Shriek~
A bird cry pierced the sky, heralding the appearance of a snow white beast and plunging the area into a freezer.
To the shock of everyone, they found a five meter large white eagle looming overhead. It kicked up a snowstorm with each flap of its wings. Biting cold winds pierced the enemies in their charge, slowing them and freezing the hapless.
“5th level spiritual beast, Nether Wind Falcon!” Chu Qingcheng shouted.
Xie Tianshang and Long Xingyun weren’t slow either.
Roar!
The reverberating roar drew one’s attention to a ten meter golden leopard. Its piercing eyes unnerved the staunchest of hearts, ready to pounce on them and maul their flesh.
“5th level spiritual beast, Golden Cloud Leopard!” Xie Tianshang shouted.
“And mine, 5th level spiritual beast, Heaven-seething Lava Serpent!” Long Xingyun pointed at a fifty meter long python covered in rocks. Its eyes shooting flames.
The descent of three 5th level mighty beasts struck fear in the hearts of the enemy. Each one was equal to a Radiant Stage expert. With three of them unleashed, the tri-house alliance’s power was greatly boosted.
Roar! Shriek! Sss!
The only sensible reaction in the face of such a display was to shirk back. The three spiritual beasts started raining havoc within the enemy lines, darting to and fro unhinged. Not even Profound Heaven experts faced them.
As the cries of agony reached the sky, Chu Qingcheng’s team made a breach, even if that gap was now littered with corpses.
“Yunhai, use the path to get us out!” Chu Qingcheng pointed at the clearing.
Luo Yunhai was about to do just that but three cold laughs revealed You Yushan and his two allies looking down on them still.
You Yushan only mocked them, “Chu Qingcheng, aren’t we all from the seven houses? You think you’re the only ones with pets? Don’t take us lightly. Our reserves aren’t the least bit weaker than yours!”
You Yushan snapped his fingers and revealed a blazing falcon thirty meters long, “5th level spiritual beast, Scorching Eagle!”
“Mine as well, 5th level spiritual beast, Hundred Eyes Pestilence Spider!”
Yan Bangui revealed a fifty meter long, black as night tarantula.
It spewed a thick miasma that cut off the path ahead.
Chu Qingcheng’s group found themselves back at a standstill.
Lin Xuanfeng snickered at their grave faces, “It’s time for you to feast your eyes on my 5th level spiritual beast, Nine-clawed Wind Stoat!”
A sharp wind brushed by and revealed a short one meter long skunk bearing its claws at them.
The six spiritual beasts started fighting, with no clear winner in sight. The shockwaves blew away any poor soul too slow to react.
These were the ripples from six Radiant Stage experts’ attacks. Even a Profound Heaven expert would be sent to his death.
The morale began to sink as fear set in. But the most feared were still the seven houses.
Only the likes of them could dish out 5th level spiritual beasts that could fight a Radiant Stage expert to a standstill!
The reveal of the six spiritual beasts only furthered the tug of war. You Yushan’s side stayed back in fear of not being dragged into their battle, but Chu Qingcheng’s group now had no way of breaking out either.
It now became clear that they were doomed to wait for Huangpu Qingtian to come reap their lives.
Chu Qingcheng turned to the others, “This stalemate is the worst outcome for us. Does anyone have a 5th level spiritual beast that can help?”
All she got was eye rolls.
[What do you take us for? You think we’re that well off to raise a 5th level spiritual beast?]
Chu Qingcheng sighed in sorrow while You Yushan’s side was having a field day at their expense.
The longer this dragged on the greater the danger.
Huangpu Qingtian glanced over satisfied, before turning to Zhuo Fan, “I didn’t think they would use their trump cards so soon. A shame it changed nothing.”
Zhuo Fan frowned and his hand trembled.
“Ha-ha-ha, worried? Then I will help you feel at ease by not making you waste time on a bunch of soon to be corpses!” Grinning, Huangpu Qingtian shouted, “Flaming Lion King, end them!”
Roar!
The imposing power pierced the hearts of everyone as a flaming winged lion pounced on Chu Qingcheng’s army.
“6th level spiritual beast, Flaming Lion King!”
They all gasped in fear. None saw it coming, that Huangpu Qingtian’s spirit animal would be a 6th level spiritual beast.
It was going to throw the stalemate in the enemy’s favor!
The tri-house alliance’s spiritual beasts shuddered from the lion’s roar. Their power cut down, they were pushed back by the other three spiritual beasts.
“We’re finished!”
Chu Qingcheng’s army was filled with despair and frustration as the savage lion unleashed waves of flame in its path.
Even though they’d die either way. Up till now they at least had the chance to take as many as they could down with them. With even some Profound Heaven experts cherishing the faint hope of survival. But now that the lion king was here, all hope was lost.
Their lives were now waiting for the flames of war to burn them to cinders.
You Yushan’s side laughed. Zhuo Fan kept on shuddering. He didn’t get to act as a twisted and maniacally voice grated his ears.
“If you leave, who’s to hold me back?
Huangpu Qingtian cackled. He was having a blast seeing Zhuo Fan so conflicted. After suffering at his hand for so many times, he finally had vindication. It felt good.
Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Fan found himself in a bind.
With two threats on a collision course with Chu Qingcheng’s group, he could only pick one. It was such a nerve wrecking decision that he felt lost regardless of what he picked.
But then, his Thunder Ring flickered. Zhuo Fan felt the impatience and hatred within.
Qiao’er?
He was startled and perplexed at its impatience. But he soon knew why.
Flaming Lion King was the same beast who had killed his mother. Although a different one, the thirst for revenge remained. Its hatred ran bone deep for what it had done to its mother.
But how was the young Qiao’er going to fight against the Flaming Lion King? It was only a 4th level spiritual beast.
The answer was picked for him as Qiao’er had reached its limit and the Thunder Ring flickered stronger.
[Sigh, it’s not like it will change anything.]
Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth, having made a decision, “Young master Huangpu, I may not be able to split myself, but what you have, well so do I!”
With a snicker, Zhuo Fan flourished, “Come, Qiao’er!”
In a flash of purple, a purple lightning shot for Flaming Lion King. Qiao’er only had one thing on its mind, revenge.
“What is that?” You Yushan peered at the lightening glow.
Yan Bangui said, “It appears to be a Thunder Skylark, a 6th level spiritual beast. But why is it purple?”
“What, 6th level spiritual beast? He has one too?” Lin Xuanfeng panicked, “Won’t this end up in a standstill again?”
Yan Bangui took a closer look, before giving a deprecating shake of his head, “Relax, that won’t happen. This Thunder Skylark is only a chick, at the 4th level. It’s no match for an adult Flaming Lion King! Besides, an adult Thunder Skylark would fare no better.”
Lin Xuanfeng laughed, “Ha-ha-ha, what’s up with Zhuo Fan then? Is he so fed up with his useless spiritual beast that he wants to give it to the lion king as a snack?”
That set the other two laughing.
While on Chu Qingcheng’s side, they were hopeful a treacherous man like Zhuo Fan had to have an amazing spirit animal.
Only to feel their hopes crumble at the sight of a young Thunder Skylark, a mere 4th level spiritual beast, and they resumed despairing.
Even Zhuo Fan felt how hopeless it was to even let such a meager support out.
Ha~
With great hope came an equally great disappointment as they all sighed, resigned to their fates…
Huangpu Qingtian wasn’t about to let this golden chance go and mocked the chick as well, “Zhuo Fan, are you that desperate to even send your useless spiritual beast to its death?”
“What can I say? If it wants to die, I can’t stop it!”
Shrugging, Zhuo Fan didn’t seem to care, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable. Even he didn’t know of Qiao’er’s power. Common sense dictated that a 4th level spiritual beast wouldn’t be considered even a side dish to a 6th level spiritual beast.
Qiao’er’s chances were between nil and infinitesimal.
Catching on to Zhuo Fan’s worry, Huangpu Qingtian capitalized on it to put his own worries to rest. [The punk has no overt scheme in play at all. He is on the ropes.] That last one made his day and he smiled from ear to ear.
In the meantime, Qiao’er was already behind the Flaming Lion King.
It had everyone’s full attention. Even their breath was caught in their throat at the imminent clash…
