As the system notification sounded, a completely renewed Lone Bamboo spear lay quietly across Xiao Xuan's palm.
The red-gold markings and dark green base of its bamboo shaft had vanished, replaced entirely by smooth, luminous, translucent jade. It felt cool and delicate in his hand, and a faint dark-gold radiance flowed intermittently across its surface.
Xiao Xuan studied the weapon in his hand and couldn't help muttering inwardly.
Looking like this, wouldn't just about anyone have a hard time connecting it to Lone Bamboo now?
It looked as though it had been polished from fine mutton-fat jade. If not for the distinct bamboo joints and the chilling spearpoint, it might have been more fitting to simply rename it "Jade Bamboo."
Xiao Xuan adapted quickly to the earth-shaking change in its appearance.
That was the wonder of Three-in-One Fusion of All Things. As it absorbed more and more high-grade materials in the future, a drastic change in form was only to be expected.
It didn't matter what it looked like. After all, this was only temporary; its appearance might change again once it was fused to five stars.
Xiao Xuan flicked his wrist, storing the spear back inside his body, then headed out of the canyon.
Now that his Martial Soul had successfully reached four stars, his most pressing task was to secure his Second Soul Ring.
After traveling for about the time it took an incense stick to burn, Xiao Xuan emerged from the narrow canyon without incident.
Just as he stood on a high slope, getting his bearings and considering which dense forest to search for prey-
A violent, muffled rumble and the sound of surging Soul Power suddenly came from a mountainside hollow ahead and to his side!
Bang!
Rumble-!
Xiao Xuan's gaze sharpened, and he looked toward the commotion.
On the rocky flat below the slope, the group of Skywater Academy teachers and students he had met in the supply town was caught in a perilous battle.
Three massive Soul Beasts were attacking them.
Two enormous beasts, built like armored rhinoceroses, were charging wildly about.
Circling on their flank, waiting for a chance to strike, was a fierce wolf with a sleek, powerful body, dark silver fur, and a faint crescent-shaped silver marking on its forehead.
Xiao Xuan studied the silver wolf's physical features, and his heart gave a sudden leap.
A Space-Rending Moon Wolf!
It was at least thirteen or fourteen hundred years old!
A Power Attack System Soul Beast-it met Xiao Xuan's criteria for his Second Soul Ring perfectly!
After a moment's consideration, Xiao Xuan decided to go over and help.
After all, the Skywater Academy group's formation was already in complete disarray.
This Soul Beast was clearly not their target, either.
He had finally encountered one, and if he let it go, there was no telling how long he would have to search before finding another suitable one.
With that, Xiao Xuan set off with his spear.
Meanwhile.
On Skywater Academy's side, Shui Yuehua's face was ashen.
She was a peak Soul Ancestor, and bringing these students to hunt Soul Rings on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest should have involved almost no risk. Who could have guessed they would encounter three Soul Beasts around a thousand years old at once? Their luck could hardly have been worse.
Shui Yuehua struggled to protect the students behind her, but she knew this couldn't go on. She immediately gave a decisive order:
"Everyone, spread out at once and retreat to the edge of the forest the way we came!"
Shui Yuehua thrust both palms forward, sending surging water crashing into the two horned beasts and forcing them back several steps for the moment. She turned and shouted urgently:
"Don't look back! I'll cover your retreat!"
The students were deathly pale, but they knew staying would only make them a burden. Gritting their teeth, they turned and fled.
Only one tall young girl with short, shoulder-length, aqua-blue hair stopped retreating.
The girl had delicate, fair features, and an innate chill and stubbornness in her expression. She was Shui Bing'er, captain of the Skywater Team.
"Teacher, I'll stay and help you!"
Two Yellow Soul Rings rose and circled beneath Shui Bing'er's feet as icy blue frost Qi suddenly spread from her palm.
"I've already broken through to Soul Grandmaster. I can't leave you to face three Soul Beasts alone!"
"Don't be foolish!"
Shui Yuehua stamped her foot in anxiety, but the situation left no room for argument.
The two armored beasts had already shaken their heads and were charging again in a rage, pounding the ground beneath them. Shui Yuehua had no choice but to draw on all her Soul Power to intercept them head-on.
"Bing'er, listen to me! Whatever you do, don't fight that Moon Wolf head-on!"
Straining to maintain her barrier of surging water, Shui Yuehua gave her an urgent warning:
"Use your Ice Seal Soul Skill to maneuver around it as best you can. Just hold it off for a little while. Once I've dealt with these two beasts, I'll come save you!"
"Okay!"
Shui Bing'er took a deep breath, her pretty face taut as she forced down the tension in her heart.
But their plan was no match for cruel reality.
Fighting two against one, Shui Yuehua was forced back step by step by the two powerful beasts. Her Soul Power was being consumed at a tremendous rate, and there was no way she could break free anytime soon.
Things took an even sharper turn for the worse on Shui Bing'er's side!
The Space-Rending Moon Wolf was as fast as a silvery-white afterimage, darting wildly left and right through the rocks and trees. Nearly every burst of slowing frost Shui Bing'er unleashed struck empty air.
After several desperate dodges and changes of direction, Shui Bing'er had exhausted more than half her strength, and her escape route was cut off against a smooth, steep rock wall!
There was nowhere left to retreat!
A cruel, mocking glint flashed through the Space-Rending Moon Wolf's scarlet eyes. It kicked viciously off the ground with its hind legs and threw open its bloody maw!
Hum!
A crescent-shaped blade of silvery-white wind, about a foot long, erupted from deep in its throat with an air-rending shriek and whistled straight toward Shui Bing'er's face!
If the attack hit, Shui Bing'er's thin layer of protective Soul Power would leave her severely injured at best!
In the distance, Shui Yuehua caught sight of the scene out of the corner of her eye, and terror tore at her heart. But the two beasts before her wouldn't let up, and she couldn't get back in time to help. "Bing'er-!"
Shui Bing'er watched the dazzling silver light rapidly expand in her vision. The blood in her body seemed to freeze, and she closed her eyes in despair.
But then!
At that hair's-breadth instant-
Whoosh!
A swift figure swooped down from above the slope like an eagle striking a rabbit!
In midair, a translucent jade spear, crystalline and lustrous from end to end, swept out with a deep, overbearing vibration in the air!
Clang-!
A sharp, piercing clash of metal tore across the battlefield!
The deadly Moon Blade, capable of slicing through solid rock, was struck sideways by the jade spearpoint and shattered on the spot into countless silvery-white points of light!
A fierce wind stirred the loose blue strands on Shui Bing'er's forehead, but the expected agony never came.
Shui Bing'er opened her beautiful eyes tremblingly and saw a tall, slender youth holding a jade spear, standing steadily in front of her like a great rock.
"Step back. Leave this to me."
Xiao Xuan didn't look back. His voice was calm and composed.
Shui Bing'er was somewhat dazed, her heart pounding wildly. She merely nodded blankly, then obediently edged two steps back along the rock wall.
Seeing its killing move casually shattered by a human brat who had appeared out of nowhere, the Space-Rending Moon Wolf flew into a frenzy!
It relied on its thousand years of cultivation, its extraordinarily tough hide and iron-hard bones, and the sharp claws on all four limbs that could tear through metal.
Seeing how young its opponent was, and that he held only a slender, crystalline bamboo stalk that looked fragile, it lowered its body without hesitation and lunged at him!
Awooo!
A foul wind rushed at his face!
The Space-Rending Moon Wolf raised its thick right forepaw, its claws flashing with a cold, sinister light, and savagely swiped down at Xiao Xuan's head and the spear in his hand with a thousand pounds of force!
It expected that if the blow landed, it would not only snap the strange bamboo in two but also smash the head of this reckless human to pieces!
But there was nothing in Xiao Xuan's eyes but indifference.
"You came just in time!"