Chapter 22

The scorching lake water was now in turmoil, stirred up by the giant knifeback crocodile. Li Tianming rushed into the chaos, directly locking onto the divine source.

He darted through the water, quickly approaching the divine source. It wasn't very large, and Li Tianming wrapped it in his clothes, securing it in his possession. Without a moment's hesitation, he immediately burst out of the lake.

Such a precious divine source, and it was obtained with no effort at all!

"First, I need to meet up with Firefly."

This time, Little Yellow Chicken had done the most work. Next, it would depend on whether it could shake off the giant knifeback crocodile.

If it could lead the crocodile far away and return early, Li Tianming would try to see if the divine source could open the well at the bottom of the lake.

"I could try it now, but I'm afraid of unexpected situations, like being sucked in." Li Tianming looked at the well at the bottom of the lake and decided to hold off for the moment.

Beast Tamer and Companion Beasts should avoid being too far apart, as that makes them vulnerable to being picked off one by one.

The divine source was the most important, so Li Tianming held back for the moment.

Just as Li Tianming was thinking this, he had just reached the lake's surface to wait for Little Yellow Chicken when he suddenly sensed danger approaching.

"Who are you?" A girl in blue appeared before him.

The girl had bright eyes and white teeth, a slender waist, and eyes as clear as water, but there was a hint of coquettishness in her brows, somewhat ruining her beauty.

Sure enough, the commotion caused by the giant knifeback crocodile had attracted others. This girl was likely from the Thunder Venerable Mansion.

"The divine source is on him!" A deep voice came from a distance. Li Tianming looked up to see two middle-aged men in black standing by the lake, who appeared to be brothers.

They were definitely there to protect the girl in blue.

"Father, Uncle, are you sure?" The girl in blue's gaze was cold, and she immediately locked onto Li Tianming.

She was standing on the water, the ripples spreading out, but she remained perfectly still, indicating her deep cultivation, possibly even stronger than Zhang Zixuan.

"Of course, we're sure. Quickly seize it. The giant knifeback crocodile that just left might return. According to the rules, we can't attack the crocodile," one of the men with a longer beard said.

These people, whose Companion Beasts had already reached their peak, were at their strongest, and young people had no chance of resisting.

"Alright." The girl in blue charged at Li Tianming, shouting, "I don't know where you come from, but this divine source belongs to the Thunder Venerable Mansion. You dare to touch it? I'll give you one chance: drop the divine source and leave, or you'll leave your life here."

People from the Thunder Venerable Mansion were always so domineering, leaving no room for negotiation.

Li Tianming chuckled and turned to leave.

"Looking for death!" The girl in blue's face turned grim, and she immediately pursued him. At the same time, a Companion Beast emerged from her Companion Space and dove into the lake.

"Her Companion Beast is an Ice-Water type!"

Li Tianming saw it; it looked like a large blue fish with shiny scales, a sharp spike on its head, and several eyes.

An Ice-Water type Companion Beast was extremely skilled in water combat, and this lake was its paradise. As a Beast Tamer, the girl in blue was also very strong.

Splash!

Indeed, the fish in the water was terrifying. Li Tianming could feel the threat rapidly approaching. Suddenly, a large creature burst out of the water, its sharp spike aiming directly at Li Tianming's back!

Whoosh!

Li Tianming used his agility to dodge, and the fish plunged back into the water, quickly charging at him again.

"Six-Eyed Flying Fish, an Ice-Water type fish Companion Beast, at the fifth level." Li Tianming identified the Companion Beast with just one glance, noting the six eyes on its head.

He continued to flee.

It wasn't that he couldn't fight, but the lake was not his battlefield. In the water, the girl and her fish had a significant advantage, and it would be unwise to engage them here.

Moreover, Little Yellow Chicken was not by his side, leaving Li Tianming to face a solo attack.

"Mountain bandit! I am Jiang Yilin of the Thunder Venerable Mansion. My father and uncle are top figures in the Thunder Venerable Mansion. If you don't surrender, I guarantee your entire family will suffer because of you!" The girl, Jiang Yilin, pursued him, her anger rising.

She had never encountered someone so fearless.

While she was speaking, Li Tianming successfully reached the shore, and the Six-Eyed Flying Fish missed him several times.

"Do you think you're safe on land? I'm already at the eighth level of the Beast Pulse Realm, and killing you will be as easy as turning over my hand!"

Jiang Yilin sneered, also reaching the shore. Behind her, the Six-Eyed Flying Fish flew onto the land.

This Companion Beast could fly using its large fins, making it capable of aerial combat, though not as strong as in the water.

"Try it, miss." Li Tianming turned around, actually wanting to quickly resolve the situation rather than be endlessly pursued, as that would only attract more people.

The eighth level of the Beast Pulse Realm was indeed very strong, two levels higher than Li Tianming, and he didn't have his Companion Beast with him.

"Bold and reckless, how dare you." The proud girl from the Thunder Venerable Mansion couldn't understand where Li Tianming, a mountain dweller, got his courage. She was almost laughing in frustration.

In the next moment, she drew her Beast Weapon, the Blue Blood Sword, and pointed it at Li Tianming. She was no longer interested in talking; her only goal was to kill him and take the divine source.

Flowing Stream Sword Technique!

This was a high-grade Beast-level combat technique. The sword energy surged like a waterfall, fierce and heavy, not at all like something wielded by a woman. Each strike had the power to sever a river.

At the same time, the Six-Eyed Flying Fish also used the Beast Technique part of the Flowing Stream Sword Technique, known as "Flowing Stream Strike."

The Six-Eyed Flying Fish had a spear-like spike on its head, as hard as a Beast Weapon. When it flew through the air, it aimed directly at Li Tianming, and with the speed boost, this Flowing Stream Strike could likely pierce through a boulder!

The eighth level of the Beast Pulse Realm was almost at the peak of the realm. Jiang Yilin's strength was close to Liu Qianyang's.

However, Li Tianming's Eternal Hell Beast Energy was also formidable. This was a battle of water and fire, and they were absolutely incompatible.

He gripped the Blood Fire Spike in his right hand, and his dark left arm formed a fist!

In fact, after some trials, Li Tianming had a deeper understanding of his left arm, now covered in hexagonal scales.

Even the pincers of the Blue-Tailed Scorpion couldn't harm his left arm. Currently, ordinary Beast Weapons were unlikely to damage it, and the Blood Fire Spike certainly couldn't.

This meant his dark left arm could not only attack but also serve as a strong shield.

This confrontation was very intense. Fighting two opponents at once would be difficult for Li Tianming, but now he was on land, his battlefield!

The Six-Eyed Flying Fish charged at him, and Li Tianming used his Ghost Shadow Step, moving unpredictably in the forest, dodging its Flowing Stream Strike and reappearing in front of Jiang Yilin.

Jiang Yilin was not afraid of him and prepared her Flowing Stream Sword Technique. The human part of any combat technique was always stronger than the Beast Technique part.

Beast Tamers and Companion Beasts had different cultivation methods, and the Beast Technique was just a secondary skill for the Companion Beast. Therefore, in combat, the Beast Tamer was always more challenging to deal with.

The sword technique erupted, like a waterfall cascading down, a vast torrent of sword energy pouring down like a heavy rain.

Li Tianming remained expressionless, with the air of a lone warrior standing firm against a thousand enemies. He suddenly charged forward, using his left arm to block Jiang Yilin's Blue Blood Sword!

Clang!

A sharp, deafening sound rang out. Li Tianming felt a slight sting on his left arm, but it wasn't painful. However, the immense force from the eighth level of the Beast Pulse Realm shook his entire body.

However, this effect stunned Jiang Yilin. She had intended to sever Li Tianming's arm, but he was unharmed! Even if his arm was covered in iron, it should have been severed!

There was no time to think, as Li Tianming, having blocked her Flowing Stream Sword Technique, immediately launched his attack!

A streak of blood light flashed, demonstrating the terrifying power of the Extraordinary Beast-level combat technique. This technique was invincible at the Beast Pulse Realm, and the scorching flame energy swept past. Jiang Yilin hastily dodged, but in that fleeting moment, a lock of her long hair was cut off, and a bloodstain appeared on her snow-white, delicate face!

"You!"

She was completely stunned, about to shout in anger when Li Tianming, with unstoppable momentum, punched with his left arm. She tried to block with her palm, but she couldn't withstand Li Tianming's Dragon Elephant Punch.

The punch, like the trampling of a dragon and an elephant, struck her abdomen!

Pfft!

She spat out a mouthful of blood, screamed, and flew backward, her face pale. But before she could fly away, Li Tianming grabbed her waist, the Blood Fire Spike at her throat, and quickly turned, using her as a shield in front of him!

"Ahh!"

The Six-Eyed Flying Fish's Flowing Stream Strike was already charging again, but with Jiang Yilin in front of Li Tianming, it would likely kill its Beast Tamer first if it continued its attack.

Under these circumstances, it had to veer off, crashing into the ground, its spike piercing the rock, and the fish was dazed.

The battle was over!

After reaching the sixth level of the Beast Pulse Realm, Li Tianming, fighting two opponents, had directly defeated Jiang Yilin and taken her hostage.

He had learned from his previous mistake. If he had taken Zhang Zixuan hostage last time, he wouldn't have been threatened by his parents.

"I didn't expect a lowly mountain dweller to have such strength! But you're definitely dead. Do you know what the Thunder Venerable Mansion is?" Jiang Yilin glared at him, but the pain in her abdomen made her gasp.

"Shut your mouth." Li Tianming held the Blood Fire Spike to control her life and death, and pinched her lips with his other hand.

Jiang Yilin's eyes were fierce, and she tried to speak, but with Li Tianming's grip, she could only make muffled sounds.

"Enough!" At that moment, the two imposing men appeared before them, both looking at Li Tianming with cold, murderous eyes.

If not for Li Tianming controlling Jiang Yilin's life, they would have killed him immediately.

In fact, they had been discussing Li Tianming's situation.

In the Thunder Venerable Mansion's plans, there were no outsiders, especially not young outsiders who obtained the divine source first. They were discussing whether their elders could directly kill Li Tianming and take the divine source for the younger generation.

Logically, they couldn't, as that would make it seem like Jiang Yilin had obtained the divine source without effort, which wouldn't inspire loyalty.

So, they decided that Jiang Yilin should defeat Li Tianming and take the divine source, which seemed more reasonable.

But they never expected that Jiang Yilin would be the one defeated.

"Young man, you're too young and don't know what level of existence you've offended. If you knew what the Thunder Venerable Mansion is, I guarantee you'd cry," Jiang Yilin's father, Jiang Tao, said sternly.

"That's impossible; my tear point is very high," Li Tianming smiled.

"Oh, then you can die."

Jiang Tao could only say that this young man was too naive. Did he really think that holding Jiang Yilin hostage would ensure his safety?

That was underestimating the power of the strong.