236: Chapter 236 Crimson Flame Rhinoceros

Its entire body was covered in a layer of thick, lava-like crimson armor, and the ferocious, one-meter-long single horn on its head gleamed with a metallic luster.

Between its breaths, it continuously exhaled two streams of scorching air filled with sparks from its nostrils, burning the surrounding rocks black.

A Second Rank Yao Beast, the Crimson Flame Fire Rhino!

"Gulp." Junior Sister Tian Xin also noticed the terrifying Yao Beast and couldn't help but swallow, her small face turning deathly pale in an instant. "A... a Second Rank Yao Beast! Gao Feng, should... should we leave? We definitely can't beat this big guy!"

A Second Rank Yao Beast was an existence comparable to a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator! Let alone the two of them, even if ten more Disciples from the Qi Refinement Stage came, they probably wouldn't be enough to fill the gaps in this big guy's teeth.

Gao Feng's expression also became extremely grave, but he did not retreat immediately.

His gaze, like the calmest of hunters, swept over the Crimson Flame Fire Rhino again and again, carefully observing its every move and analyzing every one of its features.

"Thick-skinned, astonishing defensive power... can breathe fire, powerful attack power..." Gao Feng analyzed silently in his heart, "The only weakness should be the relatively soft skin on its abdomen. However, it is lying on the ground resting now, perfectly protecting its abdominal weakness, leaving no opportunity to strike."

"Then what should we do?" Junior Sister Tian Xin was so anxious she was about to cry. "With so many blood pattern fruits, are we just going to watch?"

"Don't worry, there must be a way." Gao Feng comforted her, his brain working at high speed.

Fighting head-on was definitely a dead end.

The only way was to outsmart it!

"Tian Xin," Gao Feng suddenly said, "What is the most powerful Talisman you have on you?"

"Most powerful?" Tian Xin thought for a moment, then took out a blue Talisman emitting faint cold air from her Talisman bag. "It's this 'Ice Seal Talisman'. My father gave it to me for self-preservation; it is equivalent to a full-strength strike from a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator! But there is only one, and it will be gone once used."

"A full-strength strike from a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator?" A sharp light flashed in Gao Feng's eyes. "How long can it restrict it?"

"If it can hit a vital point, it should be able to freeze it for about three breaths!" Tian Xin said affirmatively.

"Three breaths... that's enough!"

A bold and risky plan instantly formed in Gao Feng's mind!

"Tian Xin, we'll do this..." Gao Feng leaned into Tian Xin's ear and whispered his plan to her.

"What?! You... are you crazy!" After listening, Tian Xin's small face turned even paler. "You want to go and draw its fire head-on? Isn't that going to your death? No! Absolutely not!"

"Trust me." Gao Feng's eyes were filled with unquestionable determination. "This is our only chance! As long as we coordinate well, we might succeed!"

Looking at Gao Feng's firm gaze, Tian Xin hesitated. She bit her lip and finally nodded forcefully. "Okay! I'll listen to you! At worst, we'll just fight this big guy to the death!"

The two of them formulated their tactics.

Tian Xin was responsible for long-range suppression and harassment from a distance, looking for the best opportunity to use that precious "Ice Seal Talisman".

As for Gao Feng, he was responsible for the most dangerous task—drawing all the fire from the Crimson Flame Fire Rhino head-on, and delivering a fatal blow within the short three breaths of time created by Tian Xin!

This was a plan with a slim chance of survival!

The two took a deep breath and were just about to act according to the plan.

However, at that moment, several malicious auras suddenly emerged quietly from the dense forest behind them.

"Hehe, you two's good luck is truly enviable."

A voice filled with mockery and greed sounded from behind them.

Gao Feng and Tian Xin's expressions changed simultaneously, and they turned their heads sharply to look!

They saw Wang Sheng, Zhou Qingqing, and another Disciple they didn't recognize slowly walking out of the forest, with smiles on their faces like a cat playing with a mouse.

That guy named Wu He was nowhere to be seen; presumably, he was either dead or had been abandoned by them.

"It's you!" Tian Xin was shocked and angry, immediately assuming a defensive stance.

"Don't be nervous, Junior Sister Tian Xin." Wang Sheng spread his hands, wearing a hypocritical smile. "We didn't come here to cause trouble this time."

His gaze passed over the two and fell upon the sleeping Crimson Flame Fire Rhino on the mountaintop, as well as the blood pattern fruits covering the mountain, his eyes flickering with an incredibly fiery light.

"Such a big cake, I think the two of you probably can't finish it alone, right?" Wang Sheng said pointedly. "How about we temporarily put aside our previous grievances and cooperate again? How about it?"

"Cooperate?" Tian Xin sneered. "Cooperate with a villain like you who stabs people in the back? I'm afraid I wouldn't even know how I died!"

"Times have changed." Wang Sheng didn't care about Tian Xin's sarcasm at all. He pointed at the Crimson Flame Fire Rhino and said seriously, "You must know how powerful a Second Rank Yao Beast is. Relying on just the two of you, it's absolutely impossible to deal with it. But if you add the three of us, the situation will be different."

"I propose that we cooperate temporarily and join forces to kill this Fire Rhino. After it's done, we will distribute the blood pattern fruits on the mountain according to our respective contributions and strength in the battle. How about it?"

To show his "sincerity," Wang Sheng even raised three fingers and said solemnly: "I, Wang Sheng, can swear to the heavens that before killing the Fire Rhino and after distributing the spoils, we will never attack you! If I break this oath, may heaven destroy me!"

Watching Wang Sheng's sworn expression, Gao Feng and Tian Xin looked at each other.

They both knew very well that Wang Sheng's oath was worthless.

However, what he said was also a fact.

Relying on just the two of them, wanting to kill this Second Rank Crimson Flame Fire Rhino was extremely difficult and highly risky, with a success rate of less than ten percent.

But if they added these three reinforcements from Wang Sheng, the situation would be completely different.

Although it was like seeking skin from a tiger, Wang Sheng's team indeed had value to be utilized!

"How about it? Consider it?" Seeing the two were tempted, Wang Sheng continued to up the ante. "One more person means more strength. With us helping you share the frontal pressure, your success rate can increase by at least fifty percent!"

Gao Feng and Tian Xin exchanged glances again.

Finally, Gao Feng nodded slowly.

"Fine, we agree to cooperate."

"Good! Junior Brother Gao Feng is indeed a straightforward person!"

Seeing Gao Feng nod in agreement, Wang Sheng's face immediately revealed a triumphant smile, as if his scheme had already succeeded.

In his view, these two "country bumpkins" were ultimately too naive and could not remain rational in the face of huge temptation. As long as he tricked them into the battle, let them be the cannon fodder to wear down the Fire Rhino, and then emerge at the end to reap the benefits, it would be simply perfect!

A simple battle plan was quickly agreed upon among the five.

As before, the strongest, Wang Sheng, would take the lead, responsible for attracting the Crimson Flame Fire Rhino's attention head-on.

Zhou Qingqing and the other newly joined Disciple would be responsible for setting up formations and harassing from the flanks, limiting the Fire Rhino's range of movement.

And Gao Feng and Tian Xin were arranged to provide support from another direction, looking for opportunities to attack the Fire Rhino's weak points.

This plan looked clear and reasonable on the surface, but Gao Feng knew it like the back of his hand.

Wang Sheng had them attack from another direction with the purpose of making them bear the brunt of the Fire Rhino's fury, acting as the primary cannon fodder!

However, Gao Feng did not point it out.

What he wanted was exactly this opportunity!

"Everyone, are you ready?" Wang Sheng took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with excitement and greed. "Then... let's begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he was the first to rush out. The long sword in his hand emitted a clear Sword Qi, and a fierce slash of Sword Qi, like a ribbon, slashed fiercely toward the Crimson Flame Fire Rhino that was still sleeping!

"Roar!!!"

Woken up from its slumber, the Crimson Flame Fire Rhino let out a deafening, angry roar, causing the entire mountaintop to tremble violently!

Its eyes, the size of lanterns, instantly turned blood-red, locking tightly onto the tiny human who dared to provoke it!

"Bring it on!"

Wang Sheng shouted, advancing instead of retreating. His Qi Refining Fourth Layer spiritual power erupted without reservation, clashing head-on with the enraged Fire Rhino!

At the same time, Zhou Qingqing also shouted delicately: "Earth Shield Formation, rise!"

Accompanied by her voice, thick, earth-yellow light shields rose from the ground, accurately blocking the path where the Fire Rhino was about to breathe fire!

"Boom!"

A bucket-thick, crimson-red tornado of flames erupted from the Fire Rhino's mouth, slamming fiercely into the earth shields!

The earth shields trembled violently, making "creaking" sounds of being unable to bear the load, but in the end, they barely blocked this terrifying first wave of attacks!

The battle instantly entered a white-hot state!

"Right now! Do it!"

Gao Feng whispered, exchanged a glance with Tian Xin, and the two immediately followed the plan, bursting out from the shadows of the cliff on the other side like cheetahs, pouncing fiercely toward the Crimson Flame Fire Rhino that had been distracted by Wang Sheng!

"Blazing Flame Palm!"

Seizing the gap between the Fire Rhino's fire-breathing attacks, Wang Sheng leaped high and struck with his palm. A giant palm condensed from flames, carrying a scorching wave of air, slammed fiercely onto the Fire Rhino's thick back armor!

"Bang!"

With a muffled sound, sparks flew everywhere!

However, this palm strike, other than leaving a shallow scorched mark on the Fire Rhino's back armor, did not cause any substantial damage at all!

But Wang Sheng's purpose was merely to enrage it and keep its attention firmly fixed on himself.

And just as the Fire Rhino, because of the hit on its back, turned its head angrily, preparing to launch the next attack on Wang Sheng, Gao Feng's figure had already, like a ghost, circled to its side!

Opportunity!

A terrifying light burst from Gao Feng's eyes. The wood-chopping axe in his hand seemed to turn into a black lightning bolt at this moment, carrying all his suppressed power, and slashed fiercely toward the relatively soft junction of the armor on the Fire Rhino's abdomen!