This was just like in a game where heroes with extremely fast movement speed, like Yao, couldn't keep up for a moment, floating like a ghost.
Jiang Bai leisurely hung in the air, allowing himself to slowly search for the Shadow Vine Beast.
After all, he wasn't in a rush.
If it were a direct confrontation, he wouldn't even bother fighting; he would simply dive into the shadows and escape.
That's why Jiang Bai chose to wear it down.
It couldn't possibly run forever. The moment it couldn't run anymore would be its end!
"Jiang Bai, Jiang Bai! Wait for me!"
At this moment, the Rui Beast hurriedly chased after Jiang Bai.
When it finally caught up, it leaped forward only to find itself lunging at nothing.
It was then that the Rui Beast remembered Jiang Bai's first soul skill was the soul state.
It tumbled to the ground, almost landing face-first in the dirt.
Shaking off the dust from its little paws, it sat down unhappily.
"Jiang Bai, why don't you wait for me?"
—
The Beast's perspective, a tragic tale of life and death:
For three days, the Shadow Vine Beast had been running in fear.
No matter how fast it was or where it hid, this unknown entity was relentless in its pursuit.
Shadow Vine Beast: T_T
Oh no, I've encountered a ghost!
After three days and nights of running around with my guard up, I still couldn't shake off that green presence above me.
Eventually, I fell from the shadows.
Exhausted and panting, I lay on the ground, motionless.
Jiang Bai exited his first soul skill state and approached the Shadow Vine Beast.
At that moment, a clear female voice rang in Jiang Bai's ear, "Why didn't you let me take action?"
Jiang Bai froze for a moment. Oh right.
Suddenly, a plant sprouted from the ground and jumped into Jiang Bai's pocket.
This was none other than the Blue Silver Emperor, who had been by Jiang Bai's side all along.
[ TL/N: The fandom had marked this Blue Silver Emperor as a male and hence I had been using a male prefix for it. But it seems like it was a female this entire time? ]
Since Jiang Bai was in a soul state from using his first soul skill, the Blue Silver Emperor had directly dropped down.
Fortunately, the Blue Silver Grass was everywhere, so it quickly located Jiang Bai's position and found him.
The Shadow Vine Beast was immediately entangled by the Blue Silver Vines, ensuring that even if it woke up, it wouldn't be able to escape.
"I wonder what the soul skill from this third soul ring is?"
With a decisive movement, Jiang Bai ended its life.
Soft purple light spots began to gather on the corpse of the Shadow Vine Beast, and soon, a soul ring radiating a purple glow floated in mid-air.
"Bring it on!"
Sitting on the ground, Jiang Bai began to absorb the soul ring.
At this moment, the Rui Beast appeared, dragging the Shadow Beast over to Jiang Bai's side.
"Jiang Bai, Jiang Bai!"
Just as it was about to leap forward, a vine blocked its path.
The Blue Silver Emperor spoke up, "Rui Beast, Jiang Bai is absorbing the soul ring; you mustn't disturb him!"
The Rui Beast stopped in its tracks, raising its proud head and looking haughtily at the plant.
"First, you need to call me Lord Rui Beast, and second, how dare you call Jiang Bai by his name?"
"You should address him as the Child of Nature!"
She had long held a grudge against this plant.
The thought of the Blue Silver Emperor spending more time with Jiang Bai than she had made her vow that as long as she was around, she wouldn't allow a mere Blue Silver Grass to exist under her feet.
She was afraid it would dirty her paws!
When would this pesky plant offer its tribute?
"Third soul skill: Mountain Spirit · White Deer!"
The active skill releases a glow that marks the target, granting allies a 3% increase in all attributes and increasing their speed by 30%.
Enemies suffer a 2% decrease in all attributes and a 30% decrease in speed.
It's just a BUFF aura, but unfortunately, the increase and decrease in all attributes are too minor.
However, the final requirement is a passive skill: when taking a fatal blow, the third soul skill automatically activates, transforming into an invincible little deer.
Jiang Bai couldn't help but think that he had already filled out his life-saving skills!
Had he become a support-type soul master? Or perhaps a survivalist soul master?
"Jiang Bai, Jiang Bai!"
Seeing the Rui Beast leap towards him, Jiang Bai quickly hugged it close, affectionately saying, "What's wrong? Are you hungry again?"
The Rui Beast instead slipped away and landed on top of his head.
"Jiang Bai, when you were little, you rode me! Now that you've grown up, I want to ride you!"
————————
Ever since he first met Gu Yuena five years ago, Jiang Bai hadn't seen her again.
He didn't know how many times he had jumped into the lake to find her, but the outcome was always the same: he was thrown out.
Eventually, it seemed he couldn't bear it anymore, and a restriction was placed on him.
He was forbidden from jumping into the lake.
Now, facing numerous soul beasts, Jiang Bai was no longer that fearful child from before.
Even when confronting a beast as formidable as the Bear King, he remained unfazed!
"Are you sure you want to leave the Star Dou Forest? You want to go to Shrek Academy?"
Di Tian's expression darkened; after all, this Child of Nature was growing up and becoming rebellious.
Hearing this news early in the morning almost made him explode with frustration.
He didn't want the Child of Nature to leave at all. Leaving the Star Dou Forest meant losing control.
So, he picked up the Rui Beast and tossed it in front of Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai: ...
"She's not a dog, why are you throwing her around?"
He quickly scooped her up.
The Rui Beast looked up at Jiang Bai with her two pairs of golden eyes, full of pity.
"Jiang Bai, can't you stay here?"
She looked like a homeless puppy.
Jiang Bai sighed, "I'm human, and I still need to go out into the human world to train."
"Don't worry, I'll definitely come back!"
The Shadow Beast reached out her claws, clinging tightly to Jiang Bai. "Then I'll go too!"
"No way!"
"No way!"
Both Jiang Bai and Di Tian spoke at the same time.
What a joke! If Jiang Bai went out, he would be trained as a prodigy.
But if the Rui Beast went out, she would be hunted for her soul ring!
How precious was the Rui Beast! What if some greedy human, lacking insight, tried to hunt her?
"What should I then?"
"I will transform into a human!"
Di Tian immediately snatched the Rui Beast back, dispelling her thoughts. "Transform into what human? You should stay in the Star Dou Forest! Who can protect you outside?"
The Rui Beast looked a bit sullen. "Jiang Bai, I will definitely find a way to turn you into a soul beast!"
"Turn me into an animal?"
"Still trying to harm me?"
"Since you're determined to leave, I won't stop you!"
Di Tian had long since lost the desire to control him, ever since he learned that Jiang Bai was destined as the successor of the God of Destruction.
Could he still be more powerful than the God of Destruction?
He never expected that the Child of Nature would catch the attention of the God of Destruction.
As the former protector of the Dragon God and the current leader of the Black Dragon Clan, he had witnessed the calamity that befell the Dragon Clan.
He clearly understood the status of the five supreme gods in the divine realm.
He had to admit that unless his master could merge with the Golden Dragon King to become the Dragon God, he would definitely not be able to compete with the God Kings.
Unless he possessed a super artifact.
Unfortunately, the whereabouts of the Dragon Clan's super artifact were unknown.
Now, all he could do was hope that the Child of Nature would remember the kindness of their spirit beasts.
Di Tian also felt a bit of anticipation—if his master were to mate with him and become a family, could they possibly release the Golden Dragon King sealed in the divine realm?
At that time, if his master transformed into the Dragon God, the two divine kings would have some influence in the divine realm.
At the very least, he hoped that the spirit beasts would not face the cruel tribulation of heaven that would sever their path to becoming gods!