Zhao Yuan's arm was pinned by Xiaoyang's death grip, making it impossible to move, but that didn't matter. He had other ways to strike!
"Xiaobai!"
At Zhao Yuan's cry, the White Cat shot over like a bolt of lightning. It snatched the Fearless Pearl from his hand, leaped up, and used its four small claws to rapidly scale Xiaoyang's black fur, reaching the monster's head in an instant.
By now, Xiaoyang had stopped laughing, but its two massive lips hadn't returned to normal. Sensing something coming for its head, its first instinct was to snap at it with its cavernous mouth.
The White Cat whipped its head around, flinging the Fearless Pearl from its jaws straight into Xiaoyang's mouth. It then leaped away, dodging just before the massive jaws snapped shut.
The moment the Fearless Pearl entered Xiaoyang's throat, it took effect. It was as if it possessed a searing heat, scalding Xiaoyang so badly that it shrieked again and again. Plumes of acrid smoke even billowed from its mouth.
Wracked with agony, Xiaoyang forgot all about tearing Zhao Yuan to shreds. It released its grip on him and tried to reach into its own throat to claw the Fearless Pearl out.
Freed, Zhao Yuan leaped high into the air. Before Xiaoyang could react, he shoved the Wind and Thunder Whip, which was crackling with sparks of lightning, into its mouth.
"AH—"
Xiaoyang let out an even more shrill and wretched scream. The sound waves were so powerful they caused cracks to appear on the surrounding walls and ground, and nearly ruptured Zhao Yuan's eardrums.
Although this Mountain Spirit's hide was astonishingly tough, its insides were fragile. Taking heavy damage from both the Fearless Pearl and the Wind and Thunder Whip in quick succession had injured it severely.
Enraged, Xiaoyang lifted its leg and kicked at Zhao Yuan.
The kick was incredibly powerful. Zhao Yuan knew better than to block it head-on. He pulled the Wind and Thunder Whip out and retreated, dodging the blow.
With the Wind and Thunder Whip gone, Xiaoyang felt a bit of relief. It then managed to dig out the Fearless Pearl and let its lips, which had been covering its face, fall back into place. Gouts of foul, black blood poured from its mouth, spattering onto the ground and releasing a nauseating stench!
Once it could see again, however, Xiaoyang was stunned.
The space before it was empty. There was no sign of Zhao Yuan.
'Where did he go?'
A sudden possibility occurred to Xiaoyang. Its expression changed drastically, and it frantically tried to turn around, but it was too late.
Zhao Yuan had already darted behind it and grabbed the iron chains locked to its shoulders!
A normal Xiaoyang wouldn't have these two chains. They were shackles placed on it by the one who had enslaved it—a means of control and subjugation, much like a nose ring in a bull!
Of course, without knowing the Secret Technique, grabbing these chains was useless. Not only would it fail to subdue Xiaoyang, but it would also thoroughly enrage it. But Zhao Yuan had no such concerns, because the Information Leaf had already provided him with a method.
Zhao Yuan gripped the chains and crossed them. He channeled his Wish Power into them and rapidly recited a Spell.
It was a Curse Technique he had learned from the Ying Family Library, and it was perfect for this very moment!
Xiaoyang suddenly felt its once-boundless strength rapidly draining away.
As its strength vanished, its defense, resistance, and other abilities plummeted! At the same time, it felt a scorching energy surge through the chains and into its body, as if a raging fire had been lit within it, threatening to burn it to ashes from the inside out!
Xiaoyang was afraid.
It suddenly realized that the human it was fighting today was simply too dangerous! Not only would it likely fail to eat him, but it might even be killed by him! The thought terrified it. A series of low roars rumbled in its throat as it mustered the last of its strength to struggle with all its might.
Although Xiaoyang's strength was sapped by the Curse Technique and its weakness was being exploited by Zhao Yuan, the power it unleashed in its desperate struggle was still astonishing. Even with his Cultivation at the Late Stage of Marrow Cleansing, Zhao Yuan couldn't maintain control. The chains in his hands were suddenly wrenched free by Xiaoyang.
'Damn it!' Zhao Yuan cursed inwardly. Aided by his Shrinking Earth Talisman, he was about to lunge forward and grab the chains again.
This was one of the Mountain Spirit's few weaknesses. If he couldn't use it to inflict heavy damage, he had no confidence he could withstand its counterattack once it recovered.
However, whether out of fear or some other reason, Xiaoyang chose that exact moment to back down.
After breaking free, not only did it not counterattack, but it broke into a run, smashed a huge hole in the courtyard wall, and fled...
'Why did that thing run?' Zhao Yuan was baffled. He didn't have time to wonder if it was a trap and immediately gave chase.
Just as he chased it out of the courtyard, he heard a clamor of voices in the darkness, and several beams of light from flashlights pierced the gloom, aimed in his direction.
It was the old village chief and the people of Jinhua Village!
After hearing the commotion from the Zhao Family's residence, they had overcome their fear and rushed over to help, armed with shotguns and machetes, or carrying hoes and shoulder poles.
Although the night's events had an eerie, unnatural feel, Zhao Yuan was a great benefactor to the people of Jinhua Village! How could they stand by and do nothing now that their benefactor's home was in trouble?
The mountain folk were simple and their thinking straightforward. To repay Zhao Yuan, they were willing to risk their own lives!
From a distance, illuminated by the flashlights, the old village chief and the villagers saw a hulking figure running at full speed, with Zhao Yuan in pursuit.
"What is that thing?"
"It's huge! Could it be some kind of monster?"
"It looks like Zhao Yuan is chasing it! Quick, let's go help!"
The villagers charged forward, wielding their assorted weapons. The few who had shotguns, including the old village chief, immediately took aim at Xiaoyang and pulled their triggers.
BANG! BANG!
The gunshots rang out, but Xiaoyang was completely unharmed. Its speed didn't falter as it continued its mad dash.
It wasn't that the old village chief and the others had missed. In fact, they were seasoned hunters with decades of experience; their marksmanship was beyond question. The problem was that while shotguns were effective against ordinary animals, they were far too weak against Xiaoyang. They couldn't even penetrate its armor-like hide. Perhaps if they'd had a few automatic rifles firing simultaneously, they might have been able to take it down.
Seeing the crowd, Xiaoyang abruptly changed direction and sprinted off another way.
It was simply running too fast. Worried that the villagers would be in danger if they ran into it, Zhao Yuan had no choice but to give up the chase, shouting for the villagers to stop as well.
Panting, Zhao Yuan thought to himself, 'He can run, but his master can't. That Mountain Spirit was sent by Mage Zhang. I'll just go find Mage Zhang directly. Once I've captured the king, his pawns will be no trouble at all!'
Hearing his words, the villagers all stopped their pursuit.
Not that they had a choice. Xiaoyang was running so fast that it was impossible to catch up on foot.
The old village chief ran up to Zhao Yuan. After confirming he wasn't seriously hurt, he let out a sigh of relief and asked curiously, "Brother Yuan, what was that thing just now?"
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