Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Slaying the Giant Lizard

"Alright!"

Liu Jianjian was a little excited.

In past battles, she was the one hiding in the back, firing sneak attacks.

But now, she was the one leading a huge swarm of Demon Beasts to gang up on their enemies.

A completely different kind of battle.

The former was something she’d avoid at all costs; the latter made her excited just thinking about it.

"Battle, battle!"

’If I can collect ten Third Realm, a hundred Second Realm, or a thousand First Realm Demon Beasts this time, my Demon Hunting Divine Technique will break through to Second Realm Great Perfection!’

’Once I reach Second Realm Perfection, I’ll prepare to break through to the Third Realm!’

Liu Jianjian was overjoyed.

Zhu Ge smiled along with her.

’If Liu Jianjian breaks through to the Third Realm, collecting other Third Realm Demon Beasts will be a piece of cake.’

...

The early morning was shrouded in mist.

Zhu Ge led Liu Jianjian toward Yilong Marsh.

Liu Jianjian followed by his side, her hair stuffed with Demon Beasts, the tip of every strand glowing faintly.

"Master, what do you think is actually in Yilong Marsh?" Liu Jianjian leaned in and whispered.

"I don’t know." Zhu Ge was also a bit curious. "But for Tongzhen to have specifically marked it, it can’t be anything friendly. Maybe a dragon?"

"Whatever it is," Liu Jianjian stroked her beautiful hair, "I have so many Demon Beasts on hand now—hundreds of Second Realm and thousands of First Realm. If anything dares to block our path, I’ll set my Demon Beasts on it!"

Zhu Ge glanced at her and smiled. "You weren’t like this before."

"The past is the past, and the present is the present." Liu Jianjian lifted her chin smugly.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived dozens of miles from Yilong Marsh.

Looking from afar, the water’s surface was covered in a layer of faint purple mist, obscuring the view within.

Strange cries occasionally drifted out from the mist, sounding like a baby wailing one moment and a woman softly weeping the next, which was enough to make one’s blood run cold.

Yilong Marsh was larger and more treacherous than the swamp outside Mengzi City.

Unidentifiable skeletons floated on the water’s surface—some from Demon Beasts, others from the Human Race.

Now and then, bubbles would rise from the depths, carrying a foul stench.

The faint purple mist that pervaded the air above the marsh was highly toxic; Zhu Ge had to use his Blood Qi to shield his body just to move through it.

Liu Jianjian wrinkled her nose, her Demon Qi forming a thin protective barrier around her. "Master, what do you really think is in here?"

The two moved one after the other, leaping between dead trees and tufts of grass.

Zhu Ge executed the Incense Lighting Body Technique, augmented by the Thief Dao’s lightness skills, landing without a sound.

Liu Jianjian’s Demon Hunting Divine Technique included a movement method, so her speed was not slow either.

After traveling for about fifteen minutes, a low roar suddenly echoed from ahead.

Zhu Ge stopped and raised a hand, signaling Liu Jianjian to be silent.

Within the mist, a massive dark silhouette slowly emerged.

It was a giant lizard, pitch-black from head to tail and over fifty feet long. Its entire body was covered in metallic scales, its limbs were thick and powerful, and its claws were as sharp as blades.

A single horn grew from its head, the tip glowing with a cold light. Its pair of eerie green eyes stared at Zhu Ge as viscous saliva dripped from the corner of its mouth.

Third Realm!

And a Late-Essence Devouring Realm at that!

"Human Race, this is my territory," the giant lizard’s voice was low and hoarse. "Get out, and I’ll spare your life."

"The area around Yilong City is your territory?" Zhu Ge raised an eyebrow.

"It is." The corner of the giant lizard’s mouth curled up slightly, revealing a cruel smile.

"Those of the Human Race have such tender skin and soft flesh. They’re delicious. Especially the children—their bones are so crunchy. Let me see how tasty the two of you are."

"Eat?" Zhu Ge’s gaze turned cold. "I was originally going to give you a chance to surrender."

He tightened his grip on the Purgatory Star Rod. "Now, there’s no need."

"Just you? A mere Second Realm?" the giant lizard sneered. It suddenly whipped its tail, sending a huge wave of muddy water flying.

Zhu Ge tapped his toes, his figure becoming like smoke and mist as he evaded the sweeping attack and smashed his rod against the giant lizard’s side.

"CLANG!!!"

The sound of metal striking metal rang out.

The giant lizard’s scales were as hard as iron. Zhu Ge’s strike had only left a shallow white mark on them.

"Is that all the strength you have? It’s not even enough to scratch an itch," the giant lizard said dismissively, flicking its tail.

"Jianjian, release the Sword and Axe Mantis!"

A single strand of hair drifted down, and the Sword and Axe Mantis appeared out of thin air. With a blur of its wings, it lunged at the giant lizard.

Its pair of blade-like arms slashed at the giant lizard like a furious storm, sending scales flying.

The giant lizard cried out in pain and roared, whipping its tail toward the Sword and Axe Mantis.

The Sword and Axe Mantis was agile, easily dodging the attack before slashing the giant lizard’s side again.

While the giant lizard was preoccupied with the Sword and Axe Mantis, Zhu Ge flickered and leaped onto its back, raising the Purgatory Star Rod high.

"Vajra Palm!"

He channeled the power of the Vajra Palm into the Purgatory Star Rod and smashed it down on the same spot. A crack immediately split open in the giant lizard’s scales.

The second strike widened the crack.

The third, and blood began to seep out.

The fourth, fifth, sixth...

"Enough!" The giant lizard thrashed its body wildly, throwing Zhu Ge off, and opened its mouth to spit a glob of blackish-green poison.

The poison exploded mid-air, turning into a cloud of toxic mist that enveloped Zhu Ge.

Zhu Ge held his breath and shielded himself with Blood Qi. Instead of retreating, he advanced, circling around to the side as a silver-red light flared brilliantly on his Purgatory Star Rod.

"Dawn Intent!"

’Since I don’t plan on keeping this Third Realm beast, I might as well just kill it with a powerful move and get it over with.’

"CRACK—"

Zhu Ge smashed his rod onto the giant lizard’s head. The single horn snapped, and a bloody hole was punched into its skull.

"AWOOO!!!" The giant lizard let out a bloodcurdling shriek. Its enormous body thrashed wildly, its tail sweeping about and kicking up monstrous waves.

Zhu Ge struck again.

"BOOM!!!"

The giant lizard’s head exploded, and its massive body crashed to the ground.

The Three Realms Giant Lizard was dead.

The battlefield fell silent for a moment before Liu Jianjian cheered, "Long live the Master! You’re amazing, Master!"

Zhu Ge leaped down from the giant lizard’s body, covered in blood and gasping for air.

He glanced at the giant lizard’s corpse and said to Liu Jianjian, "Collect it. The scales can be made into leather armor, the horn can be used for Artifact Refining, and the flesh can be eaten. Don’t waste any of it."

’This giant lizard’s scales really are tough. It took me so many hits just to break through its defense.’

’If they were used to make scale armor, we could probably equip a force of about two hundred elite soldiers.’

"Alright!" Liu Jianjian ran over excitedly. The Demon Beasts swarmed out of her hair and began to drag the giant lizard’s corpse away.

Zhu Ge walked to the water’s edge and washed the blood from his face. "Let’s head back. The team is waiting."

The two returned the way they came. As they walked out of Yilong Marsh, the sunlight had just managed to disperse the mist.

"What’s the situation?" Yu the Scholar was the first to step forward and ask.

"I killed a Third Realm Demon Beast. Didn’t run into any others for now." Zhu Ge shook his head. "That Third Realm Demon Beast’s scales are useful to us, so I just killed it outright."

"A Third Realm Demon Beast..." Yu the Scholar fell silent.

’He always felt like Zhu Ge was showing off.’

’A Third Realm Demon Beast, a creature on par with a City Lord... Zhu Ge talked about killing it so casually. No matter how many times he heard it, it still sounded unreal!’

"Alright then, shall we set off for Yilong City?" Yu the Scholar smacked his lips.

"Let’s go!" Zhu Ge gazed into the distance.

In the distance, the silhouette of Yilong City was faintly visible under the sunlight.

Meanwhile, atop the city wall, a white-haired old general stood watching the group emerge from the marsh. He let out a long sigh.

"Reinforcements... they’ve finally arrived..."

He then closed his eyes. His Third Realm aura rapidly faded, dropping below the Second Realm, then the First, until it vanished completely.

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