Wasted Arthur (2)

In the silent depths of the night, a slender steel needle shot forth, aimed at Du Chen—or perhaps, at Arthur. The two were so close, it was impossible to discern the true target.

Chii! Du Chen's robes ripped open at his back, revealing a resplendent golden lotus that burst forth. With a sharp 'clink,' the steel needle struck the lotus, only to be deflected harmlessly. A narrow escape! He inwardly mused, thankful for the golden lotus he'd concealed at his back. Concurrently, all the precious artifacts hidden within that golden lotus were swiftly tucked into Du Chen's pockets.

Du Chen barely had time to turn his head when, in a blink, the scenery before his eyes underwent a dramatic transformation. Moments ago, they were amidst an unfamiliar, dense forest, thick with overgrown weeds and countless fallen leaves. Yet, the instant Du Chen lifted his gaze, the entire woodland vanished, supplanted by a desolate wilderness. Scattered rocks lay everywhere, and grotesque, jagged bones protruded from the earth, as if he had been suddenly transported to a long-abandoned ruin. The abrupt shift in scenery caught Du Chen completely off guard, startling him profoundly.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

The whistling of air rent the silence once more. Du Chen had no time for deliberation; all three golden lotuses burst forth from his body. His Lotus Internal Force surged to its absolute maximum, causing the three lotuses to spin rapidly around him, forming a protective vortex. Amidst a flurry of crisp 'clinks,' seven or eight more steel needles were deflected, clattering to the ground.

"Who goes there? Esteemed senior, please do not misunderstand! I am a student of the Battle God Academy. I merely took a wrong turn during my Intensive Training and inadvertently trespassed upon your domain!"

Du Chen still assumed he had stumbled into the territory of some reclusive master on Battle God Isle, inadvertently incurring their wrath. After all, given the precedent set by Roland, the existence of any number of eccentric, hidden experts on Battle God Isle was hardly surprising.

Du Chen's only answer was a low, rustling sound.

From behind a dark crag not far off, a grotesque creature emerged. It bore a striking resemblance to a rhinoceros, yet its body was bristling with quills like steel needles. Its hide was an earthy yellow, and a pair of blood-red eyes fixed their unblinking gaze upon Du Chen. It went without saying; the steel needles that had just assailed him undoubtedly originated from this very beast.

"What in the blazes is this monster!?"

Since arriving in this Battle God World, Du Chen had indeed encountered numerous species vastly different from those of his previous life, but this particular creature was utterly new to him. Observing the ineffectiveness of its steel quills, the monster flicked its tongue, wettening the fangs on its upper jaw. It then pawed the earth with its four hooves, aimed the sharp horn at the tip of its snout directly at Du Chen, and charged forward with startling ferocity.

"Esteemed senior, is this... your divine beast? This student must act in self-preservation, so I beg your pardon for any offense!" Du Chen still believed he was within the domain of a high-level Battle God, hence his impeccable etiquette. However, his hands showed no mercy whatsoever; the three golden lotuses aligned themselves, forming a devastating projectile that hurtled towards the monstrous creature.

Du Chen's current Lotus Internal Force was roughly equivalent to a Level Three battle qi master. Coupled with the profound power of his immortal-grade Lotus Sacred Artifacts, his might was amplified significantly. The three golden lotuses, propelled by his will, moved with the speed of lightning, instantly smashing into the creature's head.

"Owooo!"

The monster's head snapped to the side from the impact, and it let out a booming, pained shriek. Yet, it defiantly stiffened its neck, its steel quills bristling menacingly, and fixed its unwavering gaze back on Du Chen.

"Damn it all! My Lotus Sacred Artifacts are utterly useless! After taking three direct hits, the monster hadn't even suffered a scratch, let alone a broken hide! What monstrous cultivation level does this creature possess!?"

As he pondered this, the grotesque beast charged once more. Noticing its relatively sluggish speed, Du Chen deftly sidestepped it, much like a matador from his past life. Concurrently, he once again slammed a lotus onto the creature's skull. Still, no discernible effect! His current Lotus Sacred Artifacts were simply incapable of piercing the monster's steel-like hide and bristling quills.

"Damn it all! Is there *anyone* here?!" Du Chen bellowed, all while skillfully evading the monster. He cast a quick glance at the unconscious Arthur, then twisted his body, drawing the creature away for a short sprint before leaping atop a large boulder. "Hey, you brute! Your grandpa's right here! Come and get some if you dare!"

"Owooo!" The creature's intellect was clearly not high; with a guttural roar, it blindly charged towards Du Chen.

He stared intently at the wildly charging beast, at its pair of blood-red, man-devouring eyes. Within Du Chen's heart, a profound calm settled, still as placid water. This monster possessed a hide of steel and bones of iron; brute force with the lotuses clearly wouldn't subdue it. He might even get himself caught in the process. If its hide was impenetrable, what about its other vulnerabilities?

Du Chen offered a chilling smile. He abruptly flung two lotuses, smashing them against the creature's head. As the beast roared in pain, the third lotus instantaneously shrunk, dwindling until it was no larger than a tiny mosquito. It zipped straight into the monster's gaping maw, then down its esophagus, entering its internal cavity.

"GROW BIG, DAMN YOU!" Du Chen roared. Instantly, the lotus within the monster's internal cavity swelled dramatically, expanding to the size of a washbasin.

"Owooo..." The rapidly charging monster suddenly halted in its tracks. Its colossal body spasmed, then it crashed to the ground with a resounding thud! Its internal organs had been violently ruptured by the expanding lotus!

"By the heavens, no wonder Senior Brother enjoyed burrowing into people's bellies! This move is truly effective!" Du Chen gasped for a few breaths, leaping down from the boulder. He then retrieved his lotus from the monster's ravaged internal cavity.

Just then, a faint, tingly sensation prickled across his buttocks—a sign that his Precious Lotus Scripture had subtly advanced once more. "What was this? Could dispatching a grotesque beast truly count as a 'good deed'? Impossible!" Du Chen's gaze snapped to the still-unconscious Arthur. "Blast it all! The monster's true target was Arthur! He had just saved Arthur's life!"

This was major trouble. Far from feeling any elation, Du Chen's mind raced. Arthur was the grandson of the Lionheart King, the scion of a living deity. How immensely powerful must the faction be that dared to make him a target for assassination!? And how much trouble would Du Chen now invite upon himself for thwarting their scheme!? A chill snaked down Du Chen's spine at the thought. Thankfully, he still had the Flaying Battle God's protection. However, he had just faced a perilous life-and-death struggle, yet the Flaying Battle God had been conspicuously absent. Moreover, during the previous encounter with Frith, the Flaying Battle God had only intervened on the second day. This suggested that the Flaying Battle God was not truly omniscient or omnipotent; he was still, in essence, a mortal, with moments where his protection might fall short. He resolved to exercise far greater caution in the future.

"Hahaha! An amusing little whelp you are, to actually dispatch a Level Five Thorned Beast!" A shadowy figure materialized abruptly before Du Chen. Shrouded entirely in black mist, no discernible features were visible beyond a vague outline. "Your sacred artifacts are truly intriguing. I detect no trace of battle qi from those three lotus-shaped sacred artifacts. Tsk, tsk... most interesting indeed!"

Du Chen started, then inquired cautiously, "Is this... your esteemed domain, senior?!"

"This is Zigurd's territory, yes! However, I've laid down an... interesting formation here." From the black mist shrouding him, several tendrils suddenly snaked out, writhing like grotesque vipers. In a mere blink, they completely consumed the Thorned Beast's corpse. "Though this massive creature is dead, it still harbors quite a few treasures. We mustn't let them go to waste! Little fellow, your power is commendable, but it's a pity you chose to follow Arthur. Alas, look at the outcome: you've blundered right into my magic formation, haven't you!"

Du Chen inwardly cursed his wretched luck. Why had he even bothered with Arthur? If only he had simply outpaced him from the start, none of this would have happened. "Consider yourself exceptionally unlucky, then. I noticed the oddity of your lotus artifacts earlier and allowed you a few extra moments of freedom. But now... you shall share Arthur's misfortune!" As he spoke, the black mist engulfing him suddenly expanded, overwhelming Du Chen's vision. All he saw was an impenetrable shroud of darkness.