Chapter 69: Shadow Leopard

"Do you want to go again?" Xia Yi took out an entry ticket given to him by Mu Xi and handed it to Wu Jin.

If it weren't for Wu Jin, Xia Yi alone wouldn't have been able to defeat the Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear. However, Wu Jin was severely injured in the process and had to leave the Spirit Ascension Platform. In the end, all the benefits went to Xia Yi.

Xia Yi knew he'd gotten an incredible deal, but all he could do at the moment was offer Wu Jin another chance to enter the platform. He'd figure out a way to repay him later.

"Your first spirit ring should be just a little shy of reaching the millennium mark, right? You should use this ticket for yourself." Wu Jin shook his head.

Although he felt regret at losing the Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear's right claw bone, his severe injuries at the time made it impossible for him to absorb the spirit bone anyway. Letting Xia Yi absorb it was better than handing it over to Spirit Pagoda.

Moreover, their victory against the Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear was mainly due to Xia Yi's Star Shift. Without his technique dislocating both of the bear's front paws, it would have been impossible for the two of them to kill it, let alone acquire the spirit bone. Even if Wu Jin had been able to absorb it, the Darkgold Terrorclaw Bear's right claw bone rightfully belonged to Xia Yi.

"Alright!" Xia Yi nodded. This wasn't the time to be sentimental. Worst case, the next time they encountered a spirit bone, he could give it to Wu Jin.

During the Spirit Ascension Platform's riot period, the situation would only grow more intense, and the number of spirit beasts would increase. Since Wu Jin declined, Xia Yi decided to re-enter the Spirit Ascension Platform himself.

Upon re-entry, Xia Yi's injuries were completely healed, his soul power restored to its peak, and even his Thousand Forged Azure Copper Hammer, which had been shattered by the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear, reappeared in his soul device.

Choosing a direction, Xia Yi ventured deeper into the Star Dou Forest. This time, he was more cautious. Being alone, he couldn't afford to encounter a group of spirit beasts, as it would be nearly impossible to fend them off. His goal was clear: find a few solitary century-level spirit beasts to push his first spirit ring's age to the millennium mark.

However, as Xia Yi cautiously explored, a fireball suddenly shot toward him from above.

Xia Yi reacted quickly. The moment he saw the fireball, he leaped back over ten meters, his Thousand Forged Azure Copper Hammer appearing in his hand as he prepared for battle.

Not far ahead, two boys and a girl approached swiftly. They looked about fifteen years old, and the girl, a three-ring Soul Elder, was none other than Mu Xi. Above Mu Xi's head floated a fireball as brilliant as the sun—it was clearly the source of the earlier attack.

"Xia Yi, why are you alone? Hiding in the bushes like that, I thought you were a spirit beast," Mu Xi said, stunned upon seeing him. The fireball above her head dimmed slightly.

"My companion was eliminated," Xia Yi explained, putting away his Hammer with a smile. "I was eliminated too. I used the ticket you gave me to re-enter."

"This riot period in the Spirit Ascension Platform is really brutal. Most of my team has been eliminated as well. Since you're on your own, why don't you join us?" Mu Xi sighed. Though this wasn't her first time in the riot period, it was unprecedented for her team to lose over half its members in under two hours.

Xia Yi, having no prior experience with the Spirit Ascension Platform, had no point of comparison and assumed this level of spirit beast density was normal for the riot period.

Mu Xi glanced at Xia Yi, her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation. She knew how strong he was. Someone capable of defeating Ye Xinglan would be a tremendous asset to their group.

"Alright!" Xia Yi looked at the two boys behind Mu Xi before nodding in agreement.

"Sister Mu, he's only a one-ring Soul Master. If he joins us, he'll just hold us back," one of the boys behind Mu Xi said, frowning and casting an unfriendly glance at Xia Yi.

Mu Xi quickly apologized to Xia Yi, "I'm sorry. Both of them are blacksmiths from the East Sea City Blacksmith Association. They spend most of their time in the forge and know little about other matters."

"I understand!" Xia Yi nodded.

"In that case, let's keep moving and see if we can hunt a few more spirit beasts. Hopefully, we won't encounter a herd," Mu Xi said firmly, glaring at the boy who had spoken. He and the other blacksmith lacked the combat ability of even an average two-ring Soul Grandmaster, yet he had the audacity to claim Xia Yi, who could defeat Ye Xinglan, would be a burden.

"Should we head inward or outward?" Xia Yi asked.

"There's not much left outward, but going deeper is too dangerous. Let's stay in this area and try our luck," Mu Xi said gravely, her gaze toward the depths of the Star Dou Forest tinged with fear.

Earlier, her team had been attacked by a herd of spirit beasts while exploring deeper into the forest. Three members had been killed instantly, and another fell during their retreat.

"I'm fine with that!" Xia Yi chuckled. He didn't need much more spiritual energy to push his first spirit ring to the millennium level, so staying here was just as good.

"Roar!"

Before Xia Yi's words had fully left his mouth, a low growl sounded ahead, and a massive figure appeared before the group.

It was a large black panther, reeking of a faintly foul odor. Its fur was gray-black, and its eyes glowed an eerie, blood-red hue.

"A millennium Shadow Leopard!" Mu Xi's face paled as a series of fireballs shot from above her head, flying toward the Shadow Leopard.

However, the Shadow Leopard moved with incredible speed. Even Xia Yi could barely keep up with its shadowy blurs, while Mu Xi's fireballs couldn't land a single hit.

In an instant, the Shadow Leopard closed the distance to less than ten meters.

With a swift motion, Xia Yi hurled his Thousand Forged Azure Hammer. The hammer arced through the air toward the Shadow Leopard's chest.

The Shadow Leopard's body shimmered and split into three shadowy forms, evading the hammer while accelerating toward the group.

"This is a millennium Shadow Leopard! It's not something we can defeat. You take Miss Mu Xi and leave—I'll hold it off!" shouted the boy who had earlier deemed Xia Yi a burden. An earthy yellow hammer materialized in his hand—it was his martial soul, the Earth Hammer.

He slammed the Earth Hammer into the ground. As his second spirit ring lit up, a wall of earth rose in front of him.

(End of Chapter)