Xu Yang distributed the Cyan-Scaled Eagle meat among everyone. It was comparable to Exotic Beast Meat from a creature at Marrow Cleansing Great Success, an incredible tonic for them all. A single meal was enough to significantly advance their Cultivation.
"Even if we could eat this every day, and even if Xu Yang was willing to share, there aren’t that many Exotic..."
Before Zhou Jiang could get the word "Beast" out, he saw the faces of those around him turn pale, their gazes fixed in horror on Moon Lake.
He whipped his head around to look, only to see the lake water swelling rapidly, as if some behemoth was about to burst forth.
BOOM!
The next moment, the surface of the water exploded in a shower of spray. A ferocious Exotic Beast with razor-sharp fangs burst out, kicking up a wave several meters high as it charged madly toward the mine.
"It’s that Tuo Dragon!" The color drained from Zhou Jiang’s face.
He had been at the Moon Lake Mine for quite some time. Several people had died, all of them killed by this very Tuo Dragon from Moon Lake. Each time the beast appeared, it would devour one or two people and wreak havoc on the mine before it finally left.
The problem was that Xu Yang had just finished his battle with the Cyan-Scaled Eagle and was still recuperating. With the Tuo Dragon appearing now, he feared many people were about to die.
CLANG!
Without hesitation, he slammed his fist into the nearby Alarm Copper Gong. The booming sound instantly echoed across the entire mine.
"The Tuo Dragon is here!" Zhou Jiang roared, turning and rushing into the mine without a second thought.
The few men who had just been dreaming of more Exotic Beast Meat turned pale and scrambled into the mine after him.
"The Tuo Dragon?"
"Quick! Into the mine shafts!"
The mine instantly descended into chaos. All the miners scrambled for their lives, running toward the shafts.
"The Tuo Dragon!"
Xu Yang’s brow furrowed. He snatched up Red Blood, also grabbing the vial of Five Poison Water Guan Du had given him. He rushed out of his room and leaped onto the roof in a single bound.
He gazed toward Moon Lake. A massive crocodile, thicker than a water bucket, was charging toward the mine, churning the water’s surface. With its savage head, it did bear some resemblance to a dragon.
In the sunlight, its forbidding scales shone with a metallic luster as if forged from iron. Its four powerful claws slapped against the lake, creating thunderous splashes.
’So they’re the ones who went to drug this beast last night?’ Murderous intent flared in Xu Yang’s eyes.
After successfully cultivating Sword Qi, his Heart Spirit had grown even stronger. His five senses could easily cover the entire mining camp; it was safe to say that not the slightest disturbance could escape his notice. He had, of course, detected Guo Yun sneaking out of the mine in the middle of the night.
In truth, he had noticed long ago that something was off about Guo Yun and Chen Yong. Neither had revealed anything amiss in his presence, but his heightened senses had already picked up on the way they looked at him. It was different from how others did.
Others looked at him with awe and admiration; those two, however, looked at him with a hidden loathing.
That was why, after the battle with the Cyan-Scaled Eagle, he had deliberately concealed his condition. And just as he’d expected, those two couldn’t sit still.
At this moment, his five senses spread out like a great net, blanketing the entire mine. He discovered that the Steward, Chen Yong, hadn’t emerged to take control of the situation. Instead, he was using the chaos as cover to run off somewhere.
’Trying to fish in troubled waters?’ Xu Yang observed coldly, having no intention of dealing with Chen Yong just yet. He was more interested in seeing what the two of them were plotting, to go so far as to lure a powerful Exotic Beast like the Tuo Dragon to the mine.
"Brother Xu, what should we do?"
Guo Yun rushed over to Xu Yang with a few men, his face a mask of anxiety.
"What should we do? Fight it, of course."
Xu Yang leaped down from the roof and strode towards the outskirts of the mine.
"But your injuries..."
"This is no time to worry about that. You quickly take some people and escort the miners into the mine shafts for safety. I’ll go buy some time."
Watching Xu Yang’s retreating back as he strode away, a smile touched Guo Yun’s lips. He quickly turned to guide the miners toward the mine shafts, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. When he didn’t see Chen Yong, his satisfaction grew.
’We don’t want to hurt you; we just want to take what’s ours. If your luck runs out and you die, you can’t blame us for it.’
’If anyone’s to blame, it’s you and your rotten luck. Blame yourself for getting sent here by Elder Huoyun, and for provoking a Cyan-Scaled Eagle the moment you arrived.’
’If Xu Yang hadn’t been injured by the Cyan-Scaled Eagle first, we never would have dared to pull a stunt like this.’
...
Xu Yang soon ran into Zhou Jiang and his men, who were running back.
"Brother Xu, you’re not healed yet! You can’t fight it! Just hide in the mine shafts for a while. The worst that beast can do is damage some of the Profound Iron. Don’t throw your life away!"
Seeing Xu Yang heading out of the mine, Zhou Jiang knew exactly what he intended to do.
The corner of Xu Yang’s mouth twitched, and a voice entered Zhou Jiang’s ears, "Keep a close eye on Chen Yong and Guo Yun for me."
’Secret Transmission!’
Zhou Jiang’s pupils shrank. He understood instantly. ’Steward Chen Yong and Guo Yun are trying to fish in troubled waters. This Tuo Dragon... they might have been the ones to lure it here!’
He had been stationed at the mine for quite some time, so he was naturally aware of some of the dirty business that went on.
Normally, with them on guard duty, anyone entering or leaving the mine had to be searched. Taking anything out was impossible. Besides, out here in the remote wilderness, simply leaving the mine was like announcing to the world you were trying to smuggle something out.
Moreover, Spirit Iron emitted a special aura that was impossible to conceal on one’s body. But amidst the current chaos, smuggling something away would be simple.
"I understand. Be careful, Brother Xu!" Zhou Jiang nodded.
RUMBLE RUMBLE...
As Xu Yang walked out of the mine, the Tuo Dragon had already reached the shore. It galloped across the ground on all fours, standing nearly a full person-height tall.
Its stout limbs were like cast iron, kicking up billowing clouds of dust as it ran. Its ferocious aura was even a degree stronger than the Cyan-Scaled Eagle’s had been.
Its eyes were blood-red, a crimson that only deepened when it caught sight of Xu Yang.
ROAR!
It let out an excited roar, crushing the earth beneath its feet as it charged. The Tuo Dragon opened its gaping, bloody maw and snapped at Xu Yang.
BOOM!
A majestic aura erupted from Xu Yang. His body instantly took on the appearance of being cast from gold, his energy kicking up a swirl of dust.
HUMMM!
Red Blood sang with a clear hum, bursting from its sheath like a beam of crimson light. A piercing Sword Intent cut through the beast’s tide of ferocity as a golden sword light flared to life.
Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture!
Golden light surged around Xu Yang, his gaze as sharp as a blade. The golden sword light on his weapon instantly flared out three feet longer, imbued with a Sword Intent that seemed capable of cutting through anything. He slashed down with world-cleaving force.
BANG!
The sword light collided with the charging Tuo Dragon. The resulting explosion of energy created visible ripples that swept out in all directions. Where the ripples passed, the very ground was peeled back in layers, and earth and rock were pulverized into dust that shot toward the sky.
SQUELCH!
Blood splattered. A deep gash appeared on the Tuo Dragon’s long snout. Its scales, harder than refined steel, had been sliced open, revealing the scarlet flesh beneath.
WHOOSH!
Xu Yang was thrown high into the air, using the momentum of the impact to launch himself upward.
From his previous battle with the Cyan-Scaled Eagle, he knew the terrifying brute strength these Exotic Beasts possessed. He hadn’t clashed head-on with the Tuo Dragon this time.
’So tough!’
Even so, a numbing shock ran up his arm, as if he had just struck his weapon against solid metal. The sword light could slice through the Tuo Dragon’s scales, but it couldn’t cut through its bone.
ROAR!
The Tuo Dragon, in pain, went berserk and charged past where Xu Yang had stood. Its giant mouth snapped shut with a deafening boom, biting a huge crater into the ground.
BOOM!
A deafening boom ripped through the air.
Xu Yang saw the air churn violently as a tail as thick as a man’s head whipped toward him, tearing through the atmosphere and creating a sonic boom.
Not daring to meet it head-on, he pushed off the empty air to shift his body ten feet to the side, landing beside the Tuo Dragon.
A rumble went through his bones and sinews as fresh blood surged through him. Like a bursting dam, Gang Qi poured madly into Red Blood, condensing into a Sword Gang so solid it was almost tangible.
Murderous intent exploded in Xu Yang’s eyes. His muscles bulged, and his great tendons CREAKED like a bowstring drawn taut.
The ground beneath his feet shattered, blasting open a crater. He shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, gripping Red Blood with both hands as he transformed into a streak of golden light.
HUMMMMM...
Red Blood let out a clear hum like a dragon’s cry, an indomitable Sword Intent gathering at its tip.
SQUELCH!
Before the Tuo Dragon could react, Red Blood—empowered by Xu Yang’s immense strength and Sword Intent—once again pierced through its scales.
AARGH!
BOOM!
A bloodcurdling scream rang out in unison with the sound of tearing air. Like a collapsing pillar that held up the heavens, the Tuo Dragon’s tail whipped toward Xu Yang again, carrying an unstoppable force and suffocating pressure.
The force of the strike was so terrifying that before the tail even reached him, Xu Yang felt as if he would be blown apart. Even his Protective Gang Qi began to tremble.
The blade had sunk only three inches deep before he was forced to yank it out and retreat.