Chapter 414: Encountering Danger

At this moment, Jiang Fan and Yue Mingzhu were riding on Xiaobai along the edge of Taihu Lake, searching for the whereabouts of several people.

After traveling for about half an hour, several colossal figures came into view.

Rushing forward to take a look, Jiang Fan's expression instantly turned solemn.

Four massive demonic beasts, several zhang tall, lay in pools of blood. They all had saddles and even sedan-like carriages on their bodies. There was no doubt they were human spiritual beasts used for travel.

Yue Mingzhu, who had remained calm, also became truly solemn. She jumped to the front of one of the spiritual beast carcasses. Its head was gone, leaving only a neck covered in sharp teeth marks. The depth of the bite marks and the immense force sent a shiver down Yue Mingzhu's spine. She looked towards the calm lake surface, and a faint ominous feeling arose in her heart.

"Jiang Fan, the mission is aborted. We must return to Sunset City immediately," Yue Mingzhu said in a low voice. "I will ask the Grand Elders to intervene."

She had already realized that what bit this spiritual beast to death was not an ordinary demonic beast. Instead, it was an unparalleled fierce creature of incalculable strength, a creature she might not even be able to contend with.

Jiang Fan's expression changed. Even without Yue Mingzhu's reminder, he felt a strong sense of unease. Besides the headless spiritual beast, the injuries of the other three spiritual beasts were also extremely unusual. Their bodies were actually flattened! Indeed, they had been simultaneously flattened by something in an instant!

Jiang Fan knew he could kill these spiritual beasts, but to flatten spiritual beasts of such immense size and hard bones, he was absolutely incapable of doing so. In fact, he had no doubt that even his master, Liu Wenchen, might not be able to achieve such a feat using his full strength.

So, what kind of fierce creature attacked these spiritual beasts...? Jiang Fan dared not imagine.

"Let's go!" Without hesitation, Jiang Fan decisively urged Xiaobai forward and turned to leave!

Yue Mingzhu was somewhat surprised. She had thought she would need to spend some effort convincing Jiang Fan. Unexpectedly, he, who had insisted on coming here, left so swiftly.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you more," she began, "but I'll definitely find a way after I go back..."

Jiang Fan interrupted her, saying, "I should be thanking you for coming with me. Why would I blame you for anything? Besides, our trip wasn't without its gains. At least we confirmed that they are still alive." A hint of joy flickered across his face.

Yue Mingzhu was surprised, "How can you tell?"

Jiang Fan replied, "It's simple. There are no bodies of theirs around. That fierce creature that attacked them is so terrifying. If they hadn't escaped, they would have certainly died tragically on the spot. Moreover, there were five of them. Logically, there should have been five spiritual beasts. Where did the missing one go? I guess they must have sensed something in advance, and either hid in time or escaped."

Yue Mingzhu's eyes showed surprise. It had to be said that Jiang Fan's analysis was very reasonable. She let out a small breath and said, "Since they are still alive, we should be even more cautious. We need to ensure we have enough power before coming back to rescue them. Otherwise, if we alert the fierce creature, we might only implicate them further."

Jiang Fan nodded. This was precisely why he had decisively decided to withdraw.

Hearing they were going back, Xiaobai excitedly unleashed its hooves, galloping wildly back the way they came.

As they were about to return to the vicinity of Taihu Lake where they had first arrived, Yue Mingzhu seemed to sense something, and her expression drastically changed. Her eyes flickered repeatedly, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "Jiang Fan, I suddenly remembered something. Just now, I think I saw a woman's body underneath one of the spiritual beast carcasses. I was afraid you'd be sad, so I didn't dare tell you earlier."

"What?" Jiang Fan's pupils contracted. Among those on the patrol mission, Liu Qinxian was the only female disciple!

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Jiang Fan, unsure if it was sadness or anger, let out a roar.

Yue Mingzhu said, "I'm sorry, I didn't want this to happen." She silently dismounted Xiaobai.

Jiang Fan was in an extremely foul mood, and decisively turned back alone to check. If it was Liu Qinxian, then... His mind was in a mess, and he rode off, leaving a cloud of dust behind.

Leaving Yue Mingzhu standing alone in the wind and snow. She quietly watched Jiang Fan disappear from sight, her eyes filled with wistfulness. "What a fool," she murmured. "I hope you can return safely."

Having said that, she turned her head, her gaze extremely sharp. The Tianshan silk threads in her sleeve danced in the wind. Her figure flickered, transforming into a fresh emerald afterimage, and she arrived at the edge of Taihu Lake where they had first appeared.

Staring at the deep, dark, unfathomable lake surface, she said coldly, "Come out!"

*Splash!*

The lake surface suddenly erupted with a several-zhang high wave. Before she could clearly see what had emerged, a foul stench came from behind Yue Mingzhu. The Tianshan silk threads in her palm instantly condensed into a massive net, blocking her back.

*Bang!*

An unimaginable terrifying monstrous force pierced through the Tianshan silk, impacting her back. Yue Mingzhu used the immense force to leap forward a considerable distance, only then somewhat unsteadily stabilizing herself.

She turned her head to look. It was a gigantic evil dragon, over ten zhang tall, its entire body a vivid blood-red. It stood upright on two legs, its dull yellow eyes revealing a hint of mockery. It spoke in human tongue, teasing, "Your threads are quite interesting. You actually nullified eighty percent of my power."

With just one look, Yue Mingzhu's pupils constricted, and she said coldly, "So it's you stirring up trouble here. It's one of the Demonic Emperor's Ten Great Generals, the Blood Dragon!" Her heart sank. A terrifying existence like the Blood Dragon might not even be stopped by the Grand Elders. Only a few Grand Elders with strong power, who had reached the ninth layer of Core Formation, could possibly fight it. As for herself, she was absolutely no match for it!

The Blood Dragon chuckled, "So the Sect Master of Joyful Union knows this General. What a surprise. But what surprises this General more is that the Sect Master of Joyful Union is also a person of strong emotions. Originally, you could have abandoned that kid and run away alone. Yet you chose to trick him away, and come here alone to die. Tsk, tsk, seeing how much you care for that kid... Later, I'll bring his head over and place it with your corpse! Hahahaha!"

*Swish, swish, swish—* The Tianshan silk threads from Yue Mingzhu's palm covered the sky, blanketing him. A chilling killing intent followed, "It's not certain who will die yet!"

The Blood Dragon scoffed. Its body's blood-red scales opened and closed as if breathing. The incredibly sharp Tianshan silk threads, cutting into them, were all bounced away.

"What?" Yue Mingzhu was startled. Just as her attack missed, an afterimage too fast to predict struck with a prepared blow. Only when it reached her did Yue Mingzhu see clearly. It was the Blood Dragon's tail!

*Bang!*

Yue Mingzhu, like a broken butterfly, was sent flying, crashing heavily onto the snowy plain. Dazzling crimson blood splattered everywhere, soaking the white snow. Her emerald green dress was largely stained red with blood. Her beautiful hair was also disheveled. Blood continuously flowed from the corner of her mouth. With just one strike, she suffered unimaginable heavy injuries. Her chest bones were shattered. Her internal organs were ruptured. Half of her life was instantly gone. This was the gap between the ninth and eighth layers of Core Formation.

The Blood Dragon chuckled, "The Sect Master of the Nine Sects is nothing more than this! Killing you is like slaughtering a dog!" Having said that, the Blood Dragon's eyes revealed ferocity. It leaped, transforming into an extremely sharp blood-red shadow, its clawed feet fiercely stabbing towards the heavily injured Yue Mingzhu. Even though she was heavily injured at this moment, the Blood Dragon did not relax in the slightest. It gave Yue Mingzhu no chance for a dying counterattack.

*Thud!*

However, an unexpected change still occurred in a way the Blood Dragon could not have foreseen. Just as its feet were about to strike Yue Mingzhu, a layer of golden, ethereal light appeared on her body. Those were golden copper coins, one connected to another, forming a brilliant golden sphere, protecting Yue Mingzhu at its center.

Yue Mingzhu turned her head, and a simple, ancient copper coin was clearly in her mouth. Her eyes also revealed a mocking look, "You finally fell for it!"

Then, her right hand seemed to be pulling something. With a forceful tug.