Chapter Forty-Nine: What the Heck! You’re Even Playing Cute Now?

“Mountain-Breaking Seal! Sea-Turning Seal! Earth-Overturning Seal!”
Three mighty seals erupted forth. He could have used the Heaven-Annihilating Seal as well, but feared that combining four seals at once might be difficult to control. Besides, he didn’t want to kill the Rainbow Pipi Eel outright; that was never his intention.

A trio of divine beast phantoms howled, each charging straight at the eel.
The Rainbow Pipi Eel, unable to react in time, was struck by the combined force of the three seals. Then, the Four Elephants Extinction Sword unleashed three consecutive strikes, burying the eel in a storm of energy.

This was an attack empowered by the fully charged Killing Sword—a force that, since Chen Xiang had traversed to this world, stood as his most powerful assault yet! Still, he doubted it would deal much real harm to the Rainbow Pipi Eel. The issue wasn’t attack power, but the gulf between their realms.

The eel’s agonized cries echoed without pause.
Chen Xiang stared, incredulous. “Seriously? You’re still trying to play cute?”

His body was barely holding together, swaying unsteadily—clearly he was in a bad way. His spiritual energy was spent, and his face had grown pale. But none of this mattered; he was slowly recovering thanks to some spent reputation points.

The Rainbow Pipi Eel was blasted away by the tremendous energy, landing on the snowy ground with enough force to carve out a giant pit dozens of meters long. It lay buried in the crater.

Chen Xiang didn’t bother to check; he hadn’t received any notification of a kill, so the eel must still be alive.

Just then, Li Qiner flew to his side, reaching out to steady him. She could feel his trembling, and asked gently, “Young master, are you alright? Are you hurt?”

Chen Xiang shook his head. He was merely drained of spiritual energy, but with the system’s replenishment, he’d already recovered a fifth of his strength. In a little while, he’d be back at his peak!

Of course, he couldn’t say that aloud.
He suddenly slumped, collapsing straight down.

Li Qiner was startled and quickly caught him. Chen Xiang seized the opportunity, letting himself fall into her soft, jade-like embrace.

Feeling the two delicate, resilient pillows, he coughed a few times, his face paling further. “Qin…Qiner, I’m fine. Help me up—I can still fight!”

Li Qiner, holding him in her arms, sensed something strange. Yet seeing his pallor and weakness, she couldn’t bear to push him away.

“Please, young master, focus on your breathing. It’s alright now.”

“Oh no, I really can’t. I have no strength left. Let me rest a while longer,” Chen Xiang shamelessly squirmed in her embrace, speaking in a childlike tone.

Li Qiner felt as if a current ran through her, a soft, numbing sensation spreading. Her cheeks flushed even deeper, but she said nothing, simply sitting down with Chen Xiang in her arms.

Chen Xiang lay weakly in her embrace, enjoying her softness. In his heart, he thought: Qiner’s figure is just perfect. Holding her feels incredible—her body, those legs…I could enjoy this for a hundred years! This only strengthened his resolve to help her restore her appearance; even if she ended up with an ordinary face, he would never let go!

Before he could continue indulging, the ground trembled. From the crater, the rainbow-colored form of the eel burst forth.

“Roar! You brat, you’re finished! Even if that person arrives, you won’t be saved today!” the Rainbow Pipi Eel bellowed.

Damn it, disturbing my moment! I’ll kill you for the happiness of men everywhere!

At once, Chen Xiang leapt up, launching himself like lightning.

“Rainbow Pipi Eel, if you dare, come here! Watch me destroy you!” Chen Xiang summoned the Coiling Dragon Staff, pointing it at the eel.

Li Qiner was frozen in place, staring at the now vigorous Chen Xiang hovering in midair. Where was the frail, dying man from moments ago? Thinking back to holding him, and that tingling sensation, her face was now so red it showed even through her hat.

The Rainbow Pipi Eel was stunned that Chen Xiang still had strength left. It had assumed that, with his cultivation at the Core Formation stage, such a powerful attack would have left him drained. Yet here he was, taunting with not a hint of exhaustion.

Remembering the pain from before, the eel’s face flickered with fear and it retreated a step.

“Ding! Congratulations, Host ‘Chen Xiang,’ for instilling fear in a divine beast. You have gained one hundred reputation points.”

Chen Xiang was momentarily surprised by the system message, then stared straight at the eel.

So, it’s afraid? Ha! The power of yours truly is just that formidable!

He sneered, “What’s the matter, Pipi Eel? Are you scared?”

The eel’s gaze wavered, but it argued, “Hmph, brat, who says I’m afraid? Come here and I’ll beat you!”

Chen Xiang chuckled lightly. Divine beasts truly had no skill at hiding their emotions.

Holding the staff in one hand, he summoned a Jade Crystal Seal with the other, smiling at the eel. “Alright, I’m coming!”

The Rainbow Pipi Eel was instantly alarmed, sensing the wild energy within the Jade Crystal Seal. “Don’t…don’t come over! I might accidentally kill you!”

“You’re contradicting yourself,” Chen Xiang said.

“Uh…my second statement is the truth.”

Chen Xiang raised his hand, feigning a throw.

“Ah! Don’t…don’t throw it!”

Chen Xiang narrowed his eyes, smiling at the eel. “Alright, I’ll give you a chance. Come with me and I won’t hit you.”

“Go with you? Impossible!” The Rainbow Pipi Eel refused without hesitation.

Chen Xiang paused. Something was off—such an immediate refusal, not even a question, meant he needed a different approach.

“Are you sure?” He raised the Sea-Turning Seal as if ready to strike. “Tell me, why is it impossible?”

This time, the eel was no longer afraid, answering firmly, “There’s no reason. No means no!”

“Oh, seems you’re itching for a beating. Let me help you with that.” The Jade Crystal Seal vanished, and Chen Xiang picked up the Coiling Dragon Staff, swinging it at the eel.

The Jade Crystal Seal had only been for intimidation—he’d used it before in Tianxuan City.

Chen Xiang launched into his modified Dog-Beating Staff Technique, charging aggressively. Before the eel could protest, his staff struck with cunning precision.

“Stop—stop, it hurts!”

“Oh, not bad, Pipi Eel, you’re countering with lightning? I can do that too!”

“Don’t hit the face, don’t cut the kidneys—stop aiming for my head!”

“You’re not human!”

“Try not to hit my head!”

Smack!

Though the Rainbow Pipi Eel howled, darting quickly, it couldn’t evade Chen Xiang’s Three Thousand Thunder Movement as he fought. Its body was incredibly tough; each blow made Chen Xiang’s hands ache, but still inflicted no real damage!

Even so, Chen Xiang had no intention of stopping. With such a perfect meat shield before him, it was the ideal chance to practice his modified Dog-Beating Staff Technique—even if the first creature he used it on was a Rainbow Pipi Eel.

“To be continued…”