Although Wind Wolves were extremely fast, the Flame Technique could explode over a wide area.
As long as she used a large-scale flame attack, she could restrict the Wind Wolf's movement to a certain range.
Though doing so would greatly reduce the power of the Flame Technique, it was the only viable method for now.
Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Yuxiu raised her hand and channeled nearly thirty percent of the spiritual power in her dantian, condensing flames in her palm. With a wave of her hand, a vast sheet of flames spread outward.
When had a Wind Wolf ever seen such a display? Faced with the surging sheet of flames rushing straight at it, it instantly pulled back and dodged.
In its eyes, given its own speed, it was simply impossible for these flames to burn it.
Yet what it did not know was that this retreat played right into Xu Yuxiu's hands.
The flames split into two currents from the middle, enveloping the Wind Wolf from left and right in a pincer movement.
Seeing its movement range gradually shrinking, a look of anxiety seemed to appear in the Wind Wolf's intelligent beast-like pupils.
"Let's see how you dodge this now! Water Flow Technique, Water Arrow!"
Xu Yuxiu cast all caution to the wind. Taking advantage of the Wind Wolf's restricted movement, she directly channeled fifty percent of her remaining spiritual power, transforming it into three half-foot-long water arrows.
"Go!"
Following her soft cry, the water arrows shot out with a piercing whistle, heading straight for the Wind Wolf trapped within the circle of fire.
Swish, swish, swish!
Awoo~!
A series of piercing sounds was accompanied by a final howl.
The Wind Wolf's body was struck in succession by two water arrows and it collapsed to the ground.
Only then did the flames trapping the Wind Wolf slowly dissipate.
Looking at the Wind Wolf lying on the ground, it was still breathing—not completely dead yet.
Seeing this, Xu Yuxiu did not hesitate at all. She channeled the very last bit of spiritual power in her body, condensing it into a water arrow that pierced straight through the Wind Wolf's skull, ending its life once and for all.
Thus came the curtain down on a battle between a cultivator and a monster beast.
Xu Yuxiu let out a long breath and slumped flat onto the ground.
Her spiritual power had been entirely exhausted, and her dantian felt hollow and thoroughly uncomfortable.
However, she knew that in Wind Wolf Ridge, the smell of blood would attract more Wind Wolves; this was no place to linger.
Forcing herself up despite her weakness, she came over to the Wind Wolf's carcass, stored it inside her storage bag, picked the Wind Spirit Grass, and hurried away.
Rushing all the way out of Wind Wolf Ridge, she headed straight back to her rented dwelling.
It was only after she stepped into her rented room and shut the door behind her that she finally relaxed completely and began to meditate to recover her spiritual power.
After spending about half an hour restoring her depleted spiritual power, Xu Yuxiu began to review this battle.
Through this review, she discovered that when facing the Wind Wolf, not only had her casting speed not gotten any faster, but it had actually taken an extra breath or two.
This left her somewhat dissatisfied.
Yet, considering this was her first time facing a monster beast head-on—where she not only had to condense spells but also split her focus to track the Wind Wolf's movements—it was entirely forgivable.
In her past practice sessions, she had always been fully concentrated, only needing to focus on condensing spells without ever having to care about changes in the terrain.
Now Xu Yuxiu finally understood why spells could only make substantial progress through actual combat; this was the reason.
After reviewing the battle, Xu Yuxiu began to sort through the spoils of her trip.
The carcass of a Wind Wolf, plus three stalks of Wind Spirit Grass—the harvest was not bad at all.
"Together with the one I picked yesterday, I've already gathered four stalks of Wind Spirit Grass. That leaves sixteen more to reach the twenty required by the task."
After pondering for a moment, she cast her gaze back onto the Wind Wolf's carcass. "I wonder how many spirit stones this Wind Wolf can sell for?"
After a brief thought, she put away all her items and went out.
Although the marketplace in Qingfeng Town mostly consisted of rogue cultivators setting up roadside stalls, there were also a few permanent shops.
After searching around for a bit, Xu Yuxiu walked straight into a shop named "Treasure Pavilion".
The moment she stepped inside, she spotted an acquaintance.
And that person saw her too.
"Junior Sister, we meet again!"
The outer disciple senior sister who had arranged her living quarters yesterday greeted her with a smile.
"Senior Sister, why are you here?"
Seeing this senior sister sitting behind the shop counter, Xu Yuxiu realized that this shop apparently also fell under her management.
"Junior Sister might not know, but Wind Wolf Ridge is the designated trial ground for the disciples of our Taixuan Sect, so naturally Qingfeng Town is also under our sect's jurisdiction. I was assigned as the person in charge of managing this place. My surname is Yu, you may call me Senior Sister Yu."
Senior Sister Yu explained with a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
Xu Yuxiu suddenly understood. So that was how it was.
"Did Junior Sister come here to buy something, or to sell something?"
Nodding, Xu Yuxiu took the Wind Wolf she had slain out of her storage bag and asked, "Does Senior Sister buy this Wind Wolf?"
Senior Sister Yu stepped out from behind the counter and bent down slightly to inspect the Wind Wolf on the ground.
"A Wind Wolf at the Qi Condensation 3rd Layer has very few useful parts on it. It's only worth eight spirit stones. Would Junior Sister be willing to sell?"
Having stated her price, Senior Sister Yu said nothing more.
Thinking it over, Xu Yuxiu felt that eight spirit stones was a reasonable price, and she immediately agreed to Senior Sister Yu's offer.
"Does Junior Sister have anything else you'd like to buy?"
Seeing that Xu Yuxiu did not leave after selling the Wind Wolf, but instead let her gaze wander toward other areas of the shop, Senior Sister Yu asked.
Indeed, Xu Yuxiu still had things she needed to buy.
Through her battle with the Wind Wolf, she had learned of a fatal shortcoming of her own: she simply had too few means at her disposal.
Whether it was spirit tools or talismans, she had none. Even for standard medicinal pills, she only carried a single bottle of Bigu Pills provided by the sect.
With such a setup, blindly charging into Wind Wolf Ridge—she hadn't realized it before, but now she felt her previous self had been far too confident. Daring to venture into Wind Wolf Ridge relying solely on a few spells, she really had been a newborn calf unafraid of tigers.
Fortunately, this time she had only encountered a single Qi Condensation 3rd Layer Wind Wolf. Had there been even one more—even if it were just another Qi Condensation 2nd Layer Wind Wolf—she would have lost her life right there.
"I'd like to buy some talismans. I wonder what the prices are..."
Seeing Xu Yuxiu's inexperience, Senior Sister Yu didn't hide anything. "Talismans are divided into low, middle, and high grades, up to ninth rank. High-grade talismans aren't available here; the highest we sell are third-grade talismans. First-grade talismans are worth one spirit stone each, second-grade cost ten, and third-grade talismans cost one hundred spirit stones each. Which grade of talisman is Junior Sister looking for?"
"Ah?"
Hearing the prices of the talismans, Xu Yuxiu was startled.
She had anticipated that talismans might be somewhat expensive, but she never imagined they could be this exorbitant.
Counting the spirit stones from selling the Wind Wolf just now, she only had twenty-eight spirit stones in total, twenty of which had been issued by the sect.
As a newly admitted outer disciple, the sect would issue them ten spirit stones per month for the first year, after which they would need to complete sect tasks to claim them.
"What is the power of a first-grade talisman like?"
Gritting her teeth, Xu Yuxiu asked the question anyway.
Since she couldn't afford the expensive ones, she could check out the cheaper ones. If suitable, buying the cheapest talismans was not out of the question.
"A first-grade talisman has a maximum power equivalent to a full-strike attack from a Qi Condensation 4th Layer cultivator. As long as you don't venture too deep into Wind Wolf Ridge, first-grade talismans will be more than enough for Junior Sister to use."
After listening to Senior Sister Yu's explanation, Xu Yuxiu nodded. "Then I'll take first-grade talismans."
She then followed Senior Sister Yu to the counter displaying the talismans.
There were many types of first-grade talismans, among which was one called the Fireball Talisman.
There were also others such as Ice Needle Talismans, Wind Escape Talismans, Earth Spike Talismans, and so on.
Through Senior Sister Yu's explanations, Xu Yuxiu gained a preliminary understanding of these talismans.
After a brief moment of thought, she bought five Fireball Talismans, five Ice Needle Talismans, and then three Wind Escape Talismans, spending a total of thirteen spirit stones.
Now she was left with only fifteen spirit stones in her pocket.
Having half her net worth wiped out in an instant made her heart ache a little.
At the same time, she also understood the vital importance of spirit stones to cultivators, a realization that sparked a strong desire for them in her heart.
Take on tasks, undergo trials, earn spirit stones!
Now she had gained yet another goal.