Chapter 389: King-Class Ferocious Beast! Qingya Kuangshi!

"You want it all?"

Captain Wu Shuo blinked slightly, frowning: "Xu Brother, you're not joking, are you?"

"I'm not joking. I confirm—I want it all."

Golden Divine Thunder circled Xu Jingming's body; his voice was low and powerful:

"In this demon den, it's the strong who devour the weak. My strength surpasses yours—these celestial treasures are mine to distribute."

Crackling—

The crystal core at the tip of the Thunder Staff in his hand glowed with golden lightning, emitting a faint but terrifying energy fluctuation.

"Your strength surpasses ours?"

Wu Shuo's eyes widened, wondering if he'd misheard.

Yet Xu Jingming's serious expression suggested he truly meant it.

"Looks like we've been underestimated."

"Hmph! When did the Thunder Martial Arts Academy's prodigy trainees become so arrogant?"

"Captain, strike! Teach him a lesson!"

"..."

The Black Dragon Legion, the most formidable military unit under the Great Xia government.

Its members were all graduates of the top 100 psychic universities in Great Xia—nearly all elites.

The 12th Squad, having repeatedly replenished its ranks through frontline slaughter, was elite among elites.

Seeing Xu Jingming, a fifth-rank psychic, treat them with such disdain, their expressions darkened and they erupted in anger.

"Xu Jingming, to achieve sixth-rank combat power while still at fifth-rank lower tier—I admit your talent is astonishing.

It's reasonable to expect you might surpass us someday—but not yet.

You're too arrogant. Since you insist, I'll give you a lesson on behalf of your Master Su."

At this point, Wu Shuo was also angered, drawing a sharp battle blade from his space ring.

The other five members also seized their weapons and activated their psychic abilities.

Even a lion fighting a rabbit uses its full strength—no matter how weak an enemy appears, one must give everything.

This was a hard-won lesson, paid for in blood and lives on the frontline.

It applied to ferocious beasts—and to human psychics alike.

Their first strike must deliver a devastating blow to Xu Jingming!

They wouldn't kill him—but crippling him, making him pay for his arrogance, was entirely acceptable.

"Good."

Xu Jingming's lips curled slightly, his eyes blazing with fierce battle intent.

Since reaching fifth rank, he'd never fought at full strength—perfect chance to test himself against the Black Dragon Legion.

He could also test the power of the SSS-rank technique, "Thunder God Descends."

"Roar—"

Just as both sides tensed, ready to strike, a deep, guttural beast roar echoed through the air.

The roar was low, yet piercing—making Xu Jingming frown slightly, his eardrums stinging.

If even he felt this, lower-rank psychics would likely be shattered, vomiting blood.

Wu Shuo and the others also paled.

At that moment, a stench-laden wind swept in—a beast over three meters tall and eight meters long, lion-like in form, its fur flowing wildly.

But its fangs were sharper, more protruding, glowing an eerie bluish-gray.

As soon as it appeared, thick earth elements swirled around its massive body.

Simultaneously, its huge eyes locked onto Xu Jingming and the others—but it did not attack.

"King-class ferocious beast—Qingya Kuangshi? And from the fang color, it's already sixth-rank lower tier. This is trouble."

Wu Shuo forgot about Xu Jingming for now, his face grim as he stared at the beast.

"A sixth-rank lower-tier beast—killing it shouldn't be easy?"

Xu Jingming, unfamiliar with the beast's species, asked in confusion.

"You've never been to the frontline—you wouldn't know."

Wu Shuo shook his head, no longer holding Xu Jingming's earlier arrogance against him, only sighing as he explained:

"Earth's ferocious beasts are countless—even within the same rank,

different species' combat power can vary wildly.

On the frontline, we classify beast quality into Soldier-class, General-class, Lord-class, King-class, and Emperor-class.

Soldier-class beasts are the weakest among their rank—like human psychics with F to D-grade abilities.

General-class beasts are slightly stronger—equivalent to C to B-grade psychics.

Lord-class beasts match A-grade psychics.

King-class beasts match S-grade psychics!

And this Qingya Kuangshi ranks among the top King-class beasts.

Not only is its hide thick and its life force immense, but it can also control earth elements.

Though only sixth-rank, it could easily annihilate all of us."

All members of the 12th Squad, including Wu Shuo, grew grim.

King-class beasts were rare even on the frontline.

When one appeared, only higher-rank psychics were dispatched—lower-rank squads approaching meant certain death.

"Logically,

Dungeon #4 shouldn't host any beast above Lord-class. I can't figure out where things went wrong."

Puzzled, Wu Shuo turned to Xu Jingming:

"This Qingya Kuangshi likely came for the Yuanling Fruit. If we don't attack, it probably won't strike us.

Let's go—while the fruit isn't ripe yet, we evacuate immediately.

We'll report this to command—they'll send specialists to handle it."

The wild zones within Great Xia's territory had all been cleared by high-rank psychics.

There should be no beast above Lord-class here—this situation was deeply strange.

But as Wu Shuo and his squad prepared to withdraw, they found Xu Jingming still standing, unmoved.

"Hm?"

Wu Shuo frowned deeply, growling:

"Xu Jingming, between the Yuanling Fruit and your life—which is more important? You should know.

Stay any longer, and your situation will become extremely dangerous!"

For anyone else, he wouldn't have bothered warning them.

But Xu Jingming's talent was too monstrous—he was still a compatriot of Great Xia.

He couldn't bear to see him perish here over momentary greed.

"Thank you for your concern, Captain Wu—but I still want to test whether I can defeat this King-class beast."

Xu Jingming's eyes gleamed with eagerness.

Compared to the Black Dragon Legion squad, this King-class beast seemed a better opponent.

Plus, he wanted to see how many psychic points he'd gain from slaying it.

Of course, he couldn't be certain he'd win.

But with Lei Long Yi, even if he lost, he could still escape—no real danger to his life.

PS: Heading home tomorrow—full day on the highway. Updates resume on the 20th, and I'll start catching up on missed chapters.