Chapter 286: Beast Baiting

"The seal's in my hand?"

Li Luo stared at it, puzzled.

He could feel that some information had been planted into his brain as a result of the seal, and his eyes widened.

The principal had transferred the seal to him hoping that he could seal away the spirit beast for good.

Of course, he himself was not strong enough, which was why the seal's power was here for him to tap on.

Even so, the seal itself was only strong enough to contain the spirit beast, not completely subdue it.

Which was why he would need to wait for the perfect moment.

Such as... when it was lured away by a brilliant young man and fought a Heavenly Disaster Class Other and managed to win, saving students but also becoming very badly injured in the process.

The stars would have to align for him to succeed. Not even the arrival of Violet Vibrance mentors would make his plan any more likely to succeed. Their presence would likely chase the beast away instead.

But now... perhaps some of the stars were already in place.

Lure the spirit beast to fight the Heavenly Disaster Class. There was no other outcome but for one to fall.

And whichever triumphed would definitely be weakened. With the rest of the defenders, perhaps they could win.

The seal was a secondary bonus mission. The main goal here was to lure it over to fight the Heavenly Disaster Class.

Could he lure it?

Li Luo eyed the wide expanse of forested mountains before him, mist hanging at the highest peaks. He had no idea where the spirit beast was. Neither could he just flail around blindly with his dual resonances. They were puny—it would be like shouting out into the ocean. The spirit beast might not be able to sense him.

Last time, he was in the onyx lake.

Li Luo looked towards its direction. The depths of the lake had to be linked to the place where the spirit beast cultivated.

Which was why it had sensed him so clearly back then and came charging over so quickly.

Li Luo headed straight for the lake.

Currently, it was completely empty, with not a single soul to be seen.

From his perch on a large tree, he had a good view of the energy, still pulsing steadily from the onyx lake.

He pulled out his shortswords, their slight, crescent curves gleaming like pale moons.

Pointing them at the onyx lake, he charged them with resonant power.

Weng!

The powers combined in mid-air, twisting and entangling until they were an inseparable singular, plunging into the onyx lake.

Before exploding.

In a subterranean cave deep in the mountain network of tunnels, a pair of scarlet eyes flared open.

The beast's eyes were flaring with surprise. A faint hint of the dual resonances?

Was it imagining things?

While it hesitated, another wave of dual resonance power hit the waters of the lake. Its hesitation vanished.

The same dual resonances from before!

Was the human kid back?

The beast leaped into action, charging in the direction of the power.

Like before, it charged madly in a direct line, trampling anything in its path and leaving a wide swath of smoke and noise in its wake.

Li Luo spotted it soon enough, and he ran for it immediately. Any headstart was precious, and he had to get to the river as quickly as possible.

There was no way that he was faster than the spirit beast. He would only be safe with the river's current on his side.

Otherwise, he would be the bait that was eaten.

The spirit beast was unaware that the seal had already disappeared. Surely it would hesitate for a while at the outskirts. That would equate to more precious time for Li Luo to run.

He pumped his arms and legs as fast as he could, and the trees were a blur beside him.

He ran as he had never run before, because this time his life truly depended on it.

Behind him, the spirit beast had slowed as it neared the outskirts of its zone.

The smoke trail had faded accordingly, and Li Luo caught a glimpse of a black-armored, three-tailed beast behind him. As it snorted, its breath vaporized a few trees under its nose.

As he predicted, it began to prowl restlessly near the perimeter. It looked fearfully at the mountain peak where the seal had been, and it roared in defiance.

But today the seal's power was gone!

What had changed?

Torn between fear and frustration that its prey was getting away yet again, it lashed out with its tails.

The human pest had foiled it once. Today, he had somehow wandered back into its territory. There was no way it would let the kid get away a second time!

This time, it had to have that double-flavored tidbit!

Muscles bunching, its tails coiled for balance and it leaped, ready to take on the seal.

Leap after leap, clawing forth with its strength.

Soon, it found itself further than it had ever gone before, and still the seal was nowhere to be seen!

Did it mean that the seal had finally expired?! 

Thank the heavens!

It was free!

“Roar!”

The trees near Li Luo shook from its roar, and Li Luo could hear savage triumph in the noise. The beast was out of the mountains.

Another roar sounded from ahead, but fortunately, this one announced the river's proximity.

Breaking through the tree line, Li Luo landed in the river and used his water resonant power to propel him forwards.

From the corner of his eye, he saw a three-tailed beast in hot pursuit.

He resisted the strong urge to look behind him. It wasn't going to help. He had to focus, remain calm, and eke out every last iota of speed he could.

Now he just needed to get back to the purified spot, and all would be fine and dandy.

"Please let me succeed" was the prayer on his lips.