Gu Baiqing didn’t even have time to respond to Mo Xuanli’s tone; his eyes darted anxiously toward the ground. Fortunately, the lingering thunder force kept Yu Qi temporarily paralyzed.
“Three Bean, grab him!”
Gu Baiqing assumed Three Bean was closest to Yu Qi, but the reply came from somewhere else.
He turned his head—and saw the enormous dragon head holding the cat in its mouth.
“Master…” Three Bean looked fearfully at Gu Baiqing.
Gu Baiqing was truly speechless at this dragon-and-cat duo.
Thankfully, Mo Xuanli wasn’t completely oblivious to the situation. Realizing what was happening, he shot an arrow imbued with a talisman from the God Nine Transformations bow. It struck downward, forming a barrier that trapped Yu Qi inside.
Yu Qi tried to rush out but couldn’t—after all, this was a reinforced God Nine Transformations array, even more deadly to demons.
Gu Baiqing finally exhaled in relief.
“Master…” came the still slightly reproachful voice beside him.
Gu Baiqing looked up and saw Mo Xuanli, battered and disheveled from battle, staring at him intently, a streak of blood still across his face.
Gu Baiqing froze for a moment, then immediately smacked the brat on the head. “Didn’t you see I was catching the beast demon? Charging in like that—reckless!”
Heavens above—this kid was getting bolder and bolder. Who was the master here, anyway?!
Mo Xuanli blinked, as if only now coming back to his senses. He released Gu Baiqing and said, “Master, I’m sorry. I was just worried… If you use your spiritual power like that, what if you faint somewhere again? Please, Master, at least in dangerous times like this, even if you must fight, stay somewhere I can see you. So that I at least know where you are.”
His tone was earnest and reasonable, but Gu Baiqing couldn’t help feeling annoyed at being fussed over like a child.
“I only wanted to confirm if Junhua was here. It happened suddenly,” Gu Baiqing explained after a brief hesitation. “There have been two Spirit-Gathering Arrays already—it’s suspicious. When I saw the beast demon, I struck first to capture him.”
Hearing the explanation, Mo Xuanli’s expression finally softened a little.
Even so, Gu Baiqing still glared at him harshly. This kid was getting less and less respectful toward his elders.
“Hey, can you two stop talking? I can’t hold on much longer—what’s going on here?!” Ao Hang threw Three Bean onto his back. The cat instantly transformed back into a small kitten and curled up in Gu Baiqing’s arms.
Ao Hang tried to fly upward, but his movements were sluggish—affected by the Spirit-Gathering Array that seemed to be growing stronger by the moment.
“Could it be like in Linxun Town? The beast demon is the one maintaining the formation. If we take him and destroy the formation core, that should break it,” Gu Baiqing said.
Mo Xuanli was about to respond when the entire Longan Port began to quake. The nearby coastline erupted with monstrous waves, and deep in the Ten Thousand Beasts Forest, countless spirit beasts began roaring and rampaging.
It was a massive upheaval—an all-out beast riot centered right where they stood.
“You’d better run while you can!” Yu Qi shouted suddenly. “That old monster has already absorbed and taken control of the Spirit-Gathering Array! Now he’s drawing in even more spiritual energy—and controlling all the nearby beasts! If you don’t escape now, everyone will die!”
The two looked down and saw Yu Qi’s face pale as death—clearly, he had realized the danger earlier and had been trying to retreat.
From the shattered mountainside, spiritual energy burst outward in all directions, turning into attacks.
Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli recognized it instantly—the Spirit-Gathering Array had transformed into a Killing Array.
The mountainside was now the most perilous place of all. The Second Elder, who had just been fighting Mo Xuanli there, was now fleeing in panic within the array. His subordinates who couldn’t escape in time were killed outright, their spiritual power sucked dry and turned into glowing streams feeding the ancient monster at the center.
One by one, even the remaining elders met the same fate—reduced to husks. The Beast-Taming Manor’s cultivators were the first to be drained, likely because their spiritual energy was closest in nature to the old monster’s essence.
The most pitiful sight was those who ran toward the nearby merfolk for help—
Only for the merfolk, upon hearing their pleas, to stab them once more before fleeing.
Those merfolk who stayed behind were attacked as well, but since their own spiritual energy was weak, the array’s strikes against them were far less deadly—leaving them a narrow chance at survival.
The tendrils of light from the array’s attacks kept spreading outward, while everyone still trapped in the forest below was pinned to the ground—like prey pressed down and waiting for the Spirit-Gathering Array to feast.
At that moment, the old monster had already grown as large as the mountain itself—its size rivaling that of the most colossal spirit beasts.
Truly, it was a case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice: the beast demon’s own Spirit-Gathering Array had ended up feeding his ancestor instead.
It was impossible to explain how this had happened. Having swallowed too many mermaid beads, the old monster had completely mutated. No one knew how he could still be alive in such a state—let alone control vast spiritual power and use his beast-taming arts to incite a massive beast riot. The situation now was dozens of levels more difficult than in the original plot.
How was Mo Xuanli supposed to “fight the boss” under these conditions? This was far beyond what he could handle. If he faced that thing directly, every seal suppressing his demonic nature would shatter—he’d lose control completely. Then what would be left to play?
Yet they couldn’t just run. If the monster’s magic attacks went unchecked, every ordinary cultivator, merfolk, and mortal in the area would be wiped out. Worse still, the power would spread outward endlessly. They couldn’t just let the monster rampage across the human world.
Suddenly, a spark of realization flashed in Gu Baiqing’s mind. Wait—why was he worrying about that? Here, he might not be the protagonist, but he was absolutely the strongest fighter.
And besides—this wasn’t a “mission.” Nowhere did it say Mo Xuanli had to be the one to defeat the monster!
Sure, he was supposed to support the male lead—but who said the support couldn’t switch to battle mode?
“Xuanli.”
“Master, the situation’s dire, this—” Mo Xuanli had just been about to order Ao Hang to take Gu Baiqing and the others away while he stayed behind to hold the monster off. But honestly, even he wasn’t confident. The combined pressure of the Spirit-Gathering Array and the monster’s aura made his instincts scream with fear.
He was deeply aware of how weak he still was.
“Xuanli, in a moment—open a barrier above me. Don’t let that thing fall.”
“What? Master, what are you planning to do?” Mo Xuanli instantly reached for Gu Baiqing’s hand, but Gu Baiqing sidestepped and drew Morning Snow.
“Didn’t you say I should stay somewhere you can see me? Then watch from here. Don’t forget—I’m the master, you’re the disciple! Do what you can do!”
Mo Xuanli realized what he meant but had no time to stop him. Gu Baiqing’s figure turned into a bolt of lightning and shot toward the gigantic monster.
For an instant, even the air itself seemed unable to carry sound. A deep, muffled boom resounded—
As if a mountain had been lifted straight into the sky, a blinding thread of lightning speared it upward.
Before it could fall, a Heaven-Splitting Thunder Strike pierced through the monster’s body from below, shooting skyward and dragging the massive creature along with it.
The old monster was stunned by the sudden assault, unable to react in time.
Bearing the crushing pressure of the array, Gu Baiqing unleashed attack after attack, each one faster and more violent than the last, driving the monster higher and higher into the sky.
Each time it fell, he struck it upward again. And again. In this way, Gu Baiqing could fight with his full tribulation-stage strength without endangering anyone below.
Thunder roared, the heavens darkened, and the clouds churned wildly above—as though Heaven’s own lightning had descended in response to Gu Baiqing’s power.
The sight was terrifying; the entire Longan Port and even the fishing villages beyond the Ten Thousand Beasts Forest could see it clearly.
When Gu Baiqing finally began to fall, he was caught midair by a barrier.
He curled his lips into a small smile, his gaze flicking toward the black dragon in the distance—Mo Xuanli was up there, eyes locked on him in anxious focus.
The little Mo pup was finally behaving for once. Indeed, knowing when not to act recklessly was the greatest form of support.
Still, right now he looked just like a loyal dog watching its master head out to fight—left behind, powerless to help, his eyes filled with helpless worry.
Gu Baiqing couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought.
But the smile soon faded—time was running out. And not just his spiritual reserves; the monster was recovering… and the beast riot was escalating.
Gu Baiqing’s astonishing combat strength left everyone watching in utter shock. Those who recognized his name finally understood what it meant to be second only to Baili Jinxian—the mightiest power alive.
Yet gradually, they also began to see—the old monster, though completely deranged, was still terrifying. Stripped of intelligence, driven only by instinct to devour energy, its battle sense was gone, but its spiritual might was overwhelming.
Once it adapted to the assault, it would realize that sheer absorption alone could suppress Gu Baiqing’s strength—and it would.
Worse still…
With the roaring of countless beasts, hordes of spirit beasts began charging toward the battle’s center. Wounded, their master’s command drove them to his defense.
The beast riot, once wildly chaotic, now seemed to have focused all its hatred on Gu Baiqing alone.
Seeing this, Mo Xuanli’s expression darkened. He wondered if his master had foreseen this outcome—had deliberately done it. After all, the beasts’ attacks were indiscriminate. If they rampaged freely, countless innocents would die. Drawing them all to himself was the safest way.
For Gu Baiqing, the only chance of victory was to finish the monster before he could no longer hold out—once the monster fell, the riot would end.
And Mo Xuanli was right. That was exactly Gu Baiqing’s plan.
He and the monster, both tribulation-stage beings, existed on a level no one else could touch. No one could help him. All he could do was take a desperate gamble.
Morning Snow thrummed violently from the constant barrage of killing strikes. The rapid attacks were devastatingly effective against the mindless monster—but they were just as brutal on Gu Baiqing himself. His palms and tiger’s mouth were split open, blood coating the sword hilt; he could barely hold on.
Suddenly, a shrill cry tore through the air—the Shadow-Sky Wyvern.
D*mn it! Gu Baiqing cursed inwardly and began to shift his focus—when another dragon’s roar erupted.
He turned—Ao Hang had surged up into the sky, slamming into the Shadow-Sky Wyvern and pinning it down. Within moments, Ao Hang had torn its wings apart.
Then a dragon tail lashed across Gu Baiqing’s field of vision, swatting away a diving bird demon that had been aiming straight for him.
“Thanks,” Gu Baiqing managed to say in passing.
“Don’t thank me—San’er was about to cry from panic,” Ao Hang shot back.
Watching Ao Hang fight so desperately, Gu Baiqing’s heart gave a twitch. If Ao Hang found out the truth later, he’d probably beat him up as “repayment” for this rescue.
“Not just me—your disciple too!” Ao Hang added before flying off again to strike down the demonic beasts swarming up from below.
Gu Baiqing turned his head and saw that not far away, Mo Xuanli was standing atop God Nine Transformations, hands forming seals, seemingly struggling to hold up a barrier.
Looking down, Gu Baiqing finally noticed the mass of demonic beasts packed beneath the barrier, all gaping up at him. If not for Mo Xuanli holding that barrier to buy him time, things would have turned dire long ago.
Now Mo Xuanli was maintaining the barrier, Ao Hang was catching anything that slipped through, and all Gu Baiqing had to do was deal with the old monster.
Though the old monster had already regained his composure, Gu Baiqing could still bombard him fiercely—but the backlash from his spiritual power was mounting, and internal injuries had likely already set in.
Mo Xuanli watched Gu Baiqing’s figure, heart burning with anxiety, but he could do nothing.
The instant he had sensed the beasts closing in earlier and had tried to fly toward Gu Baiqing, Ao Hang had blocked his way.
The look in Ao Hang’s eyes made it clear—Ao Hang was of more use at this moment. The only thing Mo Xuanli could do to truly help his master was to keep the barrier standing.
Just as frustration was flooding him, movement below caught his attention.
“Second Sister!” came Fu Ye’s worried cry.
Mo Xuanli glanced down and saw Junhua sitting cross-legged, opening her mouth to release powerful sound waves. As her voice rippled out, more and more merfolk joined in from every direction—even Fu Qinfan, floating in the crystal tank, began humming along in confusion.
They were trying to counter the old monster’s beast-taming spell.
But Junhua’s control over her power was too weak; in just a short while, she spat blood and collapsed.
“It’s useless. Instead of wasting strength, you’d better save me—take your sister and leave together,” Yu Qi said bluntly.
“I will not abandon my people or my friends!” Junhua said, coughing up blood. “If it’s destined we all die here, then as our eldest sister and the crown princess of the merfolk, she should die together with us!”
Yu Qi’s eyes narrowed. “Then there’s only one way left—like I said before.”
Junhua froze. She didn’t look at Yu Qi; instead, she suddenly raised her head toward Mo Xuanli.
At that same moment, Mo Xuanli was looking toward her, and when their eyes met, it was as if he understood everything.
Just then, the old monster, maddened by the leaking of his wounded spiritual energy, went berserk. The power of the spirit-gathering formation surged even higher. The people of Beast-Taming Manor were finally struck; some were unlucky enough to be hit dead-on—instantly reduced to withered corpses.
Yu Qing was among those who died in that wave of misfortune.
Manor Lord Yu struggled to his feet and tried to reach Yu Yingwan—he wanted to flee, at least taking his daughter with him—but other survivors grabbed at him in desperation, and he could barely move an inch.
More and more demonic beasts arrived under the amplified summoning, some even on par with the Sky-Shadow Wyvern. Cracks had already begun to form in Mo Xuanli’s barrier—it had reached its limit.
A flash of grim resolve crossed Mo Xuanli’s eyes. God Nine Transformations transformed into a whip, coiled around Junhua’s wrist, and pulled her straight into the air.
Without saying a word, Junhua began forming seals. A blue-green radiance burst from her chest.
As the current ruler of the merfolk, she possessed the authority to forge an alliance in their name—to choose a follower for the merfolk, bestow them with power, and bind them to eternal loyalty.
All the merfolk present halted in place as the light spread, gazing upward in awe—as though witnessing a divine revelation.
They looked up at their Second Princess.
At the benefactor who had fought so desperately to save them.
There was no resentment, no doubt on any of their faces.
When the light faded, it was as if something akin to a contract had been etched into every merfolk’s heart.
Junhua came to stand directly before Mo Xuanli. Mo Xuanli, sensing what was happening, poured all his spiritual power into her. In that instant, he felt an unseen force guiding the sound waves—her powerful voice burst forth.
The moment the barrier shattered, every raging beast froze in place.
Gu Baiqing didn’t look their way; he fought on, only listening as the system voice notified him the mission was complete. At last, it had come to this.
Meanwhile, Yu Qi, still trapped, gradually calmed. He drew a short flute from his robes, eyes fixed on Mo Xuanli’s back.
Lifting it to his lips, he began to play softly. Dark energy gathered, though no sound came forth—as if a venomous serpent were coiling, waiting for its chance to strike.
