At last, the colossal ancient well collapsed. A surge of water burst forth like a raging flood, carrying with it a monstrous creature that emerged from the depths.
Its head rose high, revealing shrimp-like eyes, a bull-like mouth, a dog's nose, and catfish whiskers. Atop its head was a single horn. As it opened its maw, a cloud of dark mist escaped along with fragments of mangled remains. Gradually, the creature's massive form emerged—an enormous shell akin to a tortoise's, a serpentine tail, and four muscular legs bound by eight colossal chains, one of which was already broken.
"'The Vermillion Bird guards the front, the tortoise rears the rear,' and 'the Azure Dragon's ancient horn stands mighty,'" Du Chunfeng muttered, quoting old verses as he beheld the creature. "This... this is a Bixi!" His voice trembled with disbelief.
Du Chunfeng never imagined that beneath the dried well lay such a monstrous being—a descendant of dragons, though not purebred.
The dragon's sixth son, Bixi, was known for its herculean strength, capable of bearing mountains and overturning rivers. Despite the impurity of its bloodline, this Bixi bore unmistakable dragon traits—razor-sharp fangs, four clawed limbs covered in dragon scales, and a massive, unyielding shell. Even a diluted bloodline meant it could transform into a true dragon under the right circumstances.
The Bixi reared its head and let out a deafening roar. It began to move, each step a display of brute force. With every stomp, it shattered one chain, then another. Forty-seven steps later, all its shackles lay broken. Freed from its bonds, the ancient beast stood poised to unleash its fury upon the world—a cataclysm for the villagers.
Panic spread like wildfire. Villagers fled in all directions, but few escaped its wrath. Some were crushed beneath its weight, others devoured whole. The sacrificial ritual had indeed summoned a divine creature, but it was no savior—it was annihilation incarnate.
Amid the chaos, the innkeeper was struck by falling debris, his body sent flying toward the hillside where Zhao Letian stood. Reacting swiftly, Zhao caught the innkeeper mid-air and pulled him to safety.
Moments later, the Bixi had consumed nearly every villager. The few remaining corpses scattered across the ground failed to hold its interest. Its gaze shifted toward the survivors, landing on the little fox demon, Bai Susu. A glint of hunger ignited in its eyes, and drool dripped from its maw.
But then it spotted the high priest cloaked in shadows. The beast's demeanor changed, eyes burning with hatred. Roaring with rage, it charged toward the priest.
The high priest sneered. His figure dissolved into a swirling black mist and vanished into the air. The Bixi stopped, dumbfounded and furious, unable to vent its rage on its nemesis. It turned its gaze back to Bai Susu, locking onto her with predatory intent.
Du Chunfeng stumbled toward Zhao Letian, his face pale. "What... what stage is that thing at?" Zhao asked, his voice tense.
Demon beasts were classified by the colors of their demonic cores: gray, green, red, yellow, blue, cyan, purple, orange, rainbow, and prismatic—ranging from small demons to the supreme Demon Saints. Ancient beasts like the Bixi, however, didn't easily conform to these classifications. They were far stronger than ordinary demons of the same level.
Du Chunfeng shook his head. "This is beyond my understanding."
Suddenly, he clutched his chest and muttered, "Hot... It's so hot..." His face turned crimson, his eyes bloodshot. He staggered, his vision warping. The ground seemed to transform into a hellish blood pool, filled with writhing villagers and monstrous, grotesque worms devouring their remains.
"So much blood... such a massive beast..." Du Chunfeng raved, consumed by delusion.
"What's wrong with him?" Zhao Letian asked, feeling an uncharacteristic irritability wash over him. "Wait... it really is getting hot."
"You've been poisoned," Bai Xinxin said grimly. "Anyone who drank the sacred water has been affected. Your case is mild, but Du Chunfeng..." She trailed off.
"Poisoned? But Du Chunfeng is an expert in toxins," Zhao Letian retorted.
Bai Xinxin shook her head. "The Bixi's poison is colorless and tasteless. Even someone of his skill can't detect it. There are two ways to neutralize it: drink more sacred water—or consume its blood and flesh."
As she spoke, the Bixi began its slow, deliberate approach. Bai Xinxin stepped forward, shielding Bai Susu with her body. "Stay back. Don't get hurt," she said softly.
Bai Susu obediently retreated to a safe distance, while Zhao Letian dragged Du Chunfeng further away. He had no intention of fighting; survival was his only priority.
The Bixi hesitated, sensing that Bai Xinxin was no ordinary opponent. Yet its ravenous desire for the fox demon's tender flesh overpowered its caution. Zhao Letian and Du Chunfeng, in its eyes, were insignificant pests.
Bai Xinxin ascended into the air, her figure graceful as an immortal. Summoning her innate supernatural ability, she unleashed the ethereal Netherworld Foxfire. The flames bypassed the Bixi's shell, scorching its flesh directly. The beast roared in agony, its immense frame writhing in pain as it retaliated.
Despite its bulk, the Bixi was deceptively quick, each step covering ten feet. Yet its massive size was its greatest hindrance. It couldn't keep up with Bai Xinxin's nimble movements as she darted through the air, her attacks landing with precision.
The fight resembled a clash between a leopard and an elephant—each of the fox demon's strikes left small but growing wounds. Over time, these minor injuries would accumulate into debilitating damage. However, the Bixi's immense stamina and resilience meant it could endure far more punishment than an ordinary beast.
Still, Bai Xinxin couldn't hold out forever. The Bixi hadn't even unleashed its divine abilities yet, and she was already nearing her limit.
"Looks like I'll have to lend you a hand," a sinister voice chuckled.
The black mist coalesced into the form of the high priest, who appeared beside the Bixi's neck. In one swift motion, he drove a dark sword deep into its flesh. The beast howled, thrashing wildly, but the priest evaded its attacks with ease. Again and again, his sword struck, piercing its scales and drawing dark, viscous blood.
The Bixi roared, each of its nine wounds spurting purple-black blood. It convulsed, wild energy coursing through its body as the priest laughed coldly and disappeared into the shadows.
"Nine Yin Blood Refinement..." Bai Xinxin murmured in shock. The ancient forbidden art amplified power exponentially—threefold with three Yin, sixfold with six Yin, and a staggering twenty-sevenfold with nine Yin.
A Bixi with strength magnified twenty-seven times…