Chapter 10: This Must be an Ancient Ferocious Beast

Qiao Zenan also believed Su Wuchen was still in Magpie Mountain, but the mountain truly wasn’t small. Finding a person deliberately hiding was definitely not easy.

So Qiao Zenan immediately said to his junior brothers and sisters, “We might need to spend more time than expected searching for Su Wuchen. All of you, stay sharp. The sooner we find Su Wuchen, the sooner we can go back.”

“Yes, Senior Brother Qiao.”

Everyone responded in unison.

Within the Blazing Heaven Sect, Qiao Zenan undoubtedly held considerable authority.

The Flying Boat continued weaving through the mountain forest.

Under Qiao Zenan’s orders, the Flying Boat lowered its flight altitude slightly. While flying high offered a broader view, the dense forest below could conceal many things. Without getting closer to look, it was easy to miss something.

“Hmm? What’s that?”

Suddenly, Qiao Zenan seemed to notice something. Pointing out the window, he commanded, “Go take a look at that spot.”

The group looked in that direction and saw a patch of towering, dense forest before them. Thick branches intertwined, their large, bright leaves completely sealing off the area from view.

The Flying Boat changed direction and flew over.

At the same time, Si Xiaoxiao asked curiously, “Senior Brother, did you see something?”

Qiao Zenan nodded. “I thought I saw a shadow flash by inside. It might be Su Wuchen. Everyone, be on guard.”

Hearing Qiao Zenan’s words, the group immediately became vigilant, each bringing out their Magical Artifact.

The forms of these artifacts varied wildly: there was a sword, an umbrella, a bell, a bead, and a pair of scissors. The shape of a Magical Artifact depended entirely on the Artifact Refining Master’s imagination. Thus, in the Cultivation World, all sorts of bizarre artifacts could be found.

Besides artifacts, Qiao Zenan and his group also prepared Talisman Paper, which were single-use consumables.

Naturally, they also carried various Elixir Pills on their persons—some for healing injuries, others for forcibly stimulating their own Spiritual Power to temporarily boost their strength.

Fully prepared, the Flying Boat descended further, passing through the large canopy of leaves and entering the dense forest.

But upon entering the forest, Qiao Zenan and the others’ expressions froze. They stared at the scene before them in disbelief.

“What is that?”

The five of them felt a chill rise from the depths of their spines, instantly spreading through their entire bodies.

Presented before them was a bizarre Ferocious Beast unlike any they had ever seen.

This Ferocious Beast had an enormous physique, standing there like a tall building. Its color was grayish-brown, its body covered in scales and fine hairs. On its back was a pair of slightly translucent wings. It also had several pairs of long legs, with black-and-white spots and ring patterns formed by scales on them. Its head possessed one pair each of compound eyes and antennae. The most conspicuous feature was a long proboscis, which seemed to be wreathed in cold light under the faint sunlight filtering through the dense forest.

Si Xiaoxiao’s speech stuttered slightly. “Se-Senior Brother, what is this?”

The others also looked at Qiao Zenan.

This was a massive, unknown Ferocious Beast. They had never even heard of such a creature.

Qiao Zenan felt his lips go dry. He licked them and said, “I don’t know. I’ve never heard of it.”

How could such a Ferocious Beast exist deep within Magpie Mountain?

Though they hadn’t yet seen this Ferocious Beast in action, its colossal form and the aura it exuded were enough to tell Qiao Zenan and the others it was absolutely not to be trifled with.

Qiao Zenan immediately ordered, “We’re leaving.”

Since it wasn’t their target, there was no need to provoke conflict with such a beast here.

At Qiao Zenan’s command, the Flying Boat immediately turned around and rushed out of the dense forest.

However, their arrival had already drawn the Ferocious Beast’s attention.

“Buzzzzz…”

Accompanied by the flapping of wings, the Ferocious Beast likewise burst forth from the dense forest. Wherever it passed, fierce winds raged, and leaves detached from the branches to dance chaotically in the air.

The Ferocious Beast reached the Flying Boat almost in the blink of an eye, landing directly on top of it. This caused the boat, which was attempting to flee, to plummet downward on the spot, crashing with a thunderous boom into a valley below.

Inside the Flying Boat, Qiao Zenan and the others were thrown into disarray but still reacted immediately.

“Meet the enemy!”

Qiao Zenan shouted, rushing out first.

Si Xiaoxiao and the remaining four followed closely behind him.

Once outside the Flying Boat and facing the Ferocious Beast directly, Qiao Zenan realized its imposing aura was even more intense than what he had felt inside the boat. It was a pressure that nearly suffocated him!

“Attack together!”

Qiao Zenan let out a loud cry. He extended his hand, index and middle fingers together while tucking in the rest, pointing at the beast before him. A fiery-red Flying Sword hovering at his side instantly whistled out, transforming into a beam of red light to attack the beast.

The others also launched their attacks simultaneously.

An umbrella-shaped artifact opened, releasing streams of green light.

A large bell swayed, sending concentrated bursts of sound waves impacting outward.

A pair of scissors turned into two black snakes, intertwining as they shot forward.

A bead expanded from the size of a palm to the size of a house, smashing heavily toward the beast.

The five members of the Blazing Heaven Sect manipulated their respective artifacts to attack, their movements swift and decisive, displaying excellent coordination.

Su Xiaoyu found the missing mosquito.

But by the time she spotted the mosquito, it had already engaged the five cultivators from the Blazing Heaven Sect.

“They’re fighting?”

Su Xiaoyu looked at the scene inside the Diorama Box with a strange expression.

The five cultivators from the Blazing Heaven Sect all displayed Foundation Establishment cultivation levels—three at Mid Foundation Establishment, two at Late Foundation Establishment—yet the attacks they unleashed before the mosquito seemed extraordinarily feeble. They struck the mosquito’s body with a series of crackling impacts, but only made its body sway slightly.

Seeing this, the five from the Blazing Heaven Sect turned and fled.

This simple round of testing was enough to make them understand just how terrifying this ancient Ferocious Beast before them was. It was a horrifying existence completely beyond their ability to contend with. Since they couldn’t fight it, escaping was naturally the priority.

Su Xiaoyu also heard one of them, who appeared to be the leader, shout: “This must be a revived ancient Ferocious Beast! Everyone, split up and flee! Try your best to get the news back to the Alkaid Alliance! We cannot allow such a terrifying beast to roam free, or it will surely cause calamity!”

As soon as these words fell, the five scattered.

As Foundation Establishment cultivators, they could naturally fly. They all used various flying methods to retreat through the air. Qiao Zenan’s flying method involved letting his Flying Sword fly ahead while he gripped its hilt, allowing the sword to drag him through the air.

This was called the Sword Dragging Technique.

Seeing this, the mosquito flapped its wings and gave chase. The one it targeted was the most talkative of the five, Qiao Zenan.

Watching this scene, Su Xiaoyu held her Electric Fly Swatter, uncertain whether she should strike. Qiao Zenan and the mosquito were too close now, and she was truly worried that one swat from her Electric Fly Swatter would kill Qiao Zenan on the spot as well.