40 Chapter 40: Who Is Your Treasure, Xiao Wu?

Dai Mubai's first and third soul rings flickered simultaneously, activating his White Tiger Vajra Transformation once more. At the same time, a white light shield formed around him, offering protection.

Immediately after, his second soul ring illuminated. A tremendous burst of white light rapidly coalesced, and accompanied by Dai Mubai's roaring like a tiger, a milky-white sphere of light erupted from his mouth.

Within a short span of time, he had unleashed all three of his soul techniques: White Tiger Shield Body Barrier, White Tiger Intense Light Wave, and White Tiger Vajra Transformation.

It must be said that Dai Mubai was far from useless; his natural talent was indeed commendable. Releasing three soul techniques in one breath was a feat not many could achieve, even within the realm of Soul Elder.

Although Xu Ran looked down upon Dai Mubai's character, he couldn't deny the man's talent.

However, Dai Mubai's talent was only exceptional in comparison to ordinary people. In Xu Ran's eyes, he was weak, pitifully so.

Stomping his foot firmly on the ground, Xu Ran made no attempt to dodge; instead, he charged directly at Dai Mubai, sword in hand.

Facing the aggressive Dai Mubai, Xu Ran could easily defeat him using more flexible tactics. However, he disdained to do so. He wanted to show Dai Mubai just how vast the gap between them was.

"Slice," Xu Ran uttered softly, and a flash of sword light cleanly cut through Dai Mubai's White Tiger Intense Light Wave.

"Boom! Boom!" Terrifying sounds of explosion echoed as the White Tiger Intense Light Wave was split open. By then, Xu Ran had already rapidly advanced to stand in front of Dai Mubai.

Seeing Xu Ran's figure, Dai Mubai felt a surge of dread in his soul. Before he could even react, an overwhelmingly terrifying sword light swallowed his consciousness.

"Thump." Dai Mubai collapsed heavily. On his face was a shallow sword mark, extending from his forehead to the center of his legs. A thin line of blood quickly oozed out, staining his body red.

Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the task and earning two hundred skill points.

"Brother Xu Ran," seeing Dai Mubai fall, Xiao Wu hurriedly stepped to Xu Ran's side, gripping his sleeve. Her little face couldn't help but show concern.

"Don't worry, I know when to hold back. I left him with a breath of life," Xu Ran calmly stated, sheathing his God-Slaying Sword and withdrawing his martial soul. Only then did his expression return to normal.

"Brother Xu Ran, the aura you emitted earlier was terrifying, as if you were a demon who walked out of hell," Xiao Wu said, her grip tightening on Xu Ran's sleeve. She breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the familiar Xu Ran return to her side.

"It's all because of you. Who dares to harbor ill intentions toward my precious Xiao Wu? If it had been anyone else, I would have killed him outright," Xu Ran replied. His soul ring was a gift from the system, extraordinarily powerful. Even he was affected by the strong killing intent in his first soul technique. However, when in his 'God-Slaying' mode, that technique's power would become much stronger.

"Brother Xu Ran, what nonsense are you talking? Who said I am your precious Xiao Wu?" Xiao Wu's face flushed slightly, her thoughts drifting away from everything else. She recalled what Xu Ran had said to Dai Mubai earlier—that she was his woman. How shameless of him; she hadn't even agreed!

Moreover, if he doesn't allow anyone else to harbor feelings for her, who would dare to like her in the future? How would she ever get married?

"What can you do? I am an auspicious beast; if I say you can't marry someone else, then you can't," Xu Ran said, teasing Xiao Wu.

"Brother Xu Ran, you're too wicked. If you won't allow me to marry, what will become of me in the future?" Xiao Wu couldn't help but voice her concern. As she finished speaking, her face turned crimson, and she lowered her head to stare at her sparkling crystal shoes in the sunlight. Her small feet, wrapped in stockings, quivered nervously. Her heart thumped wildly.

Xu Ran wasn't wrong; if an auspicious beast were to choose a mate, it would cause a sensation across the entire realm of spirit beasts. Her mother once told her that if an auspicious beast were to take a queen, all hundred-thousand-year female spirit beasts would be more than willing to accept the proposal.

Even if they were unwilling, if an auspicious beast took a liking to them, they had no choice but to accept. The significance of an auspicious beast to the spirit beast clan is too great; they enhance growth rates and chances of surviving critical evolutions. Both of these capabilities can drive all spirit beasts mad with desire.

Auspicious beasts are rare. Once one dies, it may take many years for another to be born. Auspicious beasts are born from the cosmic fate of heaven and earth. However, if an auspicious beast procreates, there is a high chance that another auspicious beast will be born.

Moreover, when two auspicious beasts marry, the chances of birthing another auspicious beast are even higher. These facts are highly logical, backed by countless years of tests from powerful spirit beasts. The propagation of auspicious beasts is naturally a matter of great importance. Unfortunately, auspicious beasts are very picky and not interested in even hundred-thousand-year-old female spirit beasts. They are not very committed to the matter of procreation. Even if other beasts wanted to intervene, they couldn't, as the auspicious beast is essentially the king of spirit beasts, and forcing them is out of the question.

Auspicious beasts are fateful creatures. Disrespecting them could bring about terrible omens.

So, if Xu Ran were to choose her, even if she disagreed, the entire spirit beast clan would force her to agree. After all, it's rare for an auspicious beast to take interest in such matters. The propagation of auspicious  beasts must not meet with any accidents.

"Don't worry. Even if you find someone you truly like in the future and want to be with him, as long as he's a good person, I won't oppose it. Even if I like you very much, I can't hold you back," Xu Ran said, his palm naturally wrapping around Xiao Wu's slender waist, smelling the faint fragrance emanating from her body.

Of course, although he said this, if such a situation were to actually occur, Xu Ran would definitely kill that person with a single stroke of his sword.

"Brother Xu Ran, I won't fall for anyone else. But I still need some time," Xiao Wu said, lowering her head, feeling strangely at ease under Xu Ran's caressing hand.

She harbored a certain fondness for Xu Ran in her heart. Setting other factors aside, both of them were spirit beasts who had cultivated to take human form, which instilled a different kind of feeling in her towards him. After all, things she had previously dared not to say or wanted to hide could now be openly discussed with Xu Ran.

Furthermore, as an auspicious beast—the king of spirit beasts—Xu Ran wielded significant influence in the world of spirit beasts. If he genuinely liked her, then marrying him and bearing his offspring would be a kind of responsibility she'd shoulder as a spirit beast.

She just needed some time to digest all of this. Even if her feelings for Xu Ran were strong, she couldn't accept so quickly, particularly not when it came to taking the initiative; she was still a bit tongue-tied.

Dai Mubai slowly awoke from his stupor, only to feel immense pain throughout his body and a sensation of wooziness in his head. He wanted to call for help, but not a single ounce of strength was left in him, not even enough to speak. Opening his eyes, he saw Xu Ran and Xiao Wu openly expressing their affection for each other. The sight caused him to faint once more from sheer indignation...

He was already severely injured, and he felt close to death. Yet, here they were, calmly flirting with each other, which frustrated him enough to make him lose consciousness once again!