Chapter 127: "Soaring into the Sky"

"Have these 'Water-Arrow Rats' evolved again?"

Suspended in mid-air, Tang Mubai frowned slightly, looking down at the swarm of black water rats on the tidal flat that were staring at him greedily.

Human beings absorb the energy of heaven and earth to become martial artists, constantly growing stronger. Non-human life forms do the same, undergoing mutations or evolutions to acquire terrifying power. Evolution occurs at the group level, while mutation is an individual phenomenon. The latter's changes often lean toward the vicious, cruel, tyrannical, and bloodthirsty. This is the primary distinction between fierce beasts and spirit beasts. Fierce beasts are driven by their "ferocity"—difficult to tame, bloodthirsty, and brutal. Spirit beasts are driven by their "spirituality"—possessing human-like qualities, wisdom, and a more temperate nature. Some exceptional spirit beasts are even more knowledgeable than university professors.

The water rats on the tidal flat were previously known as "Water-Arrow Rats" because they could spit water like arrows, possessing great offensive power. But they were never like this—filled with such tyranny, bloodlust, and a desire to devour. The eyes of the Water-Arrow Rats were blue-purple, but the eyes of this current swarm were redder than fresh blood.

"Water-Arrow Rats? 'Water-Demon Rats' is more like it!"

Tang Mubai let out a low shout and swung his Flame-Bone Blade, hacking downward.

*Whoosh!*

A scorching blade of flame descended from the sky, sweeping across the entire tidal flat.

"Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!"

Sharp, angry cries echoed everywhere. Faced with the onslaught of the flame blade, these "Water-Demon Rats," each the size of a small cat, quickly burrowed into the mud. Although the outermost layer of mud was scorched and cracked by the high heat, the Water-Demon Rats had already dived deep into the earth; not a single one had died.

Tang Mubai chuckled in frustration. "Fine, that's fast enough!"

Without rushing to leave, Tang Mubai condensed his *Gangqi* (internal energy), coating the surface of the Flame-Bone Blade. Combining it with the flame energy, he hacked down once more.

*Boom!*

The air exploded, and shockwaves rolled outward. The crimson blade aura, bolstered by his *Gangqi*, descended like a cannonball, instantly plunging into the tidal flat and detonating on impact.

*Bang!!!*

Accompanied by a deafening roar, a massive circular crater, thirty to forty meters in diameter and over twenty meters deep, appeared on the tidal flat. Large quantities of mud and earth were sent flying by the scorching, searing force, splashing everywhere. All the Water-Demon Rats within the range of the crater were shredded.

[Vitality +18]
[Vitality +19]
[Vitality +25]
[Vitality +17]
[Vitality +23]
...

The recovery notifications flashed rapidly in his mind. Tang Mubai remained calm, continuing to channel his blood energy, condense his *Gangqi*, and infuse the power of the Flame-Bone Blade. As he shifted his position in the air, he hacked down blow after blow.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Thunderous explosions rang out incessantly. One massive crater after another was forcibly carved into the tidal flat, and the Water-Demon Rats within them were wiped out in droves.

"You want to eat me? Come on, then!" Tang Mubai shouted as he swung his blade.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

The sharp, angry cries of the Water-Demon Rats reverberated across the flats. Thousands of them had been killed in a mere instant. This indiscriminate, large-scale slaughter finally enraged several giant Water-Demon Rats lurking nearby.

"Squeak—!!!"

A piercing, continuous cry tore through the air. The remaining Water-Demon Rats all lowered their bodies, pressing themselves flat against the mud, motionless.

While Tang Mubai watched in confusion—

"Roar!"

A sound like the roar of a wild beast suddenly erupted.

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

Three giant Water-Demon Rats—two meters in length, their jet-black fur glistening, their scarlet eyes like goose-egg-sized rubies—sped across the tidal flat with lightning speed.

Before they even reached Tang Mubai...

*Hum! Hum! Hum!*

An invisible force field caused the air to vibrate. Three waves of violent pressure erupted simultaneously, enveloping Tang Mubai like a fishing net from below.

Commander-level Water-Demon Rats! These three giants were actually of the Commander level.

Unfortunately, the pressure of a Commander-level beast no longer had any effect on Tang Mubai. His willpower, at the limit of 20, was more than just a number.

"Roar!"

Seeing that their pressure was useless against him, the three giant Water-Demon Rats roared in fearful indignation. One of them opened its mouth and spat out a massive, translucent bubble, which enveloped the rats that had been lying motionless on the ground.

Then, a spectacular scene unfolded. The smaller Water-Demon Rats, once enclosed in the translucent bubbles, suddenly lifted off the ground, a thin, transparent film forming over their bodies. Protected by this film, they seemed to lose the constraints of gravity and mass, scurrying through the air with extreme excitement.

They walked on thin air as if it were solid ground!

In less than three seconds, all the remaining Water-Demon Rats "flew" into the sky. They were not afraid or nervous; instead, they shrieked frantically and swarmed around Tang Mubai. The three giant Water-Demon Rats also walked on air, hovering on the perimeter, staring at Tang Mubai with predatory eyes.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

The "bird-like" Water-Demon Rats closed in on Tang Mubai, launching their encirclement. Tang Mubai, despite his surprise, sneered.

"Whoosh-boom!"

The flame blade aura, bolstered by his *Gangqi*, swept in a circle around him. Wherever it passed, the Water-Demon Rats caught by the blade aura exploded into dust on the spot. A crisp "pop-pop-pop" sound resonated continuously in the air.

[Vitality +18]
[Vitality +19]
[Vitality +21]
...

As the blade aura swept and the waves of fire spread, more Water-Demon Rats were crushed or sliced to death. Amidst the rolling energy, the three giant Water-Demon Rats angrily flanked Tang Mubai from the left, right, and behind. With low growls, each spat out a beam of black light at him.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Tang Mubai executed the "Cloud-Rolling Palms," striking out three times to meet them head-on.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

The air currents collided and exploded. The attacks from the three giant rats were shattered.

*Puff!*

The giant rat that had spat the bubbles opened its mouth again, unleashing a gray-white bubble that enveloped Tang Mubai. Suddenly, Tang Mubai found his body trapped by an invisible, viscous force, unable to move a muscle.

*Swish! Swish!*

The other two giant rats seized the opportunity, extending their razor-sharp claws and striking at Tang Mubai like lightning.

"Interesting!"

Tang Mubai let out a low roar. Using his willpower to trigger the "Flying Sky Dance Technique," he controlled his rigid body and soared upward, carrying the gray-white bubble with him.

*Whoosh!*

*Whoosh!*

*Whoosh!*

The gale whistled. Tang Mubai shot straight up like a rocket—one hundred meters, two hundred, three hundred...

He only stopped once he had reached a height of a thousand meters in one breath. Looking down at the tidal flat, he saw the three giant Water-Demon Rats looking up in bewilderment. He activated his "Temperature Control" ability, raising the temperature in a ten-meter radius around him to incinerate the gray-white bubble.

Then, channeling the "Cloud-Rolling Palms" and continuously fueling it with *Gangqi*, he controlled his descent, plummeting downward at high speed.