Chapter 154: Might Of The Mysterious Beast
Bai Yun rapidly closed the distance, her white spear flicking upwards and flipping over two First-order Perfection Black Rock Steel Pigs.
A Black Rock Steel Pig at Early Second-order revealed its tusks, its dark Demonic Essence condensing into a blade as it charged.
Suddenly, a ten-foot-long, long-whiskered white tiger rose behind her, exuding a chilling aura, and knocked the Black Rock Steel Pig over.
The Black Rock Steel Pig herd, blocked by her, scattered in disarray.
Zheng Yan and Wang Xiaohu, both wielding sabers, attacked from the sides.
Behind Zheng Yan, his newly condensed True Intent Beast Spirit, a Blood Wolf, instantly took shape and, with a charge, knocked the Black Rock Steel Pig to the ground.
As Wang Xiaohu swung his saber, his aura sank, and the figure of a Mountain Spirit Beast abruptly appeared behind him. It was mountain-like in stature, about twenty feet tall, broad-waisted, and its arms resembled door panels.
He blocked the path one by one, his body shaking, directly stopping the Second-order Black Rock Steel Pig.
Fu Xuejing, carrying the Black Steel Eight-faced Hammer, unleashed her True Intent Armored Ox, which charged like a heavy hammer from the rear, disrupting the Black Rock Steel Pig herd.
Lin Junhao swept his Cold Iron Spear across, his Beast Spirit True Intent manifesting. His former First-order Gale Tiger True Intent, having gained new Cultivation Manuals, had transformed into a Winged Tiger Beast. Its wings were like blades, and the wind it generated was like an edge, possessing Second-order characteristics.
He encircled one Black Rock Steel Pig, continuously attacking its weak points, attempting to capture it alive.
The few of them attacked together. Although not perfectly synchronized, their cooperation allowed them to encircle the entire Black Rock Steel Pig herd, completely trapping them.
The three Purple Light Leopard Beasts immediately realized their prey had been snatched, their killing intent erupting. They revealed themselves, their bodies a blur of purple light, utterly cold.
They charged directly at Bai Yun and the others, issuing threatening roars.
However, Su Yan stepped forward, blocking their path.
“Roar!”
The three Purple Light Leopard Beasts moved, transforming into streaks of light as they attacked from both sides. Their purple claw marks slashed through the air, causing grass to fall and trees to split, like blade auras.
“Decisive.”
Su Yan’s gaze was calm as True Essence circulated around him, Azure Gold Scale Patterns appearing. Then, a pattern resembling a black snake slithered around his body, with faint black energy flowing, instantly transforming into the Heavenly Python Dharma Body.
*Clang!*
Although the attacks landed on him, with a wave of his arm, he blocked the Purple Light Leopard Beasts’ attacks.
The attacks formed from Demonic Essence shattered in mid-air, like fragments of purple glass.
A powerful aura subdued the three cunning and ferocious Purple Light Leopard Beasts.
They began to circle, attempting to attack Su Yan’s weak points.
However, Su Yan’s Cultivation Manuals had improved, and he wanted to test them. He would not allow them to stall.
“Let me try my methods.”
The True Essence around him was like starlight, and an aura suddenly rose.
The three Purple Light Leopard Beasts immediately sensed the threat and attacked Su Yan simultaneously.
Powerful Demonic Essence converged, faintly forming beast heads, and bit towards his body.
Su Yan stood steadfast. As True Essence gathered, the True Intent of a giant centipede with a black carapace studded with stars suddenly materialized.
It was about thirty feet long, its body thick, and its horns ferocious. With a mere coil, it completely protected Su Yan.
The attacking Purple Light Leopard Beasts were crushed by the Star Moon Centipede True Intent’s form, their attacks shattered in an instant.
The Purple Light Leopard Beasts attempted to scatter, but the Star Moon Centipede Beast Spirit lowered its head and spat True Essence condensed into starlight, instantly blasting one of them away.
The Purple Light Leopard Beast slammed heavily into a giant tree, emitting a dull thud. Its purple hide was covered in scratches, clearly indicating a serious injury.
If Su Yan had not held back, it would likely have been unable to survive.
The remaining two were frightened and immediately retreated. However, they did not escape in time.
The Star Moon Centipede moved, suddenly raising its head and butting the leftmost Purple Light Leopard Beast, pinning it down. Starlight, like mist, intertwined, controlling it.
The rightmost Purple Light Leopard Beast came to its rescue but was sent flying by a flick of its tail, rolling several times.
It still wanted to attack but was bitten by the Star Moon Centipede and dragged forward, also suppressed by immense True Essence.
Before Su Yan had even personally acted, the Star Moon Centipede alone had subdued the three Purple Light Leopard Beasts.
He strode forward, took out ropes from his Storage Ring, and bound the three Purple Light Leopard Beasts tightly.
The Purple Light Leopard Beasts were fierce and untamed and tried to struggle, but after receiving a few blows from fists the size of sandbags, they completely dared not resist.
Lin Junhao and the others glimpsed Su Yan’s battle and were greatly astonished, their faces soon showing wry smiles.
To be able to handle actual Feral Beasts with such ease was truly formidable.
His heart tightened, and he thought, ‘Even if I can’t match him, can I not even match a Black Rock Steel Pig?’
The others shared the same thought. After fighting for twenty to thirty rounds, their True Intent Beast Spirits cooperating, they finally subdued the entire group of Black Rock Steel Pigs.
“Three Third-order Black Rock Steel Pigs, four First-order Perfection, and seven or eight First-order ones. Trading them to the Sect will yield quite a few Contribution Points.”
Wang Xiaohu’s face showed joy, as did Fu Xuejing’s.
Contribution Points were more valuable than Origin Stones. Many resources were exclusively supplied by the Sect and could not be bought with Origin Stones.
“Brother Su is still the most powerful.”
Zheng Yan looked enviously at Su Yan’s side. The three Purple Light Leopard Beasts, whose auras were clearly stronger, had already been dragged over by him and tied up like dumplings.
Su Yan smiled slightly and asked, “Does anyone want to tame a Purple Light Leopard Beast?”
“I’ve condensed a Blood Wolf True Intent. If a Contracted Beast were to resonate with it, a wolf-type Feral Beast would be more compatible.”
Contracted Beasts were for the Martial Path. A compatible Contracted Beast was more conducive to disciples like them, who had just joined the sect and were transforming their Cultivation Manuals, to comprehend True Intent.
Wang Xiaohu and Li Bowen refused for similar reasons, much like Zheng Yan.
One’s was a Mountain Spirit Beast, emphasizing weight and defense, while the other was an Armored Ox, following a similar path.
While in battle, a defensive beast paired with an agile Feral Beast like a Purple Light Leopard Beast would be a good choice.
However, these were reinforcements to consider for the second or even third Contracted Beast. The first Contracted Beast still needed to be compatible.
“Old Lin, what about you?”
Su Yan only asked Lin Junhao. He was quite tempted but thought for a long time, “My Beast Taming Seal is still a bit lacking. I only have eight, so the chances are not high.”
Su Yan’s eyebrows twitched slightly and said, “In that case, let’s head back first, turn in a mission, and rest for a night.”
The group tidied up. They had hunted live prey, but only Su Yan had a Beast Taming Bag. It was impossible to fit so many Feral Beasts.
A First-order Beast Taming Bag could hold three Feral Beasts. The Purple Light Leopard Beasts were not particularly large, so they all fit inside.
However, the Black Rock Steel Pig herd was another matter. They couldn’t possibly expose the existence of the Insect Realm Space.
So, Wang Xiaohu and Fu Xuejing became the laborers, condensing their Beast Spirits and using their massive forms to drag the Black Rock Steel Pigs.
Zheng Yan and Lin Junhao helped, carrying some of them, and then they headed towards the Beast King Sect’s temporary camp.
On the way back, it was Su Yan’s Mountain Hunting skills that shone.
Although he didn’t search intentionally, he still found two Second-order Low-grade Spirit Herbs and several First-order Spirit Herbs.
In the process of land reclamation, countless treasure plants and spirit herbs had been lost, no wonder so many people flocked to it.
Su Yan and the others returned to the camp. The area was fortified with giant wooden walls, and the servant disciples had already built hundreds of dwellings, with areas demarcated for them, housing about several hundred people.
The group found their allocated residences in the Sect Affairs Pavilion and unloaded the Black Rock Steel Pigs and Purple Light Leopard Beasts in the hall, occupying a considerable amount of space.
“Wow, six Second-order Feral Beasts.”
The steward in charge was a middle-aged man, also from the sect, who had transitioned from a disciple’s role to become a steward.
He stepped forward, grabbed the head of a Purple Light Leopard Beast, pried open its jaw, and examined its teeth.
“A bit injured, but they were all taken down in one blow. Impressive, impressive.”
He looked up at the group, unable to discern who had struck the blow or how.
He simply said, “Are you six new disciples?”
“Yes.”
Lin Junhao stepped forward to answer. Steward Xing nodded, “Have you received your missions? Do you want to exchange them or directly convert them into Contribution Points?”
The group had already discussed how to exchange them on their way. They said, “All Second-order Feral Beasts will count as missions, and the remaining Black Rock Steel Pigs will be exchanged for Contribution Points.”
“Alright, go and have them tallied.”
Several servant disciples stepped forward and collected the Feral Beasts one by one using Beast Taming Bags. After the tally, they had a total of seven thousand eight hundred Contribution Points.
Six thousand Contribution Points came from the missions. The remaining one thousand eight hundred were from killing two Second-order Feral Beasts, as the materials were not handed in and counted as 300 points for the mission.
One thousand five hundred were exchanged for several First-order Perfection Black Rock Steel Pigs.
An entire nest, and captured alive at that, yielded so much.
It had to be said that Contribution Points were truly precious.
The group left the hall of the Sect Affairs Pavilion, found their allocated dwellings, and gathered together.
The mission rewards were distributed individually: Su Yan got two thousand, Bai Yun two thousand, and Lin Junhao two thousand.
The remaining exchange gains were also with Su Yan.
Lin Junhao said, “Brother Su fought three by himself and took down three Purple Light Leopard Beasts. We benefited from that. These two thousand points, along with the one thousand eight hundred, will all go to Brother Su.”
“That’s too much.”
Su Yan raised his gaze slightly. With an extra Second-order Purple Light Leopard Beast, even converting it to Contribution Points might not reach one thousand eight hundred.
“One thousand three hundred points. The remaining four thousand five hundred points, you all can share.”
Lin Junhao and the others were slightly stunned and nodded, “Thank you, Brother Su.”
After the group finished dividing the spoils, the five each received 900 Contribution Points. They then had Zheng Yan, a butcher by origin, divide the Feral Beast corpses from their hunt, and each took a portion.
The Spirit Herbs in Su Yan’s possession, the Second-order ones, the others resolutely refused to share, each taking a few First-order ones as a token gesture.
Their first collaboration went smoothly. After dividing the spoils, they all went to the Sect’s Treasury.
Su Yan, at least, went to the Pill Refining Pavilion and exchanged eight hundred Contribution Points for two bottles of Second-order Mid-grade Blood Nourishing Beast Pills to cultivate his Contracted Beast.
He also purchased several pieces of Second-order Ore to feed the Gold-Eating Demon Insect, spending five hundred Contribution Points.
“Money flows like water. Cultivation Manuals are just the introduction; cultivation resources are the main expense.”
Even though Cultivation Manuals are expensive, often costing thousands or tens of thousands, those are just nominal figures. The real threshold is eligibility.
What inner disciples can exchange for, and what outer disciples can exchange for, are all specified.
Some Cultivation Manuals even require the approval of a Head Seat disciple and the achievement of meritorious deeds, which is the true threshold.
After buying Cultivation Manuals, cultivation requires resources. The more unique they are, the stranger and more numerous the resources may be, making them substantial expenses.
The Sect doesn’t fear disciples not spending Contribution Points; it fears disciples not being able to earn Contribution Points or not spending enough.
When the group met again, from Lin Junhao to Wang Xiaohu, each had a Beast Taming Bag hanging from their waist. Those who hadn’t bought Storage Rings now also had Storage Rings.
Su Yan’s brows twitched slightly, “You spent it all?”
Wang Xiaohu pouted, complaining, “Only 50 points left. I heard that food and lodging at the camp cost three Contribution Points a day, or the equivalent of First-order Low-grade Origin Stones.”
A First-order Beast Taming Bag, even the standard First-order Low-grade, cost three hundred Contribution Points, and that was the price for new disciples.
Storage Rings were even more expensive, starting at four hundred, with less than ten cubic meters of space.
These two items alone had drained them dry.
“Alright, you’ll earn more. There are still three missions left.”
Su Yan smiled and comforted them a few words. The group found their lodgings and rested well.
However, the next day, Lin Junhao was the first to find Su Yan.
He got straight to the point, “Brother Su, you should go solo.”
Su Yan: ?
Su Yan’s gaze flickered as he looked at Lin Junhao and suddenly smiled.
“Can the five of you handle it?”
“All five are at the True Intent realm. With our coordination, even a Ruyi Realm Martial Artist wouldn’t be able to defeat us, so safety is not an issue. If you were to follow, it would naturally be safer, but it would hold you back, and it would be difficult to divide the spoils.”
Towards the end, Lin Junhao chuckled, half-jokingly.
He had initially underestimated Su Yan’s strength, thinking that even with a gap after breaking through to True Intent, it wouldn’t be too large, and teaming up would provide mutual support.
But he hadn’t expected Su Yan to be so powerful that he would instead be a burden.
It was a good thing they clarified things now.
This was not just his intention, but also Fu Xuejing and the others’ opinion.
On the first day, Su Yan hadn’t completed his mission yet, so mutual assistance made sense.
But from then on, they would only be unable to keep up with Su Yan’s efficiency, and resource allocation would gradually strain their harmony.
It was better to stop now, so as not to burden Su Yan or everyone else.
“Take good care of my Senior Sister for me. When I return, I’ll find an opportunity to refine a batch of pills for you, no service fee.”
Lin Junhao smiled, “Okay.”
Lin Junhao left Su Yan’s room, and Wang Xiaohu and the others were already waiting.
He let out a long breath and said, “Let’s go. We can’t fall too far behind Su Yan, that would be too embarrassing.”
Su Yan packed his belongings and followed the others, heading towards Huang Meng Mountain.
Lin Junhao having clarified matters was precisely what Su Yan intended.
‘I originally wanted to find a tiger beast for Senior Sister and then go a bit deeper. But it’s good that Old Lin spoke up. Today, I’ll go deep into Huang Meng Mountain and legitimize the origin of the Six-Winged Blood Centipede…’
“Dong!”
A bell chime echoed throughout the camp. Everyone immediately looked up and saw a troop of white-armored disciples passing through the street.
The leading disciple announced in a clear voice, “All disciples heed the order! Traitors Li Yunxiang, Li Yunluo, and Li Yuntao, the three brothers, have ambushed fellow disciples to steal treasures, their plot exposed, and have fled into Huang Meng Mountain. Those who bring their heads will receive three thousand Contribution Points.”
The voice was cold, carrying a hint of anger. In an instant, paper, controlled by True Essence, scattered like snowflakes and flew into the hands of disciples along the route.
They depicted portraits of the three brothers, their appearances kind and somewhat effeminate. Below were their strengths and notes.
“Three cultivators at Great Accomplishment stage of the True Intent Realm Heart Ape Stage, they stole a Third-order Jade Marrow, killed two fellow disciples, and there are still unconfirmed individuals.”
Su Yan’s expression was quite peculiar. Beside him, a Senior Brother from Fuyue Peak stroked his Iron Fist and sneered, “They kill and steal from their own people, not from other sects. Then they can’t blame those white dogs for issuing enforcement orders. It’s a good opportunity for me to make some extra cash.”
He strode towards Huang Meng Mountain, while Su Yan chuckled, “So there’s real enforcement. Interesting.”
