To Catch a Snow White Predator (Part 1) [Revised]

Huh, I feel like someone just set up a flag. Whatever, I better focus for this next step.

Now that I've skipped the long and boring process of refining a Manastone, it's finally time for me to do something with the damned thing, namely reaching the Essence Refining stage.

This stage is exactly what it sounds like, a process of refining one's essence* using the Spiritual Energy stored within the Manastone.

This time the results are actually worth what you put into it, and the growth towards both your combat and non-combat abilities are are improved greatly. You ever watch a martial arts movie? Its like that, but on magical steroids.

Moving on, I should select which cultivation technique I want to study. Sigh, lets see... yeah, my options are pretty limited.

Artistic Slaughter Art is automatically out, since I can't just run around killing people, and I have no idea where I would find enough gold to practice the Golden Dust Skill to a proficient level... which leaves me with almost zero options. Emphasis on the "almost."

Okay, time for another story! Once upon a time, there was a ruler from a high level cultivation kingdom who had been afflicted with a mysterious illness.

Thousands flocked to this emperor's side with promises of cures, hoping to obtain the lord's favor. Yet even the legendary cultivators from the great immortal schools and sects could do nothing to treat his disease, and a Divine Official from the Heavenly Courts was at a loss for what to do.

However, no one would expect that a lowly peasant, who possessed not even Essence Refining stage cultivation, would be the one to bring a miraculous herb to the ruler which would cure his sickness. Greatly appeased, the ruler granted the peasant a peerless cultivation technique, known as the "Great Red Robe**."

Now where am I going with this? I think it should be obvious by now. Yes, I do indeed possess the Great Red Robe cultivation technique, the complete volume in fact.

While calling it peerless may be a bit of an exaggeration, considering the ruler was only at the Core Synthesis stage, the technique is without a doubt extremely valuable (I can vouch for the fact, since a certain high-level cultivation sect decided to raze a village of mortals to the ground just to obtain it).

It's a pity that the peasant who obtained the technique was a Tree Spirit, and thus couldn't cultivate the skill, otherwise he may very well have achieved high enough cultivation to be offered a seat as general in the Heavenly Courts.

But I digress. Anyways, this technique is most definitely suitable for my needs, since in terms of utility it is second to none.

Also, due to my past experiences of experimenting with space force, I can also progress rather quickly. Alright, Great Red Robe it is!

... or it would be, if it wasn't for a single fatal flaw: the combat power of this cultivation technique is complete garbage.

Seriously, the only direct combat spell is Reality Slash, which I can only learn at the Spirit Manifestation stage. Sigh, no easy decisions in life...

Well, I better put this debate on the back burner, since the Captain seems to have returned.

"You seem to have recovered quickly," she states, passing me a bundle as her eyes scan my face for any signs of abnormality. What, no hello? Some people are so rude.

I open the bundle and find a pair of work pants and long sleeved black shirt, along with a sleek black windbreaker and a opaque plastic container. I open the container, and find some hard rye bread and a few slices of ham and cheese.

"I hope you don't mind the clothes, they were Tony's from before he was...," The Captain's voice trailed off, and I got the implication that she wanted me to ask about it. That sounds super troublesome, but she did just give me free food and clothes, so I should humor her a little.

"Oh no, what happened?" I ask in my best imitation of concern, and for what it's worth I think a actually did pretty good. Longevity has its benefits, after all.

"He fell into a whirlpool, escaped, climbed onto an iceberg, then disappeared," she said bluntly, although I could sense that she wasn't as composed as she tried to appear.

Huh. Now that she mentions it, I also recall that the polar bear I saw seemed to have a bit of red around its mouth... oops, she's still talking, better pretend I was listening.

"...anyways, when we went back to look for him, all we found were bloody clothes and the tracks of some kind of beast. Coincidentally, that's also where we found you."

Well, that explains it. She either suspects me as having something to do with the guy's disappearance, or she believes that I have information on the thing that took him. Jokes on her, I don't really care either way.

"So do you have any information on where the beast is?"

Now that's interesting, she seems to care more about the beast then the guy who went missing... is that her true goal? Trying to win my sympathy to press me for information?

"If you don't mind me asking," I start, "do you have any information on the beast specifically? Physical appearance, assumed species, anything?"

The captain thought for a moment, then seemed to come to a resolution and said four words:

"Red-eyed polar bear."

Hmm, interesting characteristic to focus on, considering the fact that it's such a small detail...but then again, it's because the detail is small that draws my attention.

There's a chance it could be albinism, but natural selection is never kind to creatures like that. She did say it attacked her crew member, and with the movement of the Spiritual Tide...

Dammit, I think I know what she's looking for.