If not for the current situation, Ming Shuang should have been absolutely delighted.
Coal Ball and Tomato had returned to his side early on, but the other two card beasts were still nowhere to be found. After so much time had passed, Ming Shuang wasn’t even sure if they still remembered him.
He never imagined that Taro Ball was right there in the Academy!
But what was with that alarm…
The nearby students were mostly confused or panicked when a new academy-wide announcement rang out, instructing everyone to stay away from the Beast-Taming Forest. The Dean, the Vice Dean, and several instructors were already heading there to handle it.
Ming Shuang immediately set off to check it out, and Xuzhi naturally went with him.
Ivan tried to stop them but failed. As he watched Tomato carry the two of them swiftly toward the Beast-Taming Forest, he hurriedly passed the message on to Xiang Lun.
Gazing at the distant blue light, Tomato grew anxious too. Carrying two people was already a strain on it, but it mustered all its strength and charged straight ahead.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the Beast-Taming Forest.
The blue light was emanating from the lake in the Beast-Taming Forest—a place Ming Shuang had visited just a couple of days ago.
From afar, he saw a crowd gathered by the lakeshore, with Xiang Lun among them. Xiang Lun was using space magic to enclose the blue light.
As Tomato landed, Xiang Lun turned and spotted Ming Shuang and Xuzhi. He frowned slightly. “Why are you two here?”
Several unfamiliar instructors stood nearby. They looked curiously at Ming Shuang, but Herl called them away to patrol elsewhere and quickly relocate the other magical beasts in the Beast-Taming Forest.
Ming Shuang hurried forward and called out softly, “Grandpa…”
Up close, the blue light in the sky shone even more brilliantly, and he could clearly sense the water-type magic radiating from it.
“Don’t worry,” Xiang Lun said, assuming Ming Shuang had just come to check on things. “This is just the initial stage of the miasma fog’s appearance. It’s only possessed the Barrier Beast so far…”
The Barrier Beast had guarded the Academy for many years. It was a top-tier magical beast with unique abilities and a gentle temperament, having come here of its own accord back in the day.
Central City was densely populated, and the Academy was an especially vital area. There were several layers of defenses both inside and outside the city. Even if they couldn’t fully stop a heavenly disaster, they could detect any issues in time.
The moment the Barrier Beast’s magic showed abnormalities, Xiang Lun had rushed here and sealed off the area. Fortunately, it hadn’t led to worse consequences.
The Academy would be locked down for a while afterward, and they would have to relocate to the old campus in the city. It would be a hassle, but as long as they handled it properly—like they always did—there shouldn’t be any major problems.
It was just a shame about the Barrier Beast… It had protected the Academy for decades and had a decent relationship with the Snow Fox.
By the lakeshore, the Snow Fox hung its head quietly, its tail drooping limply.
“Is the Barrier Beast a Blue Sea Lion?” Ming Shuang asked anxiously. “It’s my friend too. Its name is Taro Ball!”
Xiang Lun blinked in surprise. “What?”
The Snow Fox heard him too and trotted over. “Wu…”
That was right—the one in the lake was Taro Ball.
Taro Ball usually stayed at the bottom of the lake and rarely surfaced. The Snow Fox had seldom heard it talk about its past, so it had no idea that Taro Ball was Ming Shuang’s friend too.
At that moment, Coal Ball poked its head out from the storage pendant, its red bean-like eyes peering around worriedly.
Now, with Tomato there as well, all three magical beasts followed Ming Shuang as he tried to get closer and search for Taro Ball.
Xiang Lun held Ming Shuang back. “Don’t go any closer… The Barrier Beast has been possessed by the miasma fog. It’ll lose its reason and fly into a frenzy. It won’t remember you at all.”
Ming Shuang pressed his lips together. “C-Could I use ice magic to help it?”
“Ice magic?” Xiang Lun furrowed his brow, hesitating. “Ice magic can indeed repel miasma fog, but that’s after it erupts. Right now, the fog is just clinging to the magical beast’s body…”
Miasma fog that had already leaked out, or the kind adsorbed like in the Element River incident, could be directly repelled by ice magic.
But could ice magic clear it out when it was still in the early stages, attached inside the magical beast’s body?
“I can help too!” Ming Shuang added quickly. “It’s happened before…”
That time in the Green Pine Forest, he had helped the Gale Wind Bird shake off the miasma fog.
But then Ming Shuang immediately remembered that even if the miasma fog was driven out of the magical beast’s body, the beast still couldn’t survive.
His nose stung, and he asked with difficulty, “Even if the miasma fog is gone, will Taro Ball…”
Xiang Lun fell silent for a moment before sighing. “I can’t guarantee it, but… it’s probably impossible.”
In the early years when miasma fog first appeared, its destructive power hadn’t been so strong yet, and people had tried various methods. But no matter what they did, they couldn’t repair the magic veins damaged by the miasma fog.
Ming Shuang’s heart tightened, and he gazed blankly at the lake’s surface.
After so long apart, he had finally reunited with Taro Ball, only for something like this to happen.
Among his four card beasts, Taro Ball was the oldest, with the best temper. It never fought with anyone.
As a gentle water-type magical beast, its barrier abilities shared some similarities with space magic. Though Ming Shuang usually didn’t need the magical beasts’ protection, Taro Ball had used its barriers to make Little Dragon a waterbed and all sorts of toys—like a rubber duck enclosed in a bubble of water. Ming Shuang remembered playing with that one for ages.
Some nights when he couldn’t sleep, Taro Ball would even sing to him.
The more Ming Shuang thought about it, the sadder he got. At that moment, the lake surface began to churn violently, and a blue shadow flashed by.
The Blue Sea Lion hiding at the lake bottom was growing even more unstable. Xiang Lun reinforced his space magic and mused, “The miasma fog inside it hasn’t built up too much yet. If we can clear it out first…”
Ming Shuang asked, “What if we use light magic to heal it afterward?”
Xuzhi stepped forward from behind him. “I can try.”
Xiang Lun remained silent. Light magic simply wasn’t consumed by miasma fog; it couldn’t heal magical beasts that had been corroded.
But if Ming Shuang could really help, then even if the Barrier Beast didn’t survive, they could at least prevent a large-scale miasma fog outbreak.
As he hesitated, Yan Si’s voice came from the side. “Clear the miasma fog first, use alchemy to sustain the magical beast’s life, and then try healing it.”
Ming Shuang whipped his head around in delight. “Uncle Yan!”
Wu Shao and Xing Huai had arrived too. They looked at the lake shrouded in space magic, their expressions grim.
The two dragons kept their distance as well, not approaching, to avoid the miasma fog detecting their richer magic elements and accelerating the corrosion of the Barrier Beast.
Xiang Lun and Yan Si exchanged a glance before Xiang Lun sighed. “Alright.”
He understood what Yan Si meant. Using alchemy to keep the Barrier Beast alive a few more days would at least give Ming Shuang time to say goodbye.
In any case, neither Xiang Lun nor Yan Si believed the Barrier Beast had any chance of survival.
Xuzhi stood beside Ming Shuang, watching the turbulent lake surface.
For some reason, he seemed able to sense the situation at the bottom.
A small clump of pitch-black fog was gathering and taking shape, devouring all the magic elements within the magical beast’s body. This was something he hadn’t been able to “see” before.
He hadn’t told anyone about the Gale Wind Bird incident. He’d thought that after leaving Netherworld Mountain, Xiang Lun would know about Ming Shuang’s abilities, but apparently not.
If it were some random magical beast at the lake bottom, he might have looked for a chance to try seizing its top-tier magic innate talent again.
But this was Ming Shuang’s friend, so forget it.
He still had to see if he could save it, or Ming Shuang would be heartbroken.
As Xuzhi pondered, he took out a magic stone from his storage ring and sent a thread of his consciousness into it.
The undead within sensed his presence and began trembling again.
Bai Telie had been so arrogant and scheming in life. Xuzhi hadn’t studied necromancy, so Xiang Lun had originally worried he couldn’t control Bai Telie and hadn’t wanted to teach him healing technique.
But unexpectedly, the undead Bai Telie was extremely obedient now, answering every question Xuzhi asked without reservation.
Upon learning Xuzhi’s request, the undead hesitated for a moment before starting to write.
Its fingers left grayish-white traces on the “ground,” informing Xuzhi that magical beasts corroded by miasma fog could not be healed with light magic.
But… if it was Xuzhi, maybe it could be done.
At the same time, Yan Si was preparing his alchemy.
Xiang Lun called Herl back as well, explained the situation to him, and had him assist Yan Si.
Only then did Herl remember that the extremely rare and long-vanished ice magic also had the power to resist heavenly disasters.
After his shock subsided, he quickly composed himself, but he couldn’t help saying, “If Ming Shuang is willing, the miasma fog across Cangyuan Continent…”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Xiang Lun said in a low voice. “Solve what’s in front of us first. Ming Shuang’s still young, and his health hasn’t fully recovered yet. He can’t worry about the outside world.”
His identity and abilities couldn’t be leaked carelessly either, or someone might target him…
On the other side, Ming Shuang approached the lakeshore.
The Snow Fox parted two layers of the space magic and stood guard tightly by his side.
Coal Ball and Tomato stayed close too. Ming Shuang crouched down and called out tentatively, “Taro Ball?”
“Taro Ball, it’s me,” he said, holding back his sadness and worry. “I’m right here. Can you hear me?”
The lake bottom rumbled a few times, and the water surface actually calmed down quite a bit.
Then, a blue shadow gradually emerged, revealing a small part of its head and its black nose tip.
Ming Shuang cried out in surprise, “Taro Ball!”
The three magical beasts beside him called out too, with Tomato the loudest, as if it wanted to leap straight into the water.
Taro Ball didn’t come too close, keeping some distance from the shore. Its pale blue eyes were somewhat cloudy as it struggled to make out its surroundings.
It recognized Ming Shuang and swam forward a little in joy, but then abruptly stopped.
Waves of pain wracked its body, nearly driving it out of its mind. Fearing it might hurt Ming Shuang by mistake, it turned and dove back to the lake bottom.
The blue light in midair plunged sharply, cracking with fissures that showed the magical beast’s condition had worsened even further.
Seeing this scene, tears nearly welled up in Ming Shuang’s eyes. He wiped them away with his sleeve and glanced toward the back.
Fortunately, with Herl’s assistance, the alchemy was completed swiftly.
Xuzhi also stowed the magic stone away and lifted his gaze.
A streak of firelight flashed past as Yan Si positioned the alchemy array above the lake. “It’s done.”
Xiang Lun didn’t forget to caution him. “Your health isn’t great—don’t push yourself. If anything feels off…”
But before he could finish speaking, Ming Shuang could wait no longer.
Strands of his hair stirred faintly, and frost swept in on the wind in an instant.
The lake’s temperature plunged, and the air itself seemed to solidify.
Ming Shuang crouched down once more, his fingertip brushing the lake’s surface lightly.
The ice magic unfurled like a shrunken galaxy ribbon, slowly sinking into the depths to seek out the magical beast.
“Taro Ball?” Ming Shuang called again. “Let me see you.”
At the bottom of the lake, a blue shadow huddled, trembling in agony.
Catching the scent of the ice magic, Taro Ball raised its head. It struggled to hold back from approaching, terrified that the miasma fog’s corruption would strip away its reason and make it harm Ming Shuang.
Yet it wasn’t just Ming Shuang—the ice magic itself held an irresistible pull, cool and brimming with vitality, capable of freezing the pain wracking its body.
In the end, Taro Ball couldn’t resist. It swam toward the shore.
Sensing Taro Ball’s response, Ming Shuang let out a small breath of relief.
As the shadow in the water drew near, he poured in more ice magic, enveloping the magical beast in a shell like a cocoon of white frost.
Ming Shuang’s heart raced with anxiety. Strictly speaking, this was only his third attempt to purge miasma fog—and just his second time trying it on a magical beast.
It had to work…
He held his breath, focusing intently, though his fingertip still trembled faintly. The ice magic probed Taro Ball’s condition with exquisite care, not striking but gently encasing it.
Taro Ball writhed and shuddered within the frost, then quickly grew still.
Herl kept his eyes glued to the detection instrument the entire time. He was the first to exclaim in delight, “It’s gone!”
No trace of the miasma fog remained inside the magical beast.
Xiang Lun stared in stunned silence.
That was it? The process had been far simpler than he’d imagined…
Next, the alchemy array overhead descended, sinking into the lake.
The alchemy activated at once, its ring glowing with a faint red light that preserved the magical beast in its current state.
Ming Shuang withdrew his ice magic and peered around anxiously. “Taro Ball?”
He called out several times before ripples finally spread across the serene lake surface.
The blue glow in midair had vanished. Taro Ball dragged its weary body toward Ming Shuang.
It bubbled excitedly, several bursts rising as it reached the shore and poked half its body out of the water.
Ming Shuang scooped it into a fierce hug. “Taro Ball!”
The Blue Sea Lion was encased in a barrier that kept the water from soaking Ming Shuang. It nuzzled his cheek affectionately with its nose, stretching out its stubby arms as if to hug him back.
“How are you feeling? You okay?” Ming Shuang stumbled over his words. “I had no idea you were here. Otherwise, the past couple days… I came by the past couple days…”
He turned and called to Xuzhi in a hurry. “Brother!”
Xuzhi knelt beside them, his palm aglow with light magic.
Taro Ball naturally recognized Xuzhi. Hearing Ming Shuang’s form of address, it paused in surprise.
But it was still feeling off, unaware of Ming Shuang’s recent circumstances, so it showed little bewilderment.
Taro Ball offered no resistance as Xuzhi’s light magic enveloped it.
The Snow Fox, Tomato, and Coal Ball lingered at the shore. Taro Ball waved an arm, greeting each in turn while sneakily eyeing Yan Si and the others from afar.
Only after confirming the miasma fog was gone did Wu Shao and Xing Huai step forward.
“The alchemy array will hold for about two days,” Yan Si said. “After that, that magical beast is as good as dead.”
Xiang Lun fretted. “What now? When Little Shuang realizes the light magic didn’t work, he’ll be devastated.”
He knew the “friend” Ming Shuang spoke of was the one that had grown up alongside him in the storage space. They’d only just reunited, and already…
Xing Huai cradled the dragon egg in her arms without a word. Wu Shao asked coolly, “What if we use necromancy to extend it a little?”
But at that moment, Xuzhi withdrew the light magic from Taro Ball and rose to his feet. “All done.”
“Really?” Ming Shuang’s face lit up with surprise and joy. He sat at the water’s edge, cradling Taro Ball halfway in his lap. “How do you feel now?”
Taro Ball’s condition had improved markedly from before, its pale blue eyes clear and bright.
It took stock of its body, including the magic veins once ravaged by the miasma fog—they were fully restored.
It hadn’t been possessed for long before Ming Shuang found it, and the treatment hadn’t dragged on.
Taro Ball let out a couple of hums to show it was perfectly fine.
The three magical beasts on the shore relaxed at last. Tomato plopped onto the ground and finally wailed at full volume. “Cheep cheep! Woo-woo, I thought you were a goner, Blue Taro Ball… Hey, how’d you end up working here?”
Taro Ball opened its mouth to reply just as Xiang Lun and the three dragons hurried over.
Yan Si probed its condition with alchemy, a slight furrow creasing his brow.
Alchemy wasn’t the same as a healing technique, but it could still assess magic veins.
Yet the Blue Sea Lion he’d just pronounced doomed now brimmed with perfect health, body and magic veins alike.
Xiang Lun asked hesitantly, “Is it truly cured?”
Before Yan Si could respond, Wu Shao cut in. “Impossible. No healing technique works on magical beasts corroded by miasma fog.”
“Uncle Wu,” Ming Shuang said, puzzled, “but Taro Ball really is fine now.”
Wu Shao turned his probing gaze on Xuzhi instead.
Yan Si straightened up, his eyes fixed on Xuzhi as well. Suddenly, firelight flared.
An alchemy array erupted toward Xuzhi, aiming to pin him in place.
Xuzhi reacted with lightning speed. An earth array spun beneath his feet, carrying him clear of the array’s reach.
Ming Shuang froze as Yan Si attacked Xuzhi.
“Uncle Yan!” Ignoring everything else, he handed Taro Ball off to Tomato and Coal Ball for the moment and stepped in front of Xuzhi.
“Uncle Yan,” Ming Shuang said, shielding Xuzhi protectively, “what are you doing? Brother just helped heal Taro Ball…”
The first array had missed its mark, and Yan Si made no further moves. But the gravity and wariness in his expression didn’t fade.
He seemed to size Xuzhi up anew. After a moment, he spoke. “Wu Shao’s right—no healing technique can mend magic veins damaged by miasma fog. At least not for the three clans or the Dragon Clan… but one clan can.”
“No wonder,” Yan Si added with a sigh. “He could burn through so much magic power to keep that storage space stable for so long.”
Ming Shuang grew even more baffled. “What do you mean?”
Xuzhi said nothing, but from behind, he quietly took hold of Ming Shuang’s hand in a reassuring grip.
At the shore, Xiang Lun’s brows drew together as realization dawned.
Wu Shao advanced slowly, his stare boring into Xuzhi like a blade.
At last, he remembered why Xuzhi had seemed familiar from the first glance—he’d definitely seen him somewhere before.
“He is…”
Yan Si had barely uttered the words when Wu Shao spat them out through gritted teeth. “A remnant of the God Clan!”
~~~
