Chapter 31:

In the blink of an eye, using the dense undergrowth as cover, Wei Yun’s figure flickered and vanished from sight.

Still reeling from the lingering effects of losing a spirit beast, Lin Zheng was temporarily unable to extend his spiritual awareness. Worse, he couldn’t be certain whether Wei Yun had set up more traps within the forest.

"Kill him!"

For safety’s sake, Lin Zheng leapt down from his Titanfang Bear, sending it and two First-tier Wind Wolves in pursuit.

Cautious by nature, he knew better than to charge ahead himself, who knew what kinds of traps Wei Yun might have prepared?

However, this decision left him with only two First-tier Wind Wolves at his side, significantly weakening his defenses.

Boom!

Suddenly, a thunderous crash echoed through the forest. The Titanfang’s massive paw stomped into empty air, sending it plummeting into a well concealed pitfall trap.

The trap had been hastily dug, lacking sharpened stakes or deadly mechanisms.

For a heavily armored beast like the Titanfang Bear, it was little more than a temporary inconvenience.

"As expected, a trap." Lin Zheng sneered, his lips curling into a smirk. His foresight had paid off. Keeping his focus ahead, he momentarily neglected his surroundings.

"Quicksand Hell!"

The moment the Titanfang bear stumbled into the pit, the Cave Mole sprang into action. Golden earth energy surged through the ground.

In an instant, the soil surrounding the pit churned and collapsed, transforming into a spiraling quicksand vortex.

Unlike the agile Wind Wolves, the sluggish Titanfang Bear lacked the explosive speed needed to escape in time. Its massive legs sank deep into the shifting earth, trapping it in place.

Meanwhile, the two Wind Wolves bypassed the trap and lunged at Wei Yun.

"Cave Mole, I’m counting on you!"

At Wei Yun’s command, the trembling Tunnel Mole fought through its fear and leapt into action, struggling to hold off the attacking Wind Wolves.

At the same time, Wei Yun turned and sprinted, widening the gap between himself and the pit.

But the Titangfang Bear was aSecond-tier spirit beast. Within moments, it tore itself free from the quicksand and charged towards Wei Yun once more.

No matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t outrun it. The distance between them rapidly shrank.

If this continued, he would be overtaken in seconds.

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Back at Lin Zheng’s position—

A sudden whoosh sliced through the air.

A sleek, agile figure lunged at Lin Zheng from behind.

Mira!

Unable to flee, Wei Yun had been forced to gamble everything, hiding Mira and Slyvia while he lured the enemies away.

He had bet that Lin Zheng, unable to extend his spiritual awareness, wouldn’t dare charge into the undergrowth. If Wei Yun could draw the Titanfang away, Mira and Slyvia would have the perfect opportunity to ambush Lin Zheng.

Even a Second-tier Beastmaster, even one with powerful spiritual techniques, was still vulnerable without his strongest spirit beasts to protect him. And in his mentally disrupted state, Lin Zheng was even more defenseless.

"Damn it! Stop her!" Lin Zheng’s face twisted in alarm as he shouted for his Wind Wolves to intercept Mira.

But before they could react—

Vines as thick as fingers shot up from the ground, coiling around the wolves’ legs and yanking them down.

Slyvia.

The moment Mira lunged, Slyvia had already been gathering energy in secret, unleashing Burrowing Vines to restrain the Wind Wolves.

The sudden pull sent them crashing onto their backs.

Before they could recover, Mira had already leapt over them and closed in on Lin Zheng.

"Damn it!"

Panicked, Lin Zheng forcibly activated his spiritual energy, worsening his mental disruption. His vision blurred, his head throbbed violently, and his body swayed.

Still, with sheer willpower, he conjured a blood-red summoning circle.

With a guttural hiss, a Horned Python materialized before him.

Lin Zheng had more than just his two Second-tier spirit beasts, he also had three First-tier ones. But due to his limited control, he rarely summoned them in combat.

Unfortunately for him—

The python barely had time to register the battlefield before Mira struck first.

Her glowing claws slashed downward.

Crack!

A sickening crunch echoed through the clearing as the python’s skull shattered, brain matter splattering across the ground.

Its massive body convulsed violently, then fell still.

With the death of his contracted beast, Lin Zheng’s mental disruption intensified tenfold.

A wave of dizziness crashed over him, and a sharp, metallic taste filled his mouth. Moments later, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

At that moment, the two Wind Wolves finally tore free from the vines and lunged at Mira.

With her injuries, if Mira took another direct hit, she might not survive.

But instead of dodging—

Mira ignored the wolves entirely.

She pounced straight at Lin Zheng.

As she moved, her jaws parted, revealing gleaming rows of razor-sharp fangs.

She was going for his throat.

"No!"

Lin Zheng’s spiritual energy was in shambles.

He had neither the strength to summon another spirit beast nor the focus to cast a defensive technique.

At this moment, he was no different from a helpless mortal.

His eyes widened in sheer terror as Mira tackled him to the ground.

Crunch!

Her jaws clamped down on his throat, fangs piercing deep.

A fountain of scarlet blood erupted from the wound as his body convulsed violently.

His wide, lifeless eyes remained frozen, reflecting a mixture of rage, terror, and regret.

Lin Zheng’s downfall had nothing to do with raw strength.

By all accounts, he had been far more powerful than Wei Yun.

But his hubris sealed his fate.

Blinded by greed, he had refused to eliminate Wei Yun when he had the chance, allowing him to slip away.

Blinded by arrogance, he had split his forces, leaving his Second-tier Wind Wolf vulnerable.

Blinded by carelessness, he had stepped directly into Wei Yun’s trap.

In the instant Lin Zheng perished, the two Wind Wolves hesitated.

Instead of continuing their assault, they whimpered, tails drooping, and suddenly turned, fleeing into the forest.

These wolves had only been temporary spirit beasts, bound to Lin Zheng through a non-permanent contract. With his death, the contract had dissolved, leaving them free.

Mira didn’t pursue them.

She didn’t even tend to her wounds.

Despite her exhaustion, she forced herself upright, following the lingering thread of her spiritual connection.

And ran toward Wei Yun’s location.