Sixth-Order Magical Beast

"I can return to the Chen Family with you, but whether I acknowledge you as my father is still up for consideration." Chen Cheng gave his answer.

He had already confirmed his identity with the system. Even though he and Chen Yuan shared no emotional bond whatsoever, the identity implanted by the Summoning System was a genuine one.

Even blood-based kinship tests or soul detection would only confirm the authenticity of this identity.

Chen Yuan was somewhat dazed upon hearing Chen Cheng's answer.

This was not the answer he had wanted.

If anyone else had dared speak to him like that, Chen Yuan would have slapped them to death. But Chen Cheng was his only descendant, so he could only go along with Chen Cheng's wishes.

After being separated for eleven years and finally finding his son, Chen Yuan did not want to lose him again.

"As you wish," Chen Yuan said.

As soon as Chen Yuan finished speaking, the two Dou Wangs behind him were overjoyed. They hurriedly cupped their fists toward Chen Cheng and saluted. "Greetings, Young Master."

Hearing Chen Yuan's answer, Murong Zhi felt his mood grow exceedingly heavy. Marquis Anyang now had an heir. From this day forward, his status as Marquis Anyang's sole disciple would no longer carry the same weight as before.

Though Murong Zhi was somewhat unwilling, he still stepped forward and cupped his fists in salute to Chen Cheng.

"Greetings, Young Master."

Murong Zhi did not put on airs as Chen Yuan's disciple and call himself Chen Cheng's senior brother. He understood the difference between closeness and distance; he knew perfectly well who mattered more to Chen Yuan between himself and Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng stood and returned each of their salutes.

After hearing that Chen Cheng was willing to return to the Chen Family with him, Chen Yuan was so delighted that he could not stop smiling.

After Chen Yuan recounted various details from Chen Cheng's past, he revealed a piece of news.

"By my estimate, the Fifth Order Nether Poison Dog in the Da Ling Mountain Range will advance into a Sixth Order Magical Beast in three days. I will go hunt it then. If you have the time, you may come along and watch," Chen Yuan said.

"A Sixth Order Magical Beast—such a battle is indeed something I would like to witness. I will go when the time comes," Chen Cheng said.

Three days passed quickly. At the agreed time, Chen Cheng met up with Murong Zhi, and they headed up the mountain.

Chen Yuan, Chen Yang, and Chen Ming had already gone ahead, flying toward the depths of the mountains. Chen Cheng, Red Serpent Huang Yaoshi Murong Zhi, and several of Murong Zhi's subordinates instead took a small path up the mountain.

"Young Master, there are many magical beasts in the Da Ling Mountain Range, and it is exceedingly dangerous. Please do not stray too far from me. I will certainly keep you safe," Murong Zhi said to Chen Cheng.

"Thank you, Brother Murong." Chen Cheng smiled and thanked him.

Murong Zhi led the way to the summit of a mountain. He said that they could observe the battle from there without being accidentally injured by the shockwaves it produced.

Chen Cheng sat atop the peak and waited. Then a thunderous boom came from afar, followed by four figures—three men and one beast—spreading their Dou Qi Wings and soaring into the sky.

"Humans, I bear no grudge against you. Why have you intruded upon my territory?"

The Sixth Order Magical Beast was pitch-black all over and emitted black poisonous vapor. It was not particularly large, only about the size of a domestic dog.

It opened its mouth and spoke human words, angrily addressing Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan and the other two Dou Wangs occupied three different positions around the Nether Poison Dog, surrounding it. Their powerful auras pressed down on the Nether Poison Dog, making it feel that the situation was far from good.

"Nether Poison Dog, you have nowhere left to run. Surrender without resistance," Chen Yuan said.

Chen Yuan hovered leisurely in the air, merely holding a jet-black spear. He neither gathered energy nor showed any intention of making a move.

"Humans, do not be so presumptuous. Leave at once, or I will use you to sate my hunger," the Nether Poison Dog's voice echoed through the valley. Yet facing two Dou Wangs and a Dou Emperor, its momentum was noticeably weaker.

"Attack." Chen Yuan smiled disdainfully, with no intention of exchanging words with the Nether Poison Dog. He gave the order, and the two Dou Wangs immediately beat their Dou Qi Wings and rapidly charged at it.

Chen Ming wielded a three-foot sword, its blade covered in dazzling golden metal-element energy. With a whoosh, he shot forward like a golden rainbow.

Chen Yang, on the other hand, fought barehanded. His entire body was covered in a substance resembling stone. He too beat his Dou Qi Wings at high speed and rammed toward the Nether Poison Dog.

"Hmph. Mere Dou Wangs dare challenge me?"

The Nether Poison Dog was utterly disdainful. It beat its black Dou Qi Wings and lunged fiercely toward Chen Ming, who had charged in first. Once they drew closer, the Nether Poison Dog opened its jaws and spewed out a stream of poisonous vapor.

The black mist it released covered an extremely wide area. In an instant, it rapidly spread, filling the air like dense storm clouds.

Chen Ming did not dare be careless when facing the poisonous vapor spewed by a Sixth Order poison-element magical beast. His body flashed rapidly as intricate seals formed over his sword.

"Mysterious High-Rank Dou Technique, Reversing the Vast Waves."

Surging energy condensed into a startling Sword Intent and swept forth. Countless sword shadows transformed into a golden rainbow, crashing fiercely into the black energy.

Under this attack, the black energy dissipated, and golden light spilled across the earth. It felt as though the clouds had been swept aside to reveal the sun.

"Damn it, human! Die!"

Seeing his poisonous vapor broken by the opponent's Sword Skill, the Nether Poison Dog roared furiously.

The black vapor around the Nether Poison Dog rapidly condensed, forming a basketball-sized sphere of poisonous black gas above its head.

The Nether Poison Dog let out a strange canine cry—not a bark—and its howl spread throughout the forest.

Whether magical beasts or humans, all who heard that sound felt their hearts tremble.

As the Nether Poison Dog's strange cry rang out, the poisonous sphere above its head instantly exploded. It then transformed into thousands of black poison arrows, shooting toward Chen Ming like a volley of ten thousand arrows.

On a distant mountaintop, Chen Cheng watched the battle in the sky.

They were far from the battlefield, allowing them to watch the entire fight without worrying about being accidentally injured by the combatants' energy.

Although the Nether Poison Dog's strange cry carried far, and Chen Cheng heard it as well, Murong Zhi's energy protection kept him completely unaffected.

"This is a Sixth Order Magical Beast? Its strength really is formidable." Chen Cheng gazed at the Nether Poison Dog battling Chen Ming and Chen Yang high in the sky and sighed.

"Young Master, that is not quite right. In its current condition, the Nether Poison Dog cannot possibly wield its full strength. The destructive power of a Sixth Order Magical Beast is far more than this." Murong Zhi said with a smile.

"What do you mean by that?" Chen Cheng asked in confusion.

Before Murong Zhi could speak, Red Serpent suddenly said to Chen Cheng, "Master, I smell an extremely strange presence in the air. Based on my judgment, it should be a poisonous gas. This poison does little harm to humans, but it is deadly to magical beasts."

Hearing Red Serpent's words, Murong Zhi looked at her in surprise before saying, "Miss Red Serpent has sharp senses. It is indeed a poison, called Yi He Feng Chen."

"This poison was personally concocted by my master. Its scent is highly alluring to magical beasts, and it can also help them advance. However, if a magical beast absorbs too much of it, then after breaking through, its energy will be severely suppressed for a period of time."

"I was sent here by my teacher a month ago to poison the area in advance. Over the past month, the poison spread rapidly. Unable to resist its temptation, the Nether Poison Dog would surely consume a large amount of it. Although such a massive dose of poison would allow it to break through early, its strength would also be restricted."

Murong Zhi explained.

After hearing Murong Zhi's words, Chen Cheng inwardly praised Chen Yuan's caution. Even with the cultivation of a Dou Emperor, he still needed such meticulous planning to deal with a magical beast that had only just advanced to the sixth order.