This discovery left Yang Bin dumbstruck.
"Mengyao, when did you reach the seventh rank!?" Yang Bin whispered in shock.
With her eyes focused on Yang Chen, Yang Mengyao answered, "While I was searching for you."
Thinking it over, it did seem plausible. Before Yang Bin and Yang Mengyao separated, Yang Mengyao wasn't able to catch up to Yang Bin, but after their reunion, she was suddenly able to drag the body of a Dark Wolf. This difference could only be because of a breakthrough.
Yang Bin smiled self-deprecatingly. Just when he thought he was catching up to her in terms of cultivation, he was left in the dust again. "Will you need help?" Yang Bin asked worriedly. Yang Mengyao's leap in strength did lower the gap between her and Yang Chen, but it didn't completely bridge it. He was still a rank above her.
"It's fine. I can handle it." Yang Mengyao smiled at him. "I told you that I won't be a burden to you, so just stay back and leave it to me."
Yang Bin hesitantly nodded, but then he frowned a second later. Something is wrong with this scene, very wrong. Shouldn't I be the one saying these words, not the other way around? Why are the roles reversed?
Regardless of Yang Bin's conflicting thoughts, he had to rely on Yang Mengyao. Against an eighth rank body tempering cultivator, he knew that he was only a burden to her. The only thing he could do was cheer her on.
Meanwhile, Yang Chen's expression became more solemn. He was unafraid of ordinary competitors, but a seventh rank body tempering cultivator definitely wasn't ordinary. Those who were able to reach this stage at this age were considered the cream of the crops. He cannot underestimate her.
"I wasn't expecting such a strong opponent." Yang Chen slowly said.
Yang Mengyao turned to look at him. "That beast core you stole belongs to my brother. He fought and suffered for it. I'll be taking it back." As she spoke, she channeled her qi to coat her finger. Abruptly, she lunged forwards and swiped. It was her signature move: Crescent Cut.
Yang Chen, who wasn't expecting a sudden attack, leaned back in fright and put his arms in front of him. Startled as well, the red bird that was perched on his shoulder, flew to a safer spot.
Right before Yang Mengyao's Crescent Cut came into contact with Yang Chen's forearms, they shone with a bronze gleam, followed by a cry, "Earth Guard!"
Screech!
A loud screeching sound rang out upon contact, causing the two to take a step back.
Feeling a prickling pain, Yang Chen hurriedly retreated. His eyes widened in shock, as he realized there was now a pink mark on his arm. This is my strongest defense! Not even the Gust Wolf's bite could leave a mark against it, yet that simple attack could leave such a painful scratch! He looked back at her with wariness.
While Yang Chen was alarmed, Yang Mengyao was dissatisfied. Until now, she had never seen something that was able to withstand her Crescent Cut. Even an initial stage demon beast was easily decapitated by it!
"I'm still not strong enough…" Yang Mengyao muttered to herself. From her bag, she pulled out a talisman and activated it. Without any hesitation, she dashed forward again, prepared to use the same attack.
Noticing the red aura leaking from Yang Mengyao, Yang Chen instinctively felt that she had become more dangerous. He was certain that his Earth Guard wouldn't be able to block this attack. Flying in the air, Yang Chen's bird also seemed to have realized this as well. It spat a ball of fire at the charging Yang Mengyao, forcing her to dodge.
But Yang Mengyao didn't let the bird impede her. After shooting one withering glance at the bird, she continued charging at Yang Chen. The bird continued to spit fireballs at her, and she continued weaving between the incoming attacks.
While Yang Mengyao was busy, Yang Chen was retreating with a hesitant expression on his face. Being a gentleman, he doesn't like hitting the fairer sex, especially one that was younger than him. However, he also couldn't just let Yang Mengyao attack him, as she was way too dangerous after the talisman's enhancement. That left running around and dodging… except that would seem too cowardly.
On the side, when Yang Bin saw that Yang Chen's bird was delaying Yang Mengyao, he acted. Picking up some pebbles on the ground, he threw it at the bird. Despite his vision being enhanced by his Mystic Pupils, his aim wasn't quite there, missing greatly.
Although it missed, Yang Bin had captured the bird's attention for a second. It glared at him with hostility and chirped angrily, as if telling him to not bother it. Then it ignored him and continued raining fireballs at Yang Mengyao.
Feeling the disregard the bird had for him, Yang Bin felt insulted. This flying chicken is only an initial first rank magic beast, yet it dares look down on me? Annoyed, Yang Bin picked up a few pebbles from the ground and flung all of them at the bird. Most of them flew horribly astray, but there was one that barely grazed the bird's feathers.
Yang Bin had finally successfully caught its attention.
The bird slowly turned its head. There was fire in its eyes, as it glared at him. Sucking in a deep breath of air, it spat a continuous beam of fire at him. Unlike the past fireballs, this flame was much larger and brighter with a hint of orange. Whenever it moved, it left a scorched ground in its wake.
Seeing the new attack, Yang Bin's eyes widened and his jaws dropped. That has to be an offensive technique! Why does this chicken know offensive techniques? He shrieked in his mind, as he quickly scrambled to get away from the attack's trajectory. Even though he wasn't sure of the technique's prowess, he wasn't ready to test it with his body.
The absence of fireballs was quickly noticed by Yang Mengyao and Yang Chen. The former paused and looked up in search of it. Upon seeing the situation on Yang Bin's end, her heart almost skipped a beat, but seeing his reassuring smile, she was able to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Your brother doesn't seem to be doing too well. Are you not going to help him?" Yang Chen asked, hoping to distract Yang Mengyao so that he could escape.
"Hmph! No matter how great your bird is, my brother can take care of it!" Yang Mengyao declared. Channeling her qi into her hand, she lunged forwards again. Without any interruption from Yang Chen's red bird, she was in front of him in just a few seconds. Using Crescent Cut, she swiped horizontally across his chest.
Seeing the rapidly approaching hand, Yang Chen whispered, "Power kick." His legs were suddenly filled with strength, and he kicked himself backwards, instantly withdrawing from Yang Mengyao's range. Once he was safe, he quickly turned and delivered a roundhouse kick towards Yang Mengyao.
Yang Mengyao was prepared for his retaliation. Taking a step back, she fluttered out of Yang Chen's kick, before surging forward again for another strike.
While Yang Mengyao, Yang Chen, and Yang Bin were all busy fighting, unknownst to them, there was a group of three boys spectating. They were drawn by the commotion of the fights and were quietly discussing amongst themselves.
"Hey, the guy over there fighting the girl is Yang Chen, right?" One of them asked.
"Yeah. I heard that he had already broken through to the eighth rank of body tempering. Since the girl is able to fight him toe-to-toe, she should also be around that rank." Another answered.
"We are only at fifth rank; we shouldn't mess with those at the seventh or eighth rank. However, there seems to be one more person, and he seems much weaker than the rest." The third boy pointed out. He was leader among the trio.
The three simultaneously glanced at Yang Bin. Compared to Yang Mengyao and Yang Chen, he did look a lot more pathetic, constantly running away from the small red bird.
"That one should be in a group with either Yang Chen or the girl. Even though he's weaker than the others, there might be some treasure on him." The leader said. "Not only that, that bird should be an initial stage demon beast; it's worth five points. Do you guys want to…?" His voice trailed off as he looked at his comrades.
Little did he know, the bird wasn't a demon beast, but was Yang Chen's pet. Thus killing it wouldn't grant them any point; instead it would only incite Yang Chen's anger.
The two thought for a second then nodded.
"Then let's get into position."
The three stealthy moved forwards. Chased by the bird, Yang Bin didn't realize that he was running straight into a trap.