Chapter 140: Chapter 99: Force Integration Level Black Beast
’The other Black Beasts must be too intimidated by the aura of the Force Integration Black Beast to get any closer,’ he guessed.
This came as a relief.
Once he was back on the mountaintop.
Even from a distance, he could hear a bone-shaking tiger’s roar.
He slowly approached and finally got a clear look at the Force Integration Level Black Beast.
It was a tiger-shaped Black Beast, as large as a water buffalo.
It had black, ink-wash-like markings on a white coat.
Faint black smoke constantly drifted from its body.
Its two fangs were as long as an adult’s forearm, protruding from its mouth and extending past its chin.
It reminded Jiang Che of the saber-toothed tigers he’d read about in paleontology books from his previous life.
The closer Jiang Che got, the more intense the tiger-shaped Black Beast’s aura became.
When he was only fifty meters away, the Black Beast whipped its head around and looked in Jiang Che’s direction!
As he crept forward on his belly, Jiang Che was struck by a sense of danger so sharp it pricked his skin!
The Omen triggered!
In the vision, the Black Beast lunged in an instant and tore his shoulder to shreds with a single bite!
Even with his powerful physique, enhanced by both Iron Body and Rejuvenation, he stood no chance against the jaws of a Force Integration Level Black Beast!
With no time to think, Jiang Che immediately underwent his Transformation.
In an instant, he became an incredibly muscular, two-and-a-half-meter-tall Black-armored Giant!
ROAR—
Just as the Omen had shown, the Black Beast was on him in an instant, sinking its teeth into Jiang Che’s shoulder!
But now that he had transformed, Jiang Che wasn’t instantly shredded like in his vision.
Nevertheless, the long Tusks still pierced deep into Jiang Che’s shoulder, only to be caught and held fast by his powerful muscles and bones.
With a muffled grunt, Jiang Che felt the Strength clinging to the Tusks, constantly damaging his body. He kicked out fiercely at the Black Beast’s stomach, then rolled away to the side.
The flesh where the Tusks had pierced began to slowly close.
However, the lingering Strength had yet to completely dissipate, and the rate at which his flesh healed was greatly reduced—far slower than before.
’So that’s how it is... No matter how strong someone in the Iron Skin Realm is, they’re still made of flesh and blood. This Strength, though... it’s practically a Magic attack.’
Jiang Che finally understood why his master had stressed that he must never make an enemy of a Force Integration Martial Artist.
This Strength... it was just too tyrannical!
The tiger-shaped Black Beast lunged again. It opened its cavernous maw, its forearm-length Tusks shooting toward Jiang Che’s neck.
Jiang Che raised his Kunji Saber, unleashing his Great Success Prison-Suppressing Saber technique, and slashed at the Tusks.
However, not only did the slash fail to repel the Black Beast, but Jiang Che himself was sent flying backward by the immense rebound force.
The silver lining was that he had dodged the Black Beast’s pounce.
Before he could even react, the Black Beast pounced again, this time from above!
Jiang Che could even smell the overpowering stench from its mouth!
He thrust his Kunji Saber upward to meet it.
But although his Kunji Saber hit the Black Beast’s underbelly, it was blocked by some intangible wall of air. The blade skidded off, hitting nothing but air!
With no other choice, Jiang Che frantically rolled across the ground to evade the pounce.
’After being repeatedly shut down, I’ll never be able to fight a Force Integration Martial Artist unless I find a way to break through this Strength.’
’The alternative is poison.’
’As long as a Force Integration Martial Artist can’t kill me instantly, I can use poison to weaken their Strength.’
He immediately used his Five Poison Technique, spreading all five toxins onto his blade, and then re-engaged the Black Beast.
Man and beast clashed for several more rounds.
Though it was difficult for Jiang Che’s saber to pierce the Black Beast’s Strength...
...it was equally difficult for the beast to land a fatal blow on him.
With his lightning-fast reflexes and formidable physique...
...as long as Jiang Che wasn’t killed instantly, he was in no real danger.
Meanwhile, the tiger-shaped Black Beast seemed to be affected by the poison; its speed and power weakened slightly.
The problem was, Jiang Che had too little poison stored in his body, and its potency was nowhere near that of the toxins used by Red Tiger and Lotus.
It wasn’t long before the Black Beast was back to its full strength.
Jiang Che decided to retreat.
He had already obtained the results he wanted.
Although he didn’t know what rank this tiger-shaped Black Beast held among Force Integration Martial Artists...
...it was at least not in the weakest tier.
Before his Transformation, he was completely helpless against this Black Beast and would have been instantly killed.
But after his Transformation, even though he still couldn’t win...
...and was even repeatedly injured...
...as long as Jiang Che wasn’t deliberately trying to get himself killed...
...he was not in mortal danger.
This result greatly increased Jiang Che’s sense of security.
After dodging the Black Beast’s pounce one last time, Jiang Che shot off and sprinted desperately down the mountain.
The Black Beast gave chase relentlessly.
But after running for a while, it seemed to realize it had strayed too far from its territory and stopped its pursuit.
It let out an angry roar, then turned back.
Jiang Che breathed a sigh of relief.
’If it had kept chasing, I wouldn’t have been in any real danger, but the commotion might have attracted the attention of those Horse Bandits, and that would be trouble.’
’After all, they have Force Integration Martial Artists among their ranks.’
’I know I won’t be in mortal danger even if I face a Force Integration Martial Artist...’
’At worst, my escape will just be a little more pathetic.’
’Still, it’s always best to avoid taking a loss if I can help it.’
Before heading down the mountain, Jiang Che secretly picked some more mushrooms.
’If I really want to pose a threat to a Force Integration Martial Artist, it looks like I’ll have to rely on my Poison Technique.’
It was through the use of a highly poisonous substance that Red Tiger and Lotus had managed to defeat Li Rushan.
After picking the mushrooms, Jiang Che carefully avoided the Horse Bandits and quickly descended the mountain.
Back in the city, Jiang Che first took some mushrooms to Zhang Jinghuai and prepared a new batch of Poisonous Ointment.
Then, he went to the Zhenyuan Escort Agency to ask about the next escort job to Hengsha City.
He had been feeling restless lately.
Since he had confirmed that even a Force Integration Martial Artist couldn’t necessarily pose a fatal threat to him.
He didn’t want to wait any longer and decided to go investigate himself.
When he arrived at the Escort Agency, Jiang Che noticed there seemed to be fewer people than before.
In the back courtyard’s accounting office.
Steward Wang was balancing the books.
He sighed as he flicked the beads of his abacus.
He was startled to see Jiang Che arrive.
He hurried out to greet him.
"Brother Jiang... you’re here! Please, sit!"
He had naturally heard the news that Jiang Che had fought Cao Tieliu to a draw.
He was both overjoyed and worried.
He was overjoyed that a Martial Artist affiliated with their agency had grown so powerful!
His worry was that the Escort Agency was too small to retain such a talent; even their Chief of the Escort had only just reached the Early Stage of the Iron Skin Realm.
Moreover, most of the wealthy families in the city had already moved away.
Business was getting worse and worse.
With Jiang Che now a grandmaster who was seemingly invincible below the Force Integration level, there wasn’t much more they could offer him.
Jiang Che could see Steward Wang’s predicament.
He immediately stated that he was fine with his old monthly salary.
He added, however, that he would be participating in far fewer escort missions.
However, if they encountered any particularly difficult problems, he would naturally step in to help.
Steward Wang was immensely grateful for Jiang Che’s assurance.
At the same time, he insisted on giving Jiang Che a raise, despite his refusal.
After some pleasantries, Jiang Che learned that there was an escort mission to Hengsha City in two days.
He therefore decided to use this mission as an opportunity to travel to Hengsha City.
While Jiang Che was now strong enough to travel outside the city without fearing for his safety...
...going directly to Hengsha City would require a travel permit, which he didn’t have. Forging one was an option, but a troublesome one.
Traveling with the Escort Agency, on the other hand, was much more convenient.
The agency would handle the travel permits for the entire escort group, saving him the trouble.
...
...
...
「Lin Yuan City.」
In a forest not far from the city gate.
An old man with a wrinkled face and a full head of white hair was following a jet-black bee, heading towards the east side of the city.
Tucked into his waist, half of a Red Fox Mask was visible.
’Hmph! Useless fools. They can’t get one simple thing right, no matter how many times they try. I have to do it myself!’
This man was none other than the Sacrificial Minister, who had disguised himself and snuck into Lin Yuan City to reclaim the Black Abyss Flesh.
After passing through the woods, just as he was about to follow the bee to Prefecture Street...
...a magpie suddenly circled in the sky and landed on his shoulder.
The Sacrificial Minister froze, then took the bird from his shoulder.
He saw a small, rolled-up note tied to its leg.
He frowned, unfolded it, and glanced at it.
’Of all the times...’
He sighed, released the magpie, then took out some flint and steel and burned the small note.
Then, he turned, left the city gate, and quickly vanished from sight.
...
