Chapter Fifty-Four: Annihilation

A thought surfaced in Chen Qi’s mind: the so-called beast spirit’s resentment depended on making the fierce beast hate you. Apart from killing them with his own hands, there must be other ways.

He took out his beloved pistol once more, aiming at the smaller centipede beast beset by three attackers. Chen Qi knew the handgun’s power was negligible against a fifth-grade beast, and to provoke its hatred, the target needed to be chosen with care.

“Hmmm, where is a centipede’s reproductive organ?”

He silently mocked himself, then shifted his aim to the beast’s eyes. The ongoing battle between three people and the beast meant the target was constantly on the move, posing a considerable challenge to Chen Qi’s marksmanship.

He edged closer, finding a gap between the fighters, and quietly waited for the right moment to shoot.

By now, the smaller centipede was battered and broken. Its carapace was shattered, legs strewn across the water, its breathing labored and desperate.

“Shhhh!”

The centipede beast let out a strange cry, its body swaying violently, stirring the lake water into the air, clearly preparing for a desperate last stand.

The sinister mask on its abdomen ignited, billowing black mist streaming from the flames, completely enveloping its body.

The heavy black fog reeked with a pungent stench, and even Chen Qi, more than ten meters away, felt a wave of dizziness—obviously poisonous—forcing the three attackers to retreat several steps.

Using the cover of the mist, the centipede beast curled up at the bottom of the lake, like a water snake, ready to slip out of the siege.

Chen Qi’s lips curled into a knowing smile. As someone with a rare strengthening energy trajectory, he possessed a certain energy vision even under normal conditions.

Within the dense black energy, he clearly saw a red streak sliding through the water—a vivid contrast, like a firefly in the night.

Without hesitation, Chen Qi opened fire.

He knew the pistol’s damage would be minimal, but the three fighters, all seasoned martial artists, would have sharp hearing. His bullets were intended as signals, marking the beast’s location.

Sure enough, the metallic clash from the mist drew the trio swiftly closer. The tall outer sect disciple flung his violet sword to the leading senior sister, shouting, “Senior sister, catch!”

The sword, wrapped in purple light, slashed through the air like a swordfish, plunging into the water and bursting into a flurry of sword blooms that forced the centipede beast up into the air.

Chen Qi, utterly focused, saw his opportunity. As the beast hung suspended, unable to find purchase, his bullet struck its eye dead-on, splattering filthy pus and severing its last hope of escape.

The centipede beast, blinded and wracked with excruciating pain, darkness closing in, heard the fatal whoosh of blades approaching. It stopped resisting, straightened its body, and accepted a dignified death.

Yet, as consciousness faded, in that final instant, it felt a surge of hatred toward the despicable human in the distance.

If not for that human, perhaps…

The centipede beast crashed into the water, unmoving.

[Current beast spirit resentment: 81/100]

The hint from “Sprout Space” confirmed Chen Qi’s reasoning—his efforts had not been in vain.

With the title task only a step from completion, Chen Qi turned his gaze to the larger centipede beast locked in combat with the team leader.

By now, its aura had dissipated. Witnessing its companion’s demise, it grew restless, eager to break free from the woman’s entanglement.

The senior sister, in contrast, was calm and composed. Her slender fingers traced through the air, weaving chains of green light that locked down the beast’s escape routes and slowed its movements.

Mist billowed above her head, the lake water boiled at her feet, her body shrouded in blue energy—she was clearly exerting herself to the utmost.

She intended to capture the nearly fourth-grade centipede beast!

Seeing the smaller beast defeated, the tall disciple responded quickly, tossing his violet sword to the team leader and shouting, “Senior sister, catch the sword!”

The other two inner sect disciples darted to block the beast’s possible escape routes, their aura surging, ready to strike at any moment.

Receiving the sword, the senior sister’s aura grew even more formidable. Violet sword energy slashed out in meter-long arcs, far stronger than the tall disciple’s ten-centimeter sword glow.

Faced with the incoming sword energy, the centipede beast had no choice but to repeat its old trick, igniting the mask on its chest.

The mask burned, black energy wrapping tightly around its body like thick armor.

The situation was turning against it; it was now ready to risk everything for its escape—even if it meant forever losing hope of advancing to the fourth grade.

The violet sword energy struck its carapace but was blocked by the black aura, only dimming it slightly. Soon, the black energy from other segments flowed in, restoring its strength as if nothing had happened.

Clearly, the energy armor born from the burning mask was more powerful than any had imagined.

Chen Qi watched, utterly enthralled. This was the highest-level battle he had ever witnessed. He stayed thirty meters away, fearful of being caught in the aftermath.

He also watched intently, studying the centipede beast’s ingenious use of energy, searching for a way to counter it. After all, before leaving this world, he would have to deal with a powerful enemy—a giant bear encircled by a fiery halo.

Seeing that her sword energy had little effect, the senior sister remained unfazed, tightening her assault. Her left hand pointed, right sword swung, green and purple energy shot out, constantly barring the beast’s escape.

It seemed like scraping, but to Chen Qi’s sharp eyes, the black armor had already dimmed by a third—this accumulation of attacks was indeed effective.

The centipede beast leaped high, spraying venom recklessly. The poison hissed as it hit the water, turning the lake murky and slowing the senior sister’s attacks.

It had already moved more than ten meters; though entangled by the woman behind, it was confident it could reach the underground lake’s edge before the black energy dissipated—where a secret passage led straight outside.

As for the man and woman attempting to block its way, the centipede beast looked at them with scorn, shooting two jets of venom like arrows and barreling forward, not considering them a threat.

Sure enough, the two retreated quickly from the incoming venom, unwilling to risk even a touch, failing to block the beast for even a moment.

Passing them, the centipede beast felt a surge of hope, then caught sight of Chen Qi to the side.

It recognized him as the one who ruined its plans and forced it into this predicament.

Rage flared within. Suddenly, it stopped, and three jets of venom shot toward Chen Qi in a triangular pattern, venting its fury.

Chen Qi was stunned, never expecting the beast to hate him so much—it would rather slow down just to strike him with a deadly blow.

He dared not be careless, unleashing all his abilities. A blood arrow spurted from his lips, his body bursting with blood energy, as he entered a state of focused eruption.

Facing the incoming venom, he felt confident. He directed the blood arrow and energy to disperse one jet, then swung his blade to intercept the second.

As the third jet neared him, he narrowed his eyes, flicked his blade in a strange move, causing two streams of venom to collide.

Not finished, he leaned back half a step, spinning his blade to block all the residual poison. He certainly had no intention of being touched by it.

Seeing the centipede beast pause in its revenge against Chen Qi, the senior sister’s eyes suddenly sparkled, and green and purple radiance blazed forth.