I Only Know How to Bully Noobs

Chapter 192: Ancient Exotic Beasts

Chen Ming glanced at Yu Haitang, who was sitting on the ground, and saw her gently shake her head, indicating that she didn’t recognize the person.

He slightly raised his brow and asked, “Where are your sect master and his wife?”

Xu Liangchen stopped three zhang away. Seeing that Yu Haitang was unharmed, he finally let out a breath of relief and said, “During the chaos just now, that old freak Feng from the Ji Family suddenly launched a sneak attack on Elder Yang, which triggered a brawl. It was the Sect Master who sent me out of the battle. At the moment, I don’t know where they have gone.”

Chen Ming couldn't tell whether what he said was true or false.

The Four Great Sects and Three Aristocratic Families of Jiangzhou were naturally not on friendly terms. There were many grudges between them. Under such circumstances, it wasn’t impossible for someone to incite a melee.

He said, “There’s a fork in the path ahead. How about we split up to search?”

Xu Liangchen rejected this proposal, “The Sect Master ordered me to protect Miss Yu. I will not take a single step away.”

Seeing his firm stance, Chen Ming couldn’t just drive him away. He calmly said, “To be honest, I’m a suspicious person by nature. If Senior Brother Xu wants to follow, that’s fine, but please don’t get too close to us, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”

“I really am a member of Cangyue Sect.”

Xu Liangchen became anxious upon hearing this. “If you don’t believe me, I can demonstrate our sect’s sword technique.”

“No need.” Chen Ming stopped him. “I’m not questioning your identity. It’s just that since my friend is here, you’d best not walk together with us to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”

Xu Liangchen instinctively glanced at the Blood Demon Sect disciple in black beside him. Convinced by the reasoning, he nodded and said, “I understand.”

“Let’s go.”

Chen Ming didn’t delay further. He picked up Yu Haitang and walked toward the depths of the cavern.

Deng Ziyang walked side by side with him.

Behind them, Xu Liangchen followed at a distance of several zhang.

...

There were four passages within this cavern.

Chen Ming made a quick judgment and chose the middle-left one. There were many corpses of Fire Bats on the ground, and the walls bore marks of recent combat.

The deeper they went, the denser the Fire Elemental energy in the air became.

Chen Ming and Yu Haitang were completely unaffected. On the contrary, they could directly absorb the Fire Elemental energy and convert it into Gang Yuan, using it to enhance their cultivation.

In fact, ever since he broke through to Third Grade, he had developed a strange sensation — as if he had become the master of this cavern and could easily manipulate the Fire Elemental energy in the air.

It was an odd feeling.

Just like when his Phoenix Dances Through Nine Heavens reached the fourth level, and he felt like he could fly. Although he knew it was an illusion, it still felt extraordinarily real.

Deng Ziyang felt quite different. With only Fourth Grade cultivation, he found this environment exceedingly difficult. The Blood Demon Technique he cultivated was naturally suppressed by the yang energy of the Fire Elemental aura.

If not for Chen Ming shielding him from the Fire Elemental energy, he would have long been unable to endure.

Following behind, Xu Liangchen seemed quite at ease.

Chen Ming observed him carefully and judged that he might have Second Grade cultivation, raising his guard internally.

If this man was truly sent by the Cangyue Sect Master to protect Yu Haitang, then all was well. But if he harbored ill intentions, he must not be underestimated.

This couldn't be left to chance.

About a quarter of an hour later, a large cavern appeared again ahead.

Chen Ming halted. He had heard sounds of battle—by the sound, it seemed to be some sort of reptile, and a rather large one.

“This beast is nearly finished! Attack its eyes!”

A tense voice echoed out.

With a thunderous boom, a shrill and tragic howl followed, then everything fell silent.

Chen Ming recognized the voice—it was that of Lord Jin from the Six Doors Authority. With him were several others. Judging from the earlier commotion, they were all First or Second Grade experts.

Only after those people left did Chen Ming step into the cavern, where he saw the corpse of a giant beast lying on the ground. It looked like a large lizard, about two to three meters tall and four to five meters long. Its skin was covered with black scales that glinted with a cold sheen.

Yu Haitang suddenly spoke, “That’s a Lava Lizard, an ancient exotic beast. I read about it in a book. The book said these beasts were long extinct. I didn’t expect one to appear here.”

Then she shook her head, “No, there must be more than one. Lava Lizards only live for a few centuries at most. If it didn’t come from outside, then there must be at least two for them to have bred until now.”

Chen Ming asked, “How strong are these beasts?”

Yu Haitang said, “An adult Lava Lizard is strong enough to rival a First Grade. Its scales can withstand a martial artist’s Gang Yuan—cutting through them even with divine weapons is difficult. They’re also immensely strong and incredibly hard to deal with.”

Chen Ming drew the Phoenix Cry Sword and slashed at it. Sparks flew, and the black scale only bore a faint white mark.

Even though he hadn’t used Gang Yuan, the toughness of these scales was truly astonishing.

Suddenly, his expression tightened. “What’s that sound?”

Immediately after, several figures shot out from a nearby passage—it was the two golden-robed Inspectors from the Six Doors Authority and that palace-dressed young lady, Princess Mingyu. Besides them were several others.

They didn’t even glance at Chen Ming and the rest as they darted into another passage and vanished.

“Run!”

Chen Ming already felt the ground trembling—clearly, something enormous was charging their way. Without hesitation, he grabbed Deng Ziyang and fled.

He chose a different passage. As he entered it, he glanced back and saw a Lava Lizard even larger than the previous one charging at them.

This beast was massive, yet astonishingly fast.

Fortunately, it didn’t chase them. Instead, it went after the Six Doors Authority group.

Chen Ming felt a bit regretful. A beast on par with a First Grade—if he could kill it, how much experience would that be!

Just as he was thinking this, a noise came from ahead.

Looking up, he saw four or five people scrambling in panic toward them, clearly fleeing from something.

What was chasing them?

That thought had just flashed through Chen Ming’s mind when he saw golden light flaring behind them—countless golden flames surging forth.

No—that wasn’t fire. They were glowing ants, each the size of a fingertip. Thousands upon thousands moved together like flowing fire.

Damn!

Without another thought, Chen Ming turned and bolted. This time, he didn’t hold back and fled at full speed.

Anything that could send First and Second Grade experts running in such panic had to be unimaginably terrifying.

Yu Haitang cried out, “Those are Golden Flame Ants! Run! The golden flames on their bodies specifically break protective Gang Yuan!”

Swish—

Chen Ming had already passed Xu Liangchen, fleeing at maximum speed back to the previous cavern. Just then, several others also ran out from another tunnel.

His scalp tingled. This cursed place was far too dangerous.

No wonder the Sea-Calming King hadn’t obtained the key. The forces at his disposal simply couldn’t handle the exotic beasts within.

Chen Ming no longer fled. He stayed in the cavern, ready to retreat into the earlier passage at any sign of danger.

Apparently, he wasn’t the only one with that idea. Soon, seven or eight people had gathered beside him.

Fortunately, once everyone had escaped, the swarming Golden Flame Ants did not pursue. Reaching the edge of the tunnel, they slowly receded.

Among the exotic beasts he had encountered so far, Chen Ming felt these “Golden Flame Ants” were the most terrifying—primarily due to their overwhelming numbers, and their golden flames being the bane of martial artists.

...

Swish!

Just then, a black-clad man walked out from that passage. It was Senior Brother Zhu from the Blood Demon Sect. His crimson eyes first paused on Deng Ziyang for a second, then scanned the cavern, already grasping the current situation.

Hence, he didn’t strike immediately.

Chen Ming’s heart sank. So fast.

Deng Ziyang sent a voice transmission, “As long as I’m not dead, he can’t refine the Blood God Bead. He has to focus on suppressing it and can only use fifty percent of his strength at most.”

Chen Ming thought, A First Grade at fifty percent strength—I still can’t beat him.

At that moment, an old man suggested, “Everyone, judging by the situation, we won’t be able to move forward unless we deal with these beasts. Don’t think about preserving strength anymore. Let’s all attack together and kill them.”

This proposal received unanimous agreement. Google seaʀᴄh NoveI-Fire.ɴet

“What do you think?”

The old man turned to ask Senior Brother Zhu of the Blood Demon Sect.

He nodded slightly and said, “Alright.”

Currently, three exotic beasts had chased them into the cavern: a Lava Lizard, a giant snake with three clusters of blue flames burning atop its head, and an ape whose fur was ablaze.

Immediately, the ten-plus people divided into three groups and attacked simultaneously.

Among the thirteen people, excluding Chen Ming and the other two, all were First or Second Grade experts. At this moment, they held nothing back. In an instant, the three terrifying beasts were slain on the spot without a chance to retaliate.

In particular, five of the First Grade experts delivered the killing blows.

Chen Ming felt that these five could probably solo the exotic beasts.

He recalled how the red-robed Inspector from Six Doors Authority had said that as long as three First Grades worked together, they could obtain the key. It seemed to be true.

In that case, Six Doors Authority must have already obtained intelligence on this cavern. However, True Art of Profound Fire had been split into three, and no one had reached Fourth Grade, so they couldn’t enter until now.

But where did Six Doors Authority get their intel?

Chen Ming had no time to ponder. He felt a chill down his back. Without turning, he knew it had to be that First Grade from Blood Demon Sect.

“Too bad the Cangyue Sect people aren’t here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t need to fear him.”

He was just thinking this when he saw the people from Six Doors Authority emerge from one of the tunnels—clearly, they had also taken care of the Lava Lizard.

Lord Jin’s gaze landed on Chen Ming with a bit of surprise. “You’re not dead?”

Chen Ming replied, “Thanks to your blessing, Lord Jin. Might I ask if you’ve seen Sect Master Ling and his wife from Cangyue Sect?”

“You took the wrong passage. They didn’t go this way.”

“That’s unfortunate, then.”

Lord Jin added, “However, the tunnels here are all interconnected. Each one leads to the final core. Why not join us?”