Page 82: Smacks

The chat between Long Bai's group and Tan Zhong's group lasted for almost fourty minutes. They have talked about their own affairs and have discussed some points about alchemy. It was a lively interaction between friends that have developed for only a few interactions. Since Long Bai was Tan Zhong's benefactor, they became well aquainted instantly.

"Say brother Tan Zhong, how far did you reached by sailing with the merchant ship?"

"Hm, let me think. I think that would be mirage city. The food there was the best so far that I have tasted."

"Right! Ah, the taste of the Blue marshal water best was the best so far."

"Huh? Have you been there brother Bai?"

"Huh? Ah no..no.. I just heard that it was the best. Hahaha!"

"Junior Bai, it sounded that you really have tasted it. What was that expression you made? Are you from Mirage city?"

"Ahaha. Senior Li, I was from the slums. How would I be able to go to such far island?"

Just before they can continue their lively chat, they were interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps coming from behind. All eyes shifted from that direction and saw a young man being chased by a beast.

[Dark Torterian

Strength: Sky rank- mid grade

Skills: Body Slam ]

"Everyone, prepare for battle! Be extra careful, that's a sky rank- mid grade beast."

Long Bai informed the whole group while trying to assess what was going on. Looking at the rampaging beast, it seemed that they have provoked the beast in a disturbing way.

"We are about to take a train pass. Try to disperse as far from each other to prevent any much damage from the raging beast. Prioritize your own safety."

The distance between the group and the incoming beast was closing. While waiting for what is to come, the rest followed Bai's command and totally dispersed 20 meters away from their original spot. Only Long Bai remained on the same spot.

100 meters...70 meters...40 meters...10 meters...

"Help! Help me! I don't want to die!"

"Huh? That's Cuifen isn't it? What did he do to be chased to this extent?"

Tan Zhong asked while feeling amused by the show. Instead of feeling nervous about the situation, upon learning that the person being chased was Cuifen, his mood suddenly changed. From being frightened to being amused, Tan Zhong tried to enjoy the scene that is freely displayed in front of him.

"What are you doing? Help me!"

Cuifen was screaming with all his might asking some help from the others. While the others were hesitating to help, Long Bai positioned himself properly and executed his palm skill. With a good leap up high, the skill was released.

<Blazing Palm Strike>!

A burning bright red flames in the shape of a huge palm came out and plunged into the hard back of the beast.

Boom!

A single fire explosion took place. Due to the shockwave, the beast which was as wide as a volleyball court was pushed downwards and was pinned on the ground. The area where the large beast was on sagged one meter burying 1/4 of the beast's height. When the blaze of bright red flame was extinguished on the beast's back, black smoke rose. The back of the beast became charred but was not enough to render it immobile. The shell on its back was too thick for an average of flame to break it. However, Long Bai knew what happens to shells when exposed to extreme heat, they get brittle.

As Long Bai was descending on the stunned beast back, he gave one strong punch on its back trying to break the hard thick shell.

Pak! Crack!

The punch was loud but the crackling was even more prominent to the ears. There was a dent made by the punch but was not enough to kill it. The beast was in pain but it made it even more and desperate. The beast that was running a while ago stopped and instead was flailing steadily on its place due to the pain.

Long Bai has thought of leaving the beast alone and just watch as it pursue Cuifen but that will put the portal inscription in jeopardy. The portal was laid in a structure resembling a small entryway in an arch shape. If such structure would be destroyed, it would take a few days before they can return back to the sect.

Just when Long Bai was preparing to give another attack, Zhang Li climb to the back of the turtle- like beast and planned to help him.

"Junior Bai, I think I heard the shell breaking after that palm attack of yours. Let me aid you. Let's combine our attacks together at the same time."

Tan Zhong on the other hand was on the ground trying to taunt the beast to get its attention.

"Brother Tan Zhong, keep it occupied for us. It is already hurt so its movement became sloppy. Just be careful of its attack's area of effect. Maintain that distance. We're going to attack it from its back one more time!"

Tan Zhong gave a confirmation. While Long Bai and Zhang Li were still riding on the back of the beast, they were suffering from the erratic motion of the beast. When he confirmed that Zhang Li was good to go, he gave his signal. Long Bai leaped up high and was followed by Zhang Li. Both aimed at the crack on the beast back.

<Blazing Palm Strike>!

Long Bai charged it more with essence than the normal amount. With the strength gate widely opened, he was able to double the power of the palm strike. The size of the blazing palm did not grow larger but instead, it had a luster of golden color. This was an indication that the attack was super condensed with essence and would bring a devastating effect.

<Flame Serpent Strike>!

The flame serpent coiled around the base of the palm adding some fierceness to the attack. With the palm's heavy force and the flame serpent's penetrative characteristics, it created a phenomenal attack that portrayed a hammer and a nail being driven into a hard wood.

BOOM!!!

Shockwaves from the explosion shook the surroundings while dusts and tiny debris clouded the area. Everyone heard a long shriek from the beast for a ling time and then it ended with a thud.

Everyone's eyes were focused on the beast's huge body trying to confirm that it was really subjugated. As the dust cleared, they saw Long Bai slashing off some flesh on the beast's back and dug his arms inside the thick flesh. After sometime, they saw a yellow colored crystal ball on his right arm.

"! That's a yellow grade beast core! Brother Bai, you're so lucky!"

That was Tan Zhong who was screaming in admiration. Long Bai kept the core in his pouch and jumped down from the beast's back. Tan Zhong together with his companion approached Long Bai wishing they could see the core one more time. Zhang Li was also there praising her junior.

"No, no.. senior, if it was not distracted and out of reason, it should have been harder than how it was. It was also thanks to everyone's effort that it was defeated.

Although, we should exoress our thanks to someone who was dumb enough to bring it here and put us all in danger. It was a sky rank- middle grade beast after all."

Everyone's attention shifted to Cuifen who was still panting hardly on his knees and both hands on the ground.

Long Bai on the other hand was thinking what happened. Since the beast was a sky rank- middle grade beast, its strength was comparable to someone who reached the Soul tempering stage- Essence condensation layer. However, it looked like it was weaker than the expected strength. He was only at the core tempering layer of the Soul Tempering stage and yet together with a bunch of visceral tempering layer, they were able to defeat such beast? It was mind baffling. Long Bai thought there was something wrong with the beasts in this world fragment.

After contemplating for a minute and observing around, he understood something. Because the place was scarce of resources, the beasts were not as strong as their realm suggests. With a land that is devoid with resources, the beasts grew weaker and weaker over the years.

While Long Bai was quietly with his thoughts, they were disturbed by a young man's voice demanding to have a share of the beast's parts. Zhang Li took some of its cerebrospinal fluid which can be essential in making pills while Tan Zhong took the whole body and kept it in his void ring.

"I want to have my share of the beast. I brought it here so I should have some too!"

Cuifen stood back on both feet and faced Tan Zhong who was the last to keep the beast's carcass. Although he was still catching his breath, it was enough for him to make conversation.

Tan Zhong and Zhang Li looked at each other after hearing Cuifen's claims and spontaneously burst into laughter. That was the most hilarious words they have heard ever since.

"Look at that, the mighty Cuifen is actually asking me to give him some of his share. Aren't you not acting as usual? You don't ask someone to give you things, normally you just take it from them. What happened to you?"

Tan Zhong was trying to mock Cuifen of his predicament. With what Cuifen did to him and his comrade at the swamp, he can't just forget it and say kumbaya. He left him to die and yet here he was asking him to do something as if nothing happened. It was an unbelievable experience for him.

"Look, just like that brat said a while ago, (pointing at Long Bai) shouldn't you thank me for bringing that beast here?"

Everyone was stunned by the dumb words coming from the airhead in front of them. All looked at each other and tried to stifle their laughter. A second later, they saw Cuifen's body flew.

Pack!

It didn't flew literally but someone sent him flying with a punch on his face. It was so sudden that made everyone become quiet. When the rest looked at the person who did it, a person who was bleeding all over his body was standing there still clenching on his right fist. His clothing was drenched with his own blood and his left arm was dangling. It could have been that the humerus bone was shattered or broken causing it to be dangling like a pendulum.

"You trash! I can't believe I trusted you just to become a bait for you to escape."

Even when he was still suffering from the bleeding and broken bones, Yusheng went on to continue give his beatings. After giving 2 or three kicks, he fell on his butt and coughed out some blood. Cuifen on the other hand curled his body like a baby on the ground afraid of any more hits from Yusheng. The fierce looking Cuifen was now reduced to a child who was afraid for his life to be taken.

"Here, take this. It will help. Can you tell us what happened?"

Zhang Li approached Yusheng and offered a rejuvenating pill. Although Yusheng is always seen beside Cuifen at many times, he didn't do anything bad to her. Still, helping him was necessary since he was an important asset of the sect.

"Thanks."

Yusheng took the pill and circulated his essence for a few minutes. After ensuring that his body is not in grave danger, he stood up and asked everyone's attention.

"Everyone, I hope nothing that happened here will be spoken outside. Let me handle this thing. I just don't want rumors to be spread out about our sect when the competition is still going on."

"Why should we trust you? You look like you were in cahoots with this sh*tty guy on the ground. How can we just let this go?"

Yusheng was silent but his eyes were full of determination and seriousness. Long Bai approached Tan Zhong and put his hand on the latter's shoulder.

"Brother Tan Zhong, let it be."

"But brother Bai, he.."

Tan Zhong stopped when he saw Long Bai's reassuring expression. He was still confused as to why Long Bai would trust Yusheng but since it's his benefactor, he have no choice but to trust him.

The reason Long Bai stopped Tan Zhong asking question was because of Yusheng's words just when he gave that punch that made Cuifen grovel to the ground.

While the rest were silent, the only sound they can hear was the mutterings coming from the scared Cuifen who was still crying while curled up on the ground. It was not apparent which he was afraid with, either to Yusheng or someone else. While these were currently happening, the archway started lighting up.

"It's opening!" Tan Zhong exclaimed.

While everyone was excited to return, they heard Cuifen mutter words louder and louder.

"Pl..ease..forgive me.. forgive me..Spare my life.."