"This is a long story." Mu Hanyan was just about to briefly recount her reason for coming to Shangyue Country when she heard the fierce roar of the Fierce Stone Demon nearby, still filled with anger.
Itâs just that I cut you a few times, and itâs been more than half a month, and you still havenât calmed down. How can you hold a grudge like this? Even Mu Hanyan was impressed by the Fierce Stone Demonâs persistence.
"Letâs go." Mu Hanyan didnât have time for self-pity, much less explanations, as she grabbed Zhu Xiuqing and prepared to continue her escape.
Zhu Xiuqing was getting quicker and quicker, moving even faster than Mu Hanyan. The moment he heard the beastâs roar, he immediately stretched out his neck.
This time, the Fierce Stone Demon came even faster, and just as Mu Hanyan grabbed Zhu Xiuqingâs neck and picked him up, the imposing figure carved from rock already appeared in sight.
As soon as they saw Mu Hanyan and Zhu Xiuqing, the anger of the two Fierce Stone Demons was reignited. With an earth-shattering roar, they took large strides forward. Where they passed, towering trees snapped in half, and rocks nearly ten feet high were smashed into pieces, making the ground tremble.
"Fierce Stone Demon!" Xia Youchenâs expression changed. If he werenât injured, he might have been able to barely contend with one Fierce Stone Demon given the combat power of a Great Sword Master, but unfortunately, he was still wounded and couldnât possibly be its opponent, let alone against two of them.
Xia Youchen took a deep breath, also preparing to continue fleeing for his life.
"Roar..." At that moment, Little Qiongqi let out a roar and charged at the Fierce Stone Demon.
"No!" Mu Hanyan was shocked.
She recalled hearing Taowu mention that in ancient times, the Divine Beasts led by the Four Great Fierce Beasts had contracts with various fierce birds and Exotic Beasts of the continent, and the Aolai Divine Beast had contracts with the Four Great Fierce Beasts and other Divine Beasts to lead the entire Beast Clan. The one with a contract with the Fierce Stone Demon was the Qiongqi Divine Beast, whose contract mark had been passed down through generations with their bloodline.
However, the two Fierce Stone Demons before her had their Spiritual Marks within their bloodlines erased, rendering Taowuâs Divine Beast Heavenly Might completely ineffectiveâwasnât Little Qiongqi rushing in like this just to throw away its life?
"Come back, get back here!" Xia Youchen was initially stunned, then followed with a shout.
Though he felt like having a Divine Beast was incredibly bad luck, after all this time together, there was still attachment. How could he just watch Little Qiongqi go to its death?
The only thing he couldnât understand was why this supposedly timid and non-confrontational fake Fierce Beast, which loved peace and didnât kill or eat meat, suddenly went on a rampage.
Little Qiongqi flailed its claws, seemingly oblivious to the calls of Mu Hanyan and Xia Youchen.
Xia Youchen gritted his teeth and turned around to follow, and Mu Hanyan had no choice but to set down Zhu Xiuqing and run towards Little Qiongqi.
"Roar!" Little Qiongqi roared again.
A burst of mystical light shot out from its body, forming mysterious Rune Light and Shadow that enveloped the two Fierce Stone Demons. Clearly, this was the Divine Beast Contract that Qiongqi had with the Fierce Stone Demon clan.
But despite being enveloped by the Rune Light and Shadow, the Fierce Stone Demons showed no change. They continued to roar furiously, their eyes still ablaze with blood-red fire. The Divine Beast Contract branded in their bloodline for generations was completely ineffective.
It seemed that Taowu was right; the Spiritual Marks in these two Fierce Stone Demonsâ bloodlines had indeed been erased, rendering even their ancestorsâ Divine Beast Contracts entirely ineffective.
The foremost Fierce Stone Demon extended its front paw, which was like a huge stone hammer, and swatted at Little Qiongqi.
Mu Hanyanâs heart trembled slightly, as if she could already see the tragic scene of Little Qiongqi being smashed into mush.
Xia Youchen was even more horrified, his heart twisting as if with a knife.
Yet at this moment, an unexpected twist occurred.
The Fierce Stone Demonâs hefty palm landed on Little Qiongqi, but Little Qiongqi didnât budge an inch. That Heavenly Spirit Giant Palm, which could shatter the sky, did not harm it in the slightest.
Xia Youchen was stunned, Mu Hanyan was stunned, and even the Furious Stone Demon brimming with rage was stunned.
Before it could understand what happened, Little Qiongqi suddenly leaped into the air and swung a palm downward at the creatureâs head.
Instinctively sensing danger, the Fierce Stone Demon immediately used its innate superpower, Petrification Technique, and with a flash of green light, its thick armor became solid rock.
Little Qiongqi, however, seemed not to notice, keeping its small palm coming down.
With a soft "crack", the sculpted beastâs head appeared with a cobweb of cracks.
Little Qiongqi spun its arm again and swung another palm.
With a dull "boom", the already petrified thick armor on the Fierce Stone Demonâs forehead was shattered by Little Qiongqi in one more palm strike, sending a pillar of blood shooting out like a fountain.
"Awoo..." The Fierce Stone Demon let out a piercing shriek, its giant claws pounding frantically at Little Qiongqi.
But even the Heavenly Spirit Giant Palms that cracked stone and shattered slabs had no effect on Little Qiongqi; instead, Little Qiongqiâs seemingly insignificant fists produced a soft "crack" each time they landed on the Demonâs head, spraying blood flowers.
Mu Hanyan stared in awe; no one understood better than she just how powerful the Fierce Stone Demonâs attack and defense were. With her current combat power comparable to an Eighth Rank Sword Master, she couldnât break through the Fierce Stone Demonâs petrified defense or contend with its innate divine strength.
Who would have thought that even in its petrified state, the Fierce Stone Demonâs defenses were worthless against Little Qiongqi, and the terrifying strength had no effect on it? Little Qiongqi was actually able to completely ignore the Fierce Stone Demonâs attacks and defenses.
This must be the Qiongqi Divine Beastâs innate ability. Even though the Spiritual Marks in the Fierce Stone Demonsâ bloodline were erased, the chasm between a Divine Beast and other Exotic Beasts was still insurmountable. Even though the Fierce Stone Demon was a top-tier Exotic Beast, it was no match.
Of course, Mu Hanyan also realized that the Qiongqi Divine Beastâs ability to disregard attacks and defenses wasnât effective against all Exotic Beasts; otherwise, it wouldnât just be one of the Four Great Fierce Beasts, but a super Divine Beast rivaling Aolai.
But regardless, as long as it could restrain the Fierce Stone Demons before them, that was good enough. Seeing the bloodied, battered Fierce Stone Demon left with no choice but to endure the hits, Mu Hanyan finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"Awooo..." Eventually, the bitterly tormented Fierce Stone Demon couldnât endure any longer, letting out a mournful wail and turning to flee.
The other Fierce Stone Demon, petrified with fear, hadnât dared to make a move. Now waking from its reverie, it too fled hastily.
"So these fellows arenât that vengeful after all. In the end, theyâre just picking softer targets." Watching the backs of the retreating Fierce Stone Demons, Mu Hanyan mused self-deprecatingly.