Chapter Twelve: The Mythical Beast Pixiu

Bai Shisong’s face was filled with regret as he said, “Third Brother, this frost stone is truly a rare treasure for those who practice earth-based techniques. Last time, we stopped right here and didn’t explore further in. Perhaps there are even more frost stones deeper inside?”

“Senior Brother, though this frost stone isn’t a supreme celestial material, it’s still exceedingly rare. To find even a little here is already fortune enough for us. Even if there’s more within, it can’t be much,” Qing Shi replied, shaking his head.

Bai Shisong nodded. “That’s likely true, Brother. Rather than speculate, why don’t we refine this stone wall now and see what we may gain?”

Qing Shi nodded. “Very well, Senior Brother! Everyone, please wait a moment.” With that, he slowly pressed both palms against the stone wall and gave a low shout. At once, faint cracking sounds came from the stone. The others watched as a web of fissures radiated outward from where Qing Shi’s palms touched, spreading densely across the wall.

Sixth Brother Ouyang Tai marveled from the side, “Third Brother, I haven’t seen you use your Vajra Palm in some time—its power is even greater now!”

Qing Shi chuckled. “Only a few days ago did I comprehend the third level of the Vajra Palm. Today is merely its first trial!”

Before he finished speaking, glimmers of light began to emerge amidst the cracking stone, gathering toward the center of Qing Shi’s palms. He grew silent, and the others, knowing this was a crucial moment, held their tongues. The glimmers gradually coalesced into a single, ever-brightening spot, shrinking smaller and smaller until it became a thumb-sized orb of light. It burst from the wall, hovered in midair, then slowly dimmed to reveal a piece of crystal-clear stone, as transparent as ice. Qing Shi carefully retrieved it and placed it in a porcelain vial, finally exhaling in relief.

“Third Brother, so the frost stone is safely in hand?” Qing Xia and Qing Yu teased with a smile.

“Yes. When we return, I’ll meld this frost stone into my Cold Moon Hook. Its power should increase by quite a bit—even if it can’t match Senior Brother’s Clear Pine Sword, it might at least surpass Second Brother’s Boundless Staff,” Qing Shi replied with a laugh.

“Haha, Third Brother, that’s well and good. When you’ve finished refining it, we’ll have a friendly match again. Last time, when you got the Moonlight Stone, you said the same, but it still fell short of my Boundless Staff!” Qing Kai joked from the side.

Everyone laughed along. “Enough—let’s move deeper inside and see what else lies ahead!” Bai Shisong said.

The group roused their spirits and ventured further. After a short while, Senior Brother suddenly shouted, “Watch out!” A black shadow darted up, lunging straight for the luminous pearls lighting the cavern. Before Qing Shi could react, darkness engulfed them all.

Ye Hua heard a metallic clang, then a furious roar ahead. Everyone had already drawn their own magical treasures, and light returned to the cavern. Before them stood a creature that seemed a cross between an ox and a tiger, with a single horn on its head, glaring and roaring at Senior Brother’s Clear Pine Sword. Apparently, it had failed to gain the upper hand in their earlier clash.

“A Pixiu,” everyone thought with dread. Unexpectedly, they had encountered such a beast here. Pixiu were infamous for their thick hides and armored bodies. Judging by its size, this one must have reached the Seven Treasures realm. Though a beast of equal cultivation to a human, it was often far more formidable. The Pixiu’s roar made it clear that they had intruded upon its domain.

Bai Shisong whispered, “Junior Sister, cover Little Brother and slowly move out. Second Brother, Third Brother, the three of us will hold off this beast. The rest of you, withdraw in order!” He quickly formed hand signs, and the Clear Pine Sword burst into radiant light, transforming into a streak that shot toward the beast.

The Pixiu sensed the danger and let out a low growl. It lowered its head, and its horn emitted a beam of light that collided with the flying sword, holding it at bay in midair. Bai Shisong’s eyes flashed with surprise. Seeing the Pixiu’s ferocity, Qing Kai and Qing Shi immediately leapt into action.

Qing Shi’s left hand traced a small circle, his fingers suddenly flipping as he struck forward. A palm-shaped shadow shot out. The beast, unable to dodge, howled in pain and rage. Suddenly, with a flash of white light from its mouth, Qing Shi grunted, staggered back, and fell to the ground.

Qing Kai rushed to help Qing Shi up, feeling him trembling, his palm ominously blackened. The Pixiu roared again, another flash of white light shooting at Qing Kai. He responded with a wave, releasing a jet of black light that collided with the white.

Though Qing Kai’s energy was deeper than Qing Shi’s, he too staggered and collapsed, crying out, “Senior Brother, the white light is poisonous!” Bai Shisong grew anxious, quickly forming new signs. The Clear Pine Sword split in two, two became four, then countless sword shadows filled the air, enveloping the beast. Grabbing Qing Shi with one hand and Qing Kai with the other, he turned to flee.

This Pixiu, long the terror of these parts, would never let prey escape so easily. Its body swelled, threatening to burst through the sword-formed barrier. The screen of swords flickered, barely holding. After a tense moment, with a thunderous crash, the sword screen shattered, turning into a bolt of light that shot outward. By then, the group had already retreated from the cave. Seeing the cavern empty, the Pixiu let out an enraged roar and bounded after them.

Soon, Ye Hua, Ling Yun’er, and the others stood by a small pool outside. Bai Shisong and the two injured brothers had just reached the cave mouth when the Pixiu emerged close behind. Knowing the beast’s power and the deadly white light in its mouth, Bai Shisong could only hope their magical treasures would hold. He shouted, “Everyone, unleash your treasures—block the Pixiu and beware the white poison!”

Before he finished, the Pixiu crouched and sprang, all four feet off the ground, white light crackling from its mouth as it shot straight at Bai Shisong.

Steeling himself, Bai Shisong formed hand signs and thrust his hands forward, summoning a crystal clear golden lotus. He thought anxiously, “I wonder if the Golden Lotus can withstand the white light. If not, all of us may be doomed!”

The white light struck the golden lotus, which spun rapidly, its radiance flaring. The white beam was reflected away. Bai Shisong merely felt a powerful force, but was otherwise unharmed. Stunned, he was then overjoyed. With a quick gesture, the Golden Lotus burst into a flurry of petals, swarming toward the Pixiu, while his left palm struck out with a fierce gust.

Caught off guard as it dodged the whirling petals, the beast couldn’t evade the palm strike, which hit its belly, making it stumble and nearly fall.

Startled, the beast bellowed, leaping wildly as it spat white beams in quick succession, but the golden lotus blocked them all. Bai Shisong marveled at the strange, lightning-fast beams. Meanwhile, everyone except Ye Hua, Qing Shi, and Qing Kai wielded their treasures, filling the air with dazzling light as they attacked the beast. Yet, whether by innate toughness or profound cultivation, the Pixiu shrugged off every blow as if untouched. Alarmed, the group only intensified their assault.

The beast leapt and dodged amid the barrage, its white beams relentlessly countered by Bai Shisong. Frustrated, it suddenly turned, spitting four white beams at Bai Shisong, Qing Xia, and Qing Yu to distract them, then bounded toward Ling Yun’er.

Ling Yun’er, ever wary, saw the Pixiu leap at her and responded instantly, sending her Scarlet Cloud Ribbon to entangle it. But the beast twisted away and in a sudden bound, landed before Ye Hua, the ribbon striking only empty air.

The beast unleashed a white beam at Ye Hua from a few paces away. Ling Yun’er turned pale with alarm, uttered a quick incantation, and vanished, reappearing before Ye Hua just in time to block the attack. Before she could cast another spell, the white light struck her, and a wave of dizziness overtook her—she collapsed to the ground.

“Senior Sister!” Ye Hua cried out in shock as Ling Yun’er, having shielded him, fainted away.

By then, Qing Xia, Qing Yu, Ouyang Tai, and Li Yulin had recovered their composure. Seeing their sister wounded, they grew frantic. From afar, Bai Shisong raised his hand, and the Golden Lotus blossomed into a massive golden shield, swiftly enveloping the Pixiu. Realizing the threat, the beast tried to dodge, but the shield was too vast—caught squarely, the Pixiu felt as if encircled by iron bands.

Qing Xia and Qing Yu exchanged a glance, raised their hands, and shouted in unison, “Dragon Soars, Phoenix Dances—Swift!”

The Twin Clear Swords spinning in midair suddenly merged into one. United, the sword’s green brilliance blazed, and in a flash it shot toward the Pixiu. The beast roared in terror, unable to escape.

No matter how tough its hide and armor, they could not withstand the united force of the Twin Clear Swords. With a miserable shriek, the swords pierced clean through.

When the group looked again, they saw a gaping wound as wide as a bowl in the Pixiu’s side, blood gushing forth. With a final crash, the beast collapsed. Whether it lived or died, none could tell.