Reborn As A Phoenix With Beast Taming System
Chapter 119: Great Horned Catfish

Chapter 119: 119: Great Horned Catfish

"Hey, watch your temper! I’m just gonna ask you a favor! In return, I’ll do anything for you!" Ash said. Nightflame was ready to evaporate the whole lake if he had to.

Since she’s still wounded from the last battle against the One Eyed Salamander, she’d need somebody to do some menial task for her. With that in mind, the Great Horned Catfish opted to reveal herself. Slowly, a huge shadow emerged on the lake’s surface, even Ash had to fly a bit higher to see the fish beast in full.

After a while, two black horns surfaced, followed by a pair of abysmal eyes. They were dark, vicious, yet also carrying an unfathomable amount of wisdom.

Ash couldn’t even appraise her detailed status due to insufficient power level. However, Ash could tell that the catfish beast was a Mystical Rank Immortal Beast!

Since he’s the one who sought for a favor, Ash cupped his fist, and bowed courteously. "Greetings, o, Great Horned Catfish!"

"State your business! If it’s nothing of importance, I will feed you to my children instead."

I’m terribly sorry for the sudden disturbance. But, my friends are in need of a temporary sanctuary. If you would be so kind, please allow my friends to live in your lake until the next full moon."

The catfish beast was bemused. "Pray tell, who are these friends of yours?"

"They are Frost Mermaids. I saved them from such unlawful poaching activity. Since their breeding lake was compromised, I have no choice but to find a new, and suitable habitat for them."

Bubbles began to rise on the surface, the Great Horned Catfish was laughing inwardly. "Nice try, young brat. But, there’s no way Frost Mermaids, an ancient race who lived in the Southern Ocean, would go inland to search for a lake!"

"Well, I didn’t believe it at first. But, the Mermaid’s Queen is here with me."

"What are you even muttering about?! I don’t sense any living beings nearby except us and those silly serpents! Get lost! Or I will kill you instead!"

At the same time, Bai Qiulian was urging him to be released from the Beast-Taming Space before everything turned ugly.

"Let me out, Master! She won’t relent unless you give her solid proof of your claim."

"She’s too dangerous! Can’t you feel the sinister killing intent that she exuded?!"

"I do, Master. But, there’s something off about her! As fellow aquatic creatures, I could sense her deep pain and hatred!"

Ash sighed curtly. "Fine, let’s do this your way."

Without further ado, Ash opened the Beast-Taming Space’s portal. Bai Qiulian soon wriggled out from within and plunged into the water.

The Great Horned Catfish was utterly flabbergasted. Though she had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, it’s her first time to witness such a bizarre ability. Many Immortal Beasts had the ability to terraform a habitat to their liking. Summoning an ancient race? That’s something entirely different.

Even if their size was heaven and earth apart, Bai Qiulian was completely unfazed. Instead, the Mermaid’s Queen understood the pain that the catfish beast had been through under the oppression of One Eyed Salamander.

"We beg thy pardon, milady. My tribe is on the verge of mass extinction. The merfolks that I brought are our last chance of survival."

Mermaids are renowned for their ability to communicate even with the fiercest aquatic creatures. Legend has it, the first Sea Emperor befriended a colossal Heavenly Squid Beast. Eons ago, as the land was ravaged by the flame of the Great War, the Seafolks Kingdom came to the rescue, extinguishing the flames and bringing the weak to safety.

Ten thousand years later, the Seafolk Kingdom, especially the merfolks, were on the verge of extinction due to the human cultivator’s greed for power and wealth. If possible, Cultivators would dry the ocean and take everything with them, and then leave the planet without so much thought.

Granted, the giant catfish beast acknowledged the long history, and respected Bai Qiulian’s plea. A moment later, the giant catfish beast turned around without a fuss. "Suit yourself... But please keep it quiet. I’m still recovering my wounds."

"Ah, wait a minute!" Ash raised his voice. "What about your request?!"

"You have one week to fetch me that damn’s lizard’s eye. Should you fail, I’ll have your balls instead."

Ash instinctively reached his crotch. "What a vicious beast!’

Once the agreement had concluded, Ash opted to let the merfolks swim away from his Beast-Taming Space into their habitat.

Ash smiled joyously seeing the merfolks frolicking in the lake. Though it’s just a temporary solution, at least, they wouldn’t have to worry about the Red Cloud Pirates who hunted them.

Before he embarked on his journey, Feng Bo and the Heavenly Phoenix Alliance ensured the safe passage for them, eliminating anyone who was foolish enough to trail behind him and Yunxian.

Bai Qiulian swam closer to him, smiling. "Thank you for your assistance, m’lord. Once we finish with our ritual, we will follow you for the rest of our lives!"

"Don’t say that, Lady Bai Qiulian. Besides, I would prefer my Tamed Beasts to grow stronger and find their own calling instead of serving me. But of course, I would call them when I need them. As of now, you may focus on conceiving as many kids as you want."

Bai Qiulian’s tail was wagging uncontrollably under the water. "About that part, m’lord. Actually, I would like to have you as my partner under the full moon night."

Ash, obviously, couldn’t say no to that. If he was being honest, Ash was so curious with Bai Qiulian’s anatomy from up close.

"En! I will be back very soon."

"Be careful..."

Ash couldn’t help but to lower his altitude till Nightflame’s blade was just above the water’s surface. Afterwhich, he reached for Bai Qiulian’s face, and kissed her lips, as light as a feather.

For the first in ages, Bai Qiulian could feel someone else’s warmth. It was thousands of times better compared to comforting herself with a coral or being pampered by her lady-in-waiting.

Nevertheless, Ash had to restrain himself. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to control his little brother.

"I’m off..."

****

Ash walked through the thicket of trees, encountering many Immortal Beasts in the Yellow Zone along the way. He was careful not to draw their aggression, which would only exhaust him before he reached the Red Zone of the Forbidden Forest!

The terrain grew more difficult. He had to descend a massive cliff using the dangling rattan roots that grew in abundance, intertwining like the irregular strands of a spider’s web.

Before long, as he ventured deeper into the valley, he sensed the Qi energy thickening—oppressive and suffocating.

Upon reaching the valley floor, Ash realized he had entered a place no ordinary human could survive.

"This must be the very center of the Red Zone," Ash muttered inwardly.

It was a full moon night, so visibility was decent despite the dense canopy overhead.

As he pressed on in search of his prey, Ash soon encountered the Red Zone’s inhabitants. Lying prone on the ground, he held his breath, staying perfectly still.

An eerie silence blanketed the area. Not a single sound could be heard.

Stab! Stab!

He heard the sound of multiple legs marching behind him. The ground trembled slightly as the creatures made their way through the dense forest.

Ash glanced back and saw legs—dozens of meters tall—walking calmly, like the looming shadows of moving columns.

’Giant Tall-Leg Spider?! This area isn’t supposed to be its habitat. What brought it all the way here?’

Suddenly, a loud screech echoed through the valley. Something was calling the giant spider.

At that moment, Ash understood why it had come.

It was a mating call from its opposite sex—or rather, a Immortal Beast mimicking one to lure it in.

The eight-legged beast charged forward at terrifying speed despite its massive size, bulldozing through the treeline to clear a path.

Ash rose and followed it from a safe distance, knowing the spider’s attention was locked on the sound.

Eventually, he reached a swamp reeking of rotting carcasses. Quickly, he climbed the tallest tree to get a vantage point over what was about to unfold between two Mystical Rank Immortal Beasts.

In the middle of the swamp stood a massive boulder—and perched atop it was the One-Eyed Salamander.

Ash’s body tensed at the sight of the strange creature. It looked like a giant crocodile, its slimy skin slick with black mucus.

Atop its head was a glowing tusk, capable of warping the environment with abnormalities. The swamp itself was a byproduct of the salamander’s predatory domain.

The Giant Spider grew agitated upon realizing it had been tricked. It lashed out webs from its spinnerets, trying to ensnare the massive lizard.

But the salamander was swift and elusive. In its natural habitat, it was nearly untouchable. The webs melted on contact with the swamp’s surface.

As the two Immortal Beasts clashed in a violent, thunderous battle, Ash calmly assessed the situation—waiting for the perfect moment to strike them both down in one decisive blow.

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