Chapter 7: Out of the Tiger's Den, Into the Dragon's Jaws?
"Then let's try it and see!"
Hearing the Gale Hawk's bluster, Su Qian had no intention of indulging it. He spoke with overbearing authority. He knew that demonic beasts followed the natural law of the strong preying on the weak. The moment you showed any sign of weakness, they might turn and bite you someday.
To ensure the Jia Nan Academy's dominance over this forest, Su Qian coldly fixed his gaze on the Gale Hawk. In an instant, a mighty aura, like a giant dragon awakening, surged from his body and enveloped the various Demonic Beast Kings.
Feeling Su Qian's imposing presence, the several rank 6 demonic beasts immediately paled.
Because the Demonic Beast Forest had already been swept through by Mang Tian Chi, there were in fact no rank 7 demonic beasts within it. As a result, this was the first time many rank 6 demonic beasts had faced a Dou Zong expert.
That terrifying aura instantly made the several demonic beasts change expressions.
"Su Qian, this is a matter between you and the Gale Hawk. We won't get involved. With those few around here, I doubt any treasure would fall to me anyway. The seventh child in my cave is about to be born, so I'll take my leave first."
The first to crack was a fifty-meter-long great serpent. The serpent had a pair of wings on its back and a single horn atop its head, with crackling arcs of electricity flickering around it. This was a Twin-Winged Thunder Serpent, a peak rank 5 demonic beast.
Because it contained a trace of dragon bloodline, even at the peak of rank 5, it normally dared to fight even some rank 6 demonic beasts. However, at this moment, it displayed none of its usual arrogance and aggression.
After speaking at rapid speed, it beat its twin wings, causing a great explosion of lightning. In the blink of an eye, it left behind only a trail of dust; not a trace of the serpent remained.
'This old schemer!'
Seeing the Twin-Winged Thunder Serpent leave so cleanly and decisively, quite a few demonic beasts cursed inwardly. What was the hurry? With so many allies, were they still afraid of a single Dou Zong?
Though inwardly everyone gnashed their teeth in resentment at the Twin-Winged Thunder Serpent, the many demonic beasts ultimately chose to follow their survival instincts.
"Right! Right! Right! My father was injured by humans a few days ago and looks to be on his last breath. I must hurry back to see him one last time!"
"What— Uncle is dying? He was my father's sworn brother in life and death! Before my father passed, he told me to properly care for Uncle. I never thought..."
"Uncle, I'm coming—"
In the blink of an eye, the sky cleared of beasts. All the rank 5 demonic beasts had withdrawn from the field. A few rank 6 demonic beasts also quietly slipped away, leaving only four rank 6 demonic beasts present—among them the Scarlet Gold Tiger and the Gale Hawk.
The Gale Hawk's expression was gloomy. It hadn't expected these fellows to be so spineless. And furthermore—a wolf and a leopard, where did their fathers get a life-and-death sworn brotherhood? A life-and-death bond forged by beating each other to death?
Or perhaps... these fellows intended to play the mantis stalking the cicada, waiting to be the oriole behind?
Su Qian remained expressionless. He did not stop the demonic beasts from leaving. He was no Dou Zun. As a 3-star Dou Zong facing so many demonic beasts, even he would find it difficult. That so many demonic beasts had been persuaded to retreat was already a testament to the Jia Nan Academy's great renown.
Moreover, these demonic beasts were not easy to deal with. There was friction among them; they were not of one mind.
"Su Qian, do you truly intend to stop us?" the Scarlet Gold Tiger King demanded at that moment. Among those present, it was by far the most anxious, for it was at the peak of rank 6 and sensed that its chance to break through lay there.
Blocking someone's path to advancement was akin to killing one's parents. The Scarlet Gold Tiger King was on the verge of losing all patience!
Su Qian did not answer. He merely swept his sleeve once, and a fierce Dou Qi whip-like bolt suddenly shot from within his sleeve straight toward the four rank 6 demonic beasts!
They wanted to seize this opportunity to break through to rank 7, but Su Qian was determined to stop them. Having a rank 7 demonic beast exist so near to them was far too dangerous for the Jia Nan Academy.
"Roar—"
"You're courting death— Let's all attack together and butcher him! Otherwise, none of us will get this opportunity!"
Seeing Su Qian make his move, the Scarlet Gold Tiger King roared furiously. Terrifying flames swelled against the wind, transforming into a sky-blanketing sea of fire as it lunged at Su Qian.
"Roar— Su Qian, today is the day you die!" With the Scarlet Gold Tiger King taking action, the remaining three rank 6 Demonic Beast Kings cast aside all reservations. They each unleashed their methods, furiously hurling abilities at Su Qian as if their lives depended on it.
"Hmph—"
Seeing this, Su Qian gave a cold snort. His palms swirled slightly, and vast Dou Qi erupted from them, causing even the surrounding space to tremble faintly.
"Cloud Flipping Hand!"
"Bang—"
A muffled explosion rang out. The ripples of energy that spread from the impact forced both sides back several steps.
Without the slightest pause, Su Qian's form transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot straight toward the Scarlet Gold Tiger King.
"Roar—"
Some time later, after Jiang Yun had been rescued, a somewhat disheveled Su Qian arrived at the scene.
"Hm?" At that moment, Su Qian spotted the dead 'Pigsy.' After carefully observing it, he came to a conclusion. "A rank 3 demonic beast, the Black Wind Boar. Killed in a single strike. No traces of Dou Technique usage. The one who attacked was at least at the Dou Ling level, perhaps even Dou Wang."
After his inspection, Su Qian frowned as he looked into the distance and muttered, puzzled, "Spatial power?"
Su Qian was genuinely surprised at this point. To be able to manipulate spatial power was something only those at the Dou Zong level and above could achieve. Could there be a Dou Zong nearby?
At this thought, Su Qian could not help but feel the hairs on his body stand on end. To be able to evade his detection meant this person's strength was, at the very least, not inferior to his own.
After a moment of hesitation, Su Qian decided to follow the traces left behind. Faced with a Dou Zong of unknown origin, as the First Elder of Jia Nan Academy, Su Qian had to ascertain their stance toward the academy.
With this decided, Su Qian stepped across the void, following the faint traces of spatial power.
Night fell. Inside a hidden cave, a campfire crackled and popped. The little girl who had rescued Jiang Yun was chewing on some unknown fruit, bite after bite, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on Jiang Yun.
Judging by the drool continuously dripping from her mouth, it was clearly not the fruit in her hands causing it.
"He smells so good!" The little girl swallowed another fruit, her cheeks slightly flushed. She slurped back a string of drool. "Just once... just one little lick..."
The fruit had done nothing to suppress Jiang Yun's 'temptation'—on the contrary, it had only intensified it. The little girl could no longer hold back. She lowered her head and slowly leaned closer to Jiang Yun.
Just as she was about to extend her little pink tongue, Jiang Yun, whose eyes had been tightly shut, abruptly opened them. His face darkened as he stared at the enormous 'dragon jaws' before him.
"Uh... you're awake?" Jiang Yun's sudden eye-opening gave the little girl a fright. She hastily scrambled back several steps, waving her little hands as she explained, "I-I was just checking if you were hurt! I definitely didn't have any other ideas!"
Jiang Yun took a deep breath. Now stranded on this unfamiliar continent, with the other party's strength clearly surpassing his own, it was best not to provoke her.
Seeing Jiang Yun's expression relax somewhat, and that he wasn't going to hold it against her, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. This was her hope for advancing, her future meal ticket; she absolutely could not afford to offend him.
"Hey, I saved you twice today, you know! But... being so weak you can't even beat a rank 3 Black Wind Boar, how did you end up alone in this forest?"
"It's a good thing you ran into me, or your little life would be done for!"
(End of Chapter)