Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Iron Rhinoceros of Mo Mechanism
The Iron-armored Ink Rhinoceros fixed its gaze on Tang Tian. As a fourth-rank wild beast, it possessed considerable intelligence, and in this verdant marshy bamboo sea, it was the true overlord. Its majesty had never been challenged—this was its domain.
It began to advance toward Tang Tian in measured steps, its thick, powerful limbs stirring up clouds of dust with each thunderous stride. The punch it had just received stung—a sensation unfamiliar to it.
A vicious glint flashed in its clouded eyes; its ink-green scales made it resemble an ancient knight clad in heavy armor, radiating oppressive might. The horn atop its forehead was not particularly sharp, but it was thick and rough, and had pierced countless bodies of those foolish enough to test its authority.
Boom, boom.
The tremors beneath their feet no longer carried the previous urgency, but each reverberation seemed to strike the heart. Atop the bamboo tips, the little girl’s face had gone pale. She looked up anxiously. “Big sister, can you save big brother?”
Han Bingning bit her lip, shaking her head helplessly. “I don’t have my sword.”
All her strength was bound to her blade. If she had it in hand, she might still be able to contend with the Iron-armored Ink Rhinoceros.
The little girl’s face grew even paler. On the ground, the beast pressed ever closer to Tang Tian.
Han Bingning watched the human and beast below with a heart full of conflicting emotions. Tang Tian’s selfless act to save the little girl had shown her his courage and kindness, but his attempt to face the rhinoceros head-on was sheer recklessness!
Han Bingning knew well just how terrifying a mid-fourth-rank beast could be.
Tang Tian’s lightning-fast punch a moment ago had taken her by surprise, but such a second-rank martial skill would never suffice against a beast at this level.
Her mind raced—could she escape with Tang Tian in tow? But the thought was dismissed almost instantly. Her lightness skill was graceful, not built for speed, and with another to carry, there was no chance of outrunning the beast.
If only she had a sword...
Han Bingning bit her lip hard. With a sword, she could distract the beast just long enough for Tang Tian to flee, and then use her lightness skill to escape herself.
“A sword?”
The little girl’s eyes lit up. She grabbed the bamboo whistle hanging from her neck and blew hard.
The sharp note carried far and wide.
Tang Tian heard the sound too, but did not allow himself the slightest distraction. He glared at the Iron-armored Ink Rhinoceros with unwavering focus.
What a powerful aura!
It was as if he saw an ancient knight, clad in impenetrable armor, drawing near with a savage and wild presence.
This would not be an easy foe.
Tang Tian narrowed his eyes, planting his legs into the earth like iron stakes, his stance unyielding.
The rhinoceros stopped three paces in front of him.
Man and beast—locked in confrontation.
Suddenly, the beast crouched low.
Almost at the same instant, Tang Tian’s waist dropped.
Roar!
The rhinoceros let out a furious bellow, its limbs tensed, and its massive body vanished in a blur.
“Aaah!” Tang Tian roared in response, legs rooted deep in the soil, his strength erupting as he, too, vanished in a flash.
Two afterimages flickered and collided midair!
Bang!
Tang Tian glared fiercely, feet still firmly rooted—now buried up to his knees. His hands clamped down on the beast’s forehead, his body low and braced, every muscle straining to its utmost.
The most direct, most savage clash of strength!
In that instant, time seemed to freeze. Every muscle in man and beast strained to its limit.
Tang Tian forgot everything else; before him, there was only the Iron-armored Ink Rhinoceros.
Atop the bamboo tips, Han Bingning watched, dumbfounded. The contest of strength between the two utterly shattered her understanding. The impact was beyond compare.
What terrifying brute force!
How could a human possess such strength? The sheer power of a mid-fourth-rank Iron-armored Ink Rhinoceros was something no warrior could hope to match!
Tang Tian...
“Huff, huff, huff!” Tang Tian let out unconscious growls, his face twisted, his body swelling as if about to burst, every ounce of strength exploding forth!
Wild, fierce!
In this moment, Tang Tian was like a true beast.
The rhinoceros was pinned, its snout pressed into the earth. Never before had it been so humiliated, never before had its pride in its strength been so crushed.
It thrashed, all four limbs tearing at the ground, its whole body struggling.
Slowly, inexorably, its head began to lift, its limbs straightening. Tang Tian fought to press it down, but the force pushing back at him grew with every passing moment.
Suddenly, the beast’s horn flared with a layer of ink-green light.
A surge of wild, violent power struck Tang Tian’s hands like a hammer, crashing into his body.
It was like being struck by lightning; his body was flung aside with a snap.
Han Bingning’s face changed dramatically—Tang Tian was in danger!
A mid-fourth-rank beast had already formed a soul core and possessed a force akin to true power. This innate ability only grew with higher ranks.
The rhinoceros’s eyes were now a deep, unbroken green, like twin pieces of dark jade. Its entire form radiated deadly menace.
It advanced slowly toward Tang Tian, lying on the ground, the very image of a beast king exuding supreme arrogance and dominance.
Han Bingning had never imagined she would see such an aura in a mere beast.
Her face went pale.
A sudden sense of helplessness swept over her—even if she had her sword, she was no longer sure she’d have the courage to challenge this kingly beast.
“Little one, where are you?” A worried voice called from the bamboo forest.
The little girl’s face brightened with joy. She shouted, “Mother! The sword! Throw me the sword!”
Her mother reacted instantly—a sword, still in its scabbard, flew from the bamboo in a swift arc.
Han Bingning snapped from her reverie, caught the sword in one smooth motion, and drew it from its sheath.
With the sword in hand, her doubts vanished. She turned to the little girl. “Hold on to the bamboo.”
The girl quickly wrapped her arms and legs around the stalk.
Han Bingning’s gaze sharpened. Bending low, her robe fluttered as she soared down like a great bird.
Her feet landed lightly on the devastated ground. Though the clash had been brief, the earth was torn and scattered everywhere.
“Iron-armored Ink Rhinoceros!” A woman’s cry rang from the bamboo. “Little one!”
“Mother...” The little girl finally broke down, wailing.
With her last worry gone, Han Bingning raised her arm, sword aimed at the rhinoceros.
To her surprise, the beast seemed oblivious. It stopped, crouched low again, and pointed its horn directly at Tang Tian, who still lay on the ground.
A beast above the fourth rank should have a keen sense of danger. Had it not noticed her approach?
As Han Bingning hesitated, Tang Tian, who had lain motionless in the mud, suddenly moved.
Her eyes widened—could it be...?
One muddy hand pressed to the ground, then the other. Slowly, Tang Tian pushed himself up.
Han Bingning stared in shock. To take a direct strike from the beast’s true force and still stand—just how tough was this man’s body?
“Huff... huff... you’re dead!” came the hoarse, guttural growl.
Tang Tian staggered to his feet, his bare torso smeared with mud. He spat out a mouthful of dirt and slowly raised his head.
The rhinoceros shuddered and took a step back.
Han Bingning’s grip on her sword tightened unconsciously, her face full of shock.
—Tang Tian’s pupils were blood-red!
Demonic possession... was this demonic possession?
She was stunned. She had seen it before, but Tang Tian was different—he exuded an instinctive, hair-raising sense of danger.
Tang Tian lowered himself, taking the same stance as before.
The rhinoceros rumbled low in its throat.
Tang Tian grinned, and his crimson, crystalline eyes made the smile seem almost demonic. Before the smile could fade, his figure vanished.
The rhinoceros let out a roar, crouched low, and sprang forward.
Man and beast collided once more!
Boom!
Dirt exploded in all directions. Their wild and brutal clash left a shallow pit in the ground.
Roar! Roar!
“Huff, huff, huff!”
Their shouts and bellows mingled.
The ink-green glow flared again from the rhinoceros’s horn, but this time Tang Tian paid it no heed.
“Idiot!” Tang Tian snarled, teeth bared. Grabbing the horn, he suddenly twisted and leapt onto the beast’s back.
Without hesitation, his fists rained down like a storm.
Crushing Fist!
In his possessed state, the power of Tang Tian’s Crushing Fist surged exponentially. Each blow sent piercing force deep into the beast’s body. With every surge of true force, sharp as a crane’s beak, fine, straight cuts appeared on those steel-hard scales.
Crack!
A piece of scale shattered and flew off.
Sensing this, Tang Tian redoubled his assault, hammering furiously at the breach. The sharp force of his Crushing Fist quickly carved out more wounds.
The rhinoceros twisted madly, but no matter how it bucked, Tang Tian clung to its back like glue, pounding away with furious abandon.
With a thunderous, enraged bellow, the beast bolted for the bamboo forest.
Tang Tian instantly realized its intent. With its thick hide, the bamboo stalks would be nothing, but to him, they were dangerous!
“Die!” Tang Tian roared, eyes wide, voice like rolling thunder.
He ignored the pain completely, striking the beast’s back with relentless fury.
Boom!
The rhinoceros plunged into the bamboo, splintering the thick stalks with ease.
The tough bamboo, harmless to the beast, battered Tang Tian; shards flew like arrows, piercing his flesh, branches lashed across his body, leaving crisscrossing bloody welts.
But Tang Tian registered none of it, his frenzy undiminished, fists pounding like rain.
“Big brother!”
“Tang Tian!”
Cries of alarm echoed from behind. No one had expected the beast to charge into the bamboo forest.