The demonic creature's aura was already extremely close to that of a demonic beast at the second or third level of Qi Refining in the Cultivation World.
Compared with the Man-Eating Demon Fox from the previous Tutorial Stage, it was on a completely different level.
Among demonic beasts of the same rank in the Cultivation World, they were much more powerful than Cultivators. They often possessed incredibly tough bodies, extraordinary traits, and specialized demonic beast techniques.
Demonic beasts of the same rank usually took two or three Cultivators working together to bring down with any confidence.
The stronger ones were even harder to deal with.
"This is the demonic creature that killed my father..." Shen Qingchan's eyes reddened. With a sharp cry, she drew her sword and charged.
Mu Ye frowned slightly. The moment the demonic creature boss appeared, he caught a strange fragrance.
According to the Demon Sealers' experience, demonic creatures were surrounded by all manner of filth and usually reeked. How could this one give off such a sweet scent?
Mu Ye looked into the well and realized the fragrance was coming from inside it.
"Could there be a treasure down there?"
[1. Explore the well first.]
[2. Subdue the demonic creature first.]
This seemed to be an important branch.
If he went down first... Mu Ye looked at Shen Qingchan, who was locked in a fierce battle with the demonic creature.
At that moment, Shen Qingchan was using a mysterious sword technique called Frost Cold Absolute. Each time her blade opened a wound on the Dragon Demon Fish, clusters of ice flowers burst out and rapidly spread over its body, dealing considerable damage.
But because the Dragon Demon Fish had wings and could fly, whenever it was wounded, it hurriedly flew away. It was extremely cunning and slippery.
It was clearly trying to wear Shen Qingchan down.
Martial Warriors stored their internal energy in their Divine Apertures. Even if you had hundreds of Divine Apertures, they would soon be drained at this rate.
What's more, Shen Qingchan had only just reached Third Grade. Her sword technique was powerful, but still no match for the utterly cunning Dragon Demon Fish.
"She can't beat it... If I go down there... she might die..."
"If I don't activate True Mode, the two of us might be able to wear it down..."
Mu Ye decided to try fighting first. If they killed the Dragon Demon Fish, he could go down and take a look afterward.
With that, Mu Ye equipped the gloves Master Yan had given him. He gave a light push off the ground, unleashed the power of his Divine Apertures, and spotted an opening in the clash between Shen Qingchan and the beast. He plunged straight into the fray.
Scarlet flames coiled around Mu Ye's arms, forming a faint dragon shape.
He threw a punch.
Waves of flame surged, forming a fiery cloud across the sky.
The Dragon Demon Fish let out a shrill cry and was smashed to the ground by the punch.
"Hundred Aperture Divine Power? You're Third Grade!" Shen Qingchan froze in shock. "Weren't you Second Grade?"
Second Grade after one month.
How was he Third Grade?
Wait... just how high was this man's talent for Martial Arts?
For a moment, she was too stunned to speak, staring at Mu Ye as if she'd seen a ghost.
"I broke through not long ago." Mu Ye charged at the Dragon Demon Fish. "Let's deal with this beast first!"
Shen Qingchan snapped out of it. She followed Mu Ye down and swung her sword at the fallen Dragon Demon Fish.
It was their first time fighting together, but both were intent on killing the demon. Their teamwork was far from perfect, yet at least neither had any divided loyalties.
Soon, under their fierce assault, the Dragon Demon Fish was on its last breath.
Seeing this, Shen Qingchan's face lit up with excitement.
"Careful. It might have a second phase." Mu Ye's expression was grave.
"A second phase?" Shen Qingchan blinked. "What do you mean?"
Oh, right. You're not a player.
Mu Ye shook his head slightly. This boss felt like the sort that might have a second phase. He didn't know if it had any ultimate moves left.
"Don't you feel like something's off..." Mu Ye panted.
"What's off?" Shen Qingchan's sword arm trembled slightly. She must have been badly drained, too.
"This Dragon Demon Fish is strong..." Mu Ye said. "But Taiping City's Demon Sealers, your father, and the other heroes who came here were all formidable, too. Even if there were only two or three Third Grade fighters... how did every one of them die?"
"The two of us can barely manage to defeat this Dragon Demon Fish..."
At that, Shen Qingchan froze.
That was true.
How had it happened?
She knew her father's strength. He'd been very powerful.
The next second.
A figure appeared.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The scene gradually darkened.
[Death.]
[Mission character has died.]
"..." Mu Ye sat bolt upright in bed.
Damn!
There was a rat in the ranks!
I knew something felt off!
"That boss didn't have a second phase, but there was a rat... Who was it?"
Mu Ye narrowed his eyes.
In that state, neither he nor Shen Qingchan could fight back. Add a surprise attack, and one blow was enough to kill them. The attacker had to be Third Grade as well.
"If it had been Hero Shen and the Demon Sealers who came here... they wouldn't have had time to react if they were ambushed like that, either."
He reloaded and started over.
But how was he supposed to explain it to Shen Qingchan?
No matter how many times he reloaded, the moment the demonic creature appeared, Shen Qingchan would enter combat.
Her hatred ran too deep for her to stop, let alone leave the place first.
If he wanted to survive, he either had to go down the well or run away.
Even if he switched to his high-level character, that character was far away in Taiping City. He couldn't possibly get here in time.
Mu Ye tried several options in quick succession. He went down the well first, but before he could find the treasure, he heard Shen Qingchan scream as she was killed outside. Then the demonic creature charged down the well and killed him, too.
Running away worked, but the prompt still said Shen Qingchan would die. Mission failed!
Then he tried killing the Dragon Demon Fish and immediately pulling Shen Qingchan away, but they were still ambushed and killed.
It seemed... saving Shen Qingchan was impossible.
"This instance really isn't simple... This is a one-star mission... Looks like protecting Shen Qingchan is the hardest part..."
He couldn't recklessly enter True Mode, since he wouldn't be able to save. If he failed in True Mode, he'd have to start over from Taiping City. He didn't know how much time that would waste. He could say his whole day would be down the drain.
"I've got it..."
At Chishui Village, Shen Qingchan looked exhilarated as she gazed at the Dragon Demon Fish, its body covered in sword wounds. Her face was smudged with dirt.
"Father... I've avenged you..." Shen Qingchan held up her sword and glanced at Mu Ye. "It's all thanks to his help..."
Mu Ye looked at her, his expression complicated.
"Brother Mu, what's wrong?"
"There's something I want to tell you," Mu Ye said.
"What is it?"
"Come here first. A little closer."
Shen Qingchan lowered her sword and stepped over beside Mu Ye.
The next second, Mu Ye lunged at her, wrapping an arm around her and turning her so her back faced him.
Shen Qingchan froze, unsure what was happening.
Just then, a shadow flashed past. The sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh rang out.
Mu Ye grunted. That damn rat nearly always targeted Shen Qingchan first whenever it ambushed them.
She was always the first to die.
But not this time.
Mu Ye held her tight. The sensation in True Mode felt a little too real, but the next moment, he leaped straight into the ancient well, carrying Shen Qingchan's body in his arms.
The ancient well was deep and gloomy. Wind howled past Mu Ye's ears, accompanied by a faint, hurried cry.
[Yunhai Sword Sect side quest 'Exorcise the Demons of Chishui' completed (Ranger only)] [Reward: 100 Paradise Coins. Ranger hidden ability 'Sacrifice Life for Righteousness' unlocked.] [Shen Qingchan's favor increased to 40/100 (A stir of romance)]
Mu Ye watched the scene grow dark as his character lost consciousness, and the corner of his mouth curled into a slight smile.
"Not bad. Looks like it worked."
Thanks to the generous supporter for the 10,000-coin tip.
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