Chapter 427: The Meaning of Life

...

Boom~

The massive Thorny Armored Beast fell weakly to the ground, causing a violent tremor and raising a cloud of dust.

~Cough, cough~

Amidst the mist, a few light coughs could be heard.

Zeng Yi wiped the bloodstains from the corner of his mouth and turned to look at the fallen Thorny Armored Beast. The silver color in his eyes faded away, returning to their pitch-black state.

Although Zeng Yi had defeated this Thorny Armored Beast, his body had also suffered injuries, and his spiritual power was greatly depleted.

However, the situation was urgent. He was alone in this place, and the battle that had just occurred might attract nearby spirit beasts. Zeng Yi couldn't afford to wait for his body and spiritual power to recover. He had to immediately absorb the spirit ring and leave this place.

He took out several pills that could restore his energy and spiritual power and consumed them. After resting for a few minutes and adjusting his body state, he took a step forward, slowly approaching the Thorny Armored Beast.

His right hand tightened around the hilt of the [Ronin Sword], slowly drawing out the sword. Under the moonlight, the sharp sword shimmered with a beautiful light.

A gentle breeze blew around, causing Zeng Yi's long hair to flutter behind him as a sense of coldness began to pervade the air.

Zeng Yi stood before the head of the spirit beast, raising the sword high with both hands. The edge of the sword gleamed coldly under the moonlight.

Hoo~

In his ears, he could still hear the faint sound of the beast's panting. It was the breath of this Thorny Armored Beast that had not yet died, still possessing a weak vitality.

But it was not enough for it to stand up again. Now, it was nothing more than a fish on a cutting board, completely helpless against this human before it.

The spirit beast still had its eyes slightly open, looking at Zeng Yi. Hatred flickered in its huge pupils.

Zeng Yi also noticed the beast's eyes filled with hatred. For an instant, a trace of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

But it quickly disappeared, replaced by a ruthless coldness.

In order to become stronger, he needed the spirit ring, so he had no choice but to kill it.

Therefore...

"I'm sorry."

Zeng Yi whispered softly, as if apologizing to the spirit beast.

However, his hand wielding the sword was merciless as it struck down.

At that moment, the spirit beast closed its eyes, but a trail of clear tears remained at the corner of its ferocious eyes.

Roar!

Suddenly, an angry roar sounded in Zeng Yi's ears, causing him to freeze. The sword in his hand, which had been swinging down, stopped in midair.

Danger approached.

From the right!

Zeng Yi's eyes narrowed instinctively, and his body reacted on its own, turning around with his sword in a defensive posture.

Boom!

A tremendous force struck heavily against Zeng Yi's sword. The impact of this intense power traveled through the sword and into his body, causing his chest to feel a dull pain and his body to quickly retreat with the force.

Thump~

Zeng Yi's body crashed heavily onto a fallen giant tree trunk, the violent impact making him feel like his body was about to be torn apart.

His body, already heavily injured, was further assaulted by this surprise attack, causing the previously suppressed pain to burst forth.

A spirit beast is attacking?

The alarm of danger resounded in Zeng Yi's heart.

~Cough, cough, cough~

Zeng Yi coughed in pain as he stood up from the ground.

If a strong spirit beast were to attack at this moment, he would have to give up on obtaining the spirit ring of this Thorny Armored Beast. After all, his own life was more important than the spirit ring.

However, judging from the strength of the attack just now, this incoming spirit beast didn't seem to be that strong.

Looking up, Zeng Yi saw a spirit beast standing in front of the fallen Thorny Armored Beast, glaring at him with a fierce and resentful gaze, enraged and roaring.

Zeng Yi was momentarily stunned.

This spirit beast was almost identical to the defeated Thorny Armored Beast, just smaller in size. Its height when standing up was only over two meters.

Compared to the Thorny Armored Beast that was over ten meters tall, it gave a somewhat cute and funny feeling.

Seeing this new Thorny Armored Beast, Zeng Yi couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

This newly appeared Thorny Armored Beast had a cultivation of only a little over two thousand years.

Although Zeng Yi's spiritual power was severely depleted, and he had some injuries on his body, he could still kill this spirit beast with all his strength.

However, he didn't expect a small Thorny Armored Beast to appear.

This Thorny Armored Beast didn't immediately attack Zeng Yi. Instead, it stood in front of the fallen Thorny Armored Beast, as if protecting it.

Seeing this scene, Zeng Yi was dumbfounded.

Was that Thorny Armored Beast its relative?

It's protecting that spirit beast!

Roar!

This thousand-year-old spirit beast charged forward, swinging its sharp claws at Zeng Yi like a sword.

Its speed was fast, but in Zeng Yi's eyes, it seemed slow.

For Zeng Yi, a two-thousand-year-old spirit beast's cultivation level was only equivalent to an ordinary Rank 30 Spirit Master.

Such a Spirit Master could be easily dealt with by Zeng Yi.

Even in his current injured state, Zeng Yi could easily handle it.

In an instant, spiritual power surged within his body as he activated his spirit skills!

[Sword of Selflessness!]

[Sword Domain!]

The second and third spirit skills were released consecutively, instantly boosting Zeng Yi's strength.

Furthermore, under the effect of the Sword Domain, a domain-type spirit skill, the strength of this small Thorny Armored Beast was completely suppressed, unable to display its full power.

The Sword Domain, a spirit skill that possessed a suppressing effect, could reduce the opponent's power by ten percent. And the greater the difference in strength level between the opponents, the stronger the suppression effect.

Therefore, for someone weaker than Zeng Yi, the possibility of the opponent counter-killing him was almost non-existent.

Of course, except under special circumstances.

Thus, for a spirit beast of this thousand-year level to be able to display even its normal strength was already quite good.

However, daring to charge at Zeng Yi in this manner was simply seeking death.

Zeng Yi stood still, waiting for the Thorny Armored Beast.

The distance between the two grew closer and closer, and the beast's shadow in Zeng Yi's eyes grew larger.

With a sharp sword drawn, he struck towards the charging spirit beast.

But at that moment, a mournful howl sounded in Zeng Yi's ears.

At that moment, Zeng Yi's inner turmoil stirred.

But the action of drawing the sword didn't stop, it was just that the striking sword turned into the flat of the sword.

He struck powerfully, heavily hitting the thousand-year-old Thorny Armored Beast. The impact forced its body to be knocked back and sent flying.

Thump~

Its body plowed a long trench on the ground, stopping just before the head of the 50,000 year Thorny Armored Beast.

Zeng Yi did not deliver a fatal blow.

On the other side, the 50,000 year Thorny Armored Beast let out a mournful low wail, looking at the small spirit beast before it with tears streaming down its eyes.

However, it stubbornly climbed back up, guarding in front of the 50,000 year Thorny Armored Beast and roaring angrily at Zeng Yi, launching another charge.

Thump!

However, it was once again repelled and knocked down by Zeng Yi!

But it got up once again.

Bereft of strength, it was then sent flying by a huge tail.

It wailed as if it still held anger.

Although Zeng Yi couldn't hear the communication between the two spirit beasts, he could perceive their intentions from their behavior.

The 50,000 year Thorny Armored Beast wanted its child to escape, but the child was unwilling. It wanted to protect its mother and rescue her from the hands of the bad person.

Yes, that bad person was himself.

At that moment, various memories flitted through Zeng Yi's mind.

Recalling the first encounter with Xiao Ju. At that time, Xiao Ju was still an ignorant little cat, meowing beside its deceased mother.

And when he was in the Spirit Hall, Xiao Wu's eyes filled with hatred, staring at Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong.

It was because Xiao Wu's mother had been killed by Bibi Dong.

Watching this scene, Zeng Yi entered a state where he could use both the [Sword of Selflessness!] and the [Sword Domain]. His arms felt somewhat weak as they hung down.

He gritted his teeth, tightly gripping the hilt of the sword, which trembled visibly.

"What am I doing!"