"Jiang Yuan, don't worry. Maybe Meow Meow got hungry and went out hunting on her own. She might be back soon."
Hamster Pudding patted Jiang Yuan on the shoulder, offering comfort.
"Maybe. Sorry for making you all search with me for so long."
Jiang Yuan smiled at Hamster Pudding and the dozen or so members of the Genesis Guild, speaking a bit apologetically.
"No worries! Everyone, disperse!"
Hamster Pudding waved a hand, smiled, and gestured to the guild members behind him. They went their separate ways, leaving only Hamster Pudding and Ding Ye, who were close to Jiang Yuan.
"You two head back too. I'll go look around on my own later."
Just as Jiang Yuan finished speaking, a familiar voice came from behind him.
"Meow!"
"Meow Meow?"
Hearing the cat's cry, Jiang Yuan turned around excitedly, but the thrill on his face instantly vanished, replaced by sheer shock!
The Persian cat Meow Meow was covered in wounds, blood staining her once pristine white fur crimson. One of her front paws hung limp and useless.
"Meow Meow, what happened to you?"
Jiang Yuan quickly scooped the battered Persian cat into his arms, his face full of concern.
"Meow!"
Lying in Jiang Yuan's embrace, Meow Meow weakly lifted a paw and pointed toward a direction outside the north gate of Shangjing City.
"You mean I should go out of the city?"
Jiang Yuan looked down at Meow Meow in his arms and asked.
"Meow!"
Meow Meow nodded, confirming Jiang Yuan's guess.
"You two go ahead with your own business. I'll check it out."
Jiang Yuan turned to greet Hamster Pudding and Ding Ye, then dashed off toward the north gate of Shangjing City with Meow Meow in his arms.
As soon as he exited the city gate, Jiang Yuan summoned a Dragon Beard Tiger, swung himself onto its back, and followed Meow Meow's directions, constantly changing course as they sped along.
After who knows how long, guided by Meow Meow, Jiang Yuan plunged into a remote mountain. Opening the mini-map, he saw this place was at the border between the Cold River City and the Ten Thousand League Alliance territories, named "East Forest Mountain."
"Meow!"
Once at East Forest Mountain, Meow Meow in Jiang Yuan's arms perked up noticeably. Her eyes swept around, and she suddenly leaped out of his arms, limping forward.
Jiang Yuan patted his Dragon Beard Tiger and followed closely behind Meow Meow, gradually venturing into the deepest part of East Forest Mountain.
With her injured front paw, Meow Meow led Jiang Yuan deep into the mountain, stopping before a cave. She pointed her paw at the dark entrance, as if to say, "It's right here!"
"Woof! Woof!"
Just as Jiang Yuan was about to ride the Dragon Beard Tiger into the cave, a series of barks echoed from deep within.
"Meow Meow, did that dog in there hurt you? Don't worry, I'll get revenge for you!"
Jiang Yuan looked at Meow Meow in front of him and said. Meow Meow first shook her head, then nodded, leaving Jiang Yuan puzzled about what she meant.
Though he didn't understand the message Meow Meow was trying to convey, a surge of fury welled up in Jiang Yuan's heart. He immediately entered the cave, ready to give the creature that bullied Meow Meow a good beating!
"Woof! Woof!"
Suddenly, a creature Jiang Yuan had never seen before appeared at the cave entrance, blocking his way.
"What... what kind of monster is this?"
Jiang Yuan exclaimed, studying the unknown creature at the entrance. It had a body like a piglet, but its heels bore chicken claws—a very strange sight.
"Woof! Woof!"
The unknown creature barked at Jiang Yuan again, its voice identical to a dog's. Jiang Yuan's gaze fell on the monster, and he began to read its information.
【Monster: Li Li】 Level: 110 Realm: First-Stage Loose Demon Health: 50,000,000 Attack: Defense: Description: In ancient times, there was a mountain called "Gui Mountain," bordering Liuhuang to the west, facing Zhubi to the north, and Changyou to the east. A beast dwelled there, shaped like a pig, with claws, its cry like a dog's bark, named "Li Li."
"Damn, why is an ancient monster appearing here?"
After reading the details of this beast called "Li Li," Jiang Yuan couldn't help but gasp inwardly.
"Meow!"
Seeing Li Li, Meow Meow's fur stood on end, her body arched, and she let out a sharp cry, as if bearing a deep grudge against it.
With a "whoosh," the blood-soaked Meow Meow leaped high into the air, attacking the monster Li Li, only to be sent flying by a single swipe of its claw!
"Daring to bully Meow Meow? You're asking for death!"
Seeing this, Jiang Yuan roared in anger, raised his hand, and summoned a thousand Dragon Beard Tigers, casting a "Secret Mark" skill at Li Li.
As the skull mark slowly appeared above Li Li's head, the Dragon Beard Tigers roared and charged at it.
"Woof! Woof!"
"Roar!"
Two strange cries rang out deep in East Forest Mountain as the monster Li Li was instantly engulfed by the thousand Dragon Beard Tigers Jiang Yuan had summoned!
"Smack!" "Smack!" "Smack!"
To Jiang Yuan's astonishment, Li Li's body suddenly swelled several times in size. Though still in pig form, its muscles bulged explosively, and its pig hooves with chicken claws swung back and forth, sending the Dragon Beard Tigers flying one by one.
With skill enhancements, Jiang Yuan's Dragon Beard Tigers had a full 120,000 health each, yet these once-invincible beasts couldn't gain any advantage against this monster!
After one round of attacks, Li Li's health had only dropped by a few tens of thousands, while Jiang Yuan had lost over half of his thousand Dragon Beard Tigers!
Since Jiang Yuan had changed class to a Nine-Spirit Summoner, he had never encountered such a situation!
Due to terrain limitations, Jiang Yuan couldn't summon more Dragon Beard Tigers, and for a moment, he didn't know what to do.
Just as Jiang Yuan was at a loss, he caught a glimpse of his avatar frame in the upper right corner, showing his level at 105.
"Almost forgot—I can learn new skills now!"
Jiang Yuan slapped his forehead and said in surprise, quickly opening the skill interface.
On the first page under "Character Skills," Jiang Yuan swiftly found the "Four Sacred Beasts" section, where the level-105 Xuanwu icon had changed from an unlearnable gray to an active white.
"Ding! Learning the skill 'Sacred Beast Xuanwu' requires 1,000 Immortal Foundation points. Do you wish to learn?"
The system chimed in with a prompt. To Jiang Yuan's surprise, learning the Nine-Spirit Summoner's "Four Sacred Beasts" skill consumed Immortal Foundation points. Fortunately, Jiang Yuan had a good amount saved up, so he immediately selected "Learn!"
"Ding! Skill 'Sacred Beast Xuanwu' learned successfully!"
The prompt sounded, and Jiang Yuan, facing the monster Li Li, immediately used this newly learned Nine-Spirit Summoner skill!
Above East Forest Mountain, winds howled and clouds churned. A massive vortex slowly appeared, and a mysterious beam of light shone straight down from the clouds in front of Jiang Yuan. A hollow, ancient voice echoed overhead.
"By the covenant's pact, I draw the power of the stars to manifest as Xuanwu, bound to my will."