Chapter 237
Chapter 237
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 237
Chapter Title: Enraging the Beast, A Chance Encounter with Tieniu
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“Maoqiu, focus and stand guard for me.”
Seeing that both Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue were meditating and clearing their minds, Chen Jianghe also began to restore his spiritual power and mental energy.
Over the past month, controlling the puppets to search for spiritual items had been quite draining on his mind.
Maoqiu held the profound iron heavy rod, its cautious gaze sweeping over the surroundings. But when it looked toward Sunset Tarn, a flicker of fear appeared in its eyes.
Evidently, in the direction of Sunset Tarn, there was a powerful demonic beast that terrified it.
Three days passed in a flash.
Chen Jianghe, Gao Peiyao, and Luo Xiyue had recovered their spiritual power, and their mental energy was back at its peak.
“Brother Jianghe, put your spirit beast away first. We can’t alert the beast in Sunset Tarn ahead of time. When we’re two miles away, Sister Xiyue and I will lure it out. You can make your move then.”
Gao Peiyao spoke openly, not using voice transmission, so Luo Xiyue could hear.
Chen Jianghe nodded and recalled Maoqiu into the spirit beast space.
Then, they cautiously advanced toward Sunset Tarn. There were no restrictive formations blocking their path, nor were there any other demonic beasts within a ten-mile radius of the tarn.
In just a quarter of an hour, they arrived at a position three miles from Sunset Tarn.
He channeled his spiritual power to his eyes, his gaze becoming like a torch. Looking at Sunset Tarn, he could see it was a circular pool of water.
It was over thirty zhang in diameter, and its surface shimmered with a golden glow.
But there was no sun or moon in the sky above.
Although the Wind and Snow Valley Mystic Realm had no sun or moon, the world was a vast expanse of white, like daytime, with heaven and earth blending into one color.
Looking at the thirty-odd zhang wide pool, it was as if the great sun in the sky had truly fallen into it.
Streaks of golden light shot out from the bottom of the tarn.
They illuminated the water’s surface, making it ripple with a golden brilliance that spread out like a cloth.
“There’s danger.”
Xiao Hei’s voice sounded on his spiritual platform.
By this time, Chen Jianghe had reached a spot two miles from Sunset Tarn, and Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue were preparing to act.
“Xiao Hei, did you sense the aura of a demonic beast?”
Chen Jianghe asked hurriedly.
Xiao Hei had a keen sense of smell. Even with its physical body in the spirit beast space, it seemed able to sense dangerous auras through Chen Jianghe’s location.
Chen Jianghe had long been familiar with this ability of Xiao Hei’s.
Back when he had encountered Ji Wujin, Xiao Hei had sensed a second-tier spirit beast on him.
And Ji Wujin did indeed have a White-Furred Flying Treasure-Hunting Mouse.
“Yes, this beast is very strong.”
“Can you sense how many there are?”
“The distance is too great. I can only vaguely sense that one powerful beast.”
“How strong? Can you block its attacks?”
“I don’t know. I’d have to try.”
“Alright, be ready to come out and fight at any moment.”
Chen Jianghe breathed a sigh of relief. From what Xiao Hei was saying, there was one powerful demonic beast in Sunset Tarn.
That meant there was only a single second-tier perfected demonic beast.
In that case, Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue were more than capable of dealing with this beast.
One of them could probably even handle it alone.
And the other could help him.
Thinking about the changes in the two women since entering the mystic realm, especially how Luo Xiyue had grown cold toward Gao Peiyao, he knew it was unlikely they would spare someone to help him retrieve the treasure.
So, he would have to do the job himself.
“You stay here and conceal your aura. Wait for Peiyao and me to lure the beast away before you move.”
Luo Xiyue glanced at Chen Jianghe, telling him to stay put and wait for the right moment.
“Brother Jianghe, the treasure is in the tarn. Time is of the essence, so don’t miss the best opportunity to retrieve it,” Gao Peiyao reminded him.
“Understood.”
Chen Jianghe nodded at the two women.
Just then.
Luo Xiyue sent a voice transmission.
“If it can’t be done, don’t force it. We’ve already obtained the third-tier spiritual item, the Dark Surge Golden Sand. That’s a great fortune in itself.”
“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Luo. I understand.”
At the same time, Gao Peiyao also sent a voice transmission.
“Brother Jianghe, whether you get the treasure or not, if you encounter danger, you must immediately head to Golden Eagle Cliff. After Sister Xiyue and I escape, we will come find you.”
“Alright, I know.”
Chen Jianghe agreed to both their transmissions. Even if they hadn’t said anything, he would have fled immediately at the first sign of danger.
“Sister Xiyue, will you make the first move, or shall I?”
Gao Peiyao looked at Luo Xiyue with a faint smile.
“I will.”
Without another word, Luo Xiyue flew directly toward the shimmering golden pool, the Remnant Snow Sword appearing in her hand.
In an instant, a moon-like radiance enveloped her, and her pale green gauze dress transformed into a suit of silver-white immortal armor in the light.
This was the first time Chen Jianghe had seen Luo Xiyue in immortal armor. Her stunningly beautiful face gained a touch of heroic spirit. Holding the Remnant Snow Sword and clad in silver armor, she looked valiant and heroic.
“Roar~”
A low roar echoed.
The sound wasn’t loud, but it traveled for dozens of miles.
Moreover, the roar carried a powerful pressure that was terrifying and made one’s heart pound wildly.
“It can even attack the soul!”
Chen Jianghe was astonished.
Just hearing its voice without seeing its form, he could already feel the terror of this demonic beast. Its roar possessed a formidable pressure and had a significant impact on the soul.
If an ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivator came within ten miles of Sunset Tarn, that single roar would probably shatter their soul and spirit.
Chen Jianghe, however, was not afraid.
Not only was his soul essence powerful, but the barrier of his sea of consciousness could also defend against such soul attacks.
Even if the attack were ten times stronger, it wouldn’t be able to harm his soul.
Luo Xiyue flew above Sunset Tarn, forming a hand seal. A chilling aura emanated from the seal, and as it completed, she struck it into the water.
In an instant, the surface of the water was frozen solid.
Roar!
The beast in the tarn let out another low roar. The powerful sonic waves shattered the frozen surface, creating a dense web of cracks.
The thirty-odd zhang wide surface of the water now resembled a giant spiderweb.
Bang!
The ice shattered, and a monkey covered in pure white fur burst out. It was only nine chi tall, not even a full zhang.
But the pressure it emitted far surpassed Maoqiu’s.
“A Mountain Velvet Beast?”
“No, it’s an Icy Snow Beast!”
Chen Jianghe suddenly recalled the records of the Icy Snow Beast in the *Illustrated Guide to the Arctic Snow Forest*. It was a demonic beast with an extremely pure bloodline, active in the regions over four thousand miles deep into the Arctic Snow Forest.
It resembled a monkey and was entirely snow-white. A careless observer could easily mistake it for a first-tier Mountain Velvet Beast.
Mountain Velvet Beasts were also pure white during their first tier.
The Icy Snow Beast was an ice-attribute demonic beast with a fourth-grade, high-tier bloodline. Upon reaching adulthood, it would be a second-tier perfected demonic beast.
The one before them was already an adult, a powerful second-tier perfected demonic beast.
Its eyes gleamed with ferocity as it let out a low growl. Its thick, powerful palms had black claws that instantly extended to three chi long, like sharp swords.
Roar!
In a flash, the Icy Snow Beast charged at Luo Xiyue, swiping its claws to shatter an incoming ice seal.
Luo Xiyue formed a seal, raising a wall of ice to slow the beast down, while with a flick of her Remnant Snow Sword, she sent a volley of icicles shooting toward it.
Roar!
The Icy Snow Beast shattered the ice wall with one palm, its sharp claws deflecting the incoming icicles.
Even when one or two icicles struck its body, they only caused it pain without piercing its defenses.
“This is bad. It’s an Icy Snow Beast preparing to advance to the third tier.”
Gao Peiyao’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, she flew toward Luo Xiyue to fight alongside her.
“Maoqiu.”
Chen Jianghe immediately released Maoqiu.
At the same time, he used his spiritual platform connection to ask Xiao Hei about the situation. The battle had begun, and he could clearly feel the powerful fluctuations of the Icy Snow Beast’s spiritual power.
“Xiao Hei, are you confident?”
“It’s too strong. I’d have to try to know for sure. But it’s best not to.”
“…”
Chen Jianghe glanced at the great battle above Sunset Tarn. Under the deliberate guidance of Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao, the fight was gradually moving away from the tarn.
Gao Peiyao’s spiritual weapon was a long, dark-green whip. The handle resembled a dragon’s head, while the body was shaped like a dragon’s spine.
At the tip of the whip were three barbs.
This was the spirit-nourishing offensive weapon, the Dragon Spine Whip, that Luo Xiyue had refined according to Gao Peiyao’s request.
At the same time, Gao Peiyao had also donned a suit of dark-green immortal armor, another spirit-nourishing defensive weapon refined by Luo Xiyue.
“Wood attribute?”
From the battle, Chen Jianghe realized that Gao Peiyao cultivated a wood-attribute technique. The spiritual power, brimming with vigorous life yet filled with poison, struck the Icy Snow Beast with a lash of her whip.
Although it didn’t cause significant damage, it turned the Icy Snow Beast’s fur black and made it emit poisonous fumes.
He couldn’t tell if it was from a poison art cultivated by Gao Peiyao or if the poison was inherent to the Dragon Spine Whip.
With a thought, Chen Jianghe took out a late-stage first-tier support puppet. Seeing the battle between the two women and the Icy Snow Beast moving farther and farther from Sunset Tarn, he used his divine sense to guide the puppet to investigate the tarn.
The chilling aura dissipated, and the pool of water returned to its shimmering, golden state.
The puppet closed its eyes, and when they opened again, they held a hint of spirit. It was Chen Jianghe, observing through the puppet’s eyes.
His spiritual gaze was like a torch.
Viewing Sunset Tarn up close, he discovered that the pool was not golden but pitch-black.
It was like an endless abyss.
Chen Jianghe was two miles from Sunset Tarn, which happened to be the maximum range of his divine sense.
If any unforeseen event occurred, he could react instantly and escape.
With a thought, he directed the puppet to probe the water.
The moment it touched the water, Chen Jianghe felt a bone-chilling coldness in his very soul. He quickly withdrew his divine sense from the puppet.
Having lost Chen Jianghe’s control, the puppet’s hand continued its motion into the water, but it was instantly frozen and fell into the tarn.
“There’s something wrong with this water!”
Such frigid water hadn’t even frozen over. Looking at the shimmering surface, he could still see the ripples from where the puppet had fallen in.
The water was too strange; its chilling power had nearly frozen his divine sense.
“Xiao Hei, can you still sense any demonic beast auras?”
Chen Jianghe moved half a mile closer to the tarn.
“No.”
Xiao Hei’s voice sounded on his spiritual platform.
Upon hearing this, Chen Jianghe told Xiao Hei to focus on sensing for auras. He continued to approach, holding six talismans in his hand.
Two Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talismans and one Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman.
Two Green Wood Immortal Shield Talismans and one Rushing Thunder Talisman.
Which set of defensive and escape talismans he would use would depend on the situation.
Chen Jianghe dared not delay.
Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue were taking a huge risk by luring away that Icy Snow Beast, which was on the verge of a breakthrough.
The beast’s strength had exceeded their expectations.
This was no ordinary second-tier perfected demonic beast.
It was an Icy Snow Beast about to break through to the third tier, and one with a fourth-grade, high-tier bloodline at that.
Even using a Talisman Treasure might not be enough to kill it.
Therefore, Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue were in mortal danger.
At a time like this, assuming everything was safe, he couldn’t afford to mess up. So he had to quickly determine if it was truly safe now.
“Two-legged beast, let me out.”
Xiao Hei sent a message through the spiritual platform.
With a thought, Chen Jianghe summoned a gush of spiritual power, forming a water curtain that arced over to create a covered passage leading to Sunset Tarn.
Although it couldn’t block divine sense, it could obstruct vision.
Chen Jianghe took out ten Sealing Talismans and used them immediately, adding a divine sense-blocking effect to the water curtain.
He wasn’t hoping to block a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s divine sense.
He just needed it to hold for three breaths.
After these preparations, Chen Jianghe willed it, and Xiao Hei was released from the spirit beast space.
“Lord Turtle, I don’t sense any demonic beast aura in the tarn.”
Upon seeing Xiao Hei, Maoqiu immediately started to communicate with it.
Xiao Hei didn’t reply.
It walked in the front, with Maoqiu behind it, and Chen Jianghe in the middle, holding the six talismans. His powerful mental energy controlled the spiritual power that maintained the water curtain passage.
Ten breaths later.
When they were only ten zhang from Sunset Tarn.
Xiao Hei stopped.
“There’s a demonic beast in the water. Its aura is unstable, like it’s breaking through.”
“Breaking through?”
Chen Jianghe’s heart tightened. He quickly asked, “Is it breaking through to the second tier?”
Xiao Hei rolled its eyes.
“It’s breaking through to the third tier.”
“But it should be at a critical stage and won’t be distracted by us. For now, we are safe.”
As it sent the message, Xiao Hei cautiously approached the edge of Sunset Tarn. It carefully stuck its head out and peered into the water.
At that moment, it used a secret art from the *Three Revolutions Demon Ascension Art*, and its beady black eyes gained a layer of golden light.
It seemed able to see everything at the bottom of Sunset Tarn, which made its large mouth stretch into a grin that reached the back of its head.
Suddenly.
Xiao Hei saw two green glints in the depths of the tarn.
They were the eyes of that demonic beast.
Their gazes met.
Xiao Hei retracted its head.
“Master, let Latiao get the treasure. We’ll wait out here.”
Xiao Hei made a decisive choice.
Chen Jianghe never doubted Xiao Hei’s words. He immediately released Latiao, preparing to send it into Sunset Tarn.
But Xiao Hei started chattering at Latiao.
Five breaths later.
Latiao was covered in its ice armor and quickly dove into the water, but it swam very slowly.
It seemed the chilling water restricted even an ice-attribute demonic beast like itself, preventing it from swimming quickly.
“Xiao Hei, it seems even Latiao can’t handle the water of this cold tarn.”
“It’s not the coldness of the water, but the chill emanating from the Icy Triangle Python inside.”
“Icy Triangle Python?”
“That’s right. In this deep tarn, there’s also an Icy Triangle Python, and it’s breaking through to the third tier.”
Xiao Hei’s mouth stretched into a grin. “Heheh, as long as Latiao knows its limits and doesn’t take the most valuable treasures, that Icy Triangle Python won’t stop its breakthrough.”
“So, we can safely take the treasures?”
Chen Jianghe had no intention of taking any major treasures.
It wasn’t easy for a demonic beast to guard its precious treasures, so why should he steal them?
Since he was just passing by, taking a few items the beast didn’t care about would be enough.
It’s best to leave a way out, so you can meet again on good terms.
“It’s safe for now, but you should be ready to run later. Uh… put Maoqiu back in the spirit beast space first.”
Xiao Hei suddenly became serious.
“…”
The corner of Chen Jianghe’s mouth twitched.
“What did you tell Latiao to do?”
“Get the treasure!”
Hearing the words “get the treasure,” Chen Jianghe didn’t ask any more questions. He understood what Xiao Hei meant.
He immediately recalled Maoqiu into the spirit beast space.
An Icy Triangle Python, in the middle of a breakthrough, would be furious if interrupted. Maoqiu would be no match for it.
Even Luo Xiyue and Gao Peiyao would be in trouble.
But Chen Jianghe wasn’t going to fight it.
He was going to run.
And when it came to running, he had never been one to underestimate himself.
“Xiao Hei, can you outrun this Icy Triangle Python?” Chen Jianghe asked worriedly, seeking confirmation.
“More or less.”
“Then do we have a chance to escape?”
“Don’t worry, I can block one attack from that Icy Triangle Python for you,” Xiao Hei said with full confidence.
“Alright.”
Chen Jianghe put away the Green Wood Immortal Shield Talismans and the Rushing Thunder Talisman.
But his divine sense was already tightly linked to the Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talisman and the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman, ready to flee at a moment’s notice.
Thirty breaths.
A hundred breaths…
As time passed, Chen Jianghe grew increasingly nervous.
The next moment, the Thousand Illusions artifact manifested on his face. With a thought, his features began to change.
His originally smooth skin became rough, his facial structure altered dramatically, and a full beard grew out.
Then, he changed into a set of black clothes.
He conjured a water mirror with his spiritual power and looked at the person in it.
“A good likeness.”
Chen Jianghe nodded in satisfaction.
Since he wasn’t leaving a way out, it was best they never met again. And if they did, they should be strangers.
Seeing Chen Jianghe’s transformation, Xiao Hei’s large mouth moved as if muttering something, and then it spat a mouthful of saliva at him.
“Xiao Hei, what are you doing?”
Chen Jianghe felt a wave of disgust and glared at Xiao Hei.
“Helping you conceal your aura. Although your aura has changed, a keen-nosed demonic beast can still recognize your physical scent.”
Xiao Hei said matter-of-factly.
Chen Jianghe felt the change in his own aura…
“Get ready to run!”
Bang!
Before Chen Jianghe could react, Xiao Hei leaped directly into Sunset Tarn and jumped out again less than half a breath later.
Latiao was coiled around its body, its long form bulging in one place and raised high in another.
It looked like it was covered in lumps.
The moment Xiao Hei leaped out of the water, a massive python head emerged, its cavernous mouth opening wide to swallow it whole.
Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Jianghe used five Flame Dragon Demon-Breaking Talismans. Five ten-zhang-long fire dragons roared and charged at the Icy Triangle Python’s head.
Boom!
In an instant, Sunset Tarn was transformed into a sea of flames.
Chen Jianghe used another Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talisman to protect Xiao Hei and Latiao.
Roar!
The Icy Triangle Python exhaled. A terrifyingly cold aura instantly froze the fire dragons. Its massive body emerged completely from Sunset Tarn. Seeing Chen Jianghe turning into a bolt of purple lightning and fleeing into the distance, it roared in fury.
With an angry whip of its tail, it shattered the frozen fire dragons into dust.
Even the ten-zhang vine shield created by the Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talisman was frozen by the Icy Triangle Python and subsequently shattered.
Then, it swiftly pursued the purple lightning that was Chen Jianghe. Its ten-zhang-long body slithered through the snowy mountain valley, its speed actually a bit faster than a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator flying on a sword.
Boom!
Clang, thud!
The Icy Triangle Python triggered one restrictive formation after another, but they couldn’t slow its pursuit.
“Xiao Hei, burrow into the ground.”
The power of the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman was exhausted. Chen Jianghe saw the Icy Triangle Python chasing relentlessly behind him.
He recalled Latiao into the spirit beast space.
Then he flipped over, hugged the turtle’s head, and pulled his entire body into the shell along with it.
The next instant.
Xiao Hei used the Profound Earth Rock-Splitting Escape Art and tunneled toward a low snow-capped mountain in the distance.
Chen Jianghe did not head for the Snow Palace, nor for Golden Eagle Cliff.
If Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue had suggested the same destination, he might have gone, but they had given him two different places.
This made him suspicious and unwilling to trust them completely.
Gao Peiyao had said the Snow Palace housed a third-tier demonic beast; going there would be like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den.
Golden Eagle Cliff had the powerful Xiao Chen, who could supposedly protect him, but what if he developed killing intent toward him?
As for fleeing in Gao Peiyao and Luo Xiyue’s direction, that would be the safest option for him.
But it would bring danger upon the two women.
He was only suspicious of what they had told him; he had no proof.
Besides, both women had shown him kindness. How could he repay kindness with ingratitude?
His only choice was to head back in the direction he came from when he entered the mystic realm and first find a way to shake off the Icy Triangle Python.
As for meeting up with the two women?
There would be plenty of opportunities.
Xiao Hei used the Profound Earth Rock-Splitting Escape Art to travel underground. Its speed was only a fraction slower than the Purple Lightning Cloud-Piercing Talisman.
If Xiao Hei cultivated to the late-stage second tier, its speed with this art would surpass that of the talisman.
“Xiao Hei, at this rate, it seems we can’t outrun that Icy Triangle Python.”
Chen Jianghe said with some concern.
Xiao Hei had triggered many restrictive formations along the way while using its escape art. Although they couldn’t break through its defense, they did slow it down.
However, the Icy Triangle Python’s speed was unaffected by the formations. Its massive body crashed through the snowy forest.
One after another, snow pines over ten zhang tall and as thick as millstones snapped and fell.
Xiao Hei said nothing.
It continued to use its divine ability, the Profound Earth Rock-Splitting Escape Art.
As long as it had spiritual power, Xiao Hei could use this art continuously. That was the great advantage of this technique.
It was even superior to the Blood River Escape Art that Chen Jianghe cultivated.
However, for short bursts of distance, the Blood River Escape Art was more powerful, but the cost was too high.
Chen Jianghe would not consume Xiao Hei’s lifespan unless it was the last resort.
Seeing Xiao Hei’s silence, Chen Jianghe said no more.
When Xiao Hei emerged from the ground, Chen Jianghe would use water-attribute techniques to attack the Icy Triangle Python.
Even if he couldn’t hurt it, he would do his best to slow it down.
“What did Latiao eat? Its belly is bulging in five or six places. With Xiao Hei’s cautious personality, why would it let Latiao risk stealing such important treasures?!”
Chen Jianghe was well aware of Xiao Hei’s cautious nature.
Logically, Xiao Hei wouldn’t take such a huge risk just for some treasure.
“Ruan Tieniu?”
Suddenly, Chen Jianghe saw several blurry figures ahead. As they got closer, he saw that the leader was none other than Ruan Tieniu, flying rapidly toward him.
At that moment, Ruan Tieniu also spotted Chen Jianghe riding the turtle.
“Fellow Daoist Liu, Fellow Daoist Liang, Fellow Daoist Qian, hurry up… We’re saved! It’s Perfected Lord Qingyou’s disciple! He has a Talisman Treasure on him, heheh~”