Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Shadow Nether Panther
"Xiao Wu, do you remember the Title Douluo who came with Ning Rongrong's father the other day?" Lin Jie asked.
Xiao Wu thought for a moment, then nodded lightly. "Mm." She was still puzzled by something. That day, despite the man's cultivation being at the level of a Title Douluo—powerful enough to detect her true form—he hadn't seemed to notice anything unusual.
Lin Jie hesitated, then decided to be honest. "That day, I tried using a special type of energy to help conceal your aura. Honestly, I was just testing it to see if it would work. But… it seems like it did."
"Special energy?" Xiao Wu blinked in confusion, looking at him.
For the past few days, Lin Jie had been trying to better understand the pink energy inside his body—but he still knew very little about it. He had discovered, however, that he could control it, and that it grew stronger whenever he and Zhu Zhuqing cultivated together through dual cultivation.
Although he was reluctant to part with energy that he and Zhu Zhuqing had worked so hard to accumulate, Lin Jie was curious. What would happen if he transferred some of that energy into Xiao Wu? Would it trigger some sort of transformation or benefit for her? For some reason, just thinking about it stirred a strange excitement in him.
Looking at Xiao Wu, he said, "Yes. That energy was formed in my body after I consumed a type of immortal herb. And it seems capable of helping to mask your true form."
"Really, Lin Jie?" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up with excitement. If this energy could truly hide her identity, then she wouldn't have to leave everyone—or Tang San.
Lin Jie nodded. "We won't know how well it works until we try. Want to give it a shot now?"
"Okay. What do I need to do?" Xiao Wu agreed without hesitation.
Lin Jie stood up and sat cross-legged. "Sit in front of me, with your back to mine."
Xiao Wu did as instructed, settling in comfortably in front of him. "Like this?"
"Now we begin." Lin Jie placed his hand on Xiao Wu's back and carefully guided a wisp of the pink energy from within his body into hers.
The energy slipped seamlessly into her and dissolved into her system. "Can you feel anything?" he asked gently.
Xiao Wu nodded slightly. "It feels… warm. Really comfortable, like a gentle current flowing through my body."
Back at the camp, Tang San had returned to the tent after finishing his night watch. He had intended to sleep, but after lying down for a while, he found himself restless. Thinking he might join Lin Jie for the rest of the shift, he got up—only to catch sight of Xiao Wu and Lin Jie sitting together outside, talking softly.
Recently, Tang San had noticed Xiao Wu spending more time with Lin Jie. Something about it unsettled him. He reached out to open the tent flap, but paused halfway. For some reason, he pulled his hand back and simply stood there in silence, watching.
From his angle, it looked as though Xiao Wu had leaned into Lin Jie's embrace.
Tang San's chest tightened. A wave of discomfort surged through him. But he couldn't—he refused—to believe Xiao Wu had feelings for Lin Jie. That idea was simply ridiculous.
Still, the image burned into his eyes. Desperate to make sense of it, Tang San activated his Xuan Tian Technique, circulating his Spirit Power to try and listen in.
He could only hear fragments—but one sentence from Xiao Wu echoed clearly in his mind:
"It feels so nice… so warm…"
Even though Tang San was emotionally dense when it came to relationships, his mind couldn't help but spiral. The implications of those words were… not great.
Just then, Dai Mubai stirred in his sleep and opened his eyes. Seeing Tang San standing at the tent entrance, he asked drowsily, "Little San? Why aren't you sleeping?"
Tang San snapped out of it and turned away, returning to his bedroll with a bitter smile. "In a bit, Boss Dai. You go ahead."
Dai Mubai didn't think much of it and quickly fell back asleep.
Meanwhile, outside, Lin Jie had transferred a few more wisps of his energy into Xiao Wu before finally withdrawing his hand. Although it was nighttime, the moon overhead was bright, casting silvery light across the clearing. Looking at Xiao Wu, Lin Jie noticed her delicate face—normally pale from the effects of the immortal herb—had gained a soft blush.
She was still savoring the warmth spreading through her body. That mysterious energy brought her a soothing, almost euphoric sensation. When Lin Jie stopped, she turned to look at him. "Why did you stop?"
Seeing the lingering desire in her eyes, Lin Jie's mouth twitched. Seriously? That energy was rare and precious—something he and Zhu Zhuqing had painstakingly cultivated together. Sharing even a small amount had already made his heart ache.
Looking helplessly at her, he said, "Xiao Wu, that energy is extremely valuable to me. I don't have a lot of it. I already gave you some, and I'm feeling the pain of that generosity. So… how do you feel?"
A bit embarrassed, Xiao Wu muttered, "Well… it was just really nice. Like soaking in a hot spring."
Lin Jie nodded. "That's good. But without a Title Douluo nearby, we won't know for sure whether your aura is truly concealed."
Back inside the tent, Tang San lay with his eyes shut, but his mind was far from calm. Xiao Wu's words echoed again and again.
"So warm… it feels so nice…"
Needless to say, sleep was not coming.
By morning, everyone had risen early. After packing up their gear, they set out once more to continue searching for spirit beasts. However, Tang San now seemed to be watching Lin Jie with a strange expression in his eyes.
They trekked for half a day, finally approaching the outer edge of the forest's inner region.
"Careful—something's approaching fast!" Lin Jie suddenly shouted. "Zhuqing, get eyes on it!"
"Got it!" Zhu Zhuqing responded. She leapt up into a tall tree, scanning the distance with sharp eyes.
"It's fast—too fast to get a good look. But I think… it's a black panther!" she shouted back. "Incoming!"
In the next moment, a sleek, jet-black panther emerged from the shadows, moving with incredible speed. Its entire body seemed to blend into the darkness itself.
"A Shadow Nether Panther," Yu Xiaogang called out from a short distance away. "They're extremely fast and possess the innate ability to create shadow clones. Judging by its size, it's not young either!"
Since this was the students' battle, Flender and the other instructors had withdrawn to a safe distance the moment the panther appeared, leaving the Shrek Seven to handle it on their own.
"A Shadow Nether Panther…" Lin Jie turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "This one's a perfect match for your Martial Soul. What do you think?"
Zhu Zhuqing had already returned to his side. She nodded decisively.
"Alright, everyone," Lin Jie called out, "this one's for Zhuqing! Its age looks pretty high, so let's go all out!"
"Rongrong, buff us. Oscar, get the sausages ready. Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu—you're the vanguard with me. Tang San provides control support. Zhuqing, assist from the flanks. Understood?"
"Understood!"
"Then let's begin!"
As Lin Jie's command rang out, Ning Rongrong activated her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"Nine Treasures turn out of the Glazed Tile—First: Speed. Second: Strength. Third: Spirit Power!"
With her incantation, three brilliant rays of rainbow light shot out and enveloped her teammates.
Zhu Zhuqing was the first to move, her figure vanishing into the forest shadows as she prepared to strike.
Tang San released his Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass lashing out to wrap around Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu's waists. He had initially wanted to tether Zhu Zhuqing as well, but she clearly didn't need it.
Empowered by Tang San's support, Dai Mubai's muscles expanded with a surge of energy. He charged forward like a tank toward the Shadow Nether Panther.
Xiao Wu followed close behind. With a flash, she activated her Teleportation spirit ability and reappeared directly in front of the panther before it could react. She unleashed her Eight-Stage Drop combo in a rapid flurry.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions rang out as her attacks connected, but the Shadow Nether Panther barely seemed fazed…
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