Chapter 45: Zhao Wuji Charged Forward, Zhao Wuji Got Knocked Down!
In the depths of the Star Dou Forest, three figures moved cautiously, carefully avoiding encounters with powerful ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
The stronger the soul beast, the more territorial it became. Being discovered by one would likely mean a fight to the death.
"Sigh, that's the sixth ten-thousand-year soul beast already. Pity the attributes didn't match," Zhao Wuji grumbled with a hint of frustration.
The soul beast before them was a ten-thousand-year Nether Spirit Cat, its speed as swift as lightning.
The trio had no intention of entering its territory, carefully skirting around the edges.
"We should remember this location. When Zhuqing reaches her fifth soul ring, we can come back for it," Dai Mubai murmured to himself.
A ten-thousand-year Nether Spirit Cat would be a perfect fit for Zhu Zhuqing. He only hoped no one else hunted it before she reached level 50.
As the hours passed and the sky began to darken, Flender was just about to suggest withdrawing from the forest when a soul beast blocked their path.
It was a magnificent white tiger, its body pure white and flawless, save for a golden "王" (king) symbol on its forehead.
The tiger was nearly five meters long and stood as tall as Dai Mubai.
"Roar…"
A deafening roar reverberated through the forest, shaking the surrounding trees.
"A white tiger?!"
Both Flender and Zhao Wuji were stunned.
What did they just find?
It was a white tiger!
Not only did it exude faint golden light, marking it as light-attributed, but it was also an exceptional tiger-type soul beast.
Dai Mubai's martial soul, before its evolution, had been the Evil Eye White Tiger, a variant of the white tiger. After evolving into the White Tiger Sacred King, it had become even more extraordinary.
This soul beast was practically tailor-made for Dai Mubai.
In terms of attributes and compatibility, it couldn't have been more perfect.
Based on the roar's power and the tiger's imposing aura, Flender estimated its cultivation at around 20,000 years.
"Roar…"
The white tiger roared again but didn't attack immediately. Instead, it seemed to be observing Dai Mubai, its gaze tinged with curiosity and a hint of confusion.
Dai Mubai frowned slightly, deep in thought.
Could it be that my White Tiger Sacred King martial soul suppresses tiger-type soul beasts?
"Mubai, what do you think?"
Zhao Wuji clapped Dai Mubai on the shoulder, his expression serious.
A ten-thousand-year tiger-type soul beast was no laughing matter. If they weren't careful, things could go very wrong.
"Yeah, this one will do," Dai Mubai replied, his gaze fixed on the tiger.
Something about the tiger's eyes felt… off. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the unsettling feeling lingered.
Nonetheless, this was an opportunity too good to pass up.
A white tiger, light-attributed, and perfectly compatible with his martial soul—this was an ideal fourth soul ring.
"Alright. Flender, let's move!"
Flender: "…"
Flender shot Zhao Wuji a sideways glance.
Excuse me, who's the Dean here?
Shouldn't I be the one giving orders?
Suppressing his inner complaints, Flender refocused on the matter at hand.
"Cat Eagle Possession!"
"Vigorous Vajra Bear Possession!"
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black.
Both men's martial souls manifested, displaying the peak soul ring configuration for a Soul Sage: two yellow, two purple, and three black rings.
The white tiger, however, looked at them with undisguised disdain.
Its expression practically said, Two human Soul Sages? Not worth my time.
Dai Mubai's frown deepened.
Something's not right…
A soul beast of this level should at least take two Soul Sages seriously.
Why was it so dismissive?
"Dean, Teacher Zhao, be careful. Something feels off about it," Dai Mubai warned, his brow furrowed.
"Hmph, it's just a mere ten-thousand-year soul beast. I can handle it!" Zhao Wuji snorted dismissively.
No matter how strong it is, can it really compete with a Soul Sage who has Martial Soul True Body?
Dai Mubai: "…"
Is it really just a twenty-thousand-year beast, though?
Something about the situation felt very wrong.
Zhao Wuji, in his Vigorous Vajra Bear form, charged forward.
His body swelled to a massive size, nearly matching Dai Mubai's untransformed height.
Even so, compared to the white tiger, Zhao Wuji still looked rather small.
His enormous bear paw slammed down toward the tiger.
The tiger's response was a casual swipe of its paw—effortless, almost lazy.
"Boom!"
The impact was deafening.
Zhao Wuji's massive frame was sent flying backward like a ragdoll, crashing through seven or eight trees before finally coming to a stop.
Zhao Wuji: "…"
Flender and Dai Mubai: "…"
What the hell?!
The tiger had swatted Zhao Wuji—a powerful Soul Sage—away like he was nothing.
Flender, who had been preparing for a sneak attack, froze mid-movement.
He knew Zhao Wuji's strength well. Even Flender himself would need to put in significant effort to defeat him. Yet this "twenty-thousand-year" white tiger had done it with a single swipe?!
This wasn't a twenty-thousand-year soul beast. It couldn't be!
"Cough, cough…"
Zhao Wuji spat out a mouthful of blood and struggled to his feet.
His eyes were filled with shock, confusion, and even a hint of fear.
This white tiger's cultivation definitely exceeded twenty thousand years.
He had underestimated it.
"Should we… run?" Dai Mubai suggested quietly, glancing nervously at the tiger.
If the tiger was far stronger than they'd initially believed, even killing it wouldn't matter—he wouldn't be able to absorb the soul ring anyway.
Besides, he still had Zhuqing, Qing, Xue, and… Xiao Wu waiting for him.
It was better to retreat. This wasn't cowardice—it was tactical wisdom.
Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a look and nodded in agreement.
Even if they somehow defeated the tiger, it would be pointless if Dai Mubai couldn't absorb the soul ring. The risk far outweighed the reward.
But fleeing wasn't so simple.
If they just turned and ran, the tiger might launch a devastating attack.
Dai Mubai had the weakest cultivation of the three but could fly. Flender could also fly…
Zhao Wuji: "…"
So I'm the punching bag again, huh? Damn flying Soul Masters…
Just as they were preparing to retreat, the situation took a sudden turn.
A radiant light burst forth from the tiger, illuminating a 200-meter radius. Flender, who had been hovering in midair, was forced to land.
"A domain?!"
Both Flender and Zhao Wuji cried out in shock, their expressions full of dread.
The white tiger's voice echoed through the forest, deep and majestic.
"Humans… do you think you can come and go from my territory as you please?"
"???" ×3
(End of Chapter)
Notes-Read advances chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X, i have finished uploading the whole series in patreon, a total of 313 chapters you can find it in the collections, first 30 chapters is free for all in patreon