Chapter 61: How Lively It Is

But none of this had anything to do with Ji Tianxin. She never cared about the opinions of others; perhaps, to her, these people were not even worth remembering.

The next day.

Suddenly, a dazzling red light shot up from a forest near Jin’an City, piercing the sky! Immediately following was a surge of violent energy rippling through the woods!

Yet, just as the red light reached the heavens, it vanished in an instant, so swift it was gone before one could blink.

Ji Tianxin had been lying atop the roof of the courtyard, basking in the sunlight, quietly napping. All at once, her eyes snapped open, and she sat up from her reclining position.

For a moment, a rare trace of seriousness flickered in her usually tranquil gaze.

“This is... a sign that a primordial beast is about to emerge…”

How could a beast of ancient legend possibly manifest in a place like this?

Ji Tianxin frowned, then leapt up, transforming into a streak of light that disappeared without a trace.

“Master!” Su Qing called out, but all she saw was the afterimage Ji Tianxin left behind, fading in the air.

How odd—where had Master gone?

Meanwhile, the forest outside Jin’an City was alive with commotion.

Several groups were searching the woods, each as if seeking something vital.

Even their attire marked them as separate factions, each group clad in uniforms of striking similarity. From their physiques and the aura of cultivation surrounding them, it was obvious—they were nothing like ordinary people.

They were martial artists.

Like small squads, they slipped through the forest, rarely crossing paths. And when they did, as long as neither party had what the other sought, they simply passed by, feigning ignorance.

“Who would have thought that on our trip to Yu Kingdom, we’d encounter the birth of a spirit beast? Our luck is truly extraordinary,” remarked a young man in a pale blue robe as he walked.

Their group numbered seven or eight, including two elders who appeared around fifty, several young men, and one or two juniors.

“With energy fluctuations like that, this spirit beast must be no ordinary creature—likely above the third tier,” one of the elders said in a grave tone. “Don’t let your guard down. Though the beast is not our primary objective, if we happen to find it, we must not let others snatch it away.”

“Yes, Master!” the young men and boys nodded in unison.

Elsewhere, a handsome youth lounged on a tree branch, chewing on a blade of grass.

“Representatives from the Four Great Sects and the Eight Noble Families are all here. Even forces under the Four Major Powers have sent people. What a lively gathering.”

The boy was strikingly delicate, his youth and slender frame lending him an almost girlish grace. Yet, there was an undeniable aura of spirited youth and bright, boyish charm about him.

“Hm?” He curled his index finger and thumb into a circle, peering into the distance. “Are those people from Windrider Academy?”

Si Han raised his eyebrows, then broke into a grin. “How lively!”

No wonder he’d ventured out this time.

“It’s truly lively,” a soft, childish voice sounded unexpectedly by his side.

Startled, Si Han felt a sudden chill sweep across his ears, sending a shiver down his spine.

He turned his head and saw, to his shock, a tiny girl had appeared at his side as if out of thin air, ghostlike and silent.

“Whoa!” Si Han yelped, rolling off the branch and tumbling to the ground.

As he landed, the little girl tapped her toes lightly on a leaf, then floated effortlessly down to the forest floor.