I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 91 - 90: Preliminary Round (Part 8)

Wandao: "According to Luo Jun and my deduction, Gustav reached level thirteen several years ago, but it has not left the Peterson River. This means that in recent years, its diet has primarily consisted of low and mid-level Star Beasts, as high-level Star Beasts are more commonly found deeper in the forest. For a Heaven Rank Star Beast, such a diet makes it difficult to absorb enough Elemental Energy. Maintaining its strength at level thirteen is already challenging, let alone advancing further."

Jin Hua understood Wandao’s point: "Principal, are you saying that Gustav is now a level thirteen Star Beast that is infinitely close to the peak of level twelve?"

Wandao nodded: "You could interpret it that way. The gap between level twelve and thirteen is just one level, but it’s a watershed between high-level Star Beasts and Heaven Rank Star Beasts, and that one level is as difficult to cross as a chasm. But for Gustav, this chasm isn’t very deep. It has stagnated for too long; a slightly more aggressive level twelve Star Beast might be able to bring Gustav down if it fought desperately. These four students are quite strong, so this battle is not without hope. Let’s stay calm and see how it unfolds."

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There was still a long way to go to the riverbank, but the cracking ice sounds of "crack" "crack" behind them were getting closer. Li Xing ran at the back of the group, and the ice underfoot had already begun to crack. If the Crocodile Beast kept chasing them, none of them would escape.

"You go on ahead, I’ll cover the rear!"

Li Xing stopped, drew the Heavenly Wolf Saber, and turned to slash at the Crocodile Beast nine times with Fire Blades. The crescent-shaped Sword Aura wrapped in flames struck the Crocodile Beast’s skin, producing a sizzling sound.

The Crocodile Beast didn’t expect that this two-legged creature’s youngster would dare to attack it and was so surprised that it actually paused.

When it sensed the burning pain on its skin, it became even more furious. It stood up on its hind legs and stomped its huge front paws down towards Li Xing, breaking the ice road instantly.

The Crocodile Beast returned to the water, and despite its large size, it glided effortlessly on the surface, heading towards Li Xing.

Swimming speed and combat effectiveness in water are far inferior to Water Star Beasts for humans, not to mention the limitation of needing to breathe. Thus, when encountering Water Beasts, seizing the surface advantage is key if you lack breathing equipment.

Li Xing has the foundation of the Eternal Green Technique, making breath-holding a trivial matter for her, but Qingtian and the other two do not.

Underwater environments are complex and changeable, not only are there powerful Water Beasts prowling, but countless dangerous aquatic plants. If they inadvertently fall into the water and are attacked by other Water Beasts amidst the chaos, or simply get entangled by aquatic plants, and can’t breathe for five or six minutes, they’re doomed.

This ice road is the quickest and safest lifeline for Qingtian and the others to escape danger and mustn’t continue to collapse.

Li Xing pushed off the ground with her toes, leaping to the side forcefully before the ice shattered, luring the Crocodile Beast away.

The massive body of the Crocodile Beast cut a perfect right angle on the water, its big mouth lunging at Li Xing, but she kicked its snout and used the momentum to leap away.

The Crocodile Beast snapped at empty air, its powerful jaws clashing together, producing a grating sound like teeth grinding.

After jumping more than ten meters to the side, Li Xing thought she would land in the water, but underfoot was still solid ice.

Turning her head, the other three had returned, with Ye Qingtian desperately channeling Ice Elemental Spirit under her feet and reminding her not to get distracted, "Don’t worry about it, leave the ice to me!"

The Crocodile Beast submerged, with jagged scales and spiny horns on its back exposed, resembling an oversized piece of driftwood, circling the ice surface where Li Xing landed, seeking an opportunity to attack.

"Sister Xing, don’t be afraid, Brother will assist you!"

The Thunderbolt Bow appeared, a Light Arrow with purple electric arcs shot at the Crocodile Beast’s back, turning the entire water surface into a mesh of purple arcs.

Unfortunately, the Crocodile Beast’s hide was too thick and had high defense, and the Thunder Arrow dealt less damage than the Fire Blades.

Yet this blatant provocation only made the Crocodile angrier, directing all its fury at Li Xing.

Its massive tail lifted with downward momentum, slapping fiercely at Li Xing.

The Crocodile Beast’s tail was covered in spiny horns, as sharp as human weapons. Li Xing jumped again to dodge, landing on a new ice surface, while the thick ice block she stood on was shattered into powder by the Crocodile Beast’s massive tail.

Qi Ming shook his hand, having accidentally touched the water and got zapped by the Thunder Arrow: "Brother Xiao, you better not discharge, we’re all in the water!"

"Damn! Got it, got it!" Cui Tianxiao shook his right hand, the bowstring retracting as the Longbow turned into a staff, running over the fragmented ice to engage in close combat with Li Xing.

"Sister Xing, hold on a bit more, once the Trapping Array is set, lure it in!"

Qi Ming swallowed a bead of Blue Medicine, his hands moving at lightning speed as golden talismans were etched into the water forming an array. He could finish the Trapping Array in less than three minutes.

This was a talisman array handed down in the Qi Family, with powerful talisman energy, ensuring that once the Crocodile Beast entered the array, it would be trapped on the water surface, unable to dive or climb, turning into a sitting target.

Zhou Song watched Qi Ming meticulously etching the large talisman array and nodded appreciatively:

"Qi Ming is indeed the descendant of a talisman family, mastering such a complex Trapping Array at a young age. The legacy of Elder Qi Lang is assured!"

Zhou Song had a keen eye for talismans, and his high praise for Qi Ming was proof of Qi Ming’s exceptional abilities.

An outstanding talisman master has a huge impact in battles, and Zhou Song’s endorsement calmed the nerves of all the teachers observing this battle.

Maybe these students could really create a miracle and escape unscathed from the jaws of the Heaven Rank Water Beast.

Li Xing and Cui Tianxiao employed harassing tactics, utilizing their size and speed advantage, along with Ye Qingtian’s assistance with the ice surface, the two moved in sync, continuously leaving wounds on the Crocodile Beast. Yet, the Crocodile Beast’s skin was thick, and although there were many wounds, they weren’t lethal.

Gustav was the Lord of the River in Peterson’s domain; no Water Beast in these waters had a higher level than it. Over the years, it didn’t even need to hunt anymore; any prey it set its eyes on wouldn’t dare to resist, trembling in place as it waited to be eaten whenever it released a bit of its Heaven Rank Water Beast pressure.

But today it encountered disobedient ones, not only refusing to be eaten obediently but even dared to fight back. Using their small size and speed, they continuously left marks on it, not fatal but numerous enough to hurt.

The situation had evolved; if it didn’t kill these two-legged beasts in the most brutal way possible, how would it maintain its authority as the Lord of the River?

After overcoming the initial surprise, Gustav regained its composure. Its yellow vertical pupils gleamed with an eerie light as it silently submerged into the water.