Chapter Sixty: The Second Seal

Just as Bai Shengye walked a short distance away, a sudden impact from behind propelled him forward with force. He staggered a few steps before regaining his balance, bracing against the fierce wind with his arms. Squinting through the blinding light, he tried to see what was unfolding deep within its core, silver hair streaming behind him. The scene at the epicenter of the explosion resembled the end of days, where all had been reduced to ashes.

“This kid… he’s terrifyingly powerful.”

After a moment, the gale and the brilliance subsided, and Bai Shengye finally breathed a sigh of relief. He straightened himself, dusted off his coat. The storm lingered overhead, unwilling to disperse, the sky remaining thick and brooding. Not until the corpse of the final killer bee plummeted from the vortex above did calm return once more.

Standing at the eye of the storm, Ling Xiaolei and Shen Zai Guo were both unscathed, their hair untouched. Around them, the bodies of the murderous giant bees piled up like mountains. Suddenly, the essence of the beasts began to surface above the corpses, glowing like precious gems. Ling Xiaolei’s face lit up with delight, and she rushed forward eagerly.

Shen Zai Guo, still shaken, felt her legs weak beneath her, as though she had narrowly escaped death.

“So many beast essences!” Ling Xiaolei exclaimed. “But with your skills now so formidable, what use is my barrier anymore?”

Black Feather shared her doubts, feeling the power pulsing in his palms. He said, “After battling the monsters from the laboratory, I think I’ve finally found my fighting state. I must unlock more seals as soon as possible. If I even fear accepting my own transformation, how can I ever grow stronger?”

At that moment, Bai Shengye unexpectedly returned.

“Ladies, safe and sound I see?”

“Why did you come back?” Ling Xiaolei demanded.

Black Feather’s wings had not yet folded, their dense and glossy feathers hanging like the curtain of night. He smiled awkwardly and said, “What you just saw, do keep it secret.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve never been one to meddle in others’ business,” Bai Shengye replied, striding straight to the fallen hive. He carefully extracted a huge chunk of honey from within, dipped a finger, and tasted it. The flavor was sweet and rich.

“Excellent. Killer giant bee honey isn’t easy to come by, and it’s a rare medicinal ingredient. Thanks to you all.”

“Is it delicious? I want to try!” Ling Xiaolei was eager.

“Are you familiar with this forest? Do you know if there are any powerful beasts nearby?” Black Feather asked.

“Powerful beasts…?” Bai Shengye paused to think. “Not far ahead, there’s a cave with a black demon bear that has cultivated for over a thousand years. This honey is the best bait to lure it out.”

He sliced the honey in half, placing it into two cloth pouches, and handed one to Ling Xiaolei.

Both girls dipped their fingers in the honey, savoring its taste.

Black Feather unfurled his black wings, turned, and said, “Follow me. I need to test my strength after unlocking the second seal.”

“I don’t wish to see my little princess in danger. You can go deal with the demon bear yourself. Ladies, shall we travel together?” Bai Shengye offered.

“No,” Ling Xiaolei declared, resolute.

“Doctor…” Shen Zai Guo spoke softly, “Could you go with Brother Black Feather? I’m worried about him facing a thousand-year beast. If he’s injured, you can treat him.”

With her own abilities, she could barely defeat a beast that had cultivated for fifty years.

“Cough…” Bai Shengye’s heart softened at her words, but he coughed lightly. “Well… his rapid healing ability is exceptional. There’s no need for my treatment.”

Strictly speaking, an alchemist specializes in concocting medicines, unlike light spirits who can instantly heal allies with magic on the battlefield. If Black Feather was slain by the demon bear, no potion could save him.

“Don’t worry, it’s only a thousand-year beast,” Black Feather assured, pounding his chest.

“I’m truly curious how an alchemist made it this far,” Ling Xiaolei remarked.

“I have my ways. Farewell, take care,” Bai Shengye said, waving as he walked off into the distance.

The three proceeded a short distance before spotting a cave. In front of the cave, broken logs lay scattered, with many thick trunks snapped in half, bearing the marks of the black demon bear’s claws—a sign of its ferocity. The cave mouth was pitch-black, a chilly wind blowing, and a distant, deep humming could be heard, as if the bear were snoring.

Ling Xiaolei and Shen Zai Guo crouched in the grass, breaking the honey into small pieces and tossing them toward the cave entrance.

“Let’s use the honey to lure the demon bear out,” Ling Xiaolei suggested.

More than a dozen pieces of honey had already been thrown near and far at the mouth of the cave. After some time, nothing happened; Ling Xiaolei yawned.

“Is this bear ever going to come out?”

Black Feather stood up and said, “I’ll go in myself in a moment. You two wait outside.”

Shen Zai Guo immediately stood as well. “I’ll go with you!”

“No, you mustn’t,” Ling Xiaolei pulled her back. “If anything happens to you, there’ll be no one to fly me home.”

“Just wait here in peace. I’ll kill that beast soon, it won’t take long,” Black Feather assured, lifting his staff and heading toward the cave. Just as he stepped past the grass, a deafening roar erupted from within, shaking the surrounding branches and leaves, followed by slow, heavy footsteps.

Shen Zai Guo had no choice but to stop, crouching beside Ling Xiaolei in the grass, both anxiously watching the cave entrance. Fortunately, no other beasts prowled near the demon bear’s territory. Ling Xiaolei cast a barrier to conceal their presence, enveloping them both.

“It’s finally coming out!” Black Feather thought.

He moved forward. From the darkness of the cave came a strange hissing sound, and wisps of black shadow, like silken threads, crept along the entrance.

“This demon bear has clearly undergone demonic transformation.”

Depending on how infected it was by the darkness, a beast could change in various ways. The key difference between demon beasts and ordinary beasts was their ability to materialize dark power as a weapon—just like the spikes behind Xiaoyu.

Black Feather, seeing the demon bear had not yet appeared, rushed into the cave, to avoid endangering others.

Inside the cave, pitch darkness reigned. By the faint glow of his staff, he saw that the cavern was vast—about thirty meters wide, fifteen meters high. The bear's roar echoed off the walls, deafening, as chilling winds swept past him.

“If this bear is truly a thousand years old, it’ll greatly enhance my magic. This is the perfect chance to test my second seal,” he thought, anticipation rising.

He stretched out his palm, gathered his energy, and broke through the second seal. Black mist surged from beneath his feet, and the sudden surge of power made his whole body tremble, his heart pounding wildly.