Golden Figure

Realizing that his reaction had been too unusual, he quickly withdrew his gaze and pondered as he continued onward.

He had Satellite AI pull up the latest records concerning the Star Dou Great Forest.

Over the past half year, the number of Soul Beast deaths in the Star Dou Great Forest had indeed risen slightly. It was hard to say that it had nothing to do with him.

But compared to the immense Soul Beast population, the increase was negligible.

Still, incidents of Soul Beasts actively attacking people did seem to have become more frequent lately.

It was only natural for Soul Beasts to attack Soul Masters, but most of the time, they only did so when Soul Masters entered their territory. Recently, however, Soul Beasts had indeed begun actively hunting more often.

Could it really have something to do with him?

Li Ming muttered to himself, but quickly dismissed the thought. At the very least, even Satellite AI believed this was merely a coincidence and had nothing to do with him.

According to Satellite AI's analysis, this was a small-scale Beast Tide triggered by high-level Soul Beasts from the Core Zone growing restless and leaving their territory. Perhaps it was breeding season.

The reason it had not happened before might have been that high-level Soul Beasts had longer mating cycles.

Li Ming stopped overthinking and continued on his way.

They did not encounter anything particularly troublesome along the way.

For one thing, this Beast Tide had spread from the core toward the outskirts. They were already at the very edge of the outer region, and Li Ming had warned them early enough that the outer region had yet to be affected.

They only needed to deal with a few particularly sneaky Soul Beasts.

Those sneaky Soul Beasts were nothing more than insignificant fodder before Spirit Saints and Spirit Emperors.

In the end, they successfully made their way out of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Everyone looked back at the Star Dou Great Forest behind them. It would have been a lie to say they had no doubts.

If a Beast Tide had truly occurred, their journey should not have been this easy.

Soul Beasts in a Beast Tide were hardly rational. No matter their age, they would attack anyone they encountered.

The others could not help looking at Li Ming with some suspicion.

Li Ming ignored their doubts and returned to the inn instead.

Not until early morning did large numbers of Soul Masters flee from the Star Dou Forest. Every one of them looked miserable and bore injuries. Those were the lucky ones; the unlucky ones had never made it out.

Only then did the people of the entire town learn that a rare Beast Tide had erupted in the Star Dou Forest.

"Hehe, I told you the City Lord's Mansion's intelligence couldn't possibly be wrong."

Inside an inn room, everyone had gathered together, and the rough-looking burly man was the first to speak.

Yet Li Ming knew that this very burly man had been the one who had hesitated to speak at the time. If not for Li Ming's status as their employer, he would definitely have voiced his doubts.

"Since we ran into a Beast Tide, we can only wait for it to pass before going in again. Though you'll probably need to buy another set of intelligence."

What they had thought would be an easy job now appeared to require them to stay for a while longer.

Li Ming had no choice either. He could only remain here for the time being.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed. The Beast Tide finally subsided, and huge numbers of Soul Masters poured back into the Star Dou Great Forest, having learned absolutely nothing from the ordeal. It was said that many Soul Masters had died in the Beast Tide a few days ago, while many others had barely escaped with their lives, yet they still had learned nothing.

They acted this way because after a Beast Tide, those with good luck could pick up bargains. If Soul Masters were injured, then naturally Soul Beasts were injured as well.

Li Ming and the others set out once more. This time, they encountered noticeably fewer Soul Beasts along the road. With the latest intelligence from the City Lord's Mansion in hand, their journey remained uneventful.

After traveling for a full day and night, they finally reached their destination.

At that moment, the Ten-Thousand-Year Unicorn was lazily sprawled atop a bare boulder on a hillside, basking in the sun.

"Attack!"

Zhou Jing, the Control System Spirit Saint, struck first, and the Defense System Soul Master immediately moved up to shield the group.

Only then did the two Power System Soul Masters make their move.

Facing such an overwhelming lineup, the Ten-Thousand-Year Unicorn had almost no ability to fight back. Before long, it was trapped in place, barely clinging to life and covered in wounds.

It was now Li Ming's turn to step forward.

Everyone watched Li Ming, whether intentionally or otherwise.

After all, despite staying in town for seven days, they still knew almost nothing about him.

Of course, they had come to understand just how lavish he was.

During those seven days, they had indeed been quite idle. Zhou Jing and the others, who possessed Purple Heaven City Closed Beta Qualifications, naturally spent their time wandering around Purple Heaven City. Li Ming had accompanied them into Purple Heaven City as well, still wearing a veiled bamboo hat to conceal himself.

According to Zhou Jing, Guli, and Zhu Qing, that young man was probably from some major power. Over the past few days, he had paid for all their food and drinks in Purple Heaven City.

It might have seemed like nothing more than eating and drinking, but food and drinks in Purple Heaven City differed from those outside. They could not fill one's stomach and existed only for tasting. What normal person would buy them?

Thus, food in Purple Heaven City was actually a luxury.

Whether at McIntosh, the Milk Tea Shop, or the Tavern, they had spent freely. In seven days, they had spent several hundred Dream Coupons. That was no small amount, considering it was purely for consumption.

The rough-looking burly man felt rather bitter. He was only a Spirit Emperor and did not have a Closed Beta Qualification, so he could only listen as they described their extravagant lives where they spent recklessly without paying a single coin themselves.

What really made him jealous was hearing Guli boast that the young man had bought her and Zhou Jing each a set of clothes in Purple Heaven City. They were supposedly branded goods worth several hundred Dream Coupons, with rush delivery, and would arrive once they left the Star Dou Great Forest.

His teeth had nearly turned sore from envy. He wanted branded goods too!

Even so, they still knew far too little about Li Ming. Now that Li Ming would personally deliver the final blow, they could finally see what the young man was capable of.

Even now, they did not know what Li Ming's Martial Soul was or what system he belonged to.

Of course, only after seeing some of Li Ming's capabilities could they believe that he could truly absorb a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. They did not want such a generous employer to perish while absorbing a Soul Ring.

Li Ming stepped forward and looked at the Ten-Thousand-Year Unicorn, which had been completely restrained. Even the horn on its head had been shattered. It was practically no threat anymore.

But a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, if one lacked sufficient strength, would not be injured even if it simply stood there and allowed a Soul Master to attack. Its physical toughness was no laughing matter.

Li Ming gradually approached the Unicorn and drew his long blade beneath everyone's watchful eyes.

The next instant, Li Ming flashed forward and instantly appeared before the Unicorn. Even the Unicorn was stunned. It had originally intended to drag Li Ming down with it when he approached, but it had never expected such speed and had no time to react.

The reflection from the blade flashed across everyone's eyes. They saw only the blade's afterimage before the Unicorn was completely slain.

What incredible speed!

Even the Spirit Saints present were somewhat surprised. They could handle such speed themselves, but for a teenager in his teens, it was truly astonishingly fast!

A Soul Ring then condensed above the Unicorn's corpse. Li Ming immediately extended his hand, poured in Soul Power, and began absorbing and fusing with it.

The members of the Red Tiger Mercenary Group promptly spread out, leaving Li Ming ample space while keeping watch over the surrounding area.

While Li Ming absorbed the Soul Ring, a figure raced through the Star Dou Forest at tremendous speed, so fast that it defied reason.

No one dared to race so recklessly through the Star Dou Forest. Even Soul Beasts had natural enemies, unless they were powerful enough to look down upon the entire Star Dou Forest.

From high above, one would discover that this figure was charging directly toward Li Ming's location.

The satellite in the sky naturally recorded the scene, continuously capturing the figure appearing between the forest shadows. Yet it issued no warning, having identified it as merely a five-thousand-year Soul Beast, unworthy of an alert.

The satellite camera continued filming because it was the first time Satellite AI had observed this Soul Beast's appearance.

Under Satellite AI's observation, the Soul Beast's form was continuously photographed and entered into the Soul Beast archives.

In the photographs, it resembled a lion, with translucent golden fur like crystal. Yet its four paws were like dragon claws, each stepping upon clusters of golden flames. Beneath its golden fur lay a layer of golden scales, while its face had a somewhat elongated snout and a vertical eye clearly embedded in its forehead.