'One... two... three... four, and five.'
Ja Sun looked one from the thin gap of his carriage. Now, aside from his spirit energy which was stuck at the bottleneck of rank 10, his physical and mental energy was firmly placed within the ranks of the second stage of spirit masters. Unlike the Revitalized Blood Qi Art that could reach rank 4 in seven days, the Mental Acupuncture Technique took three days to reach rank 2 and further progress will only get slower.
However, Ja Sun found that with the rise of his mental energy, he could actually convey his thoughts through a few weaker spirit beasts. It was by no way mental control. But spirit beasts under the rank of thousand-year-old spirit beasts would most likely commit to Ja Sun's request.
However, the higher grade spirit beasts, although they didn't attack Ja Sun, they also didn't communicate with him. Instead, Ja Sun represented a safe zone and as if tacitly agreeing to this fact, the other spirit beasts never attacked or hunted each other.
'Until one of them surpasses the other. Then... oof,' Ja Sun shook his head.
The pack of hundred-year-old spirit beast that surrounded Zhao Wuji and his group was actually sent by Ja Sun.
Meanwhile, around Ja Sun, a thumb-sized Mesmerizing Beetle flew. This was Ja Sun's loyal scouter.
'Man... I gotta run,' Ja Sun sighed. 'Or I could defend my home. I mean, isn't the point of my training to stop running? Let's see their actual strength.
"Set Mission."
[Set Parameters.]
"Defeat the group of five spirit masters within the radius of 100 meters around me."
[Objective: Defeat the group of spirit masters nearby.
Mission Rank: S
Rewards: Vajra Gauntlets*1, Fiery Golden Pupils*1, Plate of Spicy Tofu*1, Blue Silver Emporer's Core.
Time Limit: 7 hours.]
Ja Sun's mind calmed down as he looked at the Parameters of the mission.
Even if he battled alongside the beasts for 7 hours, there's only a 10% chance to defeat them. It means that they can also escape. Ja Sun understood this point. If he was alone then...
'I still would have fought. Multiple rewards mean that among the group, there are multiple S-ranked difficult opponents. How glorious it will be if I can defeat them all!' Ja Sun instantly began to formulate a plan. This time, he didn't add the objective of his own escape.
Rewards serve as a temptation. Right now, he was motivated because of the thought of stomping stronger opponents but also the rewards themselves. If he was the rewards for escaping then his mind will be unsettled.
"Go my little soldier... find out what happened to the wolves," Ja Sun whispered. Meanwhile, just like his misty spirit energy, his mental power also turned slightly corporeal after his mental technique reached rank 2.
It was without any color but Ja Sun could feel it moving around him. He could even spread it.
'You guys... there are five extremely dangerous spirit masters eyeing this territory. If given a chance, they will stop at nothing to kill all of us. You don't need to fight for me but I can arrange for all of you to surround them.'
Since Ja Sun's mental energy still wasn't high enough, he only tried to communicate with the thousand-year-old beasts. There were three thousand-year-old Violent Jawed Wolves, a Mesmerizing Beetle, and a Lone Bone Monkey. The Antelopes did not have any thousand-year-old brethren but out of all the spirit beasts, they were the most docile to Ja Sun and with the highest combined strength.
Ja Sun wasn't extremely familiar with the thousand-year-old Lone Bone Monkey or the Violent Jawed Wolves. There were two more hundred-year-old Lone Bone Monkeys that stayed on separate trees and the thousand-year-old boss would occasionally glance towards Ja Sun sparring with the two Lone Bone Monkeys.
However, a few days of sparring wasn't worth much. His storm steps was still stuck at level two and his Gentle Palm Technique was also at the second stage. However, his situation against the Lone Bone Monkeys was promising due to his enhanced physique and mental energy.
*Grrr*
What Ja Sun got in reply was indifference.
'My god, all of you are just lazy pieces of shit!' Ja Sun scowled and scolded but again, he got no reply.
"Tch, they're a no-go... but it is true. If they truly try then many beasts will die today. How can I use this situation?" Ja Sun narrowed his eyes. He may adore the peaceful state of spirit beasts but all of them would run to tear him apart the moment he removes his spirit beast enhancement. So, he clearly didn't feel much for them.
'Could they be from Spirit Hall? If yes, then any survivor will only bring their masters, then grandmasters, and then they will even dig up their ancestors to back them up,' Ja Sun traced his chin in contemplation.
"And there's only seven hours... if I increase the range of my influence and attract spirit beasts near the core pond then..." Ja Sun's gaze changed slightly.
'Then I could probably plunge the entire forest in chaos. However, the addition of ten-thousand-year-old spirit beasts may only motivate the five of them to escape.
Sigh, I didn't want to be the one to do it, but no more cultivation for all of you!'
Ja Sun retracted his ability. The spirit beasts instantly felt uncomfortable by the lowered rate at which they absorbed spirit energy.
'If you want to cultivate peacefully, then suck up and listen to my arrangements or get the hell off of my pond!'
Ja Sun began communication with the other beasts but this time, he aggressively reproached the thousand-year-old spirit beasts.
---
"Hmm? It's returned to normal..." Zhao Wuji mumbled. When they arrived, their nerves were too tensed to focus on their passive state of cultivation but after Ah Yin's reminder, they really found their cultivation speed heightened. But right now, this feeling disappeared and everyone felt slightly at loss.
"Whoever is inside that carriage is definitely important. He can attract so many spirit beasts... it is probably because of the boost in cultivation. We don't know his motives, too. So, is it really right to disturb the spirit master?" Oscar inquired with a frown.
"Brother Tofu... increase in cultivation! What more reason do we need? The Spirit Master must have an amazing artifact!" Feng Long licked his lips, "With such a tool, we can become a Spirit Douluo! Or... maybe... just maybe... a titled Douluo!"
Everyone's expression flickered.
They all seemed to have silently agreed with Feng Long's words when—
*Aaaoooooooo*
*Aoo* *Aoo* *Aaoooooo*
*Bzzzt*
*Huhu* *Oohooh huhu*
Every single spirit beast surrounding the lake moved. The Violent Jawed Wolves and the Mesmerizing Beetles were the quickest as they shot towards the direction of Zhao Wuji's group.
The Five-spotted Antelopes moved slowly like heavy canons and the Lone Bone Monkeys jumped across the trees, moving around the group.
Thin serpents slithered out of their burrows and moved towards the group with soft hisses.
"Protect Oscar! Feng Long, assist Ah Yin and restrict as many beasts as you can. Leave the wolves to me and Jun'er. Focus on the beetles!" Zhao Wuji commanded. A red aura emerged from his body as his short and stacked physique bulked up. His palms turned into thick paws while the phantom of a white-gold bear appeared behind him.
Jun'er was the same. A pair of dog ears appeared on top of her head while a bushy tail grew out from her back. Her hands grew pitch-black fur and her nails and nails and fingers grew into claws. Giving a snarl and revealing her sharp canines, she followed Wuji.
"Growth," Ah Yin whispered as every blade of blue river grass shot high into the sky before latching onto the bodies of the mesmerizing beetles.
"Coiling Vines!"
In Feng Long's hand, a dark-green plant with a thin stem and drooping vines in place of leaves appeared. Two yellow halos appeared over his head and moved down while rotating. The first ring gave a strong light as the vines from his martial soul shot forward and latched onto the slightly smaller Beetles, making them fall with heavy thuds.
Oscar stood in between Ah Yin and Feng Long. He observed the situation and was ready to respond to the situations where he could assist in.
---
"Four rings..." The corner of Ja Sun's eyes twitched. The four rings around Zhao Wuji and Ah Yin flickered and stood out.
"Two yellow, two purple... and that chick is so hot!" Ja Sun huffed, "Too bad she's so strong," Ja Sun shrugged and exited from the back of his carriage. He once again wore a large cloak to cover his figure and used storm steps to shuttle through the forest and around the beasts.
While the group of spirit masters tackled the small beast horde, Ja Sun continued until he reached one of the familiar Lone Bone Monkeys.
Hundred-year-old Lone Bone Monkeys were easily 2 meters high and their lanky physique still looked substantial when compared to a human so Ja Sun simply hid behind the beast. His stepping on the trees wasn't the least bit inferior to the monkey. But this was due to the enhancement of spirit technique. If he actually slapped a spirit beast without the use of gentle palms, he'll only be courting death.
'The only way to defeat them is to either wear them out or strike them in their vitals.'
Ja Sun's gaze landed on the spirit masters that used vines to control the Mesmerizing Beetles.
'Release your poison,' Ja Sun smirked as he gazed at the location of their landing. The beetles were close to the pack of wolves that surrounded the burly monstrous were-bear and the girl with dog ears clawing against wolves with equal ferocity.
The moment his mental energy swept past Ah Yin, her gaze turned stern and she looked back only to find three Lone Bone Monkeys a few meters behind.
Before she could think any further, the mesmerizing beetles let out a blue mist from their mouths.
"Retreat!"
Zhao Wuji growled, a yellow spirit ring lit up and he struck with his palms. A palm-shaped energy blast broke the wolf pack's barrage as he pulled Jun'er back.
At this point, Oscar shouted, "Watch out!"
Multiple serpents instantly launched themselves towards the retreating Zhao Wuji and Jun'er.
"Hmph!" Ah Yin snorted, smacking the serpents with thick vines that tore from underneath, effectively clearing out the path for the group.
At this point, something exceedingly dangerous occurred.
The wolves actually shot towards the bound beetles and tore the vines and thick blades of grass restricting them.
"They... are supporting each other!" Feng Long shrieked, his expression that of horror.
"Ah Yin, I'm taking my team out of this place—" Before Zhao Wuji could complete, he heard hootings and as he turned back, his expression turned severe.
Three Lone Bone Monkeys gazed at the group eerily. Their palms clenched while their bone gauntlets gave a feeling of danger.
'Ah... shit. I could have added the additional objective of making them submit to me... too bad I can't stop at this point. I was too rash,' Ja Sun, merely a meter or two away from the ground, behind the Lone Bone Wolf, pursed his lips.
Once the mission was accepted, he could only fail in it to restart all over. In this case, failure would naturally occur if they leave, which Ja Sun couldn't agree with. And if they weren't defeated in seven hours, then he could only blame his incompetence.
Right now, the beasts didn't need his command. They all had their gazes locked at the four spirit masters. If Ja Sun could control them precisely, then the situation would have been far easier.
At this point, a small glow erupted from Ah Yin's body which instantly expanded out like a dome.
"Hmm?" Ja Sun retreated without a thought while Zhao Wuji's group felt their strength being restored.
"A... domain..." Zhao Wuji's lips turned dry as he gazed at Ah Yin as if looking at a monster.
"I can keep it up for a short period," Ah Yin stated calmly, "My domain suppresses spirit beasts so they—"
Ah Yin's expression changed instantly as all the beasts shot into the dome covered in soft blue light with an astounding killing intent. It was as if the group was a piece of treasure.
'Again. Before the situation changes, I feel a sliver of mental energy passing around me. Someone is controlling the situation and from nearby...'
Ah Yin waved her hand as Blue River grass moved like torrential rain, instantly binding the affected spirit beasts as the area of light continued to increase indicating that the limit of Domain was greater than just a few meters.
'What is this light?' Ja Sun frowned. He continued to retreat. By now, the Lone Bone Monkeys were already suppressed.
'That girl single-handed suppressed the beast horde,' Ja Sun huffed internally. According to his trait, in seven hours, there may be a chance to defeat all of them so Ja Sun didn't rush anymore and retreated as far as possible.
'My clothes... are still inside the carriage,' He shook his head, 'Good thing I've destroyed the books and manuals.'
He was quite fond of his enchanted robe.
'All in due time...'