Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo coordinated perfectly; Lin Yaoyao took the offensive while Shen Mo used her Speed to pin down the Golden-Winged Eagle. Lin Yaoyao's Flying Sword shimmered as Sword Qi crisscrossed the air, every strike aimed straight for the eagle's vitals. Shen Mo, relying on her Phantom Step, moved like a ghost, circling the Golden-Winged Eagle and drawing its attention, denying it any chance to breathe. Every attack from the Golden-Winged Eagle was skillfully parried by Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo, and for a time, the humans and the eagle were evenly matched. In the valley, Sword Qi surged and eagle cries rang out; the intense sounds of battle echoed through the clouds as trees shook and fallen leaves flew in a scene of total chaos.
Bai Li hid behind a tree, closely monitoring the battle. Her silver eyes flickered with light, and two fox tails swayed gently behind her. Seeing that Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo were safe for the moment, she took a deep breath and began to accumulate Spiritual Qi, preparing to launch a sneak attack. Bai Li understood that with her current strength, her chances of winning a head-on confrontation with the Golden-Winged Eagle were slim; she had to find the perfect timing to defeat the enemy in one blow. She quietly circled behind the Golden-Winged Eagle, holding her breath and completely hiding her Aura, like a hunter lurking in the shadows waiting for the optimal moment to strike. Everything around her seemed to go still, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the flapping of the Golden-Winged Eagle's wings clearly audible.
The light on Bai Li's dual tails grew brighter and brighter, the white glow like two bright lamps illuminating the surrounding trees. She silently recited an incantation and circulated the Spiritual Qi within her body. The light from her two fox tails gradually merged, forming a massive orb of light. The orb rotated slowly, emitting powerful Spiritual Qi fluctuations that caused the surrounding air to warp and distort, as if about to be torn apart by this immense power. Bai Li transformed into the Two-Tailed White Fox, her body larger than it had been in the Lin Family Secret Realm, and the Spiritual Qi fluctuations she emitted were even more potent. Her two fox tails shimmered as she gathered Spiritual Qi, preparing to release a powerful Fox Fire attack.
The Golden-Winged Eagle was locked in a fierce struggle with Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo. Its massive body circled in the sky as its sharp talons and beak constantly attacked them. Its wings flapped, whipping up gusts of gale-force winds filled with countless Wind Blades that swept toward Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo like sharp knives. Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo were exhausted from dealing with the eagle's attacks. For a moment, they both bore injuries; their clothes were torn in several places, revealing fair skin marked with bloody gashes, making them look somewhat disheveled.
Right then, Bai Li seized the opportunity and let out a sharp cry. Her two fox tails lashed forward, and the massive light orb transformed into a streak of white light, striking toward the Golden-Winged Eagle like a bolt of lightning. The Golden-Winged Eagle was fully focused on attacking Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo and didn't notice Bai Li's attack at all. The Nine-Tailed Fox Fire was incredibly fast, and the eagle's massive body couldn't dodge in time before being hit.
"Chirp—!" The Golden-Winged Eagle let out a shrill, miserable scream. Upon impact, the light orb instantly exploded, turning into a sky full of white flames that completely engulfed the eagle. The white flames burned fiercely with a crackling sound. The Golden-Winged Eagle's massive body trembled violently in the fire as its golden feathers were scorched, emitting a burnt smell. The air was thick with the scent of char and blood. The Golden-Winged Eagle let out bursts of agonized cries as its massive body fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust before falling silent.
The white flames filling the sky gradually dissipated, leaving the acrid smell of burning in the air. Seeing the Golden-Winged Eagle shot down, Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo both breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing the relief of having survived a disaster. Bai Li also shifted back into human form, landing lightly on the ground and running to their side.
"Bai Li, are you okay?" Lin Yaoyao hurried forward to support Bai Li, asking with concern. Bai Li's face was somewhat pale and her breathing was unsteady; clearly, the attack just now had consumed a great deal of her Spiritual Qi.
Bai Li shook her head and gave a soft smile. "I'm fine, Sister Yaoyao, just a bit drained." She looked up at Lin Yaoyao, her silver eyes shimmering. "Thankfully, we won."
Shen Mo also walked over. The wound on her shoulder was still seeping blood and her face was pale, but she had a smile on her face. "Yes, thanks to Bai Li, we were able to turn danger into safety." She reached out and patted Bai Li's head, her tone carrying a hint of gratitude and relief.
Lin Yaoyao took out some Healing Medicinal Pills from her Storage Pouch and handed them to Shen Mo and Bai Li. "Quickly take these to recover from your injuries." Her tone was gentle, her eyes full of concern. Shen Mo's shoulder was still bleeding, and Bai Li had consumed a lot of Spiritual Qi; both needed timely Healing and recovery.
Shen Mo and Bai Li took the pills, thanked her, and swallowed them. The pills melted instantly, turning into a warm current that flowed through their bodies, Healing their injuries at a visible rate. The bleeding on Shen Mo's shoulder stopped, Bai Li's complexion regained some color, and her breathing gradually steadied.
Lin Yaoyao walked over to the Golden-Winged Eagle's corpse and inspected it carefully. After confirming it was completely dead, she began to process the body. With practiced skill, she removed the eagle's Yao Core and collected some precious Materials from its body, such as the golden feathers and the sharp talons and beak. These were valuable Materials for refining Magic Treasures and Medicinal Pills, worth a significant amount.
Watching Lin Yaoyao process the Golden-Winged Eagle's corpse, Bai Li felt a surge of emotion. From the Lin Family Secret Realm to the Monster Beast Forest, they had come a long way together, experiencing countless dangers and challenges while gaining growth and friendship. She looked at Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo, her heart filled with gratitude and warmth; she felt lucky to have met them and become their friend and partner.
"Sister Yaoyao, Sister Shen Mo, what do we do next?" Bai Li walked to their side and asked softly. Her silver eyes shimmered, and her two fox tails swayed gently behind her like two white silk ribbons dancing with her mood.
Lin Yaoyao put the collected Materials into her Storage Pouch and said after a moment of thought, "Shen Mo's injuries need to be treated as soon as possible. Let's return to the academy first." Although Shen Mo had taken a Healing Medicinal Pill and her condition had improved—the wound on her shoulder having closed and stopped bleeding—it was still best to return to the academy quickly so the academy's physicians could provide professional treatment and avoid any lasting effects.
Shen Mo nodded in agreement. "My injuries aren't a major issue, but returning to the academy for treatment is indeed more prudent." She moved her shoulder; although the wound had closed and no longer hurt, she could still feel a slight discomfort.
"Alright, let's head back now." As Lin Yaoyao spoke, she summoned a flying shuttle from her Storage Pouch. The golden flying shuttle gleamed in the sunlight, its streamlined hull emitting a faint ripple of Spiritual Qi. Lin Yaoyao was the first to board, with Shen Mo and Bai Li following closely behind.
Bai Li looked worriedly at the scar on Shen Mo's shoulder that hadn't completely faded. The tip of her pink fox tail glowed with a soft green light as she said softly, "Sister Shen Mo, let me heal you." Bai Li's green tail gently brushed over Shen Mo's shoulder, and a warm energy slowly flowed into Shen Mo's body. The originally jagged scar faded at a visible rate until it vanished completely, leaving the skin as smooth as before.
"Thank you, Bai Li." Feeling the warmth on her shoulder, Shen Mo gave Bai Li a grateful smile. She knew Bai Li's Healing ability was extraordinary; thanks to her timely treatment, her shoulder likely wouldn't leave a scar.
Lin Yaoyao piloted the flying shuttle and set the coordinates for the academy. The flying shuttle slowly rose into the air and then turned into a streak of light, racing toward Tianxing Academy. The flying shuttle was incredibly fast; the surrounding scenery blurred past, vanishing over the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Bai Li gazed at the scenery rushing past the window, her mind filled with many thoughts. This trip to the Monster Beast Forest, though full of danger, had been very fruitful. Not only had they earned a large amount of trial points, but they had also obtained the precious seven-colored spirit mushrooms and Materials from the Golden-Winged Eagle.
The flying shuttle cut through the sky and soon arrived at Tianxing Academy. Lin Yaoyao skillfully maneuvered the shuttle to land slowly on the academy square. The square was as busy as ever, with people coming and going and various flying artifacts weaving through the air, like a bustling scroll of a cultivation world.
The three of them stepped off the flying shuttle. Lin Yaoyao put the shuttle away and turned to Shen Mo. "Shen Mo, you go to the Infirmary first to handle your injuries. Bai Li and I will go submit the trial mission." Shen Mo nodded; to be safe, it was better to have the school doctor check her over.
Shen Mo walked toward the Infirmary, her figure gradually disappearing into the crowd. Lin Yaoyao and Bai Li turned toward the Mission Hall to submit the trial mission. The Mission Hall was located on the west side of the academy square, a grand building with two tall stone pillars at the entrance carved with lifelike Dragon and Phoenix patterns, possessing an extraordinary Aura. Inside the hall, it was very lively with people coming and going. Many students were gathered around the mission board, checking the latest mission information. It was Bai Li's first time at the Mission Hall, and she looked around curiously; the dazzling array of missions and the bustling crowd were all new to her.
Lin Yaoyao led Bai Li to the mission submission window with ease, handing their Disciple Tokens and the collected Yao Beast Materials to the administrator behind the window. "Hello, we're here to submit a trial mission."
The administrator took the tokens and Materials, and after checking them carefully, a look of surprise appeared on his face. "Iron Armored Pigs, Black Rock Bears, a Golden-Winged Eagle... You actually hunted this many Yao Beasts?" His tone carried a hint of disbelief. These Yao Beasts were not weak, especially the Golden-Winged Eagle, which was a Golden Core Stage beast. He hadn't expected Lin Yaoyao and her companion to be able to hunt them all.
Lin Yaoyao gave a slight smile and said, "Just good luck." Her tone was humble, and she didn't offer much explanation.
The administrator nodded and, after finishing the registration of the tokens and Materials, said, "Congratulations, you've completed the trial mission. You've earned a total of five hundred points and a reward of two thousand Spirit Stones." He handed two Storage Pouches containing the Spirit Stones and the Disciple Tokens back to Lin Yaoyao and Bai Li. "The points have been added to your tokens."
After thanking him, Lin Yaoyao and Bai Li left the Mission Hall. Bai Li was overjoyed looking at the Storage Pouch in her hand. With these Spirit Stones, she could buy more Artifact Refining Materials and refine even more and better Magical Artifacts.
"Xiao Mai, are there any missions related to Artifact Refining?" Bai Li asked system xiao mai in her mind as she walked. She was currently full of passion for Artifact Refining and wanted to improve her skills by completing missions.
system xiao mai's crisp voice rang out in Bai Li's mind: "host, there is a mission to refine a Heaven-Grade High Grade weapon. Do you want to accept it? Reward for completion: Earth-Grade weapon manufacturing manual danyang X1, attribute points +1."
Hearing Xiao Mai's voice, Bai Li nodded without hesitation. Refining a Heaven-Grade High Grade weapon was a significant challenge for her, but it was also a great opportunity to test her Artifact Refining skills, and with such a generous reward, she naturally wouldn't miss it.
"I accept the mission!" Bai Li said with a firm tone.
"Mission issued. Please complete it as soon as possible, host," system xiao mai said.
"Xiao Mai, do you just issue these missions whenever you feel like it?" Bai Li suddenly thought of this question. She felt that the timing and content of the System's missions seemed to align perfectly with her needs, which made her a bit suspicious.
system xiao mai's voice carried a hint of teasing: "Take a guess." Then there was no more sound. Bai Li curled her lips helplessly; it seemed the System had no intention of giving her an answer.
After returning to the dormitory, Bai Li immediately took out the "advanced artifact refining" book she had borrowed from the Scripture Pavilion and began to study it seriously. The book introduced the refining methods and techniques for various Earth-Grade weapons in detail, as well as the characteristics and uses of various Materials. As Bai Li studied, she simulated the refining process in her mind. Sometimes her brow would furrow, and sometimes she would have a look of sudden realization, completely immersed in the world of Artifact Refining.
Upon returning to the dormitory, Lin Yaoyao also began to Cultivate. She took out the Tian Xing Sword Art from her Storage Pouch and started practicing this powerful set of sword techniques. With the bloodline essence obtained in the Secret Realm and the rewards from the trial mission, Lin Yaoyao's Cultivation Base had become even more refined. Shen Mo returned to the dormitory after her check-up at the Infirmary confirmed there were no major issues. She took out the Materials from the Black Rock Bear and prepared to start Alchemy. The Black Rock Bear's Materials were very precious for Alchemy and could be used to refine various high-level Medicinal Pills. Shen Mo intended to use these Materials to refine pills that could quickly increase one's Cultivation Base and stabilize their Realm, helping her and Lin Yaoyao boost their strength.