Chapter 101 - 99: Who is like me! Kill by skipping ranks!

The afterimage of the tiger-shaped Mutant Beast! The ice pillar from the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast! Upon reaching the third stage, Mutant Beasts possessed special abilities, just like the giant python he had encountered in the mountains of Pingling County, which could exhale mist! However, as he saw it now, although the presence of these two Mutant Beasts was terrifying, they still fell short compared to that giant python. Jiang Shu reined in the greed in his eyes, his expression becoming calm. The roaring continued. The leopard-shaped Mutant Beast was still trying to intimidate the many second-stage Mutant Beasts. However, the second-stage Mutant Beasts, who had been closely watching the battlefield, were not about to retreat so easily. As if sensing that one powerful presence was missing, Jiang Shu saw through his telescope that many second-stage Mutant Beasts had begun moving towards the third-stage leopard-shaped Mutant Beast. Among them were the Iron Bone Cold Pig and Dark Wave Ice Leopard, which he had hunted before, as well as the White Jade Steel Python and Angry Water Ice Frog, which he had never seen. Once they became Mutant Beasts, their herbivorous nature vanished; creatures like cows, sheep, and horses all turned carnivorous! The flesh of a third-stage Mutant Beast was a fatal attraction to them. If they could devour it whole, they might even have a chance to advance to the third stage themselves! Yet the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast showed no signs of retreat! At this moment, although it was on its last legs, departing without replenishing its flesh and blood meant a dead end when it came to birthing its offspring. Its only option was to consume the flesh of this fellow third-stage Mutant Beast to quickly recover, give birth, and return to its peak! Without hesitation, the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast lowered its head to eat. The strong scent of blood spread even further. Fast-moving second-stage Mutant Beasts had already arrived at the battlefield. SNAP! With a simple swipe of its paw, a Fierce Smoke Ice Rabbit that leaped forward was slapped to death by the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast and stuffed into its maw. ROAR! ROAR! ROAR! One after another, the second-stage Mutant Beasts charged forward. Everyone recognized the severe injuries of the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast and wanted to snatch a bite of the third-stage Mutant Beast’s flesh. Jiang Shu remained nestled in the tree, showing no intention of coming down. The bigger the trouble, the calmer his heart. If he were currently a Martial Artist who had achieved a significant breakthrough, or one in the Refining Internal Realm, he could maximize the benefits! He wanted both third-stage Mutant Beasts! He could even wait for the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast to give birth and take the newborn cubs for the Xia Country to study. Who knew how many points he could exchange them for! But now, he was only at the Dark Force stage, merely in the Bone Forging Realm. He had to make a choice! Either compete with a group of second-stage Mutant Beasts for a portion of the third-stage tiger-shaped Mutant Beast’s flesh, or wait until the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast fled and then directly raid its den! The former option was less rewarding but safer; he only needed to grab a portion and flee immediately. Even if pursued by a group of second-stage Mutant Beasts, he could survive. The latter was riskier but could potentially bring greater rewards. A decision was made in his heart. He raised his telescope and continued watching. The Dark Force in his body circulated, ready to burst out at any moment. On the battlefield, wave after wave of second-stage Mutant Beasts charged fiercely. The third-stage leopard-shaped Mutant Beast, initially capable of powerful slaps, gradually weakened. It even had to avoid the charge of the Iron Bone Cold Pig. "ROAR..." came a mournful howl. Abruptly biting off a chunk of tiger flesh, the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast immediately fled. Instantly, a group of second-stage Mutant Beasts surrounded the third-stage tiger’s flesh, each devouring a portion. Meanwhile, Jiang Shu, still in the tree, used his telescope to track the movements of the fleeing third-stage leopard-shaped Mutant Beast while leaping between branches. Soon, he saw the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast enter a cave. Clutching his heavy sword, he charged in after it! The current state of the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast was worse than he had imagined! It was too greedy! If it had thought of escaping from the start, he would definitely have needed to wait for it to give birth before making a move. But now, his current strength was fully sufficient to take this gamble. "ROAR!" A furious roar echoed from the cave! The leopard-shaped Mutant Beast, which had been warily watching the ground, never anticipated that someone would track it by leaping through the treetops. Black Tiger Heart-picking! Fierce Tiger Jumping! White Tiger Carrying a Corpse! Jiang Shu’s every move was ruthless, unleashing his maximum combat power from the very start! Faced with such a Fierce Beast, he didn’t dare to slack off in the slightest. At this moment, the Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength crazily drained the qi and blood within his body. Come! Fight! Wielding his heavy sword like a saber, he slashed and chopped at the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast relentlessly! The Fierce Beast managed to dodge the first few strikes. The heavy sword struck the cave rocks, emitting booming sounds. But the later strikes, it could not evade at all. Strike after strike landed forcefully on its head, waist, and legs. The already injured hind leg finally couldn’t hold out, and it half-knelt on the ground. It was furious; it wailed. But it was to no avail. A starving camel is indeed bigger than a horse. But this Fierce Beast wasn’t one of the top-tier existences among third-stage Mutant Beasts. And Jiang Shu, too, wasn’t the weakest among Dark Force Martial Artists! Time and time again, Jiang Shu burst forth. His three-saber technique, after achieving small success, proved to be even more astonishingly powerful. The heavy sword wasn’t as sharp as a regular battle sword, but it excelled in its massive force and weight—one force subdues ten skills. Facing the already heavily scarred Fierce Beast, he just needed to aggravate its injuries repeatedly. Each time, he could deliver a critical strike! Besides, who said an unsharpened blade couldn’t kill? Amidst the roars of the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast, Jiang Shu braced himself and, in one go, thrust his heavy sword towards its gaping maw! Nearly 10,000 jin of tremendous strength exploded violently, penetrating it from head to tail! SPURT! Blood sprayed everywhere. Jiang Shu’s hands went limp from the exertion. The Mutant Beast’s sharp fangs were inches from his hand. Yet he showed no fear, twisting the heavy sword embedded within it with all his might! Life or death... one would only know after the fight! Finally, the once awe-inspiring and ferocious third-stage Mutant Beast before him could hold on no longer and collapsed completely. It died at the hands of a Martial Artist who was merely at the Dark Force stage and in the Bone Forging Realm! Jiang Shu gasped for breath, his heart filled with an indescribable sense of satisfaction and excitement. Slaying a higher-stage opponent! This feeling was something that killing any number of second-stage Mutant Beasts could never provide! He greatly desired to let out a long roar, to light a fire right here and now, and feast joyfully on the third-stage Mutant Beast’s flesh until none remained! Unfortunately, this place was not safe. The tiger-shaped Mutant Beast’s flesh was ultimately scarce, not enough for so many second-stage Mutant Beasts to share. Other Fierce Beasts would certainly be willing to follow it to its den and fight once more. So... With a single thought, Jiang Shu fiercely dragged the corpse of the third-stage leopard-shaped Mutant Beast and then vanished. Checking the spoils of battle was crucial. But how could the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm compare to the safety of his small courtyard in Pingling County right now? 「In the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm.」 Shortly after Jiang Shu vanished, some agile Mutant Beasts, attracted by the sounds of battle from the cave, rushed over swiftly. However, by the time they arrived, they only saw a few puddles of blood, along with patches of white fur and scraps of flesh in the cave. Suddenly, the arriving Fierce Beasts were bewildered.