After completing preparations, the group set out with the leadership of Qinglan Weiwei. With the map in her hands and her spear in her spatial ring, she was the only girl who wasn’t wielding her weapon. However, this wasn’t a reason to underestimate her.

After some walking, they encountered some stray beasts which were dispatched in single combat by the girls. Qinglan Weiwei did not take part in such battles, as she wouldn’t gain any experience.

Finally, a worthy target arrived… a pack of wild wolves! Wolves were ferocious beasts who knew teamwork. This was quite a large pack, with 15 beasts. All of them were battle ready. As the gazes of the beasts and humans collided, a strange sensation filled the air…

After training together for a week, their synergy had increased, reaching such a level that they did not need words to form a strategy! Of course, it could be that the strategy was communicated through spirit sense…

The first to come under attack was Qinglan Weiwei, the only one to not bear a weapon. Five beasts charged at her…

Anyway, Qinglan Weiwei struck out with a spear, slashing through the five beasts in an instant. Seeing the might of the technique granted by Heifeng Jiansui, the girls were filled with anticipation to please their master and obtain such might for themselves!

The Feilong siblings slashed out with blade and sword at five beasts while Xuehu Ying and Gui Tian’er struck out at another five.

The two duos had distinctly different styles. The Feilong twins could attack and defend at will, due to their long history training together, while the two Palace maids were forced into a defensive battle due to lack of synergy.

After some moves were exchanged, the battle ended with the extermination of all beasts. Qinglan Weiwei put away her spear as she reminisced, “Young master gave us the Five Blades Converge Art saying that it will keep us safe against a pack of wolves… And we ended up killing a pack of wolves like this… could he have predicted this?”

“Well, the battle ended. With none of the girls being forced to utilize their battle spirits, it seemed that only demonic beasts could challenge the girls…” Heifeng Jiansui said this with some disappointment.

“Well, if you insist…” The spirit Ninebless beside him chuckled as she spread her spiritual force to ensnare some beasts.

+++

“Well, we have gathered enough of a harvest to feed us for the next week. We should return now, we are already at the outskirts of the demonic beast territory…” Just when Qinglan Weiwei was saying this, the howl of a demonic beast resounded. Hearing this the group set off into a run.

However, it was futile. The shadow of the demonic beast was faster than them. Instead of running and exhausting stamina, the better option would be standing and fighting!

The demonic beast chasing them was a Demon Tiger. It had various runes etched on its body, and a black fire burnt in its maws. Xuehu Ying, a Kirin bloodline cultivator, felt an urge to kill the beast and drink its blood. Of course, the beast had such intentions as well!

The group set up the battle formation with Qinglan Weiwei at the helm. Immediately, Gui Tian’er called out her battle spirit, raising the defensive prowess of the party! The formation was a weapon formation that did not utilize battle spirits, so it would only help their physical attacks and synergy!

Qinglan Weiwei thrust out a spear! The spear strike fused eight out of the nine layers of Body Transformation together. This was a forceful attack that exhausted even her blood energy, but she was facing a demonic beast, it was no time to hold back!

Smash! The strike pushed away the tiger and marked it with a bloody red mark on the flank, but it was still relatively uninjured. At this moment when the beast was down, the Feilong sisters attacked with blade and sword.

Since the strongest blow from Qinglan Weiwei could not hurt the beast, it was only natural that the attacks of the twins were ineffectual… But their strikes were focused on the area where Qinglan Weiwei had attacked, causing the beast great pain. The blows of the girls were in sync, and a mysterious spiritual energy began resonating with them…

Boom! Suddenly, their sword and saber struck the bear’s bloody mark and a phantasmal White Swan appeared, pecking on the mark. An explosion of ice and fire followed, blasting through the chest. This was the Pure White Phoenix Dragon, the Spirit Fusion attack that the twins took pride in! The girls had unexpectedly achieved a breakthrough, allowing them to cast the technique in the midst of battle!

At this point, Gui Tian’er and Xuehu Ying struck the Demonic Tiger. Gui Tian’er harassed the beast with staff strikes while Xuehu Ying used her White Tiger Claws to slash away at the beast’s wounds!

After being beaten black and blue by inferiors who shouldn’t be able to withstand a strike from it in the first place, the tiger grew berserk! Without caring about injuries, it attacked the two. Xuehu Ying was struck away by fierce claws but she minimized injuries due to her blood memories of the tiger’s attacking skill. Meanwhile, Gui Tian’er struck with staff strikes, gradually retreating from the beast while aggravating it.

After Gui Tian’er retreated, Qinglan Weiwei attacked with spear blows. Instead of attacking with her strongest skill, she gradually built up momentum for a full-powered killing strike. And her wait was successful, for her Azure Dragon Spear successfully blasted the beast while pulverizing through its shoulder!

Wracked in pain and unable to move, the sword and spear struck out again! The Phoenix-dragon formed once more and the beast was finally crippled, its front legs annihilated by merciless ice and fire.

But even without the front legs, the beast somehow moved with its back feet. That said, it was no longer a threat to the group.

The beast finally was killed off by a series of strikes from Xuehu Ying’s claws. After the battle ended, the maids sat down in exhaustion. The blood of their kill would keep away all beasts.

“We won… It was pure bad luck that a demonic beast attacked, but we killed it off anyway. That said, this beast was still an animal that had the might of a true cultivator, while we were qualified to struggle against it due to our equipment and techniques.” On hearing Qinglan Weiwei’s words, they thought of Heifeng Jiansui who had generously granted them these items which inner sect disciples of prestigious sects had to struggle for.

“That said, this battle had benefits as well. Facing a opponent whose strength surpassed us, we made breakthroughs in our arts. My Azure Dragon Spear is one more step closer to mastery, while the twins have also come closer to perfecting their martial arts. Gui Tian’er made breakthroughs by successfully defending against a mightier opponent while Xuehu Ying gained the most, battling against a demon beast of her tribe!” The Kirin clan girl couldn’t help but glare at their leader who dared to compare the wild tiger to her clan.

“Anyway, let’s skin and pack that beast…” At her command, the girls immediately began cutting down the demonic beast’s precious parts and packing them away. After this, they swiftly left.

However, the shadows of the forest kept away the conversation of the duo that were the culprits behind their hard-won battle.

“You have some talented maids. That girl… she is close to comprehending her Daoheart and the rest can reach that realm as well.” Hearing the praise of the spirit, Heifeng Jiansui smirked.

“To be my maids, they need a minimum of skill, after all. Now, I need to go and exit seclusion, be surprised by their courageous kill and reward them as well…” Saying this, the master of the maids returned home to await their return…