Chapter 207 - Arc 13: Wild Beast Plains | Chapter 207: Critical Point
Translator: Lynn
The wild beast emitted a prolonged and piercing howl, resonating like a muted drum, accompanied by an indescribable sharpness that made the eardrums quiver and vibrate, as if on the verge of shattering.
Simultaneously, the creature began to convulse vigorously, its back arching high, its massive head swaying from side to side, and its four hooves aggressively stomping, seemingly intent on violently dislodging the person on its back.
Observing from the side, Lotus Mountain remained crouched on the creature’s back, firmly affixed as if fused. Even as the beast thrashed wildly, Lotus Mountain remained unyielding, resembling a mountain. She clutched the broken horn with both hands, and crimson blood trickled down, swiftly staining the animal skin a vivid red.
Simultaneously, as the four others rushed over, one of them swiftly seized the wild beast’s long tail, and the two individuals engaged in a struggle. Exerting strength, they snapped off all four legs of the creature.
The final member, Tai Jun, a natural warrior, soared into the air, delivering a powerful elbow strike to the back of the wild beast, causing it to collapse.
In the span of a breath, the beast succumbed to the coordinated efforts of these five individuals.
Despite the sequential nature of their actions, they displayed an unparalleled synergy. Without the need for extensive communication, they effortlessly dispatched the beast.
This seamless coordination indicated a level of expertise that suggested this was not their first encounter. Their execution appeared effortless, honed through continuous refinement!
Observing from the sidelines, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. These warriors, with internal energy coursing through their bodies, may not match high-ranking cultivators in power, but their meticulous study of techniques was evident. Xu Ziqing, now possessing discernment, recognized the refined and streamlined movements that allowed for seamless execution without a hint of awkwardness. He couldn’t resist applauding lightly, remarking, “Well done, everyone!”
Although the successful killing of the wild beast had left the energy in Qian Wu’s body, Xu Ziqing’s praise elicited a subtle sense of wariness. While he couldn’t claim any affection for Xu Ziqing, the deep-seated animosity towards other cultivators had somewhat diminished.
In a courteous tone, Tai Jun, as the leader, downplayed their achievement, saying, “Our moves are mere flickers, hardly worth mentioning.”
Xu Ziqing responded with a smile, opting not to exchange pleasantries.
Subsequently, the Kou family brothers took charge of disposing of the beast’s carcass.
Drawing knives from their waists, the Kou brothers skillfully commenced their work. Kou Yuan, with a raised knife, began peeling off the creature’s fur, while Kou Ye, wielding his knife, opened the beast’s belly to reveal the inner core—a red bead.
Swiftly, they disassembled the creature, discarding the excess innards and retaining only the useful parts, such as the fat meat, inner core, horn, and fur.
Once done, Tai Jun turned to Xu Ziqing and inquired, “Now that the beast is dealt with, Xu Xianchang, what do you want? Feel free to express them.”
Xu Ziqing, puzzled, responded, “I haven’t done anything; why would I extend my hand here?”
This time, it was Tai Jun and the others who found themselves taken aback.
Traditionally, when warriors placed orders, they were expected to contribute significantly to gain any rewards. On the other hand, when a cultivator placed an order, they would receive a share of the rewards regardless of their contribution.
Though disgruntled, the warriors had little recourse. Cultivators, surviving these perilous days, held the potential for boundless progress, and ultimately, warriors were only innate realms. They were not inherently nobler than cultivators. Moreover, if the person placing the order had influential backing, any inadvertent offense by mortal-world warriors could lead to fatal consequences!
…And now, a reasonable person has arrived?
There was a shared look of confusion among them, and Tai Jun cautiously inquired, “Xu Xianchang, is this a joke?”
Xu Ziqing shook his head, saying, “Certainly not.”
With these words, the previously tense atmosphere suddenly eased. Xu Ziqing noted the diminishing vigilance in their expressions and realized his mistake. Sighing inwardly, he acknowledged that this was an error.
With Wu Xiaoling and the others now adopting a more favorable attitude towards Xu Ziqing, the rest of the journey became smoother.
Xu Ziqing remained passive, merely observing their intense hunting of wild beasts. However, he simultaneously studied them closely. Despite being in the Wild Beast Plain, unfamiliar with the habits and weaknesses of the creatures, he could learn from the actions of these ordinary soldiers. That was his primary objective.
In this manner, while acting and observing, Xu Ziqing quickly discerned critical insights.
The horns of the wild beasts were sharp, yet a thin dark line at the root offered a potential breakthrough point. The powerful four hooves had wrinkles on the upper third, making them susceptible to precise strikes. While the skin was thick, a soft spot existed at the end of the spine, offering an instant kill if pierced!
Furthermore, ordinary ferocious beasts often had vulnerable eyes, but wild beasts’ eyes were different. Covered with a flexible dura, their eyeballs were more impenetrable than the fur on their bodies.
Observing this, the agility displayed by the five individuals could be attributed to their identification of these weaknesses.
As he reviewed the intricate coordination he had witnessed, he realized its subtlety more and more.
After silently observing for a day, during which the members of Qianwu Team hunted and killed twelve horned beasts, the sky gradually darkened.
Xu Ziqing, still not taking advantage of their efforts, continued to refrain from making a move. Seeing them returning to the army, he followed suit.
The following day, Xu Ziqing rendezvoused with the young man, and upon returning to the stone house, noticed Yun Lie’s absence. Speculating that his senior brother was immersed in training day and night, he smiled and decided not to dwell on his senior brother’s whereabouts. Instead, he entered a meditative state, reviewing the day’s observations and simulating similar situations with his spiritual consciousness to deduce his responses.
Over the next three days, Xu Ziqing silently observed, committing to memory every detail shared by the Qianwu Team about the Wild Beast Plain. The days were quiet and uneventful, but those five individuals eventually acknowledged his presence and shared some information with him.
However, during these three days, Yun Lie did not return.
On the fourth day, the group encountered a pair of wild beasts.
These two creatures appeared to be a couple, leisurely rubbing each other’s ears and temples about a mile ahead. They seemed relaxed, lacking a significant defensive stance.
The five members of the Qianwu Team hesitated briefly. While they had faced three-horned and four-horned beasts before, their cautious nature often led them to seek solitary prey. Yet, this time, encountering only two creatures, they believed it was feasible, even if it required a bit more effort.
As they all turned their gazes towards Tai Jun, awaiting his command, Xu Ziqing unexpectedly suggested, “Why not let this Xu handle one of them? I can engage one for a while, and after you defeat the other, you can join me. What do you think?”
His proposal drew the attention of everyone present.
Tai Jun, wearing a frown, questioned, “Is Xu Xianchang certain?”
Throughout these days, Xu Ziqing hadn’t displayed any notable abilities. However, his disciplined and unobtrusive demeanor made him appear like a shadow, quietly present without causing any disruption. Due to this, in the eyes of the Qianwu Team members, he was merely a low-level cultivator in the Qi refining period. They assumed he lacked power, and his humility and etiquette, rather than being seen as signs of a genuinely weak individual, were perceived as a cultivator’s performance of self-awareness. Despite harboring doubts about him volunteering now, these five individuals also had reservations.
Smiling in response, Xu Ziqing remarked, “I’m here to practice, and I believe I can handle it. I have some tricks up my sleeve, so it should be fine.” His words indicated confidence in dealing with one of the wild beasts.
Despite being seasoned soldiers, Ban Lianshan and the others found his tone a bit audacious. However, Tai Jun had paid some attention to Xu Ziqing over the past few days, suspecting that the seemingly gentle young man possessed hidden strength. Although skeptical, Tai Jun decided that swiftly eliminating one wild beast and assisting the young man was a plausible plan. Thus, he stated, “In that case, let’s split up. If one of us faces difficulties, the others can provide reinforcements.”
This decision saved Xu Ziqing’s face, and he expressed his gratitude with a slight smile.
After settling on a plan, Xu Ziqing blended into the thick weeds alongside the five warriors, approaching the two beasts with caution.
Tai Jun, being an innate warrior, keenly sensed the surrounding aura but found that Xu Ziqing emitted no discernible energy, blending seamlessly with the weeds. A momentary suspicion flashed in Tai Jun’s mind, but it dissipated as they closed in on the beasts.
At a distance of seven or eight feet, they all crouched down, suppressing their energy to avoid alerting the wild beasts.
Xu Ziqing also lowered his body, fixating his gaze on one of the creatures.
Tai Jun whispered, “We’ll leave the one on the left to Xu Xianchang.”
“Okay,” Xu Ziqing responded.
Subsequently, five figures shot out like lightning—broke horns, dragged tails, cut legs, and smashed spines!
The sequence of actions mirrored their past encounters.
Qianwu Team swiftly dispatched the male wild beast, and as they turned around, ignoring the carcass, they were astonished.
In green robes, the young man ascended, hovering mid-air like a wisp of cotton in the wind. Despite swaying, he exhibited a remarkable grace, following the breeze effortlessly.
Pointing forward, a cyan light emanated from his fingertips, striking the back of the fleeing beast.
“Bang!”
A crisp sound rang out as the creature’s spine snapped. It crumpled to the ground, motionless.
Upon closer inspection, a small round hole appeared precisely at the most vulnerable point above its spine, just before its tail.
Blood gushed out—a critical blow!
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