"Holy crap!"
Four energy spheres fired simultaneously?
Luo Cheng had no idea what level that represented, but his White Feather Moth... well, it hadn't even learned the Energy Sphere move yet.
Sensing the considerable spiritual power contained within those energy spheres, Yunshui Longma's previously casual gaze sharpened with a hint of seriousness.
It stomped the ground hard.
The surrounding humid air instantly condensed into a water screen, shielding its body.
Su Hao noticed.
The water screen wasn't spread evenly.
Some areas were thick, others thin.
And the thick parts precisely aligned with where the spinning energy spheres would ultimately strike.
"This Yunshui Longma... has extensive combat experience!"
The hastily formed water screen couldn't fully block the energy spheres, but it bought the Horse King time.
Amid the roaring sounds.
The Horse King burst through the mist like a blue phantom, the energy spheres landing behind it, kicking up dust clouds.
The sheer force was nearly comparable to an elite-level spirit!
The Horse King charged, mouth opening as water vapor gathered, and in an instant, a massive water sphere shot out like a cannonball.
One after another!
It was the basic water-type move—Water Bullet.
But from the Horse King's mouth, it felt like tank shells fired from a cannon barrel, terrifying in both speed and power.
The White Feather Moth was hit by just two water bullets before losing its combat ability.
Compared to the White Feather Moth, the Dream Butterfly's training level was similar—it could withstand at most one water bullet.
The difference was.
The White Feather Moth had only its level; combat experience and move mastery were virtually nonexistent.
Faced with the incoming water bullets, it panicked, dodged once, and was struck.
It lost combat ability in seconds.
The scene now mirrored the earlier one.
But the outcome didn't follow Luo Cheng's script.
In his eyes, he only saw that emerald-green figure flicker, and several water bullets passed through its afterimage.
Completely unscathed.
"How is that possible!"
The nearby elite-level Spirit Master glanced at him. "Why not? That Dream Butterfly has clearly undergone professional evasion training. You just never trained your White Feather Moth."
His tone was harsh, still bitter about the Earthquake Wolf's injury.
"Neigh!"
The Yunshui Longma fired water bullets without pausing its gallop. The blue phantom leaped skyward, chasing the Dream Butterfly, hooves raised high to stomp down.
Before it landed, rings of water ripples spread outward.
Like shockwaves sweeping through the area.
Move: Water Ripple Impact!
Against a spirit like the Dream Butterfly—evasive but fragile—the experienced Yunshui Longma chose the most effective counter.
"Goo-no!!"
The little one didn't reveal its Nightmare Eye but instead used the advanced version of Roar: "Intimidate."
As the sound propagated, the formidable mental energy within it exploded outward.
The Horse King's movements abruptly halted.
In that instant,
The little one flapped its wings, skimmed past the Horse King's neck, and spat out silk that wrapped around it, pulling backward.
Using the momentum of the Horse King's descending stomp, it yanked hard.
The silk thread turned razor-sharp in an instant.
Capable of slicing through trees.
Before it could tighten, the Horse King's tail whipped around, water blades slashing through, severing the silk the Dream Butterfly held.
The Dream Butterfly soared upward.
The Horse King landed.
They had swapped positions.
The air was thick with moisture, the ground a mess.
The two spirits stared each other down.
"The Yunshui Longma is setting up the battlefield."
Zhong Yunrui said.
He hadn't expected Su Hao's spirit to be this strong, trading blows with the Horse King without falling behind.
In just three to five seconds, offense and defense had swapped several times.
Speed, reaction, and move application—all flawless!
Such a strong entry-level spirit was rare.
Gaining the Yunshui Longma's acknowledgment no longer seemed impossible.
Seeing hope, Zhong Yunrui worried Su Hao lacked experience and offered a hint.
Now,
As the Yunshui Longma unleashed many moves, the ground became pitted and scarred, covered in puddles and water stains.
Mist filled the air.
The Horse King used water-type moves with much greater ease.
But in Su Hao's eyes,
As the Yunshui Longma executed each move, its information became clearer.
Moves, weaknesses, and the "gifts" left on its body by some powerful spirit.
All were laid bare before him.
Su Hao already had a plan.
...
By the empty lakeshore.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the two spirits.
The Dream Butterfly flapped its wings, stirring up gusts of wind to disperse the mist.
The Horse King couldn't wait.
It stomped hard.
Waves roared as water surged beneath its hooves. The Horse King rode the waves, rising higher and higher, the tide crashing toward the Dream Butterfly.
An aura locked onto the little one.
There seemed to be no room to dodge, whether in the sky or on the ground.
Then,
The Dream Butterfly's eyes lit up.
The charging Horse King met its gaze.
Time seemed to freeze.
In the Horse King's eyes, a pair of pupils kept expanding.
It seemed to see the shadow of a spirit it had once encountered, radiating a majestic, fearsome presence.
Even knowing it was an illusion, it couldn't help... staring a moment longer.
The next second,
Boom!!!
A wave of intense pain hit, and its body stumbled backward.
The water waves beneath its feet lost their support and splashed to the ground.
The Horse King stood there, dazed.
After a long moment, it raised its head, looked at the emerald-green figure in the air, then at the human standing behind.
Finally, its gaze swept over the Water Spirit Foals, lingering long on the restless, eager one at the front.
It sighed.
"Neigh~"
"Goo-no! ?(???????)?!"
The Dream Butterfly spun twice in the air, flew over, and extended its tiny hand.
Su Hao generously pulled out a few red bills and handed them over.
The little one, clutching the money earned through effort, was overjoyed.
It was worth putting on such a show.
But after a moment of happiness, it suddenly froze.
It had no wallet, no place to hide money. Those red bills would have to... be handed back to Su Hao for safekeeping?
Why did it have to be like this?!
While the Dream Butterfly was stunned, Su Hao walked toward the herd.
With one glance, he spotted the Water Spirit Foal that was noticeably larger than its peers.
—Not to mention its hidden bloodline evolution path, simply being born from the Horse King gave it a natural edge over other kin.
Of course, even the highest potential needed training and guidance to be realized.
Su Hao set down his backpack, ready to pull something out.
Suddenly,
That Water Spirit Foal "whinnied" cheerfully and trotted over, almost impatiently.
As if afraid its kin would beat it to the punch.
It ran to Su Hao's feet, tugged at his pant leg, raised its hooves high, and bit down on his finger.
It stung a bit.
The next moment,
A soul-deep bond connected the human and the spirit.
Su Hao was stunned.
That's it? It's done?
I haven't even unlocked basic training.
I haven't pulled out the backpack full of secret weapons I prepared.
How did the contract succeed?
Could it be...
My charm has crossed the boundary between human and spirit?
Su Hao thought it over. That was probably the only explanation.
...
By the forest edge,
An elite Spirit Master looked away. "Let's go."
"Oh, okay."
Having witnessed everything, a dazed Luo Cheng snapped back. "I've decided. I'll find an easier spirit to contract."
"Contract? No, we're heading back to camp."
The Ten Thousand Vine Turtle's Spirit Master said.
The Earthquake Wolf was already injured, and he still wanted us to find a spirit with him?
Hah!
Look at that guy over there. Look at his spirit!
I heard he's still a high schooler, and a mid-level Breeder!
What's the difference?
This is it!
He shook his head, waved for the Ten Thousand Vine Turtle to lead the way, and left.
His mind was already working on how to get on that high schooler's good side.
After all, someone like that could very well become a big shot in a few years.
---
Wah wah wah, I'm a double-update beast~