C10

Yang Ying attuned himself to the water's surface, keenly aware of his surroundings. Suddenly, a dark shape surged upward from the deep recesses of the pond, catching his attention.

Startled, Yang Ying realized that his presence must have disturbed the shadow. Judging by its swift response, this creature was likely very powerful.

Without hesitation, Yang Ying stepped back from the water's edge.

No sooner had he moved away than the shadow burst forth, lunging at him from the shore.

Reacting quickly, Yang Ying employed the Soaring Movement Arts to widen the gap between himself and the shadow.

The shadow came to a halt at the pond's edge, its large eyes fixating on Yang Ying with an intense stare.

Yang Ying took a moment to observe the creature. It was entirely black with a sleek, hairless body covered in scales. Its head resembled that of a pangolin, yet it sported a cow's tail.

It was the Water Cloud Beast! It truly was here!

In an instant, Yang Ying activated the Soaring Movement Arts, sidestepping to evade the beast. The Water Cloud Beast materialized at the very spot Yang Ying had just vacated.

A bead of cold sweat formed on his brow as he thought, "This Water Cloud Beast is the fastest I've ever encountered!"

Slowly, Yang Ying drew his sword, channeling True Qi along its blade. With a swift motion, he appeared beside the Water Cloud Beast, sword raised and ready to strike.

The beast nimbly dodged the thrust.

Undeterred, Yang Ying unleashed the Gale Sword Arts once more. The sword's tip sang with the sound of howling wind as he brought it down in a fierce slash toward the Water Cloud Beast.

Despite being out of the water, the beast's agility was undiminished, matching Yang Ying's moves without losing ground.

Occasionally, his sword would strike the beast's hide, sparking upon contact with the impenetrable scales.

Realizing he couldn't inflict any damage, Yang Ying feigned a stumble over a stone.

The Water Cloud Beast, seizing the opportunity as Yang Ying's swordplay faltered, charged forward. It raised its right claw and brought it down hard toward him.

As the claw descended upon Yang Ying, he inhaled sharply, and with a surge of True Qi, his sword swept fiercely toward the Water Cloud Beast's eyes.

At that moment, its front claw struck Yang Ying's abdomen, while simultaneously, his long sword had swept across the eyes of the Water Cloud Beast.

Both combatants staggered backwards. Yang Ying coughed up blood, his complexion turning deathly pale as his internal organs sustained heavy damage, leaving four distinct gashes across his stomach.

Brushing the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, Yang Ying raised his eyes to the Water Cloud Beast. A deep gash marred the creature's eyes, blood oozing from the wounds at its sides.

The Water Cloud Beast, writhing in agony, lashed out wildly.

Yang Ying retreated several paces, creating distance between himself and the beast. He stood in silence, focusing on circulating his True Qi to steady his breath.

After a quarter of an hour, the Water Cloud Beast's onslaught noticeably weakened.

Yang Ying had observed that while the beast's head and body were armored with scales, its neck was unprotected.

Seizing the opportunity, Yang Ying employed the Soaring Movement Arts to maneuver behind the Water Cloud Beast. He concentrated all his True Qi into his sword and delivered a decisive slash at the beast's neck.

The Water Cloud Beast collapsed, its struggles ceasing.

"Congratulations, you have slain a Rank 8 demonic beast, the Water Cloud Beast, and earned 60 points of Origin Strength."

Yang Ying retrieved healing ointment from his backpack, applying it to his abdominal wounds, then rolled the hem of his shirt and tied it snugly around his midsection.

He crouched down, collecting the beast's blood in a small basin he had brought from his dorm specifically for this purpose.

Next, he stripped the scales and skin from the Water Cloud Beast's carcass, gleefully remarking, "This should make for some fine protective armor!"

After harvesting the scales, he didn't overlook the claws, "These look incredibly sharp. I bet I could trade them for some Spirit Stones."

Yang Ying packed away the basin brimming with the beast's blood, transferred the contents into a jar, and then positioned the basin beneath the Water Cloud Beast to continue collecting its blood.

He dipped his hand into the chilly waters of the pond, confirming its icy temperature. Pulling out his water bag, he took a few sips before filling it with the frigid water.

Circling the pond, Yang Ying discovered several Rank 4 Waterfrost Herbs, which only thrived in such frosty environments. Beyond that, the area was barren.

With that, he returned and stowed the small basin.

After a moment's thought, he used his sword to slice meat from the thigh of the Water Cloud Beast, convinced it would be delicious.

He worked diligently for a quarter of an hour before successfully severing the beast's thigh. Wrapping it in cloth, he then placed it carefully into his backpack.

Once Yang Ying had packed up, he sought out a shaded spot to sit and recalibrate his state. Despite being in the Water Cloud Beast's domain, he remained vigilant.

Should any demonic beasts be lured by the scent of blood, his current state could spell danger.

Two quarters of an hour later, Yang Ying had fully recuperated; the bleeding had ceased, though his wound occasionally seeped with activity. He shouldered his backpack and made his way to the Back Mountain exit.

Reaching the exit as the sun dipped low, Yang Ying offered a respectful bow to the two senior brothers on duty and headed for the Outer Sect of the Green Cloud Sect.

Watching Yang Ying depart, the senior brother on the left turned to the right and remarked, "Senior brother Liu, did you see that large piece poking out of his backpack? Could it be the scale of a Water Cloud Beast?"

Senior brother Liu, hand on his chin, mused, "It does bear a resemblance to the scales of a Water Cloud Beast, and when he passed by, it exuded a chill akin to that of the beast. I've only read about such things in ancient texts, though."

"The Water Cloud Beast is notoriously formidable; even a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator would struggle against it. Could Yang Ying have reached the tenth level already?" Junior Yan asked, bewildered.

"Wasn't it just ten days ago that Liu Fann confirmed his cultivation level at the sixth stage of Qi Refining?" Senior brother Liu replied, furrowing his brow.

"Yeah, I know! He's been spending a lot of time in the Back Mountain lately. But he was just at the peak of the sixth level before. At best, he's probably only advanced to the seventh level by now!" Junior Yan said, his face etched with incredulity.

"He really does hold himself to high standards, though," Senior Brother Liu remarked, his tone laced with respect.

Unaware of the conversation unfolding behind him, Yang Ying had already made his way to the dormitory for a quick wash. Afterward, he took the fruits of his labor from the Back Mountain and headed over to the Mission Hall.

He left behind the scales, blood, and flesh of the Water Cloud Beast at the dormitory.