Chapter 134 : Encountering the Tiger Again

Chapter 134: Encountering the Tiger Again

【Species】: Spider-Tailed Ghost-Faced Viper

【Attributes】: Earth, Poison

【Bloodline】: First-Tier Superior (Exotic Beast)

【Cultivation Years】: Forty-Five Years

【Innate Ability】: Spider-Tail Sting (The hollow bone spurs on the spider tail store a large amount of venom, capable of corroding mana, lethal to cultivators below Foundation Establishment.)

Ghost-Faced Soul Seizure (The ghost-face markings on the serpent’s head writhe and emit a hissing cry, causing prey to fall into the illusion of being gnawed by ten thousand spiders.)

‘As expected, it’s a First-Tier Exotic Beast, the Spider-Tailed Ghost-Faced Viper.’

Seeing Gold Egg ambushed and forced from hunter into prey, Chen Beiwu shook his head slightly, his eyes showing no surprise.

This kind of cunning exotic beast resembled a fisherman, using its spider-like tail as bait to set ambushes and sneak attack opponents.

Some cultivators with powerful divine sense could easily see through the viper’s disguise and even take advantage of its habits to kill it with ease.

But divine sense happened to be Gold Egg’s weakness.

“Woof.”

Iron Egg let out a low bark, wanting to charge forward, but Chen Beiwu raised his hand to stop him.

“No need to help. The gap in strength is too great.”

As soon as he spoke, the viper’s twin barbed fangs struck precisely at Gold Egg’s weakest point—the gills—intending to inject venom potent enough to kill any First-Tier Beast Creature.

But suddenly, an unexpected change occurred.

At the instant the fangs pierced the scales, instead of the sound of flesh tearing, there was the harsh screech of metal clashing.

“Crack… Snap!”

Fragments mixed with venomous blood splattered as the viper’s proud fangs shattered against what seemed like an iron wall, exposing raw pink flesh.

“Gulu!”

Snapping out of shock, Gold Egg instinctively unleashed his Ruyi Spiritual Art. His short fish body rapidly expanded, swelling into a small mountain.

Realizing the viper had loosened its coils and was trying to flee, Gold Egg, startled yet furious, whipped his tailfin down hard.

The ground split apart and cliffs crumbled. Not only did the viper turn into a dried husk, but the entire cliffside was smashed to rubble by Gold Egg’s tail, filling the sky with billowing dust.

“Woof.”

Seeing the viper’s fate, Iron Egg couldn’t help shrinking his head.

‘How do you feel?’ Chen Beiwu looked toward the golden glow within the dust cloud.

“Gulu.”

Gold Egg flicked his tail, shrinking back into his original form.

In his moment of anger, he had failed to control his strength. What was meant to be a live capture had turned into nothing but a pile of mush.

‘Now you understand the importance of divine sense, don’t you?’ Chen Beiwu asked telepathically.

“Gulu.” Gold Egg nodded obediently.

‘Good. Next time before battle, remember to always use your divine sense.’ Chen Beiwu reminded.

It was one thing not to have divine sense, another to have it but not use it.

Had Gold Egg been accustomed to using his divine sense, he wouldn’t have been ambushed by a mere spirit creature.

“Woof!”

At that moment, Iron Egg growled lowly, bristling with tension.

Chen Beiwu’s face also changed, as a domineering figure like thunder suddenly entered the range of his divine sense.

This time there was no mysterious formation concealing its aura. When Chen Beiwu discovered the Cang Thunder Tiger, the Cang Thunder Tiger discovered him as well.

‘Too late.’ Chen Beiwu’s pupils contracted.

To prepare the Gate of Ten Directions required three to four breaths, while the Cang Thunder Tiger could cross forty zhang in less than one breath.

But to his surprise, the tiger did not charge at him. Instead, it sprinted in another direction.

‘Wait, it’s injured.’ Chen Beiwu noticed something amiss.

The tiger’s aura seemed fierce, but in truth its qi was unstable, and even its weakest belly bore faint traces of blood.

At this thought, he withdrew Iron Egg, hiding with Gold Egg in the thick grass, urging the Concealing Jade Pendant’s breath-hiding ability to the utmost while simultaneously preparing the Gate of Ten Directions.

“Cry!”

In the next moment, an eagle’s cry rang out in the tiger’s escape path.

‘As expected.’ Chen Beiwu thought to himself.

Even a heavily injured Second-Realm Lesser Beast would never concern itself with a weak Qi Refining cultivator, much less deliberately detour.

Unless there was an enemy chasing from behind, leaving no time to spare.

“Gulu.”

Gold Egg looked nervously at Chen Beiwu, signaling it was time to run.

‘Not yet.’

Confirming the Gate of Ten Directions was fully prepared and ready for instant teleportation, Chen Beiwu decided to watch further.

When the snipe and clam struggle, the fisherman profits.

If the Second-Realm Cang Thunder Tiger launched a desperate counterattack, it might well take down another spirit beast of equal rank.

…

“What a magnificent Thunder Tiger.”

Gazing at the fleeing beast below, a gray-robed Daoist revealed a satisfied look.

He hailed from the Windfeather Pei Clan, a family that had bred Sky Pengs for generations. But unlike his kin, he detested “egg-born feathered insects” and preferred the “furred insects” that symbolized majesty and power.

Among furred insects, the qilin was supreme.

Though a thunder-commanding mountain lord could not compare to the legendary qilin, it was still a rare existence among furred insects.

“Submit and kneel now, and I’ll spare your life.” Pei Xiao’s voice boomed like thunder.

This was the Windfeather Pei Clan’s secret technique, the Five-Toned Avian Shock, able to transform divine sense into soundwaves that shook the souls of avian beasts.

Against a mountain lord it was less effective, but it could still induce fear and confusion, especially when the beast was near death.

“Cry!”

To aid its master, the falcon beneath Pei Xiao drew upon geomagnetic force, talons wreathed in yellow-brown halos as it dove from the sky.

Hiss!

The ground within ten zhang around the tiger collapsed, as countless jagged rock spears infused with beast power erupted from every direction.

Even though the tiger reacted swiftly and dodged, blood spurted from its body as it roared in fury.

‘That’s a Sand-Swimming Falcon!’ Chen Beiwu’s pupils contracted.

Its body was covered in rocky-brown feathered scales, with a jagged rock crown atop its head. Amber eyes gleamed beneath membranous wings, and its split tail feathers resembled three inverted daggers.

All signs pointed to this being the Sand-Swimming Falcon, ranked second in speed among Second-Tier Earth-Attribute Spirit Beasts.

Targeted by such a beast, it was no wonder the Cang Thunder Tiger could not escape.

“Gulu.”

Sensing the falcon’s overwhelming might, Gold Egg shivered instinctively, reminding his beast tamer it was time to flee.

‘Indeed, time to go.’ Chen Beiwu thought.

Had it been two Foundation Establishment beasts battling for territory, he might have lurked nearby, waiting to reap the spoils.

But the assailant here was a beast tamer from the Southern Wastes, wielding the rare flying spirit beast, the Sand-Swimming Falcon.

Together, the man and beast equaled two Foundation Establishment powers. Taking down a Second-Realm Cang Thunder Tiger was well within their means. For Chen Beiwu, there was little chance to profit.

He shook his head, about to activate the Gate of Ten Directions to leave, when the cornered tiger suddenly flared with a wild, desperate aura.

‘Would rather die than be enslaved?’

Chen Beiwu was stunned for a moment, catching a glimpse of madness and resolve burning in the beast’s eyes.