BANG!
A high-speed, spinning ball of water struck the massive, swooping crow with perfect accuracy.
"CAW~!"
The massive crow was hit!
It let out a cry laced with pain and panic.
Taking advantage of the moment the massive crow was struck by the spinning water ball, its talons veered off their original course. Li Qian dodged with a sideways flip, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"HUFF... HUFF... HUFF..."
He was breathing heavily!
His heart was suddenly pounding in his chest!
A cold sweat trickled down his back!
That was far too dangerous!
Just now, if Qizai hadn't acted at the critical moment and used the Skill Water Cannon, his fate would have been grim.
He'd either be injured or captured.
It wasn't even out of the question that he could have been killed outright.
With lingering fear, he glanced at the massive crow rising into the air again. Li Qian subconsciously used his Beast Taming Talent.
However, he saw no information at all.
Without a doubt, this massive crow was at least Elite Level.
It was impossible to see any information unless the opponent lowered its guard and allowed him to probe it.
Although he couldn't see the massive crow's information, Li Qian identified it by drawing on his knowledge of Pet Beasts.
'A Nightmare Crow!'
That was right. The Pet Beast that attacked him was the Dark Element avian Pet Beast—the Nightmare Crow!
Dark Pet Beasts were already relatively rare, and Flying-types were even scarcer.
After identifying the Nightmare Crow, he was filled with profound confusion.
According to what he'd learned, Nightmare Crows rarely attacked humans without provocation.
Yet this Nightmare Crow had attacked him without a moment's hesitation.
'Why?'
'Did Qizai's evolution disturb it?'
'Or... was it not a wild Pet Beast at all!'
'But a human's Pet Beast!'
At that thought, he subconsciously scanned his surroundings.
Soon, about fifty meters away, he spotted a figure on top of a massive boulder.
By the light of the moon and stars, Li Qian could just barely make out that the figure was draped in a dark red robe.
'A member of a Cult Organization?'
This was the first thought that popped into Li Qian's mind the moment his eyes fell on the red-robed figure.
He had previously encountered someone from the Public Security Bureau.
That is, Zhou Weiping.
From Zhou Weiping's description, he had a general idea of how members of the Black Divine Teachings dressed.
Later, for his own safety, he had even looked it up online.
Right now, aside from the color of his robe, the red-robed man nearby was quite similar in all other aspects to a Cultist of the Black Divine Teachings.
Li Qian couldn't help but make the connection.
Upon realizing the mysterious man's possible identity, Li Qian's vigilance instantly shot up.
He looked at the mysterious red-robed man and frowned.
He noticed the Nightmare Crow wasn't attacking him again, but was instead circling above the mysterious red-robed man.
Some things were now self-evident.
Without a doubt, the one who commanded the Nightmare Crow to attack him was that mysterious red-robed man.
"Who are you?"
"Why did you attack me?"
Having discovered the mastermind, Li Qian questioned him bluntly.
Attacking without a word and without any warning—this person was clearly a foe, not a friend!
"Young man, you may have misunderstood."
The mysterious red-robed man said unhurriedly, "So young, yet you've solved a problem that countless Cultivation Masters couldn't, researching the evolution path from Koi Carp to Cyan-Scaled Flood Dragon. A Genius Cultivator such as yourself is exactly what our Ancient Divine Teachings needs."
"Just now, I had the Nightmare Crow descend not to attack you, but to take you away from here to a place with a much brighter future."
"Heh!"
Li Qian gave a faint smile. "There's no need for that!"
"I have no interest whatsoever in this 'place with a brighter future' you speak of."
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."
Li Qian rejected him firmly.
He showed the mysterious red-robed man no courtesy whatsoever.
The mysterious red-robed man did not get angry.
His composure remained steady.
"Interest is something that can be cultivated over time."
"Besides, to be favored by the Ancient Divine Teachings is your honor."
"To refuse this honor not only means you lose a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but you will also make an enemy of our Ancient Divine Teachings. I hope you'll think this through. Don't bring ruin upon yourself!"
The mysterious red-robed man was still trying to persuade him.
Though he called it persuasion, by the end, his words had become an undisguised threat.
Li Qian remained undaunted.
Qizai had already circled to a position above his head, creating a standoff with the Nightmare Crow.
"I don't know what your Ancient Divine Teachings is all about, but it doesn't sound like a legitimate organization."
Spreading his hands, he continued, "So, no matter what you say, my answer is still the same..."
"Not interested!"
After those two words—"Not interested!"—were spoken, even though the darkness of night and the man's head-to-toe dark red robe made it impossible to see his expression, Li Qian could clearly sense a dangerous aura rising from him.
"Young people are always so rebellious and untamable."
"It seems you're lacking a harsh lesson from the real world!"
"Go, Nightmare Crow!"
The mysterious red-robed man's tone turned icy.
As his voice fell, the massive crow in mid-air moved once more.
The Nightmare Crow spread its wings, but this time, it didn't dive in for an attack.
As its wings unfurled, ink-black cones began to coalesce in front of it.
The next moment...
Dozens of the ink-black cones shot straight toward them.
"A living genius has value. If I can't take you back, then destroying you is also a fine choice."
"In any case, I can't leave you for the Dongxia Federation!"
The mysterious red-robed man's voice was like ice.
His words only confirmed it for Li Qian.
'This guy is definitely a Cultist.'
'That "Ancient Divine Teachings" must be a Cult Organization.'
Only Cultists would oppose the Federation at every turn.
Having figured this out, Li Qian held nothing back!
Whether or not he was a match for his opponent was one thing!
But whether he would fight with all his might, with the intent to kill, was another matter entirely.
'Water Arrow: Thousand Arrows Attack!'
Li Qian shouted inwardly.
At the same time, he relayed the command to Qizai through their Soul Contract.
Almost the instant the ink-black cones took shape, Water Arrows also shot out from the pool at the top of the Hundred Feet Waterfall.
Although Water Arrow: Thousand Arrows Attack was named "Thousand Arrows Attack," since the Skill was only at the Beginner Level, it couldn't actually reach a "thousand arrows." It could, however, manage a hundred.
In terms of quantity, at least, it had the opponent beat.
BANG! BANG! BANG!...
The Water Arrows and the Nightmare Crow's "Shadow Cone" Skill collided in mid-air!
The Water Arrows exploded on impact!
The Shadow Cones were also greatly affected.
Not only did their speed decrease, but the cones themselves shrank in size!
It was obvious that although the Water Arrows weren't as powerful as the Shadow Cones, they had successfully weakened their might.
And the reduction in power was not insignificant.
At the very least, the weakened Shadow Cones should no longer pose much of a threat to Qizai.