"Let’s go home."
Man and cat unleashed their Body Technique, speeding through the mountain forest cloaked in darkness.
After returning to the area behind the zoo, Yang Qi found Caiyun and Ta Xue.
Seeing Yang Qi, Ta Xue immediately ran over affectionately to rub against his leg.
Caiyun also leaped down from a tree.
Yang Qi drew out the two strands of white energy he had sealed in his Dantian and transferred one into Caiyun and the other into Ta Xue.
"Caiyun, Ta Xue."
Using the Spirit Communication Technique, Yang Qi warned them, "I’ve set some things up in this forest. If any unfamiliar Two-legged Beasts or other dangers approach in the future, run deeper into the mountains, toward the north. Remember, as long as you run deeper, you’ll be relatively safe."
Caiyun let out a low GROWL and nodded its head.
Although it didn’t fully understand what Yang Qi had done, it could sense that the aura of the forest had undergone a change that was reassuring to it, but might confuse intruders.
Ta Xue also obediently answered with a MROW.
After bidding farewell to the mother and son clouded leopards, Yang Qi took Xiaojiu and quietly climbed over the wall back into the zoo, returning to the mountainside dormitory.
In the dorm, Bai Wan, Hu Zi, Leopard, and Liu Fu saw their master return and all gathered around him.
Yang Qi first cooked a pot of Spirit Rice Porridge as usual, then went to the backyard to set up the Demon Extermination Array.
He then returned to the living room and transferred the final four strands of white energy from his body into Bai Wan, Hu Zi, Leopard, and Liu Fu.
The Guardian Beasts all felt a subtle warmth inside them. It wasn’t uncomfortable, and the sensation vanished just as quickly as it appeared.
"MEOW~"
Xiaojiu informed Yang Qi of this discovery.
Yang Qi thought for a moment and understood.
’The wisp of energy only activates within the array’s effective range, creating a faint resonance with the larger formation. That must be what causes the warmth.’
’Outside the array’s range, the wisp of energy becomes dormant and stops reacting.’
This actually made Yang Qi feel more relieved.
It meant the array’s imprint was stable and intelligent enough not to interfere needlessly with the Guardian Beasts’ daily lives.
After eating the Spirit Rice Porridge, Yang Qi went upstairs to cultivate.
The Mid-grade Five Elements Spirit Stone produced Five Elements Spiritual Qi that was efficiently extracted and harmonized. Like babbling brooks converging into a river, it flowed endlessly toward Yang Qi, who sat at the eye of the array.
Yang Qi focused his heart and mind, circulating the Great Derivation Spirit-Controlling Technique at full power. He absorbed the abundant Spiritual Qi, converted it into his Magical Power, and solidified his Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer realm, all while steadily advancing toward the sixth.
...
The next morning, just as the sky began to lighten at dawn.
Yang Qi dismantled the Demon Extermination Array in the backyard and tallied his gains: over six hundred contribution points.
’A six-pull!’
The first five were just regular supplies.
The sixth time—
[Congratulations! You have drawn a prize: Spirit Awakening Pill]
’Another Spirit Awakening Pill?’
Yang Qi raised an eyebrow.
All of his Guardian Beasts had already undergone their spiritual awakening.
’I’ll just hang on to it. It might be useful later.’
After stowing the Spirit Awakening Pill, Yang Qi prepared breakfast for his furry kids at home.
He put out cat food, dog food, and fresh water, one by one.
Liu Fu didn’t need him to specially prepare food; it would go out to hunt insects on its own.
This chameleon had been modified, then conditioned by Yang Qi with a Nourishing Essence Pill. It was now a Spirit Beast, with abilities far surpassing ordinary members of its species.
Its camouflage and cloaking abilities were uncanny. As long as it wished to remain hidden, it was virtually undetectable.
It moved with lightning speed, making it nearly impossible to catch.
After setting things in order at home, Yang Qi changed into his work uniform and went out to start a new day of work.
...
Meanwhile, at a secluded entrance to Cangshan Mountain Forest Park in the northernmost part of Lantian District.
A scientific research team of seven or eight people was making their final preparations before entering the mountains.
In the team, there were three middle-aged to elderly men wearing field work clothes and glasses, with a scholarly air, who looked like professors or researchers.
Four younger men and women, who were probably graduate students or assistants.
There was also a dark-skinned middle-aged man of about fifty, wearing a Forest Patrol Officer’s uniform, who was the guide assigned by the local forestry department.
"Guide He, sorry to trouble you with this."
The leader was an elderly professor with salt-and-pepper hair and a kind face. His surname was Zhou, and he was a nationally renowned expert in avian ecology.
"Don’t mention it, Professor Zhou. It’s what I’m here for."
Guide He gave an honest smile. "I hear you’re looking for the Chinese Merganser? That’s a rare bird, indeed. I’ve been roaming these mountains for nearly thirty years, and I’ve only seen it once."
"Yes, that’s why as soon as we heard the news, we rushed over."
Professor Zhou said emotionally, "If Cangshan truly has a stable population of Chinese Mergansers, it would be a discovery of immense significance."
They were the very research team that had rushed here from the Provincial Capital upon hearing the news from a few days ago, about the poaching case involving a Chinese Merganser.
Their purpose was to confirm whether a wild population of the species existed in Cangshan and to conduct a preliminary survey.
Once their preparations were complete, the group, led by Guide He, entered via a trail in the forest park and headed toward the untouched wilderness.
Everything went smoothly at first.
Sunlight filtered down through the treetops. The air was fresh, filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers.
However, something strange happened once they crossed the boundary separating the forest park from the truly remote and untouched wilderness.
The team followed a faintly discernible animal trail for about five minutes when Guide He suddenly stopped, frowned, and looked around.
"What’s wrong, Guide He?" a young graduate student asked.
"...Something’s not right."
Guide He shook his head, pointing ahead. "It looks like we’ve circled back?"
Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing and was immediately stunned.
Not far ahead was the very boundary entrance to the wilderness they had just passed through!