Chapter Seventy-Four: The Transformation of the Unicorn

"Qiu, this young beast may appear formidable, but it’s already spent. All you need to do is stall for time. When it reaches its weakest point, unleash your most powerful attack and finish it off... Whether your spirit companion can awaken its divine beast bloodline depends on whether it can fully absorb the very essence of its kind during this battle. For that, you must buy it enough time."

Nangong Li’s voice suddenly echoed. Hearing this, Qiu Han nodded, his expression grave as he stared intently at the water beast ahead. With a twist of his left hand, he gripped his spirit tool shield and several talismans, channeling spiritual energy into them. Almost simultaneously with the beast’s attack, Qiu Han layered several defenses around himself. At the same time, he darted about using the Water Evading Technique to dodge, while keeping part of his consciousness focused on the happenings within the blue barrier.

Yet, clearly, underwater the second rank peak water beast was much faster than Qiu Han. Fortunately, Qiu Han was agile; for the moment, he wasn't in grave danger. Only a few times did he fail to dodge in time, taking blows to his side that shattered layer after layer of his defenses.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the water beast began to tire. It chased Qiu Han for a while longer, then slowly started to give up on attacking him, turning its gaze instead toward the blue barrier and striding toward it.

Qiu Han inwardly cursed and spun around, charging at the beast, launching a barrage of spells to draw its attention. Stung, the beast turned and chased him again. Qiu Han quickly evaded using Water Evading Technique. After a time, the beast, unable to deal with Qiu Han, surged again toward the blue barrier.

Qiu Han kept bombarding it with spells, trying to stop it. This cycle repeated several times, but the beast seemed to lose patience with Qiu Han, and this time, its resolve hardened—it made straight for the blue barrier, ignoring him completely.

Qiu Han panicked. He pushed the Water Evading Technique to its limit and shot toward the beast, closing to within twenty paces of its rear in just a few breaths. The beast, however, still ignored him and even sped up toward the barrier.

Seeing the beast less than five paces from the blue barrier, Qiu Han decided to act. He readied the Inkfeather Blade, pouring all his remaining spiritual power into it as he entered the ten-pace range behind the beast, preparing for the final strike.

But to Qiu Han’s shock, as he entered that range and made ready to attack, the beast suddenly spun around and, moving as swiftly as Qiu Han’s own Water Evading Technique, charged at him. Its right arm swung; with no time to dodge, it struck Qiu Han’s defensive shield directly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The spirit tool shield lasted only a heartbeat before shattering. Though it absorbed some of the force, most of the beast’s blow crashed into Qiu Han’s spiritual shield. Another crack—then its fist smashed into his chest.

It felt as if ten thousand pounds hammered his chest. Qiu Han was hurled dozens of paces away, blood gushing from his lips, his chest caving in deeply.

He coughed, blood pouring from his mouth, enduring searing pain. As the beast charged him again, he managed to channel his last ounce of spiritual power into the Inkfeather Blade, locked his consciousness onto the second rank beast, and then collapsed, motionless.

Above him, a shaft of brilliant light flashed and vanished. In the water, a rift appeared and rapidly widened.

Though the beast sensed the incoming Inkfeather Blade, it was already desperately weakened and caught off guard. There was no time to dodge. Blood fanned out, dyeing the clear water red.

Seeing the beast slain by the strike, Qiu Han managed a faint smile despite his pallor. He was unable to move or heal himself, even speaking was a struggle. Thankfully, he could already feel the mysterious Immortal Compass in his sea of consciousness beginning its restorative work. Though progress was slow, it was much better than he had dared hope.

Qiu Han sent his consciousness into the blue barrier to check inside. What he discovered made his heart sink. The terrifying pressure that had belonged to the Jellyfish King was fading, now no stronger than a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator’s aura.

As the king’s pressure weakened, the nearly ten thousand jellyfish beasts nearby grew restless. Some of the stronger ones—second rank—became increasingly agitated. Sweeping his senses over them, Qiu Han realized these were all of the second rank.

Nearly an hour passed. The king’s pressure had fallen to that of an early-stage Foundation Establishment, and it continued to wane. Half an incense stick of time later, its pressure vanished entirely. With a resounding crash, the blue barrier shattered.

The unicorn’s snowy figure was revealed. Before it hovered a silver crystal sphere the size of a fist.

At that moment, the second rank jellyfish beasts, having lost all restraint, surged toward the unicorn, intent on seizing the silver crystal. The unicorn opened its mouth and swallowed the crystal.

Instantly, its body swelled, exuding the aura of a second rank demon beast. Leaping forward, it charged into the ranks of the second rank jellyfish beasts. In mere moments, they all perished.

With the king’s aura gone, the remaining horde of nearly ten thousand jellyfish pressed in. Swarming forward, they threatened to engulf Qiu Han, who was still too weak to move, powerless to act. As the swarm was about to overwhelm him, the unicorn dashed to his side in a flash.

Qiu Han sensed a startling transformation in the unicorn. Its presence was unfamiliar now, and on its silvery horn, flickers of lightning danced. As the jellyfish drew nearer, the unicorn radiated a powerful light, enveloping everything within ten paces.

Then, the unicorn reared and gave a long, mournful cry. Suddenly, a massive phantom appeared—a colossal creature resembling the unicorn, but with wings sprouting from its back and a single horn on its nose. The phantom spread its wings; from the water’s surface, a thick bolt of silver lightning struck down.

The subterranean lake boiled and churned. The lightning’s power was overwhelming—one strike, and more than half the swarm was turned to ash in an instant. The phantom faded, and the unicorn’s aura grew faint. Yet, the remaining thousands of jellyfish rushed forward relentlessly. Qiu Han, with a sudden burst of strength, scooped up the unicorn with his left arm and, invoking the Water Evading Technique, fled toward the hole above.