Chapter Twenty-Nine: Dragon and Elephant (First Update)
"Begin the third stage of Dragon Elephant Prajna Strengthening?"
No sooner had Ke Bei slipped into the dilapidated gymnasium and concealed himself in an unseen corner, than he impatiently sank his consciousness into the system within his mind.
"Begin!"
Ke Bei, anxious for Luo Ling's safety, spoke urgently.
As his words fell, a golden radiance poured down, enveloping Ke Bei entirely. In that instant, warmth surged through his body, an indescribable comfort. The golden light merged with his flesh, and the shattered viscera—injured by the kick of the eldritch man—began to wriggle and heal at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, all wounds were fully restored.
The golden light drifted gently within him, strengthening bone and muscle.
The strength of thirty men, forty, fifty, sixty...
Ke Bei's power soared, exceeding the limits attainable by even a third-level enhancer.
Feeling his body transform at this incredible pace, Ke Bei closed his eyes.
Within the old gymnasium, Ke Bei underwent a terrifying metamorphosis. Outside, Luo Ling, facing the combined assault of the beast and the eldritch man, grew ever more disadvantaged.
Two blurred figures darted like lightning—the eldritch man and Luo Ling collided more fiercely with each exchange, fists and sword flashes bursting forth in all directions.
Whenever Luo Ling managed to gain even a slight advantage, the beast's stout limbs would slam down, forcing her to retreat in haste.
A thunderous roar erupted just as Luo Ling froze the eldritch man with her chill, preparing to thrust her sword. The cry pierced her eardrums, and the fetid wind at her back forced her to retract the blade instantly.
Bang!
The beast's blood-red horn crashed against Luo Ling's sword. Its strength surpassed even that of the divine race, and caught off guard, the collision left Luo Ling's arm trembling, the flesh between thumb and forefinger split, thin threads of blood appearing across her palm.
Her brows knit in a frown; Luo Ling tapped her toes, leaping backwards.
Whoosh!
Before she could steady herself, a shadow lashed toward her like a steel whip—the beast's tail, bristling with barbs and nearly ten feet long, swept down with ferocious momentum.
Luo Ling's expression changed. She sidestepped, her body twisting like lightning. In that narrow gap between moments, the beast's tail slammed down just two inches before her face, whipping up a fierce wind that severed strands of her purple hair.
The eldritch man's eyes brightened at the sight. He sneered, his body narrowing into a streak as he launched a punch at Luo Ling.
Though she had evaded the beast's deadly strike, Luo Ling staggered involuntarily. Before she could exhale, the eldritch man's fist was upon her.
The divine race possessed immense strength; faced with this forceful blow, Luo Ling dared not meet it head-on. Her pale eyes flashed, and a white mist shot forth, forming an ice wall before her.
Boom!
As the ice wall appeared, the eldritch man's fist crashed into it, shattering it instantly. The immense recoil sent Luo Ling sprawling backward uncontrollably.
"Human—die!"
Luo Ling had barely hit the ground when the beast roared, excitement gleaming in its blood-red eyes. It raised its massive hoof and stomped down at her mercilessly.
"Is this the end?"
As the beast's hoof loomed larger and larger, Luo Ling's expression grew desolate. Ke Bei's figure surfaced in her mind. She had survived by luck before because of him—now, faced with the same fate, would anyone save her again?
Recalling Ke Bei's trembling retreat into the gymnasium moments before, Luo Ling slowly closed her eyes, two clear tears sliding from the corners.
Boom!
The shattered gymnasium suddenly exploded apart. Ke Bei appeared out of nowhere and, at that moment, saw the beast's hoof descending upon Luo Ling.
"Luo Ling!"
His pupils shrank to pinpoints; his foot slammed down, and his body shot forward like lightning. Ke Bei moved at the utmost speed, but it still felt too slow.
Faster! Faster!
He stared desperately at the beast's hoof, his heart burning with urgency.
Faster!
Faster!
Faster!
Suddenly, the world seemed to slow in Ke Bei's eyes. He saw the beast's massive hoof 'slowly' descending.
"Ah, faster!"
Bang!
Just as the hoof fell, Ke Bei arrived. He threw himself over Luo Ling, the beast's hoof crashing down at the same instant.
"Roar, roar—human, die!"
The beast howled in excitement, uttering muddled words.
"Phew..."
Watching the hoof slam down, the eldritch man exhaled softly. He had a mission in Wu Mountain City; if word leaked, he would have to flee, else the human strongmen would hunt him down. But leaving meant the task from Corpse Mountain would be unfulfilled—and failure meant death.
So, whatever happened, he must kill every human who entered Wu Mountain City.
Suddenly, the beast's colossal hoof began to tremble, as if pressed by a tremendous force. Its massive foot involuntarily lifted away.
Beneath the hoof, Ke Bei braced himself on all fours, shielding Luo Ling beneath him.
"Roar!"
A low, guttural roar rumbled from his throat. Ke Bei exerted himself—all the veins beneath his skin writhing like earthworms.
"Get lost!"
Ke Bei shouted, his limbs pushing with all their might, lifting the beast's hoof. His muscles swelled instantly, his arms thickening, gripping the hoof like steel clamps.
Clutching the beast's foreleg, Ke Bei stamped his feet, creating two deep pits beneath him. Capillaries burst on his brow; he squatted halfway, his waist twisting.
"Out!"
With a furious shout, his arms flung the hoof aside.
Boom, boom, boom!
The beast, as massive as a mountain, was hurled away by Ke Bei, crashing into the decrepit gymnasium and collapsing it completely.
"Are you alright?"
The ferocity faded from Ke Bei's face. He exhaled quietly, looking at Luo Ling, whose expression was frozen in astonishment, and asked softly.
"I'm fine... How did you—how did you suddenly become so strong?"
Luo Ling stared at him with wide, luminous eyes, her rosy lips parted in disbelief.
"Heh..."
Ke Bei smiled calmly, though thoughts raced through his mind, searching for an explanation. But finding none, he decisively changed the subject.
"Did you think I abandoned you just now?"
"Ah, n-no."
Ke Bei had guessed her thoughts; Luo Ling's cheeks flushed, her gaze flitting awkwardly away, her pale hands clenched tightly. For this heroic woman to suddenly show such girlish shyness—her rare charm was truly captivating.
"Heh, I didn't leave you the first time, and I never will!"
Ke Bei watched her adorable expression, his heart pounding, and stared into her eyes, speaking solemnly.
"Roar, roar—hurt me! Die, die!"
The beast, hurled away by Ke Bei, slowly climbed to its feet. Its lantern-sized red eyes glared in fury, roaring as it charged.
The eldritch man stepped lightly, drifting coldly toward Ke Bei and Luo Ling.
"Let me handle this!"
Luo Ling was about to face the eldritch man when Ke Bei caught her arm.
Ke Bei stared coldly at the eldritch man, remembering the slaughtered members of the Constellation Squad. Rage surged within him. He whispered to Luo Ling, then strode forward, saber in hand.