Chapter 535: Earthquake Bear
Chapter 535: Earthquake Bear
"Gray Wolf... Black Iron Quality... Nine years of cultivation?"
Fang Xing glanced at the struggling gray wolf and shook his head. "If it were a Bronze Quality, a Warrior Rank with ten years of cultivation might dare to compete with Pipi Dog for the title of Wolf King. But this one doesn't stand a chance."
However, they were still in the outer region of Azure Dragon Mountain, so it was unlikely for a Bronze Quality Heart Beast to appear.
Finally, the gray wolf lowered its noble head in submission to Pipi Dog.
"Let them help with the search..."
An idea struck Fang Xing, and Pipi Dog instantly exuded an aura of authority as it howled, "Woof!"
The gray wolves immediately dispersed, as if engaged in a hunt.
With the help of the wolves, Fang Xing's actions suddenly sped up.
He moved like the wind, gracefully weaving through the forest, "Hmm... We should prioritize mobile Heart Beasts, preferably with flight capabilities; otherwise, it'll be too troublesome."
Just as he was thinking this, his field of vision suddenly brightened, revealing a valley.
A waterfall cascaded like a jade belt, forming an emerald-green pool, with mist rising all around.
Through the hazy mist, one could make out a reef.
In the crevices of the rock, a strange orchid seemed to be growing.
"Blood Orchid. It has an extraordinary effect on snake-type Heart Beasts, probably a little less effective than the Black Flame Crystal I obtained before..."
"If we sell it in the Heart Shrine's market, we can easily fetch a few bars of gold..."
Fang Xing's eyes lit up. "Pipi Dog, go! There must be Heart Beasts guarding such a special medicinal ingredient!"
While Blood Orchid wasn't a heavenly treasure, it was still quite rare.
Pipi Dog let out a woof, its agile body leaping onto the reef.
Then... its dog mouth opened, and with its two claws digging, it unearthed a blood-red orchid.
Upon closer inspection, the orchid resembled a snake, emitting a pungent odor.
"Hmm? Where's the Guardian Beast? Did it just happen to go out for food?"
As Fang Xing was pondering this, a gray wolf nearby suddenly howled in pain and collapsed.
Whoosh!
A red light, like an arrow, pierced its chest, only to be blocked by a layer of Guardian Light.
The red light landed on the ground, transforming into a crimson snake over three meters long. Its triangular head raised high, it hissed.
"Crimson Scaled Snake... Black Iron Quality, probably ten years of cultivation, at the pinnacle of Upper Rank Warrior..."
Fang Xing sighed inwardly, "If my Pipi Dog only had five years of cultivation, it might have broken through my Guardian Aura with that attack, and I could have been injured..."
The Guardian Aura on Fang Xing's body also had ten years of cultivation, the same as Pipi Dog.
If Pipi Dog were defeated, Fang Xing would have died and been forced to retreat to the Heart Manifestation.
And he would likely perish under subsequent attacks, without a chance to try again.
In this regard, the Crimson Scaled Snake was extremely vicious.
Furthermore, in the outer region of Azure Dragon Mountain, a ten-year cultivation at the pinnacle of Upper Rank Warrior was enough to be a deadly threat to many novice Casters.
"Woof!"
Fang Xing kept retreating, while Pipi Dog dropped the snake orchid and leaped over with a loud howl.
The Crimson Scaled Snake, aware of the danger, coiled its body into a circle and sprayed a cloud of red mist.
"Pipi Dog, Annihilation Flame!"
Fang Xing scoffed, choosing not to engage with this wild Heart Beast. "Woof!"
Pipi Dog opened its mouth, and a ball of pitch-black flame appeared, landing on the crimson toxic mist and completely incinerating it.
A wisp of the black flame fell onto the snake's scales and suddenly engulfed it.
The Crimson Scaled Snake didn't even have time to let out a hiss before it turned into a pile of gray ashes.
"With the same cultivation, the difference in quality leads to a significant gap in combat power..."
Fang Xing witnessed this scene, deep in thought.
Although both were at the Warrior Rank limit, the Crimson Scaled Snake was at a disadvantage due to its Black Iron Quality. Facing Pipi Dog, it was like a child fighting an adult.
If it were a Heart Beast of Sovereign or Emperor Quality, it might have been able to exchange a few moves with Pipi Dog...
'If Heart Beasts have the same cultivation, their combat power mainly depends on the quality. If the quality is also the same, then consider attribute suppression and tactics...'
At this moment, Fang Xing could sense that Pipi Dog's cultivation was gradually increasing.
The cultivation it gained from burning the Crimson Scaled Snake was equivalent to a year's worth.
"Pipi Dog is about to advance."
Fang Xing's expression turned solemn.
Ten years is the limit for Warrior Rank. After ten years, one enters the General Rank!
If Warrior Rank Casters are considered the lowest among Casters, then General Rank is a whole new level.
Even in Green Grove City, one could secure a position like Captain of the Guard, becoming a prominent figure in the city.
"When Pipi Dog advanced last time, it still had some reserve strength. Now, this additional year of cultivation has been activated..."
Fang Xing watched as Pipi Dog howled, its body swelling in size!
From around one meter, it grew to over three meters long!
Its fur turned jet-black, and the Annihilation Flame burned quietly, like a hellish magic wolf.
Only that dog head of Pipi Dog's somewhat diminished its aura.
"Lower General Rank, fifteen years of cultivation."
Fang Xing murmured as he sensed the information from his Soul Beast.
The gap between Lower and Upper General Rank was immeasurably vast.
No matter how strong or weak a Warrior Rank is, the power gap between them is only noticeable within a ten-year window.
But the difference between General Ranks is a staggering ninety years! The gap between a newly promoted General and a peak General is so vast that even several peak Soldier Rank Heart Beasts might not bridge it.
And the disparity only widens as we move up the ranks. The cultivation gap between Lord Ranks is a hundred years!
The Sovereign Rank is even more extreme, with the weakest having a thousand years of cultivation and the strongest reaching ten thousand years. The difference between them is a mind-boggling nine thousand years!
It's safe to say that the higher the rank, the greater the disparity among peers.
This is precisely why some Sovereign Rank Casters can effortlessly conquer the seventh floor of the Tower of the Heart, earning the title of Heavenly King, while others struggle to do so.
"It's no surprise that a single Master Rank Caster can easily dominate numerous General Rank Casters. It's only natural."
Fang Xing approached Pipi Dog, who was now over three meters long and nearly two meters tall, large enough to be ridden like a horse.
Pipi Dog, or rather, Gale Rabbit, had broken through to the General Rank. In the outskirts of Azure Dragon Mountain, one could say there were hardly any opponents left.
...
Several days later.
Somewhere in the Azure Dragon Mountain Range.
"Woof!"
A massive Black Flame Hound leaped with surprising agility, clenching its jaws around the throat of an Earthquake Bear.
—Fatal Bite!
With this bite, the massive Earthquake Bear's body slammed onto the ground, devoid of any life force, its broad paws still twitching involuntarily.
Gale Rabbit opened its mouth, and a ball of black flame fell out.
Within the flames, the Earthquake Bear's body swiftly turned to ash, and Gale Rabbit's aura grew even stronger.
"Hmm, each time the Annihilation Wolf devours a Heart Beast, it gains about a decade's worth of cultivation feedback..."
Don't underestimate this; compared to other Casters who must painstakingly cultivate or consume heavenly treasures to enhance their training, searching for better Heart Beast food, cultivation environments, and so on, the Annihilation Wolf's advancement speed can only be described as terrifying.
If word got out, countless Sovereign Rank Casters would likely flock to Fang Xing.
But Fang Xing wouldn't expose all the Annihilation Wolf's abilities.
"Ninety-eight years of cultivation, almost reaching the peak of General Rank."
Fang Xing sensed the Annihilation Wolf's heart force fluctuations, murmuring.
This isn't particularly difficult; the main challenge is finding weaker opponents.
Most of Gale Rabbit's previous opponents were Black Iron Rank Heart Beasts with a maximum of ten years of cultivation.
Facing the now-promoted General Rank Gale Rabbit, they naturally surrendered.
Except this time, while chasing a Gale Rabbit, they attracted the attention of an Earthquake Bear.
But it wasn't a big deal; although this Earthquake Bear had over sixty years of cultivation, it wasn't a match for Gale Rabbit.
"Hmm, an Earthquake Bear in these parts..."
Fang Xing thought for a moment, then immediately followed the scent to the Earthquake Bear's cave.
It was a withered giant tree that required several people to embrace, with a large hole at its base.
And at the top, a beehive hung from the branches.
Even from a distance, Fang Xing seemed to smell the sweet honey.
"Jade Bees... There must be Jade Bee Heart Beasts in that hive, producing Jade Honey, a highly valuable ingredient suitable for General Rank or even Lord Rank Heart Beasts..."
"Gale Rabbit... Never mind, I'll do it this time."
He leaped lightly, plucking the beehive.
The Jade Bees swarmed, but they couldn't penetrate the layer of Guardian Aura covering his body.
After collecting the honey, Fang Xing had Gale Rabbit roast the Jade Bees one by one. Suddenly, his heart stirred: "There's something moving in that tree hole..."
This time, he didn't act himself; he merely gestured slightly.
Gale Rabbit immediately shrank, transforming into a size of just over a meter, and crawled into the tree hole.
Not long after, it dragged out a fluffy "ball" of fur.
"Oh? An Earthquake Bear cub... with only two years of cultivation?"
Fang Xing's interest was piqued.
This little bear cub was much smaller, with a large patch of white fluff on its chest forming an odd pattern.
As soon as it was nudged by Gale Rabbit, it let out a pitiful cry.
Unfortunately, its parents didn't come, and it was immediately suppressed by Gale Rabbit.
"Hmm, a Bronze Rank Heart Manifestation, worth several hundred taels of gold..."
Fang Xing took out the Bronze Rank Heart Oracle and flipped to a blank page.
"I may not appreciate it, but it's valuable to others."
His heart force surged, and a thread of bronze light appeared, enveloping the little bear cub.
Gale Rabbit, now shrunk, dragged the cub out.
(End of Chapter)
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