A Fierce Battle with the Dragon Scorpion; Qian Renxue Wanted to Take the Back Door, and So Did Gu Linyuan

"Roar."

A deafening roar suddenly erupted, making the entire forest tremble.

Leaves rustled down, the ground quivered faintly, and countless birds burst from the canopy, blotting out the sky.

Deep within the woods, the Soul Beasts lurking in the shadows seemed to have been startled by some terrifying presence and fled madly in every direction.

That Soul Beast emerged from the dense forest.

It was not especially huge, only around three meters long, yet the pressure it exuded was more terrifying than any Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Gu Linyuan had ever seen.

It resembled a giant wolf, its entire body covered in pitch-black scales. Every scale was as smooth as obsidian, reflecting a cold, ghostly gleam beneath the dim forest light.

Its limbs were long and powerful, its claws deeply embedded in the ground. Every step left behind deep claw marks.

Its tail was the most eye-catching feature.

It was not an ordinary wolf's tail, but a deadly weapon like a scorpion's tail. Its tip was raised high, bearing an ink-black venomous stinger that gleamed with a chilling light in the darkness.

Its head resembled a dragon's, with an elongated snout, a pair of curved dragon horns atop its head, exposed fangs, and a scarlet tongue licking its lips, as if it had already regarded Gu Linyuan and Qian Renxue as food on its plate.

There was no fear in those scarlet eyes, only bloodthirsty excitement.

Like a cat toying with a mouse.

Gu Linyuan's pupils abruptly contracted.

He had seen records of this Soul Beast in ancient texts.

A Dragon Scorpion.

An extremely rare ancient mutant species, said to be the forbidden offspring of the Dragon Clan and scorpion-type Soul Beasts. It possessed the Dragon Clan's close-combat prowess and a scorpion's venomous tail, making it a predator at the top of the food chain.

Though this Dragon Scorpion was only three meters long, faint dark-gold patterns flowed across its black scales. That was a trait that only appeared once its cultivation had surpassed ten thousand years.

"Among the Soul Beast bloodlines in this world, aside from several exceptional peak bloodlines, such as ferocious beasts like the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear and the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger..."

"Most stronger Soul Beasts have some connection to the Dragon Clan. Soul Beasts with partial Dragon Clan traits are definitely not weak."

"A Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear with several tens of thousands of years of cultivation would not be much weaker in combat than an ordinary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. A Dragon Scorpion like this one, with over ten thousand years of cultivation, was probably comparable to an ordinary Soul Beast with thirty or forty thousand years of cultivation."

"However, that does not mean Soul Beasts with ferocious-beast bloodlines cannot be defeated. A Ten-Thousand-Year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear might rival a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in attack power, but its other attributes were far inferior, such as its spiritual attributes. This Ten-Thousand-Year Dragon Scorpion has a sturdy shell and an extremely dangerous scorpion tail, but aside from those, the rest is ordinary."

"Shell-type Soul Beasts generally have their weakest point in the brain. Xue'er, you'll take the lead, and I'll seize the chance to attack its head. That should work."

Gu Linyuan took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the Scepter of Destruction.

"No problem."

"This Soul Beast's Soul Ring is worthy of your Scepter of Destruction."

Qian Renxue stood beside him, her golden hair fluttering in the wind, her golden eyes brimming with eager fighting spirit.

"Then let's do it."

As soon as Qian Renxue spoke, the phantom of the Six-Winged Angel appeared behind her, and five Soul Rings lit up at once.

Gu Linyuan also raised the Scepter of Destruction, dense Destruction Soul Power surging over his body.

The Dragon Scorpion seemed to sense the threat posed by the two humans. Its scarlet eyes narrowed slightly, and it let out a low growl.

But it did not retreat.

As the overlord of this forest, it would not permit itself to shrink back before humans.

Besides.

It was getting hungry too.

The battle erupted in an instant.

Qian Renxue struck first.

Golden Soul Power transformed into beams of light blades that slashed toward the Dragon Scorpion from every direction.

She was unbelievably fast, leaving streaks of golden afterimages between the treetops.

The Dragon Scorpion's scales were incomparably tough. Qian Renxue's light blades only left shallow white marks when they struck.

The Dragon Scorpion was enraged by Qian Renxue's attacks.

It threw back its head and howled. Dark-gold light suddenly flared across its black scales, and its entire body seemed to turn into an unsheathed sword as it pounced toward Qian Renxue.

It was astonishingly fast, its three-meter body streaking through the forest like black lightning.

Qian Renxue dodged the Dragon Scorpion's attacks while continuously sending golden light blades flying from her hands, scattering sparks across its scales.

Yet her attacks could never pierce that layer of black defense.

"You'd better hurry up. I can't hold on much longer."

Qian Renxue glanced at Gu Linyuan and spoke in a low voice.

A Soul Beast of this level possessed combat power comparable to a Soul Saint.

Qian Renxue naturally had the ability to fight above her level, but she was far from capable of directly crossing an entire major realm.

She was beginning to regret it.

She had originally thought this would be an ordinary Soul Beast with ten or twenty thousand years of cultivation, one she could easily defeat on her own. Only after arriving in the Star Dou Great Forest did she realize just how high Gu Linyuan's standards were.

Gu Linyuan's requirements for his third Soul Ring were actually higher than her requirements for her fifth.

Wasn't this guy afraid of biting off more than he could chew?

Gu Linyuan was waiting.

The Soul Power within him surged madly. The Ancient Tree of Life provided an endless supply of energy, while the two Soul Rings on the Scepter of Destruction spun rapidly.

He was searching for an opportunity.

An opportunity to kill with one strike.

The battle continued for nearly the time it took to burn an incense stick.

Qian Renxue's forehead was already covered in sweat. Her golden hair was soaked through and clung to her cheeks.

Her breathing became ragged, and the glow of her five Soul Rings had dimmed somewhat.

The Dragon Scorpion had gained dozens of wounds, black blood seeping from the gaps in its scales, yet its fighting spirit only grew fiercer.

It was injured.

But it had become even more frenzied.

"Gu Linyuan, you bastard..."

"If this really isn't working, then let's retreat. At worst, I'll find someone to help you."

While evading the Dragon Scorpion's attacks, Qian Renxue shouted at Gu Linyuan.

There was a trace of urgency in her voice.

Gu Linyuan did not answer.

His gaze remained fixed on the Dragon Scorpion. The black light on the Scepter of Destruction grew increasingly dense, like a mass of condensed darkness.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the Dragon Scorpion to reveal an opening.

Just then.

The Dragon Scorpion suddenly whipped its tail, its black stinger turning into a shadow as it stabbed toward Qian Renxue.

It was too fast.

Faster than any of its previous attacks.

Qian Renxue's pupils shrank as she instinctively dodged to the side.

But the Dragon Scorpion had never intended for this strike to hit her from the beginning.

Its true purpose was to force her into revealing an opening.

The instant Qian Renxue dodged, the Dragon Scorpion sharply twisted its body. Its massive form covered in black scales crashed toward her like a small mountain.

"Bang."

Qian Renxue was struck head-on.

Her golden figure flew backward like a kite with its string cut.

A trace of blood spilled from the corner of her lips, and pain flashed through her golden eyes.

The Dragon Scorpion's strength was far greater than she had imagined.

That impact made it feel as if all her internal organs had shifted out of place.

Her body tumbled through the air, and her Soul Power fell into brief chaos, leaving her unable to adjust her posture.

The Dragon Scorpion would not let this chance slip away.

It pounced again, opening its bloody maw as it bit toward Qian Renxue.

Its mouth was filled with dense rows of fangs, each one as sharp as a dagger.

If she were bitten, even the Six-Winged Angel's defenses would not withstand it.

Qian Renxue's eyes flew open.

She wanted to activate her Soul Power and unleash a soul skill, but she was still suspended in midair with nowhere to brace herself.

At that critical moment.

Just as that bloody maw was about to bite Qian Renxue.

A black figure silently appeared.

The Scepter of Destruction was raised high, and the black Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring on its shaft erupted with dazzling light.

"Second Soul Skill—Tearing Heaven Destroying Earth!"

The Scepter of Destruction swung down fiercely.

Ten dark-gold claw marks burst from the tip of the scepter, like rifts tearing apart heaven and earth, and slashed viciously across the Dragon Scorpion's head.

"Boom—"

The Dragon Scorpion's charge was forcefully interrupted. Ten deep wounds appeared on its head, black blood spraying out like fountains.

Its body continued forward several steps from inertia before crashing to the ground. It rolled several times, snapping several large trees before barely coming to a stop.

"Origin of Destruction, Grind to Death!"

Blinding light burst from the Scepter of Destruction in Gu Linyuan's hand.

At that moment, it seemed as if all the Soul Power in Gu Linyuan's body had been drained dry.

Its scales finally shattered beneath the bombardment of the Dragon-Snake Annihilation Slash, and black blood flowed all over the ground.

Yet its vitality was extraordinarily tenacious. Even after suffering such severe injuries, it still struggled to rise.

"It's over."

The Scepter of Destruction smashed down, and the dark-red gem at its tip erupted with a piercing brilliance.

"Bang."

The Dragon Scorpion's skull shattered, and the scarlet light in its eyes finally faded.

Its massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up dust everywhere.

"Are you all right?"

Only then did Gu Linyuan look toward Qian Renxue, a trace of apology flashing through his eyes.

"You really are heartless, making me hold the front line alone for so long." Qian Renxue gritted her teeth in anger.

This guy was utterly unromantic. Was that any way to treat a girl?

Even though Qian Renxue had always treated herself like a man, her chest still rose and fell with anger.

"Sorry. But only when the Dragon Scorpion had all its attention focused on you could I be sure of catching it off guard and concentrating all my strength on its head."

"Only then could we win. But then again, your strength really isn't much. Have you been slacking off in your cultivation?"

"Mind your own business."

Qian Renxue puffed up her cheeks. Still, Gu Linyuan was right; she really had not been diligent in cultivating. It was not that she did not want to, but that she could not. Her public identity was the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, and there were too many trivial matters for her to focus wholeheartedly on cultivation.

"If you keep that attitude, then if you still want to successfully inherit Godhood, I'm afraid you'll have no choice but to take the back door." Gu Linyuan stroked his chin.

"Sure, sure. If there's a back door to take, I'm not picky. Brother Linyuan, what do you think of me? Would you be willing to let me take the back door?" Qian Renxue blinked her large eyes, speaking in a faintly seductive voice.

Over the past few days, she had figured out Gu Linyuan's personality and immediately played along.

But she really did want to devour Gu Linyuan, this piece of Tang Monk flesh.

Otherwise, why had she come all the way here to work herself to death?

Qian Renxue was willing to be brothers with Gu Linyuan too.

"Pah. Qian Renxue, I really misjudged you. A daughter should stand strong on her own."

"Besides, the prerequisite for taking the back door through me is that you let me take the back door..." Gu Linyuan stopped halfway through and immediately shut his mouth.

He thought of the Peerless Tang Sect era ten thousand years later, when Jiang Nannan, one of the Shrek Seven Devils, had let Xu Sanshi take the back door, then ignored him ever afterward.

But Qian Renxue probably did not know what taking the back door meant, right? He had only said it casually.