Chapter 404: Chapter 199: Exotic Beasts Also Have Different Ranks
The four Exotic Beasts each had their own methods. They were all incredibly savage, some unleashing Sound Waves, others controlling water to form arrows. They were not the least bit intimidated by the four Grandmasters.
"Master Qingyang, your Shi Gandang is too slow! Block for me for a second, and I’ll pluck this feathered fiend!"
Cang Zhenzi shouted when he saw that Master Qingyang’s Shi Gandang was struggling to deal with the Flying Beast opposite him.
Having fought side-by-side for so long, they had at least that much of an understanding.
Master Qingyang’s figure flickered, and he split his Shi Gandang into two, sending them to suppress both Exotic Beasts.
Cang Zhenzi seized the opportunity, leaping into the air. The giant hand of his Profound Dome Dharma True Body shot out and grabbed the strange bird that was flapping its wings to evade it in the sky.
"I’ll roast you like a squab!"
Furious, Cang Zhenzi swung the Exotic Beast around and slammed it down onto the sandy beach.
SMASH!
The strange bird’s head plunged into the sand, sending countless grains flying toward the shore and instantly creating a crater several meters deep.
"SKREEE!"
The strange bird shrieked miserably, opened its beak, and spat out a glob of liquid as black as ink.
The liquid expanded in the wind, and in just a moment, it transformed into a colossal, sky-blotting net that flew toward Cang Zhenzi.
"Look out!"
Master Qingyang was alarmed and quickly shouted a warning, "That stuff is poisonous!"
Cang Zhenzi’s expression tightened. He hastily retreated, but suddenly, a beast’s claw tore through the air from behind without warning, aiming straight for his back.
’Such cunning creatures!’
Cang Zhenzi’s face fell. He never expected that while humans could be scheming, these two Exotic Beasts could also coordinate their attacks.
The claw was moving too fast. Cang Zhenzi had no way to dodge, so he could only redirect all the True Qi in his body to brace for the impact.
’I’m done for!’
A pained look crossed Cang Zhenzi’s face. This blow would, at the very least, inflict an internal injury.
"ROAR!"
Just as Cang Zhenzi had given up on escaping, the claw suddenly retracted, followed by a heaven-shaking, agonizing howl.
On the back of the ambushing Exotic Beast stood a man, who was driving a True Qi Long Sword straight into the beast’s body.
It was this Sword Qi that made the Exotic Beast let out a pained roar.
Cang Zhenzi was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. He hastily retreated from the area covered by the poisonous net.
"Thank you, Master Zhao!"
This man was none other than Zhao Rui, returning after his pursuit of the Gu Diao.
"No need for thanks. Just be careful."
After speaking, Zhao Rui charged straight toward the poisonous net. As he neared it, his True Dharma Body suddenly manifested. He thrust his palms toward the sea, and instantly, a rainbow-like torrent of water was pulled from the ocean like a bolt of silk.
Then, with a single wave of his hand, Zhao Rui sent the immense volume of seawater crashing down onto the poisonous net.
"Freeze!"
Zhao Rui shouted, unleashing his Ice Palm Force. The seawater covering the net instantly solidified into thick, hard ice.
Then, with a series of CRACKS, it fell from mid-air.
The Exotic Beast had not expected its Talent Divine Technique to be broken. It let out a mournful cry and flapped its wings, swooping down to peck at Zhao Rui.
"Good timing!"
"Majestic heavenly might, all evil shall be vanquished! Celestial thunders of the heavens, heed my command! Strike!"
Instantly, a heart-palpitating Thunder Power tore through the void and struck down toward the Exotic Beast.
The Exotic Beast was terrified. It flapped its wings, trying to flee into the distance.
How could Zhao Rui let it get away? Ever since learning the Eight Desolates Beast-Taming Evil-Slaying Thunder Prison, he had already expanded upon his Thunderbolt Swordsmanship, taking its power to a whole new level.
Beneath this Thunder Prison, everything was subject to judgment.
The giant bird-like Exotic Beast blurred. Its speed was so great that in an instant, it was miles away.
The natural divine speed of avians was indeed their greatest strength.
Cang Zhenzi couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. ’This bird is so difficult to deal with. It would be a real shame if it got away.’
"Thunder Prison Soul Lock!"
"Divine Thunder Celestial Might!"
Zhao Rui’s eyes flew open, and an even larger bolt of thunder appeared above the giant bird.
Without the slightest pause, it struck the giant bird directly.
The giant bird cried out miserably and plummeted toward the ground like a quail.
THUD!
The giant bird’s enormous head plunged straight into the shallow sea. Its two legs kicked a couple of times before its body crashed into the water.
The commotion here was so great that it had long since alerted the other True Dharma Masters.
When they saw Zhao Rui dispatch two Exotic Beasts as easily as chopping vegetables, they were so stunned they almost thought their eyes were playing tricks on them.
"Let’s end this quickly!"
Zhao Rui announced, then charged toward the sea beast that was fighting the Dharma Grandmaster from the Lao Mountain Sect.
Exotic Beasts were generally proud and did not tolerate provocation.
Seeing Zhao Rui charge at it, this one roared and immediately activated its Talent Divine Technique.
Several jets of water, each ten meters thick, shot toward Zhao Rui in an instant.
Zhao Rui’s figure flickered as he dodged one. He then unleashed his Dragon-Slaying Palm Force, shattering all the subsequent water jets.
The Lao Mountain Sect’s Dharma Grandmaster, Mr. Shaowu, was no pushover either. Seeing Zhao Rui draw the beast’s fire, he flashed forward and landed on its back. The longsword in his hand suddenly grew, its blade becoming a zhang wide.
Its length was unknown, for the sword had already sunk deep into the Exotic Beast’s body.
"CHITTER!"
In agony, the Exotic Beast flipped over and fell directly into the water.
Mr. Shaowu quickly flew back, looking down from the air as the beast thrashed violently in the water.
The longsword in his hand had already returned to its original form. From a distance, it glowed a crimson red, looking quite extraordinary.
With Zhao Rui’s help, the group defeated the Exotic Beasts in just a few moments. Aside from one sea beast that managed to escape, the other three were all taken down.
"Disposing of these behemoths is also a difficult task!"
Zhao Rui shook his head as he looked at the massive bodies of the Exotic Beasts.
Even the death of a single whale can give rise to the saying, "A whale fall brings life to all."
Let alone an Exotic Beast of this size.
"This is a job for Brother Cang Zhenzi."
Master Qingyang strode through the air, chuckling as he heard Zhao Rui’s remark.
Zhao Rui didn’t understand. Just as he was about to ask for details, he saw Cang Zhenzi manifest his massive Dharma Body, wrap his arms around one of the Exotic Beasts, and start walking toward the sea.
Once he reached the deep water, he simply hurled it far out into the deep sea.
"That... is actually a good idea."
Better to let the fish eat it than to leave it on the shore to rot and stink.
"Some Exotic Beasts not only contain valuable materials in their bodies and can be used as nourishing Spirit Medicine, but are also important components for Artifact Refining..." Master Qingyang explained.
Zhao Rui pointed at the Exotic Beast that Cang Zhenzi had just thrown into the sea and asked Master Qingyang, puzzled, "Then why just throw it in the sea?"
"These aren’t Spirit Beasts. Their value isn’t high enough to be worth the trouble."
"Oh? So there’s a distinction between Exotic Beasts and Spirit Beasts?"
"Yes. It’s a long story. I’ll explain it to you when we get back."
Master Qingyang nodded.
Seeing this, Zhao Rui didn’t press the issue.
After Cang Zhenzi had thrown all three Exotic Beasts into the deep sea, the group levitated into the air and flew back to the Rishikesh City District.
Once the True Dharma Masters had left, the soldiers stationed ten kilometers away burst into cheers.
The situation this time had been handled so quickly and cleanly.
It was truly like slicing through vegetables.
How could they not be thrilled?
That was five of them!
"It seems the person who came is a true expert."
The military commander couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief.
A moment later, he dialed his superior’s number to report on the situation’s progress.
After he finished his report, his superior was silent for a moment before saying, "This person is very likely Zhao Rui of the Qingcheng Sword Sect... He’s also a veteran... He once served as the Chief Instructor for a certain army group command in the Northwest..."
The commander hung up the phone, thinking to himself, ’He used to be a soldier, too... I just hope he can stay a while longer. It would reduce casualties among the soldiers.’
「In a guest hotel in the Rishikesh City District.」
Zhao Rui and the other four Dharma Grandmasters were gathered together, discussing the battle that had just occurred.
"It’s a good thing Master Zhao returned when he did..."
"You are not from Gui Xu, Master, so of course you wouldn’t know how formidable these Returning Ruins Beasts are."
"If it were one-on-one, our chances of victory wouldn’t be high."
Hearing what Cang Zhenzi and Master Qingyang said, Zhao Rui asked curiously, "Are these Exotic Beasts really that powerful?"
"That’s an understatement. Exotic Beasts are also divided into different ranks. These were just ordinary ones."
