“Roarr!!”
A majestic roar suddenly reverberated through the Core World, causing everyone to turn their heads towards the source. It was Long Lan. A smile grew on Bai Yunfei"s face—it seemed Long Lan was finally done absorbing Nether"s energy into his body.
“He"s already close to becoming a late-stage cla.s.s seven soulbeast?!” Wu Dijian gasped in shock, “My my…so the remnant energy of an avatar is that powerful?”
Absorbing Nether"s avatar energy did wonders for Long Lan. There was substantial growth in his strength; he was only a step away from being a late-stage cla.s.s seven soulbeast now. It was likely he was also far more knowledgeable about the Law of Darkness now too.
Originally a soulbeast of the water element, Long Lan only gained an affinity for darkness after taking in the Black Dragon King"s blood. Having it mature in his body allowed him to become adept with this second element, though it was nowhere near the levels of his primary element. Today changed that, however. Today, Long Lan could say his proficiency with both elements was most likely equal now.
“Let"s talk more in the city, I"ve a few important matters to discuss with everyone, especially in regards to what our next plan of action is…” Bai Yunfei spoke after Long Lan returned.
Waving his hand, he distorted the area around them all and teleported everyone away.
—————————
In a large room within Yao City.
“What?! The Beast Taming School will begin to capture all the cla.s.s seven soulbeasts in the Soulbeast Forest?!”
Wu Dijian was aghast by what Bai Yunfei just said. He gave the younger male a serious look. “We all saw how many people they brought here, how do they still have the manpower for a large plan like that?!”
“The Beast Taming School recently gained a new Soul Emperor, he"ll be leading that operation. Many of their isolated Soul Kings came out from their seclusion for this along with their cla.s.s seven soulbeast puppets…their goal is the subjugation of all cla.s.s seven soulbeasts in the Soulbeast Forest. If they succeed, it"ll be a huge boost of power to them.”
The news Bai Yunfei received from Lin Dongxiao"s memory fragments told him about this plan—the Beast Taming School"s secret plan to capture all cla.s.s seven soulbeasts in the Soulbeast Forest!
“Many cla.s.s seven soulbeasts live within the depths of the Soulbeast Forest,” Dan Teng stated with narrowed eyes, “a number that would make even a Soul Emperor balk. Would it be possible for them to gain much from such an operation? Furthermore, the Bloodhowl Wolf King and the other allied cla.s.s eight soulbeasts are there. If the Beast Taming School were to step into their territory, wouldn"t they simply be heading to their own deaths?”
Bai Yunfei shook his head. “The world of the high-leveled soulbeasts is just like the human world. All sorts of factions fighting there right now…”
Confused, the group looked at Bai Yunfei for why he would say something like that. It was Dan Teng who realized what Bai Yunfei was getting at. “You"re saying that…” horrified realization dawned onto him, “ war is brewing within the Soulbeast Forest? There…there are actually soulbeasts working with the Beast Taming School?!”
“Exactly. Part of the information I received talked about the clans led by the bloodthirsty wind ape and the four-winged golden roc are colluding with the Beast Taming School. I believe they are using this opportunity to have the Beast Taming School take out their enemies.”
“The bloodthirsty wind ape and the four-winged golden roc!!” Exclaimed Wu Dijian. “They"re both infamous soulbeasts for their savagery! And they"re working with the Beast Taming School?! As soulbeasts, they"re actually working with the Beast Taming School?!”
“Aren"t humans the same in the end?” Bai Yunfei sighed, “we"ve been fighting and killing one another since history began, when will it ever stop? I would a.s.sume the world of soulbeasts is the same…”
“I…” Wu Dijian faltered in speech. He was still having a hard time understanding the situation and what this meant.
“Bai Yunfei, my young friend. You mentioned before about our next course of action. Could…you be thinking about taking part in this?” Yao Wuchen asked.
“That is what I had in mind, yes.”
“Aren"t you going to go back to the Crafting School?” Wu Dijian asked, “We can inform the Tianhun School of the Beast Taming School"s plot and have them dispatch people there. Why go yourself?”
“I"m afraid they won"t get there in time. We"re not too far away from the Soulbeast Forest, with the Core Stone"s teleportation abilities, we should be able to get there even faster. It"s the fastest way of stopping the Beast Taming School.
“Furthermore…I can"t just let the Beast Taming School have their way in this matter.” Bai Yunfei shook his head.
“One of their goals is the wolf clan. I am friends with the Bloodhowl Wolf King"s adopted son, Hong Yin. His kindness to me in the past…I can"t forget it. It"s time I return that kindness.”
“You know Hong Yin?!” Gaped Wu Dijian.
“It was before I joined the Crafting School. I was a mere Soul Warrior then.” Bai Yunfei nodded, “there was a problem I came across when training, but it was Hong Yin that helped me become a Soul Sprite by giving me a fireseed spirit mushroom. I wouldn"t be the person I am today without him—thus I wish to lend a hand to the wolf clan If I can.”
“So there was a back story like that?” Yao Wuchen sighed in admiration, “A touching story, my young friend. If that is how you feel, then we of the Yao clan will follow you in every step along the way!”
“Oh? Is your clan willing to aid me then?” Bai Yunfei smiled. Having the Yao clan was a tremendous relief to hear. That meant resolving this matter would be easier than expected.
“It is only because of your power that our clan was able to escape calamity, my young friend. Finding safety in such chaotic times will be hard, it would be safer for us to remain in the Core World in the meanwhile where no one will harm us.”
In other words: The Yao clan would temporarily reside in the Core World. Wherever Bai Yunfei went, the Yao clan would follow.
“We have to stop the Beast Taming School at all costs. Them grabbing hold of multiple cla.s.s seven soulbeasts would be a threat to even us.” Wu Dijian sighed, “I don"t see any problem if you want to go, let"s deal another blow to them.”
“It"s settled then.” Bai Yunfei nodded. “Let us rest for tonight and head for the Soulbeast Forest tomorrow morning!”
The laws of the Core World mimicked that of the real world, though there were still a few laws Xiao Fang was normally in charge of manipulating. The Core World was autonomous without him, so the cycle of day and night could progress naturally. As of right now, it was close to being night time in the Core World.
“That works. I"ll be returning to rest first then. Today"s battle has been…mindblowing, to say the least. Rest would do me some good…” Wu Dijian chuckled. Standing up, he made way towards the outside while also giving Dan Teng and the Yao clansmen very obvious winks.
“Ah…” Dan Teng stood up as well with a smile. “We should get going too then.”
“So we are, rest well, Bai Yunfei.” Yao Wuchen stood up as well.
Once they left, Long Lan stood up himself to leave.
Bai Yunfei hadn"t thought of anything at first, but the vulgar winks he saw from Wu Dijian made him suspicious. Seeing the smiles on everyone"s faces was what clued him in on what they meant. Embarra.s.sed, he looked to Tang Xinyun, but she had already her head buried within her arms on the table.
Dear heavens—when he said "rest", he truly did mean a proper "rest"!
Wu Dijian only took two steps before turning back. “Hey now, Xiao Qi, what are you doing there?” He asked the preening bird.
“Eh?” Xiao Qi c.o.c.ked his head, “what about me?”
“What do you think you"re doing sticking your head in a reunion between a young man and woman? We can"t have that now, can we?!”
And so Wu Dijian took the small bird in hand and marched out from the courtyard with him. “You say you"re close to being a cla.s.s eight soulbeast,” he muttered to the bird as they left, “and yet you still don"t seem to be very "knowledgeable"...”
“Heehee…” A white streak of light flew beside Xiao Qi as he was being carried away. It was the quickshade bird, Xiao Bai.
And just like that, Bai Yunfei was startled to see that it was only him and Tang Xinyun left in this courtyard.
Somehow, a gust of wind blew across the courtyard and blew the doors to it shut…