Ten Great Ferocious Beasts and the Emperor Auspicious Beast!

"I was wondering why I hadn't seen hide nor hair of anything all the way here. Turns out I'd been saving up all my luck for this."

Jiang Hao brushed the dust off himself, stood, and walked to the edge of the pit to study the silver-white flame.

The Innate Fire Spirit seemed to sense him approaching. It flickered, its arcs of electricity flashing faster, as though warning him—or testing him.

"Pretty lively, aren't you?"

Jiang Hao grinned and slowly reached toward the Fire Spirit with his right hand.

His hand had only made it halfway when the Innate Fire Spirit flared. A burst of flame exploded outward.

"Hiss—"

Jiang Hao sucked in a sharp breath. A red welt had appeared on the back of his hand, stinging fiercely.

"So force won't work."

With a thought, Jiang Hao released his Five Elements Qilin Spirit.

A five-colored halo swirled behind him, and a gentle yet weighty aura spread out to envelop the area.

The Innate Fire Spirit seemed to feel it. It flickered more violently, its light flashing as though it were expressing some emotion.

"Submit to me, and I'll take you to the top!"

As he spoke, Jiang Hao slowly unfolded his Five Elements Auspiciousness Domain.

Five-colored light flowed outward like water, wrapping around the Innate Fire Spirit.

The Fire Spirit struggled a few times but soon settled, as if soothed. Its silver-white flames grew much gentler.

"Got it."

Delighted, Jiang Hao kept working, carefully guiding the power of the five elements to draw the Innate Fire Spirit into his palm.

"Easy now. Hold still, and I'll take you flying."

Jiang Hao grinned, sat cross-legged, and held the Innate Fire Spirit before his chest.

He took a deep breath and circulated his Soul Power.

The Five Elements Qilin Spirit appeared behind him, its five-colored halo swirling around the Innate Fire Spirit.

The Fire Spirit trembled slightly, and its silver-white flames slowly began to seep into Jiang Hao's palm.

"Hiss—"

A tingling sensation spread from his palm through his whole body, as though countless fine needles were pricking him at once. It left him numb and itching.

Jiang Hao gritted his teeth. Veins bulged on his forehead, but he did not make a sound.

His Five Elements Qilin's Auspicious Beast Body activated on its own. Its gentle restorative power intertwined with the Fire Spirit's violent energy, surging wildly through his meridians.

Damn it, this stuff hits a lot harder than Whale Rubber...

Jiang Hao cursed inwardly, but he dared not lose focus. He poured all his effort into guiding the Fire Spirit's power toward his dantian.

Just then, a white figure landed silently beside him.

Bai Qian.

He glanced at Jiang Hao, who was absorbing the Innate Fire Spirit. His brow rose slightly, and surprise flashed in his eyes.

"An Innate Fire Spirit? The young master's luck really is enviable."

He murmured to himself, then stopped three paces from Jiang Hao. Resting his right hand lightly on the spear at his waist, he calmly scanned their surroundings.

The forest was silent.

The flare of fire had caused such a commotion that every nearby soul beast had fled.

But that did not mean there was no danger.

Bai Qian knew well that a phenomenon like this was most likely to draw two kinds of people.

The curious, and the greedy.

Sure enough, before half an incense stick had burned, three figures burst out of the dense forest.

Their leader was a burly, bald man with a bare chest tattooed with a black tiger. He looked vicious.

Behind him came two lackeys, one fat and one thin. Neither looked like a respectable soul master.

"Boss, that flash of fire came from right here!"

The thin man pointed ahead, his eyes gleaming.

The bald man narrowed his eyes at Jiang Hao, who sat cross-legged, then glanced at the silver-white flame in his palm. A grin spread across his face.

"Heh. A little brat barely out of diapers dares come treasure-hunting in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

"That flame looks special. It's got to be worth something!"

The fat man rubbed his hands together and chuckled.

The bald man snorted and strode forward. "Kid, hand it over if you know what's good for you. We might just spare your life."

Jiang Hao neither moved nor opened his eyes.

He was at a critical point in the absorption. The Fire Spirit's power was merging with his spirit, and losing focus now could have disastrous consequences.

Bai Qian stood beside Jiang Hao, watching the three approach without expression.

Only after taking a few more steps did the bald man notice Bai Qian.

He looked the white-robed, scholarly-looking man up and down, then scoffed. "What, are you the brat's guard? Get out of the way if you know what's good for you. Don't stand between me and a payday."

Bai Qian said nothing. His gaze merely sharpened.

An invisible pressure spread out at once, bearing down on the three men with almost tangible force.

The bald man's grin froze.

His legs felt filled with lead, and a boulder seemed to press against his chest. Even breathing became difficult.

The fat man's knees gave way, and he dropped to the ground.

The thin man fared even worse. He scrambled backward, crying, "Have mercy, sir! Have mercy!"

Bai Qian still said nothing.

He merely swept a cool glance over the three and waved his hand.

Their expressions and movements froze. Then they burst into a mist of blood that scattered on the breeze.

Bai Qian watched the blood mist disperse, but he did not put away his spear.

His eyes narrowed as he turned toward the depths of the forest on his left. His voice was calm, edged with cold. "You're already here. Why hide?"

The forest fell silent for a moment. Then came a low beastly growl.

A moment later, an unseen force parted the thick bushes to either side.

A golden soul beast slowly emerged.

It was not especially large, only about two meters long. Golden fur covered its body, gleaming in the sunlight.

Its forehead was what drew the eye.

A vertical slit opened there, revealing a third eye. Golden light swirled within its pupil, as though it could see through every illusion in the world.

Behind her, a much larger soul beast crouched low. All three of its savage heads growled at once, flames dancing between their fangs.

They were the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff.

Bai Qian raised an eyebrow and tightened his grip on his spear.

The three-headed soul beast was no ordinary opponent. If a fight broke out, he feared he would not be able to protect the young master as well.

And there was more than one soul beast.

Then the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's third eye passed over him and fixed directly on Jiang Hao, who sat cross-legged.

"Human."

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion suddenly spoke, her voice clear and pleasant, like a young girl's. "What is this human to you?"

Bai Qian said nothing. He merely held his spear across his body, raising its tip slightly toward the golden beast.

"Human, put away your hostility!"

The Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff's deep voice rang out, and the aura of a Ferocious Beast erupted from him.

"If you dare lay a paw on her, I'll kill that child!"