Battle with the Guardian Beast

Chapter 17: Battle with the Guardian Beast. After breaking through the final ward of the Forbidden Grounds, Mu Chen and the others had yet to catch their breath when a deafening roar came from behind them. They looked back and saw an even larger, fiercer guardian beast charging out of the depths of the Forbidden Grounds. The beast resembled a qilin, its entire body covered in brilliantly colored scales. Each scale seemed crystallized from the purest spiritual energy, shimmering with mysterious light in the dim Forbidden Grounds. Its hooves struck the earth, every step causing a slight tremor and kicking up clouds of dust behind it. Its eyes were like two blazing flames, filled with rage and majesty, fixed on Mu Chen and the others as though it were defending the last shred of the Forbidden Grounds' dignity. "Be careful, everyone! This guardian beast won't be easy to deal with!" Mu Chen shouted. He could sense the powerful spiritual energy fluctuations radiating from it, far beyond anything they had encountered before. The guardian beast opened its blood-red maw and spat out a beam of five-colored light. Within it, spiritual energy of five different attributes intertwined and spun, forming a massive vortex that swept toward Mu Chen and the others. Wherever the vortex passed, space warped, and the stones on the ground were effortlessly crushed to powder. "Scatter!" Mu Chen urgently ordered. Everyone swiftly scattered in all directions to evade the powerful attack. The vortex skimmed past them and struck an ancient building nearby, leveling it in an instant and sending rubble flying everywhere. Tan Qingshan watched in silent shock. If that hit us, we'd be dead or gravely wounded! "If that hit us, we'd be dead or gravely wounded!" he said, tightening his grip on the Heavy Axe and charging at the guardian beast. As he ran, he poured spiritual energy into the axe. Its blade blazed with dazzling light, and the surrounding air hummed under the force surging through it. When he drew near, he leaped up and swung at the beast's head. The strike carried all his strength. As the blade collided with its scales, a shower of multicolored spiritual energy sparks erupted. Yet the guardian beast's scales were too hard. Tan Qingshan's attack left only a shallow white mark and inflicted no real damage. Enraged by his attack, the beast raised a forehoof and stomped down at him. The instant its hoof descended, a powerful wave of spiritual energy spread outward beneath it. The force struck Tan Qingshan, sending him flying like a cannonball before he crashed heavily to the ground. "Qingshan!" Mu Chen shouted. He swiftly unleashed his new spiritual technique. Star power swirled around his body, transforming into silver beams that shot toward the guardian beast. Though they failed to pierce its scales, they still caused it a twinge of pain. The beast turned toward Mu Chen with a furious roar and spat another five-colored beam of spiritual energy at him. Mu Chen darted about, using his nimble footwork to weave between the beams. At the same time, he repeatedly unleashed his new spiritual technique, shaping star power into various forms in an attempt to disrupt the beast's attacks. While dodging, he noticed that its spiritual energy briefly stalled after each attack. That might be a good opening to strike. Seeing her companions locked in a bitter struggle, Tang Qian'er hurriedly cast her support skills from the rear. She waved her spiritual energy staff and chanted under her breath. Rays of gentle light spilled from its tip, enveloping Tan Qingshan and Mu Chen. As the light sank into their bodies, their wounds rapidly healed, and some of their spiritual energy was restored. "We need to attack its weak point together!" Mu Chen shouted to his companions. He had noticed that the scales on the beast's belly were relatively thin, and that its belly was briefly exposed whenever it attacked. After the guardian beast launched another attack, Mu Chen signaled his companions with a glance. Moving in perfect coordination, they charged at it together. Mu Chen unleashed the strongest form of Star Transformation, gathering his star power to its utmost limit and forming a vast phantom starry firmament around himself. He rushed toward the beast's belly, ready to deliver a fatal blow. Tan Qingshan climbed to his feet and swung the Heavy Axe again, following behind Mu Chen. He too aimed for the guardian beast's belly, intending to coordinate with Mu Chen and break through its defenses together. Their other companions also unleashed their strongest skills, raining spiritual energy attacks down on its abdomen. Sensing their intentions, the guardian beast tried to shield its belly with its forehooves and wings. But Mu Chen and the others attacked too swiftly and fiercely for it to fend them all off. Under their combined assault, several scales on its belly shattered. It let out a pained roar and stumbled back several steps. Yet the guardian beast had not lost its ability to fight. Instead, it grew even more frenzied. Its eyes reddened further, and the five-colored radiance shining from its body grew more dazzling. It spread its wings and soared into the sky before diving toward Mu Chen and the others. During its descent, countless small, five-colored blades of spiritual energy burst from its wings, raining toward the ground. Mu Chen and the others hurriedly cast Spiritual Energy Shield to defend themselves. Their shields trembled violently under the barrage, and blades kept breaking through and cutting their bodies. Tan Qingshan swung the Heavy Axe, trying to cleave apart the blades that approached him, but there were too many, and numerous wounds appeared on his body as well. "This can't go on! We need to find a way to bring it down!" Mu Chen shouted. He watched the guardian beast overhead, considering how to counter it. Suddenly, an idea occurred to him. He said to Tang Qian'er, "Qian'er, use your spiritual energy staff to create a large spiritual energy interference field. We'll lure it inside and stop it from flying!" Tang Qian'er nodded and began channeling her spiritual energy. She planted her staff in the ground and chanted under her breath as the surrounding spiritual energy gathered toward it. Soon, a massive spiritual energy interference field formed overhead. It gave off a gentle glow containing peculiar spiritual energy fluctuations that could disrupt the guardian beast's balance in flight. "Everyone, attack together! Lure it down!" Mu Chen shouted. They launched another assault on the guardian beast in the sky. Enraged by their attacks, it dove toward them, ready to deal them an even heavier blow. As it approached the interference field, it suddenly found flying difficult, and its body began to wobble. "Now!" Seizing the moment, Mu Chen unleashed his strongest star power attack at the guardian beast. His companions also seized the opportunity and launched their fiercest attacks. Under their combined assault, the beast plummeted from the sky and crashed heavily to the ground. The fall inflicted considerable injuries, yet it stubbornly rose again. Hatred filled its eyes as it charged at Mu Chen and the others once more. This time, its attacks were fiercer and its movements faster, as though it were a tireless fighting machine. Mu Chen and the others did not retreat. They fought the guardian beast in a desperate struggle to the death. They suffered wound after wound, but continued searching for its weaknesses. They discovered that its leg joints were vulnerable; attacking them would slow its movements. They therefore concentrated their attacks on the guardian beast's leg joints. During one fierce clash, Mu Chen, Tan Qingshan, and the others successfully struck them. With its legs injured, the beast's movements grew sluggish. They seized the opening and intensified their assault. After a long, grueling battle, the guardian beast finally fell under their combined attacks. Its body slammed into the ground, raising an enormous cloud of dust. Mu Chen and the others were utterly exhausted, and all had suffered injuries of varying severity, but they had successfully defeated the powerful guardian beast. "We did it..." Tan Qingshan said weakly, a faint smile of relief appearing on his face. "Yes, we won. But we can't let our guard down. There are more important things waiting for us," Mu Chen said, looking at his companions with resolve in his eyes. They knew this battle was only the beginning. They still had to use the secret weapon against the Black-Robed People and keep their family safe. After a brief rest, they left the Forbidden Grounds with the secret weapon and headed toward their family, ready to face new challenges.