Persistent Tracking

Fan Le and Qin Wentian found themselves in the heart of the Dark Forest, a place where danger lurked at every turn. Fan Le, with his cultivation at the 1st level of the Arterial Circulation Realm, felt relatively safe, especially when compared to Qin Wentian, who was only at the 9th level of the Body Refinement Realm. However, they both knew that caution was their best friend in this treacherous terrain.

Amidst the dense trees and eerie silence of the forest, they walked together, enjoying the rare moments of leisure.

"Qin Wentian, you're on the verge of entering the Arterial Circulation Realm. Have you decided which Astral Soul you want for your 2nd Astral Gate?" Fan Le inquired, curiosity dancing in his eyes. He couldn't help but wonder what extraordinary choice Qin Wentian would make. After all, his first Astral Soul already surpassed the 3rd Heavenly Layer in power, a testament to his exceptional talent.

Qin Wentian smiled, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'm still considering. The heavens are adorned with countless constellations across the 9 layers. I want to choose wisely this time."

Fan Le let out an exasperated sigh. "You're something else, you know that? Most people can barely sustain their will in the 1st Heavenly Layer and rush to form links with constellations. But here you are, in the 3rd Heavenly Layer, taking your sweet time."

Qin Wentian responded with an amused grin. He was used to Fan Le's banter and enjoyed needling his friend just a bit.

As they bantered, both of them suddenly sensed commotion in the distance. Without a word, they sprinted towards the source of the disturbance, moving with incredible speed, almost as if they were flying. A small white blur followed them closely.

Not far away, Liu Yan was in a state of despair. She never expected to encounter a 4th-level demonic beast, the fearsome fish-scaled python, in this forest. The python had coiled around her friend Zufan and devoured him in a single gulp. The gruesome scene had left her paralyzed with fear, her legs trembling uncontrollably.

"Liu Yan, run!" Liu Yue, who was nearby, shouted desperately. Liu Yan, at just 16 years old, couldn't handle the horrifying sight before her and stood frozen, her eyes locked on the green serpent as it approached, trembling with terror.

The massive python halted in front of Liu Yan, its presence looming over her like a nightmare. She felt overwhelming despair wash over her. Unbeknownst to her, a swift and deadly figure had emerged from the shadows.

"Vile creature!" Qin Wentian launched himself like a missile, hurtling toward the head of the fish-scaled python. With the might of his Dragon Subduing Fist's 3rd strike, Draconic Roars of the Nine Heavens, he drove his fist through the serpent's eyes. The enraged python hissed and thrashed about, attempting to sink its fangs into Qin Wentian.

But Qin Wentian's strength was unimaginable. He sent the python's head reeling with a powerful blow, and as the creature's tail swung toward him, he countered with lightning-fast reflexes.

"Run!" Qin Wentian urgently shouted at Liu Yan, who had been frozen in fear. But before she could react, his palm seized the python's tail, and he lost control of his own movements as the serpent thrashed about.

Finally snapping out of her shock, Liu Yan turned and fled, while Qin Wentian was forcefully hurled against a massive tree trunk. The impact caused his body to shudder with pain, but his robust physique absorbed most of the blow, sparing his internal organs.

The python emitted a deafening hiss, piercing the air, as Fan Le's arrow found its mark in the creature's remaining eye. This strategic retreat by the python indicated a surprising level of intelligence, not succumbing to mindless rage.

"Ouch," groaned Qin Wentian, rubbing his aching back. He glanced at Fan Le and grinned, "Fatty, that was a good shot."

Fan Le chuckled. His 2nd Astral Soul granted him the ability of 'thought and intention.' He could manipulate arrows with his mind, altering their trajectory mid-flight, and even discern an opponent's cultivation level just by looking at them. While this type of Astral Soul might not significantly boost his offensive or defensive capabilities, it possessed incredible potential for growth. Fan Le envisioned a future where he could control objects with his mind, like telekinesis.

Qin Wentian approached Liu Yan and extended his hand to help her up. She had been on the brink of despair before his timely intervention.

"You're welcome," he said with a warm smile, relieved that she was safe.

Liu Yan nodded and smiled back, but her expression soon darkened as she remembered Zufan's fate.

Above the treetops, a black crow arrived, drawn by the commotion below. It cawed loudly.

"A black crow?" Fan Le muttered, his voice low. "They're really persistent."

Qin Wentian furrowed his brow, realizing the implications. During their previous encounters with Orfon, he hadn't forgotten that the young man by Orfon's side could control demonic beasts.

"Liu Yan, don't mention that you know me," Qin Wentian whispered to her, then turned to Fan Le. They both quickly departed, heading deeper into the Dark Forest.

Liu Yan was bewildered by the sudden turn of events. She attempted to follow Qin Wentian but was interrupted by the sound of wings flapping. Numerous flying beasts swooped down, pursuing the direction Qin Wentian had taken. On their backs stood several cultivators.

Seeing this, Liu Yue grabbed Liu Yan and cautioned her, "Don't chase after him. They're about to face a formidable opponent."

"Brother," Liu Yan protested, looking at Liu Yue.

Liu Yue explained, "Qin Wentian risked his life to save you from that python, which means he has a favorable opinion of you. However, those pursuers on the flying beasts are exceptionally powerful. Remember what Qin Wentian said - he's a complete stranger to us."

As his voice faded, a cultivator riding a 3rd-level demonic beast curved into view, revealing himself. The familiar face belonged to Ye Zhan.

Ye Zhan's smile was as wide as the horizon as he dismounted, strolling over to Liu Yan and Liu Yue. "I'm Ye Zhan from the Royal Academy. And who might you two be?"

"I'm Liu Yue, and this is my sister, Liu Yan," Liu Yue replied cautiously. Though Ye Zhan seemed amiable, Liu Yue didn't dare let his guard down.

"That guy earlier is Qin Wentian, one of the applicants for Emperor Star Academy. I doubt he'll survive his ordeal in this Dark Forest. How long have you known him?" Ye Zhan inquired casually.

"Not for very long," Liu Yue answered with a smile, not daring to be dishonest in Ye Zhan's presence.

"No need to be tense. We're only against him and have no ill intentions towards you," Ye Zhan reassured. Only then did Liu Yue relax a bit, while Liu Yan's concern for Qin Wentian deepened.

Meanwhile, Qin Wentian and Fan Le dashed forward with all their might. But how could they hope to outpace the flying beasts? The distance between them and their pursuers was steadily shrinking.

"Transform, Little Rascal!" Qin Wentian commanded, and in an instant, the snowy puppy expanded in size. Qin Wentian and Fan Le scrambled onto its back, despite the slightly cramped conditions.

"Hold on tight. How many are chasing us, and what's their cultivation level?" Qin Wentian asked, gripping onto Fan Le.

"Three individuals. Orfon and the beast-skinned youth are manageable, but the third one is a problem. I can't discern his cultivation level with my power of thought. He's likely at least at the 3rd level of the Arterial Circulation Realm, if not higher," Fan Le reported, tightly holding onto Little Rascal's body and aiming his bow at their pursuers.

Evading the flying beasts was a challenge due to their speed and agility. Despite Fan Le infusing his arrows with his will, he couldn't hit them.

"Annoying," Fan Le muttered in frustration. "Thankfully, Little Rascal is as fast as those flying beasts. Otherwise, we'd have no chance against them."

"This can't go on forever. Let's prepare to fight. If we can take down the beast tamer, we'll have a better chance of controlling the flying beasts ourselves," Qin Wentian suggested.

"Agreed, let's seize an opportunity," they strategized. With that, they veered deeper into the Dark Forest, temporarily putting distance between themselves and their pursuers.

Haku, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly irritated. He hadn't anticipated expending so much energy on this pursuit. The erratic movements of the white dog made it difficult to navigate. He realized they had entered a dangerous part of the forest, where treacherous demonic beasts might lurk.

Then, a ray of sunlight pierced through the trees, revealing a vast expanse of land ahead and a path leading into a mist-covered valley.

"Mirage City," Haku murmured, his eyes narrowing. The edge of the Mirage City within the Dark Forest.

Qin Wentian and Fan Le halted as they caught sight of the city in the misty valley. It shimmered intermittently, appearing and disappearing like a mirage.

"They seem wary of this place," Fan Le observed, squinting at their pursuers who were cautiously approaching the valley. It seemed that escape was nearly impossible for Qin Wentian now.

Disembarking from Little Rascal, Qin Wentian and Fan Le transformed the snowy puppy back to its original size.

"Let's lock them in battle. We have a better chance if we can eliminate the beast tamer," Qin Wentian proposed.

"Exactly, let's wait for the right moment," they concurred. Taking cover behind some trees, they observed the trio of pursuers who had come to a halt.

Haku's eyebrows furrowed. He hadn't anticipated expending so much energy in this pursuit. In addition, that white dog was moving erratically, seemingly lost. Now even Haku had lost his bearings, and in this part of the Dark Forest, danger could strike at any moment.

Suddenly, a sliver of sunlight illuminated the surroundings. The dense trees gave way to an open area, revealing the entrance to a mist-covered valley.

"Mirage City," Haku breathed, recognizing the boundary of the Mirage City within the Dark Forest.

Qin Wentian and Fan Le also stopped. In the mist-shrouded valley stood a city, its ethereal appearance flickering in and out of sight.

"They seem hesitant about this place," Fan Le mused, squinting at their pursuers who were approaching the valley with caution. It seemed that escape was almost impossible for Qin Wentian at this point.

Dismounting from Little Rascal, Qin Wentian and Fan Le allowed the snowy puppy to return to its original size.

"Let's face them head-on. If we can take down the beast tamer, we'll have a better chance of controlling those flying beasts," Qin Wentian proposed.

"Agreed. We'll seize the opportunity when it comes," they agreed. Hiding behind trees, they watched their pursuers cautiously approach the valley.

Fatty sighed, nocking an arrow and aiming toward Makino, who was falling through the air after the attack. A grin spread across Fatty's face, eager to join the fray.