"So..."
"Do you need me to recommend some Spirit Beasts for you?"
Arou's question left Yu Yuanzhen and the others wearing strange expressions.
Did they need Spirit Beasts?
Of course they did.
More than anything.
If they searched on their own, there was no telling how long it would take to find suitable Spirit Beasts. Throughout the hunt, they would also have to face countless dangers.
That was precisely why every Soul Hunting operation required extensive intelligence gathering beforehand.
Finding an appropriate target in advance could significantly reduce the risks involved.
But the situation now was rather absurd.
The one offering to help them find Spirit Beasts...
Was a Spirit Beast herself.
The entire scene felt strangely surreal.
Seeing the caution still written across everyone's faces, Arou chuckled softly.
"There's no need to be so guarded."
"Even among humans, people don't always stand together unless their interests align."
"The same is true for Spirit Beasts."
"We're certainly not one united group."
"After all..."
"We still prey on one another."
She paused before continuing.
"To tell you the truth..."
"We're preparing for war against another group of Spirit Beasts."
"The leader of that group is also a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast."
"And..."
"It's even stronger than I am."
As she spoke, her expression gradually became more serious.
"They invaded our territory not long ago."
"They originally intended to seize it by force."
"We managed to drive them away."
"But they never truly left."
"They've established themselves not far from our territory."
"It's obvious they're preparing to attack us again."
"And besides their leader..."
"They've gathered quite a few troublesome followers."
"Not a single one of them is decent."
"Hunting for survival is one thing."
"But they slaughter other Spirit Beasts purely for entertainment whenever they're bored."
"I've heard they completely destroyed the region where they used to live."
"If we allow them to stay..."
"Our territory will eventually suffer the same fate."
By the end of her explanation, Arou's voice had turned noticeably colder.
In truth...
She didn't particularly care about Spirit Beasts killing one another.
The law of the jungle had always ruled the Star Dou Great Forest.
The strong dominated the weak.
That was simply reality.
Having cultivated to the level of a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast, Arou herself had killed countless Spirit Beasts over the years.
If all the creatures that had died by her hands were piled together...
The mountain of corpses would be unimaginable.
Death was simply too common inside the Star Dou Great Forest.
As long as it didn't threaten her own territory...
She rarely interfered.
But this group was different.
Especially their leader.
Whenever it looked at her...
Its eyes were filled with naked greed.
Arou was certain that the moment they found an opportunity...
They would attack both her and every Spirit Beast under her protection.
Rather than waiting for disaster...
She intended to strike first.
"Our original plan..."
"Was simply to drive them out of the Star Dou Great Forest."
"But forcing them to leave won't solve the problem forever."
"If they stumble across some great opportunity in the future and grow even stronger..."
"They'll definitely come back."
"And next time..."
"We'll be the ones in danger."
She looked directly at Yu Yuanzhen.
"It just so happens..."
"You all arrived at exactly the right time."
"If we fight alone..."
"We may not be able to eliminate them completely."
"But if you join us..."
"Our chances of victory will increase dramatically."
"When the battle is over..."
"The Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone will belong to you."
"We'll eliminate a dangerous enemy."
"You'll obtain what you need."
"And neither side will have to worry about future retaliation."
"A win-win situation."
"So..."
"What do you say?"
"Would you like to cooperate?"
"The leader of that group is a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast."
"And one of you has already reached Rank 90."
"They're in need of a Spirit Ring, aren't they?"
"Of course..."
"If a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring is too much..."
"There's also a Red-Toothed Thunder Wolf beside that leader."
"It's around seventy thousand years old."
"Almost eighty thousand."
Sitting casually on a tree branch, Arou crossed her legs and rested her chin on one hand as she quietly waited for Yu Yuanzhen's answer.
She believed no normal Spirit Master could possibly refuse such an offer.
And...
She wasn't wrong.
Yu Yuanzhen and the others were indeed tempted.
A Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast had personally come to seek cooperation.
The reason was straightforward.
One side wanted to survive.
The other wanted powerful Spirit Rings.
Originally, Arou only intended to drive the invaders away.
But after witnessing Yu Yuanzhen's overwhelming strength...
Driving them away no longer seemed necessary.
Killing them outright was now a realistic option.
Everything she said sounded perfectly logical.
"Sect Master..."
"Should we agree?"
The Grand Elder's voice trembled slightly.
"That's a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast."
"Although Xiaogang still lacks several ranks before he can absorb it..."
"If we can capture it alive..."
"His future Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring will already be secured."
"And even if that isn't possible..."
"A Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Bone alone would be priceless."
To be honest...
The Grand Elder strongly favored accepting the proposal.
Yu Yuanzhen remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"I also want to agree."
"But there's one problem."
"How can we be certain she isn't lying?"
"We're not the same race."
"We can't simply believe everything she says."
"What if this is all a trap?"
Yu Yuanzhen himself wasn't afraid.
As a Level 97 Title Douluo...
His strength was extraordinary.
Not only was he incredibly powerful...
He also possessed his ultimate technique—
Thunder of Destruction.
Against a single Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast...
He was completely confident.
But this battle involved far more than one opponent.
There would be two Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beasts...
Along with numerous Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beasts.
In a battle on that scale...
Anything could happen.
The Grand Elder sighed unwillingly.
"So..."
"Are we really just going to refuse?"
At that very moment...
Arou's voice interrupted them.
"So..."
"You don't trust me?"
"You think I'm trying to trick you?"
Apparently...
She had heard every word of their whispered discussion.
"Don't worry."
"I truly came here seeking cooperation."
"I have absolutely no intention of harming any of you."
"I swear upon my true Spirit Beast form."
"If I have even the slightest intention of betraying you..."
"May I fail my future Heavenly Lightning Tribulation."
"Is that sincere enough?"
She calmly raised one hand and made the oath.
Yet...
Yu Yuanzhen and the others remained silent.
Arou folded her arms and frowned helplessly.
"Can't one of you at least answer me?"
"You're humans."
"So why are you even less straightforward than a Spirit Beast?"
Lin Lang scratched his head awkwardly.
"Well..."
"It's not that we don't appreciate your sincerity."
"It's just..."
"We don't really understand what your oath means."
"Swearing upon your true form..."
"Or failing the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation..."
"Those things are completely unfamiliar to us."
Arou blinked.
"Oh."
"Right."
"I forgot."
"You humans don't understand how Spirit Beast oaths work."
She smiled slightly before explaining.
"Swearing upon my true Spirit Beast form..."
"Is roughly equivalent to Spirit Masters swearing upon their Martial Spirits."
"I've already transformed into human form."
"So I'm not entirely sure whether swearing upon a Martial Spirit would still affect me."
"But if it'll reassure all of you..."
She raised her right hand once more.
"I, Arou..."
"Hereby swear..."
"If this cooperation contains even the slightest malicious intent toward you..."
"May my Martial Spirit shatter."
"And may my cultivation never advance another step for the rest of my life."
She lowered her hand and looked at Yu Yuanzhen once again.
"How about now?"
This time...
The oath had an obvious effect.
The moment they heard Arou swear upon her own Martial Spirit...
The distrust in Yu Yuanzhen and the others' hearts finally began to fade.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)