Chapter 3: Electrolux (I)

"Rank 40?!"

Ning Tian and Wu Feng exclaimed in unison. The former's surprise was filled with joy, while the latter harbored a hint of unwillingness.

Wu Feng sneaked a glance at Ling Bai. She was already being outclassed by him, and now she would be even more overshadowed. But...

Thirty years east, thirty years west, don't you dare underestimate a determined girl!

She believed one day she would rise again and snatch Princess Ning Tian back from the hands of Demon King Ling Bai!

"Looks like we'll really need to stay a bit longer."

Ning Tian smiled sweetly and said, "Most of the spirit beasts in the Outer Region are only 10-year or 100-year spirit beasts. It's already lucky for us to encounter a 1000-year spirit beast like the Diamond Baboon. Bai-ge, for your fourth spirit ring, we should venture into the Hybrid Region."

She and Ling Bai were childhood sweethearts. Following the ancient precepts of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, direct disciples must find a powerful assault-type Spirit Master as a spouse. Due to Ling Bai's extraordinary talent, the higher ups of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had long intended for the two to be engaged when they came of age, securing Ning Tian's own future and that of the clan.

As an assault and support duo, Ling Bai's increased strength also meant her own would grow. This made Ning Tian even happier than her own breakthrough to Spirit Elder.

When it was time to act, they acted. None of the three had indecisive personalities. Maintaining a simple three-person formation with Ling Bai and Wu Feng flanking and protecting the auxiliary-type Spirit Master Ning Tian, they advanced deeper into the Star Dou Forest.

The general direction was naturally controlled by Ling Bai. The Demon Spider's continuous feedback told him that the owner of the White Tiger Dagger was still moving, albeit at a pace that could be described as a snail's crawl compared to their own.

Considering the other party's mere Rank 10 spirit power and weak physical condition, Ling Bai found this slow pace quite reasonable.

The misty fog within the Star Dou Forest enveloped them, bringing a refreshing coolness, yet it was hard for those within to relax.

Since the beast tide initiated by the Star Dou Forest in those years, and the compromise by human Spirit Masters represented by Shrek Academy, after years of recuperation, the number and quality of spirit beasts within had reached astonishing levels.

Lower-level spirit beasts found it hard to compete with those powerful ones for territory and food. To survive, they had to migrate outwards. This explained why the spirit beasts in the outer regions of the Star Dou Forest were becoming increasingly stronger, and occasionally, spirit beasts would even break out of the forest to harass nearby villages.

The trio encountered several spirit beasts along the way as they advanced in the direction of the White Tiger Dagger. However, the strongest among these was merely a 900-year Flame Lion King.

The Flame Lion King was a fairly powerful fire-attribute spirit beast, but in front of Ling Bai and the others, it was simply no match. Wu Feng alone dealt with it effortlessly.

In the end, she completely skinned the Flame Lion King's magnificent golden-red fur and planned to have it processed by a master craftsman in Shrek City to make a quilt for Ning Tian.

"There seems to be a fluctuation of spirit power over there?"

Ning Tian suddenly sensed something, stopped in her tracks, and pointed in a certain direction.

"Mm."

Ling Bai nodded, the corners of his mouth slightly curved upward. They had finally caught up!

"Let's go take a look."

Ling Bai led Ning Tian and Wu Feng, pushing aside the undergrowth as they walked toward the source of the spirit power fluctuations.

What met their eyes was an ape-type spirit beast covered in brownish-yellow fur. It had exceptionally long arms with sharp claws, and ferocious protruding canine teeth. Its eyes blazed with a fierce light.

"A Wind Baboon?" Wu Feng frowned.

Compared to top-level spirit beasts like the Diamond Baboon, which could contend with the Titan Giant Ape, the Wind Baboon was perhaps only one-ninth as strong.

One blow from a Diamond Baboon would send a Wind Baboon straight to the afterlife. Yet, even though the Wind Baboon was so weak, it was steadily overpowering the Spirit Master opposite it!

"No way, no way. Is there really someone who can't beat a Wind Baboon?!"

Wu Feng couldn't help but ridicule. Opposite the Wind Baboon was a frail-looking young Spirit Master. He wasn't very old, appearing about the same age as the three of them. His clothes were shabby and his appearance ordinary, with his only notable feature being his exceptionally bright deep blue eyes.

The boy was dodging left and right under the Wind Baboon's relentless attacks, looking quite pathetic!

Ning Tian narrowed her eyes slightly, observing the Wind Baboon's size, and murmured softly, "Hmm~ seems it's still only at ten years of cultivation."

"Hey, you two are too harsh."

Ling Bai said with a helpless smile upon hearing the two girls' ridicule. The one being forced into a desperate situation by the Wind Baboon was naturally the future God of Emotions, the renowned Huo Yuhao!

Although Huo Yuhao seemed rather useless now, he was about to soar to great heights!

"Tch!"

Wu Feng curled her lips, almost carving the word 'disdain' onto her face. Ning Tian laughed lightly, twirling a strand of her platinum blonde hair around her finger as she asked:

"Should we help him?"

"No need."

Ling Bai shook his head. To him, Huo Yuhao was merely a locator; his life or death had nothing to do with him.

If Huo Yuhao were really killed by a 10-year spirit beast, Ling Bai would even give a thumbs-up to the Wind Baboon: 'Amazing, my God Slayer!'

"Hey hey hey, Ning Tian, look! That guy turned it around!"

Wu Feng suddenly grabbed Ning Tian excitedly.

In the center of the battlefield, the Wind Baboon's consecutive two strikes were blocked by Huo Yuhao using the White Tiger Dagger, which seemed to have incited its ferocity. It raised its upper body, pounding its chest forcefully with both fists, let out a roar, and suddenly opened its big mouth toward Huo Yuhao. A ball of white light instantly spewed out from its mouth, flying straight at Huo Yuhao.

At the same time as it spewed out the white light, the Wind Baboon also pounced toward him at high speed, its eyes gleaming with bloodlust!

Huo Yuhao lost the ability to think in this life-or-death moment. Following his body's instincts, he subconsciously leaned back and fell to the ground while raising his right hand gripping the White Tiger Dagger, which collided head-on with the white light spewed by the Wind Baboon.

The Wind Baboon leaped over the White Tiger Dagger, its two arms grabbing directly onto Huo Yuhao's shoulders, and with a swing, threw him!

After successfully hurling Huo Yuhao, the Wind Baboon's body seemed to stiffen for a moment. Huo Yuhao was flung away, but after rolling on the ground, the Wind Baboon stopped moving.

Ling Bai took all of this in. Originally, the length of the White Tiger Dagger couldn't reach the Wind Baboon that had leaped into the air, but the dagger had absorbed the white light spewed by the Wind Baboon and suddenly released a foot-long blade aura that swept across the baboon's body. Huo Yuhao achieved a counter-kill!

"Is that even possible..."

Ning Tian and Wu Feng were greatly shocked. Not to mention them, even Huo Yuhao, the person involved, sat on the ground dumbfounded for a long time before he could react!

Huo Yuhao looked at the white 10-year spirit ring above the Wind Baboon's head, his expression complex. He couldn't die; he had to avenge his mother. The scenes of the earlier battle with the Wind Baboon replayed in his memory, teaching him what it meant to overestimate oneself.

"Mom..."

Just as Huo Yuhao was feeling lost, a cheerful voice suddenly echoed in his mind, "Finally, I've met a spiritual-type human! What a pity that this brother can't cry! If I could, my face would definitely be covered with tears!"

The ground began to tremble without warning. Cracks appeared two meters in front of Huo Yuhao, gradually widening into a crevice with a faint golden-white light shining through.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng, who were hiding nearby, held their breath as they stared at the source of the flickering light in bewilderment. Ling Bai, on the other hand, could barely contain his excitement.

Here it comes, the Big Bug!