Chapter 104: Abu's Persistence
“Spare... spare my life!!! I’ll do whatever you say! Please!!! Please!!! Just let me live this once! I’ll do anything!!!”
Looking up at the monstrous plant in White Shadow’s hand, Little Dot leapt up in terror, but then quickly collapsed back onto the ground. Imitating his previous movements, he crawled backward, retreating cautiously to the side.
“Speak honestly! What’s the secret of that potion!?”
“Potion?? Oh... you mean that elixir of the past life?” Staring fearfully at the monstrous plant charging toward him, Little Dot frantically raised his hands. “I didn’t make it! That was given to me by Master Ba and the Death Spirit Sword. I don’t know anything! Really, really! I don’t know a thing!!!”
“Tell me everything you know. If there’s even the slightest thing that displeases me, I’ll have this plant devour you alive, and you’ll watch helplessly as you vanish bit by bit!”
“I swear, I really don’t know anything! Please, spare me! The potion was made by—”
Before Little Dot could finish, a long blade sliced through the thick fog, severing the silver threads of the barrier. The blade pierced straight into Little Dot’s head, instantly erasing him from the stage. The gust generated by the sword’s flight tore the fog apart on both sides, revealing the figure of the Death Spirit Sword standing beside the arena.
“...An illusion demon beast?” Without the support of his demonic energy, Little Dot’s true form was revealed as a wild boar spirit with tusks. White Shadow glanced at the Death Spirit Sword opposite him—this was the one who had just killed Little Dot. Clearly, he wanted no more nonsense from the creature.
“So that’s... White Shadow’s true form?”
‘Is that what White Shadow looked like in the past?’
At the moment the thick smoke dissipated, Zhang Yang and Feiyan caught a fleeting glimpse of White Shadow on the stage. His silver hair and commanding posture made him look like the embodiment of a demon god. But as the barrier broke, the white smoke slowly faded away. Without the potion’s mist to sustain him, the fox spirit White Shadow gradually disappeared. When the smoke vanished completely, White Shadow’s human form, Lu Fei, appeared on the platform. Standing next to him was Miss Xingmeng, who had just reverted to her true appearance and body.
“Oh... phew...” Letting out a deep breath, Miss Xingmeng patted her chest. She had been terrified that she might remain in that infantile form. Though her body had shrunk, her consciousness and mind were still her own. If she had stayed like that, she feared she might have gone mad. What would her betrothed think if he saw her as a baby? Thankfully, she had returned to normal.
“What’s going on? Did you see that guy in white on the stage?”
“He’s gone. But why is there a pure white tail?”
“Isn’t that White Shadow? Then who was that white-clad figure just now?”
“Yeah, who was that white-clad guy? How could he just disappear? Can anyone just enter the arena?”
“Hey, referee! Can you explain this?”
“There’s a pig lying on the stage!”
“What the heck is that!?”
“Why is there a knife stuck in its head!?”
“Where’s Little Dot!?”
“Little Dot’s gone!?”
“Exactly! Explain this quickly!”
“Yes! We demand an explanation!”
---
“Hurry up and explain!”
“Announcer, what are you doing?”
“We haven’t seen a thing since earlier!”
“This is a ripoff! Refunds!”
“Give us an explanation!”
“Speak up!”
“What’s going on on the stage?”
“Say something!”
“Explain yourselves!”
“Explain!!!”
---
“Hear me out, everyone,” Miss Xingmeng quickly adjusted her composure amidst the uproar from the crowd of demons in the stands. Clearing her throat, she began to explain: “Please don’t be anxious and listen carefully! Earlier, Little Dot used a smoke that causes people to revert to infancy. That’s why the entire stage was shrouded in white mist and you couldn’t see anything! I sincerely apologize. After inhaling the thick smoke myself, I turned into a baby as well, which is why I couldn’t report the events live to you all. Please forgive me. I’m truly very sorry...”
“Oh, that explains it!”
“Really?”
“What!? Reverting to infancy!?”
“Is that true?!”
“Wow, so amazing!”
“Where can we buy something like that?”
“Shh! Quiet! Keep listening!”
“Shh, shh...”
---
“That wild boar corpse on the ground is Little Dot’s true form. He is an illusion demon beast. Without the support of his demonic energy, he appears in his original form. As for the white-clad man you saw earlier—”
“Ahem...”
Glancing at White Shadow, who gently shook his head, Miss Xingmeng hastily corrected herself. “Actually, that was one of White Shadow’s incarnations. He changed form because of the smoke’s influence, so please don’t misunderstand. There was no outside interference in the match. The contestants on stage remain White Shadow from Qin Xiaochuan’s team and Little Dot from the New World Battle Team. Since Little Dot has perished, the winner of this match is—White Shadow from Qin Xiaochuan’s team! The score is now 3 to 0. Let’s look forward to even more exciting battles ahead!”
“You useless wretch, how dare you betray us!”
Looking at White Shadow on the stage, the Death Spirit Sword pulled out a die from his pocket. “But no wonder. That guy is just the core of an illusion demon beast. It’s no surprise he was scared by such an intense demonic aura. The numbers on the field have reversed now—2 to 3. Heh, this is getting interesting. But let’s continue the match.”
With that, the Death Spirit Sword threw the die...
---
In the cave, Qin Xiaochuan lay flat on the ground, his entire body aching and powerless. He couldn’t even muster the strength to move a finger.
“...Water... water...”
He whispered, his body slowly going limp. Qin Xiaochuan had completely lost the will to resist; he only longed for release. The pain was unbearable, as if his whole body was about to explode. He was utterly exhausted, on the verge of death... Sorry... My consciousness fades... Sorry, everyone... If I just fall asleep like this... maybe it’s time to give up... I just want one more sip of water... just one...
“Drip... drip...”
“Gulp...”
Water! So refreshing, so delicious! It was like tasting water for the first time in years. He wanted another sip. Feeling the water’s taste in his mouth, Qin Xiaochuan slowly opened his eyes.
“Abu!”
“Abu~~ Abu~~~”
Abu flapped her soft, chubby wings and took flight. No one knew where she went, but soon she returned, trembling. Her cheeks were puffed out, likely from exhaustion. After flying into the cave, she bumped into the wall twice in a row and spat out the water she was holding in her mouth. Staring blankly at the water on the ground, the little creature turned and staggered toward the cave’s entrance. She seemed too weak even to fly anymore...
“Abu... Abu!!!”
Spirit realm beasts survive by feeding on the strength of your soul. If your spirit weakens, the beast will suffer too. Without enough nourishment, the spirit beast could even die. You must be careful!
Recalling Little Yan Wang’s words, Qin Xiaochuan forced himself to open his eyes wide. Abu, why? Why!? No! I can’t die!
Watching Abu’s unsteady steps, his heart felt as if it were being cut with knives. After a few steps, Abu lost all strength and collapsed. She struggled twice, trying to support herself with her chubby little wings, but she was too weak—completely drained. Since losing Qin Xiaochuan’s nourishment supply yesterday, her body had grown weaker and weaker, so feeble she couldn’t even stand. Yet when she heard her master wanted water, she still tried to rise and fetch some from the little pond outside the cave. But she had no strength left and could only crawl using her mouth.
“No!!! Don’t die!”
Seeing Abu pecking at the ground and crawling forward with her tiny mouth, Qin Xiaochuan’s heart felt hollowed out. “Abu!!! I cannot die! I still have strength! I still have strength! Pain, go away! Get out of here!!!”
Like a puppet hung by invisible strings, Qin Xiaochuan struggled to stand. The clicking and grinding of his dislocated joints made everyone’s hearts clench, but nothing could quench his determination. To save Abu, he was willing to endure pain a thousand times worse than before.
“Wuu wuu~~ I’m not this weak! I will save Abu! How can I save her if I’m so weak? Get up! Get up! Pain is just a nuisance! Get out of my way!!!”
Outside, the rain had stopped and the sun shyly rose above the horizon. Walking to a tree, Qin Xiaochuan cradled Abu in his hands and approached the meditating Elder. “Grandmother! Can you help me heal... her?”
The Elder opened her eyes and looked at Qin Xiaochuan, covered in filth. Master Jinghai rose and took Abu into her arms. “She has overcome it... You must thank the spirit beast!” Stroking Abu gently, Master Jinghai sat beside Qin Xiaochuan, who lay on the ground. “You should rest well now. I didn’t expect you to truly succeed. But your real trials are only just beginning!”