Chapter 33: Clash in the Night
Chapter 33: Clash in the Night
The night air trembled as Xiao Chen launched forward, his aura surging like a storm. His Light Spear radiated a blinding glow, cutting through the darkness like a comet, while his Dark Scythe oozed shadows, distorting the air around it. Every movement left behind dazzling trails—one of resplendent brilliance, the other of abyssal gloom.
The four beasts encircled him, their predatory instincts sharpening. Among them, the Bloodthirsty Boar was the most savage and reckless. Its blood-red eyes gleamed as it let out a deafening snort, steam blasting from its nostrils. It was a living battering ram—once it charged, nothing could stop it.
Xiao Chen smirked. "Come on, mad pig!"
The boar let out a guttural roar and lunged, the ground trembling beneath its monstrous weight. Its massive tusks gleamed under the moonlight, slicing through the air like ivory sabers.
"Too slow."
With a swift step, Xiao Chen slid under the beast's underbelly, dodging its crushing charge. As he passed beneath, his Dark Scythe slashed upward in a brutal arc. The sharp blade tore through the boar's soft underside, black blood splattering the forest floor.
The beast let out a bloodcurdling shriek as it crashed onto its side, its body convulsing from the wound. Yet, to Xiao Chen's surprise, it didn't die instantly.
"What?" Xiao Chen frowned. "The belly is supposed to be its weakness… I should've put more force behind that strike."
Before he could finish his thought, a terrifying shadow loomed over him.
"ROAR!!!"
The Armored Gorilla came crashing down like a mountain, its colossal fists descending like meteorites. The sheer force of its attack sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, uprooting trees and scattering debris.
"Void Piercing Steps!"
In an instant, Xiao Chen's figure flickered. He vanished—
"BOOM!"
The gorilla's fists smashed into the earth, leaving behind a massive crater. Realizing its prey had escaped, the beast pounded its chest furiously, its roar shaking the treetops.
Xiao Chen reappeared a short distance away, catching his breath. "That was close…"
But before he could react—
"SWISH!"
A black blur flashed through the air.
Xiao Chen's eyes widened. The Black Bear!
The beast's saber-like claws descended toward him in a deadly arc. There was no time to evade. Instinctively, Xiao Chen crossed his Light Spear and Dark Scythe in front of him, bracing for impact.
"CLANG!!"
The sheer force sent him flying backward, his body crashing through a massive tree. The impact sent bark and splinters flying in all directions.
"BOOM!"
Xiao Chen coughed as he staggered back to his feet, blood trailing from the corner of his lips. Yet, instead of fear, his eyes burned with excitement.
He glanced at the Bloodthirsty Boar, which now trembled weakly. The effects of his Dark Scythe were taking hold—its corrosive power was eating away at the beast's vitality.
"My Light Law amplifies my spear's piercing power, breaking through defenses. My Dark Law erodes vitality, making wounds impossible to heal."
His eyes shifted to the Silver Tooth Tiger, which had yet to attack. Unlike the other beasts that acted purely on instinct, this one remained motionless, its white body blending into the shadows. Its sharp eyes watched Xiao Chen.
Waiting. Calculating.
"Heh, you're the smart one, huh?" Xiao Chen chuckled, wiping the blood from his lips.
His gaze flickered to the other battle nearby.
Xiao Rongyu was dominating her opponent, while Mistshadow was barely holding its ground against the Moon Wolf.
It made sense.
Xiao Rongyu was at the Early Stage Martial Soul Realm, while the Crimson Leopard was a Peak Grade Three Beast—equivalent to a Peak Stage Martial Adept. But even with a beast's natural strength that enable it face Martial Artist an entire realm higher, it was still a level weaker than her. Combined with her techniques, she was unmatched.
On the other hand, Mistshadow and the Moon Wolf were both Grade Three Beasts—but the Moon Wolf was Peak-Grade, making it far stronger. Mistshadow only held on because of its superior intelligence.
A short distance away, Moonshadow clashed with the Moon Wolf, their battle a blur of motion beneath the moonlit sky.
Mistshadow's lithe form weaved through the trees, her silver fur glistening in the faint moonlight as she darted between the shadows. The Moon Wolf pursued with relentless ferocity, its grey and black fur blending with the darkness, its eyes burning with a cold, lunar light.
CRASH! Mistshadow twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging the wolf's fangs as they snapped shut with a sickening crunch—strong enough to shatter bone. Her tail flicked, using the force of her momentum to pivot off a tree trunk, but the Moon Wolf anticipated her move.
"GRRR!" A massive claw lashed out— Mistshadow hissed as the attack grazed her side, leaving behind a faint, bleeding scratch. But instead of retreating, she used the force of the blow to spin midair, lashing out with a precise claw.
The attack struck the Moon Wolf's eye. Yelp! The beast reeled backward, momentarily disoriented. Mistshadow wasted no time, vanishing into the shadows again. Yet, despite its injury, the Moon Wolf's body began to glow with a soft, lunar light, its breathing deepening. Lunar energy rippled through its body, accelerating its regeneration.
Meanwhile Xiao Rongyu fight was the opposite. The Crimson Leopard snarled, its claws slashing toward Xiao Rongyu's slender throat.
But she was faster.
With elegant footwork, she sidestepped the attack, her amber eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.
"Flame Sword – First Form: Blazing Slash!"
Her fiery blade ignited as she swung in a swift arc. The Crimson Leopard howled in agony as a deep gash tore through its side, flames licking at its fur.
"RAAAGHHH!"
The beast whipped around and tried to flee.
Xiao Rongyu's expression turned cold.
"Not so fast."
Her fiery aura flared as she raised her sword.
"Flame Sword – Second Form: Inferno Wave!"
A concentrated blast of flames erupted from her sword, engulfing the fleeing leopard in a raging inferno. The beast's pained shrieks echoed through the forest, but when the flames died down, its charred body remained motionless.
For a brief moment, silence filled the battlefield.
Then—
The Crimson Leopard's corpse twitched.
Its eyes snapped open.
Its aura exploded outward, filling the air with raw killing intent. Its bloodshot eyes gleamed with madness. Its fur bristled, standing on end like sharpened spikes. Its muscles bulged, veins pulsing with terrifying energy.
Xiao Rongyu narrowed her eyes.
"Berserk Mode…"
A desperate state where a beast sacrifices its life force in exchange for a temporary explosion of power.
The Crimson Leopard no longer moved like a beast. It charged like a demon, saliva dripping from its fangs, eyes blazing with pure hatred.
Xiao Rongyu was unfazed.
She raised her sword high, and her fiery aura shifted turned golden-red.
Her amber eyes turned crimson-gold.
"Boom!"
Flames erupted behind her as a massive phantom took shape—a giant golden-winged bird, radiating golden fire.
Xiao Chen's eyes widened.
"That's… her Martial Spirit!"
The Golden Winged Sparrow. A Peak Earth-Rank Martial Spirit!
Sensing imminent danger, the Berserk Leopard let out a final, desperate roar and lunged forward with everything it had.
Xiao Rongyu's grip tightened around her sword.
"Flame Sword – Third Form: Phoenix Rebirth!"
With a single blazing slash, golden flames erupted from her blade, forming a gigantic flaming phoenix that devoured the charging beast whole.
The Crimson Leopard's shrieks were swallowed by the inferno.
When the flames died down…
Nothing remained but ashes.
Xiao Rongyu exhaled, her fiery gaze fading back to her usual amber hue.
Xiao Chen's voice rang out.
"Rongyu! Assist Moonshadow!"
She glanced toward the Moon Wolf and nodded. "Fine. You owe me."
Xiao Chen grinned. "Heh. I'll think about it."
He cracked his knuckles, his gaze sweeping over the remaining beasts.
The Bloodthirsty Boar was barely alive.
The Armored Gorilla raged, preparing another attack.
The Black Bear watched warily, not daring to make another reckless move.
And the Silver Tooth Tiger… still waited in the shadows.
Xiao Chen smirked.
"Alright… now it's my turn."