Chapter Twelve: Celestial Blue Porcelain

At this moment, the Violet Lightning Mink had gained the upper hand and thus was in no hurry. The Xuantian Sword Sect possessed a Scroll Pavilion, and Li Sibai often returned there to search for various records to read. Among them, his favorite was the "Compendium of Wonders." This book not only detailed the characteristics and habits of myriad demon beasts, but also introduced all kinds of rare and exotic herbs, making it a veritable encyclopedia for cultivators. The author, whose name is lost to time, was said to be an obscure disciple of the Xuantian Sword Sect, who, lacking in strength, devoted himself to such studies. He traveled the length and breadth of the lands, braving countless perils to complete this remarkable work.

According to the "Compendium of Wonders," the small cyan blossom known as the Sky Blue Flower held little value for cultivators—in fact, it was more akin to a poison, carrying adverse effects. Yet, for demon beasts, it was a great boon, aiding them in increasing their cultivation. Even in the Anhei Forest, famed for its abundance of rare plants, the Sky Blue Flower was a rarity. This was the first time Li Sibai had seen one in the flesh. He wondered to himself if Hua Siyao could make use of it, and resolved that he must seize it at the first opportunity.

As these thoughts flickered through his mind, the Violet Lightning Mink launched its attack. Its hind legs bent slightly, and in an instant, it sprang forward with the speed of thunder, hurtling toward the rabbit. To say it was flying would not be accurate—it simply moved so quickly that it resembled a bolt of lightning. Its two front paws lashed out, aiming to strike the gray rabbit down in one fatal blow.

In that perilous moment, the gray rabbit desperately dodged to the side—but could it truly evade the attack? The Violet Lightning Mink was incredibly swift; though the rabbit tried its utmost to escape, it still caught a glancing blow. Blood spurted out at once.

The gray rabbit cried out in pain, its eyes now completely bloodshot. Ignoring its wounds, it kicked off with its hind legs and darted forward at an angle. How could the Violet Lightning Mink let such a delectable morsel escape? With a turn, it continued its relentless pursuit.

Li Sibai realized things were amiss. "It's fine if these two demon beasts remain here, but if they run deeper into the Anhei Forest, how will I be the fisherman waiting behind the fight?" Thinking thus, he gripped his short sword, leapt down from the tree, and blocked the rabbit's path. The gray rabbit was startled—who would have expected a person to leap down from the tree and bar its escape? Now, with an enemy ahead and a pursuer behind, was this truly the end for it?

The Violet Lightning Mink was quick to arrive, but Li Sibai's sudden appearance startled it as well. Unsure of the youth's intentions, the mink chose to wait and observe, keeping a watchful distance.

Now holding the upper hand, Li Sibai was in no hurry to strike. He chuckled at the gray rabbit. "Little clever rabbit, I find your Sky Blue Flower quite appealing. Would you let me see it? If so, I could help you deal with this Violet Lightning Mink."

The gray rabbit looked exasperated, as if about to laugh and cry at the same time. It thought, "Why has another come to covet my Sky Blue Flower? It wasn't easy to find, and had it not been for the wrong timing, I would have eaten it already. Now, holding this treasure, I'm eyed by thieves—two of them, no less!"

Blood already stained its fur from multiple wounds, and the pain was acute. Facing threats from both front and back, the rabbit glanced at Li Sibai, then at the Violet Lightning Mink. Slowly, it placed the Sky Blue Flower from its mouth onto the ground and darted away without hesitation.

Li Sibai was momentarily stunned, then lunged forward to snatch the Sky Blue Flower. At that very instant, the Violet Lightning Mink dashed over like a streak of lightning, snatched up the flower with its jaws, and sped off into the depths of the Anhei Forest.

Li Sibai was filled with regret. The prize was about to slip from his grasp. Without a second thought, he threw caution to the wind—all the dangers he had considered before entering the forest were forgotten as he gave chase after the mink.

The Violet Lightning Mink, small and lithe with sleek fur, darted nimbly through the forest at amazing speed. Li Sibai was at a disadvantage—unfamiliar with the terrain and forced to follow the mink's lead. The dense trees and tangled undergrowth only widened the gap between them. As he ran, Li Sibai circulated the internal energy of the Xuantian Technique, drawing in spiritual essence from his surroundings and forcibly extending the duration of his own true qi. His speed increased by another notch, barely allowing him to keep up with the mink.

Yet the mink was cunning. Sensing the unrelenting pursuit growing closer, it changed its tactics, weaving through low thickets and darting left and right rather than running straight. This proved troublesome for Li Sibai, who could not match the animal's agility. Before long, branches had torn his clothes in several places, leaving streaks of blood along his skin. But for a cultivator like him, such wounds were of little consequence. Gritting his teeth, he pressed on, but the deeper he ventured into the Anhei Forest, the more treacherous the terrain became. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as the Violet Lightning Mink escaped from sight.

Li Sibai steadied himself and examined his surroundings. Now, he could no longer discern his position. The area was overgrown with vines and brambles, massive ancient trees—so large it would take several people to encircle one—towered overhead, their thick canopies casting deep shade and blocking out the sun almost entirely. Only a few rays of light pierced the dense foliage above. The ground was damp and sticky with moss and fallen leaves, likely because sunlight never reached the forest floor. Every step felt tacky underfoot. From time to time, birdcalls echoed through the gloom, some crisp and clear, others deep and resonant, and faint roars of beasts could be heard in the distance.

Li Sibai was startled. In his single-minded pursuit of the Violet Lightning Mink, he had unwittingly wandered into this place. He recalled his recent ordeal, when even with several skilled senior brothers and sisters at his side, they had nearly perished in this forest. Now, alone and uncertain of his location, he could not help but sigh.

A wave of regret rose in his heart, but he quickly suppressed it. "Now is not the time for regret," he told himself. The determination in the youth's gaze returned, and he turned to retrace his steps.

He attempted to follow his original path back.

But it was no simple matter. In his earlier chase, he had twisted and turned countless times, and here, there were no trails to follow. After walking several dozen meters, Li Sibai was already utterly lost.