chsdbacks Chapter 38 Star Unicorn
Chapter 38 Star Unicorn
Half a month later, Yan Zu broke through to level 30. Xiao Wu, on the other hand, was a little slower, currently at the peak of level 29, just one step away from reaching the next level.
"Azu, what is your goal for your third soul ring?" Su Qing asked while packing her soul-hunting equipment.
Yan Zu unfolded the map. "This time we're going to the Star Dou Great Forest. My target is a soul beast that's between five and seven thousand years old."
"Five thousand to seven thousand years?!" Yan Hu's eyes widened. "The limit for the third spirit ring is seventeen hundred years!"
"Father, trust me." Yan Zu released his Qilin Martial Soul. Xiao Yu had grown to half a person's height, surrounded by auspicious clouds. "My physique has been modified by the Nine Yin Manual and the Qilin Origin, making it more than capable of withstanding five to seven thousand years of soul rings."
The group embarked on their journey to the Star Dou Great Forest, a journey that took five or six days.
Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, allowing only sparse patches of light to filter through the gaps in the branches and leaves. The air was thick with the aura of soul power, and occasionally the roars of soul beasts could be heard, sending a chill down one's spine.
"Be careful, there's a strong fluctuation of light-attribute soul power ten miles ahead." Yan Zu activated his Insightful Spiritual Eyes, and through the dense bushes, he saw a silver-white unicorn drinking water in the valley ahead. Its horn emitted a dazzling starlight, and its body was surrounded by a faint silver-blue halo. When its four hooves stepped on the ground, they left behind specks of starlight—a six-thousand-year-old star unicorn.
The Star Unicorn is a rare light-attribute soul beast. Although it is gentle, its strength at the level of six thousand years should not be underestimated. Its speed and attack power are both top-notch. The pure energy contained in its soul ring is most suitable for Yan Zu's Qilin martial soul.
"That's a Star Unicorn? So beautiful!" Xiao Wu's eyes flashed with amazement.
Yan Hu lowered his voice: "I'll hold it off from the front, wife, use Qinghe to entangle it and restrict its movement, Azu will find an opportunity to attack its weaknesses, and Miss Rongrong, you focus on boosting Azu's power!"
Su Qing nodded, and her Qinghe Martial Soul quietly appeared, surrounded by a pale green light: "I will try my best to entangle its limbs, please be careful."
The battle was about to begin. Su Qing activated her second soul skill, "Azure Entanglement," and several thick, emerald-green vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around the Star Unicorn's limbs. Sensing the danger, the Star Unicorn's horn shone brightly, and a silver-blue starlight barrier instantly unfolded. The vines struck the barrier and were repelled.
"Such a strong defense!" Su Qing exclaimed, and once again activated her soul power, causing more vines to surge from the ground, layer upon layer, wrapping around the barrier.
"Wife, I'm here to help you!" Yan Hu roared, and three soul rings—white, yellow, and yellow—lit up beneath his feet. His third soul skill, "Immovable Vajra," was activated instantly. His muscles swelled like those of a Vajra Arhat, and his iron axe cleaved towards the starlight barrier with a whistling sound.
"Clang!" The iron axe collided with the barrier, sparks flying. The barrier trembled violently, but did not shatter. Yan Hu was forced back three steps, his hand numb. He was secretly shocked: "This unicorn's defense is stronger than I imagined!"
Yan Zu flashed and rushed to the barrier.
Yan Zu placed his right hand on the barrier, activating the Nine Yin Manual in an attempt to erode its defenses.
The Star Unicorn let out a long howl, its horn shining even brighter, and the barrier instantly expanded, forcing Yan Zu back several meters. It took off charging towards Yan Hu, sharp star blades condensing on its horn, its speed leaving afterimages in its wake.
"Watch out!" Su Qing hurriedly activated her first soul skill, "Azure Seedling Resurrection," which enveloped Yan Hu in a pale green light, restoring his soul power and physical strength.
Yan Hu blocked with his axe, but the star blade struck the iron axe, producing a metallic clang. He was knocked back again, and the muscles on his shoulder were cut by the aftershock of the star blade, causing blood to seep out instantly.
Yan Zu's eyes narrowed, and he shot out like an arrow, activating the Qilin's second soul skill, "Azure Jade Protection," which enveloped everyone in a pale blue group shield. He dodged the Star Unicorn's charge, circled behind it, and gathered dense Qilin soul power in his right hand, striking towards the base of the unicorn's horn.
"Bang!" The soul power struck its target, and the Star Unicorn let out a painful cry, its horn's light dimming slightly. But it reacted extremely quickly, its hind hooves kicking out with starlight power, hurtling towards Yan Zu.
Yan Zu hurriedly dodged to the side, but was still struck on the shoulder by the gust of wind. His body flew out uncontrollably, crashing heavily into an ancient tree, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The wound on his shoulder burned with pain, and his soul power was also briefly disordered.
"Ah Zu!" Xiao Wu exclaimed in surprise.
Yan Zu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, circulated the Nine Yin Manual to regulate his disordered soul power, and thought to himself: The six-thousand-year-old soul beast is indeed worthy of its reputation, I must finish this battle quickly.
Yan Hu activated "Immovable Vajra" again, swinging his iron axe with great force, entangling the front of the Star Unicorn; Xiao Wu and Yan Zu cooperated to constantly harass its flanks; Su Qing continued to release Qing He Entanglement, trying to restrict its movement.
Yan Zu took a deep breath, channeling the Qilin soul power within his body to its limit. Xiao Yu leaped off his shoulder, transforming into a jade-colored Qilin over ten feet tall, its auspicious aura spreading outwards. He used the Wind God Leg technique, leveraging his increased speed, to once again circle behind the Star Unicorn, a resolute glint in his eyes.
"Star Unicorn, I'll take your spirit ring!"
Yan Zu leaped into the air, his Qilin soul power gathering in his right hand, resonating with Xiao Yu's auspicious essence. He ignored the star blade swung by the Star Unicorn, taking the blow head-on. A deep, bone-revealing wound was slashed open on his left arm, bleeding profusely. But his right hand swiftly summoned the Xuanyuan Sword, which flashed and precisely pierced the root of the unicorn's horn.
"Bang!"
This attack concentrated all of Yan Zu's soul power, completely shattering the Starry Unicorn's starlight barrier. Its horn snapped in response, letting out a mournful cry, and its massive body slowly collapsed to the ground.
Yan Zu, clutching his bleeding left arm, staggered to the Star Unicorn, watching the light in its eyes gradually fade, and silently apologized.
A purple spirit ring slowly rose, enveloping Yan Zu's body. The energy of the six-thousand-year-old spirit ring was vast and violent. When it surged into his body, Yan Zu felt as if his meridians were about to be torn apart, experiencing unbearable pain. But he gritted his teeth and persevered, circulating the Nine Yin Manual and the auspicious essence of the Qilin to slowly refine this energy.
Xiaoyu lay at his feet, constantly releasing her life force to nourish his body and alleviate the impact of the soul ring.
Half an hour later, Yan Zu slowly opened his eyes, a silver-blue starlight flashing in them. The wound on his left arm had scabbed over under the nourishment of life. His soul power broke through the level 30 bottleneck, directly leaping to level 33. Xiao Yu's figure had grown even stronger, with more starlight appearing in the cloud patterns on her back, and the single horn on her forehead gleaming with a silver-blue light.
"Starlight Descends!" Yan Zu whispered, and Xiao Yu's body swelled to over ten feet, enveloped in silver-blue starlight, instantly boosting all its attributes by fifty percent. He leaped and landed steadily on Xiao Yu's back, patting its neck: "From now on, I can ride you."
Xiao Yu let out an excited neigh and galloped around the open space, leaving a trail of afterimages in its wake. Xiao Wu's eyes lit up: "Wow! So cool! Yan Zu, I want to ride one too!"
Upon returning to Nottingham City, Xiao Wu began her intensive training. With the life-giving energy of the Qilin Martial Soul and the synergy bonus from the Auspicious Beast Companionship Talisman, she finally broke through to level 30 after three months.
This time, Xiao Wu chose to condense her spirit ring in the small courtyard in the west of the city—it was a safe and private place, protected by her grandparents, and far away from the eyes and ears of the Spirit Hall and other forces.
In the stillness of the night, Xiao Pan sat in her room, enveloped in a pinkish light. The phantom of the Jade Rabbit appeared, and a deep purple soul ring (6,200 years old) formed autonomously.
Third Soul Skill: Jade Rabbit Clone!
Xiao Wu's figure flickered, creating two physical clones, each possessing 70% of the original's combat power, lasting for thirty seconds. The three Xiao Wu simultaneously unleashed their waist arches, their leg shadows blurred.
"We did it!" Xiao Wu threw herself into Yan Zu's arms.
A few days later, a letter arrived from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Ning Fengzhi formally invited Yan Zu to serve as the school's "Soul Tool Advisor" after graduation, with an annual salary of 100,000 gold soul coins.
Yan Zu replied:
I am deeply grateful for the Sect Leader's kindness, but I cannot truly accept it.
It is not out of disrespect, but because what I seek is not personal glory and wealth, but the well-being of all people.
The art of soul guidance should be rooted in people's livelihood. I possess methods for high-yield crops and diagrams for soul-guided farming tools, which can alleviate famine and save labor. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has trade routes throughout the world and abundant resources. If the Sect Master is willing to work with me to promote this art of improving people's livelihood, I am not concerned about the amount of profit; I only wish that the results will benefit every household.
When the power of the soul guide truly serves the people, that is when the light of civilization illuminates the earth. Such achievements cannot be measured by a single position or salary.
If the sect leader agrees to this proposal, this junior is willing to offer up all of my techniques. I await your good news.
Yan Zu bows deeply.
After sending the letter, Yan Zu looked out the window. Xiao Wu was playing with the Jade Rabbit clone in the courtyard. Ning Rongrong chased after the Qilin Xiao Yu, wanting a hug.