The veteran glanced at Chen Guan and the few people beside him. Recently, many newcomers arrived on the island, and he had seen many at the base.
The veteran graduated from the same academy as Chen Guan, just one year ahead. He didn't recognize Gongsun Zhuo, but Qin Ziyu, a prominent figure in the academy, was instantly recognizable to him.
On the other side, Wang Lian was also recognized by the veteran because Wang Lian was quite pretty. Such a beautiful junior was naturally a topic among the seniors.
The veteran didn't care much about Wang Lian and Gongsun Zhuo, but he was somewhat apprehensive about Qin Ziyu.
It wasn't Qin Ziyu's strength that he feared, but the fact that he came from the Qin Family, even if only a branch family, which someone like the veteran, lacking any background, could not afford to provoke.
"What I have to say is somewhat private, best to talk alone." The veteran suggested.
"Alright." Chen Guan nodded, then said to Qin Ziyu and the others, "Wait for me here; I'll be right back."
The veteran frowned slightly but said nothing further, turning away with Chen Guan to a fork in the canyon, quickly disappearing from Qin Ziyu and the others' sight.
Once in a secluded spot, Chen Guan stopped, stroked the head of the Ghost-headed Horse, and said to the veteran, "Let's talk here. Just say what you have to say."
The veteran felt it was about time and decided not to waste any more time, staring at Chen Guan and saying, "Chen Guan, I've come across some difficulties. For the sake of our past neighborly relations, do me a favor and lend me your Evil Adorable Rabbit pet. Once the matter is settled, I'll help you level up."
"I won't lend it." Chen Guan had expected this and didn't bother to negotiate, simply refusing.
The veteran's eyes suddenly turned cold, but his voice softened slightly, "You know the situation on the island; even if you have a unique pet, a single person's power is hard to gain an advantage. I'm now a member of the Elite Team, already at Level 10, having gained some standing. Once you level up, I can introduce you to the Elite Team. With my backing, isn't that better than a unique pet?"
"I won't lend it." Chen Guan didn't want to waste time on someone like him, not even bothering with pointless talk.
The veteran's face changed instantly, one hand holding a bow and the other an arrow, directly aiming at Chen Guan, coldly saying, "I've tried speaking nicely, don't be disrespectful. You'll lend that pet whether you want to or not."
Chen Guan laughed, "Why didn't you say so earlier? Why play the gentleman? It's tiring for everyone."
"Give me the Evil Adorable Rabbit." The veteran slowly drew the bowstring back, the arrow seemingly ready to fly straight into Chen Guan's chest at any moment.
"No." Chen Guan's smile disappeared, and he spoke coldly.
"You forced me," the veteran said without hesitation, shooting three arrows quickly at Chen Guan's chest, not giving Chen Guan any chance to summon the Yanzhi Rabbit.
At such close range and with so many arrows, the veteran was giving Chen Guan no way out, striking with full force. However, the arrows didn't aim at Chen Guan's vitals, but rather to pierce his limbs.
In the veteran's eyes, after only a few days, Chen Guan might have upgraded a little, perhaps to Level 5 or 6 at most. With his Level 10 Archer skills, taking down Chen Guan was merely a matter of minutes.
Once Chen Guan lost his fighting strength, he could torture him without fear of not getting the Yanzhi Rabbit.
Chen Guan did not summon the Yanzhi Rabbit because there was simply no need. The Ghost-headed Horse leaped up, using its front paws to knock down two arrows and its mouth to catch another; landing back on the ground, it glared at the veteran, slightly exerting its canine teeth, causing the arrow in its mouth to break into two pieces and fall to the ground.
"Impossible!" The veteran's eyes widened; he couldn't believe what he saw.
He imagined many scenarios, even that the Yanzhi Rabbit's level might be slightly higher. Even with his level advantage, he would need some effort to take down Chen Guan.
Yet, he never imagined that a mere guard dog could swat down his full-force arrows in such a situation.
Guard dogs are the lowest level of Secret Spirit pets. Generally, high-quality Secret Spirits possess physical qualities stronger than human Cultivators of the same level, but lower-level guard dogs might be weaker than human Cultivators at the same level.
The veteran considered every possibility but never imagined that Chen Guan's guard dog would become his obstacle.
The veteran reached towards the quiver for more arrows, but the Ghost-headed Horse already lunged at him like a hungry wolf, before the veteran could react, knocking him off the Ghost-headed Horse's back.
The veteran fell to the ground, desperately trying to strangle the Ghost-headed Horse with the bowstring, but he was already panicking; the speed and strength of the Ghost-headed Horse truly terrified him. He couldn't understand why a guard dog would be so fierce.
The Ghost-headed Horse bit down, breaking the veteran's arm with a crunch. The veteran's arm, once holding the bow, was snapped painfully.
Having consumed the Water Burial Buddha's meat, the Ghost-headed Horse accumulated a substantial amount of Primordial Energy, already reaching Level 8, only two levels below the veteran.
The Spirit of the Cheerleaders' effect still lingered on the Ghost-headed Horse, whose current combat power surpassed the veteran's, otherwise, Chen Guan wouldn't have needed to summon Yanzhi.
Within moments, the veteran's arms and legs were crushed by the Ghost-headed Horse, rendering him powerless to struggle, lying on the ground wailing pitifully, unable to even stand.
"Ghost-headed Horse, come back." Chen Guan called back the Ghost-headed Horse.
The Ghost-headed Horse heard Chen Guan's command, promptly returning, sitting in front of Chen Guan wagging its tail, tongue out, like a child waiting to be praised.
"Well done, Ghost-headed Horse." Chen Guan patted its head, taking out a strip of Water Burial Buddha meat to feed it.
The Ghost-headed Horse snagged the meat strip from the ground and devoured it in one gulp, seemingly unbothered by fullness, daring to eat anything.
With all limbs broken, the veteran couldn't even crawl, forced into the ground, writhing in pain. He was both shocked and angry, utterly unable to fathom why he'd reached such a low point, unable to surpass even a guard dog.
The veteran felt deep regret; had he known, he would never have sought Chen Guan or tried to take the Yanzhi Rabbit. But how could he have known he wouldn't even be able to defeat a guard dog?
"Impossible… How could I not surpass a guard dog… Impossible…" The shock and rage had drained him of will, yet he couldn't accept the fact.
Qin Ziyu and Gongsun Zhuo arrived upon hearing the noise, dragging Wang Lian along, and saw the veteran sprawled on the ground, roughly guessing what happened.
"This guy wanted to steal from you?" Qin Ziyu glanced at the veteran, then turned to Chen Guan and asked.
"He wanted to take my Yanzhi." Chen Guan replied.
Everyone heard and felt the veteran truly lacked self-awareness. Chen Guan's Yanzhi Rabbit was capable of battling a World-Defying Secret Spirit, likely unmatched on the island, yet he dared to target the Yanzhi Rabbit, truly clueless.
"Is this dude strong? Dared to set his sights on the Yanzhi Rabbit? Doesn't he know the Yanzhi Rabbit can battle World-Defying Secret Spirits?" Gongsun Zhuo found it unbelievable, not recognizing the veteran, having never heard about such a figure in the academy.
Upon hearing, the veteran trembled and incredulously looked towards Gongsun Zhuo, unsure of his meaning.
"Seems you really don't know anything," Gongsun Zhuo looked at the veteran as if he was observing a fool, laughing and saying, "We just killed a World-Defying Secret Spirit, and the Yanzhi Rabbit was our main force."
The veteran was struck like a bolt of lightning, almost unable to believe his ears, nearly screaming madly, "No… impossible… you're lying to me… you newcomers can't possibly… what makes you…"
He'd meticulously plotted to rise through the ranks to hunt high-quality Secret Spirits, not hesitating to betray his agreement with Chen Guan to rejoin the Elite Team, yet before the team slew a World-Defying Secret Spirit, Chen Guan's group had already accomplished it. The veteran couldn't accept such a reality, making him appear as a joke.