46: Meet the relatives again

Lin Feng's figure moved like a ghost, swiftly weaving through the stone forest formed by jagged rocks.

This area was completely different from the jungle he had hunted in before; massive, grayish-white stone pillars rose from the ground, each with a unique form—some like sharp swords piercing the sky, others resembling colossal beasts coiled up, casting deep, intersecting shadows under the sunlight.

The gaps between the pillars were narrow, the paths rugged, and the air was filled with a dry, dusty scent and the cold, hard feel of minerals.

To search this complex environment more thoroughly for magical beasts that met the promotion mission's requirements, Lin Feng did not allow the Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien to fly too high this time.

It circled at a low altitude, using its acute ultrasonic perception like an invisible probe, scanning the shadows and caves throughout the stone forest, searching for traces of magical beasts.

Suddenly, a fierce battle and energy fluctuations came from a relatively open stone hollow ahead.

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed, and he immediately used his mental link to order the Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien to lower its altitude, approaching stealthily for reconnaissance, using the stone pillars for cover.

In the stone hollow, two fierce-looking professionals were fiercely attacking a massive, rhinoceros-like magical beast covered in rough, rocky scales.

That was a Silver-level Tier 6 "Rock-Armored Rhinoceros"!

It possessed immense strength; each charge made the ground tremble, sending rock fragments flying, but its movements were relatively clumsy.

Especially in the stone forest, the jagged pillars further restricted its actions.

The two professionals coordinated with remarkable synergy.

One wielded a long saber, its blade flashing like lightning, continuously striking the Rock-Armored Rhinoceros's relatively weaker joints and belly, attracting its attention.

The other stealthily lurked, waiting to deliver a fatal blow!

In the stone hollow, besides the two, a little further away, a luxuriously dressed, arrogant-looking young man stood with his arms crossed, a hint of impatience on his face; beside him stood a calm-looking elder with sharp eyes.

It was the young man Lin Feng had spotted earlier.

The battle in the stone hollow quickly approached its end.

Under the fierce attacks of the Silver-level Tier 7 professionals, the Rock-Armored Rhinoceros had no chance of survival; it was quickly covered in wounds, and its charging movements became increasingly sluggish.

The lurking professional instantly seized the opportunity, his long saber transforming into a sharp streak of light, precisely piercing a gap in the Rock-Armored Rhinoceros's neck scales!

The Rock-Armored Rhinoceros let out a mournful wail, its massive body crashing to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

"Hmph, finally dealt with it, dragging its feet!" the young master flicked imaginary dust from his clothes, his tone contemptuous.

Just then, the Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien, circling at low altitude and focused on searching for magical beast auras, flew overhead and caught the eye of the elder standing beside the young man.

The elder's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Young Master, there's a little bug."

The elder's voice was low, devoid of any emotion.

The young master looked up, and seeing the Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien's ferocious appearance, he showed no fear; instead, a smile of interest appeared on his face.

"Oh? A Silver-level mid-tier flying magical beast?"

"Uncle Fu, bring it down. I still have a few Silver-level contract scrolls here. It'll be perfect to forcibly contract it. With a flying magical beast as a mount, our efficiency in exploring the Barren World will be much faster."

The elder nodded slightly, and with his withered right hand pointed at the circling Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien in the air, his five fingers suddenly clenched!

Buzz...!

An invisible, intangible yet mountain-heavy terrifying gravitational field suddenly descended, precisely enveloping the Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien!

This power came too suddenly, too fiercely, completely exceeding the limits the Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien could withstand with its own strength!

It didn't even have time to let out a full shriek; its powerful fleshy wings seemed to be violently yanked by an invisible giant hand, and its entire body instantly lost all lift, plummeting like a stone thrown by a trebuchet, with a piercing whoosh, crashing heavily onto the hard rocky ground below!

Boom!

A dull thud, and gravel flew.

The Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien crashed heavily onto the ground, no more than ten meters from the young master and his group, creating a shallow crater in the hard rocky surface.

It struggled to get up, but the terrifying gravity, like a tangible shackle, firmly suppressed it to the ground, its carapace scraping against the rocks with an ear-splitting "creak," dark green blood oozing from its mouthparts, and its bat wings severely twisted and deformed, clearly heavily wounded.

"Haha, well done, Uncle Fu!" The young master clapped his hands and laughed heartily, looking at the struggling xenomorph on the ground as if it were an interesting toy.

"This beast looks fierce, but it's nothing special, really."

The young man said, reaching forward, and the next moment, a scroll emitting a Silver-level aura and shimmering with strange patterns immediately appeared in his previously empty palm.

"Young Master! This magical beast seems to belong to someone else's summoned beast!"

The elder seemed to sense something, stepping forward to block the young man.

Just then, Lin Feng's voice echoed from the stone hollow, as cold as a river in the depths of winter.

"Stop!"

His face was devoid of expression, yet his eyes were as sharp as tangible blades, piercing directly at the young master and the elder.

"That is my summoned beast; please release it."

Lin Feng didn't want to stir up trouble, so he didn't summon the Alien Queen immediately.

The young master was stunned at first, then burst into exaggerated laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke imaginable.

"Hahahaha! Your summoned beast? You? A... hmm?"

He carefully sensed the energy fluctuations emanating from Lin Feng, a hint of solemnity flashing across his face, only to instantly turn into a sneer.

"Just a mere Black Iron Level peak, how dare you claim this Silver-level Tier 6 magical beast is your summoned beast?!"

A Summoner who can cultivate a Silver-level summoned beast at the Black Iron Level must have strong backing, but his, Fan Zhe's, backing is also not weak!

Today, he will definitely make Lin Feng suffer!

Even a Transcendent-level powerhouse wouldn't be able to save Lin Feng!

That's what Fan Zhe said!!

Even if this young man in front of him had powerful backing or was a genius!

Fan Zhe didn't care!!

Fan Zhe impatiently waved his hand, as if shooing away a fly.

"Where did this country bumpkin come from? Whether this summoned beast is yours or not, this young master fancies it today! So it's mine from now on!"

He completely disregarded Lin Feng, reaching out to forcibly contract the Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien with the contract scroll.

It is well known that summoned beasts cannot be contracted!

So his action would naturally not succeed, but his move thoroughly enraged Lin Feng... The elder standing behind him instantly felt the killing intent released by Lin Feng, and while startled, his withered five fingers suddenly tightened.

Creak...!

The gravity applied to the Corrupted Wing Sound Bat Alien instantly intensified by several degrees!

Its hard carapace groaned under the unbearable pressure, more dark green blood seeped from its mouthparts and joint crevices, and its shriek became weak and desperate, as if it could be crushed by this terrifying force at any moment!

At the same time, the two Silver-level Tier 7 professionals, like two gusts of wind, charged one from the left and one from the right, their long sabers fiercely slashing towards Lin Feng beside the stone hollow... In Lin Feng's eyes, the last trace of warmth completely vanished, leaving only ice that froze all things and lava about to erupt.

"You're courting death!"

The two cold words, like a death god's pronouncement, completely ignited the killing intent in the stone forest!