Chapter 138: Slaying the Earth Dragon with the Formation

With the addition of Yi Ran to their journey, the once quiet trek became significantly more lively. Yi Ran, a sixteen-year-old girl with a restless curiosity, constantly pestered Shen Qingyun or Feng Chuxun with questions like, "Why have I never seen you two at the academy?" or "Brother Shen Yun, how do you roast meat? Why is it so delicious?"

She was like a curious little child.

Shen Qingyun would sometimes patiently answer these trivial questions, while Feng Chuxun would only give one- or two-word replies, ever the man of few words. Yet, even so, Yi Ran never tired of asking.

On the road, perhaps not wanting to be looked down upon by Shen Qingyun and Feng Chuxun—or wanting to prove she wasn't just someone who would run away—Yi Ran unleashed power beyond her cultivation level whenever they encountered beasts of equal rank. Relying on her elusive speed, she handled them with ease.

However, talented as she was, her lack of combat experience became apparent in direct confrontations. The moment she faced more than two beasts, she would be at a loss, forcing Shen Qingyun to step in. Yi Ran was generous, though; she didn't take a single Beast Soul Pill they encountered, leaving them all to Shen Qingyun and Feng Chuxun.

As the trio traveled, they encountered many students moving alone. Upon seeing how dangerous the area was, some proposed traveling together, but Shen Qingyun refused them all.

Yi Ran blinked her large eyes and asked, "Why not take them in?"

Shen Qingyun smiled slightly and said, "Not everyone is as simple-minded as you are."

Feng Chuxun glanced at them. Simple-minded? More like easily deceived.

"Oh." Yi Ran nodded, appearing to understand, though she didn't quite grasp the meaning; she assumed it was a compliment.

...

*Roar!*

A bestial cry echoed. Shen Qingyun stopped in his tracks, his divine sense expanding from a fixed radius. Three thick-skinned, ferocious beasts appeared within his perception.

"Let’s go. There’s a big haul ahead." With that, Shen Qingyun took the lead, heading toward the sound of the roars.

The three crept silently through the bushes. Beside a small stream, two pitch-black Iron-Armored Rhinos were confronting a Ground Dragon. The rhinos locked their blood-red eyes onto the dark-brown armored Ground Dragon. Behind the rhinos, a fruit tree bore succulent, bright red fruits, the fragrance of which had clearly drawn the Ground Dragon there.

"Yi Ran, can you take care of that Ground Dragon?" Shen Qingyun asked from behind the bushes, his gaze fixed on the beasts.

"Huh?" Yi Ran was startled and quickly shook her head. "Brother Shen Yun, I can't do it."

"The Ground Dragon is only at the mid-stage of the Spirit Phase realm, and you are as well. What do you mean you can't?" Shen Qingyun asked.

"But... the Ground Dragon has a trace of True Dragon blood in its veins. Its strength is comparable to a noble beast..."

Shen Qingyun curled his lip in disdain, interrupting her. "Isn't it just a giant lizard? Is it really that scary? 'True Dragon blood,' indeed."

In the Divine Continent, "True Dragon" was synonymous with power, and its bloodline was like a banner—anything even remotely related to it was considered an entity not to be trifled with. Yi Ran, assuming Shen Qingyun didn't understand the significance of the bloodline, was about to explain, but Shen Qingyun gestured toward Feng Chuxun. "Look at your brother Feng Xun."

Yi Ran looked at Feng Chuxun and saw that his eyes were flickering with fighting spirit, devoid of the slightest trace of fear.

Shen Qingyun added, "See? True Dragon blood isn't actually that scary."

"Besides, I've heard the sinew on a Ground Dragon's back is a potent supplement. Furthermore, its meat is incredibly delicious—perfect for roasting. If you can take it down, our dinner tonight is sorted."

"And don't worry about those two Iron-Armored Rhinos; your brother Feng Xun will take care of any obstacles for you. If you both act, we'll have dinner. If you fail, both you and Feng Xun go hungry." Shen Qingyun looked at Yi Ran with a mischievous smile.

"What? That won't do!" Hearing that dinner was on the line was more than she could bear. "No, I can't let Brother Feng Xun go hungry!" With a solemn expression, she turned to Feng Chuxun. "Brother Feng Xun, I leave my back to you. Don't worry, I won't let you go hungry!"

Feng Chuxun twitched his mouth, thinking to himself that he wouldn't go hungry regardless.

Using this terrifying threat, Shen Qingyun quickly pushed Yi Ran into a combat state. "Brother Feng Xun, let's go!"

Feng Chuxun nodded, his figure suddenly appearing between the Ground Dragon and the rhinos.

Facing his sudden arrival, both the rhinos and the Ground Dragon were momentarily stunned. In that instant, Feng Chuxun drew his sword, traced a circle in the air, and lunged at the Iron-Armored Rhinos.

The rhinos reacted, letting out a roar. Two phantoms of the rhinos detached from their bodies and, just as Feng Chuxun attacked, they veered off and dove into the stream.

Feng Chuxun’s expression tightened. They ran? Regardless, he didn't stop, his blade striking straight toward the rhinos.

The Ground Dragon, seeing the human attacking the rhinos, showed a flicker of mocking amusement in its eyes. It stood leisurely, watching Feng Chuxun engage the rhinos.

"Big lizard, your opponent is me!"

Just as the Ground Dragon was enjoying the show, a sharp, feminine cry rang out. The beast’s crimson eyes flashed with rage as it turned, baring its fangs at Yi Ran with murderous intent.

...

As Feng Chuxun’s sword was about to strike, a water shield coalesced in front of the rhino. He felt the force of his blade being instantly absorbed upon contact.

"What is this?"

Feng Chuxun retreated, immediately thinking of the two phantoms. "Does it have something to do with them?" he muttered. A terrifying sword intent erupted from his body, descending upon the area.

*Hum.*

The Red Snow Sword tore through the void, a ray of sword light piercing through and aiming directly for the rhino’s skull. The water shield rippled, firing a water arrow to meet the light, and both vanished. Then, the shield split into many arrows that instantly froze into ice.

Feng Chuxun didn't stop. As the ice arrows whistled toward him, he struck with a second, even more powerful blow.

*Crack!*

Following the sound of shattering ice, the world-shaking sword light continued toward the rhino. The water shield rippled, wrapping around the sword light before exploding into a mist of water.

"Go!"

Feng Chuxun condensed his spiritual power into a longsword and threw it. As the sword flew, he followed closely behind, enveloped in a storm of terrifying sword intent.

The rhino looked on with contempt, forming another water shield. The longsword exploded against it, failing to shatter it but punching a hole through the center. Feng Chuxun passed directly through the gap, appearing before the rhino.

In an instant, his sword intent bloomed, as if an peerless ancient sword had been unsheathed, suppressing everything and outshining the sun.

"Without those strange tricks, you’d already be a corpse." A broken sword appeared in Feng Chuxun’s left hand, which he drove into the rhino's horn. The broken blade merged into the horn, and the massive body shuddered before collapsing to the ground with a thud that shook the earth.

Two black streaks of light returned to Feng Chuxun’s hand—the broken sword. It seemed the black aura within it was now purer. Feng Chuxun paid it no mind and absorbed the shards back into his body, unnoticed by anyone.

He turned to see Yi Ran struggling against the Ground Dragon. Its hide was thick, and her attacks had no effect, leaving her in a rather sorry state. It looked as though she was about to reach her limit. In Shen Qingyun's eyes, it was just a big lizard, but for Yi Ran, a Ground Dragon was a true threat.

"Need help?" Feng Chuxun asked.

Shen Qingyun, who had been watching from the sidelines, felt a flicker of surprise; it was rare for Feng Chuxun to offer help.

Yi Ran, dodging a stomp from the Ground Dragon, felt a surge of joy at his voice. However, she couldn't help but glance at Shen Qingyun, who was looking up at the sky. She understood immediately.

"Brother Feng Xun, please hold it off for a while!" Yi Ran said gratefully.

Feng Chuxun nodded and leaped in to intercept the Ground Dragon, giving Yi Ran the chance to step back. A faint, glowing light appeared on her petite body, forming intricate, mysterious runes.

Shen Qingyun watched in surprise; he hadn't realized Yi Ran was a formation master.

The complex runes drifted from her body, landing at various points across the area. She closed her eyes to focus. Feng Chuxun continued to fight the Ground Dragon. To be honest, he felt it was a bit weak—he could kill it if he wanted, but he couldn't; it was Yi Ran's target, and he had to hold back.

"Brother Feng Xun, it's ready!"

At her crisp call, Feng Chuxun exhaled and slammed his palm against the ground, vaulting backward.

Yi Ran opened her eyes. A crimson light screen enclosed the area, including the Ground Dragon, emitting a scorching, sharp energy. With a solemn face, she raised her hand, and the screen erupted with terrifying heat.

"Crimson Flame Formation, Annihilate!"

Crimson clouds spewed forth, and within the screen, waves of fire rolled. The air itself seemed to turn scorching. Wave after wave slammed into the Ground Dragon, trapping it in a sea of fire.

Yi Ran stepped back, the screen obscuring the view inside, though the beast's pained roars could still be heard. She smiled brightly and said, "It's too bloody; not suitable for viewing."

Shen Qingyun shrugged indifferently and pointed at the formation. "How well-done will your formation roast that Ground Dragon?"

"Ah!" Yi Ran suddenly realized what she had done. She looked back at the formation, her eyes filled with regret.