Chapter 57: First Encounter with Dugu Bo

Several days later, Sunset Forest.

"Mo Hui, what do you think of that Wind-Chasing Eagle over there?"

A teacher pointed toward a cyan giant eagle perched on a distant cliff and asked Mo Hui, who was standing beside him.

Before Mo Hui could reply, Feng Qingcang patted the teacher on the shoulder and said, "That Wind-Chasing Eagle is at most around three thousand years old. That age is still a bit too low to serve as Mo Hui's fourth spirit ring. Let's keep looking."

If they were attaching a fourth spirit ring for any ordinary student, a three-thousand-year-old Wind-Chasing Eagle would certainly suffice. However, as the most outstanding student of their Divine Wind Academy, Mo Hui required something higher than three thousand years.

Besides, this spirit-hunting expedition involved a peak Spirit Saint and six advanced Spirit Emperors. If they settled for a mere three-thousand-year-old spirit ring, wouldn't this trip have been in vain?

"That's true. Let's keep searching."

Hearing Feng Qingcang's words, the teacher acknowledged the reasoning and nodded.

Although Sunset Forest could not compare to the Star Dou Great Forest, it was still one of the largest wild spirit beast habitats in the Heaven Dou Empire. Millennium and ten-thousand-year spirit beasts were by no means rare here, so settling for less was unnecessary.

Afterward, Feng Qingcang looked at Mo Hui and asked, "Mo Hui, do you have any specific preferences for your fourth spirit ring?"

"Wind-Chasing Eagles, Azure-Rainbow Falcons, Hurricane Birds, Gale Divine Eagles, Golden-Feathered Hawks—any of these powerful wind-attribute avian spirit beasts will do."

Mo Hui replied without hesitation.

There were only a few truly powerful wind-attribute avian spirit beasts, so Mo Hui's options were not particularly vast. However, the one he most wanted to absorb as his fourth spirit ring was still a Hurricane Bird.

When he utilized a Hurricane Bird to absorb a spirit ring last time, a deviation had occurred in Mo Hui's spirit skills, granting him the ultimate move known as "Tailwind." Absorbing another might yield ultimate moves like tornadoes or windstorms.

Of course, if Mo Hui broadened his scope, his choices would multiply. Powerful wind-attribute spirit beasts were plentiful, and he could even choose certain physical or mental-type spirit beasts, which might grant him transformation-type techniques.

Driven by the pursuit of perfection, the group practically scoured the entire outer region of the Sunset Canyon. Yet, after searching for several days, they still had not found a satisfying spirit beast. The best they encountered was a Blue-Wind Hawk that had just barely reached four thousand years.

Although spirit beasts like the Blue-Wind Hawk were decent, they were hardly exceptional. If this was all their expedition could yield, Feng Qingcang and the others would naturally be unwilling to accept it.

Therefore, in order to find the best possible spirit ring for Mo Hui, Feng Qingcang and his team led Mo Hui deep into the interior of Sunset Forest.

The danger level in the depths of Sunset Forest was naturally much higher than the outer areas. Ten-thousand-year spirit beasts could be encountered from time to time. However, deterred by the presence of Feng Qingcang, a peak Spirit Saint, and six advanced Spirit Emperors, very few spirit beasts dared to launch attacks against them.

Whenever an oblivious ten-thousand-year spirit beast crossed their path, Feng Qingcang didn't even need to make a move; a couple of Spirit Emperor teachers would effortlessly slay the foolish creature in a joint effort.

Thus, after a few more days, they finally encountered a satisfactory spirit beast.

Feng Qingcang turned to Mo Hui beside him and asked softly, "Mo Hui, the age of that Wind-Chasing Eagle is approaching five thousand years. Decide whether you want to absorb it as your fourth spirit ring."

The Wind-Chasing Eagle was already a remarkably powerful spirit beast, and an age nearing five thousand years was of top-tier quality—right at the absolute limit of what a genius's fourth spirit ring could endure. If Mo Hui was still not satisfied, they could only hope to encounter an even rarer wind-attribute spirit beast further along.

Creatures like Hurricane Birds were simply too difficult to find, and lingering too long might yield no results at all.

"..."

Gazing at the distant Wind-Chasing Eagle, Mo Hui fell into a moment of hesitation.

During these days following Feng Qingcang and the others, Mo Hui had truly come to understand how difficult it was to obtain a spirit ring under such strict standards.

The population of wind-attribute spirit beasts was not small, and many were formidable. Yet, powerful wind-attribute avian spirit beasts were scarce, and finding one that met the exact age requirement was even rarer. If he let this Wind-Chasing Eagle slip away, they truly had no idea how long they would have to search.

Of course, Mo Hui could lower his standards. If he wanted something comparable to Tang San's ten-thousand-year spirit rings, Feng Qingcang and the others could provide as many as he desired. But was that truly appropriate?

Seeing Mo Hui lost in thought, Feng Qingcang did not disturb him. For a genius like Mo Hui, the absorption of every spirit ring was a major milestone in life, one that might even dictate the path he would walk hereafter. It was entirely normal for him to deliberate.

A moment later, seeing Mo Hui nod, Feng Qingcang immediately exchanged a glance with the other six instructors.

The six instantly understood. Bursts of spirit power flickered around them, and Feng Yi directly cast a beam of cyan light onto Feng Qingcang.

Given their strength, killing this mere five-thousand-year-old Wind-Chasing Eagle would naturally be effortless. However, this was a spirit hunt, and the final blow had to be dealt by Mo Hui himself.

The Wind-Chasing Eagle possessed immense speed. Although far inferior to an Azure-Rainbow Falcon in a burst state, it still ranked easily within the top ten among all avian spirit beasts.

Capturing it alive in midair without killing it outright was no small feat, even for them. This was the exact reason why so many people had been brought along.

At that moment, a teacher muttered internally: "Flying spirit beasts are such a pain. If it were a ground-bound spirit beast, why would the Dean even need to step in for a mere five thousand years? I could easily capture it alive by myself."

"Screeeech—!"

Yet at that very moment, a sudden change occurred. Seemingly sensing a chill running down its spine, the five-thousand-year-old Wind-Chasing Eagle shook its wings and transformed into a streak of cyan light, preparing to flee the area.

"Not good! Quick, after it! Don't let it escape!"

Realizing something was amiss, Feng Qingcang shouted a warning to the teachers beside him. A pair of massive yellow-cyan wings instantly sprouted from his back, turning him into a yellow-cyan beam of light as he gave chase to the Wind-Chasing Eagle.

Right behind Feng Qingcang, the second fastest to react was none other than Mo Hui.

He swiftly leaped onto the back of his enlarged Pidgeot. As his third spirit ring lit up, a powerful gust of wind swept past, and the Pidgeot carried Mo Hui away in a streak of cyan light, pursuing the direction in which Feng Qingcang had vanished.

Seeing this, the remaining instructors quickly displayed their respective abilities—some sprouted wings, others utilized wind-powered gliders—and followed closely behind.

A short while later, Mo Hui caught up to Feng Qingcang. To his astonishment, however, Feng Qingcang had not captured the Wind-Chasing Eagle. Instead, the veteran expert was trembling, staring with evident dread at an elderly figure clad in gray robes and green hair standing ahead.

When Mo Hui finally caught sight of that figure, his pupils instantly constricted.

At the same time, Mo Hui cursed inwardly: "Damn it, how can my luck be this atrocious to actually run into this person?"