CHAPTER 478: CHAPTER 313 NEW JOY

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The aura was extremely fierce. Holding the staff, Wang Julong felt energy surge into her body, boosting her combat power at least one or two levels above her actual ability.

Unfortunately, as before, the spiritual energy drained from the young woman, leaving her exhausted and utterly fatigued, collapsing on the ground as she let out a loud gasp.

Yan Xiaobao grabbed Wang Julong’s staff. Strangely, he infused some of his spiritual energy into the staff, eagerly waiting to see what would happen.

Nothing happened. The staff felt no different from an ordinary staff. It wasn’t like the weapon he’d just witnessed; a weapon that, at the moment spiritual energy was infused, surged in its strength. It appeared just as he’d seen it when Wang Julong wielded it.

Yan Xiaobao let out a slight hum and handed the staff back to the exhausted woman. She quickly tucked it away, once again accepting a pill from her white-haired friend to aid her faster recovery.

During the exchange of the pill, Yan Xiaobao gently brushed his fingers forward, causing Wang Julong’s face to turn, and she immediately withdrew her hand. At her reaction, laughter escaped his lips as he discovered a new joy in teasing the steadfast woman before him.

Witnessing the encounter, both Deng Wu and Sha Yun were a bit taken aback. However, Deng Wu looked on with a curious glint in his eyes that held a hint of amusement, while Sha Yun’s eyes burned with rage. Her lips pressed tightly together as she refrained from voicing her complex emotions.

Deng Wu cleared his throat, finally deciding to break the incredulous tension hanging in the room, a tension only Yan Xiaobao seemed to enjoy. Shamelessly, he continued watching the increasingly embarrassed expression on Wang Julong’s face, a gentle smile playing on his own.

"Well, it seems that aside from the Giant Dragon, no one else is able to summon the Weasel," he remarked, instantly drawing Yan Xiaobao’s attention back to him, his gaze turning serious once more.

Wang Julong let out a breath of relief, but Sha Yun continued to stare daggers at the dark-haired woman. If looks could kill, she would have been long dead.

"What do you think is wrong with the weapon?" Yan Xiaobao asked curiously but heard no reply. Instead, he sat down in meditation, letting his consciousness drift into the Dantian Cave beside Lan Feng.

The Phoenix frowned, illuminated by a golden hue, as one drop at a time of Yan Xiaobao’s spiritual energy entered his forehead, causing the droplets to sparkle momentarily, then dull once again.

It was clear that Lan Feng was refining Wu Wei, something Yan Xiaobao absolutely did not intend to interrupt. Instead, he quietly observed the bird until the golden hue dimmed, darkened, and finally vanished altogether.

’What do you want?’ the Phoenix asked in an annoyed tone. "I can’t give you any more power right now; I’m trying to recover my own strength!"

"I don’t need your power," Yan Xiaobao quickly replied, raising both hands defensively. "You’ve been so busy recently that you missed something." He continued, then began to explain what had happened with Wang Julong’s weapon, piquing Lan Feng’s interest with every detail he shared.

’I see.’ Lan Feng paused quietly for a moment before continuing, drawing a tempting air from Yan Xiaobao, who could hardly contain his hope for answers.

"Do you remember when I told you humans can fuse their souls with Divine Beasts, or even extremely powerful Magic Beasts?" he asked first, to which Yan Xiaobao nodded. It was something he’d learned on the same day he realized Lan Feng had deceived him, a detail he could never forget.

"Not only can humans fuse with the souls of Magic Beasts or Divine Beasts, but while soul fusion into weapons is much harder, it is still possible. Considering the level of power she gained when the Weasel emerged, I believe it’s either a King or at most an Emperor-ranked beast.

"She is indeed fortunate," Lan Feng continued, now finding a good reason to speak again. He decided to use the knowledge residing in his mind after thousands of years of existence to stun his friend.

"When a soul resides in a weapon, it requires the soul to willingly lend its power to the wielder. That said, I don’t know anyone who’s ever been accepted," Lan Feng said, noticing Yan Xiaobao’s attempt to open his mouth.

"Just feel fortunate for her. The Weasel will protect the girl, and she won’t die so easily anymore." Somehow, hearing Lan Feng’s words made Yan Xiaobao’s heart tremble, as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Wang Julong was not weak, but she had chosen a path of cultivation focused on healing and aiding others rather than fighting and killing. Her attacks mainly relied on plants, and she herself could only rely on her Martial Arts Skills or her abilities, but she was far weaker compared to most who specialized in combat. Knowing that the staff was no ordinary weapon, housing a powerful Divine or Magic Beast that had willingly chosen to protect her, was something Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but deeply appreciate.

Lan Feng smiled faintly at the joy visible on Yan Xiaobao’s face before closing his eyes again, golden light radiating from his body. As he watched the bird, Yan Xiaobao had a sensation as though it was preparing for something, waiting for an important event to unfold.

The thought made Yan Xiaobao more vigilant. Could it be that Lan Feng had already sent them into a sacred underground city, knowing they would later have to rely on his strength? Even Little Dragon remained hidden, and Deng Wu could not glean answers from the lizard, just as Yan Xiaobao heard no further sound from the Phoenix.