"..."
Old Qiao's expression faltered. You actually dared to spout such nonsense...
His expression was strange as he said, "If I'm not mistaken, your friend is Zhang Dali, right?"
"Uh..."
Chen Shu chuckled dryly and replied, "How could that be? He's just a cook. What does he know about transcending souls?"
"Whatever, as you wish."
He shook his head, not paying much attention. After all, he didn't think much of a King-tier mutated fierce beast.
The Thunder Beast wagged its tail, having intended to have a bite. Even though Chen Shu had taken it away, it no longer cared.
The two continued deeper into the lair.
Even in such a terrifying异空间 (yi kongjian - alternate space), the legendary Thunder Beast remained a dominant force.
As long as they didn't encounter a Beast Emperor, no fierce beast could withstand its might alone.
"Another King-tier mutated fierce beast. Comfortable..."
Chen Shu's lips curved upwards. He hadn't expected to earn any extra income.
Just then, a faint purple light suddenly appeared before his eyes, piercing through the darkness ahead.
"Hmm?"
His expression stiffened, and he instinctively looked up.
A purple moon hung high in the sky, barely illuminating the dark "Demon's Lair."
"It's night..."
Old Qiao glanced up, his expression serene, clearly accustomed to this.
"It's nighttime now?"
Chen Shu was slightly taken aback and asked, "It only has light at night? It's dark during the day?"
"It's an alternate space; anything is possible..."
Old Qiao's expression turned slightly grave. "The bad news is that the purple moon will boost the combat power of all fierce beasts in the Demon's Lair."
"Such a widespread buff?"
Chen Shu looked up at the purple moon, clearly sensing a change in the entire alternate space.
"Let's go."
The two continued their journey, heading straight for the depths.
As they passed a rugged, small mountain peak, they surprisingly saw countless creatures.
Tens of thousands of humanoid creatures were gathering, each with two horns on their heads and purple pupils, exuding a terrifying aura.
The ten leading demonic fierce beasts were all King-tier Lords!
"Who are they?"
Chen Shu was shocked, not expecting to encounter an army of demons.
"No need to worry about them. They're preparing to attack Dark City again."
Old Qiao shook his head nonchalantly and said,
"And this is just one of the forces. There will likely be four to five main armies."
"..."
Chen Shu gazed at the distant demon horde, beginning to understand the strength of the Demon's Lair.
However, Dark City was also not simple, having managed to hold its ground consistently, even having surplus strength to clear out fierce beasts near the Free State.
"Um, Brother Qiao..."
Chen Shu's eyes held a thoughtful expression as he tentatively said,
"Can I leave directly now? Just consider my mission failed. I don't want that bloodline bead anymore."
"???"
Old Qiao turned to look at him, his expression one of utter disbelief.
"Then what was the point of buying my Golden Monarch Skill?"
"I bought... a lesson."
"..."
Old Qiao didn't speak further, merely gazing at him silently.
However, the Thunder Beast beneath him had sparks flashing in its eyes, appearing ready to strike at any moment.
"Don't be rash..."
Chen Shu quickly waved his hands and said, "Let's try. Let's just give it a try first."
"That's more like it."
The two, riding the Thunder Beast, bypassed the numerous gathered demonic fierce beasts.
A day passed in the blink of an eye.
The surrounding environment remained unchanged, except that the average level of the fierce beasts they encountered was higher.
"Are we walking downwards?"
Chen Shu looked at the endless plains but could sense that the terrain was constantly sloping downwards.
"Of course."
Old Qiao nodded and said, "The terrain of the Demon's Lair is an abyss, just so vast that it made you think you were on a plain."
"Is that so..."
Chen Shu nodded, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Just then, the Thunder Beast struck again, instantly killing another King-tier Lord demon.
The Space Rabbit immediately stepped forward and took it into its spatial domain.
With its master's command, the Thunder Beast paid it no mind, treating it as merely one less snack.
After all, when even treasures like bloodline beads were given away, mere beast corpses were naturally insignificant.
"Brother Qiao, I will properly transcend them..."
Chen Shu showed a hint of joy. Who wouldn't like something gained for free?
Old Qiao glanced at him and said, "I believe rescuing Jona is the best way to transcend them!"
"..."
Chen Shu's expression froze. What was the connection between these two matters...
Just then, Old Qiao's expression shifted, and he said,
"We're almost there."
Chen Shu's nerves instantly tensed. He scanned his surroundings, his eyes filled with vigilance.
This was a Beast Emperor at the apex of the food chain!
Furthermore, unlike the crazed Nine-Tailed Fox, the intelligence of such a creature was in no way inferior to humans.
"Should I hide for a bit?"
Chen Shu pondered, simultaneously preparing to pull out an enhanced invisibility potion.
Old Qiao was about to respond when his expression suddenly changed, and he said,
"They're already here..."
In an instant, a creature slowly emerged from the distance!
It stood two meters tall, its skin as fair as jade, resembling a human. However, it had two horns on its head, pure deep purple pupils, and a pair of blood-red wings on its back.
"You've come?"
The demon spoke human language, holding a sleeping human in its right hand.
Judging by its appearance, it was Jona of the Free Alliance!
"Can you give her to me now?"
Old Qiao's expression was solemn as he summoned three other contracted spirits.
A golden giant lion appeared, its body like a blazing sun, making it impossible to look at directly.
Another legendary contracted spirit was a stone giant tens of meters tall, its rocks like bulging muscles, exuding an oppressive aura. However, the light in its eyes was slightly dim, clearly indicating it had been severely injured before.
Among the three contracted spirits, the most terrifying was an angel clad in golden armor, with three pairs of wings on its back.
This was the same species as Jona's SSS-grade contracted spirit, the only difference being that one was in its infancy, while the other had reached its ultimate form.
"You old fox actually values her quite a bit..."
The Beast Emperor let out a cold laugh and instantly threw the Jona in its hand away.
Its purple eyes flickered, and a beam of purple light shot out, heading straight for Jona.
"Hmph!"
Old Qiao's angelic contracted spirit shifted its expression, and a golden longbow instantly appeared in its right hand.
A golden arrow materialized out of thin air, its radiance dispelling a thousand meters of darkness. It carried an irresistible power, hurtling towards the purple light ahead!
Just as the attacks were about to collide,
Chen Shu made his move!
"Whoosh~"
The Space Rabbit shifted its expression, instantly throwing a spatial mark, marking the sleeping Jona.
Just as it was about to teleport her away, it was interfered with by an unknown force.
The divine skill "Spatial Secret Power" had failed!
The Space Rabbit did not hesitate, throwing out nearly a hundred spatial marks in one go!
Finally, a powerful teleportation force erupted, forcibly teleporting Jona to Chen Shu's side.
"Still breathing..."
Chen Shu exclaimed, relief flooding his eyes.
If he had rescued a corpse, he likely wouldn't have received the bloodline bead.
"Good!"
Old Qiao nodded and said, "You take her and leave first. Leave the rest to me!"
"Can you leave?"
A cold voice echoed.
The purple light in the sky was instantly obscured, as if the purple moon had hidden, ushering in the daytime of the Demon's Lair.
Chen Shu looked up slightly, and his expression instantly changed.
A colossal black bat appeared in the sky!
It was so enormous that its wings covered the sky. Its purple eyes carried a cold killing intent as it looked down upon the two.
As its wings unfurled, a black barrier enveloped the area, sealing off nearly ten thousand meters.
Another Beast Emperor had appeared!
The golden angel roared, its longbow drawn to its full extent, releasing its skill once more!
Tens of thousands of golden arrows shot out, bombarding the terrifying bat in the sky!
Boom boom boom!
Simultaneously, the Thunder Beast roared, its three tails covered in lightning, its internal thunder elements surging outwards.
A lightning barrier appeared and rapidly expanded.
In a flash, it collided with the bat's black barrier. The intense roaring echoed, as if the entire alternate space was trembling.
"Quick, go!"
Old Qiao's expression was extremely solemn as he shouted.
But when his gaze swept over, Chen Shu's figure had already vanished without a trace...
"Damn, this is truly terrifying..."
Tens of thousands of meters away, Chen Shu had already taken Jona far from the battlefield.
The moment the two barriers collided, he had already used "Spatial Secret Power" to leave. There was no need for Old Qiao to remind him.
When it came to the art of 'running away,' when had a mere Legend ever taught the notorious bandit of Nanjiang?