139: Chapter 139 This Unlucky Physique

Beiyue Mountain, in the center of the depression.

The bovine Erosion Beast was also startled awake; it raised its head and let out a long howl.

"Meeehhh!!!"

Zhao Hongyi and Ye Qinglan also arrived nearby.

"Scarlet Flood Dragon Whip!"

Zhao Hongyi gave a delicate cry, flicked her wrist, and a crimson whip whistled out! The whip's shadow was like a snake, carrying a searing airwave as it instantly coiled around the Erosion Beast's neck. The tip of the whip exploded into a large mass of flames, biting like a fire dragon!

"Green Vine Lock!"

Ye Qinglan pointed her fingers in a sword gesture, and her green Flying Sword split into dozens of tough spiritual energy vines, winding around the Erosion Beast's four hooves like living things! Simultaneously, her figure moved like the wind, coordinating with Zhao Hongyi's fire attack; her sword light flickered as she stabbed directly at the Erosion Beast's relatively fragile abdomen.

"Falling Leaves Startling the Wind!"

The two coordinated with tacit understanding; the fire borrowed the wind's momentum while the vines restrained the beast. For a moment, they actually suppressed that Early Stage Foundation Establishment Erosion Beast, making it roar repeatedly. Its body was charred black, and its movements became sluggish due to the vine entanglement!

"Good!" Zhao Hongyi showed a look of joy, her offensive becoming even more fierce.

Just when they thought victory was within their grasp, a sudden change occurred.

The Erosion Beast's crimson eyes suddenly erupted with piercing blood-red light! It let out a deafening roar, and the black-red erosion qi permeating its surroundings seemed to receive a summons, frantically swirling back and surging into its body in an instant! A terrifying pressure that made one's heart palpitate suddenly erupted!

Crack! Crack!

The scales on its body shattered inch by inch, and its size expanded like it was being inflated under the infusion of erosion qi! Its aura, originally at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, climbed steadily, instantly breaking through the Bottleneck and reaching the suffocating—Early Stage Golden Core!

"What?!"

"Impossible!"

Zhao Hongyi and Ye Qinglan's faces changed drastically, and they cried out in shock!

This Breakthrough came without warning, completely defying common sense! The violent shockwave of erosion qi instantly dispersed their attacks! Zhao Hongyi's Scarlet Flood Dragon Whip was knocked away, and Ye Qinglan's vines snapped inch by inch.

The two groaned as they were sent flying back by the massive force, landing miserably beside Xia Yingying. Their blood and qi were in turmoil, and traces of blood seeped from the corners of their mouths.

"Quickly, leave!" Ye Qinglan grabbed Xia Yingying's wrist. Zhao Hongyi also struggled to get up, preparing to take Xia Yingying and flee.

'...'

In the Sea of Consciousness, Yue Xinxi fell silent. This scene... this damn sense of familiarity, this maddening déjà vu!

A Breakthrough? Fighting an enemy of the same Realm and having them Breakthrough mid-fight?!

And this time, it directly skipped an entire Major Realm!

This hellish Calamity Physique!

I've already become a soul body, and this bad luck can still take effect?!

Truly eight lifetimes of bad luck!

"It's alright, Sister Ye." Xia Yingying's voice was surprisingly calm. She gently broke free from Ye Qinglan's hand and looked at the roaring, charging behemoth, her pure eyes showing no hint of fear.

"World-Cleansing Lotus Platform!"

A nine-petaled lotus platform condensed from pure white light instantly bloomed beneath Xia Yingying's feet! A soft yet resilient milky-white light barrier, like an inverted jade bowl, firmly protected the three of them inside!

Boom—!

The Golden Core Erosion Beast's violent attack slammed heavily onto the light barrier! The barrier trembled violently, rippling in layers as if it would shatter at any moment! But in the end, it stubbornly withstood that Golden Core strike capable of killing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

"Blocked... It blocked it?!"

Zhao Hongyi and Ye Qinglan were dumbfounded, looking in disbelief at the milky-white light barrier and the focused, aqua-green figure at its center. A defensive Magic Treasure that could withstand a Golden Core strike? This lotus platform... must be at least a High Grade Spiritual Artifact, right?!

The Erosion Beast became even more enraged when its strike proved futile. Xia Yingying took a deep breath, and her Immortal Spirit Power began to flow.

"Spirit Borrowing Technique: Protection of the Mountains!"

A steady hum resonated from the earth, and a female mountain spirit phantom, condensed from pure earthy yellow spiritual light, emerged behind Xia Yingying.

The mountain spirit had a full figure with exquisite curves, her shapely silhouette faintly visible within the spiritual light; her face was blurred yet radiated a benevolence like that of Mother Earth. She reached out and gently pressed her palm onto Xia Yingying's shoulder.

In an instant, Xia Yingying's aura seemed to connect with the ground beneath her feet, becoming heavy and steady. The light from the lotus sword in her hand intensified!

"Lotus Flower: Evil-Bane!"

A green sword light, like the light of dawn, stabbed directly at the Erosion Beast! Wherever the sword light passed, the permeating erosion qi was split in two!

Sizzle!

The sword light left a deep scorch mark on the Erosion Beast's hard scales! The Erosion Beast howled in pain repeatedly, actually being forced back half a step by this attack from a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator!

"What a powerful strength boost!" A sharp light flashed in Ye Qinglan's eyes as she recognized the terrifying enhancement brought by that mountain spirit phantom.

Xia Yingying did not stop; her sword light was continuous. Coordinating with the defense of the World-Cleansing Lotus Platform, she actually fought the Golden Core Erosion Beast back and forth, even faintly gaining the upper hand!

Her figure was agile, the lotus sword dancing in her hand, every attack accurately landing on the Erosion Beast's weak spots.

However, the Erosion Beast's recovery was astonishing, and combined with the gap in Realms, although Xia Yingying's attacks could wound it, they couldn't land a fatal blow. She felt a bit anxious.

If only I had learned the 'Jie' Secret Technique...

Her distressed expression of "being unable to completely kill it" fell into the eyes of Zhao and Ye, making their jaws almost drop!

A Foundation Establishment Stage suppressing a Golden Core Early Stage Erosion Beast?! These Moonshadow Sect Disciples... what kind of prodigies are they?!

"Little Yingying, don't push yourself! Let's go!" Zhao Hongyi shouted anxiously.

"Yes, it recovers too quickly; a long battle is unfavorable!" Ye Qinglan also urged. Although they were shocked, they were more worried that Xia Yingying would exhaust her strength.

Yue Xinxi also sighed in the Sea of Consciousness:

'Yingying, forget it, retreat. This big guy is thick-skinned and has erosion qi to replenish itself; there's no benefit in wearing yourself out...'

As she was speaking, she suddenly remembered something, and her tone instantly became strange:

'Wait... before you left, didn't your Eldest Senior Sister Chi stuff several stacks of Talismans into your hands? And the medicine bottles from Senior Sister Qin, the jade Talismans from Senior Sister Du, the spiritual food from Junior Sister Lu, and the Formation Plate from Fifth Senior Sister...'

The more she spoke, the more envious she became, 'Damn it, with so many Senior Sisters doting on you, what are you afraid of?! Use them!'

She used to be all alone and never had so many Senior Sisters to spoil her!

Hearing this, Xia Yingying's eyes lit up! Right! How could she have forgotten the treasures given by her Senior Sisters!

Seeing the Erosion Beast roaring and charging again, Xia Yingying wiped the thin sweat from her forehead and gave the worried Zhao Hongyi and Ye Qinglan a reassuring smile: "Sister Zhao, Sister Ye, don't worry. Just now... I was only practicing my Spells."

Saying that, she flipped her small hand, and a Talisman shimmering with purple light appeared in her palm; a powerful aura of destruction instantly permeated the air.

Fourth-Grade Talisman: Nine Heavens Lightning-Inducing Talisman!

Xia Yingying first popped a Medicinal Pill into her mouth before activating the Talisman and throwing it into the air!

"Go!"

With this throw, Xia Yingying's small face turned visibly pale, and the Spiritual Qi in her body was instantly exhausted.

Boom-crack—!!!

It was as if heavenly punishment had descended! A thick red bolt of lightning that made one's scalp tingle tore through the dim sky and struck the Golden Core Erosion Beast's head!

The Erosion Beast, which had been exuding terrifying power just moments ago, was turned to ashes in the violent lightning! Even the dense erosion qi around it was purified completely, leaving only a charred crater and a faint burnt smell in the air.

Dead silence.

Zhao Hongyi and Ye Qinglan were completely petrified, their eyes wide and mouths slightly agape, as if they could fit an egg inside. What was that just now?

"A four... Fourth-Grade Talisman..."

Zhao Hongyi's voice was extremely dry, and her gaze toward Xia Yingying was filled with shock and... longing. Although Ye Qinglan remained silent, her clenched fists and the light in her eyes similarly betrayed her intense inner turmoil.

The thought of joining the Moonshadow Sect had never been as strong as it was at this moment!

Xia Yingying patted her small hands and gave a sweet smile to the two sisters who were still a bit dazed:

"It's settled! Sister Zhao, Sister Ye, shall we head back to Chengyue City?"

...

Night fell.

Moonshadow Sect, Twin Lakes, Starfall Rock.

Ling Hao and Lin Xiwei stood side by side atop the rock.