Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled spots of light on the ground as the trio continued deeper into the Monster Beast Forest. Bai Li nimbly wove through the woods, her two fox tails held high as she alertly sensed the surrounding movements. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, twitching her small nose. The pink tips of her fox tails trembled slightly, and a flash of joy crossed her silver eyes. "Sister Yaoyao, I smell the scent of a Spiritual Plant!"
Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo exchanged a look, both seeing a hint of pleasant surprise in each other's eyes. Spiritual Plants were numerous in the Monster Beast Forest, but most grew in dangerous places and were not easy to find. Now that Bai Li could smell the scent of a Spiritual Plant, it meant a rare Spiritual Plant was likely growing nearby.
"Where is it?" Lin Yaoyao asked quickly, her tone carrying a hint of urgency. She was quite interested in Spiritual Plants; after all, they could not only be used for Alchemy but also consumed directly to improve one's cultivation and strengthen one's Physique, making them treasures that every Cultivator dreamed of.
Bai Li pointed toward the front left and said excitedly, "Right over there! The scent is very strong; it should be a very old Spiritual Plant!" Her tone was full of excitement and anticipation. Her perception of Spiritual Plants was very keen, allowing her to judge the type and age of a plant based on its scent.
Following Bai Li's guidance, the three of them cautiously walked toward the location of the Spiritual Plant. After pushing through a dense patch of shrubs, they arrived at a valley. The valley was filled with Spiritual Qi and the fragrance of flowers and birdsong; all sorts of exotic flowers and herbs were in full bloom, a beautiful sight to behold. Beside a massive rock grew a Spiritual Plant that was entirely emerald green and emitted a faint fluorescence. Its leaves were like jade, crystal clear and translucent, and they were dotted with dew that shimmered with a dazzling light under the sun.
"It's a spirit containing herb!" Lin Yaoyao recognized the plant at a glance. Her voice held a hint of surprise. spirit containing herb was a rare Spiritual Plant used to refine Medicinal Pills that increased cultivation, and it was of great help to the progress of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.
Lin Yaoyao walked carefully to the side of the spirit containing herb and observed its growth state. Once she confirmed it was mature, she reached out to harvest it and placed it into her Storage Pouch. "This spirit containing herb is at least five hundred years old; it's truly a rare treasure." Lin Yaoyao's tone was joyful; the age of this spirit containing herb far exceeded her expectations, which pleasantly surprised her.
Watching Lin Yaoyao harvest the spirit containing herb, Bai Li said happily, "Congratulations, Sister Yaoyao, on obtaining a rare Spiritual Plant!" Her silver eyes sparkled, and her two fox tails swayed cheerfully behind her like two white silk ribbons, dancing gently with her mood.
Shen Mo also smiled and said, "This will make our trial mission finish even faster." The value of the spirit containing herb was high, enough to equal the points from hunting several Golden Core Stage Yao Beasts, bringing them one step closer to completing their trial mission.
The three continued deeper into the Monster Beast Forest. Along the way, Bai Li's twin tails remained alert at all times, constantly detecting the surrounding movements to warn Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo. The Monster Beast Forest was fraught with peril, with various Yao Beasts roaming about; a single moment of carelessness could lead to danger.
As they went deeper into the Monster Beast Forest, ancient trees towered around them, blotting out the sky. Only dappled sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, forming spots of light on the ground. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth mixed with the fragrance of flowers and grass. Occasional birdsong broke the silence of the forest. Bai Li's two fox tails swayed gently as she sensitively perceived the surroundings, her silver eyes scanning the area alertly, maintaining constant vigilance.
Suddenly, Bai Li's fox tails stood bolt upright, and her fur bristled. She felt a strong surge of spiritual energy coming from ahead. "Sister Yaoyao, Sister Shen Mo, there's something happening up ahead!" Bai Li's tone was urgent, and a flash of worry appeared in her eyes; this spiritual energy fluctuation made her feel uneasy.
Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo stopped immediately. They also felt the spiritual energy fluctuation, and their expressions instantly became solemn. Lin Yaoyao gripped her Flying Sword, its snow-white blade emitting a faint cold light. Shen Mo also drew her Flying Sword, its black blade looking exceptionally cold in the dim light.
"Stay on guard," Lin Yaoyao said in a low voice. She looked ahead alertly, prepared for battle. Shen Mo nodded and stood back-to-back with Lin Yaoyao, forming a simple defensive formation. They cautiously approached the source of the spiritual energy. Bai Li followed closely behind them, her two fox tails twitching uneasily, ready to release illusions or Fox Fire for support at any moment.
As they drew closer, the spiritual energy fluctuation grew stronger, and the surrounding air began to warp slightly. After pushing through a dense thicket of shrubs, their vision suddenly opened up. A small valley appeared before them, and in the center of the valley, a mushroom emitting a seven-colored light caught their eyes. The mushroom was crystal clear, as if carved from crystal, and it emitted a dense Spiritual Qi. The seven-colored light flowed around the mushroom like a rainbow, illuminating the entire valley.
"This is... a seven-colored spirit mushroom!" Lin Yaoyao cried out in surprise. She recognized the mushroom's origin at a glance. The seven-colored spirit mushroom was a legendary Spirit Medicine that contained extremely powerful spiritual energy. It was of immense help to a Cultivator's progress and also had the effects of detoxification and healing, making it a treasure that Alchemists dreamed of. "Our luck is just too good." Lin Yaoyao's tone carried a hint of disbelief and joy; she hadn't expected them to be so lucky as to encounter such a legendary Spirit Medicine in the Monster Beast Forest.
A look of surprise also appeared on Shen Mo's face. "This is truly good stuff!" She stared intently at the seven-colored spirit mushroom, her eyes full of desire. The seven-colored spirit mushroom could not only be used in Alchemy but also consumed directly to rapidly increase a Cultivator's power and strengthen their Physique. It was a treasure every Cultivator longed for.
Bai Li's two fox tails swayed cheerfully, her silver eyes shining with excitement. "Sister Yaoyao, hurry and harvest it!" Bai Li urged. Her perception of Spirit Medicines was very keen, and she could feel the powerful spiritual energy contained within the seven-colored spirit mushroom, which made her feel incredibly excited.
Lin Yaoyao nodded. She walked carefully to the side of the seven-colored spirit mushroom, reached out, and gently pulled it from the soil. The seven-colored spirit mushroom felt warm and smooth like silk, and it emitted a dense Spiritual Qi that made one feel refreshed. Lin Yaoyao carefully placed the seven-colored spirit mushroom into her Storage Pouch and then said to Shen Mo and Bai Li, "Let's go. This is no place to linger." She felt a faint sense of unease. A seven-colored spirit mushroom was so precious that it would likely attract the attention of other Yao Beasts. They had to leave as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Shen Mo and Bai Li naturally understood Lin Yaoyao's concerns and nodded in agreement. As they turned to leave, a sudden gale blew through the valley, kicking up sand and stones and blotting out the sun. A powerful pressure descended from the sky, enveloping the entire valley and pressing down so hard the three could barely breathe. Simultaneously, a deafening eagle cry echoed through the valley, sharp and piercing, making their hearts tremble.
Bai Li's fox ears twitched instinctively. She looked up and saw a massive Golden-Winged Eagle descending from the sky. Its wingspan was over a hundred feet wide, blotting out the sun. Its golden feathers shimmered in the sunlight like burning flames, dazzling to the eye. Its sharp eagle eyes were like two swords emitting a cold light as it looked down at the trio like a monarch surveying his domain, its gaze carrying a hint of contempt and disdain. It let out a sharp cry, and the powerful pressure made it difficult for the three to breathe, leaving them almost unable to move.
"Not good, it's a Golden-Winged Eagle!" Lin Yaoyao's face changed drastically. She recognized the Yao Beast's origin immediately. The Golden-Winged Eagle was a Yao Beast at the Late Stage of the ninth level of the Golden Core Stage. It was powerful and extremely fast, famous for its sharp claws and powerful attacks. The appearance of the Golden-Winged Eagle made Lin Yaoyao's heart sink; she realized they had encountered a formidable opponent.
Shen Mo's expression was equally solemn. She gripped her Flying Sword, ready for battle. "The Golden-Winged Eagle is extremely fast; we must be careful of its claws and Wind Blade attacks," Shen Mo warned. She had seen records of the Golden-Winged Eagle in books; this type of Yao Beast had immense attack power and was very cunning, making it difficult to deal with.
Bai Li's small face also became serious. Her two fox tails swayed uneasily as she prepared to release illusions or Fox Fire to support Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo. "Sister Yaoyao, Sister Shen Mo, I will do my best to protect you," Bai Li said firmly, her silver eyes shining with determination.
The trio's expressions shifted again. They immediately realized that the Golden-Winged Eagle's target was the seven-colored spirit mushroom they had just harvested.
"Yaoyao, I'll hold it back. You and Bai Li run!" Shen Mo decided instantly. She sent out her Flying Sword, the black blade drawing a graceful arc in the air as it flew straight toward the Golden-Winged Eagle. She knew how powerful the Golden-Winged Eagle was; to save all three of them, someone had to make a sacrifice, and as someone with a first-level Golden Core cultivation, she was the most suitable to distract the eagle.
Lin Yaoyao wanted to say something, but she was stopped by a look from Shen Mo. She understood Shen Mo's intention and knew now was not the time for hesitation. She grabbed Bai Li's hand and ran toward the exit of the valley without looking back.
"Sister Shen Mo!" Bai Li called out anxiously, but she understood that now was not the time to be willful. Leaving as quickly as possible was the best way to help Shen Mo.
Shen Mo's long sword turned into a black streak of light, carrying sharp Sword Qi as it struck toward the Golden-Winged Eagle. The Golden-Winged Eagle let out a sharp cry. With a flap of its wings, its massive body nimbly tilted in the air, easily dodging Shen Mo's attack. Then, it flapped its wings violently, sending countless Wind Blades whistling toward Shen Mo like sharp knives.
The Golden-Winged Eagle flapped its wings, and countless cyan Wind Blades shot out like a torrential rain toward Shen Mo. Shen Mo's movements were agile as she used Phantom Step to weave through the dense Wind Blades, as elusive as a ghost. She appeared to the left of the Golden-Winged Eagle, then to its right, then behind it. Her black figure flickered within the valley, making it impossible for the Golden-Winged Eagle to lock onto her position for a moment.
At the same time, Shen Mo recalled her Flying Sword. The black Flying Sword drew a graceful arc in the air, bypassing the range of the Wind Blades and attacking the Golden-Winged Eagle again from a tricky angle. Although the Golden-Winged Eagle was massive, it was exceptionally nimble in the air. With a sweep of its wings, it easily dodged Shen Mo's Flying Sword and flapped again, sending out even more dense Wind Blades.
Shen Mo's figure flashed, avoiding the Wind Blades while recalling her Flying Sword to attack the Golden-Winged Eagle again. However, the Golden-Winged Eagle was simply too fast. It dove down, and its sharp claws caught Shen Mo's shoulder. Although Shen Mo protected her body with Spiritual Qi, her clothes were still torn by the eagle's claws, leaving three bloody gashes. Blood instantly stained her clothes red. Shen Mo let out a muffled groan, her face turning slightly pale, but she gritted her teeth and endured the pain without making a sound. She knew she couldn't fall; she had to hold on to buy time for Lin Yaoyao and Bai Li. She swung her sword to force the Golden-Winged Eagle back, then quickly retreated to put distance between them.
Outside the valley, Lin Yaoyao held Bai Li's hand and ran swiftly. Their figures wove through the dense forest like two bolts of lightning. Lin Yaoyao was extremely anxious; as she ran, she kept looking back toward the valley. She was worried about Shen Mo's safety, but she knew she couldn't go back now; she had to get Bai Li to safety.
"Bai Li, hide yourself. I'm going to help Shen Mo!" Lin Yaoyao stopped and said to Bai Li. Her tone was firm, and her eyes held a look of determination. She couldn't leave Shen Mo behind; she had to go back and help her.
"Sister Yaoyao, be careful!" Bai Li looked at Lin Yaoyao, her eyes full of worry. She understood Lin Yaoyao's personality; once she decided on something, she would never change her mind. Although she was worried about Lin Yaoyao's safety, she didn't stop her. She believed in Lin Yaoyao's strength and believed she could protect herself.
Bai Li hid behind a tall tree and closely watched the situation in the valley. Lin Yaoyao turned and ran back toward the valley. She was extremely fast and disappeared into the dense woods in the blink of an eye.
When Lin Yaoyao returned to the valley, Shen Mo was locked in a fierce battle with the Golden-Winged Eagle. The eagle's attacks were very violent, and several more wounds had appeared on Shen Mo's body, her clothes covered in blood. Seeing Lin Yaoyao return, Shen Mo's expression changed. "Yaoyao, why did you come back? Go!" Her tone was urgent; the Golden-Winged Eagle was extremely powerful, and she was worried Lin Yaoyao would get hurt.
Lin Yaoyao didn't answer Shen Mo. She summoned her Flying Sword and joined the battle. Two Flying Swords, one white and one black, like two bolts of lightning, crisscrossed in the air, constantly attacking the Golden-Winged Eagle. Although the Golden-Winged Eagle was powerful, it found it somewhat difficult to face the combined attack of Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo.