Beast God
Chapter 11: Stealth Killer

Watching the riders depart without a backward glance, Chen Guan actually felt relieved when Ji Nanhong and her group didn't spare him a second look.  

In such a place, it was already fortunate that Old Bird didn't turn around to capture and torture him into handing over Rouge.  

Of course, even if Old Bird had tried to seize him, it wouldn't have been easy. A level 5 Rouge combined with Cheerleader's Soul could unleash combat power beyond imagination.  

Though riding Rouge wasn't particularly comfortable, its speed far surpassed Mystical Spirits of the same level, making it excellent for fleeing danger.  

As for how powerful Rouge became under Cheerleader's Soul's enhancement, even Chen Guan couldn't estimate. His understanding of Cheerleader's Soul remained shallow.  

No talent was as simple as it appeared on the surface. Through practical application, one could develop numerous techniques and methods. The same talent could produce vastly different results depending on the user - some wielded it powerfully while others weakly.  

Ji Nanhong's group headed deeper into Corpse Puppet Forest, so Chen Guan decisively abandoned his plan to hunt Mystical Spirits there and moved in the opposite direction, seeking a new hunting ground preferably without other people nearby.  

The island was vast and sparsely populated, so finding such a spot shouldn't be difficult.  

Just because Old Bird currently showed no interest in Rouge didn't mean he wouldn't change his mind. The allure of a unique pet remained strong even here, and Chen Guan didn't want to gamble with human nature.  

The return journey proved relatively smooth as the corpse puppets along the path had been cleared earlier. Though encountering no dangers, Chen Guan remained vigilant.  

This wasn't a game - life offered no second chances or resurrection after death.  

Passing by a large tree, Chen Guan suddenly sensed something amiss. A chilling wind seemed to rush at his back. Instinctively dodging sideways, he still felt sharp pain across his back.  

Without bothering to assess the injury, he threw himself forward while commanding Rouge to turn back and protect him.  

Rolling on the ground to create distance, Chen Guan turned to see a black-clad dagger-wielding figure charging at unbelievable speed, the blade already nearing his chest.  

Clang!  

A blood-red streak shot through the air as the butcher knife spun and struck the assailant's dagger, forcibly deflecting it.  

Chen Guan's heart pounded as he scrambled backward. Rouge possessed tremendous strength - despite being only level 5, its power rivaled ordinary level 10 Mystical Spirits.  

Considering the Bloodsucking Blade's sharpness, the fact that the black-clad figure's dagger wasn't severed or knocked loose indicated their strength matched Rouge's.  

As Chen Guan retreated, the masked attacker advanced again. Fortunately, Rouge leaped in front, stomping the ground to flip the Bloodsucking Blade into its paws before slashing at the assailant.  

Though the black-clad figure matched Rouge's strength, they seemed unwilling to engage directly. Instead, they employed ghostly footwork, nimbly evading Rouge's strikes while occasionally counterattacking to keep the rabbit off-balance.  

"This Stealth Killer's level seems higher than what Old Bird mentioned - definitely not ordinary quality," Chen Guan observed from a distance, having already identified the attacker's origin.  

Beyond corpse puppets, Corpse Puppet Forest housed another type of Mystical Spirit, though far rarer. Having encountered none earlier, Chen Guan never expected to meet one alone on his return.  

These were Stealth Killers - ordinary ones reached level 10, ranking among the island's elite Mystical Spirits.  

However, standard Stealth Killers had weak physical attributes. In direct combat, a level 10 Corpse Puppet Forest Lord would overpower one.  

But Stealth Killers specialized in ambushes and possessed remarkable speed. If caught off-guard, even a Corpse Puppet Forest Lord could fall easily.  

Moreover, this particular Stealth Killer clearly wasn't ordinary quality, given how it pressured Rouge.  

Chen Guan's survival of the initial backstab attempt resulted from vigilance, quick reflexes, and sheer luck.  

Watching the ghostly Stealth Killer repeatedly wound Rouge while evading counterattacks, Chen Guan could no longer hold back and activated Cheerleader's Soul.  

"Rouge...you're the strongest Mystical Spirit pet in the world...a mere Stealth Killer...you can chop it down with one strike..." Chen Guan lavished praise, hoping to boost Rouge's combat effectiveness and quickly eliminate the threat.  

Yet despite his enthusiastic compliments, while Rouge showed some response, the effect fell far short of expectations. The battle remained unfavorable, with no signs of imminent victory.  

Chen Guan frowned. This outcome contradicted his observations - Cheerleader's Soul's effects shouldn't be so limited. Even Warring States, an ordinary Mystical Spirit pet, had displayed dramatically enhanced combat power.  

Why would a high-quality pet like Rouge show such minimal improvement?  

Reviewing Cheerleader's Soul's information, Chen Guan began forming new theories.  

Cheerleader's Soul worked by using words or actions to activate a target's potential, inducing an enhanced performance state clearly tied to mental and physical conditions - requiring proper mental stimulation.  

Reflecting, Chen Guan recalled how praising Warring States' loyalty had boosted its combat power, while generic compliments proved ineffective. Similarly, complimenting Old Bird's archery skills enhanced his accuracy.  

Initially thinking Cheerleader's Soul worked only once, Chen Guan now realized effective praise needed to resonate deeply with the recipient, exciting their spirit to trigger the effect.  

Like praising a lame man for running fast would only insult rather than inspire.  

Remembering his previous successful compliments to Warring States, Chen Guan repeated them to Rouge, but the effect remained negligible.  

"Praising Warring States' loyalty and Old Bird's archery worked, but fails with Rouge. Cheerleader's Soul must adapt praise to different creatures' preferences. So what does Rouge value? How should I praise it to unlock its potential?" Chen Guan pondered deeply.