A Small Test of Skill! Instantly Slaying a First-Rank Spirit Beast

"Azure Slashing Sword Aura!"

Chu Zhou mobilized the Dou Qi within his body, channeling it through several acupoints in his hand. With a little Soul Force to guide it, he infused it into his Longsword, forming azure Sword Qi that thrust forward fiercely.

The Sword Qi shot ten feet beyond the Longsword with a piercing whistle.

Just then, the sound of shattering glass rang out.

A streak of silver light flew into the room and, as if by coincidence, collided with the azure Sword Qi.

"Awoo!"

The Sword Qi sent the silver figure flying into a nearby wall with a tremendous crash.

Meng Ziwei instinctively looked toward the sound, her beautiful dark eyes contracting.

A massive beast covered in silver fur, resembling a cross between an Alaskan Malamute and a steppe wolf, suddenly lay there, blood pouring from its body.

Its eyes brimmed with ferocity, but its life was slipping away.

"Is this a First-Rank Spirit Beast?" Meng Ziwei instinctively licked her dry lips.

"That's right. And it just broke through to the late first rank. Before the Spiritual Energy Revival, it was probably a mixed-breed Alaskan Malamute." Chu Zhou stepped forward with his sword, gathering Dou Qi at its tip into an illusory azure lion's head.

With a soft cry, the lion's head flew out and struck the Spirit Beast wolf, extinguishing its last trace of life.

Chu Zhou inwardly relaxed a little. Sword in hand, he stepped forward and swiftly began butchering the Spirit Beast wolf, which was ten feet long and five feet tall.

With his Soul Perception and the control he had developed through frequent pill refining, he removed the wolf's hide without damaging it and divided its meat into cuts. He collected all its blood in a vat; it would have its uses later.

After finishing, Chu Zhou felt a slight change in his state of mind.

This had been his first fight since he began cultivating, and his first time taking a life.

Yet he felt no discomfort, only the excitement of wielding great power.

"What's with that look?" Chu Zhou turned and met Meng Ziwei's wide eyes.

"That was a First-Rank Spirit Beast! My second brother told me it usually takes a whole platoon to bring one down while keeping as much of the meat intact as possible." Excitement spread across Meng Ziwei's face. "Chu Zhou, you dealt with it so easily, all by yourself with just a sword?"

"Well, that's called strength." Chu Zhou twirled his sword and put the first-grade weapon into his Storage Ring.

"You're amazing!" Meng Ziwei's eyes held nothing but admiration as she came over and showered him with praise.

Chu Zhou measured himself against those geniuses, so he felt little inward excitement. Instead, he took out a piece of meat. "Go stir-fry a plate of this. Let's see whether fresh Late First-Tier Spirit Beast Meat is better at improving our cultivation."

Meng Ziwei immediately did as he asked. Though she came from a wealthy family, her personal interests and slight obsession with cleanliness had made her a fairly skilled cook.

Before long, three Spirit Beast Meat dishes were ready, and Chu Zhou and Meng Ziwei ate their fill.

"My Dou Qi broke through to the seventh stage!" Meng Ziwei's eyes shone with delight.

"Late First-Tier Spirit Beast Meat really is more effective." Chu Zhou circulated the Azure Flame Soul-Refining Art and quickly finished refining what he had eaten. Sensing the greater boost, he looked thoughtful. "If we could eat Second-Tier Spirit Beast Meat, or Third-Tier Spirit Beast Meat..."

Spirit Beast Meat could be considered a specialty of the Blue Star World.

Most people from Blue Star were "good-for-nothings" after traveling to the Dou Qi Continent.

This Spirit Beast Meat, comparable to Pills that improved cultivation, was a benefit exclusive to them.

Chu Zhou increasingly valued Blue Star as a source of resources. It would be best to make it and the Dou Qi Continent complement each other.

"The Pills." Chu Zhou took out a jade bottle and handed it to Meng Ziwei. "Give your second brother one when you get there. Keep the rest for yourself in case you need them."

"Hubby, you're so good to me!" If the timing had been right, Meng Ziwei would have wanted to thoroughly satisfy Chu Zhou.

Positions, outfits, even what she called him—Chu Zhou could decide it all, and she would gladly cooperate.

"Go as soon as you can. Delays could cause trouble. Remember not to mention me. Make up your own explanation." Chu Zhou reached out and playfully brushed Meng Ziwei's nose.

"Mhm." Meng Ziwei understood what Chu Zhou meant and acknowledged it.

Without further delay, she changed clothes, went to the garage, and drove to the military hospital where Meng Zichen was recuperating.

"Dad, Mom, Eldest Brother."

Meng Ziwei arrived at the inpatient ward and saw her parents and Meng Zihan in the corridor.

"You're here, Weiwei." Meng Mother wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and forced a smile, hesitating over what to say.

"I came to see my second brother. Is he awake?" Meng Ziwei asked.

"He's awake. Go in and talk to him," Meng Shanhe said steadily. "He dotes on you the most. Persuade him not to give up on himself. We'll definitely find second-rank Spirit Medicine to heal him, or even third-rank Spirit Medicine."

"The longer the Spiritual Energy Revival continues, the more Spirit Medicine there will be, and the more readily available it will become. His recovery is only a matter of time."

That was what he said, but all four of them understood how important cultivation talent was in this new era. Fall behind once, and you would keep falling behind.

"Mhm." Meng Ziwei said nothing more and pushed open the door to the hospital room.

"Shanhe," Meng Mother said, her voice choked with tears. "Do you think Weiwei will agree?"

"I don't know. We won't force her." Meng Shanhe's gaze sharpened slightly. "I won't sacrifice my daughter for my son. If she agrees willingly, that's beyond our control."

Meng Mother's lips trembled, and she nodded softly.

Meanwhile, Meng Ziwei approached the bed and looked at Meng Zichen.

Her second brother, who had always been so spirited, now lay like a block of wood, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Second brother," Meng Ziwei called.

"Weiwei?" Meng Zichen turned his gaze toward her, a little life returning to his eyes. He gave a strained smile. "You're here. I'm fine, so don't worry. I know Mom and Dad have said some things to you, but don't listen to them."

His gaze hardened as he continued in a serious tone, "If you sacrifice yourself for me, I'd rather jump from this building right now."

Meng Ziwei felt a surge of emotion. This was her second brother.

She knew he really was capable of doing something like that.

"I'm not about to sacrifice my future marriage!" Meng Ziwei said sharply, tossing him the Pulse-Protecting Pill she had been holding. "Second brother, take this."

"What is it?" Meng Zichen frowned.

"Don't ask. Just take it," Meng Ziwei urged.

Meng Zichen picked up the Pill and sniffed it. A medicinal fragrance entered his nose, and he actually felt some improvement in the faintly aching meridians around his Dantian.

Trusting Meng Ziwei, he swallowed the Pill without hesitation.

Medicinal power emerged and surged toward the injured meridians around his Dantian, repairing them.

"This..." Meng Zichen's eyes widened. "Weiwei, what is this?" he asked incredulously.

"Don't ask. I won't tell you anything more even if you do." Meng Ziwei was happy for him and felt relieved as well, but she deliberately put on a stern face. "I have my own secrets. Explain it to Mom, Dad, and everyone else yourself. Tell them your injuries weren't that serious to begin with, or make up another reason. Just don't mention me."

"Second brother, I'm doing this for the good of our whole Meng Family."

She couldn't let this affect Chu Zhou.