Chapter 45:A Late-Stage Second-Rank Demonic Beast

Zhuang Lili’s pretty face flushed with anger.

"How can you people do this?!"

The others burst into laughter again at the sight of her reaction.

The young man in the lead waved a hand, reining in his laughter. His expression turned serious.

"To be honest, we’ve been waiting here since yesterday. First come, first served. Besides, that Crimson-Scaled Beast is the key to my two-star beast tamer examination. I intend to have it."

Qi Tian was still weighing his options when Cai Zhenyu’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind through voice transmission.

"What do you think?"

Qi Tian immediately replied through voice transmission.

"Aren’t they only one-star beast tamers? Elder Ma is a two-star beast tamer. Can’t we use that to put them in their place?"

Cai Zhenyu’s voice carried a hint of helplessness.

"Every star-ranked beast tamer is a member of the Beast Tamer Association, but that doesn’t mean they all hold positions there. These five, however, actually work for the association. You understand what I mean?"

Qi Tian understood at once.

"I understand."

In other words, Elder Ma might be a two-star beast tamer, but he was only a registered member. He had no authority over those who actually held positions within the association.

Cai Zhenyu transmitted, "So we may have come all this way for nothing."

For nothing?

That was two hundred and fifty contribution points gone. How was he supposed to repay that debt?

Qi Tian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Absolutely not."

Cai Zhenyu was silent for a moment before transmitting again.

"Be honest with me. Do you think we can beat them into submission? I’ll tell you right now—I can handle their leader. I can probably hold off two more as well, though it’ll be a stretch. The other two can go to..." He paused, apparently having forgotten their names. "Our two tagalongs."

"What about the two first-rank demonic beasts? Can you handle them?"

Qi Tian almost laughed.

Two first-rank demonic beasts? He could deal with them without even trying. Hell, even if he fought the entire group by himself, he could put every one of them on the ground with one hand.

Of course, he still had to keep a low profile.

"It should be fine. I’ll do my best."

Just then—

"ROOOAAAR—!!"

A thunderous roar suddenly erupted from somewhere higher up the mountain. The ground trembled faintly beneath their feet, and leaves shook loose from the branches.

The Beast Tamer Association members perked up at once, delight flashing across their faces.

One of them shouted toward the young man in the lead, "Senior Brother Duan! The Crimson-Tailed Fox successfully lured the Crimson-Scaled Beast here!"

Duan waved his hand sharply.

"Everyone, get ready! Activate the Beast-Trapping Formation! Light the beast-luring incense!"

The four behind him immediately got to work, taking up their assigned positions and driving the formation flags into the ground.

Once everything was in place, Duan finally turned toward Qi Tian and the others. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Don’t cause any trouble later. Just stand there and watch. Once we’re done, I’ll give each of you a spirit stone as compensation."

Chen Er’s face flushed red with anger.

"You take us for beggars?!"

Duan let out a cold laugh, his gaze sweeping across the four of them like a blade.

"I don’t care what you think. I’m telling you right now—if you dare interfere, you’ll regret it."

The moment Duan finished speaking, another roar came from the mountain.

"ROAR—!"

This one was much clearer than the last.

Qi Tian didn’t even need to extend his divine sense. From the sound alone, he could tell that the Crimson-Scaled Beast had drawn much closer. It was already within roughly three hundred zhang.

Duan’s expression turned serious.

"Everyone, hide!"

The Beast Tamer Association members immediately moved, leading the demonic beasts they had brought into the bushes and dense woods on either side.

Duan took one last look at Qi Tian and the others.

"You too. Remember what I told you."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the bushes.

Qi Tian exchanged a glance with Cai Zhenyu.

"Let’s see how this plays out first," Qi Tian said quietly.

The four of them silently retreated to where the Windchaser Horses were waiting.

The clearing was now empty, save for the formation flags planted throughout it.

At its center, a stick of beast-luring incense burned quietly.

Thin wisps of smoke curled into the air, carrying its faint scent across the clearing.

The scent was intensely attractive to demonic beasts. Most of them could hardly resist it.

Even the four Windchaser Horses began to grow restless. They pawed at the ground repeatedly, stretching their heads toward the clearing as though they wanted nothing more than to charge over.

Seeing this, Cai Zhenyu took several spirit herbs from his storage pouch and fed one to each horse. Only then did they settle down.

Zhuang Lili lowered her voice, her face full of unwillingness.

"We’re really just going to stand here and watch them capture it?"

Qi Tian looked at the Beast-Trapping Formation in the middle of the clearing, his expression calm.

"Don’t rush."

He paused.

"That Beast-Trapping Formation won’t be able to hold the Crimson-Scaled Beast."

As they spoke, the roars from the mountain grew closer and closer.

Suddenly, a yellow-red blur shot out of the woods and raced straight into the clearing.

It was a fox with a bright-red tail.

It stopped in the middle of the clearing and sniffed around. Then it suddenly turned and darted straight into the bushes where the Beast Tamer Association members were hiding.

The next moment—

BOOM!!!

A massive crimson figure burst from the woods and crashed into the clearing like a meteor.

The ground shook violently.

Rocks flew through the air as dust billowed outward.

A terrifying aura swept across the clearing, forcing the surrounding grass and trees to bow under its pressure.

Qi Tian remained completely composed.

But everyone lying in wait stared at the beast in shock.

"Second-rank... late stage?"