Fateful Encounter with the Spirit Beast - Chapter 61 - Moonset 1

t the person you wanted to be so powerful. Moreover, not only her, but also the others around her and those two exotic beasts require us to reassess the situation.”

The man angrily retorted, “I don’t care about all that! They should be heading back to Saint Kai Academy soon. I hope you won’t waste my money.”

The mysterious man remained unperturbed and said, “Once we receive the payment, we will certainly assist you. The organization will deliver them to you within the deadline!”

The man replied begrudgingly, “It better be that way!” Then, as if remembering something else, he asked, “What about the other task I commissioned last time? Can it be carried out?”

The mysterious man said, “I’m sorry, but the organization will not take on that task!”

The man exclaimed in surprise, “Oh? So there are tasks even the Flower Moon Alliance dares not accept!”

The mysterious man responded with calm assertiveness, “The target you wish to eliminate is involved with the Three Great Sword Saints, so our organization will not take this job!”

The man was even more astonished. “Are you saying he is connected to the Three Great Sword Saints?”

The mysterious man concluded, “That’s all I can say!” With that, he vanished into the darkness, leaving the man to mutter to himself, “How could it be related to the Three Great Sword Saints? If that’s the case, I can’t touch him at all.” He then fell into a long, deep contemplation.

In the City of Exile.

The bustling crowd overwhelmed the various buildings in the city, with the vibrant sounds of vendors calling out and an array of goods showcasing their welcoming arms to embrace visitors. The only figure out of sync was Youni, secretly leaving Tianxiang, who maintained her previous disguise, revealing only her eyes. At that moment, her spiritually vibrant eyes darted around restlessly as if searching for something. She muttered to herself, “A bright moon! A bright moon! How can it not be here? I’ve passed through so many streets and still can’t find Yingyue Business House!”

Just as Youni anxiously searched for her destination, she suddenly overheard a conversation between a man and a woman behind her. The man said, “Aimon, have you had enough shopping?”

The woman, referred to as Aimon, replied, “Aunt Yan said that you have to listen to me this time we’re out, so if I say I want to shop, you have to come with me.”

The man hesitated and said, “Aunt Yan is right, but our cargo is still in the store, and we haven’t even counted it yet. I feel like this isn’t quite right! We’re not learning anything here!”

Aimon retorted, “Hey! I said one thing, and you came back with three or four! Can’t you be a little more flexible? You know the reputation of Yingyue Business House is outstanding. Countries are eager to welcome us, so what problems could possibly arise? Manager Yue will sort everything out! Just relax!”

The man continued, “But this…”

Aimon impatiently said, “Stop complaining!” She pulled the man’s hand, preparing to leave. Youni, who initially intended to ignore them, suddenly heard the words “Yingyue Business House” and thought to herself how fortunate she was to hear it. Without a second thought, she rushed to the pair and directly asked, “Are you from Yingyue Business House? Where is Yingyue Business House?”

With an exclamation of surprise, the man politely replied, “How did you know we are from Yingyue Business House?”

Aimon snorted heavily and said, “Why are you all wrapped up? Hiding something? With that outfit, you can’t be anything good. Are you in need of assistance from Yingyue Business House?”

The man quickly intervened, “Aimon, don’t be like that!”

After Youni learned that Tianxiang was the adopted son of the Three Great Families of the Yue, combined with the selfless acts of the Yingyue Business House, she felt a deep respect for it. Therefore, she chose not to engage in a war of words with Aimon and gently said, “I’m sorry for my tone; I was just in a hurry to reach Yingyue Business House.”

The man replied, “I can’t say where Yingyue Business House is, but I can take you there!” He turned to Aimon and said, “I’m sorry, but she has an urgent matter, so I need to take her back to Yingyue Business House and won’t be able to accompany you shopping.” With that, before Aimon could respond, he hurriedly left with Youni.

Aimon was left dumbfounded, angrily shouting, “Stupid Ah Gang, how dare you not listen to me! You’ll regret it when we get back!”

On the way, Youni sincerely said, “I’m sorry for causing you to miss out on time with your companion!”

Ah Gang replied, “Don’t mention it!” Then, lowering his voice, he said, “Honestly, I really didn’t want to go shopping with her, and I couldn’t find a reason to refuse. Your appearance gave me the perfect excuse to escape, so I should actually thank you!” After saying this, he pretended to bow as a sign of gratitude.

Seeing the robust man before her, Youni felt he was warm-hearted and eager to help, but he also had such a humorous way of speaking. She thought to herself that Tianxiang really did recognize someone extraordinary. She couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Meanwhile, Aimon, who had been trailing behind them, saw the two of them appearing close and laughing together while Ah Gang made gestures of respect and bowing. Jealousy flared within her, deepening her resentment toward Youni. Yet, she didn’t even understand why she felt such strong hatred.

Under Ah Gang’s guidance, Youni finally arrived at Yingyue Business House. Upon entering the establishment, she saw an elderly man with silver hair tidying up the goods. Eagerly, Youni asked, “Excuse me, who is the person in charge here?”

Upon hearing her, the old man turned around, squinting his eyes as he looked Youni up and down without saying a word. Growing anxious, she raised her voice again, “Excuse me, who is the person in charge here?”

The old man seemed startled, patting his chest as he said, “Young lady, when you talk to me, please use a softer voice. If I have a heart attack, what will you do?” Though he spoke in such a manner, he wore a cheerful expression, seemingly enjoying Youni’s anxious demeanor as if he were admiring a piece of art. This left Youni feeling torn between anger and frustration.

At that moment, Ah Gang stepped in to diffuse the situation, saying, “Manager Yue, don’t tease her any longer; she really does have urgent business.”

The elderly man, referred to as Manager Yue, responded with an “Oh!” and continued, “So it’s you, Ah Gang! And where’s Aimon? How dare you sneak off and leave an old man like me here alone to sort the goods!”

Ah Gang bashfully lowered his head and said, “Manager Yue, I’m sorry! I’ll get right to it.” He looked just like a child who had been caught doing something wrong.

Manager Yue suddenly asked, “Aimon, how long are you going to hide outside? Why don’t you come in?”

Aimon walked in with her head down. Just as Manager Yue was about to speak, Aimon quickly lifted her head and said, “Manager Yue, don’t lecture me. I know I’m in the wrong, and I’ll go help Ah Gang right away!” Before she could finish, she dashed off, disappearing at such speed that even Manager Yue shook his head in disbelief.

Before Youni had a chance to speak, Manager Yue interjected, “Be careful; the walls have ears! Let’s discuss this in the back room.”

Once they were in the back room, Manager Yue asked in confusion, “I’m the person in charge here. What could possibly require an appearance from a dark elf like you?”

Youni, disregarding her surprise, quickly took out the jade token that Tianxiang had given her and said, “Yingyue Yuanyan!”

As Manager Yue took the jade token, he suddenly understood and exclaimed, “So you’re the spirit of the adopted son of the Third Lady! No wonder, no wonder!”

Youni asked, “No wonder what?”

Manager Yue explained, “No wonder you’re so extraordinary. Only someone like him would establish a contract with you.” He then shifted his tone and asked, “Why has Tianxiang sent you here? What’s the matter?”

Youni replied, “Tianxiang is currently collaborating with the Fourth-in-Command of the Hurricane Band of Thieves, Xuanyuan Yingzhai, to eliminate the Second-in-Command and two senior elders. He needs assistance from Yingyue here!”

Manager Yue nodded thoughtfully and murmured, “So it’s someone from the Hurricane Band of Thieves; no wonder all the factions in the City of Exile are so eager to move. It’s like the calm before a storm.” He then asked, “What do you mean by avenging the Captain of the Hurricane Band?”

Youni replied, “Actually, I’m not entirely sure. It seems that the Captain was killed by those people over a treasure map!”

Manager Yue sighed and said, “People die for wealth; birds perish for food!”

Youni urgently insisted, “This isn’t the time for reflections-Tianxiang still needs help!”

Manager Yue slowly responded, “Haven’t you heard that haste makes waste? Don’t rush; in fact, today the Eye of Yingyue informed me that various factions in the city are secretly mobilizing their forces. I’ve already sent a staff member, Ander, out to gather information. As soon as he returns, we can go find Tianxiang.”

Feeling a bit relieved that Manager Yue had taken action, Youni inquired, “What is the Eye of Yingyue?”

Manager Yue explained, “It’s the codename for our intelligence network at Yingyue Business House. You only need to know that. As for the rest, don’t pry any further.”

Youni continued, “How did you recognize that I’m a dark elf?”

Manager Yue chuckled and replied, “You’re quite the curious one! Initially, I wasn’t sure you were a dark elf since there was another element present within you. However, when your emotions fluctuated, the dark element within you naturally produced a strong reaction, which allowed me to confirm your identity.”

Youni replied with intrigue, “That’s amazing! You must be very sensitive to elements!”

Manager Yue made a strange expression and said, “If you keep digging into my background, there will be nothing for me to keep secret. However, I am quite fascinated by the two types of elements within you!”

Youni mimicked him and said, “Well, let me keep a little bit of mystery too!” Just as Youni was about to say more, Manager Yue suddenly raised his voice and called, “Ander, come into the inner room!”

A young man in his twenties, dressed like a clever assistant, walked calmly into the inner room. He quickly shot a wary glance at Youni before turning to Manager Yue with an inquiring look. Manager Yue reassured him, “They’re all our people; there’s no need to be secretive. What have you found out?”

Ander nodded and said, “Three major forces are secretly mobilizing their personnel: the Gang, the Red Forest Alliance, and the Taoist Deity Gang.”

After hearing this, Manager Yue began pacing back and forth, deep in thought. “If the Gang is involved, that complicates things. The Red Forest Alliance and the Taoist Deity Gang are likely the outside support for the Second-in-Command, Old Lan, and Old Fei. However, Yingyue shouldn’t be present in a situation like this.” He then turned to Ander and said, “You should go with Youni to meet someone and inform them about the situation in the City of Exile. I’d like to hear their thoughts.” After giving his orders with a wave of his hand, he fell silent, lost in contemplation.

Meanwhile, heading down a path toward the Kingdom of Saint Kai, Feng Xuewu and her group hurriedly made their way forward. The stress from days of travel and the constant threat of danger had left everyone tense, their spirits heavy, which was starkly at odds with the beautiful mountainous scenery surrounding them. Even Dixiang and Xiaojin were on high alert, scanning their surroundings and abandoning their usual playful demeanor. All of this stemmed from earlier discoveries that they had been targeted by spies from the Flower Moon Alliance.

Up front, Xiaojin and Dixiang suddenly slowed their pace. Dixiang wore a concerned expression and frequently glanced back. The group immediately positioned their weapons within easy reach, with Atta taking the lead, followed closely by Feng Xuewu and Liu Feng on either side, while Yingdie created a diamond formation behind, protecting Yue Lianxuan, who was at the center.

Suddenly, a figure appeared along the winding mountain path. The person fixed their gaze on Dixiang and Xiaojin, clapping with delight as he laughed heartily, “I knew it! A spirit beast! I’ve set my sights on you!” Upon hearing this, Xiaojin stuck out her tongue at the newcomer and made a face by pulling down her eyelids before turning back toward Feng Xuewu and the others.

In the eyes of Feng Xuewu and her companions, the figure that suddenly appeared was difficult to pinpoint in age. Though his hair was streaked with gray, he boasted a thick head of healthy, shiny brown hair. His wrinkled face framed a pair of piercing eyes that gleamed with intensity. His voice, booming like thunder, carried an air of danger and eeriness.

Feng Xuewu stepped forward boldly, showing no fear. “Are you an assassin from the Flower Moon Alliance?” she asked.

The figure shook his finger in a dismissive manner, making a tsk-tsk sound before responding, “Assassin is such an off-putting title. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Po Wu; my nickname isn’t very appealing, but I think it’s quite fitting: the Hand of the Soul.”

Liu Feng suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “You’re the famous Hand of the Soul, renowned throughout the Continent?”

Po Wu gleamed with pride. “Correct! So you have heard of me! I’ll leave you with your whole body afterward, just so the ones who come to collect you won’t be too frightened.”

Liu Feng, looking apologetic, replied, “I’ve never heard of you, but my neighbor has a nickname ‘Wonton Hand.’ His wontons-wow, they’re delicious! Could he be your brother?”

To Liu Feng’s surprise, Po Wu laughed instead of getting angry. “Wonton Hand, Wonton Hand! I can’t believe you ignorant youngsters are likening me to him. Well, well, well!”

With that, Po Wu emanated a chilling aura that made the very heavens tremble. As if by magic, a staff crafted purely from bones appeared in his hand. With a deft wave, dozens of shadowy figures materialized around him. Each one was draped in black robes, their expressions solemn, with eyes that seemed to see nothing in particular. Beside them was a sprightly demon beast, the Blood Cloud Leopard, its sleek black body contrasted by its fiery red eyes that fixed intently on Dixiang and Xiaojin, growling low. Not one to cower, Xiaojin returned the challenge with a multitude of provocative gestures, infuriating the Blood Cloud Leopard, which looked ready to pounce.

Just as everyone was about to act in unison, a foul, nauseating stench of rotting flesh began to drift up the mountain path. As the foul scent thickened in the air, dozens of skeleton warriors abruptly materialized from the ground, each wielding short swords and shields. Their decaying bones glowed with a ghostly light, continuously radiating the scent of death.

Seeing the skeleton warriors, Yue Lianxuan exclaimed, “A necromancer! Everyone, be cautious-the skeleton warriors are undead. Everyone, fall back to the mountain face behind us to avoid being ambushed from the rear!”

As they hurriedly retreated, she quickly instructed, “We need to stall for time. I will use light element purifying magic to exorcise the undead. Xiaojin, distract that necromancer; I’m worried he might have other tricks up his sleeve. Dixiang, I need your help to summon the light element and channel it to me!”

With that, Yue Lianxuan drew a magic circle on the ground meant for a single person, sat in the center, and focused intently as she began to recite the incantation for her purifying magic. Dixiang stood firmly behind her, gazing into the distance but fully concentrating on Yue Lianxuan, ready to channel the light element to her at a moment’s notice.

At the same time, Feng Xuewu chimed in, “Xiaojin, remember to lure the Blood Cloud Leopard away!” Turning to the other three, she continued, “We need to cover Xuan’er while she casts her spell. Atta, you must stay where you are! Liu Feng, Yingdie, we’ll rush into the ranks of the warriors and attack in a cross-pattern to lighten Atta’s burden.”

Just as Feng Xuewu finished her instructions, Po Wu’s cackling laughter echoed from across the way, followed by the synchronized march of the skeleton warriors. Po Wu seemed to deliberately raise his voice as he taunted, “Save your efforts! You won’t succeed!” He then turned to the skeletons at his side and ordered, “Release the Blood Cloud Leopard to hunt that little snake! You all, move around to the sides and wait for the right moment to strike!” He casually toyed with the staff of the undead, which appeared to materialize out of nowhere.

Po Wu’s words struck like a sharp blade, cutting deeply into the hearts of Feng Xuewu and her companions, severely undermining their morale and fighting spirit. Except for Ye Tong, none had yet engaged in battle, and their strength had been completely laid bare before the enemy. Moreover, the foes were fully prepared, hinting that this would be an unpredictable fight that would come at a great cost.

From the very beginning, Feng Xuewu and her companions found themselves at a disadvantage, quickly becoming embroiled in a brutal battle. Faced with skeleton warriors who could rise again after being slain, they felt as if they were confronting an unstoppable tide of enemies. A deep sense of helplessness washed over them, as if no matter how many they defeated, there would always be more to take their place.

On either side, the members of the Flower Moon Alliance lurked like hungry wolves, watching the little lambs struggling to escape within their grasp. They waited for the perfect moment to pounce and capture Feng Xuewu and her companions in one decisive move. The positions of these subordinates weighed heavily on Feng Xuewu and her friends, forcing them to be vigilant and avoid exposing any weaknesses that might allow for a surprise attack. The distant roars of angry leopards in the forest were now faint echoes, barely audible.

As soon as the battle was joined, Feng Xuewu and her companions found themselves fighting fiercely for their lives. In no time, blood was splattering everywhere as they sustained numerous injuries. The skeleton warriors, now drenched in the blood of their enemies, appeared even more eerie and intensified their assault.

Signs of fatigue began to show on Feng Xuewu and her friends, and they lost the nimbleness with which they had started. Their wounds proliferated rapidly as a result. Despite this, the three of them continued to weave in and out among the skeleton warriors, the blue light of the Indigo Ice Spear flashing in the chaos and reflecting their own blood. The clang of long swords and daggers clashing against the skeletons’ short swords filled the air with a jarring sound.

Atta, bleeding from the corners of his eyes, stood proudly in front of Yue Lianxuan, his determination palpable as he fought valiantly, dispatching countless skeleton warriors. Yet, more kept appearing, and he had no time to keep count of his kills. All he could think about was holding his ground until death if necessary. He was supported by the trust and life-and-death friendship with Yue Lianxuan, who, despite being unable to see the situation ahead, was pouring all her energy into casting purification spells with light elements, far beyond her limits. The sweat-soaked Yue Lianxuan found the strength to keep going, driven by the deep bond and trust between them.

At first, Po Wu reveled in his advantage, but as the battle progressed, he became increasingly astonished by the tenacity and endurance of this group of young fighters. He couldn’t help but think that he hadn’t encountered such potential in a long time. If he could cultivate these kids into his own undead warriors, it would undoubtedly enhance his combat power tremendously.

As Po Wu was lost in these thoughts, he overlooked Atta, who stood his ground unwaveringly, refusing to budge even an inch. This oversight provided a glimmer of hope for Feng Xuewu and her companions.

Suddenly, amidst the fierce fighting, Feng Xuewu caught sight of a brilliant, holy silver glow emanating from behind Atta. A plan began to form in her mind. After successfully fending off a skeleton warrior, she seized a fleeting moment to leap into the air and shouted, “Atta, Yingdie, Liu Feng, to the sides!” She then closed her eyes, focusing intently on executing “Gun-Armor Separation, Ice Soul Union” once more.

Feng Xuewu’s call snapped Po Wu out of his daydream, but he couldn’t afford to pay attention to her in mid-air; instead, he was alarmed by the light element and the purifying magic that Yue Lianxuan was channeling, which he despised more than anything.

Immediately, Po Wu swung his staff of the undead, releasing a series of urgent whistles in varying pitches. The moment his subordinates heard the signals, they rushed toward Yue Lianxuan. They collided with Atta and the others guarding her, igniting a fierce battle for survival. Meanwhile, the skeleton warriors, feeling the effects of the purifying magic, began to retreat, desperately attempting to escape the source of their fear. However, it was too late. With a serene and solemn expression, Yue Lianxuan gently declared, “Heaven and earth have their laws, and the human world knows compassion. I, in the name of the Goddess of Life, purify all suffering and eradicate all evil-purify, transcend, and transform!”

Suddenly, a vast and radiant light erupted from Yue Lianxuan, instantly enveloping the land like the rising sun, bringing light and driving away the darkness.

The pure holy light illuminated the skeleton warriors, making them sizzle and hiss as they evaporated like boiling water, reducing them to ashes that danced on the mountain path. At that moment, a loud shout rang out from the sky: “Gun-Armor Separation, Ice Soul Union!”

Swirling hexagonal ice shards, centered around Feng Xuewu, shot toward Po Wu like cannonballs. With no time to mourn the fallen skeleton warriors, Po Wu bit his tongue and sprayed a mist of blood onto his staff of the undead.

In an instant, the defensive magic of the Charming Ghost Sac was completed. Feng Xuewu’s Ice Soul Union pierced into the sac, creating high-speed friction that produced dark smoke. Suddenly, a tremendous explosion erupted as the Charming Ghost Sac could no longer withstand the forceful compression of the hexagonal ice shards and was blown to pieces. However, Feng Xuewu also suffered from the intense rebound force. She was propelled into the air, her internal organs immediately injured from the shock. Blood uncontrollably spurted from her mouth, and like a phoenix with broken wings, she heavily crashed to the ground not far from Yue Lianxuan. Both Feng Xuewu and the spiritually exhausted Yue Lianxuan lay unconscious on the ground.