Under the cover of night, Hong Cong and Ye Ning successfully arrived outside the nest of the Black Ape Beast.
"Ye Ning, are we really doing the right thing here?"
Looking at the deep, dark cave not far away, Hong Cong hesitated as he spoke.
Ye Ning said coldly, "You saw it with your own eyes. Qin Shou's Dragon Beast has grown significantly, and it's very likely close to advancing to Danger Level 8.
If we take down this Danger Level 8 Black Ape Beast tomorrow, even if Qin Shou gets just one-fifth of the beast meat, it could be enough for his Dragon Beast to successfully evolve.
Do you know what that would mean?"
Ye Ning turned to Hong Cong and asked firmly.
Hong Cong nodded grimly and said, "I know. If Qin Shou's Dragon Beast advances to Danger Level 8, we'll have no chance during the upcoming Three Schools Trial organized by the academy."
Ye Ning replied, "Exactly. I already know I don't have a chance, but your situation is different.
Your Skeleton Giant Lizard is already a Danger Level 8 Beast, which gives you a good chance of securing a spot in the trial.
But if Qin Shou rises to prominence and defeats your Skeleton Giant Lizard in the Beast Breeding Competition, your chances will plummet.
And if his Dragon Beast evolves to Danger Level 8, you'll have zero chance!"
Hong Cong's expression darkened. "But even if Qin Shou's Dragon Beast doesn't evolve, my Skeleton Giant Lizard is no match for it, so…"
Ye Ning interrupted, "Hong Cong, have you forgotten? Qin Shou comes from an ordinary family."
Hong Cong froze. "You... what do you mean?"
Ye Ning pointed toward the cave and said, "Slay the Black Ape Beast, extract its genes, and we'll split the 300,000 Federation Coins bounty—sixty percent for you, forty percent for me.
Eighteen thousand Federation Coins. Add that to the money your parents can raise by selling a property, and you'll have enough to hire a Vajra Realm Beast Tamer to upgrade your Skeleton Giant Lizard.
Qin Shou's Dragon Beast might beat a Danger Level 8 Skeleton Giant Lizard, but could it possibly defeat a Danger Level 9 Skeleton Giant Lizard?"
Hong Cong's eyes lit up. "That's right! Qin Shou can't possibly afford to hire a Vajra Realm Beast Tamer to upgrade his Dragon Beast!"
Ye Ning smiled mysteriously. This fool—Qin Shou's Beast Breeding Talent is so exceptional that he doesn't even need other Beast Tamers to upgrade his Dragon Beast.
Still, successfully misleading Hong Cong means I can rake in 120,000 Federation Coins effortlessly.
Ye Ning didn't notice the two sudden beast-shaped footprints that appeared in the grass not far behind them.
Using the Reynard Transformation Card, Qin Shou was hidden behind them in stealth mode, listening to their conversation clearly.
Qin Shou rubbed his forehead with a faint smile.
This Hong Cong doesn't seem too dim, so why is he so easily led around by Ye Ning?
And Ye Ning—he usually looks so cold and detached, but he's far more cunning than he appears.
Truly, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Qin Shou thought for a moment. Since the two of them were so eager to pave the way for him, he might as well graciously accept ownership of this Black Ape Beast.
...
"Roar..."
A monstrous roar echoed from the depths of the cave as a Bronze Taotie shot out like a shadow, instantly disappearing into the dense forest.
"Boom..."
The ground quaked lightly as a towering, eight-meter-tall Black Ape Beast charged out of the cave, howling at the sky.
"Roar!!"
The Black Ape Beast's eyes were bloodshot, with a clear wound running across its face. Enraged, it pounded its chest furiously.
It had been sleeping soundly when a strange-looking monster ambushed it—completely intolerable!
The Black Ape Beast scanned its surroundings, only to see that the monster that had ambushed it had long disappeared without a trace. Frustrated and furious, it beat its chest harder, venting its anger.
"Sss!!"
At that moment, the Skeleton Giant Lizard, which had been lurking in the shadows, suddenly burst out, its massive jaws clamping down fiercely on the Black Ape Beast's neck.
"Roar!"
"Sss!"
The Black Ape Beast struggled violently, pounding the Skeleton Giant Lizard's head with immense force.
"Boom!!"
The Skeleton Giant Lizard clamped its jaws tightly around the Black Ape Beast's neck, enduring the crushing blows with tremendous resilience.
Its long, whip-like tail coiled around the Black Ape Beast's body, unleashing a constrictive force rivaling that of a giant python.
"Roar!!"
The Black Ape Beast let out an agonizing cry, its punches growing more ferocious. The Skeleton Giant Lizard grunted in pain, blood seeping from its head.
"Sss!"
Just as the Skeleton Giant Lizard was on the verge of collapse, the Bronze Taotie pounced, its razor-sharp claws slashing the Black Ape Beast's eyes blind.
"Roar..."
The Black Ape Beast, its eyes now bleeding profusely, grew even more maniacal.
It grabbed the Skeleton Giant Lizard's massive jaws with its bare hands, unleashing an unparalleled surge of strength.
"Squish!!"
The Black Ape Beast tore off the Skeleton Giant Lizard's head, along with the flesh it had been biting into. Bright red blood sprayed everywhere, drenching the surrounding area in a rain of gore.
Hong Cong and Ye Ning exchanged stunned glances.
Disaster!
In the next moment, the ground trembled as the Black Ape Beast slammed the Skeleton Giant Lizard's head into a nearby boulder with a resounding crash.
"Boom..."
The Skeleton Giant Lizard's head was buried in the rock, letting out a tragic wail, though the constrictive power of its tail remained relentless.
Nearby, under the cover of the Black Ape Beast's severe injuries, the Bronze Taotie weaved around, taking opportunistic jabs to harass its foe.
The Black Ape Beast continued to bleed profusely, its body drenched in blood as a pool of crimson formed beneath its feet. Its power waned with every passing second.
As the Skeleton Giant Lizard recovered from its daze, it let out a deafening roar, and its vile, elongated tongue shot out, wrapping tightly around the Black Ape Beast's neck.
Choked and gasping, the Black Ape Beast weakened rapidly, while the Bronze Taotie grew bolder, no longer afraid of its opponent's rampaging strength.
The Bronze Taotie leapt forward, tearing off chunks of flesh from the Black Ape Beast's body.
"Roar..."
Moments later, the Black Ape Beast let out a pitiful groan, its body slowly collapsing into the blood-soaked ground, splashing up blood like blooming crimson flowers.
"Success!"
Hong Cong and Ye Ning burst into laughter.
The Black Ape Beast, lying in the bloody pool, was still faintly breathing, clearly not entirely dead.
From the shadows, Qin Shou nodded slightly. He was just about to step in to finish off the Black Ape Beast and earn some Synthesis Points.
But suddenly, the sound of energy thrusters roared from the mountaintop. A towering, eight-meter-tall red mecha descended rapidly toward Hong Cong and the others.
"Boom!"
The mecha landed with force. Exhausted from their battle, the Skeleton Giant Lizard and the Bronze Taotie instinctively retreated a few steps, their eyes filled with caution.
This was...
A cyclopean head.
A nimble red frame.
Two flexible, rotating mechanical right arms, while the mechanical left arm was outfitted with a powerful energy cannon.
"The mecha, Storm Red!" The two were visibly shocked.
"Hahaha, as the saying goes, fortune follows the great calamity—those ancient words ring true!"
From within the cockpit of Storm Red came a sleazy, arrogant laugh.
Soon after, the two mechanical right arms of the mecha emitted faint clicks. As its weapon module shifted, razor-sharp Spiral Blades glinted threateningly, aimed directly at both of them.
An unmistakable threat!
"Gentlemen, this Black Ape Beast now belongs to me. You may leave!"
The voice from Storm Red's cockpit was once again filled with insolent laughter.
Hong Cong's expression darkened, and he angrily said, "We're the ones who took it down! What gives you the right to take it?"
"Brrrr…"
In an instant, the two Spiral Blades attached to Storm Red's mechanical right arms began spinning furiously, while the energy cannon on its mechanical left arm charged with an overwhelming surge of energy.
"Because I have Storm Red!" the newcomer sneered.
Hong Cong gritted his teeth and turned to Ye Ning. "This mecha looks to be only Level 1, 8 stars. Do you have the guts to take it on?"
Ye Ning scoffed coldly. "Why wouldn't I? Let's see what makes this mecha master so audacious!"
"Alright, let's take him down!"
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PS: Kneeling for recommendation votes. Please let me act smug for a little while (ಡωಡ)