Chapter 174: Chapter 171: Injured

Luna quickly jumped off Kian Sterling’s back; she couldn’t afford to hold him back in such a moment.

She stuffed the small, bristling creature in her arms into a nearby hidden bush and whispered, “You’re still small; you wouldn’t survive a single swipe, so stay quietly inside and don’t make any noise, understand?”

The little creature, highly intelligent, seemed to understand her words and let out a low whimper.

It was a response.

The bristling fur smoothed down, and it burrowed into the grass, hiding, not forgetting to cover itself with leaves and branches.

“That’s smart.”

Seeing the little fellow hide in the bush, Luna praised.

She quickly turned around, her gaze coldly scanning the surroundings.

Though pregnant, her Wood Element Ability was not just for show.

She raised her hands, and Fourth-Level vines snaked out from the ground like spirit serpents, instantly binding three Leopard Beastmen charging at the front.

“Kian Sterling, just how many enemies did you make? Did you offend an entire zoo?”

She shouted lowly, the vines tightening abruptly, flinging the three Leopard Beastmen away, smashing them heavily onto the ground.

“Luna, you can’t blame me; it’s not my fault I was born with irresistible charm, causing envy.”

Kian’s voice was playful and teasing, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Nine-Tails ignited Purple Gold Fox Fire, swatting away the charging bear with a tail.

He admired Luna’s prowess internally; her Wood Element Ability level was evidently high, but now wasn’t the time to ask more.

Luna didn’t know his thoughts; the slithering vines in her hands wrapped the closest Beastman tightly, “Born irresistible, huh? I’d say you’re born to get beaten.”

“Luna, if you say that, I’ll be heartbroken.”

Kian feigned grievance in his tone as Purple Gold Fox Fire surged, incinerating several attacking hyenas into charred remains, the fox fire scattering like meteors, forcing back a wave of assaulting Beastmen.

“Enough chatter, focus!”

Luna glared at him, flinging vines to bind a sneak-attacking Tiger Beastman, feeling a bit tense inside.

Though she was at Qi Cultivation Fourth Level, she knew no spells, nor owned any magic artifacts, treasures, or talismans.

The only thing she could use was the vines, slightly more formidable than her ability.

And she was pregnant, her movements cautious.

If only Corbin Crowley and Rhys Blackwood were here…

“System, protect my belly!”

She inwardly instructed the system.

“Rest assured, Host, the system has automatically activated protection mode; your unborn child won’t be harmed.”

The system came online immediately, continuing, “But Host, don’t you want to seize the chance to uncover Kian Sterling’s past mystery? This is the perfect moment.”

Luna rolled her eyes, controlling the vine to attack while flinging another sneaky Beastman away.

She silently retorted, “At a time like this, you’re still fixated on tasks?”

The system chuckled, “I just think if you ask now, Kian Sterling will definitely tell you.”

Right after the words.

Luna’s pupils suddenly contracted, glimpsing the Eight-Tailed Red Fox attempting to ambush Kian Sterling; somehow, it had circled behind him, claws aimed for his back.

Without thinking, she whipped out her vine like lightning, instantly wrapping around the Eight-Tailed Red Fox’s claws.

“Watch out!”

She shouted, the vines tightening abruptly, pulling the Eight-Tailed Red Fox forcibly away from Kian Sterling, slamming it hard onto the ground.

Simultaneously, she was knocked away by the Eight-Tailed Red Fox’s tail, hitting a nearby tree like a broken kite.

“Crack!”

“Bang…”

The tree snapped at the sound.

She fell heavily to the ground, gasping from the pain, her abdomen suddenly glowing with a soft green light.

The system urgently activated a protective shield, enveloping her entirely to prevent any Beastman sneak attacks while injured.

“Luna…”

Kian’s pupils contracted, his heart felt like it was stabbed by a bone needle, his beautiful fox-like eyes instantly turning Purple Gold.

The nine fox tails suddenly expanded several times.

The originally silver-white fur showed Purple Gold patterns, the fox fire turning into a fiery rain falling everywhere.

The Beastmen touched by the flames turned to ash instantly, not even having time to scream.

The sky was painted in a splendid hue by the sweeping Purple Gold Fox Fire.

Kian Sterling’s Nine-Tails resembled a blazing galaxy, incredibly scorching.

Luna Sutton lay beside the broken wood, watching the always-smiling fox now with vertical demonic pupils, covered entirely in intricate purple gold patterns, bizarre and unmatched.

“Cough… Your angry look is quite handsome too.”

She wiped the bloodstains from her mouth corner, poking the transparent shield that suddenly appeared before her with her fingertips.

This damn system is somewhat useful; otherwise, not to mention the child in her belly, even she would likely end up meeting her fate here.

Suddenly, a system prompt sounded beside her ear:

“Ding, Kian Sterling’s favorability +15, favorability reaches 90, entering deep love phase, rewarding host with 1 Nine Revolutions Rejuvenation Pill, 1 set of Heavenly Silkworm Silk Armor, 1 copy of Wood Element Magic Manual, 3 Spiritual Beast Contract Talismans, rewards have been automatically sent to the system backpack, please check automatically later.”

Luna Sutton’s lips slightly curved upon hearing the voice in her mind.

Indeed, worthy of deep love-level rewards, truly abundant.

Every item was something she dared not think of before.

Suddenly, she has some expectations for the ultimate gift pack, wondering what’s inside?

But it must be more abundant than the deep love-level rewards.

She quickly retrieved the Heavenly Silkworm Silk Armor from the system backpack and wore it without hesitation.

The armor was as thin as cicada wings yet extremely tough, instantly wrapping her body, even securing her abdomen thoroughly.

The Eight-Tailed Red Fox screamed and rolled in the sea of fire, his twisted face yelling: “Impossible, you clearly had your Heart Blood dug out…”

Before finishing his words, Kian Sterling’s sharp claws had pierced through his chest, crushing the jumping heart.

“Shh…”

Kian Sterling leisurely peeled off the fur, then carefully wiped the bloody claws on the fur.

Luna Sutton stared blankly at Kian Sterling, as if she didn’t recognize him.

He was cold and grotesque at this moment, completely different from the usual lazy, smiling demeanor.

Perhaps this is Kian Sterling’s true self—cool, powerful, even with a hint of bloodthirst.

“The dead don’t need to know too much.”

Kian Sterling coolly uttered these words, the Fox Fire in his hand ignited again, completely turning the Eight-Tailed Red Fox’s remains into ashes.

…

By The Salt Lake Shore, the scorching sun was overhead, and the saltworks were bustling.

Corvus Crowley’s hair was soaked with sweat as he tied up the beast skin bag filled with salt.

Previously, he always used baskets and rattan boxes to pack salt. Later, he discovered that beast skin bags were more practical, so he simply used beast skin bags, which wouldn’t leak and made transportation more convenient.

Suddenly, the companion mark on his chest flickered intensely, scorching his skin and causing almost burning pain.

“Hiss…”

Corbin clutched his heart, falling to one knee, his silver eyes flashing with fury: “What’s Kian Sterling doing? He can’t even protect Luna properly. If she loses even a single hair, I’ll skin Kian Sterling’s fox!”

He frowned, stood up, and immediately transformed into a Silver-moon Grey Wolf, dashing towards the direction indicated by the companion mark.

Rhys Blackwood naturally sensed the danger Luna Sutton was in, transformed into the gigantic python body, and followed suit, disappearing at The Salt Lake in an instant.

Zeke Veridian and Malachi Arcanus exchanged glances.

Though they couldn’t sense it, they heard what Corbin said earlier and instantly knew Luna Sutton was in trouble.

“Kian Sterling’s strength is impressive, how could he let Luna Sutton get hurt? Perhaps ambushed by The Winged Tiger Tribe along the way?”

Zeke Veridian muttered with a frown and soon transformed into the Azure Moon Wolf, closely following.

“Tch, the old fox is indeed unreliable!”

Malachi Arcanus coldly mocked, instructing Finn Arcanus to keep an eye on The Salt Lake here.

Then he transformed into the Nether-dark Wolf, racing upwind.

Corbin’s Silver-moon Grey Wolf form was the fastest, almost turning into a silver streak of lightning, disappearing at Cragfall in the blink of an eye.

Rhys Blackwood’s Black-Scaled Python followed closely, its enormous body swaying through the woods, leaving behind a pattern of dead branches, fallen leaves, and deep trails.

Zeke Veridian didn’t have a companion mark, unable to sense the direction, could only run behind.

“Tch, these guys run faster than rabbits.”

Malachi Arcanus sprinted while grumbling.

Though accustomed to roaming alone, he couldn’t help but follow this time.

Whether out of curiosity, excitement about hearing of a fight, or something else…

Even he didn’t know the reasons.

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