Old Bird glanced at the people around Chen Guan. Many newcomers had arrived on the island recently, and he had already seen plenty at the base.
Old Bird and Chen Guan had graduated from the same academy, though Old Bird was one year senior. He didn't recognize Gongsun Zhuo, but someone as prominent as Qin Ziyu was instantly identifiable.
On the other side, Old Bird also recognized Wang Lian because she was quite beautiful. Having such a pretty junior naturally became a topic of discussion among seniors.
Old Bird didn't care about Wang Lian or Gongsun Zhuo, but he was somewhat wary of Qin Ziyu—not because of his strength, but because he came from the Qin family. Even as a branch member, someone like Old Bird with no backing couldn't afford to provoke him.
"What I want to discuss is private. Let's talk alone," Old Bird said.
"Fine." Chen Guan nodded and turned to Qin Ziyu and the others. "Wait here for me. I'll be back soon."
Old Bird frowned slightly but didn't say anything else, leading Chen Guan to a fork in the canyon until they disappeared from view.
Once they were alone, Chen Guan stopped, patting Warring States' head as he looked at Old Bird. "This is far enough. Speak plainly."
Old Bird decided to cut to the chase. "Chen Guan, I'm in a tight spot. For old times' sake, lend me your Evil Cute Rabbit. Once it's done, I'll help you level up."
Old Bird's eyes turned cold, though his voice softened. "You know how things are on the island. Even with a unique pet, going solo won't get you far. I'm in the elite squad now, already Level 10 with some standing. Once you level up, I can get you in. With my backing, isn't that better than just one pet?"
"No." Chen Guan didn’t want to waste time with him.
Old Bird’s expression darkened. He gripped his bow, nocking an arrow and aiming it at Chen Guan. "I tried being nice. Don’t make me force you. That pet is mine, one way or another."
Chen Guan smirked. "Should’ve just said that from the start. Why pretend to be decent?"
"Hand over the Evil Cute Rabbit." Old Bird slowly drew the bowstring taut, the arrow poised to pierce Chen Guan’s chest.
"No." Chen Guan’s smile vanished, his voice icy.
"You asked for this." Without hesitation, Old Bird fired three rapid shots, denying Chen Guan any chance to summon Rouge.
At this close range, with so many arrows, Old Bird was leaving no room for survival—though he avoided vital spots, aiming to cripple instead.
In Old Bird’s mind, Chen Guan couldn’t have leveled much in just a few days. At best, he’d be Level 5 or 6. A Level 10 archer like him should have no trouble subduing Chen Guan. Once weakened, torture would make him surrender Rouge.
But Chen Guan didn’t summon Rouge—he didn’t need to. Warring States leaped up, swatting two arrows aside with its paws and catching the third in its jaws. Landing, it glared at Old Bird before biting down, snapping the arrow in half.
"Impossible!" Old Bird’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He’d considered many scenarios—even that Rouge might be higher-leveled—but never once did he imagine a mere Guardian Dog could intercept his arrows.
Guardian Dogs were the lowest-tier Mystical Spirits. While high-grade spirits surpassed human cultivators in physical stats, same-level Guardian Dogs were usually weaker.
Old Bird had accounted for everything—except Chen Guan’s Guardian Dog being a threat.
As he reached for another arrow, Warring States pounced like a starving wolf, knocking him off his Ghost-Headed Horse before he could react.
Panicked, Old Bird tried strangling the dog with his bowstring, but Warring States’ speed and strength terrified him. How could a Guardian Dog be this strong? Read full story at NoveI[F]ire.net
With a sickening crunch, Warring States bit through Old Bird’s bow arm.
Having consumed Water Burial Buddha’s flesh, Warring States had absorbed vast Primordial Energy, reaching Level 8—only two below Old Bird.
The effects of Cheerleader’s Soul still lingered, making its combat prowess far beyond Old Bird’s. That’s why Chen Guan hadn’t even bothered summoning Rouge.
In moments, Warring States crippled Old Bird’s limbs, leaving him writhing helplessly on the ground, howling in agony.
"Warring States, return." Chen Guan called the dog back.
Obediently, Warring States trotted over, wagging its tail and panting like an eager child awaiting praise.
"Good job." Chen Guan patted its head and fed it a strip of Water Burial Buddha meat.
Warring States gulped it down greedily, seemingly insatiable.
Old Bird, now limbless, could only twist in pain, consumed by shock and fury. He couldn’t fathom how he’d lost—to a Guardian Dog, of all things.
Regret overwhelmed him. Had he known, he’d never have approached Chen Guan, let alone tried stealing Rouge. But how could he have guessed he’d lose to a mere Guardian Dog?
"No way… There’s no way I lost to a Guardian Dog… No way…" In his despair, Old Bird refused to accept reality.
Hearing the commotion, Qin Ziyu and Gongsun Zhuo arrived with Wang Lian in tow, quickly piecing together what happened.
"Did this guy try robbing you?" Qin Ziyu glanced at Old Bird before looking at Chen Guan.
"He wanted Rouge," Chen Guan replied.
The others shook their heads at Old Bird’s idiocy. Chen Guan’s Rouge Rabbit could fight Legendary-grade Mystical Spirits—few on the island could match it. Targeting Rouge was pure suicide.
"Is he strong or something? How dare he go after Rouge Rabbit? Doesn’t he know it can fight Legendary-grade spirits?" Gongsun Zhuo found it absurd. He didn’t know Old Bird, who’d never been noteworthy at the academy.
Old Bird trembled, staring at Gongsun Zhuo in disbelief.
"You really don’t know anything," Gongsun Zhuo said, looking at him like he was an idiot. "We just killed a Legendary-grade Mystical Spirit. Rouge was our main force."
Old Bird felt as if struck by lightning. "No… That’s impossible… You’re lying… How could you newcomers… How…"
He’d schemed relentlessly to climb the ranks, all to hunt high-grade spirits—even betraying Chen Guan to rejoin the elite squad. Yet before the elites could kill a Legendary-grade spirit, Chen Guan’s group had already done it. Old Bird couldn’t accept this. It made him look like a complete joke.