Page 65

Seeing the situation shift, Qin Shu silently cursed and swiftly transformed her spiritual energy into earth element energy.

She slammed her palm onto the ground.

The area where the Wind Wolf stood suddenly collapsed!

The beast let out a startled howl and scrambled to regain its footing.

But when it looked up again—

The annoying human girl had already bolted two miles away.

———

This battle—

Compared to her fight with the Frostflame Hide Rat—

Was much easier.

Maybe because she had advanced in cultivation—

Maybe because she was growing more confident.

Either way—

She felt more at ease than ever before.

———

Still—

She wasn't foolish enough to keep fighting head-on.

———

The Wind Wolf had superior stamina.

Even if they both exhausted their energy,

The wolf could still tear her apart with one swipe of its claws.

This battle needed to end quickly!

———

Her grip tightened around her jade sword.

She thought of the technique she had been comprehending.

Borrowing the power of nature.

———

She stood amidst the dense forest,

Where wood-element energy was at its strongest.

If she could tap into this force—

Where could the so-called "Wolf of the Forest" possibly hide?

———

She closed her eyes.

Her entire being merged with the surrounding trees.

She felt the wind shift.

She felt the beast move.

———

Her ear twitched slightly.

———

It was coming.

———

Qin Shu thrust her sword forward.

A simple, direct stab.

———

"Awooo!"

The Wind Wolf let out a furious yelp.

When Qin Shu opened her eyes—

She met the wolf's enraged snarl.

———

She smirked.

"Not satisfied?"

"Then come again."

———

She raised her sword.

The wolf hunched low.

Its back arched, muscles coiled—

Then—

It lunged forward once more!

———

Qin Shu's movements were seamless.

She deflected its wind blade attack,

Split her jade sword into two,

And blocked the wolf's bite.

———

"Not bad," she chuckled.

"But you'll have to do better than that."

———

If she had been the same person from when she first arrived in this world,

She would have frozen in terror.

But after living with a giant snake for so long—

These beasts just didn't seem as intimidating anymore.

———

Her swordplay became increasingly fluid.

She could now anticipate the wolf's moves—

And react before they even happened.

———

No wonder the sword cultivators of the sect spent all their time dueling each other.

For them—

Combat itself was a form of cultivation.

———

And for Qin Shu—

This battle was training.

———

But now—

It was time to end it.

———

As the wolf lunged again—

Qin Shu activated her vines.

They snaked around the beast's limbs—

Holding it in place.

She quickly smeared a handful of mud onto the crescent mark on its forehead.

———

"Perfect shot!"

"Time to go!"

———

Sure—

She could have killed the wolf.

But after helping her practice for so long—

It had earned its life.

———

Besides—

They already stole its treasure.

Killing it would just be cruel.

———

With that—

She turned and ran toward her rendezvous point with Xiao Xiao.

———

Before she got far—

A furious howl shook the forest.

The wolf had realized its treasure was missing.

———

Qin Shu hurriedly summoned her flying leaf,

Scooped up Xiao Xiao,

Popped a spiritual recovery pill,

And soared into the sky.

———

"Did you get it?" she asked.

Xiao Xiao happily pulled out a glowing purple flower.

"Of course!" she chirped.

"Xiao Xiao is amazing!"

———

The little squirrel wagged her fluffy tail.

Her fear was already forgotten.

She was proud.

She was confident.

She was happy.

———

But that happiness—

Didn't last long.

———

The moment they flew forward—

Qin Shu felt the shift in the air.

Xiao Xiao suddenly screamed.

———

"Stop! STOP!"

"Turn around! We have to leave!!"

———

Qin Shu startled.

She immediately halted and looked at the little creature.

"What's wrong?"

———

Xiao Xiao's entire body trembled.

Her fur stood on end.

Her voice quivered.

"This is the Forbidden Land!"

"We can't stay here!"

"The air is poisonous!"

"Every breath we take is killing us!"

———

Her voice cracked with genuine terror.

"If we don't leave—"

"The poison will consume our spiritual energy first—"

"Then it will consume our flesh!"

"Xiao Xiao doesn't want to die!!"

———

Qin Shu's face paled slightly.

She turned immediately.

———

But—

Something was wrong.

———

No matter which way she flew—

She ended up in the same place.

———

Xiao Xiao let out a small whimper.

She pointed to a pile of bones.

"Look!"

"We passed this already!"

———

Qin Shu grimaced.

"...I noticed."

She glanced at Xiao Xiao's condition.

The little squirrel looked weak.

Her usual vitality was fading.

———

Strangely—

Qin Shu herself felt fine.

Her spiritual energy was untouched.

———

She gently infused some of her energy into Xiao Xiao,

Helping stabilize her condition.

———

Then—

She took out her jade pendant.

"Rest inside for now," she said.

"You won't last long out here."

———

Xiao Xiao hesitated.

"But what about you?"

———

Qin Shu smiled slightly.

"I'll be fine."

"Don't worry."

"I'll get us out of here."

———

After securing Xiao Xiao,

Qin Shu landed on the ground.

She needed to study this place.

———

As she walked—

Her foot hit something hard beneath the fallen leaves.

She paused.

She lifted her hand—

And swept away the debris with a gust of wind.

———

Beneath the leaves—

Lay a field of bones.

———

Qin Shu's expression darkened.

She took out her communication talisman.

But—

It was completely blank.

She couldn't contact anyone.

———

Looks like this place blocked all external signals.

No reinforcements were coming.

———

Qin Shu sighed.

She closed her eyes—

And trusted her instincts.

———

As she walked—

She found something even more terrifying.

A massive crater lay before her,

Surrounded by silver trees and dense pink fog.

The fog glowed ominously.

And when she cast a fire spell at it—

It sparkled like fireworks.

———

Qin Shu's eyes widened.

She marveled softly—

"...So pretty."