Wei Yun’s spiritual sense confirmed its potent cutting force, far surpassing the Wind Ribbon in power.
"A Second-tier metal artifact." A satisfied smile curled Wei Yun’s lips. Such a weapon could greatly enhance a spirit beast’s abilities and was far more valuable than first-tier ones.
The only problem? Wei Yun had no metal-affinity spirit beast. Metal-type beasts typically thrived in mineral-rich regions, places far from here. Still, he made a mental note: in the future, he might seek out a suitable metal-affinity companion.
After securing the golden blade, Wei Yun turned his attention to the last item—a small pouch.
Unlike ordinary satchels, this palm-sized bag resembled a fragrant sachet, crafted from woven metallic threads with a soft drawstring closure. Designed to be worn at the waist like an ornament, it exuded a subtle but unmistakable air of craftsmanship.
Yet, something about it felt oddly familiar.
“Could this be…” Wei Yun’s brows furrowed as he tugged the drawstring open. Peering inside, he saw only darkness, even with sunlight directly hitting it.
His eyes widened.
"It is!"
Holding the pouch in his palm, Wei Yun extended his spiritual power, enveloping it entirely.
The moment his spiritual energy connected, he sensed a hidden dimensional space—a secluded pocket realm, independent from the material world.
Inside, rolling green hills stretched beneath an artificial sun. Rivers meandered through valleys, and the space teemed with vitality, capable of sustaining living creatures.
Rather than fear, Wei Yun’s heart surged with excitement.
"A spirit beast pouch."
A rare artifact—not just a storage tool, but a special dimension designed to house temporary spirit beasts.
Unlike ordinary dimensional rings, it could not hold objects—only living creatures.
This particular pouch had limits:
- It could only store up to five spirit beasts.
- It had size restrictions, preventing it from housing larger creatures.
- It was crafted from lower-tier materials, limiting its overall capacity.
Yet, for Wei Yun, it was invaluable.
He had always planned to capture high-quality spirit beasts, but carrying them openly would be too conspicuous.
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With this spirit beast pouch, he could conceal temporary contracts, release them in battle, and turn the tide with unexpected reinforcements.
"Perfect."
Without hesitation, he aimed the pouch at the Cave Mole, his temporary spirit beast.
"Enter."
A wave of spiritual power surged, and the earth-affinity spirit beast transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the pouch’s dimensional space.
Now, it was time to leave. Wei Yun glanced at Lin Zheng’s corpse one last time, then buried it swiftly beneath the earth.
He had no reason to linger. Returning to the Wei Clan was his top priority.
He needed to warn them of the Lin Clan’s infiltration and sabotage. He needed to ensure his own safety, avoiding any retaliation. Most importantly, this was a major achievement. The Wei Clan would reward him handsomely.
Even though he had lost his parents, the clan had never mistreated him. They had supported him, and he saw their fate as tied to his own.
And… he had proof. The identity medallion from Lin Zheng, alongside the ears of the slain second-Tier Wind Wolf and Titanfang Bear, would be more than enough evidence to convince the elders.
Still, he chose to descend the mountain on foot, Mira needed time to fully recover.
Even while moving, Wei Yun kept his spiritual sense extended, scanning for enemies—and, if lucky, high-quality spirit beasts.
After an unknown length of time, he reached the mountain’s outer region. but suddenly froze.
Not because of danger. Not because of a rare spirit beast.
But because he had found something else.
A hidden valley entrance. It was exceedingly well-concealed—a narrow passage barely wide enough for a single person, shrouded by thick foliage. If not for his extended perception, he would never have noticed it.
Initially, he had no intention of exploring.
Too many unknowns.
Too many risks.
He was about to turn away, when his ears caught a distant commotion.
Clashing sounds. Beastly roars. A battle.
From the intensity, it was clear many spirit beasts were involved. Wei Yun hesitated.
Go in or leave?
Logic dictated he should leave, but curiosity won out.
“…I have to see.”
For precaution, he opened his spirit beast pouch, releasing the Cave Mole.
Then, he set simple traps at the entrance, just in case. And finally, he stepped inside.
The narrow passage barely allowed a single person through. But as he ventured deeper, the path widened, and soon, the valley opened before him.
A hidden paradise.
Grassy meadows, dense flora, a natural haven for wild spirit beasts. From his elevated position, hidden by trees, Wei Yun peered down into the valley’s heart.
There on an open field, a massive battle unfolded. Two beast factions, one resembling zebras, the other praying mantises—locked in brutal combat.
The first species looked like zebras, but larger, stronger, with flowing violet lightning streaks along their bodies. Atop their heads, silver horns crackled with electricity, and their purple eyes gleamed with intelligence—like mythical thunder steeds.
Lightning Zebras.
A rare lightning-affinity species, famous for their explosive speed and high endurance. widely sought as battle mounts.
The second species was just as fearsome. Towering over a meter tall, these mantis-like beasts stood on two legs, their razor-sharp forearms serrated like deadly saw blades.
Sawtooth Mantises.
Their offensive power was terrifying, but their weakness was clear, poor defense. Given their natural rivalry, their clash was inevitable. The battle grew bloodier by the second.
Lightning flashed, blades sliced, bodies fell.
The grassland was now painted red with fallen warriors—some merely wounded, others lifeless. Both factions fought evenly, neither side gaining the upper hand.
If this continued, it would take time to determine a victor. Which worked perfectly for Wei Yun. Because if high-quality spirit beasts were among them. this was his chance to claim them.
Five minutes later, he stopped. The battlefield lay only four to five hundred meters ahead.
Now, he just had to wait.
When the battle ended—
That’s when the real hunt would begin.