Star Unicorn
Half a month later, Yan Zu broke through to rank thirty. Xiao Wu was a little slower; she had reached the peak of rank twenty-nine and needed only one final push.
"A-Zu, what are you aiming for with your Third Soul Ring?" Su Qing asked as she packed the Soul Hunting equipment.
Yan Zu unfolded a map. "We're going to the Star Dou Great Forest this time. I'm aiming for a Soul Beast around five to seven thousand years old."
"Five to seven thousand years?!" Yan Hu's tiger eyes widened. "The limit for a Third Soul Ring is seventeen hundred years!"
"Dad, trust me." Yan Zu released his Qilin Martial Soul. Little Jade had grown to half a person's height, with auspicious clouds swirling around him. "My physique has been transformed by the Nine Yin Manual and the Qilin's origin. I can handle a five- to seven-thousand-year Soul Ring with room to spare."
The group set out for the Star Dou Great Forest and traveled for five or six days.
Deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, towering ancient trees blotted out the sky and sun. Only scattered patches of sunlight filtered through gaps in the foliage. The air was thick with the presence of Soul Power, and the occasional roar of a Soul Beast made hearts tremble for no apparent reason.
"Be careful. There are strong fluctuations of light-attribute Soul Power ten li ahead." Yan Zu activated his Illusion-Breaking Spirit Eyes and looked through the dense undergrowth. In a valley ahead, he saw a unicorn drinking, its entire body silvery white. Its horn radiated brilliant starlight, a faint silver-blue halo lingered around it, and each time its four hooves touched the ground, they left specks of starlight behind-a six-thousand-year Star Unicorn.
Star Unicorns were rare light-attribute Soul Beasts. Though gentle by nature, a six-thousand-year specimen's strength could not be underestimated. Both its speed and attack power were first-rate, and the pure energy contained in its Soul Ring was ideally suited to Yan Zu's Qilin Martial Soul.
"Is that a Star Unicorn? It's so beautiful!" Xiao Wu's eyes flashed with wonder.
Yan Hu lowered his voice. "I'll hold it off from the front. Wife, use Green Grain Entanglement to restrict its movement. A-Zu, look for a chance to attack its weak point."
Su Qing nodded. Her Green Grain Martial Soul quietly appeared, and pale green light swirled around her. "I'll do my best to bind its legs. Be careful."
The battle was ready to erupt. Su Qing struck first, activating her Second Soul Skill, Green Grain Entanglement. Several emerald vines as thick as buckets burst from the ground and coiled toward the Star Unicorn's legs. Sensing danger, the Star Unicorn's horn blazed, and a silver-blue barrier of starlight sprang up instantly. The vines struck it and were knocked straight back.
"What powerful defense!" Su Qing exclaimed. She channeled her Soul Power again, and more vines surged from the ground, winding toward the barrier in layer upon layer.
"Wife, I'll help you!" Yan Hu roared. Three Soul Rings-white, yellow, and yellow-lit up beneath his feet, and his Third Soul Skill, Immovable Vajra, activated instantly. His muscles swelled until he resembled a vajra arhat, and his Iron Axe whistled through the air as he chopped at the starlight barrier.
Clang! The Iron Axe struck the barrier, sending blinding sparks flying. The barrier rippled violently but did not break. The impact drove Yan Hu back three steps and left the web between his thumb and forefinger numb. He was inwardly startled. This unicorn's defense is even stronger than I imagined!
Yan Zu flashed forward and reached the barrier.
He pressed his right hand against it and activated the Nine Yin Manual, attempting to erode its defenses.
The Star Unicorn let out a long neigh. The light from its horn grew brighter, and the barrier expanded abruptly, sending Yan Zu staggering several meters back. It charged at Yan Hu, a sharp star blade forming on its horn. It moved so fast that it left a trail of afterimages.
"Watch out!" Su Qing hurriedly activated her First Soul Skill, Green Grain Revival. Pale green light enveloped Yan Hu, restoring his Soul Power and stamina.
Yan Hu held his axe across his body to block. The star blade struck the Iron Axe with a metallic clang, driving him back again. Its lingering force cut the muscle of his shoulder, and blood immediately seeped out.
Yan Zu's gaze sharpened, and he shot forward like an arrow. He activated the Qilin's Second Soul Skill, Jade Blessing, covering everyone with a pale cyan group shield. He dodged the Star Unicorn's charge and circled behind it, gathering dense Qilin Soul Power in his right hand before striking at the base of its horn.
Bang! The Soul Power struck its target, and the Star Unicorn cried out in pain. The light from its horn dimmed somewhat. But it reacted swiftly, lashing out with a hind hoof imbued with the power of starlight.
Yan Zu hurriedly twisted aside, but the wind from the hoof still caught his shoulder. He flew uncontrollably backward and slammed into an ancient tree, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The wound on his shoulder burned, and his Soul Power fell into momentary disarray.
"A-Zu!" Xiao Wu cried.
Yan Zu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and circulated the Nine Yin Manual to calm his disordered Soul Power. A six-thousand-year Soul Beast truly lives up to its reputation. We have to end this quickly.
Yan Hu activated Immovable Vajra again, swinging his Iron Axe with a fierce rush of wind as he engaged the Star Unicorn from the front. Xiao Wu and Yan Zu worked together, constantly harrying its flanks, while Su Qing continued to release Green Grain Entanglement, trying to restrict its movement.
Yan Zu took a deep breath and circulated the Qilin Soul Power within him to its limit. Little Jade leaped from his shoulder and grew with the wind into a jade-colored Qilin more than a zhang tall, spreading an auspicious presence around him. Using the Wind God Legs footwork, Yan Zu took advantage of the boost in speed to circle behind the Star Unicorn again. Resolve flashed in his eyes.
"Star Unicorn, I'm taking your Soul Ring!"
Yan Zu leaped into the air, gathering Qilin Soul Power in his right hand and resonating with Little Jade's auspicious origin. He ignored the star blade the Star Unicorn swung at him and took the blow head-on. It cut a deep wound in his left arm, exposing bone and leaving blood streaming down it. But his right hand swiftly summoned the Xuanyuan Sword, which flashed and vanished as it stabbed precisely into the base of the horn.
Bang!
The strike carried all of Yan Zu's Soul Power. The Star Unicorn's starlight barrier shattered completely, and its horn snapped. It let out a piercing neigh as its massive body slowly fell to the ground.
Clutching his bleeding left arm, Yan Zu staggered over to the Star Unicorn. Watching the light gradually fade from its eyes, he silently offered an apology.
A purple Soul Ring slowly rose and circled Yan Zu. The energy of the six-thousand-year Soul Ring was vast and violent. As it surged into him, he felt as though his meridians were about to tear apart, and the pain was unbearable. But he gritted his teeth and endured, circulating the Nine Yin Manual and the Qilin's auspicious origin to slowly refine the energy.
Little Jade lay at his feet, continuously releasing life force to nourish his body and ease the Soul Ring's impact.
Half a shichen later, Yan Zu slowly opened his eyes, silver-blue starlight flashing in them. The wound on his left arm had scabbed over under the nourishment of the life force. His Soul Power broke through the rank-thirty bottleneck and leaped straight to rank thirty-three. Little Jade had grown somewhat larger, specks of starlight had appeared among the cloud patterns on his back, and the horn on his forehead gleamed silver-blue.
"Starlight Descent!" Yan Zu called softly. Little Jade grew to more than a zhang tall, silver-blue starlight covering his body as all his attributes instantly increased by fifty percent. Yan Zu leaped onto his back and landed steadily, then patted his neck. "I can ride you from now on."
Little Jade neighed excitedly and ran a lap around the clearing, moving so fast that he left a trail of afterimages. Xiao Wu's eyes lit up as she watched. "Wow! So cool! Yan Zu, I want a ride too!"
After returning to Nuoding City, Xiao Wu entered seclusion to make her breakthrough. Nourished by the Qilin Martial Soul's life force and aided by the bond of the Auspicious Beast Same-Heart Talisman, she finally broke through to rank thirty three months later.
This time, Xiao Wu chose to condense her Soul Ring in the small courtyard in the west of the city-it was safe and private, and far from the eyes and ears of Spirit Hall and the various factions.
Late at night, when all was quiet, Xiao Wu sat cross-legged in her room, enveloped in pink light. The phantom image of a Phantom Jade Rabbit appeared, and a deep purple Soul Ring-six thousand two hundred years old-formed of its own accord.
Third Soul Skill: Jade Rabbit Clone!
Xiao Wu's figure flickered, and she split off two physical clones, each possessing seventy percent of her original body's combat power and lasting thirty seconds. All three Xiao Wus used Waist Bow at once, their legs casting overlapping shadows.
"I did it!" Xiao Wu threw herself into Yan Zu's arms.
A few days later, a letter arrived from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Ning Fengzhi formally invited Yan Zu to serve as the sect's "Soul Tool consultant" after graduation, with an annual salary of one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
Yan Zu wrote back:
[Sect Master, I am grateful for your generous regard, but I truly cannot accept.
It is not out of disrespect, but because what I seek is not personal glory and wealth, but the well-being of the common people.
The art of Soul Tools should take root in the lives of the people. I have methods for growing high-yield crops and plans for Soul Tool farming implements that can relieve famine and save labor. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's trade routes reach across the world, and its resources are abundant. If the Sect Master is willing to join me in promoting these means of improving people's livelihoods, I care little how much profit we make. I only hope the results will benefit thousands upon thousands of families.
When the power of Soul Tools truly serves the people, the light of civilization will shine upon the land. Such an achievement is far beyond the measure of a single position and salary.
If the Sect Master agrees to this proposal, I am willing to offer all the technology in full. I await your favorable reply.
Yan Zu bows]
After sending the letter, Yan Zu looked out the window. Xiao Wu was playing with her Jade Rabbit Clones in the courtyard. Ning Rongrong was chasing Little Jade the Qilin, asking to hug him.