"A creature encased in rock?"
"What kind of spirit beast would wrap itself in stone while fighting?"
A wave of doubt rose within Qi Ping. For a moment, he couldn't recall any spirit beast that utilized such a peculiar method of self-defense.
"What is their strength?" Qi Ping asked.
"Buzz... (Two Foundation Establishment humans, one Qi Refinement human. Judging by the battle, they are much weaker than Boss.)"
"Buzz... (The rock-encased creature is also at the second rank. It's not fast, but its defense is incredible!)"
Hearing that the enemies were weaker than him, Qi Ping felt a measure of relief.
"Slow speed but incredible defense?"
"Buzz... (Yes, Boss!)"
"Could it be..."
An answer suddenly surfaced in Qi Ping's mind.
A Stone Spirit! Or perhaps a Stone Soul!
'It couldn't be...'
If it truly was a Stone Spirit, Qi Ping had stumbled upon immense luck. Among the creatures known to him, only a Stone Spirit perfectly matched the Scout Bee's description.
Stone Spirits were born from primordial minerals. They were even rarer than spiritual plants that had attained sentience. Their bloodline rank was often ambiguous, determined by the quality of the mineral they originated from. However, breaking through their bloodline limits was relatively easier compared to typical spirit beasts—as long as they consumed enough precious ores, their rank and strength could skyrocket.
For cultivators, a Stone Spirit was either a coveted spirit pet or a top-tier material for forging. They could be nurtured into powerful guardians or refined into a Life-Bound Treasure with high growth potential.
Naturally, Qi Ping was most interested in the talents a Stone Spirit possessed. Regardless of their type, they generally boasted supreme defense, high affinity for the metal element, and exceptionally long lifespans. Such talents would be of immense help to him. Combined with their ease of advancement, a Stone Spirit was a perfect candidate for an Animal Companion.
"I'll go take a look. If it is indeed a Stone Spirit, I will do my best to save it."
"As for the cultivators... given my current strength, I should be able to handle them. If they are willing to talk, I'll offer them a sum of spirit stones as compensation."
Qi Ping had no desire to trigger a life-and-death struggle if it could be avoided. In his view, it was best to minimize the number of enemies one made.
He immediately used his Wild Shape to transform into a Rank 2 Scout Bee. The Scout Bee possessed innate traits for concealment and perception, making it the ideal form for gathering information. After completing the transformation, Qi Ping followed the reporting bee toward the battlefield.
Before long, Qi Ping reached a deep canyon and spotted the combatants below.
"It really is a Stone Spirit!"
The moment he saw the encased figure, he confirmed its identity. The spirit had used various types of hard ores to firmly wrap its core, piecing together a massive stone monster.
Engaged with the Stone Spirit were two early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their hair was tinged with white, and their vitality was beginning to enter the stage of decline. Behind them stood a young man clad in a magnificent robe, holding a precious scroll used for contracting spirit beasts.
However, as Qi Ping observed the battle, he felt a flicker of surprise. 'How do these two old men, who are past their prime, dare to take on a Rank 2 Stone Spirit?'
'Do they think it's in a weakened state and therefore easy prey?'
He could only assume that was the reason. However, it seemed their confidence was misplaced. Although the Stone Spirit had clearly just awakened after a long slumber in the mortal realm and was indeed weak, it was not an opponent these two old men could easily subdue.
The creature's current weakness was tied to its natural habits. Stone Spirits possessed long lifespans and simple intellects; they were peaceful, Zen-like beings that lacked a strong desire for power. They would often find a mountain range and sleep for hundreds or even thousands of years, regardless of the quality of the local spiritual energy.
Looking at this creature that had chosen a mundane mountain range in the mortal realm for its slumber, Qi Ping found it to be perhaps too indifferent to its environment. Even a mountain with a minor spirit vein would have been better.
Yet, considering a cultivator's obsession with turning them into Life-Bound Treasures, being in the mortal realm might have been a blessing in disguise. The chances of being discovered were far lower here. Unfortunately, it had been found nonetheless.
Qi Ping wasn't overly concerned for the Stone Spirit's safety. While they were peaceful, their combat power was top-tier among those of the same rank. They were not beings these two old men could bully.
The battle in the canyon confirmed this. The two old men had fought the weakened Stone Spirit for a long time, but aside from shattering some outer rocks, they hadn't dealt any real damage to the core. Instead, they had suffered internal injuries from the spirit's counterattacks. Only because the Stone Spirit was clumsy and exhausted from its long sleep had it failed to land a lethal blow.
As the fight dragged on, Qi Ping's judgment was proven correct. The two old men finally reached their limit. After vomiting a mouthful of blood, they immediately grabbed the young man behind them and prepared to flee.
"Withdraw! This Stone Spirit has nothing to help it recover. Once we take some pills to restore our spiritual energy and heal our wounds, we'll come back and settle the score! It won't get far!"
"If you can't contract it then, we'll just refine it into a Life-Bound Treasure!"
Seeing the two people who had harassed it for so long trying to leave, the Stone Spirit attempted to give chase. However, its heavy body was too slow compared to the retreating cultivators. After a short distance, it could only watch as they vanished.
The dazed Stone Spirit maintained its rock-monster form for a moment before realizing the danger had passed. It then deactivated its state. Without the support of the spirit's power, the formidable-looking stone armor instantly collapsed into a pile of ordinary rocks.
'The stones that blocked Foundation Establishment attacks were just ordinary rocks?'
Seeing this, Qi Ping's eyes widened in amazement. The Stone Spirit's ability was truly miraculous.
A moment later, the pile of rubble shifted. A soot-black figure—the Stone Spirit's true body—crawled out from beneath the stones. Qi Ping finally got a clear look at its original form.
Its true body was a black, rounded stone, roughly two to three times the size of a fist. It looked remarkably like a coal ball. Its limbs were composed of several colorful pebbles. With a slight push of its feet, it hopped nimbly out of the debris.