Deep within the shadowy jungle, the sky was shrouded in dark clouds, raindrops pattering down, casting a desolate chill over the scene. Yet, the darkness posed no hindrance to cultivators' vision, let alone the four combatants locked in a tense standoff.
Across from Lan An, the Brute Strength Ape and Blazing Flame Bird glared with venomous hatred. This human had thwarted their chance to slay the White Star Serpent at a critical moment. The roaring Earth Bear phantom behind him filled them with dread.
Drip, drip.
The rain obscured the stars, severing the White Star Serpent's Star Essence empowerment. Meanwhile, the Blazing Flame Bird, hovering above, seethed with irritation. As a Fire-attuned beast, it loathed the rain. Though ordinary droplets couldn't harm it, they dampened its flames, curbing its full strength.
Hiss!
The White Star Serpent wasted no time. Its luminous eyes flicked toward Lan An with a reassuring glint before its silvery body surged toward the airborne Blazing Flame Bird. It hadn't forgotten the bird's earlier sneak attack. Moreover, the Brute Strength Ape's robust defenses were too formidable without starlight; the bird was the easier target.
The two beasts clashed fiercely. The Blazing Flame Bird held a slight edge with its aerial mobility, but the White Star Serpent's sinuous agility matched it. Its mouth unleashed orbs of radiant Star Essence, targeting the bird, though without stellar support, its energy drained rapidly.
ROAR!
The Brute Strength Ape, unwilling to be outdone, pounded its chest to rally its spirit, uprooting a massive tree and charging at Lan An.
Lan An's expression hardened, his guard unyielding. The ape's Mid-Stage Third-Tier strength surpassed his own, bolstered by formidable defenses and a powerful physique.
Taking a deep breath, Lan An's silver right eye gleamed eerily, veins pulsing across his face. His vision sharpened, dissecting every minute detail of the ape's body—each muscle twitch, each cellular shift. Flaws in its attacks lay bare before his uncanny gaze.
Weakness Detection—one of the White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye's three abilities.
Against a Mid-Stage Third-Tier foe, Lan An had no choice but to employ this skill, at the cost of rapidly depleting his soul force.
"There!" Lan An's lips curled as he raised his fist, targeting the ape's right calf.
ROAR!
The Earth Bear bellowed, mimicking Lan An's command. Its muscular arms crossed overhead, blocking the tree swung by the ape.
Crack!
The sturdy tree splintered. Simultaneously, Lan An's fist, infused with Earth spiritual energy, struck its mark.
HOWL!
The ape shrieked in agony. Its right calf, a lingering weak point from a past territorial battle, was its sole vulnerability despite its ironclad body. It never imagined its hidden injury would be exposed. Lan An's Dual Cauldron strength, equivalent to Early-Stage Golden Core, dealt a crippling blow.
GRR!
Enraged, the ape's bell-sized eyes blazed red. Hurling the broken tree aside, it lunged at Lan An with bare fists, intent on a brutal melee.
The Earth Bear phantom matched its ferocity. Despite the ape's boulder-like frame, the bear was larger, unyielding.
Raising its massive arms, the bear clashed head-on while Lan An dodged, analyzing the ape's every move for openings, directing the Earth Bear with precision.
THUD! THUD!
Fist met fist, the titans trading blows relentlessly. The Earth Bear, formed of Lan An's Earth spiritual energy, felt no pain, while the ape, reeling from its weak point and battered by strikes, showed signs of fatigue.
The ape's intelligence wasn't low. Realizing its true foe was the nimble youth, it sought to target Lan An directly but failed repeatedly.
Thanks to Weakness Detection, Lan An effortlessly exploited gaps in the ape's assaults, dodging with calm precision while commanding the Earth Bear to counterattack.
Within his dantian, the Spirit Earth Cauldron spun tirelessly, supplying Earth spiritual energy to sustain the Earth Bear—an indomitable war machine that endured as long as Lan An stood.
GRR! ROAR!
The ape's stamina waned. Turning, it roared desperately at the Blazing Flame Bird for aid.
Elsewhere, the White Star Serpent battled the Blazing Flame Bird to a stalemate.
Flames and Star Essence collided, scorching the earth and cratering the ground. However, the serpent's prior injuries accelerated its exhaustion compared to its foe.
Fighting above its tier while wounded, the serpent's prolonged resistance showcased its extraordinary potential.
Lan An assessed the situation, muttering, "I need to finish this big black brute fast."
Resolving himself, he tapped into his secret weapon: soul force.
ROAR! GRR! GRR!
The Earth Bear surged with ferocity, its roars forcing the ape back. Its once-lifeless eyes now blazed with murderous intent, exuding unparalleled dominance.
Soul Force Infusion.
Lan An channeled soul force into the Earth Bear, unlocking the true might of the Mysterious-Grade Supreme Four Spirits Soul Guardian Technique. The bear, as if frenzied, unleashed a barrage of punches, afterimages flashing as it drove the ape back.
Lan An didn't idle. Seizing openings, he targeted the ape's right calf, effectively making it a two-against-one assault.
Fear flickered in the ape's eyes. The Earth Bear's eerie power unnerved it—each clash sent stabs of pain through its soul, as if the attacks struck its very essence, baffling it utterly.
This was the effect of soul-infused strikes, wounding the opponent's soul directly.
Crack!
A bone snapped. The Earth Bear mercilessly broke the ape's arm. Enduring the pain, the ape lashed out with a desperate kick, forcing Lan An to retreat.
Seizing the chance, the Brute Strength Ape fled.
"Hmph, cunning beast," Lan An snorted, opting not to pursue. The ape's superior cultivation and his limited techniques made killing it risky without going all-out.
Hiss!
The White Star Serpent's pained cry rang out.
Witnessing its ally's retreat, the Blazing Flame Bird's fury intensified. Its attacks grew savage, aiming for mutual destruction, landing blows that singed the serpent's glossy scales.
"You're not escaping either," Lan An growled, leaping skyward with spiritual energy. The Earth Bear followed, its massive arms pummeling the airborne bird.
CAW!
Known for its brutal ferocity, the Blazing Flame Bird refused to flee like the ape. Its flame-wreathed wings lashed out recklessly at Lan An.
"Mysterious Water Shield!" Lan An sneered as flames enveloped him.
A deep blue water barrier formed, extinguishing the flames. Though lacking Water-based skills, Lan An could wield basic Water spiritual energy.
SCREECH!
The bird shrieked in terror at the water shield. Water was its bane, and it sensed Lan An's Water spiritual energy was extraordinarily potent.
Mysterious Water.
This advanced Water energy, gained from refining the Mysterious Water Pill with Yan Ruo, debuted in combat.
Exploiting the bird's panic, the Earth Bear's fist slammed into its body.
Crack!
Bones shattered. The Blazing Flame Bird plummeted, kicking up dust. Its flames flickered out, revealing a battered, bony frame riddled with wounds.
The White Star Serpent seized the moment. Despite its injuries, it conjured a massive silver orb of Star Essence, launching it at the fallen foe.
As the dust cleared, the Blazing Flame Bird lay lifeless, its flames extinguished.
The bird was dead.
The soul-infused Earth Bear's strike, combined with the serpent's Star Essence attack, overwhelmed a Mid-Stage Third-Tier beast. Lan An's silver eye glowed as he focused on the corpse.
White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye—Soul Seizure.
The bird's lingering soul was swiftly absorbed.
"Hmph," Lan An grunted, wincing from the strain of assimilating a higher-tier soul.
Immortal Genesis Scripture—Soul Refinement.
Ancient runes etched in his soul flared, soothing the pain. His soul force broke through, reaching Early-Stage Golden Core.
Smiling with satisfaction, Lan An dispersed the Earth Bear and rushed to the White Star Serpent, sprawled on the ground, its injuries severe.
Without hesitation, he produced his last Healing Blossom Pill, holding it near the serpent's mouth. "Open up. This will heal you."
The serpent's large eyes shimmered with gratitude at the pill's potent energy. Its massive cheek nuzzled Lan An affectionately, but it shook its head, glancing at the Form Transformation Herb nearby.
"Refining the Form Transformation Herb will not only grant human form but also boost its strength and heal its wounds. It's saving your pill," Jin'er appeared, explaining.
Lan An nodded, pocketing the pill. He swiftly retrieved the Form Transformation Herb and offered it to the serpent. "Refining this takes time, and this place is too dangerous. Let me take you somewhere safe to cultivate. How about it?"
The White Star Serpent nodded eagerly, trusting Lan An implicitly.
"Relax completely," Lan An said gently, summoning the Spirit Blossom Orb.
Within the Spirit Blossom Orb
The White Star Serpent and Form Transformation Herb materialized.
Sensing the orb's spiritual energy, thrice as dense as the outside world, the serpent hissed joyfully, swallowing the herb whole.
Watching its sleek, glowing scales as it began refining the herb, Lan An smiled contentedly.
"You hit the jackpot this time. A descendant of the Supreme White Star-Devouring Serpent—truly remarkable," Jin'er said cheerfully.
"Jackpot? I saved it because I admire it, not for profit," Lan An retorted, displeased. Though a serpent, its adorable, radiant beauty had stirred his compassion.
"Without contracts or coercion, this beast willingly follows you. Even if you tried to drive it away, it wouldn't leave," Jin'er said, gazing at Lan An with admiration. "Your sincerity moves even demon beasts."
Lan An nodded, smiling. Demon beasts, purer than humans, were fiercely loyal once they bonded.
Clang! "Mission Conquer the Serpent completed."
The System's mechanical voice resounded.