Chapter 6: Trap, Capturing a Soul Pet

…

There was dried blood all over his body, so Chu Mu didn’t dare to be too rash. After all, many Soul Pets had a keen sense of smell, like the terrifying, ferocious Fang Wolf.

The Fang Wolf was a high-ranking species, slightly stronger than the Manxi Lizard. If he could capture just one, even with ordinary talent, raising it past the Seventh Stage would definitely allow him to squeeze into the top ten.

A low-ranking Thorn Demon, even if it reached the Ninth Tier, would probably struggle to defeat a Seventh Stage high-ranking Soul Pet like the Fang Wolf.

…

Chu Mu found a hidden spot and rested for another day, treating his wounds.

The healing medicine was quite effective, and Chu Mu was still able to hold on.

By the third day, Chu Mu had truly entered the Inner Island. Proceeding with extreme caution, every Soul Pet he encountered along the way was far more terrifying than the Stewards’ Fang Wolves. Capturing one would absolutely sweep away all other competitors…

However, these creatures were each horrifyingly ferocious. Capturing one was out of the question; Chu Mu didn’t even dare get close.

…

“Double-Brain Snake, Gulan Worm, Flame Tail, Ten-Legged Poison Centipede, Mi Demon… ah, can’t touch any of them… almost all are Seventh Stage or above…”

Hiding in a tree, watching today’s Soul Pets pass beneath, Chu Mu smiled bitterly. Most were high or mid-ranking, yet Chu Mu could only look on helplessly, the trap rope in his hand remaining unpulled.

Traps were Chu Mu’s only possible method for dealing with Soul Pets much stronger than himself.

But Chu Mu’s traps could only handle weak, yet high-ranked Soul Pets below the third stage. Those earlier ones were all around Seventh Stage or above, their strength on par with those Fang Wolves. Chu Mu’s pitiful trap couldn’t accommodate such fierce monsters.

Patience… Chu Mu needed extreme patience…

…

“Strange, why would such a weak little fellow be wandering here?”

Suddenly, a weak Soul Pet appeared in Chu Mu’s field of vision. By his estimate, it was probably at First Stage or so.

This little thing had beautiful reddish-brown fur, a fox-like, pretty tail, and a body that seemed petite and delicate. The young fox had been attracted by the food Chu Mu placed on his trap. It seemed injured, carefully and unsteadily picking up the food on the trap.

“Reddish-brown fur… this should be a Red Cloud Fox, right?… There’s a silvery-white crescent mark on its forehead too… strange, isn’t that a mark only Silver Moon Foxes have?… Maybe this little one is a mixed-breed?” Chu Mu mumbled to himself.

Chu Mu did not spring the trap. This little creature was indeed at a weak stage, but its rank was low. Whether it was a Red Cloud Fox or a Silver Moon Fox, they were both only low-ranking.

This kind of Soul Pet could hardly be considered a combat Soul Pet. In big cities, they were usually kept as little pets for young girls to cuddle and sleep with.

Chu Mu gave up on springing the trap. After the little mixed-breed took the food, he used a rope to lower more food onto the trap and continued waiting…

…

Three days spent in the tree in a row, and Chu Mu still hadn’t encountered a Soul Pet that quite suited him.

…

Early morning, Chu Mu gnawed on his rations for breakfast. He planned that if no Soul Pet meeting his requirements appeared by late morning, he would risk going deeper to look for a more suitable spot.

“Swish~!”

Suddenly, a slight rustling sound of leaves reached Chu Mu’s ears!

The tree Chu Mu was in was called a Long-Leaf Tree. Actually, some Soul Pets liked to perch here, like the Mi Demon Chu Mu had seen before.

Besides the Mi Demon, there were also two other Soul Pets: the Azure Bird and the Wind Spirit Butterfly.

The Mi Demon’s rank was probably high, the Azure Bird’s rank was also high, and the strongest was the Wind Spirit Butterfly, whose rank was even higher.

The minimum rank threshold for a Soul Pet Chu Mu could accept was high rank. As for talent, that was just luck. If he could get an Azure Bird or Wind Spirit Butterfly, Chu Mu could pretty much pack up and go home, starting the training phase for his Soul Pet.

An important reason Chu Mu chose to climb this Long-Leaf Tree was that the Mi Demons, Azure Birds, and Wind Spirit Butterflies that perched on these trees did not actively attack humans; it was safer.

So, hearing the rustling, Chu Mu wasn’t startled but delighted, because it was likely one of these three Soul Pets.

Pushing aside the long leaves, Chu Mu immediately looked toward the sound.

What lay before Chu Mu wasn’t a muscular Mi Demon, nor a handsome, dashing Azure Bird, nor a graceful, beautiful Wind Spirit Butterfly. To his great disappointment, it was a little green borery worm…

The green worm was small, only the length of Chu Mu’s palm and as thick as his thumb, with a pair of shiny black eyes.

And now, this little pest with its shiny black eyes was half-propping itself up, gazing longingly at the rations in Chu Mu’s hand…

“……” Chu Mu was speechless for a moment. He smiled bitterly, broke off a small piece of the ration, and handed it to the pitiful little green worm, saying, “Eat, eat. I hope you can bring me good luck.”

This little green worm wasn’t even a Soul Pet, just a tiny life form, a pity after Chu Mu’s earlier anticipation.

The little borery worm wasn’t shy either. It took the small piece of ration, squatted beside Chu Mu, and happily started munching.

The little worm ate very fast, making a pleasant rustling sound. After finishing one piece, it propped itself up again and looked at Chu Mu with pitiful, teary eyes.

Chu Mu didn’t mind the small bit of rations. Out of boredom, he fed it another piece. The little green worm made a contented sound and quickly chomped away.

“Screech!”

Suddenly, an unusual gust of wind swept by. The Long-Leaf Tree’s crown shook noticeably, leaves fluttering wildly, green leaflets scattering everywhere.

Chu Mu was startled. Peering through the leaves, he was shocked to see a slightly larger-than-an-eagle, blue-feathered Soul Pet circling around the Long-Leaf Tree!

“Azure Bird!” Chu Mu’s heart leaped with joy!

The Azure Bird was a Wing Element Soul Pet from the Demon Beast Realm. Its wing advantage and ability to control the Wind Attribute made it have few rivals among pets of the same stage and rank!

An agile, flying, Wind Attribute Soul Pet—if he could capture it, after three months of raising its strength to the Seventh Stage, it would definitely rank near the top!

“Rustle rustle~!”

Feeling the Azure Bird’s presence, the little green worm trembled in fear. It moved with surprising speed, scurrying up Chu Mu’s arm, onto his shoulder, and then hiding down his collar.

“Damn it, this guy must at least have Fourth Stage strength, high rank, and Fourth Stage…” Watching the dashing blue figure stirring gusts of wind as it circled the Long-Leaf Tree, Chu Mu secretly cursed with frustration.

The trap Chu Mu dug was for Soul Pets on the ground. Capturing an Azure Bird was indeed much more challenging.

“Whatever, I still have to try!” Chu Mu didn’t want to miss this chance. Pushing aside branches, he climbed to the very top of the tree’s crown.

Standing on a sturdy branch, Chu Mu gripped his machete tightly with both hands. He took a deep breath, faced the biting wind, and fixed his eyes firmly on the Azure Bird circling the Long-Leaf Tree.