Chapter 046: Surprise

Mu Yan Flowers!

The cluster of flowers being devoured by the Scarlet-scaled Porcupine was, incredibly, a whole patch of Mu Yan Flowers!

The ground was carpeted with them. Though most had yet to bloom, their collective presence was breathtaking, forming a scene so magnificent one could lose themselves at a glance.

Yet now, this flowerbed, heavy with medicinal fragrance, was being ruined by the gaping jaws of the Scarlet-scaled Porcupine, which gnawed and tore at will.

One after another, unopened Mu Yan Flowers were either swallowed or snapped off, falling to the earth. Stems and buds were trampled into mud or pressed deep into the ground.

To call it eating was too generous; the beast was nothing but destructive.

This brute, driven by whim, was wantonly destroying the Mu Yan Flowers.

Su Jingxing, who had finally arrived, gave a startled cry and struck out like lightning.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Three flying daggers parted the air, wrapped in chilling force, shooting straight for the porcupine’s eyes.

Those eyes—its only weakness!

The daggers sliced through the currents, reaching their target in an instant.

Clang!

A crisp metallic clang rang out.

In the split-second before the daggers struck, the porcupine closed its eyes.

Daggers propelled by Su Jingxing’s full strength—enough to pierce a wall—failed to puncture even the animal’s eyelids. They merely sparked, then bounced away.

The two following daggers fared no better.

Clang! Clang!

With ringing clarity, Su Jingxing’s attack was effortlessly repelled.

Fortunately, the ambush made the Scarlet-scaled Porcupine halt its rampage, turning its head to fix Su Jingxing with a glare.

As it finally saw Su Jingxing’s face, its blood-red eyes widened, murderous intent blazing forth without restraint.

A guttural snort.

The porcupine pawed the ground, lowering its massive head just enough to aim its twin tusks at Su Jingxing.

The next moment—

Boom!

It charged, limbs pounding, its bulk like a runaway locomotive, barreling toward Su Jingxing with terrifying momentum.

Each step sent tremors through the earth, crushing countless flowers beneath.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Su Jingxing, deploying the “Eight-step Ascending Dragon,” flickered left and right. In the instant before the porcupine closed in, he dodged aside, then, in a flash, struck from the side, aiming a fierce punch at its eye.

A piercing, anguished howl erupted from the beast’s jaws.

Its massive, mountain-like body, struck by fifty thousand pounds of force, toppled sideways from the shoulders.

Crash!

The ground quaked.

On its back, one eye destroyed, the porcupine howled endlessly.

Across the river, the white goose was dumbstruck.

The big-headed pig it had fought countless rounds, never gaining the upper hand, had been felled by a single blow!

Just one strike, and the pig was immobilized, writhing and wailing.

The astonishing scene left the goose utterly stunned, forgetting everything else.

...

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Scarlet-scaled Porcupine rolled on the ground, its massive frame flattening the earth with every movement.

Howling in pain, it still hadn’t forgotten Su Jingxing.

It rolled dozens of meters away, crushing swathes of flowers, before climbing back to its feet.

Its single remaining eye locked onto Su Jingxing.

Then—

Boom!

It charged again, head lowered, tusks aimed at Su Jingxing.

But this time, as it drew near, it suddenly whipped its head.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Amid shrill whistles, sharp spines flew from its neck, raining toward Su Jingxing.

Already prepared, Su Jingxing retreated swiftly, weaving left and right.

The spines, nearly grazing him, shot past.

Turning its fur into deadly quills—this was the porcupine’s signature ability.

Its scarlet scales were impenetrable, but each bristle was also razor-sharp, with tips that could pierce steel.

If struck, even iron would be punctured!

Su Jingxing had anticipated this, and so, following his plan, evaded flawlessly.

After dodging, he flickered aside again, making the porcupine lunge into emptiness, and in that instant, produced a false fang, hurling it like a dagger.

His target: the wounded eye socket.

Splurt.

The venomous fang buried itself in the porcupine’s eye, then exploded, releasing its toxins deep into the beast’s body.

A guttural roar.

Almost instantly, the porcupine crashed to the ground, its massive body flattening the grass.

As before, it began to roll—but this time, in a frenzy, with wild, convulsive spasms.

With venom coursing through its veins, the porcupine’s formidable defenses were rendered useless.

The more it rolled, the louder it howled, the faster the toxins spread.

In no time, its movements slowed, its cries grew fainter, and black blood began to trickle from its mangled mouth.

Soon, dark blood oozed from its eyes, ears, and nostrils.

On its back, the porcupine’s shuddering body gradually stilled.

In the end, the venom reached its heart, and its life ebbed away.

A beast whose defenses could withstand artillery fire, slain in moments by just two drops of venom.

Such was the potency of this toxin.

Across the river, the white goose was still reeling.

Su Jingxing, meanwhile, took a deep breath, gazing at the dead porcupine with a hint of regret.

Scarlet-scaled Porcupine meat was a delicacy, rich in energy and highly nourishing—eating it could even enhance a martial artist’s inner strength.

Its scarlet scales were even more valuable; if forged into armor, even a sixth-rank martial artist would be hard-pressed to break through.

But poisoned as it was, the meat was now inedible, and the scales would be difficult to harvest.

Lacking the proper tools, Su Jingxing considered, then let it go.

However, the two tusks were not to be missed—they, too, were treasures.

Dusting off his hands, Su Jingxing exhaled, composed himself, and walked over to the porcupine’s body.

[Beast carcass detected. Do you wish to collect?]

A prompt flashed through his mind.

Already standing beside the corpse, Su Jingxing froze for a moment.

Then—

“Even animal corpses can be collected?”

“No, it must be that the corpses of spirit beasts can be made into cards?”

Delight bloomed in Su Jingxing’s heart.

Unbelievable—spirit beast corpses, too, could be collected!

He had approached animal carcasses before, but his golden finger had never responded.

He’d assumed it only worked on humans, not animals.

Now he understood—not all animals were excluded. Corpses of spirit beasts, those with awakened intelligence, could also yield cards!

“Yes!”

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Su Jingxing responded.

In the next moment, a card appeared in his pocket...

Wait, what?