Zhao Lingxuan grew anxious. The Fifth-Transformation Spirit Rhinoceros had just fought Little Spirit, and now it was here...
The Fire Simurgh was also on high alert, but it had no strength left. The Fifth-Transformation Spirit Rhinoceros closed in, step by step. Wang ng, anwhile, was trying to figure out how to deal with it. Fifth Transformation, thick-skinned, tough, and with no obvious weak points—it was exactly the type of opponent he hated fighting.
Zhao Lingxuan squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear the image of the monster stomping on Little Spirit.
"Hey, hey, girlie! Your roasted chicken is fine, but we’re the ones in deep trouble!"
Zhao Lingxuan’s face was pale, her mind completely blank. "Wh-what do we do?"
"Next ti you go out, bring more Magical Treasures. I have no idea what your parents were thinking, letting a kid like you run around with nothing but this money-pit of a bird." Wang ng tightened his grip on his broken blade. This was going to be a nasty fight, and it was hard to say who would co out on top.
The thing Wang ng feared least was Soul Magic, followed by General Magic. What he truly hated were mindless brutes with thick hides and nothing but Barbaric Power—especially a Spirit Rhinoceros, a creature he knew all too well.
Wang ng stepped in front of Zhao Lingxuan, blocking the sun. In that mont, all she could see was his broad, dependable back.
But as the Fifth-Transformation Spirit Rhinoceros drew closer, Wang ng felt sothing was off. ’...This feeling is a little familiar.’
The golden, mountain-like monster suddenly charged, making the ground rumble. The girl behind him let out a deafening shriek: "Don’t!"
After a long mont with no sound, Zhao Lingxuan peeked through her fingers. She was stunned to see the behemoth squatting on the ground, letting Wang ng pat its head.
"Haha, little guy, you’re way stronger than your old man."
Wang ng felt a pleasant surge of surprise. He recalled having a Spirit Rhinoceros in his past life in the Small Thousand World—a fearso creature that had reached the Nine-Transformation stage, becoming impervious to all weapons, fire, and water.
The sense of familiarity ca from its lineage; this little guy was, in all likelihood, the descendant of his old Spirit Rhinoceros. Once a Spirit Beast acknowledged a master, its loyalty was absolute, lasting until death. Like the Fire Simurgh protecting Zhao Lingxuan, it would die for its master. Even though a generation had passed, the Nine-Transformation Spirit Rhinoceros had been close to a Divine Beast, and had passed the master’s contract down to its offspring. This Fifth-Transformation Spirit Rhinoceros had sensed the powerful aura of Wang ng’s Godhood arriving in this place, which was why it had been wandering around the area. ’Such is the persistence of Spirit Beasts,’ he thought.
Nearby, the Fire Simurgh saw the crisis was averted and returned to its normal state, its body rapidly shrinking. Wang ng’s gaze swept over it casually, but when he saw the now-tiny Fire Simurgh, his eyes went wide.
He shot to his feet. "Eight Discount!"
"I finally found you, you little devil! Don’t think you can fool just because your feathers have grown out. I’d recognize you even if you were nothing but ashes!"
The Fire Simurgh imdiately flew into Zhao Lingxuan’s arms. The girl’s delicate face took on a pitifully cute expression. "Senior Brother, please don’t bully Little Spirit, okay? She’s injured."
No matter how thick-skinned Wang ng was, he was still a man. He couldn’t help but scratch the back of his head under her innocent, reproachful gaze. "My bad. My Eight Discount was just a puny Sparrow Demon. Your roasted chicken... er, Fire Simurgh, is a Spirit Beast. My mistake, my mistake."
"Thank you for saving my life, Senior Brother." Zhao Lingxuan gave a slight curtsy. Her delicate features, paired with her gentle expression, were enough to lt a heart of stone.
Unfortunately, Wang ng was completely oblivious to her charms. "Alright, no need for thanks. You should go. If you don’t get it treated soon, your Fire Simurgh really will beco roasted chicken." Wang ng shook his head. ’I’m pretty sure this Fire Simurgh is Eight Discount,’ he thought. ’No wonder it ran. I guess it was a misunderstanding.’
Zhao Lingxuan was stunned, unable to process his words for a mont. ’Does this man have eyes?’ she fud internally. ’A charming, devastatingly beautiful woman is standing right here, and he doesn’t even ask for my na!’
"Yes, Senior Brother. I’ll be leaving for real now," Zhao Lingxuan said, determined to give this blockhead one last chance.
"Go, go, have a safe trip," Wang ng said with a dismissive wave. "And next ti you’re taking your bird for a walk, stay out of dangerous places like this." ’Why is this girl so long-winded?’ he thought. ’Whether in my last life or this one, I can’t stand chatterboxes.’
Both Zhao Lingxuan and the Fire Simurgh almost choked with indignation. The Nine Heavens Fire Simurgh was seething. ’You’re the bird! Your whole family is birds!’
The Fire Simurgh’s injuries were serious, so Zhao Lingxuan dared not linger. She managed to fly away using Sword Control. From mid-air, she glared down at the jubilant Wang ng below, bit her lip, and stomped her foot in frustration. Her sword then beca a streak of light, heading toward the Holy Hall.
"Over here, over here. Your old man was Daben, so I’ll call you Xiaoben. Now co on, let’s butcher this Ming Python."
The Spirit Rhinoceros beside him got to work cheerfully. With a single slice of its Golden Horn, it split open the python’s belly. "Careful," Wang ng reminded it. "Don’t damage the Inner Core."
The python’s skin was stripped away, revealing a fist-sized Inner Core—a welco surprise. ’It’s a sha I have to turn it in for the mission,’ Wang ng thought. ’But then again, no one can use it at this stage. Better to trade it for sothing more practical.’
You can’t just consu every treasure you co across. Too much of a good thing can kill you.
He cut off a few pieces of snake at to take back and satisfy his cravings, but the rest had to be thrown away. Spirit Rhinoceroses were herbivores. One of the reasons Moo Shan had raised one back in the day was that they were strong and not picky eaters.
Most rhinoceroses were just Little Demons; very few were true Spirit Beasts. They could typically only reach the Third or Fourth Transformation. Once one reached the Fifth Transformation, however, General Magic could barely harm it. While a Spirit Rhinoceros wasn’t skilled in Magic, it was a top-tier tank. Then again, any Spirit Beast becos formidable at a high enough level.
Wang ng prepared to leave, but the Spirit Rhinoceros grabbed the hem of his clothes and nudged him insistently toward the Cold Pool.
This deep pool, ho to the Double-headed Wind Thunder Roaring Python, was one of Thunder Pool’s Forbidden Lands. Few who entered ever made it back out. Even with their combined power, Zhao Lingxuan and her Fire Simurgh had nearly perished here; an ordinary person would have had no hope of escape. Furthermore, the Wind Thunder Roaring Python was incredibly cunning. The mont it sensed danger, it would hide deep in the pool and refuse to erge, making it a nightmare to deal with. This ti, however, he had wiped the slate clean.
Places like this usually held so kind of rare treasure, but Wang ng had subconsciously dismissed the potential of this Small Thousand World.
"Not bad. You’re a bit better than Daben!"
Wang ng dove into the water. The Cold Pool was indeed bone-chillingly cold. Underwater, he detected a unique trace of Spiritual Qi and soon located a Water Dividing Array.
The Water Dividing Array was of diocre quality, probably close to the Fifty Layers level. It was clear the creator had been in a state of turmoil when they established it.
Three large characters were carved above it: Cold Pool Cave. The calligraphy was elegant but lacked strength, suggesting it was the work of a Talisman Cultivator.
Wang ng pushed open the heavy stone door, sending dust cascading down. The only thing of value seed to be the Water-Repelling Pearl embedded above the entrance. If the pearl hadn’t been serving as the array’s core, it would have likely fallen apart long ago. The cave manor was spacious, but after a thorough search, Wang ng was disappointed. The manuals were all garbage, and there wasn’t a single usable Magical Artifact. The only pleasant surprise was the Spirit Grass growing in the courtyard.
While not exactly rare treasures, their age made them valuable. They were all at least a hundred years old—excellent ingredients for Alchemy.
Wang ng tossed out a piece of snake at to make room and gathered all of the Spirit Grass. Before he left, he plucked the Water-Repelling Pearl from the wall. In this whole sorry excuse for a cave, the pearl was the only thing of decent quality.
The mont he took the Water-Repelling Pearl, the Water Dividing Array collapsed. Wang ng shot out of the Cold Pool at top speed. The Spirit Rhinoceros on the bank let out a joyful cry. A large whirlpool ford in the center of the pool, churning for a long while.
The Inner Core of the Four-winged Double-headed Wind Thunder Roaring Python lay quietly in Ma Tian’Er’s hand, radiating a dense Elental Power. Ma Tian’Er stared at it, her eyes wide and unfocused. The senior sisters, led by Liuu i, gazed at Wang ng as if he were so kind of freak of nature.
Liuu i swallowed hard, her voice raspy. "Did... did you really accomplish this?"
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