Chapter 2121: The Phosphor-Scaled Beast

"I probably can't defeat it..." Zhang Xuan said awkwardly.

With the 'Heaven Has Affection' technique and sword art, he could easily defeat a peak mid-grade deity, but defeating an upper-grade deity was difficult.

Let alone an even more powerful divine beast!

Of course, his purpose this time was not to kill it, but to obtain some blood. As long as he encountered it, with the advantage of the library and his silver tongue, he might even be able to coax it or find a way to subdue it!

His beast taming didn't always rely on combat strength; it relied on... unparalleled personal charm!

If charm didn't work, he could trade with divine origin pills.

After all, he had plenty of them now. The valley lacked spiritual energy, and it was just some blood; the beast probably wouldn't refuse.

"Can't defeat it, yet you dare to come... You've got some nerve!" The young man shook his head, then looked over: "Also, I'm curious... You keep talking about getting the blood of the Phosphor-Scaled Beast. Do you know where it lives and what it looks like?"

Zhang Xuan was taken aback: "As long as I find a peak upper-grade deity-level divine beast with strong defensive power, that should be it..."

That person in charge only said this divine beast was in the Luoyun Gorge, without specifying the exact location or describing its form. He had thought that after arriving, he could tame a random divine beast and ask for directions, but he hadn't encountered any.

Naturally, he was completely in the dark!

However, the gorge had only one path. As long as he followed it and didn't miss any spot, he was sure to find it.

"Encounter it and that's it... Don't you think that's too reckless?"

The young man let out a derisive laugh, leaning against a rock outside the cave, looking amused.

"Not at all. I've tamed many beasts and know their nature. As long as I encounter it, I'll find a way to persuade it!" Zhang Xuan waved his hand and said no more: "Alright, thank you for the fine wine and meat, my friend. I really must take my leave. I need to return before dawn; I don't have much time to waste!"

With that, he bypassed the other and walked straight into the valley.

"Seeing that you know nothing, since you saved me, I'll help you find the Phosphor-Scaled Beast today!" The young man stood up.

"This... would be too much trouble!" Zhang Xuan was stunned, then shook his head: "Although your cultivation is extremely high, the Phosphor-Scaled Beast is a divine beast with invincible defense, making it extremely difficult to contend with. I wouldn't want to trouble you and put you in danger!"

"No matter. I have nothing else to do. We drank together, and you saved me; it's only right to help you. Besides, you know nothing; how long would it take you to find it like this?"

Slinging the remaining half-gourd of wine over his shoulder, the young man came up to him in two steps.

As he approached, Zhang Xuan noticed that this young man was over two meters tall, a full head taller than him, with a strong build that gave off a powerful oppressive aura.

"Since you're kind enough to offer, I'll gratefully accept... Of course, I won't let you help for nothing. Here are five divine origin pills as my reward!"

With a flick of his finger, Zhang Xuan tossed over a jade bottle.

He didn't like owing favors.

If the other insisted on helping, he would pay compensation.

Five divine origin pills, even for an upper-grade deity-level expert, was a considerable price.

"Oh?" The young man took the bottle, paused, and casually uncorked it. Seeing five divine origin pills lying inside, he picked one up, sniffed it, and confirmed it was genuine. His eyes lit up: "Thanks!"

He put one in his mouth, felt the surging spiritual energy, stuffed the rest into his pocket, and stepped forward with a smile: "Follow me. I'll take you to find the Phosphor-Scaled Beast!"

Zhang Xuan said nothing more and followed closely behind into the valley.

In the special terrain formed by the gorge, the wind grew fiercer as they went deeper, with a constant wailing sound.

The two walked one after another for nearly half an hour before the young man stopped: "Ahead is the lair of the Phosphor-Scaled Beast..."

Zhang Xuan looked forward and saw a huge cave in the pitch-black gorge.

The cave entrance was over ten people tall, dark and deep inside, with nothing visible.

"This is it?" Zhang Xuan asked, slightly puzzled.

It seemed this Phosphor-Scaled Beast was even larger than he had imagined, otherwise it couldn't have built such a spacious cave.

"Yes. If you want to catch it, just go straight in. I'll follow behind you. If you really need help, just call out..." the young man said.

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded, said no more, took a deep breath, and with a flicker of his body, silently flew toward the distant cave.

The young man followed closely.

Soon they reached the cave entrance. Zhang Xuan activated his Eye of Insight and looked inside.

It was pitch black inside. Hugging the wall, they walked for a while until the cave opened up. At the far end, torchlight illuminated the surroundings.

"That's it..."

The young man transmitted his voice.

Zhang Xuan looked up and saw a huge divine beast lying asleep on a stone platform inside the cave, six or seven meters long, covered in grayish fur.

"It looks like... a wolf?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

This divine beast gave him the feeling of a giant wolf.

Wasn't the Phosphor-Scaled Beast supposed to have phosphor scales all over for invincible defense?

"It's the one. I come here often; I can't be wrong..." the young man nodded.

"Good..." Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan raised his eyebrows, and a long sword appeared in his palm. With a gentle flick, a sword beam shot out.

Before he could reach it, the Phosphor-Scaled Beast, sensing the ambush, suddenly stood up. Its thick tail swept, and the entire cave was filled with a fierce wind.

"Sure enough, it's at the upper-grade deity level!"

Zhang Xuan dodged the attack, his expression solemn.

This big fellow had indeed reached the upper-grade deity realm, and every move carried heavy pressure that made it hard for him to contend.

"Heart like a double-stranded net, with a thousand knots within!"

Raising his eyebrows, Zhang Xuan unleashed his strongest technique without hesitation.

In an instant, sword energy surged, and a net-like sword mark rushed toward the Phosphor-Scaled Beast.

"What a formidable sword art!"

The young man behind him exclaimed in admiration.

He had always felt that the other had a trump card, otherwise he wouldn't dare come alone to find the Phosphor-Scaled Beast. Seeing this sword art, he realized that although Zhang Xuan was only a peak lower-grade deity, his actual combat strength was not weaker than some upper-grade deities!

"Roar!"

Enveloped by the sword net, the Phosphor-Scaled Beast let out a roar and broke free in just a few breaths.

At the same time, it charged even more furiously, swiping a claw at Zhang Xuan.

As if anticipating the move, Zhang Xuan stepped back and turned to the young man behind him: "Please lend a hand!"

"Alright!" The young man seemed to have been waiting for this. He stepped forward and punched.

Zhang Xuan took the opportunity to execute his sword art again, striking at the beast's weak points.

Bang!

Caught off guard, the Phosphor-Scaled Beast was hit in the abdomen by the young man's punch, flew backward, and crashed into the wall, creating a large pit.

Zhang Xuan pressed the attack, unleashing all his techniques.

The young man was no slouch either. His two arms seemed to become eight, moving extremely fast. Moreover, his body was incredibly tough; he took two attacks from the Phosphor-Scaled Beast without any injury.

After about ten breaths, the Phosphor-Scaled Beast was already losing. It shed a pool of blood, then burst out of the cave and disappeared into the night in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace.

"Excellent..."

Seeing that it had left blood, making the trip worthwhile, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and found a bottle to collect it.

"Thank you for your help, friend..." After packing up, Zhang Xuan cupped his hands to the young man.

"No need to thank me. Since I helped, you have to pay the price. Give me another fifty divine origin pills, and we'll be even..."

The young man waved his hand grandly.

"Fifty?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

Divine origin pills were extremely expensive and hard to come by, very precious. Asking for fifty at once was a bit of a lion's mouth!

He had seemed so generous earlier, but now his expression had suddenly changed.

"That's right. If I hadn't acted, you would have been killed. Fifty divine origin pills to buy your life isn't too expensive, is it..." The young man looked at him.

"I'm just an ordinary cultivator; how could I have so many pills? How about this: I'll give you all the pills I have on me, ten in total..." After a pause, Zhang Xuan said.

"Don't have any? Let me search and find out!" With a grab, the young man released divine power from his fingers, sealing off all escape routes.

"You... what are you doing?" Feeling his body restrained, Zhang Xuan's face turned pale, and he quickly shouted.

"Nothing much. You came to kill me, so I'll kill you and take your belongings... That's not too much, is it!"

The young man chuckled.

"Kill you? Where does that come from? I just saved your life..."

"Saved me? Haha!"

The young man said: "Didn't you come here to kill the Phosphor-Scaled Beast?"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"I am... the Phosphor-Scaled Beast!" The young man snorted, and his body suddenly changed. In the next moment, a huge divine beast covered in phosphor scales appeared before him.

"You're the Phosphor-Scaled Beast?" Zhang Xuan was stunned, his eyes wide: "You've already taken human form?"

He knew that divine beasts could take human form since arriving in the God Realm, but he hadn't expected it to be identical to a human, to the point that he couldn't distinguish.

"That's right. You want to kill me, so I'll kill you... Fair enough!" The Phosphor-Scaled Beast chuckled.

"Indeed, very fair!" Zhang Xuan nodded: "But... do you think that seeing a person drinking alone in the middle of the night, with such strong defenses, I would have no precautions at all?"

"I've seen your strength and trump cards. How could you have any other tricks?" The Phosphor-Scaled Beast was startled.

It had brought him here and used that other divine beast to test his mettle. Seeing that he only relied on a set of sword techniques, with no great strength or powerful artifacts, it had relaxed and made its move.

"I really can't defeat you, but... sorry, you just ate something you shouldn't have..."

With a faint smile, Zhang Xuan flicked his finger.

Bang!

Just as it was about to attack, the Phosphor-Scaled Beast suddenly widened its eyes, its abdomen in severe pain. Cold sweat instantly broke out on its head, and its huge body trembled uncontrollably.