"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.
Oscar immediately began chanting his spirit incantations, and in just a few moments, his hands were full of recovery sausages and detoxification salamis. He divided them equally among the other six members of the team.
"My sausages will stay effective for twelve hours," he explained proudly. "So, they'll work as long as you eat them within that time. The big sausages are for recovery and hunger, while the smaller salamis are for detoxification."
Everyone took the food and stored it carefully. In a place like this, items that could save your life in a critical moment were priceless.
Continuously using his spirit ability had made Oscar's face turn a little pale. While his sausages were incredibly useful to others, they had one major drawback for him: they were only one-third as effective for the person who created them. This effect was balanced with his spirit power consumption, which meant that eating his own food barely restored any of the energy it cost to make it. Because of this, once his spirit power was depleted, his only option was to recover through meditation.
Seeing that everyone was ready, Zhao Wuji nodded and waved a hand forward.
"Let's move out!"
The terrain inside the Star Dou Great Forest was extremely complex, with large parts of it remaining in a primitive, untouched state. There were no paths, so they had to force their way through the dense undergrowth. The task of clearing the way fell to Dai Mubai, who walked at the front of the formation. After activating his Spirit, sharp blades extended from his tiger paws, and with a few powerful swings, he sliced through the sharp thorns blocking their path.
Huo Feng and Zhu Zhuqing guarded the rear of the team. Zhu Zhuqing had heightened her vision and hearing, carefully scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger. Even Huo Feng was more serious than usual. In a place like this, you never knew what might suddenly emerge from the shadows.
Wild Spirit Beasts were known to be extremely aggressive, and they held a special hatred for humans, who hunted them to increase their own strength. Even more terrifying was the fact that many of these Spirit Beasts lived in groups. A wrong turn could lead them straight into a pack of powerful creatures.
The forest canopy was so dense that it blocked out almost all sunlight, making the forest dim and gloomy even during the day. The group walked for about an hour, and by then, it was noon. They had already encountered several Spirit Beasts, but most were only at the ten-year or hundred-year level. They chose to avoid them whenever possible, not wanting to engage in unnecessary fights. However, a few aggressive beasts charged at them, and Dai Mubai, leading the way, dealt with them quickly.
"Alright, let's take a break here," Zhao Wuji said, his voice calm. He had been walking silently beside them the entire time. Hearing him speak instantly eased the tension that had been building in the group.
Dai Mubai cleared away the surrounding thorns, creating an open space nearly a hundred square meters wide. Everyone sat down against the thick tree trunks to rest. Although it felt like they had been traveling for a long time, they were still in the outer region of the Star Tou Great Forest. High-level Spirit Beasts were rare here, so it was relatively safe.
But their goal was to find a suitable thousand-year Spirit Beast for Oscar, which meant they had to venture much deeper into the forest. In the Star Dou Great Forest, the danger level increased exponentially with every ten kilometers they traveled toward the center. It was crucial for them to be in peak condition before they proceeded.
The air in the forest was still, and the surroundings were quiet. Everyone leaned against the trees, and after half an hour of rest, the rare moment of peace made them all feel a little drowsy.
"Everyone, get up! Something's approaching!"
Zhao Wuji's sudden shout shattered the calm and woke everyone instantly. All sleepiness vanished as their adrenaline surged. They quickly jumped to their feet, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. Without a word, Huo Feng and Dai Mubai moved to protect Oscar and Ning Rongrong, while Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun took up positions on the sides. In an instant, everyone, including Zhao Wuji, summoned their Spirits. This place was full of unknown dangers, and even as a level 76 Spirit Saint, he couldn't afford to be careless.
Rustle… Rustle…
A strange rustling sound grew louder, cutting through the quiet forest. Even the auxiliary spirit masters, Oscar and Ning Rongrong, could feel the unknown creature approaching at a rapid speed.
"Zhu Zhuqing, go see what it is," Zhao Wuji ordered, his eyes fixed on her.
Without a sound, Zhu Zhuqing shot forward. Sharp claws extended from her fingertips, and she climbed a massive tree as easily as if she were walking on flat ground. From her high vantage point, she looked in the direction of the sound. A cat's vision was excellent, even in the dark, so the midday gloom of the forest was no problem for her.
Soon, her cold voice echoed down from the tree.
"It's a Spirit Beast. It looks like a flying snake, but it can't fly high. It's moving forward about three meters above the ground. It has a fleshy crest on its head that's bigger than its head, and it's blood-red. Its tail is special—it's shaped like a fan."
"Oh?"
Hearing Zhu Zhuqing's description, Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up with interest. "It's a Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake. That kind of Spirit Beast is quite rare. The fleshy crest on its head has many powerful uses."
He turned to look at Oscar, who was being protected in the center of the formation, and smiled. "Oscar, it looks like you're in luck."
It was clear that Zhao Wuji had already decided to make this Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake Oscar's third Spirit Ring.
"How long is it, and what color are its wings?" Zhao Wuji asked, looking up at Zhu Zhuqing. He had almost overlooked the most important detail: its age. The snake had to be at least a thousand years old to be a worthy target.
A few seconds later, her voice came back down. "Its wings are light red, and its body is between six and eight meters long."
Zhao Wuji's smile widened. "That's a thousand-year Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake. The light red wings are a sign that its cultivation has reached a thousand years. Based on its length, its age should be between 1,300 and 1,800 years. Oscar, this Spirit Beast is perfect for you!"
Oscar's eyes lit up with excitement. "My luck is incredible!"
"It's coming! Everyone, be careful!" Zhu Zhuqing's urgent warning came from above.
Oscar's smile vanished. It was far too early to celebrate.
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