Chapter 12: The Mysterious and Unknown Hundred-Thousand-Year Avian Soul Beast

The clash between Shrek Academy and Canghui Academy ultimately ended with Zhao Wuji stepping in and fiercely beating Ye Zhiqiu.

Feeling a gaze from the second floor, Zhao Wuji turned around and happened to lock eyes with Qian Renxue. She showed no expression, calmly withdrawing her gaze as if Zhao Wuji were no different from an ordinary person. Indeed, Zhao Wuji was merely a Soul Emperor, hardly worth her attention; after all, in the Martial Soul Hall, Soul Emperors like him were as common as grains of sand.

Yet Zhao Wuji felt anything but calm. In that brief moment of eye contact, he sensed danger emanating from the young girl. As a Soul Emperor himself, the only beings who could instill such a sense of threat were Soul Saints or higher.

But was that possible?

The golden-haired girl appeared barely twenty years old. Even if she had cultivated from birth, it seemed impossible for someone her age to have reached the rank of Soul Saint.

Zhao Wuji shook his head, suppressing the terrifying thought. Perhaps he had misjudged.

...

Qian Wenyu and her party rested through the night and rose before dawn. After breakfast, as the dim light of early morning crept in and the tranquil night slowly faded, they stepped out of the hotel. They happened upon Zhao Wuji rousing the Shrek Academy students, but Qian Wenyu and Qian Renxue ignored him, quickening their pace. Huliena and the others followed closely, paying no mind to Zhao Wuji by the roadside.

At the edge of the Starry Dipper Forest, they ventured deeper. With Qian Wenyu’s protective shield, the perilous forest felt as safe as their own backyard. They unanimously decided to proceed toward the depths so Qian Renxue could hunt for soul rings.

Soon after entering the forest’s inner area, they encountered a soul beast.

Qian Renxue glanced at it and shook her head. “The attributes match those of a six-winged angel perfectly, but it’s too young. Let’s keep moving.”

Qian Wenyu nodded, and the group pressed onward.

Throughout the journey, Qian Wenyu kept refreshing her shield after its duration lapsed. The shield’s length extended with each additional soul ring she possessed. Having not yet obtained her fourth soul ring, the shield lasted only three minutes.

About an hour later, mindful of the three Soul Lords’ stamina in the group, Qian Renxue called for a rest.

...

Qian Wenyu sat atop a large rock, watching the others chat, occasionally interjecting. After half an hour’s rest, they resumed their advance.

Suddenly, as they rose, Qian Renxue gathered everyone behind her, her expression turning grave.

“As steady as a rock,” Qian Wenyu said briskly, stepping to Qian Renxue’s side and immediately activating her shield.

Their strong spiritual power allowed them to sense danger from afar. The six others, including Huliena, lacked such sensitivity and were puzzled by their sudden solemnity.

But they soon understood why.

In the forest’s depths, a large bird flew swiftly toward them. Its feathers shimmered a mesmerizing spectral blue, and its massive wings, when spread, blotted out the sky. Its tail bore four long feathers, tips fading to purple.

The bird’s speed was immense, and it soon soared overhead, seemingly indifferent to the humans below as it passed.

Qian Wenyu’s eyes gleamed with excitement. This enormous, unknown avian soul beast perfectly matched her aesthetic ideals—both beautiful and imposing. Capturing it as a mount would be ideal.

“I want it as my mount!” she exclaimed, pointing at the bird.

Qian Renxue, having just relaxed, was startled by her sister’s declaration. She turned sharply, puzzled by Qian Wenyu’s sudden enthusiasm.

Qian Renxue had never seen such a bird in the Martial Soul Hall’s records. Clearly, an unknown species, and judging by its aura, it must have cultivated for a hundred thousand years.

She sighed softly. “Wenyu, even if I had reached the seventh soul ring, there’s no way we could defeat a soul beast with a hundred thousand years of cultivation. I can’t help you with this.”

Unexpectedly, Qian Wenyu smiled confidently. “I don’t need your help. I have my own plan. Just watch.”

With that, she unleashed her Moon Angel Martial Soul. Six pairs of silver wings blossomed from her back as she shot forward after the bird at top speed. Though fast, the bird was no match for Qian Wenyu’s velocity.

Qian Renxue was momentarily taken aback by how quickly her sister disappeared, then turned to the equally stunned others. “Let’s follow her and see.”

Despite Qian Wenyu’s nearly superhuman defenses rendering her immune to the unknown hundred-thousand-year-old bird’s attacks, Qian Renxue remained uneasy. She needed to see with her own eyes that her sister was safe.

...

Huliena and the others trailed behind Qian Renxue, pushing themselves faster than ever.

Meanwhile, Qian Wenyu caught up to the bird, blocking its path.

Raising her Heavenly Star, she called out, “Heaven Moves, All Things.”

Within the Domain of the Earth God, boundless earth element energy surged, coalescing into a colossal rock block. These blocks formed an immense Heavenly Star that crashed down upon the bird.

To the bird, this fragile human girl seemed pitifully weak—one breath from it could easily knock her down. It paid her no mind.

As the Heavenly Star hurtled toward it, the bird sneered and lazily fired a wave of energy.

But underestimating her came at a price. Though the bird’s attack shattered the Heavenly Star, it could not defend against the localized petrification triggered by its impact.

Unsurprisingly, the bird was petrified, its body enveloped in a faint golden glow that rendered it immobile.

When Qian Renxue and the others arrived, they saw the scene from afar. Familiar with Qian Wenyu’s soul technique, they recognized the golden sheen as the petrification effect of “Heaven Moves, All Things.”

Huliena gasped, “I always thought little junior sister’s petrification was strong, but I never imagined it could even affect a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast!”

That was a soul beast equivalent to a human Title Douluo.

Qian Renxue was less surprised. She and her sisters often sparred with the revered elders in the Offering Hall and knew that “Heaven Moves, All Things” could affect Title Douluos, though not for long.

“The power gap is immense; the petrification won’t last,” Qian Renxue said calmly. She was eager to see what tricks Wenyu had up her sleeve to tame such a formidable soul beast before the petrification wore off.