The Gathering Beasts Are No Match

After touching the ground, Paoxiao used his energy to keep out the extreme cold of the Ice Forest. The first thing he saw wasn't Hui Se Ying or Nastasia as he expected, but rather a swarm of giant ice creatures fighting for ownership of a Shaqi corpse.

It was probably the Shaqi that had taken Nastasia.

Although he was relieved to see the defeated Shaqi, he was disappointed that neither Hui Se Ying nor Nastasia were in sight. As he sat there pondering his next move the creatures fighting over the corpse began to notice his presence.

Though the energy contained in the Shaqi corpse was rather appealing, it was quickly turning stale as it merged into the atmosphere of the Ice Forest. A living prey, though cumbersome in the attempts to capture it, was much more preferred. The energy contained within its depths a much more satisfying meal.

Thus, a few ceased to seriously vie for the corpse as they superstitiously watched the contemplating Paoxiao. They were waiting for the opportune moment to strike. However, as they noticed the prey they wanted being eyed by others, a few lost their patience and strove forward to strike.

These were the weaker of the creatures hoping to snatch a piece of meat from the mouths of the strong. The weaker ones foolishly though the strong were too caught up in caution for each other to move. However, the truth of the matter was, the strong was using the weak to distract a formidable prey.

The weaker creatures were various kinds of carnivorous animals, wolves, cats, and the like that had passed on from the Mortal Realm to be newly made spirit beasts. The strong were old hands in the Spirit Realm, a good many of them evolved from their previous forms that they looked like entirely different creatures. While others were creatures that had always been a part of the Spirit Realm.

Like the Ice King Snakes with their bodies made of translucent ice. They were the head honchos of the of the Ice Forest. The leader of it's kind so accomplished that it was close to breaking through to the divine realm of power and obtaining a human form. Because of that leader, nearly all the creatures of the forest gave way to their kind.

So, with such high-level competition near-by, the weaker creatures would, of course, be eager to pounce before the strong forced them to submit.

Although this dangerous and heated atmosphere would have most choking with fear, desperately running to safer ground, Paoxiao continued to think out his next move as if he could not sense it. This complete disregard of his surroundings spurned on the courage of the weaker ones.

It made them feel like they had a chance to come out on top.

The stronger merely sat back to watch the show, waiting to swoop in when they could be assured of victory. With the dense energy pouring off the prey in front of them, how could they dare risk anything more?

Having made up his mind on what to do next, Paoxiao moved to follow his gut instinct and proceed in the direction he felt Nastasia was in. As his feet carried him to begin his search he was suddenly besieged.

Yet, he didn't even spare a glance for his attackers.

This wasn't the Mortal Realm where he was forced to hold back his energy to stifling degrees. Here there didn't exist any restrictions on the contracted. All the more so, considering that Li Yu Rong had removed all constraints placed on Paoxiao's strength so that he could better protect Nastasia.

Though they could taste pure and concentrated spirit energy coming from him in waves, they were too weak to comprehend the depth of his strength. That was why they could throw themselves at him without regard, thinking they only had to compete with each other to have the taste of his meat in their mouth.

However, as they sprinted toward him with full intent on striking whilst fighting among themselves, they slammed with dizzying strength into a wall of energy. Collecting themselves from the shock and pain of smashing their heads against something like solid steel, a chill swept through them.

A chill that had nothing to do with the icy atmosphere of the Ice Forest.

A sense of hopelessness fell upon them but, unlike they expected, Paoxiao did not counterattack. He didn't have the time or the will to play with the lesser creatures. Realizing the opponent, to both the strong and the weak, was beyond the scope of their ability they turned their attention back to the Shaqi corpse.

To their chagrin, the body had vanished along with the presence of the young opportunistic Ice King Snake. Though they wanted to give chase and try to snatch back the corpse, or at least give a bit of trouble, they didn't dare. Not because they feared the young Ice King Snake, but on account of the power behind him.

The leader of Ice King Snakes was a powerhouse on the verge of gaining a human form.

Who wouldn't give pause to act under such discouraging circumstances?

All of this, from the beginning of its happening to the end of it, had been overlooked by Paoxiao. He hadn't even realized he'd been eyed as a snack for these spirit beasts. Even as he walked away, while the beasts slammed into the concentrated energy that usually flowed about his person like a barrier, he didn't notice a thing.

His mind entirely filled with his worry and taken by his thoughts. He was a person without a sense of direction. Though he had an idea of where the pair, Hui Se Ying and Nastasia, could have gone whilst he saw the land from above the ability of his feet to get him there was another matter.

Through instinct he deduced that she was in this direction, however, the actual location was rather broad. He remembered seeing a spot that Hui Se Ying was likely to rest as he fell from the water sky. So, although he had a general direction and a possible area they could have stopped to rest, his ability to get there tenuous at best.

In the past, even within Paoxiao's most traveled places within the Spirit Realm, he had always had guide to point him in the right direction.

Even if he used all the concentration he could spare, he still might not make it to where he wanted to go. Thus he would let nothing distract him from finding the place he wanted to find.

He would let nothing distract him. This thought, he placed it firmly to prevent himself from wandering.

Even if something interesting cropped up at the side, he'd pretend it didn't exist.

"Paoxiao?"

Even if that rock over there looked interesting, he wouldn't pay it any mind.

"Paoxiao."

Although there were purple and blue ice lilies, an extremely rare find, he wouldn't allow himself to get caught up in the wonder of it.

"Paoxiao!"

He had been concentrating so well to the task at hand that everything cluttered together in the background to be collectively ignored. However, that last sharp yell had been accompanied by a sharp pain from a blow to the head. Paoxiao angrily looked to his left to find a familiar, but rather unapologetic, spirit.

"Hui Se Ying?"