Xiao Tian pulled her behind him. A gaping maw bristling with jagged teeth materialized precisely where she had been standing.
Staring at the sudden attack, Xuan Qingying was still in shock. She ordinarily secluded herself to refine medicine and had never undergone rigorous training. She had never faced anything like this before.
She stared blankly at Xiao Tian, who had instinctively shielded her. A profound sense of security surged within her.
Seeing that its strike had missed, the attacker retreated into the ground in a flash.
Xiao Tian clenched his fist and drove it into the earth. flame radiated outward from his knuckles in all directions.
Roughly five meters from where the two stood, an enormous ash-gray lizard, nearly seven meters long, burst forth from the soil.
"Burrowing Giant Lizard."
Xiao Tian murmured softly, studying the creature.
This magical beast was a Tier 4 Magical Beast. They typically dwelled underground and, true to their name, excelled at burrowing and ambushing. Their hide possessed the ability to mask their aura, occasionally enabling them to slay even Tier 5 Magical Beasts through surprise attacks.
"Hiss!"
The Burrowing Giant Lizard hissed at Xiao Tian, flicking its tongue. It then clawed furiously at the dirt with its forepaws, sending soil and stones spraying. Its movements were swift and forceful, clearly intent on tunneling back underground.
"Trying to flee after a sneak attack? Not so easily."
The golden-red ring on Xiao Tian's hand instantly morphed into a long sword. He materialized beside the giant lizard in an instant, brandishing the sword with lethal momentum and swinging it toward its neck.
The giant lizard lashed its colossal tail with a piercing whistle, whipping it straight at Xiao Tian's body in an attempt to force him to retract his strike.
"Dodge, quickly!"
Xuan Qingying cried out in alarm.
"Bang!"
The enormous tail reached Xiao Tian in an instant—but it did not strike him. It passed clean through his body and slammed heavily into the ground.
Xiao Tian's figure rematerialized on the opposite side of the giant lizard. He swept the long sword in his hand toward its tail.
The razor-sharp sword severed the massive tail with ease. The giant lizard emitted a harrowing screech. Agonizing pain wracked its body into violent convulsions. Blood gushed ceaselessly from the severed stump, and the dismembered tail thrashed wildly upon the ground.
Xiao Tian seized the opening. He swung his sword once more and drove it straight into the giant lizard's head.
The blade pierced its skull in an instant and pinned it to the earth. After another, even more piercing shriek, its body gradually ceased its struggles, fell limp, and showed no further signs of life.
Xiao Tian withdrew the sword and gave it a light shake. The blood staining it was flung clean, and its tip and edges gleamed with a cold, deadly light.
With a faint thought from Xiao Tian, the sword reverted into a ring and settled back onto his hand.
She observed the ring on Xiao Tian's finger with keen curiosity. She had never witnessed such a wondrous transformation before and felt intensely intrigued. However, knowing it was another's secret, she refrained from probing.
"Indeed, danger lurks everywhere. A single careless mistake, and disaster strikes."
This time, Xiao Tian dared not relax in the slightest. He maintained an unbroken perception of his surroundings, not even neglecting what lay beneath the ground.
The two pressed onward. The sun set, the moon rose, and the entire forest was swallowed by darkness.
"We cannot proceed any further tonight. The path is unsafe after dark, and visibility is even lower."
Had he been alone, traveling by night would have posed little issue. But now he was accompanied by a Dou Emperor suffering from soul trauma and reliant on medicine.
It would likely prove too difficult. Better to rest temporarily and restore their spirits. Constantly projecting soul power was also deeply draining.
"This spot will suffice."
The current forest lacked slopes or similar features that might allow for carving out a stone chamber. Xiao Tian selected what appeared to be the largest tree in the vicinity, hollowed it, and shaped a modest treehouse.
After a light meal, Xiao Tian resumed his cultivation, refining the mist of the forest, for it was extremely important to him.
This time, refining the mist, combined with his prior accumulation, finally allowed him to break through to the fifth wisp.
"May I ask a favor of you?"
Just as Xiao Tian completed his refinement, a voice like a crystalline spring sounded in his ear—soft and tinged with expectation.
Xiao Tian slowly opened his eyes, a trace of surprise flickering through his gaze. He smiled. "Tell me what it is first."
"After I refined this medicinal liquid just now, my soul was utterly depleted. I cannot finish refining this liquid on my own. I need your help to suppress the Dream Energy within it and guide me in absorbing it."
"Do not be too quick to refuse. In recompense, I can bestow upon you a secret art for soul cultivation."
Her eyes shimmered with anticipation and a hint of anxiety, fearful that Xiao Tian would decline. She stated her offer outright to forestall him.
"Do you understand that if my soul wisp enters your mind, I could control or even obliterate your soul entirely?"
It was the first time Xiao Tian had encountered a soul art from another. He wished to examine a different soul technique. While the Dou Qi Continent others did not possess many soul arts. As for the soul arts and techniques he himself wielded, the entire continent could not compare to him. In matters of the soul, none could rival him.
Xiao Tian narrowed his eyes as he studied the beautiful woman before him, a trace of amusement glinting in his gaze.
"I trust you are not that sort of man. And besides, killing me would be an effortless matter for you."
Upon hearing Xiao Tian's words, her body could not suppress a faint tremor. Even though her nature was strong and confident, encountering such words still stirred a hint of panic within her.
"Very well. I can assist you."
Xiao Tian observed the woman before him. Her face was pale and even showed signs of considerable pain. It appeared the process of refining the medicinal ingredients had worsened her condition, else she would never have made such a request.
Hearing Xiao Tian agree to help her, a glimmer of pleasant surprise flashed through her eyes.
"Thank you." She offered a faint smile. Her voice sounded weak yet brimming with gratitude.
"What must I do?"
Xiao Tian dismissed her thanks with a wave of his hand and asked.
She then explained the method to Xiao Tian and handed him a black scroll.
Xiao Tian unfurled the scroll. Five characters were inscribed upon it: Illusion Soul Meditation Art.
This cultivation method involved forging an illusion through the soul and cultivating within it.
Roughly a quarter of an hour later, Xiao Tian opened his eyes, unable to suppress his marvel at how extraordinary this art truly was. After cultivating for only this short while, he could already sense a distinct increase in his soul power.
Xiao Tian enveloped the entire tree hollow with Dou Qi and left a wisp of consciousness to monitor their surroundings.
Inside the hollow, the two sat facing one another. She gave Xiao Tian a faint nod, signaling she was ready.
Xiao Tian drew a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and focused his full concentration on mobilizing the soul power within his mind.
"I am beginning now. Do not resist."
He extended two fingers, directing the medicinal liquid to fly from the jade bottle and make contact with her glabella. It entered her Sea of Consciousness in an instant.
Xiao Tian's fingers followed immediately, touching her glabella. At the contact, her body trembled faintly, and her eyelashes quivered, betraying the turmoil within.
This was the first time since reaching adulthood that she had been touched on the face by someone of the opposite sex.
"Steady your mind. Do not let your thoughts stray."
Xiao Tian's voice resonated through the tree hollow. She swiftly composed herself and settled into the most optimal state possible.
Xiao Tian's surging soul power streamed into her Sea of Consciousness through his fingertips. He beheld her soul seated in meditation within that inner realm, yet her entire soul form was frighteningly weak and transparent, teetering on the verge of extinction—like a candle flame that might extinguish at any moment.
Under Xiao Tian's soul control, the medicinal liquid enveloped her soul, instantly dyeing it in a cascade of myriad colors.
The eyes of her soul body became hollow in a flash, as though consciousness had fled entirely.
"A mere wisp of Illusion Spirit Energy dares act so brazenly? Shatter!"