Flowing Stream Sword Art

The scorching lake water was churned into chaos by the Blade-backed Giant Crocodile. Li Tianming plunged in, directly locking onto the Divine Source.

He sped through the water, rapidly approaching the Divine Source. It wasn't large, and Li Tianming directly wrapped it in his clothes. After successfully obtaining it, he didn't linger for a moment and immediately rushed out of the lake.

Such a precious Divine Source, obtained without any effort!

"First, I need to rendezvous with Ying Huo."

Little Yellow Chicken had done the most work this time. Now, it all depended on whether he could shake off that Blade-backed Giant Crocodile.

If he could lure the Blade-backed Giant Crocodile further away and return early, Li Tianming would try to see if he could open this well with the Divine Source.

"I could try it now, see if the Divine Source can open this well. I'm just afraid of unexpected situations, like being sucked in," Li Tianming looked at the well at the bottom of the lake and didn't act for the moment.

Beast Masters and Companion Beasts were quite wary of being separated too far, as it made them vulnerable to being picked off one by one.

The Divine Source was the most important, so Li Tianming held back for the time being.

Just as Li Tianming was thinking this, as he reached the surface of the lake to wait for Little Yellow Chicken, he suddenly felt danger approaching.

"Who are you?" A blue-clothed girl appeared before him.

The girl had bright eyes and white teeth, a slender waist, and eyes as blue as water. However, there was a hint of the same naive charm as Li Xuejiao between her brows, which detracted slightly from her beauty.

As expected, the commotion from the Blade-backed Giant Crocodile had attracted others. This girl, as he expected, should be from the Thunder Venerable Mansion.

"The Divine Source is on him!" A deep voice came from a distance. Li Tianming looked up and saw two middle-aged men in black clothes by the lake. Judging by their appearance, they should be brothers.

They were undoubtedly here to protect the blue-clothed girl in front of him.

"Father, Uncle, are you sure?" The blue-clothed girl's gaze was indifferent as she locked onto Li Tianming.

She was currently standing on the water's surface, ripples spreading out, yet she remained perfectly still. It seemed her cultivation was profound, possibly even stronger than Zhang Zixuan's.

"Of course, we're sure. Hurry and take it. The Blade-backed Giant Crocodile that just left might return. According to regulations, we cannot attack the Blade-backed Giant Crocodile." One of the middle-aged men with a longer beard said.

For people of their status, their Companion Beasts had basically reached their peak, at their strongest. Youngsters were simply no match for them.

"Alright." The blue-clothed girl dashed towards Li Tianming and said sternly, "I don't know what kind of mountain dweller you are, but this Divine Source belongs to my Thunder Venerable Mansion. How dare you covet it? I'll give you one chance: put down the Divine Source and leave, or leave your life here."

People from the Thunder Venerable Mansion were arrogant and spoke with such dominance, leaving no room for negotiation.

Li Tianming chuckled and turned to leave.

"You're courting death!" The blue-clothed girl's face darkened. She chased after him, and at the same time, a Companion Beast emerged from her companion space and plunged into the lake.

"Her Companion Beast is an ice-water type!"

Li Tianming had already seen it. It looked like a large blue fish with shiny scales, a sharp spike on its head, and faintly, several eyes.

An ice-water type Companion Beast was extremely adept at fighting in water. This lake was practically its paradise. As a Beast Master, this blue-clothed girl's combat power was also quite strong.

Splash!

Indeed, the fish in the water was terrifying. Li Tianming could feel the threat rapidly approaching. Suddenly, a giant creature burst out of the water, its head spike aimed directly at Li Tianming's back!

Whoosh!

Li Tianming used his movement technique, stepping on the water's surface to evade. The flying fish immediately dove back into the water and soon charged at Li Tianming again.

"Six-eyed Flying Fish, an ice-water type piscine Companion Beast, Fifth-Rank level." Li Tianming identified the Companion Beast's type with just one glance. It was obvious that it had six eyes on its head.

He continued to flee.

It wasn't that he couldn't fight, but the lake was not his battlefield. In this water, the combat power of the opponent, one person and one fish, had a huge bonus. Engaging them here was completely disadvantageous.

Moreover, Little Yellow Chicken was not around, leaving Li Tianming to face a siege alone.

"Mountain bandit! I am Jiang Yilin of the Thunder Venerable Mansion. My father and uncle are both top figures in the Thunder Venerable Mansion. If you don't surrender, I guarantee your entire family will suffer because of you!" The blue-clothed girl, "Jiang Yilin," said angrily as she pursued him.

She had never encountered someone so fearless of death.

As she spoke, Li Tianming successfully reached the shore. The Six-eyed Flying Fish had missed him several times.

"You think you're safe now that you're on land? I'm already at the Eighth Level of Beast Vein Realm. Killing you is as easy as flipping my hand!"

Jiang Yilin sneered. She also landed, and behind her, the Six-eyed Flying Fish flew onto the land as well.

This Companion Beast could fly using its large fins, so fighting in the air was not a problem, though it wasn't as strong as in water.

"Let's give it a try, beauty." Li Tianming suddenly turned back. In truth, he wanted to resolve the issue quickly rather than be endlessly pursued, as that would only attract more people.

The Eighth Level of Beast Vein Realm was indeed very strong, two realms higher than Li Tianming's current level, and Li Tianming currently had no Companion Beasts present.

"Audacious! How dare you!" This proud girl from the Thunder Venerable Mansion couldn't understand where a mountain dweller like Li Tianming got his courage from. She was almost laughing in anger.

The next moment, she drew her beast weapon, the "Blue Blood Sword," and pointed it at Li Tianming. She was too lazy to say more; killing and seizing treasures was her sole objective now.

Flowing Stream Sword Art!

This was a High Grade Beast-grade Battle Art. The sword qi swept out like a cascading waterfall, fierce and heavy. It was impossible to tell that this sword art was performed by a woman. Each strike possessed the power to cut through a river.

Simultaneously, the Companion Beast, Six-eyed Flying Fish, also unleashed a Beast Art of the Flowing Stream Sword Art, its name being "Flowing Stream Strike."

The Six-eyed Flying Fish had a spear-like spike on its head, as hard as a beast weapon. When it flew through the air, it directly pierced towards Li Tianming. With the speed bonus, this Flowing Stream Strike could probably penetrate a boulder!

The Eighth Level of Beast Vein Realm was already close to Beast Vein Realm Perfection. Jiang Yilin's strength was close to Liu Qiyang's.

However, at this moment, the Eternal Purgatory Beast Essence on Li Tianming's body was also surging. This was a battle of water and fire, a complete irreconcilable conflict.

He gripped the Bloodfire Thorn in his right hand, clenching his dark left arm into a fist!

In truth, after some experimentation, Li Tianming had gained a deeper understanding of his left arm, now covered in hexagonal scales.

Previously, even the pincers of the Blue-tailed Poison Scorpion had struggled to damage his left arm. Currently, ordinary beast soldiers would find it difficult to injure this arm; the Bloodfire Thorn certainly couldn't.

This meant his dark left arm could not only attack but also serve as a formidable block, essentially acting as a shield.

This confrontation was fierce. It was difficult enough for Li Tianming to fight two opponents, but now, on land, this was his battlefield!

The Six-eyed Flying Fish charged forward. Li Tianming unleashed his Ghost Shadow Steps, his movements becoming unpredictable within the forest as he dodged its Flowing Stream Strike. He flickered again, appearing directly before Jiang Yilin.

Jiang Yilin was naturally unafraid of him and prepared her Flowing Stream Sword Art, casting it down. For any battle art, the martial art component was definitely stronger than the beast art component.

Beast Masters and their Companion Beasts had different cultivation methods. Beast arts were merely a supplementary practice for Companion Beasts, so in a battle art duel, the Beast Master was undoubtedly more formidable.

At this moment, her sword art erupted, like a waterfall plunging three thousand feet. A vast torrent of Sword Qi poured down, crashing like a torrential rain.

Li Tianming's expression was unreadable, possessing the aura of a lone guardian who could hold off ten thousand foes. He suddenly charged forward, using his left arm to directly block Jiang Yilin's Blue Blood Sword!

Clang!

An ear-piercing clang echoed. Li Tianming felt as if his left arm had been bitten by an ant; it didn't hurt much, but the immense force from the opponent made his entire body tremble. As expected, the Eighth Level of Beast Vein Realm was still very strong.

However, this result stunned Jiang Yilin. She had intended to sever Li Tianming's arm, but unexpectedly, he was completely unharmed! Even if his arm were wrapped in a layer of iron, it should have been broken!

Time did not allow for contemplation, for since Li Tianming had blocked her Flowing Stream Sword Art, his next moment would be his attack!

A streak of blood light flashed by. The terrifying power of an Extraordinary Beast-grade Battle Art was displayed. This was an invincible battle art within the Beast Vein Realm. Only a scorching flame aura swept past. Jiang Yilin hastily dodged, but in that fleeting moment, a lock of her hair flew off. A bloodstain appeared on her fair and delicate face!

"You!"

She was completely stunned. Just as she was about to curse, Li Tianming, with unstoppable momentum, punched out with his left arm. She tried to block with her palm, but it was no match for Li Tianming's Dragon Elephant Heavy Fist.

This punch, like the trampling of a dragon and elephant, landed squarely on Jiang Yilin's abdomen!

Pfft!

She spat out a mouthful of blood, let out a scream, her face pale as she was sent flying backward. But before she could fly too far, Li Tianming grabbed her by the waist. The Bloodfire Thorn in his hand was pressed against her throat. He then quickly turned, using Jiang Yilin as a shield in front of him!

"Ah!"

The Six-eyed Flying Fish's Flowing Stream Strike charged forward again. However, Jiang Yilin was now blocking Li Tianming. If it continued its attack, it would likely kill its own Beast Master first.

Under these circumstances, it could only hastily change direction, crashing directly onto the ground. Its sharp spikes dug into the rock, and the entire fish was sent reeling, almost knocked unconscious.

The battle was over!

After Li Tianming advanced to the Sixth Level of Beast Vein Realm, he fought two opponents and decisively defeated Jiang Yilin, taking her hostage.

He had learned his lesson this time. If he had directly taken Zhang Zixuan hostage last time, he wouldn't have been threatened by his parents.

"I never expected you, a lowly commoner, to have such strength! But you're definitely doomed. You dare to injure me, are you sure you know what the Thunder Venerable Mansion is?" Jiang Yilin glared at him coldly, though the pain in her abdomen still made her gasp.

"Shut your little mouth." Li Tianming held the Bloodfire Thorn in one hand, controlling her life and death, while using the other to pinch her lips.

Jiang Yilin's eyes were fierce, and she wanted to speak, but after Li Tianming pinched her, she could only make incoherent sounds.

"Enough!" Just then, two men with imposing auras appeared before them. Both looked grimly at Li Tianming, their eyes already filled with terrifying killing intent.

If Li Tianming hadn't controlled Jiang Yilin's life and death, they would have likely killed Li Tianming on the spot.

In fact, the reason they hadn't acted immediately was that they were discussing Li Tianming's situation.

The Thunder Venerable Mansion's plan did not include outsiders, nor did it account for a young person from outside the Thunder Venerable Mansion obtaining the Divine Source first. Therefore, they were discussing whether their elders could directly kill Li Tianming and take the Divine Source for their juniors.

Logically, this shouldn't be allowed. After all, if that were the case, wouldn't Jiang Yilin have obtained the Divine Source for nothing? How could anyone be convinced?

So, letting Jiang Yilin defeat Li Tianming to claim it seemed more acceptable.

However, they never expected that it would be Jiang Yilin who was utterly defeated.

"Kid, you're too young and don't know what kind of existence you've offended. If you knew what the Thunder Venerable Mansion was, I guarantee you'd start crying immediately," Jiang Tao, Jiang Yilin's father, said in a deep voice.

"That's impossible. I have a high tolerance for tears," Li Tianming replied with a smile.

"Oh, then you can die."

Jiang Tao could only think that this young man was too naive. Did he really think that holding Jiang Yilin hostage in front of them would ensure his safety?

That was underestimating the powerhouses too much.