"Xifeng, in that case, let us spar sometime. I really want to see exactly how an Inscriber fights in a real duel." Xie Lanying said eagerly, her eyes shining with the excitement of a true martial artist.

Bai Xifeng considered the proposal. She had primarily sparred with Ji Yuan, who was also an Inscriber with a similar, albeit vastly superior, style. She found herself wondering how her developing skills would fare against someone utilising a completely different combat discipline.

"Hmm... alright. Let us do it." Bai Xifeng agreed with a slight nod.

Ning Shoukai wisely kept his mouth shut during this exchange. He had absolutely no intention of being dragged into a sparring match with either of these two. One looked like a beautiful porcelain doll, and the other appeared gentle and feminine, but both were undoubtedly merciless once a battle began. He did not believe for a second that he could emerge victorious against either of them.

They finally arrived at the interior of the spacious hall, the air cool and still. Bai Xifeng stood calmly at the centre of the room, reached out with her mind to tap into her internal reservoir, and activated her storage rune. Then, with a simple and fluid motion of her hand, she manifested the heavy, imposing body of a Stone-Clad Wolf before them.

Ning Shoukai nearly shouted in pure, unadulterated shock the moment the massive carcass hit the floor with a dull, heavy thud that echoed through the hall.

"What... what in the world is this thing? Do not tell me... is this really what you were so eager to show me?" Ning Shoukai stammered, his eyes widening to the size of saucers as he instinctively took a large, staggered step back from the fallen beast.

"Yeah..." Bai Xifeng nodded casually, her expression neutral as if she were merely showing off something ordinary and entirely insignificant.

Ning Shoukai began to carefully observe the Stone-Clad Wolf’s body from a safe distance. Despite his initial fear and hesitation, his professional instincts as an armament student soon took over, and he noticed something highly unusual about the creature’s composition.

"Xifeng... this... this jagged grey growth on the hide... is this actual Xien Stone?" Ning Shoukai asked, his curiosity finally overcoming his shock as he cautiously approached the corpse to get a better look.

"I knew you would be the first to notice it." Bai Xifeng said, her lips curling into a satisfied and knowing grin.

"This is the real Xien Stone?" Xie Lanying also became intensely interested, stepping closer to examine the strange, metallic mineral embedded deeply within the beast’s coarse fur.

"Yes." Bai Xifeng confirmed with a firm, decisive nod.

"Do not tell me... You actually managed to complete your quest using the bodies of these Stone-Clad Wolves instead of mining the cave directly like everyone else?" Xie Lanying asked in complete, stunned disbelief.

Bai Xifeng simply grinned in response, allowing her silence to speak volumes and letting the evidence on the floor do the talking for her.

Ning Shoukai and Xie Lanying were left completely speechless, staring at the prize in front of them with newfound respect. They had both assumed that Bai Xifeng had failed her quest since she had not entered the cave to extract the Xien Stone directly from the earth.

"You really have a unique way of leaving us absolutely speechless, Xifeng." Xie Lanying said, shaking her head in genuine admiration.

"So, why exactly did you want to show me this?" Ning Shoukai asked, his mind still trying to process the sheer scale and utter improbability of what she had accomplished during her time away.

"Well, do you happen to want high-quality materials to forge yourself a powerful new weapon?" Bai Xifeng asked in return, her eyes gleaming.

"Shoukai, do you not see what’s happening? She is giving you the Xien Stone!" Xie Lanying finally realised Bai Xifeng’s true intention and exclaimed in a sudden burst of understanding.

"Eh... really? You are giving this entire thing to me?" Ning Shoukai asked, his voice cracking slightly under the weight of the surprise.

"Of course. The real question is, do you actually want it?" Bai Xifeng asked again, her tone carrying a faint, playful, and teasing edge.

"Yes! Yes! I absolutely want it!" Ning Shoukai shouted excitedly, nodding his head repeatedly without even a single moment of hesitation.

"Do you know how to properly dismantle this corpse without damaging the minerals?" Bai Xifeng asked, looking at the intricate biological structure of the wolf.

"No... not really. I am afraid that I might accidentally ruin such valuable material if I attempt to handle it myself. It would be far better to let a professional expert do it. I will happily pay for the service." Ning Shoukai suggested with total honesty.

"Yeah... letting an expert handle it is the right call. I am going to the Armament Master Guild tomorrow morning with Head Teacher Zhou anyway." Bai Xifeng stated plainly.

"Wait, with our Armament Master Division’s head teacher? Is that what you are saying? But why?" Ning Shoukai asked, his eyes popping again in surprise.

"Because they also want to dismantle the Stone-Clad Wolves." Bai Xifeng replied calmly.

"Hey, Xifeng... tell me honestly." Xie Lanying suddenly chimed in, narrowing her eyes as a suspicion took root in her mind. "How many of these Stone-Clad Wolves do you actually have in your possession?"

"Hmm... around five hundred." Bai Xifeng answered casually, as if she were counting pebbles.

That answer rendered both Ning Shoukai and Xie Lanying completely speechless. Their jaws nearly dropped in sheer disbelief at the sheer number. Meanwhile, Bai Xifeng simply blinked her eyes innocently, as if she had said nothing remarkable at all.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko*