"Then let's put that to the test!"
Hearing the Gale Eagle's provocation, Su Qian refused to indulge it and spoke with imposing authority. He knew magical beasts believed in the natural law of the weak becoming prey to the strong. Show even a hint of weakness, and one day, they might turn around and bite you.
To safeguard Jia Nan Academy's dominance over this forest, Su Qian stared coldly at the Gale Eagle, this Sixth-rank Magical Beast. A vast aura, like a mighty dragon awakening, surged from him and enveloped the magical beast kings in an instant.
Feeling Su Qian's aura, several Sixth-rank Magical Beasts immediately paled.
Since Mang Tianchi had already plowed through the Magical Beast Forest, there were actually no seventh-rank magical beasts here. Thus, this was many of the Sixth-rank Magical Beasts' first time facing a Dou Zong expert.
That terrifying aura immediately made their expressions change.
"Su Qian, this is between you and the Gale Eagle. We won't get involved. With all of you here, I doubt that rare treasure has anything to do with me anyway. My seventh child is about to be born back in my cave, so I'll take my leave."
The first to buckle was a fifty-meter-long snake. It had two wings on its back and a single horn atop its head, with crackling lightning flickering around it. This was the Two-Winged Thunder Snake, a peak Fifth Rank magical beast.
With a trace of dragon blood in its veins, this peak Fifth Rank magical beast usually dared to fight even some Sixth-rank Magical Beasts. Now, however, its usual arrogance was nowhere to be seen.
After hastily finishing its words, it beat its wings, unleashing a brilliant blaze of lightning. In the blink of an eye, it vanished, leaving only a trailing wake.
That sneaky bastard!
Watching the Two-Winged Thunder Snake's decisive retreat, quite a few magical beasts cursed inwardly. Why are you running so fast? With so many of us backing each other up, are we really afraid of one Dou Zong?
Although they secretly resented the Two-Winged Thunder Snake, the other magical beasts chose to heed their cowardly hearts.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! My father was wounded by a human a few days ago, and he's on his last legs. I still have to rush back to see him one last time!"
"What-Uncle is dying? He and my father were friends through life and death! Before I left, Father even told me to show Uncle proper respect. Who would have thought..."
"Uncle, I'm coming-!"
In the blink of an eye, the sky emptied. All the Fifth-rank Magical Beasts withdrew, and several Sixth-rank Magical Beasts quietly left as well. Only four Sixth-rank Magical Beasts remained, including the Red-Gold Tiger King and the Gale Eagle.
The Gale Eagle's expression darkened. It had never expected these fellows to be such cowards. And besides, how could a wolf's and a leopard's fathers possibly be friends through life and death? Did they mean fighting each other to the death?
Or were these fellows planning to be the oriole waiting behind the mantis as it stalked the cicada?
Su Qian remained expressionless and did not stop the magical beasts from leaving. He was not a Dou Zun. As a Three-Star Dou Zong, facing so many magical beasts was beyond even his strength. Being able to scare so many of them off was already a testament to Jia Nan Academy's formidable reputation.
Besides, none of these magical beasts were lamps that burned little oil. They had their own conflicts and were far from united.
"Su Qian, do you truly intend to stop us?" the Red-Gold Tiger King asked. Of everyone present, it was the most anxious. It was at the Peak Sixth Tier, and it sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough there.
Blocking someone's path of cultivation was akin to murdering their parents. The Red-Gold Tiger King could barely restrain itself anymore!
Su Qian did not answer. He merely flicked his sleeve, and a powerful ribbon of Dou Qi burst from it, shooting straight toward the four Sixth-rank Magical Beasts!
They wanted to seize this opportunity to break through to the Seventh-Tier, and Su Qian would do everything he could to stop them. Having seventh-rank magical beasts nearby would be far too dangerous for Jia Nan Academy.
"Roar-!"
"You're courting death! Attack together and slaughter him, or none of us will get that opportunity!"
Seeing Su Qian attack, the Red-Gold Tiger King let out a furious roar. Terrifying flames swelled in the wind, becoming a sea of fire that filled the sky and swept toward Su Qian.
"Roar-! Su Qian, today is the day you die!" With the Red-Gold Tiger King attacking, the remaining three Sixth-rank Magical Beast kings cast aside their reservations as well. Each unleashed its own abilities, hurling attacks at Su Qian with reckless abandon.
"Hmph!"
Su Qian snorted coldly at the sight. His palms rotated slightly, and immense Dou Qi gushed from them, making even space tremble faintly.
"Cloud-Turning Hand!"
Boom-!
A low explosion rang out. The spreading ripples of energy forced both sides back several steps.
After unleashing that strike, Su Qian did not pause for even a moment. He transformed into a streak of lightning and shot straight toward the Red-Gold Tiger King.
"Roar-!"
After Jiang Yun had been rescued and taken away, a somewhat disheveled Su Qian arrived at the scene.
"Hmm?" Just then, Su Qian noticed the dead "Second Senior Brother." After examining it carefully, he reached a conclusion. "A third-tier magical beast, a Black Wind Pig. Killed in a single blow, with no trace of a Dou Technique. Whoever struck was at least a Dou Ling, perhaps even a Dou Wang."
After finishing his examination, Su Qian frowned toward the distance and said in puzzlement, "Spatial Force?"
Su Qian was genuinely surprised now. Anything involving Spatial Force required at least a Dou Zong's strength. Could there be a Dou Zong nearby?
At that thought, Su Qian could not help feeling his hair stand on end. Anyone who could evade his detection was, at the very least, no weaker than him.
After a moment's hesitation, Su Qian decided to follow the traces. As Jia Nan Academy's Great Elder, he had to ascertain this unknown Dou Zong's attitude toward the academy.
Having made up his mind, Su Qian stepped through the air, following those faint traces of Spatial Force.
That night, inside a secluded mountain cave, a campfire burned with a crackle and pop. The little girl who had rescued Jiang Yun was eating unknown fruits in single bites, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on him.
Judging by the drool constantly dripping from her mouth, it clearly was not the fruit in her hand that had caused it.
"He smells so good!" The little girl ate another fruit, her cheeks slightly flushed, and slurped back a mouthful of drool. "Just once. Just one lick."
The fruit had failed to suppress Jiang Yun's "temptation." Instead, it had intensified it. Unable to hold out any longer, the little girl lowered her head and slowly leaned toward him.
Just as she was about to stick out her little tongue, Jiang Yun's tightly shut eyes suddenly opened. He stared at the "enormous" dragon's maw before him, his face dark with exasperation.
"Uh, you're awake?" Jiang Yun's suddenly opening his eyes gave the little girl a fright. She hurriedly backed away several steps, waving her little hands as she explained, "I was just checking whether you were hurt. I definitely wasn't thinking of anything else!"
Jiang Yun took a deep breath. Here on this unfamiliar continent, the other party was clearly stronger than him. It was best not to anger her.
Seeing Jiang Yun's expression soften slightly and realizing he was not going to hold it against her, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He was her hope for advancing and her future meal ticket. She could not afford to offend him.
"Hey, I saved you twice today! But... you're so weak you can't even beat a third-tier Black Wind Pig. How did you end up alone in this forest?"
"Good thing you ran into me, or your little life would've been over!"
Before you continue