Chenxiang spun 360º finishing with a cute pose "How do you find me, Bai?"
"Long time not seeing you, Xiang. You're radiant Chenxiang, breath-taking" she blushed a lot and I received a jab at the stomach from Mayi.
"What are you doing here, Chenxiang?" spatted Mayi.
"I was thinking of Bai, like always, remembering all the good times when..." Chenxiang teased Mayi, Mayi starting to growl.
"Xiang, stop! Don't make Mayi mad" I try to soothe Mayi "But really, what are you doing here?"
"I am with my new team members. They are searching for compatible beast for their rings" She smiled and surrounding her wings were 4 rings, yellow, purple, purple and black "I am rank 44, I obtained mine 2 months ago"
"Congratulations, Xiang" I congratulated her. "What is the ability?
"Thanks, Bai. For the ring skill, you'll need to wait to see it. By the way, what are you both doing here?" She asked.
I answered "We are trying to find some spirit rings for us". "But here..." She was about to say before a answered "We know that the number of older beast here is scarce. But for some problem we can't go to Star Dou Forest, so we tried luck here. Before meeting you, we decided that today will be our last day here, after more than a months searching, we didn't find anything worth it"
Chenxiang nodded "My teammates are also trying to find compatible spirit rings. So far, we only found two. We are in a hurry, if in 2 weeks we don't find for the others, we must leave without them. The Continental Tournament selection is very soon"
"Oh? So you really join an academy to participate. What academy did you join?" I asked curiously.
Chenxiang smiled "You will see. I must return with them, they will be upset if I absent too much time. You can follow me"
"We don't have anything better to do. Also, I want to know your teammates" I answered.
Chenxiang then guided us to her provisional camping, which consisted of some tents. Approaching there I could listen to a familiar girl's voice "Where did you go, Chenxiang? Next time warn us at least".
"Oh, my fault Rongrong. I needed to stretch my wing" Chenxiang apologized. "And watch who I brought"
Yeah, it was my little sister. I could also see the other members of Shrek Academy.
"Big brother, what are you doing here?" asked surprised Rongrong.
I turned to Chenxiang who was smiling "So you joined Shrek".
Chenxiang nodded "Yep. I know that they are strong. Moreover, they also were expelled from Heaven Duo Imperial Academy, so we have similar circumstances. Without forgetting that teacher Qin is also there. They easily accepted me, now being part of the main team"
"Good for you, Xiang" I approached Rongrong and hugged her "Glad to see you are fine. I'm delighted to see you again, Rongrong"
Rongrong hugged me tightly "I missed you, big brother"
We separated and I congratulated Rongrong "It seems that you broke through rank 40, congratulations Rongrong. And for what are we doing here, I think that we are in the same basket. We are also trying to hunt some spirit beasts for our rings"
"So you broke through rank 50. It will be difficult to go against your academy which will have at least 2 spirit kings" She said glancing at Mayi "It seems that you weren't lucky enough to find one"
"Yeah, we planned to leave tomorrow, as I doubt that we will find some spirit beast here. I will go to another higher level place"
At that moment Tang San approached us "Maybe, it won't be necessary"
I looked Tang San incredulously "What are you planning, Tang San?"
He smiled lightly "We have little time to waste here. So I planned to use this" He then took out an herb, it was a pink flower, from it, it could be smelled a rich and fragrant aroma. He quickly withdrew it.
"I will use this Aromatic Silk Beauty, to attract spirit beast. A lot of spirit beast will be attracted to its energy as an immortal treasure" Explained Tang San.
I lifted one eyebrow "Too much. Even with your teachers here, do you really think you could restrain the sheer quantity that will come?" I asked.
"Truly observant. I have it into account. In this forest, there is a poisonous formation capable of install-killing an under 70 spirit master, even stronger against beast. I have the antidote, so we will use it to protect ourselves" Tang San explained.
"Are you sure to help me? In the tournament, we will be rivals?" I said.
"Your Rongrong's brother, all in Shrek are like a family. It's normal to help you. Also, it would be helpful to have another powerful spirit master in case something unexpected happen" He said.
I inclined a little my head "Thanks, Tang San. I would ensure that anything bad happens. In the future I would try to help you" I thanked him.
"Don't worry, and you can call me San. You don't need to be formal" he said.
I nodded "In that case, don't doubt me to call me Bai" I turned to the other members of Shrek "Of course, it goes for all of you"
After some light talk between us, we were all being guided by San.
While walking Rongrong approached me and dragged me a little far from the group and asked in a low voice "Big brother, what do you think about sister Xiang?"
I looked at her surprised by the question "She is a very good friend, she put a lot of effort into all, using her 100%. She was always who trainer harder and finally she accomplished her long dream of breaking through rank 38. She is also very strong, specializing in speed. She..."
"I wasn't asking about that" Rongrong interrupted me "I was asking about her, sentimentally. Do you like her?"
I blushed a little "I really like her, she is very passionate, straightforward and intelligent when she wants. She is also very beautiful. But I already with Mayi, so it won't be fair to any of us. So it's more like friends"
Rongrong smiled "She is always talking about how great you are big brother. It's easy to see that she is in love. If what you say it's true, it will be better to make it clear. Don't give her false expectations, she is really great. She is already one of the most popular at the academy" she said seriously "Ah, and for your knowledge. I will prefer 100 times more sister Xiang, she doesn't seem so crazy" Rongrong left saying.
I stood thinking about Chenxiang "I really need to clarify my feeling" I said to myself, before quickly catching the group.
After an hour of walking, we arrived near a little hill. I could detect a powerful poison surrounding it.
At that moment San gave us two pills "This will make you immune to the poison. They will last 1 day, eat one now and the second one tomorrow at the same time. I think that with 2 days will be enough" explained San.
We all ate one pill. San then took the Aromatic Silk Beauty and plant it at the ground outside the poison formation. Then he took a bottle and spray some black liquid from it to the herb.
The herb started to exude an even more rich fragrance that started to spread around. "Be aware. If a lot of beasts come, be prepared to quickly back to the poisonous formation. I already put a low potent poisonous formation surrounding the herb, so low-level beast won't come. Be prepared" San said.
We all surrounded the herb, with the support ones being nearer it, protected by the others. Grandmaster approached me and said "If there's not any need to intervene, please don't move. Let them take care. The experience will be good for them" I nodded in understanding.
After only fine minutes we could listen to a growl, from its sound it seems like a tiger one.
From the forest came a tiger purple like beast. It was a Phantom Tiger, a tiger beast who excelled in speed, its main characteristic was its innate ability to create copies of itself.
"A Phantom Tiger, for its size it seems near 4000 years. Completely compatible with Zhuqing" said Grandmaster "Go for it".
The Phantom Tiger came towards us, its objective without doubt being the immortal treasure. Approaching at us, it divided into three.
"Let me handle this" said Chenxiang. From her back appeared her translucent wings with its four rings. The black one started to shine. At that moment, Chenxiang shined and after a bright light there were 4 Chenxiangs, all of them had spirit energy, and it was really difficult to detect the real one.
One stayed with us, the other three went towards the beast, each one to one of its copies. When they were close to the beasts, the Chenxiangs smiled and started to shine "BOOOOOM!" all three exploded.
Two of the Phantom Tigers disappeared, and one of them stopped its charge and was pushed away 20 meters, with some severe burnings.
Chenxiang smiled at me "Diffraction. My 4th skill ring, incredible, eh?"
"Truly great" I said "It can be used as an attack technique and as a distraction, being very difficult to differentiate the real one"
Then San threw a web to the beast immobilizing. Mubai started to throw punches like meteorites to it and finally, Hongjun invoked her phoenix spirit surrounding the beast with a powerful fire pillar causing the beast to be close to death, impossible to move.
"Quickly, Zhuqing! Finish it" said Grandmaster. Zhuqing nails grew close to half a meter with a purple shine. She charged towards the tiger beast and killing piercing its neck.
From the beast appeared a purple ring. Then, Shrek students moved the body to the poison formation and Zhuqing started absorbing the ring.
Mayi and I with the teachers stayed outside, beating the beast that was approaching. After 20 minutes, more than 10 beasts came, and the numbers continued to grow "There are too much. Quickly retreat to the formation" Grandmaster shouted.
San approach to the immortal treasure and stored it, then we all retracted to the formation. Even without the herb, its potent essence endured, continuing to attract more beast.
After some time Grandmaster suggested a Unicorn Armored Beast for Rongrong 4th ring, being a defense specialized beast, close to 4000 years. It made me a little nostalgic about us fighting its older version.
"I think that it would be a better option, that" I said signaling a Blue Hard Tortoise.
"It's almost 10.000 years! I would say it has 9000 years, is too much for the 4th ring of Rongrong" Grandmaster commented.
"With her improved foundation, I think that she won't have any problem absorbing anything younger than 10.000. I could also help her a little absorbing. Trust me" I said, this time looking at Rongrong.
Rongrong nodded "Yep. I'm prepared for it"
Grandmaster sighed "If you say it, okay let's capture it"
The teachers took some, weapons? From the students. They were similar to metal claws. The weapons shot towards the Tortoise beast, blocking it and dragging it to the formation. An incredible weapon, and very versatile its use.
Inside the formation, the woman teacher, Liu Erlong, beat it a little, plus the poison in the formation, it was quickly reduced to an immobile object.
Rongrong approached it and pierced inside its shell with a spirit knife. From the corpse appeared a purple ring and Rongrong started absorbing it.
Even if I could sense that Rongrong was having some difficulties to absorb it, I didn't think that it would be impossible for her. So I decided to not act. In the case I see it impossible, I could always use Glut skill to devour some energy from the ring, the ring becoming younger in the process.
Even if it will show Glut to Shrek, they all showed me their abilities, doing it easier for me when fighting them. Also, for Rongrong its worth it, and she really trusts all of them.
After some time Rongrong finished absorbing the ring, her new ability improving the defense 60%. We all congratulate her.