Chapter 305
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 305
Chapter Title: Maoqiu's Might, Four Beasts Slain by the Sword
*Huu...*
Chen Jianghe took a deep breath, looking at the Profound Ice Lotus Seed in his hand. A chill spread through his body, resisting the heat wave emanating from the Violet Thunder Shining Sky Fire.
Even from such a distance, a mere flicker of flame possessed such tremendous power. If he were to refine it and unleash it suddenly in battle, how terrifying would its might be?
"I'll take it!"
Chen Jianghe steeled his heart and took a step, then quickly began to run deeper into the cave.
Under the heat wave of the Violet Thunder Shining Sky Fire, Chen Jianghe's running speed was reduced to its minimum, like that of a mortal.
The deeper he went, the harder it became to condense his spiritual power.
The Violet Thunder Shining Sky Fire also had the effect of attacking one's spiritual sense. Even from this distance, it caused Chen Jianghe's soul to feel perpetually numb, making it impossible to concentrate and circulate his spiritual power.
When Chen Jianghe reached a position one hundred and eighty zhang in, he didn't rush forward. Instead, he sat down cross-legged and began to circulate the Soul Sea Solidifying Origin Scripture to refine his soul essence.
He felt as if his soul essence was about to be shattered by the Violet Thunder Shining Sky Fire at any moment.
No wonder it could injure Core Formation experts.
With his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, he hadn't even seen the Violet Thunder Shining Sky Fire yet, and his soul was already on the verge of being shattered.
If not for the Profound Ice Lotus Seed and the Profound Ice Battle Armor, he would have already become a dried corpse.
Ten hours later.
His soul sea stabilized, and the silvery-gray barrier began to glow once more. But with each crackle of lightning, the light dimmed significantly.
"This spiritual fire is too powerful. Without Xiao Hei, it would be impossible to take it. Even a False Core cultivator would be helpless."
Chen Jianghe stood up. Another twenty zhang and he would reach the deepest part of the cave, but he felt that if he walked those twenty zhang, he might be roasted into a dried corpse.
The Profound Ice Lotus Seed was already showing cracks. The intense heat wave washed over him again. If he went twenty zhang deeper, the Profound Ice Lotus Seed would surely shatter.
"Master, how much farther?"
Xiao Hei sensed the trembling of Chen Jianghe's soul and asked with concern.
"Twenty zhang. The Profound Ice Lotus Seed in my hand doesn't seem like it can hold on."
"Why don't we turn back!"
At this moment, Xiao Hei felt like retreating. He wanted to enhance his bloodline, but not at the cost of Chen Jianghe's life.
"There are plenty of spiritual items out there. We can find better treasures in the future."
"Don't worry, I have a way to get you within a hundred zhang of the lightning pool."
Chen Jianghe replied.
He held the Profound Ice Lotus Seed and continued forward. Each step required him to circulate the Soul Sea Solidifying Origin Scripture for three minor cycles.
Otherwise, his soul essence would be shattered by the power radiating from the Violet Thunder Shining Sky Fire.
Three hours later.
Chen Jianghe arrived at the one hundred and ninety zhang mark.
Looking at the final ten zhang, beads of sweat had already formed on Chen Jianghe's forehead, and his clothes were completely soaked.
The Profound Ice Battle Armor was beginning to turn red.
Dense cracks appeared on the Profound Ice Lotus Seed in his hand, looking as if it could shatter at any moment.
"Xiao Hei, get ready!"
Chen Jianghe's gaze hardened. Eighteen Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talismans appeared in his hand, along with five Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talismans and one Minor Teleportation Talisman.
He tucked the Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talismans and the Minor Teleportation Talisman into his sleeve, ready to use them at a moment's notice.
The next moment.
With a thought, Chen Jianghe's spiritual power surged. He activated eight Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talismans, and the interwoven vine shields protected his entire body.
He threw out the Profound Ice Lotus Seed, which instantly shattered.
A terrifying force of profound ice immediately coated the vine shields.
Right at that moment!
Chen Jianghe used a Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talisman, allowing him to dash ten zhang in just three breaths within the two-hundred-zhang range of the Violet Thunder Shining Sky Fire.
"Xiao Hei!"
Chen Jianghe called out softly.
*Rumble!*
Xiao Hei's massive body appeared in the narrow cave. Instantly, the mountain rock shattered, rubble tumbled, and dust filled the air.
"Go!"
Xiao Hei exhaled, and in an instant, surging waves filled the cave, like a heavenly river flowing out of the mountain.
Chen Jianghe didn't hesitate for a second.
He knew very well that staying would only make him a burden to Xiao Hei. Right now, he had to escape as fast as possible.
Seeing the escape route Xiao Hei had prepared for him.
Chen Jianghe instantly formed a hand seal and cast the second-tier spell, Water Wave Escape, following the current created by Xiao Hei's spell to flee the cave.
*Rumble!*
The mountain shook violently, and the cave collapsed.
Accompanied by roars, all the demonic beasts woke up. Xiao Hei's aura was too powerful.
The aura of a peak second-tier beast, and not a demonic beast at that, was bound to awaken those slumbering peak second-tier demonic beasts.
*Roar!*
A great roar, like a clap of thunder.
Just as Chen Jianghe escaped the cave, he felt it collapse, burying Xiao Hei within.
However, Xiao Hei had the Profound Earth Rock-Splitting Escape, so there was no need to worry about him being buried deep underground.
At that moment.
Chen Jianghe saw a Single-Horned Thunder Beast flying towards him. It resembled a horse with a single horn, four golden hooves, and a body covered in silver fish-like scales.
This was the Single-Horned Thunder Beast with a third-rank, high-grade bloodline—a lightning-attribute demonic beast with extremely powerful attacks.
This Single-Horned Thunder Beast had already cultivated to the peak of the second tier and was one of the six peak second-tier demonic beasts that had been slumbering.
Chen Jianghe sensed the fluctuations of spiritual power within the mountain and understood that Xiao Hei had engaged the other five peak second-tier demonic beasts.
If he used the Minor Teleportation Talisman to run now.
This Single-Horned Thunder Beast would also turn to attack Xiao Hei.
And so would the twenty to thirty mid-to-late second-tier demonic beasts that were gathering.
It had only been four breaths since he released Xiao Hei. He didn't know if Xiao Hei had managed to swallow the Lightninglight Stone and Firelight Stone yet.
Only by swallowing these two great treasures could Xiao Hei store the Violet Thunder Shining Sky Fire in his treasure pouch.
"Water Curtain Heavenly Splendor!"
Chen Jianghe quickly cast a second-tier water-based defensive spell to block a lightning strike from the Single-Horned Thunder Beast.
*Bang!*
The moment the silver lightning made contact with the water curtain, it shattered the defensive spell and shot straight towards Chen Jianghe.
He activated a Second Wood Green Vine Shield Talisman.
A massive vine shield appeared before him.
*Boom!*
The silver lightning struck the vine shield, transforming into a dense web of electricity that enveloped it but failed to break through its defense.
After all, this was just an ordinary attack from the Single-Horned Thunder Beast. How could it possibly break through a top-tier defensive spell cast with the full power of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator?
"I'll risk it. I'll lure it away first. If it comes to it, I'll use the Minor Teleportation Talisman!"
Chen Jianghe took out a Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talisman. Circulating his spiritual power, he activated it. Instantly, a seal appeared, and vines surged out, attacking the Single-Horned Thunder Beast.
If one were to observe with spiritual sense.
They would see three-foot-long soul thorns on the vines.
This was their soul-attacking characteristic.
However, his goal wasn't to injure the Single-Horned Thunder Beast. As long as he could hold it off, he could use the Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talisman to escape.
*Roar!*
The Single-Horned Thunder Beast let out a great roar.
Lightning flashed on its horn, instantly forming a dense net of electricity around its body, turning the attacking vines to ash.
It glanced at Chen Jianghe, who was escaping as a streak of violet lightning, then looked back towards the cave.
The Single-Horned Thunder Beast let out a low growl and gave chase to Chen Jianghe.
*Caw!*
*Caw!*
With piercing cries, six avian beasts followed closely behind the Single-Horned Thunder Beast, flying rapidly towards Chen Jianghe.
Although they were only mid-to-late second-tier, their speed was extremely fast, even slightly faster than a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator flying on a sword.
The other mid-to-late second-tier demonic beasts surrounded the mountain, seemingly awaiting orders from the five peak second-tier demonic beasts inside.
"Only seven beasts followed me?"
Chen Jianghe released his spiritual sense and was somewhat disappointed to find only seven demonic beasts chasing him.
He had wanted to relieve some of the pressure on Xiao Hei.
He had thought of luring away the Single-Horned Thunder Beast, as well as the twenty to thirty mid-to-late second-tier demonic beasts.
He had many trump cards. Even without Xiao Hei, he could fight two peak second-tier demonic beasts.
It was just that Chen Jianghe didn't want to use up his trump cards too early.
He had entered the Beast Taming Mystic Realm to obtain treasures. He would avoid using his trump cards unless absolutely necessary.
"That Golden-Crowned Great Roc is so fast. At its late second-tier cultivation, its full-speed flight is actually a fraction faster than my Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talisman."
Chen Jianghe noticed that while the Single-Horned Thunder Beast's attacks were powerful, its speed was much slower. If it were just the Single-Horned Thunder Beast chasing him.
He could use his Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talismans to kite it for hours and then shake it off without getting hurt or endangering Xiao Hei.
But the six avian beasts were much faster.
Especially that Golden-Crowned Great Roc. Thankfully, it was only late second-tier. If it were peak second-tier, it would have already blocked his path by now.
Even so, in less than fifteen minutes, he would be caught by the Golden-Crowned Great Roc.
"The restrictions in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm are too strong. The speed of the Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talisman is suppressed so heavily, not even reaching a tenth of its speed outside. Although that Golden-Crowned Great Roc is also suppressed, the effect must be much weaker than on the talisman."
A hundred breaths passed, and the power of one Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talisman was exhausted.
It was clear how strong the restrictions in the Beast Taming Mystic Realm were.
And this was after the passage of time had eroded most of its power. Otherwise, the speed of the Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talisman inside the mystic realm would be slower than a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator flying on a sword outside.
"I can't keep this up. It's just a waste of my Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talismans."
Chen Jianghe used another Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talisman, turning into a streak of violet light and flying quickly towards a mountain stream.
Without Xiao Hei, he couldn't possibly venture into the inner mountains.
Compared to the demonic beasts, he was more wary of other cultivators.
Especially the False Core cultivators. Their strength was immense, and their methods were diverse, not something he could handle.
*Plop!*
Chen Jianghe flew into the ravine and dove into the great river, intending to use the Water Wave Escape to pull away from the Golden-Crowned Great Roc.
*Gaaah!*
A long cry tore through the sky.
*Swoosh!*
The Golden-Crowned Great Roc opened its beak and spat out a golden arrow that shot towards Chen Jianghe at the bottom of the river. Its speed was astonishing.
"This beast is using tactics?!"
The power of this golden arrow wasn't great, just an ordinary attack, but it forced Chen Jianghe to deal with it carefully.
But if he retaliated or defended, it would slow him down.
This would give the Single-Horned Thunder Beast time to catch up.
Chen Jianghe circulated his spiritual power. The Profound Ice Battle Armor on his body shone brightly, and a layer of ice armor formed on its surface.
*Bang!*
Chen Jianghe's body trembled, but he continued to cast the Water Wave Escape in the river.
*Swoosh! Swoosh!*
Several more golden arrows shot over.
They shattered the ice armor on the outside of his Profound Ice Battle Armor and struck the black armor directly, but left no mark.
However, it hindered Chen Jianghe's spellcasting, forcing his figure to pause for a few breaths before he could cast Water Wave Escape again.
"Beast, you're still at it?"
Chen Jianghe's expression changed. The Golden-Crowned Great Roc had tasted success and began to harass him relentlessly.
The attacks weren't strong and couldn't break through his Profound Ice Battle Armor, but they could interfere with his spellcasting in the water.
At the same time, another late second-tier avian beast caught up and, together with the Golden-Crowned Great Roc, cast spells to obstruct Chen Jianghe's water escape.
If this continued, the Single-Horned Thunder Beast and the four mid second-tier avian beasts would also catch up.
Chen Jianghe really didn't want to use his Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talismans.
He still had thirty-one of them left, and he was saving them for those False Core cultivators.
As for the Meteorite Lightningfall Talismans and the Second Wood Soul-Entangling Talismans, they were also reserved for False Core cultivators or those prodigies.
Against these demonic beasts, he would run if he could, and if he couldn't…
Chen Jianghe summoned his Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword and stabilized himself in the river. If he continued to flee, he would be forced into the inner mountains.
Without absolute defense, Chen Jianghe didn't want to encounter those cultivators.
Looking at the approaching Golden-Crowned Great Roc and the other late second-tier avian beast, Chen Jianghe's hand seals changed. The flying sword shone brightly, as if coated in a layer of silver light.
*Swoosh!*
It flew swiftly towards the Golden-Crowned Great Roc.
Then, Chen Jianghe's hand seals changed again. He cast a series of second-tier spells, and monstrous waves rolled towards the two avian beasts, trying to drag them into the water.
The flying sword arrived first but was dodged by the Golden-Crowned Great Roc. Then the surging waves came, impossible to avoid. The flying sword circled back, hiding within the waves, waiting for an opportunity.
"Maoqiu, take care of that Golden-Crowned Great Roc first!"
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Jianghe immediately released Maoqiu and pointed at the flat-feathered beast with the golden crown.
The moment Maoqiu appeared, the two avian beasts in the air were momentarily stunned. But when they saw the approaching Single-Horned Thunder Beast behind them, their fear vanished.
Black feathers spread, blocking the flying sword.
The other avian beast swiped a claw, cutting the wave and causing the torrential water to fall back into the river.
The strength of a late second-tier demonic beast was not to be underestimated.
But after the waves subsided, Maoqiu was revealed, standing in the water, holding a Profound Iron Heavy Rod, his gaze fixed on the Golden-Crowned Great Roc.
Suddenly.
A powerful aura erupted from Maoqiu, pressing down directly on the Golden-Crowned Great Roc.
The Golden-Crowned Great Roc seemed to lose its balance, swaying precariously. Terror filled its sharp eyes.
In an instant, it saw three Maoqius.
Even the other avian beast saw three Maoqius and felt a pressure even more terrifying than the Single-Horned Thunder Beast's.
It was accompanied by a mandatory bloodline suppression.
*Bang!*
The Golden-Crowned Great Roc's head shattered, and it fell towards the great river, already lifeless.
Maoqiu swung his Profound Iron Heavy Rod sideways, sweeping swiftly towards the other late second-tier avian beast.
"Caw!"
The Green-Scaled Bird revealed its terror. It shrieked, having distinguished the real Maoqiu from the illusions, but under the immense pressure, its desire to escape was met with sluggish reactions.
The pressure, infinitely close to that of a third-tier demonic beast, almost robbed it of its ability to resist.
*Bang!*
Green scales flew, and green feathers broke.
*Caw!*
The Green-Scaled Bird shrieked, dragging its mangled body as it tried to fly away.
*Swoosh!*
The Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword streaked across the sky like a moonbeam, piercing through the Green-Scaled Bird's eyes.
"Maoqiu, you deal with the Single-Horned Thunder Beast. Leave those mid second-tier beasts to me."
Chen Jianghe said.
He shot out of the river and quickly caught up with the blinded Green-Scaled Bird. Its eyes were pierced, and its hard beak was chopped off.
His single strike had destroyed half of its head.
Chen Jianghe didn't have time to marvel at his own strength.
He turned and lopped off the Green-Scaled Bird's head.
*Bang!*
The Green-Scaled Bird's corpse fell heavily by the riverbank, right next to the Golden-Crowned Great Roc.
The bodies of the two avian beasts were too large. Storing them directly in his storage bag would waste too much space. They needed to be processed first—keep the valuable parts, discard the rest.
At this moment, the Single-Horned Thunder Beast and the four mid second-tier avian beasts had arrived. Even if Chen Jianghe wanted to process the two corpses, he didn't have time.
*Roar!*
Maoqiu roared, brandished his Profound Iron Heavy Rod, and charged directly at the Single-Horned Thunder Beast.
Initially, Chen Jianghe wasn't clear about Maoqiu's combat strength; he could only make a guess based on his own knowledge.
But after seeing Maoqiu smash the Golden-Crowned Great Roc to death with one blow and heavily injure the Green-Scaled Bird with another, giving him the chance to kill it.
Chen Jianghe had an epiphany.
It seemed he had been overvaluing soul attacks.
He had actually thought that the late second-tier Latiao could match the peak second-tier Maoqiu.
Maoqiu's divine ability, Illusory God, could raise its aura by a minor realm. Coupled with its fourth-rank, low-grade bloodline suppression, it could be said that in that instant, its aura was infinitely close to that of a third-tier demonic beast.
When it used Bewildering God, it became impossible to track Maoqiu's figure, with three illusory bodies making it difficult to tell which was real.
In addition, Maoqiu had the Profound Iron Heavy Rod crafted by Luo Xiyue, making its attack power extremely formidable.
For a late second-tier avian beast known for its speed, if it didn't flee the instant it saw Maoqiu, it had little chance of survival.
"Water Binding Art!"
Chen Jianghe formed a hand seal, and four water waves surged out, attempting to entangle the four mid second-tier avian beasts.
If he couldn't handle late second-tier avian beasts, could he not handle mid second-tier ones?
A smile touched the corner of Chen Jianghe's lips.
The moment this thought emerged, he released Latiao.
*Roar!*
The mutated divine ability, Water Dragon Binding, was unleashed. Dozens of transparent ice threads, like living creatures, hid within the waves.
Just as the four avian beasts broke free from the Water Binding Art and were feeling pleased with themselves, they were entangled by the ice threads hidden in the waves.
*Caw caw~*
*Gaaah~*
The four mid second-tier avian beasts shrieked in terror and struggled with all their might, but the ice threads had the ability to devour spiritual power.
Like parasites attached to them, the more they struggled, the tighter the binding became, and the faster their spiritual power was devoured.
Unless they could break free from the ice threads in a single instant, they would be bound to their death.
Chen Jianghe formed a hand seal, and his Silver Moon Flowing Wave Sword instantly slew three of the mid second-tier avian beasts, their corpses falling beside the Golden-Crowned Great Roc.
*Caw!*
The last mid second-tier avian beast suddenly erupted in flames, transforming into a cloud of fire and fleeing into the distance.
Its speed was even greater than Chen Jianghe's when using the Violet Lightning Piercing Cloud Talisman.
"Latiao, that avian beast broke free from the Water Dragon Binding?" Chen Jianghe asked in astonishment.
"The moment it fled, I could still sense the ice thread's mark, but after it got away, the mark disappeared."
"What kind of divine ability is that? It can transform into a cloud of fire to escape?"
Chen Jianghe exclaimed in surprise.
He had a deep appreciation for the various profound divine abilities that demonic beasts could awaken. For example, Latiao's Ice Dragon's Roar, Ice Erosion, and Water Dragon Binding all possessed wondrous powers.
And Maoqiu's Illusory God and Bewildering God were even more profound and peerless combat abilities.
In comparison, Xiao Hei's divine abilities were somewhat plain and simple, but for Chen Jianghe, they were the most practical.
One Petrification ability allowed Xiao Hei to dare to snatch food from the mouths of five peak second-tier demonic beasts.
One Profound Earth Rock-Splitting Escape allowed Xiao Hei to come and go as he pleased in demonic beast lairs.
One mid second-tier demonic beast escaping was of no consequence to Chen Jianghe. Even if it went back, it couldn't harm Xiao Hei.
As long as that Single-Horned Thunder Beast couldn't escape, it would be fine.
Chen Jianghe glanced at the five demonic beast corpses by the riverbank. Not only did he not have time now, but even if he did, he wouldn't process them.
He would have to wait until Maoqiu killed the Single-Horned Thunder Beast to find the time to deal with these corpses.
"Latiao, let's go help Maoqiu."
Chen Jianghe took Latiao and flew to the other side of the ravine. The fight between Maoqiu and the Single-Horned Thunder Beast was intense. The nearby cliff was on the verge of collapsing, covered in marks from the Profound Iron Heavy Rod's strikes and sweeps.
There were also holes from the Single-Horned Thunder Beast's impacts.
The seven-foot-tall Maoqiu, wielding his Profound Iron Heavy Rod, was fighting the nearly five-zhang-large Single-Horned Thunder Beast without falling behind in the slightest.
Large patches of the Single-Horned Thunder Beast's silver scales had fallen off, and a section of its back was caved in, likely from a heavy blow from the Profound Iron Heavy Rod. Spiritual blood splattered across the sky, and the lightning on its horn had dimmed considerably.
Maoqiu's condition was not good either.
His snow-white fur was scorched black, the web between the thumb and forefinger of his hands holding the Profound Iron Heavy Rod was torn, and the wounds from the silver lightning were difficult to staunch. Spiritual blood flowed out, staining a patch of his fur crimson-black.
"Master, I'm going to help Brother Qiu."
Seeing Maoqiu's injuries, Latiao's pupils widened, revealing a fierce and murderous gaze. Its body swayed, ready to join the battle.
"Wait a moment."
Chen Jianghe stopped Latiao and simultaneously concealed his own aura.
"There are cultivators!"
At that moment, Chen Jianghe sensed two fluctuations of spiritual power at the top of the ravine—late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.
It was obvious they had their eyes on Maoqiu and the Single-Horned Thunder Beast.
A spirit beast fighting a demonic beast meant there must be a great treasure guarded by the beast here.
And it was guarded by a peak second-tier demonic beast, which showed how valuable the treasure must be.
The reason they hadn't made a move was.
First, Maoqiu and the Single-Horned Thunder Beast had not yet reached the point of mutual destruction. They both still had spiritual power. Once their power was exhausted, the cultivators could reap the rewards.
Second, they had only seen the spirit beast and had not detected any cultivators with their spiritual sense.
"Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Feng Kingdom. It seems they want to pick up my scraps."
Although the opponents were late-stage Foundation Establishment, Chen Jianghe didn't dare to be careless.
He was also late-stage Foundation Establishment, but cultivation level didn't represent combat strength. Who knew if they also had peak second-tier spirit beasts.
Or some other methods.
"Master, there are two two-legged beasts on the mountaintop."
At this time, Latiao also discovered the two cultivators on the mountaintop.
Chen Jianghe could discover them because his soul essence was extraordinary. Although he was only late-stage Foundation Establishment, the strength of his spiritual sense was no less than that of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.
As for Latiao, it had awakened Ice Dragon's Roar, a divine ability that attacked the soul and spiritual sense, which naturally meant Latiao's soul was also extremely strong.
"Mm, Maoqiu is not in danger right now. We're in no rush to act."
Chen Jianghe said.
His gaze was fixed on the battle between the spirit beast and the demonic beast among the cliffs. Two clouds of mist collided back and forth, silver and white interweaving amidst flashes of lightning and thunderous roars that split the sky.
Occasional stray attacks struck the cliffs, dislodging large boulders that crashed into the ravine, their splashes echoing through the mountains.