Night.
The campfire swayed gently in the wind.
Mo Yunfei quietly slipped out of his tent and stopped outside the one belonging to Weina and Mu Xue. Lowering his voice, he said,
"Miss, may I come in?"
"Come in," Mu Xue's voice sounded from within.
Only then did Mo Yunfei stoop and enter their tent.
However, he merely sat cross-legged at the entrance, not daring to move deeper inside.
"Master Mo, can you tell what background those three have?" Mu Xue asked lightly. Weina sat to the side, her face carrying the usual faint smile.
A soft, mist-like white glow rose from Mo Yunfei's body, spreading within the tent to shield their voices.
"Those two young girls, though young, have exceptional looks and bearing. Yet their temperaments differ—unlikely to be from the same sect. Their cultivation should be between the Great Soul Master and the Soul Elder. With that level of talent, it's quite believable they come from the Xingluo Imperial Academy."
"As for that man in the dark-blue robes, he gives me a sense I cannot grasp. I can't see through his strength."
"You can't even see through him?"
Mu Xue's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
Uncle Mo was a Soul Sage-level powerhouse, experienced and worldly. If even he couldn't see through the youth's strength, then…
"But it's also possible," Mo Yunfei continued after a moment of thought, "that the boy carries a senior's treasure capable of obscuring his aura from my senses."
To be frank, he simply did not believe a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth could possess strength surpassing his own.
If such a monster existed, he would already have shaken the continent, invincible among his peers. How could they have just stumbled upon him?
Thus, in his heart, Mo Yunfei leaned toward believing Neuvillette's aura was masked by some protective artifact rather than true strength.
"I see…"
Mu Xue's eyes flickered with a strange light.
For some reason, whenever she drew close to Neuvillette, her mind would sting as though pricked by needles.
This was the unique defense mechanism of her martial soul.
Whenever she encountered someone in extreme danger, it would sound this warning.
And the only time she had ever felt this before… was before her clan's Supreme Douluo worshipper.
No, impossible.
She shook her head slightly. No matter how formidable that youth was, he could not have reached the realm of a Supreme Douluo.
Exhaling a soft breath, her fair hand gently rubbed her temple.
Perhaps she was just too sensitive after escaping the recent beast tide.
"I understand, Uncle Mo. Tomorrow, do your best to avoid them," Mu Xue said after a pause, her red lips parting softly.
"Yes."
Mo Yunfei nodded and carefully withdrew from the tent.
"Elder sister, why do we need to avoid them? That teacher is clearly strong—so strong even Uncle Mo couldn't see through him. Wouldn't it be better to travel with them…"
Weina hugged Mu Xue's slender arm, speaking in a spoiled tone.
"You silly girl…"
Mu Xue extended her jade-like finger and gently tapped her sister's nose with a doting smile.
"Even if they were willing to travel with us, that young man's identity is unclear, and his strength is extraordinary. To journey together might not be to our advantage."
"Stop being lovestruck. When you're older, Father will marry you off."
"Nooo! Wherever sister goes, I'll go too!"
Realizing her little scheme had been seen through, Weina's cheeks flushed as she doubled down with childish whining.
"What, if I marry, you'll marry together with me?"
Mu Xue chuckled softly, covering her lips.
"That… wouldn't be impossible," Weina stuck out her tongue.
"Go to sleep early. We still have to travel tomorrow."
The next morning.
At first light, Neuvillette dragged the two little ones still snoring away, tidied up briefly, and immediately set off toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Time waits for no one.
The Gold Devouring Beast was exceedingly rare, solitary in nature, and fed on metal. Thus, its traces could be found in the mineral-rich zones of the forest.
Inside the forest.
"Tsk, why are we so unlucky? Two days now and not even a hair of the thing has shown up…"
The Skydream Iceworm wriggled its tiny head atop the girl's hair, glancing about with a frown.
Wang Dong'er, however, was long used to it.
Perhaps on the first day, when the Skydream appeared, she had been shocked and curious. But by now, she was already accustomed.
"Sister Skydream, do you really think there's a Gold Devouring Beast here in the Star Dou Great Forest?"
Huo Yutong gently pursed her lips, her fair hand wiping away beads of sweat from her forehead as she paused.
"Of course there is! When I lived here and was squeezed dry by those fellows, they were rare, yes, but not to the point of extinction like now…"
The Skydream Iceworm snapped irritably.
"If we can't find it by the last day, we'll withdraw from the core area and look for a substitute soul beast."
Neuvillette spoke lightly.
"That's all we can do," the Iceworm sighed helplessly.
Although the Gold Devouring Beast matched the girl's martial soul perfectly, they couldn't afford to waste endless time searching.
Besides…
Shrek Academy's winter break was almost over. The academy's assessments were coming next; they couldn't delay too long.
"Wait!"
Just as they were about to move on, the Iceworm cried out in delight.
"I think I just sensed a Gold Devouring Beast!"
"It's that way!"
Everyone's spirits lifted at once.
Without hesitation, Neuvillette grabbed the two little ones by the collars, and his figure vanished on the spot.
Not another minute in this damn forest than necessary.
Time to clock out!
"ROAR!"
A furious howl rang out.
Deep in the forest, countless birds and beasts scattered in panic once more.
"Damnable humans! How dare they abduct the Auspicious Beast! I will tear them to pieces!!!"
A massive Cerberus with three giant heads howled at the sky, its roar spreading outward from the Star Dou Great Forest's core.
"What did you say? The Auspicious Beast is missing?"
Another colossal figure appeared—far more imposing than the Cerberus. Standing a full fifteen meters tall, its entire body was covered in dark-golden fur. Its arms were unusually long, reaching past its knees, thick and powerful.
Each arm ended in savage claws radiating terrifying energy.
This was one of the Ten Great Savage Beasts—ranked sixth—Bear Lord!
Though only with forty-seven thousand years of cultivation, his bloodline was filled with berserk combat power, giving him battle strength second only to the most fearsome of beasts.
"How could you lose the Auspicious Beast while it was in your care!"
The Bear Lord roared in fury, wishing he could flay the Scarlet King alive.
"You can't even manage something this simple—what use are you, besides waste!"
The Scarlet King's aura faltered. He shrank his neck guiltily under Bear Lord's wrath, muttering in a low voice,
"Ever since that day when humans forced contact with her, the little one's heart has been unsettled. This morning, she told me she was in a foul mood and wanted to walk, and then…"
"And then you lost her!!!"
The Bear Lord's eyes burned scarlet with rage.
(End of Chapter)