The moment Chu Xiu finished speaking, Qian Renxue and Ning Rongrong asked in unison, "You said we should clear out the Spirit Beasts?"
"Yes, clear out the Spirit Beasts."
Chu Xiu nodded and looked at Ah Yin. "Let me introduce her properly. Ah Yin's Body Martial Soul is her nose. She can pick up faint scents that even many canine Spirit Beasts can't detect. I call it Danger Perception."
"The reason we found that Man Faced Demon Spider today was that she sensed the danger coming from it."
Ah Yin said timidly, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth earlier. I haven't lost my memory."
"You can't be blamed for that."
Chu Xiu spoke up for her. "After all, we only met today. It's normal to keep things from strangers."
Qian Renxue and Ning Rongrong both nodded in understanding.
When they had first been transported here, they had been wary of one another too. Trusting strangers without a shred of caution would have been foolish.
"The beach is fairly safe, but going down the mountain for water every day is too much trouble. Supplies by the sea are scarce compared to what we can find in the woods and at the foot of the mountain."
"If we clear out the Spirit Beasts nearby, we can move to the foot of the mountain without worrying about being attacked in our sleep."
"Once we've solved the water problem, we'll have that and fire. Life will only get better from there."
The beach was the Deserted Island's safe zone, but what player would stay in the safe zone forever?
Once they grew even a little stronger, they would naturally explore the beginner village and beyond.
Chu Xiu had spotted Spirit Beasts before with his Extreme Long-Distance Vision, but sight alone could miss things. If he overlooked even one or two Spirit Beasts, a nighttime ambush could be the end of them.
Ah Yin's Danger Perception was different.
If she could detect a concealed Man Faced Demon Spider, she was even less likely to miss Spirit Beasts that couldn't hide themselves.
The time was right.
It was time to move their base.
"But isn't that still too risky?"
Ning Rongrong frowned. "Even if we find the Spirit Beasts, can we beat them with what we're capable of now?"
Qian Renxue had the same doubts.
She couldn't even imagine how Chu Xiu and the others had killed the Man Faced Demon Spider.
It was clearly at least ten thousand years old and had probably awakened a talent for concealment. If it spat a web while hidden, she couldn't guarantee she would avoid it even with her Martial Soul.
Yet Chu Xiu and the other two were now just ordinary people with a few minor abilities.
Twice, they had hunted Spirit Beasts with mortal bodies.
The feat was absurd.
"We won't know if we can beat them until we try."
Chu Xiu puffed out his chest. "Weakness is the greatest danger. If we're strong enough, even Spirit Beasts will avoid us."
[Qian Renxue agrees with you. Bond Value +20] [Current Bond Value: 25 points.]
"Huh?"
Chu Xiu froze.
He hadn't expected a little boasting to bring him such an unexpected bonus.
"Pfft!"
Beside him, Shui Bing'er suddenly remembered something funny and couldn't hold back a laugh.
Ning Rongrong thought Shui Bing'er was mocking her and snapped, "What are you laughing at?"
"I'm not laughing at you."
Shui Bing'er pointed at Chu Xiu. "I just remembered his new ability and thought it was funny."
"Ahem."
Chu Xiu coughed awkwardly. "I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. The Man Faced Demon Spider dropped a Core too. After I ate it, I gained a Concealment Ability."
"Concealment?!"
Qian Renxue's and Ning Rongrong's eyes widened at once.
Ning Rongrong could hardly wait. "Quick, show us!"
If it was the same kind of concealment the Man Faced Demon Spider had used, that was incredible.
Chu Xiu said nothing. A moment later, his figure rapidly vanished where he stood.
Only the leaves tied around his waist like a skirt remained, floating in midair.
"I see why she laughed. Does that mean you have to take off your clothes before every fight?"
Ning Rongrong gave him a strange look.
Chu Xiu's Concealment Ability was impressive, but that drawback was rather funny.
He had to undress before a fight—and strip completely naked at that.
Anyone who didn't know why would think he was a pervert.
"If your clothes can't be concealed with you, what about weapons?" Qian Renxue asked with a frown.
Qian Renxue truly lived up to being the Angel Young Master Spirit Hall had carefully trained. Unlike Ning Rongrong, she spotted the Concealment Ability's greatest weakness at once.
Chu Xiu reappeared and shrugged. "Weapons are the same. I can't conceal them."
"I see."
Qian Renxue thought it over. "In that case, you'll need someone to work with you."
"If you can approach a Spirit Beast while concealed and hold it still with your body for a moment, someone else can rush in and finish it off. That would still catch it by surprise."
Chu Xiu had been thinking the same thing.
But that meant their target couldn't be too strong.
If he couldn't restrain it with his bare hands, the question wouldn't be whether they could kill the Spirit Beast. It would be whether he got killed instead.
Fortunately, the Spirit Beasts in the woods weren't that strong.
Chu Xiu and the others could start with the less dangerous ones, then hunt stronger Spirit Beasts after gaining new abilities from their Cores.
It was still early.
Chu Xiu, Shui Bing'er, and Ah Yin had been covered in sticky green blood while carrying the Man Faced Demon Spider's corpse. After eating a little Spirit Rice to restore their strength, they prepared to return to the Spring Pool for a bath.
They could bathe in the sea, but seawater contained all sorts of minerals.
It was hard on the skin and left them feeling stickier than before.
"Come back quickly. Don't stay out until dark."
Ning Rongrong called after them as they left.
Back in the woods, the three no longer walked in single file. They walked side by side.
Ah Yin was on Chu Xiu's left, and Shui Bing'er was on his right.
"Ah Yin, besides sensing Spirit Beasts, can you find any unusual plants?"
Chu Xiu asked her as they walked.
The Cores they obtained from Spirit Beasts were useful, but Mutated Plants could be just as effective—and posed no danger.
"Of course. But I'm not sure what you mean by unusual. Do you mean Plant-type Soul Beasts?"
Ah Yin was a Plant-type Soul Beast herself.
She felt a natural kinship with others of her kind.
But Plant-type Soul Beasts had developed intelligence. The Mutated Plants Chu Xiu had encountered before clearly had none.
"I can't really explain it. You'll understand if you get a chance to see one."
No sooner had Chu Xiu said that than Ah Yin's expression changed.
"What's wrong?"
Shui Bing'er noticed it too and quickly lowered her voice.
Ah Yin's face grew grave. She raised a hand and pointed ahead. "That's where the water is, isn't it? I can smell a Spirit Beast there."
Chu Xiu looked in the direction she pointed, and a trace of gray appeared in his pupils.
His vision stretched rapidly ahead, reaching the foot of the mountain in moments.
Beside the Spring Pool, a squat, purple-furred Spirit Beast that looked like a cross between a piglet and a puppy was drinking water.
"What the hell? Why is it here?"
Chu Xiu stared at the Spirit Beast in disbelief.
Before you continue