Chapter 11: You're Finally Useful For Something
Today marked the fourth day since the trio had arrived in the Soul Beast Forest.
After the first day, the old butler had stopped letting Qian Zhaoguang and Huo Yutong face soul beasts alone. Instead, he personally dealt with any obstructive soul beasts encountered along the way to speed up their search.
But even so, after three full days, they still had nothing to show for their efforts.
Qian Zhaoguang, familiar with the original works, and the old butler, with his wealth of experience, both knew how rare Spirit-attribute soul beasts were, so neither felt particularly anxious.
Huo Yutong, however, was different. Worried about her mother left alone in the Duke's Mansion, she appeared somewhat uneasy.
Looking at Huo Yutong, who seemed hesitant to speak and wore a conflicted expression, the old butler couldn't help but sigh.
Finding a Spirit-type soul beast of a suitable age was indeed rather difficult.
If things dragged on like this, it wouldn't be a major issue for him and Qian Zhaoguang, but he worried the Duchess might seize this opportunity to make trouble for Huo Yun'er.
Without his protection, her days in the mansion were truly akin to walking on thin ice.
"Let's pick up the pace. We'll stay for another day and a half. If there's still no sign of a suitable soul beast by then, we'll head back home tomorrow afternoon," the old butler announced.
"Grandpa Zhu, maybe I should just find any hundred-year soul ring and absorb it? As long as it's a soul ring, won't I advance to become a true Soul Master?"
Huo Yutong tugged at the corner of the old butler's clothes, voicing her inner thoughts.
"We've already delayed you and Brother Zhaoguang for several days just for me to get a soul ring."
"Absolutely not."
"Absolutely not."
Qian Zhaoguang and the old butler spoke in perfect unison.
The old butler crouched down and patiently explained, "Even if we don't acquire this soul ring for now, we absolutely cannot just make do with something subpar. Xiao Tong, your talent is excellent. In the future, you even have the potential to challenge the rank of Titled Douluo."
"If you were to casually absorb just any soul ring, it would be a complete waste. This is a decision that affects your entire life. Don't you want to provide a better life for your mother in the future? Don't you want to get revenge on that evil woman who bullies you and your mother? If you can reach the cultivation level of a Titled Douluo, even that brat Dai Hao would have to personally come and offer you an apology."
Huo Yutong looked conflicted, "Of course, I want to, but..."
"Careful! Something's approaching. I sense some danger."
Qian Zhaoguang suddenly interjected, cutting off her unfinished sentence.
With a shing, the silvery-white long saber was unsheathed, its tip already pointed towards the direction from which the danger emanated.
The old butler also stood up, a smile involuntarily appearing on his face.
"Looks like our luck isn't bad. If nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to head home in an hour."
"ROAR!"
A roar shook the mountain forest as a red shadow came charging wildly from the distance.
"Vile beast, good timing!"
A fierce fighting spirit blazed in Qian Zhaoguang's eyes. The Qi and Blood force within his body surged violently, pushing his strength to its absolute limit.
He lowered his body and shot forward abruptly.
Executing a simple and unadorned lunge, the tip of his saber clashed with the shadow, sending sparks flying.
Both combatants retreated simultaneously, assuming defensive stances.
Only then did Qian Zhaoguang get a clear look. The newcomer was actually a blood-red tiger, measuring over one meter but less than two meters in length.
Unlike the majestic and imposing stature of other tigers, this blood-colored tiger appeared somewhat slender and delicate, resembling a slightly larger cat.
"A Blood Tiger with about four hundred years of cultivation. A rare Spirit-type among tiger soul beasts. It should be able to provide Xiao Tong with a decent skill."
The old butler shielded Huo Yutong behind him, his left hand moving rhythmically, clearly intending to capture it personally.
"Grandpa, don't interfere. Let me try."
Qian Zhaoguang's hunter's spirit was ignited, his eyes locked firmly onto the Blood Tiger before him.
Over the past few days, he had carefully pondered the reason why he had been able to sever the Wind Jackal back then.
After much speculation without reaching a definite conclusion, he could only suspect it had something to do with his inexplicable Martial Soul.
However, he hadn't had another chance to test it since then. Now, just as they were about to leave, they encountered such a suitable opponent. If he didn't try now, he might not get such a good opportunity again.
Qian Zhaoguang already had a clear assessment of his own physical capabilities; defeating this type of hundred-year soul beast, which wasn't known for physical prowess, shouldn't be too difficult.
The old butler hesitated, "Kid, don't be reckless. Although the Blood Tiger primarily uses mental attacks and is physically much weaker than typical hundred-year soul beasts, it's still a genuine hundred-year soul beast. Even ordinary Soul Grandmasters need to approach it with caution."
"Don't worry, Grandpa. I don't do things I'm not confident about. Besides, aren't you right here watching? Opportunities to fight a hundred-year soul beast are rare."
While replying, Qian Zhaoguang faintly flickered blue light on his chest.
The old butler pondered for a moment, then reminded him, "In that case, be careful yourself. If you find yourself overwhelmed, don't try to force it. Remember, the Blood Tiger's innate skill is Chaos, which can also be called Berserk. Used on itself, it can stimulate some physical potential; used on an enemy, it can cause temporary mental confusion, even dizziness."
Annoyed by the conversation between the grandfather and grandson, the irritable Blood Tiger let out another fierce roar, kicked off with its hind legs, and pounced towards Qian Zhaoguang.
"Kill!"
Qian Zhaoguang strode forward without dodging, pushing his internal Qi and Blood to the maximum, and unleashed three consecutive slashes.
Pfft!
A silvery-white crescent blade flashed through the air, colliding with one of the tiger's paws.
The airborne Blood Tiger let out a miserable cry and, just before Qian Zhaoguang's second slash arrived, kicked off diagonally again, rolling painfully on the ground for a full circle before managing to stand up.
The lightning-fast three slashes had sliced off a quarter of the Blood Tiger's left front paw.
Qian Zhaoguang himself didn't feel great either, secretly startled.
Several chips had appeared on the misty blade edge.
So hard.
That was Qian Zhaoguang's first impression.
Hundred-year soul beasts were indeed much stronger than those ten-year weaklings. An ordinary long saber made of refined steel was already somewhat inadequate against a hundred-year soul beast.
Not only that, but its reaction speed was also incomparable to that of a ten-year soul beast.
If the opponent had been the Wind Jackal from before, those three slashes would have already sent it to the afterlife.
Although his mind was analyzing, his actions didn't pause.
The moment the Blood Tiger landed and rolled, he had already charged forward with his saber raised.
Thrusting the saber tip forward, the advantage of the long blade was highlighted perfectly.
The long-handled Miaodao could not only be used for standard two-handed saber techniques but could also incorporate elements of spear techniques into its repertoire.
The pained Blood Tiger had just scrambled back to its feet when it was met head-on by the deadly long saber.
It roared again, leaping up from the ground. The red fur all over its body glowed, and an invisible wave emanated from the '王' (King) character marking on its forehead, shooting straight towards Qian Zhaoguang's mind.
What is this!
Qian Zhaoguang let out a muffled grunt; his head felt as if it had been struck by a silver needle, causing his entire body's movements to slow down.
The image of the Blood Tiger leaping towards him seemed to double.
So this is the Chaos skill?
"Hah!"
Gritting his teeth against the pain, he forcefully stomped his right foot on the ground, let out a sharp cry, using his breath to drive his strength, and continued to thrust the long saber forward.
In that instant, his essence, Qi, and spirit seemed to surge to their peak along with the shout.
The blue light on his chest simultaneously burst forth with an ice-blue power, channeling through his arm and into the long saber.
Immediately, a blue light blade, over a foot long, erupted from the tip of the saber, accompanying the forward thrust of the physical blade as it plunged straight into the Blood Tiger's flank.
(End of Chapter)