"Thank you, Third Brother." Feeling the tremendous increase in her spiritual power, Zhu Zhuqing thanked Tang San sincerely.
"Haha, Zhu Zhuqing, you're calling Xiao San Third Brother too now? Why don't we all just become sworn siblings?"
Oscar cracked a joke.
But no one seemed opposed to the idea. They began considering it and found no reason to refuse.
"All right. Since I'm the oldest, how about I shamelessly appoint myself everyone's eldest brother? I'll stake my life on protecting you all."
The others did not spoil the mood either and began arranging themselves by age.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, Tang San, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, Lin Like, Zhu Zhuqing.
Lin Like felt somewhat uncomfortable, worried because of her identity.
Even earlier, she had kept the special nature of her Martial Soul to herself instead of being as honest with them as possible.
Do I really deserve to become sworn siblings with these good people?
But under Ning Rongrong's urging and Tang San's gentle gaze, Lin Like joined them anyway.
Perhaps the people of the two continents did not have to fight to the death. There was still room for peaceful coexistence.
An ordinary oath of brotherhood-one that would prove anything but ordinary in the long river of history-was completed just like that.
They raised Tang San's bottles of Blue Silver Dewdrop in a toast.
Mm, today was the happiest day!
The next day, they continued onward, though their formation had changed slightly.
Zhu Zhuqing moved from the flank to the center, while Lin Like took her former position.
Crossbow in hand, she remained vigilant.
After acquiring the Netherworld Qi-Reading Art, Zhu Zhuqing could now put more abilities to use.
One of them was helping everyone search for suitable Soul Beasts.
The first person to help now was Ma Hongjun, who had spent the previous night grumbling.
It had to be said that this really saved Tang San and the others a great deal of time.
Soon, the surrounding air grew rather hot, and the trees became much sparser.
Yet they were still inside the Star Dou Great Forest.
The reason for this unusual phenomenon was the presence of a powerful fire-attribute Soul Beast.
"Be careful, everyone. That Soul Beast's qi is raging right now!"
Zhu Zhuqing warned them.
Tang San channeled his power into his eyes and concentrated his spiritual power to look ahead. Two Soul Beasts were fighting on a mountain not far away.
Drawing on what he had learned in the past, Tang San identified the two Soul Beasts.
"Boss Dai, Fatty, it looks like we can kill two birds with one stone."
Despite his words, Tang San's expression showed little joy.
Both Soul Beasts were exceedingly rare.
One was a six-thousand-year-old Stormwind Berserker Tiger.
The other was a three-thousand-year-old Heaven-Burning Hippogriff.
First, the Stormwind Berserker Tiger.
Berserker tigers were an inferior mutation of tiger-type Soul Beasts. Born with weaker innate abilities than ordinary tigers, they were driven away by their mothers whenever they appeared.
Most died in the wilderness, but a small number survived. These became fiercer and more domineering than ordinary tigers, shedding their inborn deficiencies.
This one was just such a survivor. It had inherited its Stormwind Tiger mother's wind attribute and transformed into a Stormwind Berserker Tiger.
As for the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff, it too was an exceptionally rare Soul Beast.
Hippogriffs were born from the crossbreeding of Griffins and horses, something that could only be called a miracle.
After all, horses were part of a Griffin's diet. Love or sexual desire between predator and prey should have been impossible.
Would a person fall in love with the pigs, cattle, or sheep in a pen? ...All right, that's debatable.
In short, hippogriffs were extremely rare. They inherited a Griffin's wings and physique, along with a horse's formidable endurance.
This Heaven-Burning Hippogriff also possessed a fire attribute, presumably inherited from one of its parents.
One was a miracle of tenacious survival; the other, the fruit of love that crossed the boundaries between species.
Yet these two rare creatures were now tearing into each other. Even if Tang San and the others had never come, one would have died sooner or later.
Oh, the cruelty of nature.
Tang San could not help indulging in a sentimental sigh.
Of course, he would not stop Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun. Acquiring Soul Rings was necessary to advance, after all.
Tang San himself already had two "beast lives" on his hands. Naturally, he would not apply a double standard.
After hearing Tang San's explanation, everyone once again marveled at the breadth of his perspective.
Of course, these two Soul Beasts were indeed exceedingly rare, but the seven of them still made their preparations.
Rather than leave them alone, they might as well put them to good use.
"Let's sneak over. While the snipe and clam fight, we'll be the fisherman who reaps the spoils."
Dai Mubai directed them, rubbing his fists eagerly.
Clouds followed the dragon; winds followed the tiger.
This Stormwind Berserker Tiger was an excellent match for him, and its six-thousand-year age fell just within what he could withstand.
Ma Hongjun understood Tang San's thoughts even better and shared his sentiments, but he would not give up such an ideal Soul Beast because of them.
His eyes burned with desire as he watched the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff use its advantage in the sky to fight evenly against the older Stormwind Berserker Tiger.
Everyone held their breath and focused, lying prone on the slope to observe the battle between the two extraordinary beasts above.
The Heaven-Burning Hippogriff circled overhead, occasionally releasing flames at the Stormwind Berserker Tiger.
The Stormwind Berserker Tiger dodged nimbly, seizing opportunities to whip up fierce winds in an attempt to disrupt the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff's flight.
But how could the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff be cowed by such a breeze and let it hinder its flight?
Raaah!
Roar!
Their roars rang out one after another as the battle between the two Soul Beasts reached a fever pitch.
The seven held their breath and focused, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Meanwhile, a question arose in Tang San's mind. Why were these two Soul Beasts fighting?
Looking at the nest nearby, Tang San understood. This was the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff's home.
Roar!
Suddenly, the Stormwind Berserker Tiger sprang into action as a violent gale howled upward from the ground.
The enormous beast actually took flight.
The Heaven-Burning Hippogriff had never expected its opponent to reach the same altitude and panicked for a moment.
It unleashed flames, but how could the savage berserker tiger be afraid?
Damn it, just look at the huge burn on its back!
How could this little heat possibly make it back down?!
Absolutely impossible!
Whoosh!
Suddenly, something whistled through the air. An exquisitely crafted, razor-sharp crossbow bolt shot straight toward the Stormwind Berserker Tiger.
Tang San's Blue Silver Grass followed close behind.
The explosive bolt blasted through its left eye, and Blue Silver Sky Lock bound it and dragged it down.
Then Dai Mubai charged out.
White Tiger Martial Soul possession!
Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation!
Then Dai Mubai's left fist erupted with light.
White Tiger Light-Blast Fist!
One blow slammed viciously into the Stormwind Berserker Tiger's face.
"Come fight me, big kitty!"
The others did not continue helping Dai Mubai. He had requested this himself.
Since the Stormwind Berserker Tiger was so fierce and tenacious, he would show it the respect it deserved.
Thus, Dai Mubai accepted only that initial assistance from the two of them and refused any further help from the others.
He wanted a one-on-one fight!
And he intended to subdue his opponent before the supporting effects wore off.
Meanwhile, the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff did not understand what had happened. It only knew that several humans had appeared.
Humans, bad!
The last time its mother and father encountered humans, they had never moved again.
So it attacked Dai Mubai, only for the others to intercept its attack.
"You're not getting past us." Tang San condensed a gigantic dewdrop and hurled it into the sky.
The Heaven-Burning Hippogriff beat its wings, narrowly dodging it.
But immediately afterward, Lin Like fired an explosive bolt. The Blue Silver Dewdrop burst apart in midair, becoming a small shower that soaked the hippogriff's wings.
The dewdrop also contained some sedative, further impairing the hippogriff's movements.
"Hah! Get down here!"
Ma Hongjun coated the Phoenix Emperor in his Phoenix Fire Line and swung it fiercely.
Flame Phoenix Astral Energy Slash!
With its wings soaked and the sedative taking effect, the hippogriff slowed. Coupled with Ma Hongjun's lock-on, the slash struck the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff squarely.
Raaah!
A pitiful, pleading cry rang out as the hippogriff struggled in the sky, wobbling unsteadily.
But by then, the enhanced Zhu Zhuqing had already climbed quietly to the mountaintop. With a Hell Stab, she delivered a punishing blow to the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff.
It could no longer sustain its flight and plummeted to the ground.
As soon as it landed, Ma Hongjun brought his axe down, ending the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff's life.
A purple Soul Ring rose.
Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, landed safely on the large net Tang San had woven, unharmed.
On the other side, the Stormwind Berserker Tiger formed wind blades around its foreclaws and slashed forward.
"That's got some kick! That Soul Skill of yours is pretty good!"
Dai Mubai was getting into the fight. He activated his White Tiger Protection Barrier, blocking the wind blades, though the barrier soon shattered.
But Dai Mubai had finished gathering his power.
White Tiger! Light-Blast Wave!
Explosive power condensed in his mouth and surged forth, detonating against the berserker tiger's face at point-blank range.
"Again! White Tiger Light-Blast Fist!"
Dai Mubai pressed his advantage. The power of his second Soul Skill condensed around his tiger claw as he lunged close to the Stormwind Berserker Tiger.
He drove the blow into its chest!
Roar!
As death approached, the Stormwind Berserker Tiger's roar carried unwillingness and resentment... as well as release.
Its life of pain and struggle had finally ended.
Another purple Soul Ring rose, its color somewhat deeper than the Heaven-Burning Hippogriff's.
Before you continue