Chapter 136 : Battle of Foundation Establishment - Beast-Taming Cultivator from Two Realms

Chapter 136: Battle of Foundation Establishment

Blood of falcons rained down like droplets, falling drip by drip onto the lake surface, stirring ripples and driving countless fish into a frenzy to snatch food.

With a casual toss of two severed corpses, the Cang Thunder Tiger cast its ferocious gaze toward Pei Xiao.

Having driven the Thunder Ghoul to entangle and eliminate its opponent’s greatest reliance, its chances of survival had increased by another thirty percent.

“I want you dead.” Pei Xiao’s eyes bulged with rage as he detonated all the Second-Tier talismans in his hand at once.

Boom!

Thunder raged, flames roared, frost spread, and sandstorms churned like a prison.

Under the fierce clash between two Foundation Establishment existences, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth grew chaotic, and the long-overcast sky began to pour with heavy rain.

‘So it turned out to be such a rare thunderstorm weather—this Foundation Establishment cultivator’s luck is truly rotten!’ Chen Beiwu muttered in his heart.

In the minor Five Elements theory, Qian and Dui belonged to Metal, Zhen and Xun to Wood, Kan to Water, Li to Fire, and Kun and Gen to Earth.

Water and thunder were considered completely different attributes, with thunder-attribute spirit beasts naturally restraining water-attribute ones.

But according to the greater Five Elements theory, Water gave birth to Wood, and Wood gave birth to Thunder. In a sense, thunder, like ice, could evolve through the water element.

Thus, during a thunderstorm, the Cang Thunder Tiger’s strength would not diminish, but rather greatly increase.

“Boom!”

Half an hour later, the storm ceased, thunder weakened, and the battle between the Cang Thunder Tiger and Pei Xiao drew toward its end.

‘Impossible!’ Pei Xiao’s face turned pale, despair filling his eyes.

If not for the suppressing formation, the sudden thunderstorm, and losing the spirit pet he had nurtured for so long, he would have had ten chances out of ten to slay this damned Cang Thunder Tiger.

The Cang Thunder Tiger opened its merciless jaws, biting through Pei Xiao’s neck and ending his breath, before lifting its head and letting out a roar that shook the mountain forest.

Unlike its previously imposing appearance, its body was now covered with crisscrossing wounds.

The longest gash extended from its neck down to its shoulder blade, nearly severing its head.

Next came a penetrating wound in its abdomen, where Chen Beiwu could see charred, carbonized organs through its shattered ribs.

Lastly, it was missing its left forepaw below the elbow, while its right hind leg was twisted, bones crushed.

‘So this was the terrifying vitality of a Second-Realm Lesser Beast!’ Chen Beiwu’s eyes brimmed with awe.

If such wounds had been inflicted on a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they would have long since died countless times.

Yet the Cang Thunder Tiger, with such a mangled body, had forcefully withstood countless talismans and spirit artifacts, seizing the final victory. Such willpower was truly astonishing.

‘Gulu?’ Gold Egg’s eyes lit up.

‘You’re sure you want to go up?’ Chen Beiwu asked with interest. ‘Aren’t you afraid it still has a trump card?’

Sometimes trembling, sometimes brimming with confidence, Gold Egg finally understood the saying about picking the softest persimmon to squeeze.

‘Gulu.’ Gold Egg nodded.

Though the Cang Thunder Tiger’s aura still suffocated the fish, Gold Egg keenly sensed it had nearly reached its limit.

Just one more push would be enough to become the last straw breaking the camel’s back.

…

The Cang Thunder Tiger crouched in a scorched pit, fiercely tearing at the Sand-Swimming Falcon’s flesh.

Though it had won this battle, it was a pyrrhic victory. It would take decades to recover.

If not for its deep foundation, it might have already fallen back to a First-Tier Spirit.

“Whoosh!”

Sensing the wind from above, the Cang Thunder Tiger revealed a mocking sneer, stretching its slightly intact right forepaw.

Even with its body near collapse, it was not something a mere Spirit could covet.

Just as its claw was about to shatter the oncoming Water-Splitting Blade, crushing the foolish Spirit in passing, a sudden crisis surged in its mind.

Its body jolted, transforming into lightning as it leapt skyward—but still, it was a moment too slow.

“Three Talents Locking Abyss, Fivefold Fate-Locking—Formation, rise.”

As Chen Beiwu’s voice fell, twenty-four black water pillars burst upward where the Cang Thunder Tiger stood.

“Explode for me!” With a thought, he detonated the Quintuple Water-Locking Formation disk directly.

Boom!

Before the Cang Thunder Tiger could even react, five phantom Fate-Locking Abyss Pythons blazed forth, transforming into torrents of water qi, pulling in the surrounding lake’s spiritual energy and igniting a world-shaking explosion.

Where the violent shockwave passed, the land turned to dust.

‘Did it succeed?’

Chen Beiwu’s eyes locked on the smoke, his divine sense stretched to the extreme.

Give and take—without sacrifice, there could be no gain!

The Quintuple Water-Locking Formation’s detonation carried destructive power almost comparable to the strike of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

But because its force was too scattered and unfocused, at best it could grievously wound a peak Qi Refining cultivator, but not harm a Foundation Establishment being.

Fortunately, this place brimmed with water-attribute spiritual energy, amplifying the detonation’s power several times over. It might just inflict further injuries upon the nearly spent Cang Thunder Tiger—or even kill it outright.

“Step!”

From within the smoke came heavy footsteps and labored breathing, which suddenly ceased.

Chen Beiwu’s pupils shrank as a charred tiger claw emerged above his head, crashing down with unstoppable might.

The Thunder Tiger was maimed, but its ferocity had not faded.

Feeling its overwhelming pressure at such close range, Gold Egg shuddered slightly, instinctively activating the Flowing Gold Scales, forming a golden shield before himself and Chen Beiwu to block the descending claw.

Boom!

Already prepared, Chen Beiwu stepped back two paces, activating Wave-Stepping through the Tide.

With a burst of rainfall sound, he shifted ten zhang away, flicking his finger upward. Ten Water Blade Talismans suddenly disintegrated.

Countless azure threads as fine as hair surged upward, encircling the Cang Thunder Tiger.

“Swish, swish, swish!”

Ignoring the incoming blades of water, the Cang Thunder Tiger bared its fangs, determined to end the two ants in one swift strike before its body collapsed completely.

‘Gold Egg, hold it for two breaths of time.’

“Gulu.”

At first Gold Egg instinctively stepped back, but quickly realized and activated his innate ability, transforming in an instant into a giant beast ten zhang long, hoping to frighten the Cang Thunder Tiger.

‘This fool!’ Chen Beiwu frowned slightly.

Before the speed-specialized Cang Thunder Tiger, using the Ruyi Spiritual Art was no different from becoming a target dummy.

Still, if Gold Egg had one redeeming feature, it was his defense. Even just by enduring blows, he could stall the Cang Thunder Tiger for two breaths.

“Roar!”

After several exchanges, realizing even its thunder could not overcome this fish tougher than a mountain, and even being forced back by it, the Cang Thunder Tiger’s eyes flashed viciously. It burned all its blood essence, unleashing its ultimate spiritual art—Thunder Ghoul Entanglement—for one last desperate struggle.

Boom rumble rumble!

Empowered by the Thunder Ghoul, the raging lightning exploded, piercing through the giant fish’s body and utterly vaporizing the cultivator casting spells behind it.

“Plop.”

Having seized victory, the Cang Thunder Tiger lost all strength, collapsing on the ground, its vision shrouded in layers of haze and afterimages.

It pressed its forepaw down, attempting to rise and devour flesh to recover, when suddenly a long, narrow spirit sword, black as ink and gleaming with cold azure light, cleaved from behind—severing its head completely.