18: Fight against a second-tier ferocious beast!

Discovered!

Li Qing's mind shook violently; any hope of luck was instantly shattered.

He couldn't stay hidden anymore!

Those vertical green pupils were cold and brutal.

They were locked firmly onto the Turtle shell hidden in the shadow of the reef.

Run?

In the water, his speed could never be faster than this thing. The fluctuations caused by running would be a death warrant.

The only option was to fight!

Thoughts raced through his mind. Li Qing instantly discarded his disguise, a ghostly light flared in his Turtle eyes, and the System appraisal appeared.

【Black Water Mystic Serpent (Early Stage Second-Order Vicious Beast)】

【Tough scales, incredible constriction force, mouth contains weak Water Venom, prefers dark environments. Weaknesses are the Seven-Inch Mark and the eyes.】

It really is a Second-Order!

Just as the information processed in his mind, the black shadow moved!

Without the slightest hesitation, it was as fast as black lightning, churning up a massive current.

The serpent's tail was like a steel whip, carrying a sonic boom that tore through the water as it lashed out fiercely at the reef where Li Qing was hiding!

It had already sensed the energy within the Turtle before it!

Li Qing reacted extremely quickly, and [Armor Defense] was instantly activated!

A pale blue spiritual rune shield solidified into substance. Simultaneously, he exerted force with his four limbs, kicking off the reef and charging forward instead of retreating, meeting the serpent's tail head-on!

Hiding behind the rock was a dead end; under such Great Strength, the shockwave of the rock shattering would be just as lethal.

"Boom!"

A muffled explosion erupted underwater.

The serpent's tail slammed heavily against the [Armor Defense] light shield.

Li Qing felt a surge of overwhelming force, as if he had been hit head-on by a battering ram. The light shield trembled violently, ripples spreading across it as it nearly shattered.

The Turtle's body was sent flying by this massive force, crashing heavily into another reef, causing silt to fly up from the riverbed.

What terrifying strength!

Li Qing was shocked; just a single tail whip possessed strength far exceeding the full-force strike of a Peak First-Order mutated Iron Pincer Crab.

This is a Second-Order Vicious Beast!

If not for the power of [Armor Defense], this single blow would have heavily injured him.

The Black Water Mystic Serpent, seeing its strike hadn't finished the job, was also somewhat surprised by the Turtle's defense. The murderous light in its vertical green pupils grew even more intense.

Its massive body swayed; it no longer used its tail but instead opened its bloody maw, revealing venomous fangs. Like an arrow leaving a bow, it lunged straight at Li Qing while its body coiled to follow through!

It wanted to constrict him!

The water was instantly pushed aside.

Li Qing had just stabilized himself when a foul wind hit his face.

"Come on then!"

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

[Water Control]!

The talent was activated with full force!

It wasn't for an attack, but for interference!

The water surrounding the Black Water Mystic Serpent suddenly became incredibly viscous and chaotic the moment it lunged!

Several counter-vortices appeared out of thin air, pulling frantically at its body.

The high-speed lunging Black Water Mystic Serpent was like a fast-moving carriage suddenly sinking into a quagmire; its speed dropped abruptly.

Its form jerked to a halt, and its massive body tilted uncontrollably in the chaotic currents.

The serpent's mouth, which was originally aimed at the Turtle's head, shifted slightly.

The serpent's body, which was meant to coil around the Turtle, exposed a weakness!

Now is the time!

In this life-or-death moment, Li Qing's judgment was precise down to the millimeter.

The description of the 'seven-inch' mark of serpent-type Vicious Beasts from the "Common Vicious Beast Illustrated Encyclopedia" flashed through his mind.

[Great Strength] erupted!

The Turtle's head shot out like a cannonball, neither dodging nor evading.

He bit down hard on the Black Water Mystic Serpent's Seven-Inch Mark, which had been exposed by the water's pull!

"Crunch!"

The sharp Turtle beak, bolstered by [Great Strength], unleashed a terrifying biting force.

The tough black scales shattered upon impact, and the Turtle beak embedded itself deep into the flesh, biting into the snake's spine!

"Hiss!!!"

The intense pain caused the Black Water Mystic Serpent to let out a violent hiss.

It twisted its body frantically, its tail lashing out wildly as its body suddenly contracted.

It tried to crush Li Qing along with his Turtle shell!

However, it was useless.

The Black Water Mystic Serpent had barely been able to crack [Armor Defense].

Let alone the hard Turtle shell beneath [Armor Defense]!

Is this all the deathbed struggle of a Second-Order Vicious Beast amounts to!

Li Qing bit down hard on the Black Water Mystic Serpent's Seven-Inch Mark and refused to let go!

[Great Strength] continued to output; the Turtle beak snapped shut and twisted!

"Crack!"

The clear sound of bone breaking.

The Black Water Mystic Serpent's spine was snapped and crushed by sheer force!

The massive serpent body suddenly stiffened, all its strength receding like a tide, and the frantic constriction force vanished instantly.

The serpent's head hung limply, the light in its vertical green pupils fading rapidly, leaving only its body to twitch unconsciously in the water.

At the bottom of the river, a thick scent of blood began to spread.

Only then did Li Qing release his bite. His Turtle body detached from the limp coils of the serpent and landed on the riverbed.

He felt a wave of exhaustion.

The fight just now seemed brief, but it was actually alright.

Because his defense hadn't even been broken yet.

A Second-Order Vicious Beast, taken down!

It seemed he had underestimated his own strength.

He could still easily handle an Early Stage Second-Order Vicious Beast.

Water Control interference, Armor Defense, Great Strength eruption, and striking weaknesses—each of the four was indispensable.

Plus an extremely strong defense!

Fortune truly favors the bold; always staying hidden isn't something to be encouraged after all.

At this moment, Li Qing actually became a bit more daring.

The System notification sounded like heavenly music.

【Killed Early Stage Second-Order Vicious Beast Black Water Mystic Serpent, evolution value +50!】

【Obtained ferocious beast essence blood x1!】

Fifty points!

Li Qing's spirits were greatly lifted, and his fatigue was swept away.

It was worth it!

This one was worth several Peak First-Order Iron Pincer Crabs!

He immediately looked at his panel.

【evolution value: 545.52 / 500】

Following that, a line of prompts appeared that made Li Qing's heart race!

【evolution value conditions met!】

【The Spirit Turtle Clone can undergo the next evolution. Start immediately?】

It's done!

Li Qing was ecstatic.

Days of lying low, enduring, hunting, and taking risks—even the fight just now—were all for this moment!

No rush to evolve yet!

He was not polite and first devoured the Black Water Mystic Serpent's corpse.

The flesh of a Second-Order Vicious Beast contained energy far exceeding that of a First-Order.

【Devoured Black Water Mystic Serpent flesh, evolution value +1.5】

【Devoured... evolution value +2】

...【Devouring complete, provided a total of evolution value +28!】

【Current evolution value: 573.52 / 500】

"Extract essence blood!"

A drop of Second-Order ferocious beast essence blood turned into a surging warm current, instantly sweeping through his entire body.

The physical strength consumed and the shock sustained during the fight just now were quickly restored. His strength and physique became even more solid.

Now, everything was ready!

However, Li Qing suppressed the urge to immediately click "Yes."

The mantra of staying hidden came back online.

This was a deep-water reef area, and the scent of blood was spreading.

The commotion from the fight just now wasn't small either; there was no guarantee it wouldn't attract other even more terrifying things.

He had no idea what would happen during the evolution process—whether he would be weakened or fall into a deep sleep.

Evolving here would be equivalent to leaving his life to luck.

Mindlessly seeking death was not an option.

He had to find an absolutely safe place!

Li Qing alertly sensed his surroundings and confirmed that no other powerful auras were approaching.

He didn't stay any longer, immediately moving his limbs and sticking close to the riverbed.

At maximum speed, he silently left that dangerous reef area.

Following the path he came from, he avoided all potentially dangerous waters and returned at full speed.

The Great River was good, but his own little nest was safer.

Half an hour later.

The Spirit Turtle Clone returned to that quiet, narrow, food-scarce but sufficiently safe small tributary.

As per his usual routine, he dug a large hole in the riverbed near the bank.

Then he blocked the entrance with stones.

Safe.

Only then did Li Qing completely relax.

He focused his consciousness on the flashing prompt on the System panel.

"System, start evolution!"

Li Qing muttered in his heart.

Almost instantly, an indescribable, vast, and majestic energy erupted from deep within every cell of the Clone's body!

On the panel, 500 evolution value points were instantly deducted!

【evolution value: 73.52 / ????】

【Spirit Turtle Clone evolving...】

An intense tingling and swelling pain instantly overwhelmed Li Qing's perception.

His shell, bones, flesh, and meridians were all undergoing earth-shattering changes under the scouring of this energy.

The pale blue spiritual runes on his shell burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant light, illuminating the dark river cave.

The Clone's size began to expand and grow visibly to the naked eye!

An invisible aura spread out, scaring the surrounding small fish and shrimp into fleeing in all directions.

Li Qing's consciousness was pulled into a chaotic yet warm ocean, and the passage of time became blurred.