Chapter 74: Fire Spirit

Chi Ru inherited her family's ancestral martial soul, the Red Fire Moth.

She entered the Martial Soul Possession State, and a pair of fiery red fan-shaped wings, each bearing vivid patterns, manifested on both sides of her back.

Two yellow and one purple, the optimal configuration of Soul Rings emerged from beneath her.

Chi Ru's martial soul has the ability to fly, but cannot carry weight while flying.

"You cover me, and I'll charge out of the encirclement with Ning Ning," Tie Li said cautiously.

The surrounding wolf pack gradually closed in; they had to break through from a single direction, for once the encirclement shrank to a certain distance, the wolves would swarm forward without hesitation.

"Alright."

Tie Li skillfully placed Ning Ning on his back, and Chi Ru flew into the air to cover Tie Li, primarily disrupting the Flame Wolf behind him.

Ning Ning summoned the Ruyi Tower, and the amplification of the three major soul skills fell upon Tie Li and Ning Ning.

Tie Li had already begun the breakout; the First Soul Ring on his body lit up, and the Forging Hammer entered Thunder Hammer Form.

"Bang bang bang"

An attack bearing Lightning Light struck the century-old Flame Wolf, dealing considerable damage, and its accompanying paralysis slowed the Flame Wolf's movements.

When necessary to protect Ning Ning, Tie Li would choose to harden his body against the Flame Wolf's claws; wearing metal inner armor and gear, it would not cause him much harm.

"Awooo"

Another howl sounded, and Tie Li instantly sensed trouble, thinking the pack might cause another incident, but the wolves, having received orders, all abandoned the attack and turned to run in the opposite direction.

"Did they go looking for Da Niu?" Tie Li asked, puzzled.

"It must be that Da Niu located the Wolf King's position; sensing danger, the Wolf King had to summon the pack back," Ning Ning offered her view.

Chi Ru let out a sigh of relief, especially after the scene of Tie Li hardening against the Flame Wolf's attack, which had startled her greatly.

If Tie Li were injured, the situation would only worsen.

"Are you okay now?" Chi Ru couldn't help but ask.

Tie Li shook his head; his current concern was whether to return to support Da Niu or first take Ning Ning away.

The Support-type Soul Master's amplification soul technique is quite good, able to raise a Soul Master's power by a tier, but in this situation, lacking the protection of a Defense-type Soul Master makes facing the wolf pack very dangerous.

"Boom"

A slight tremor came from the ground, and a sudden roar erupted behind them; before the three could react, they heard the wolves' wailing.

Their first reaction was that Da Niu had slain the Flame Wolf King.

And indeed, the fact was that the pack, having lost the Wolf King, instantly scattered.

"Let's go, we'll hurry to support Da Niu."

The three immediately rushed toward the source of the sound, seeing Da Niu covered in blood, with wounds from claws, but mostly the blood of Flame Wolves.

At his feet lay the corpse of the Flame Wolf King, its size twice that of a normal Flame Wolf.

Da Niu, seeing the three arrive, showed a smile on his simple, honest face.

"The Fire Spirit fled, and it took a Fire Spirit Fruit," Da Niu said.

The spirit roots that bear Fire Juice Fruit have a certain chance to nurture a higher-grade Fire Spirit Fruit, whose value is many times that of a Fire Juice Fruit.

"It was wounded by me; it can't get far away."

The Fire Spirit is a soul beast of fire and mental attributes, with low combat power; it must rely on the wolf pack, and once the Wolf King dies, it cannot immediately command the pack, making it at its weakest, especially since Da Niu has wounded it.

Tie Li instantly understood Da Niu's point: a Fire Spirit without a wolf pack lacks strong combat power.

Even a millennial Fire Spirit, once deprived of the pack's protection, can be easily hunted by some century-old soul beasts.

The value of a Fire Spirit Fruit justifies a chase, but only as an attempt.

"I'll go check, you be careful."

Tie Li ran toward the direction Da Niu indicated; the Fire Spirit Fruit emitted a distinctive scent, and by sniffing the air, it was not hard to track the Fire Spirit's trail.

"Human, you truly dare keep chasing me?"

It was not spoken language, but a mental wave.

The Fire Spirit was a hundred meters ahead of Tie Li, its abdomen wounded, the fur there a deep crimson.

Ahead of the Fire Spirit lay the origin of Bai Ni Mountain, a gathering place of Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beasts, also called Baidi.

"Hand over the Fire Spirit Fruit, and I will let you go."

"Your humans' promises? Truly laughable," the Fire Spirit said without hesitation, then rushed into Baidi.

It possesses a mimic skill, copying other soul beasts' scents, but the lightning within Baidi is enough for it to drink a pot, let alone it is already wounded.

Tie Li arrived at its former spot, gazing at the dazzling Baidi; even he would not dare step in lightly.

The lightning waves emitted by Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beasts, when gathered, wield terrifying power, extremely dangerous to soul beasts of other attributes.

But for Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beasts, the mutual lightning waves aid cultivation, forming a special beneficial cycle.

Similarly, among Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beasts, those in the gathering place are stronger, their nurtured lightning being more destructive.

Tie Li, still uneasy, planned to leave, but the Thunder Python Inner Core within him suddenly became active.

"Is it absorbing Baidi's lightning?" Tie Li was startled.

Though the absorption was threadlike, it was indeed sensed.

Having heard Ning Ning describe the place earlier, Tie Li had already conceived the idea of attempting mimic cultivation near Baidi.

Practicing the Lei Long Meditation Method, the Thunder and Lightning Attribute within Tie Li's body was gradually strengthening, reaching a certain intensity; cultivating here should yield great gains, much faster than ordinary meditation.

Now, Ning Ning and the others are still waiting for him; he will first reunite with them, then find a chance to cultivate here.

Whether it's mimic cultivation or the mutation of the Thunder Python Inner Core, another trip here is required.

Tie Niu sat cross-legged on the ground recuperating; even as a Five Ring Soul King, facing a siege by century-old Flame Wolves, some spots inevitably get clawed by the pack.

Ning Ning and Chi Ru were beside them, picking Fire Juice Fruit.

After Tie Li returned, he told them directly about the Fire Spirit entering Baidi.

"The fire spirit beast can mimic the aura of a Thunder Attribute Plant-type Soul Beast, so inside Baidi it won't be attacked, but its own defense is weak and it's already injured; the Thunder and Lightning Attribute inside Baidi is dense, which will deal considerable damage to Soul Beasts of other attributes. It might not even get out of Baidi and could die inside," Da Niu analyzed.

"What a pity about the fire spirit fruit," Chi Ru said regretfully, "If we could catch the fire spirit beast, its hide could fetch a decent price."

"No problem, these Fire Juice Fruits can also fetch a decent price."

There are still many Flame Wolf corpses on the ground; after all, they're century-old Soul Beasts, and both their hides and flesh have set prices.

(End of chapter)