-tier control-type soul beast that shares the same origin as my Demon Fox martial soul?"

Yue Guan nodded. "That's right. Nana, if it really is a Burning Heaven Demon Fox, then your luck this time is beyond words. The soul ring of a Burning Heaven Demon Fox has an extremely high compatibility with your Nine-Tailed Sky Fox martial soul; there will be almost no rejection reaction when you absorb it."

Hu Liena's breathing quickened.

Qin Chuan chuckled from the side. "It seems my intuition is indeed accurate."

Hu Liena glared at him, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

Yue Guan made a gesture, signaling everyone to lower their profiles and approach slowly.