Chapter 381 - 256: Big Stick, Big Stick, Big Stick

The top of each mushroom split open, then clenched together tightly like a fist. Veins like coiling dragons seemed to pulse faintly on their surface, radiating a sense of explosive power that surpassed even a professional boxer’s.

"SWOOSH!" "SWOOSH!"

A few of the "hands" snatched up loose stones from the ground and hurled them with all their might at Shan Bao, who was high in the sky.

At the same time, the remaining "hands" balled into fists and swung at Shan Bao, whistling through the air.

"Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!"

Shan Bao activated Flash Gold Teleportation, dodging repeatedly, but she was still flustered. The fists were too fast; she couldn’t evade them with her flying speed alone!

"Then don’t dodge! We’ll meet it head-on!" Su Zhi’s command came from the Beast Taming Space.

Shan Bao froze for a second, only then remembering she was a tank, not an assassin.

"BAM!"

Shan Bao took a solid hit from a mushroom fist.

"QAQ! Mee!" Mimi, watching from below, was startled and scrambled behind Lala, not daring to look anymore.

Lala was actually a little scared too... but to maintain his cool image, he forced himself to look calm and made a sound as if it was no big deal.

’Is that all it’s got?’

’Just one punch like that, and I’d be on my knees begging for my life.’

Shen Chuqing, however, stared at the dispersing smoke in mid-air, her elegant brows arching slightly.

That wasn’t some anime-style special effect from the impact... but rather, spores secretly released by the Boxing Mushroom Forest when it attacked.

The spores were stored in the mushroom caps and would naturally scatter outward from the pressure upon impact. If an opponent inhaled too many of these spores, their neural reflexes and thought speed would slow down without them even noticing. Big Stick could then press the attack, achieving an effect where it grew stronger as the battle raged on.

It was one of the most successful combined Wood and Fighting Element Skills, and you could say it was extremely useful.

In fact, most opponents never even forced Big Stick to this stage. Its brutish Power alone was more than most Pet Beasts could handle...

"Chirp!"

But from within the spore-filled mist came Shan Bao’s excited cry.

A Golden Light flared, and the mist slowly dissipated. Shan Bao circled and danced in the air, while the mushroom that had just struck her had already deflated.

’Did you really think you could break through my Tier Two Hardening just because you wanted to?’

SWISH SWISH SWISH— The damage to one mushroom didn’t affect the Boxing Mushroom Forest’s overall Skill Effect. As Shan Bao flattened one mushroom, the others quickly surrounded her.

"This is tricky," Shen Chuqing remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"Mee?" Mimi blinked her eyes curiously.

’Why is it tricky? Doesn’t Shan Bao look super brave?’

Shen Chuqing said leisurely, "Being tough is useless. Two fists can’t fight four hands. She can handle one mushroom, but she can’t take them all out at once. She doesn’t have an AoE, you see..."

"SWOOOOSH—"

Before she could finish her sentence, a meteor shower of Golden Light shot into the sky. Shan Bao had activated Golden Feather Flying Blade.

Then, the moment the golden feathers reached their zenith, they changed direction and plummeted downward at a completely different, much higher speed.

"SHING!" "SHING!" "SHING!"

Shen Chuqing’s eyes widened. The ferocious Boxing Mushrooms were completely unable to block the falling feathers. The instant the feathers made contact, the Boxing Mushroom Forest collapsed in swathes, viciously pinned to the ground.

These were feathers enhanced by both Hardening and Super Heavy Gold Fall.

Under the enhancement of these two Skills, the originally weak Golden Feather Flying Blade had become as fearsome as the Sword of Damocles!

Shen Chuqing muttered, "You can even fucking use it like that?"

"La?" Lala seemed to ask. ’Didn’t Shan Bao use this in a competition before? There’s a recording.’

"...Ahem."

Shen Chuqing coughed twice, covering up the fact that she had only researched Yu Bao and hadn’t paid much attention to Shan Bao.

"Of course I knew that. I was just testing you to see if you were paying attention."

In the air not far away, Shan Bao looked at the Boxing Mushroom Forest that had been completely reaped, her eyes full of pride. If she didn’t need to stay flying, she would have even put her hands on her hips.

"Well done!" Su Zhi’s praise came from the Beast Taming Space.

"Chirp~!" Shan Bao flew a delighted lap, then looked excitedly toward Yu Bao.

’Big Brother Yu Bao, praise me, praise me~’

"Woof woof woof!" Yu Bao, however, looked like he was about to die of anxiety, scratching at his ears and cheeks on the spot.

’What are you all doing!’

’Behind you! Watch out behind you!’

"BAM!"

The next moment, an earth-shattering crash rang out. A large cloud of White Mist erupted from Shan Bao’s body, and she plunged violently into the nearby forest like a kite with its string cut.

Seeing Big Stick’s figure, Su Zhi’s eyes widened.

Big Stick had circled behind them right under his and Shan Bao’s noses, and neither of them had noticed a thing.

Only then did Su Zhi personally experience just how absurdly powerful Gou Yu’s talent was.

Dealing with the Fist Blade Mushroom Forest just now had briefly occupied their attention. In that momentary lapse, both he and Shan Bao had completely overlooked Big Stick’s existence. Even their subconscious minds were focused only on handling the Fist Blade Mushroom Forest before them, completely failing to consider Big Stick, who had summoned it...

In fact, it wasn’t until Shan Bao was hit that Su Zhi even remembered Gou Yu existed...

"Goo goo! Goo!" The Big Stick Night Watchman in mid-air let out a triumphant cry.

As a Wood and Fighting Element Pet Beast, his greatest weakness was his lack of agility, but his master’s talent perfectly compensated for this flaw.

He often only needed to use a small trick to divert his opponent’s attention, and then he could leisurely find an opening and shatter their defenses in one fell swoop.

’Me and my Beast Tamer, we’re on a rampage!’

"No, don’t let your guard down," Gou Yu’s reminder came from his Beast Taming Space. "Our opponent isn’t defeated yet."

The next moment, a Golden Light shot out from the dense forest in the distance. Shan Bao flew back in front of him, raising a foot to pat her head.

’Whoa, that punch packed a wallop. My head’s still ringing...’

"Goo?" Big Stick’s eyes widened.

’Aren’t Flash Gold Sparrows supposed to be fast but fragile? She’s just a little dizzy? That was my full-power attack!’

"Chirp!" Shan Bao fixed her gaze on him.

"Goo!" Big Stick shivered tactically.

"Don’t panic. We still have Paralyzing Spore. That Skill gets better the longer it goes on. As long as we drag this out, everything will be fine!"

Vice Alliance Leader Gou was, after all, a Vice Alliance Leader who had seen his share of storms. He quickly recovered from his shock and gave a calm command. "We just need to repeat the same tactic. With the enhancement from Cognitive Camouflage, the opponent won’t be able to stay focused. Once the Paralyzing Spore accumulates to a certain point, Shan Bao will be defeated without us even having to beat her!"

Big Stick nodded and, for the second time, unleashed the Fist Blade Mushroom Forest.

"Chirp!" Shan Bao’s eyes sparkled.

’Yay! I get to chop up mushrooms again!’

Then she blinked, a little troubled. ’As soon as I start chopping mushrooms, I can’t help but forget about Big Stick, and then I get hit...’

"Chirp!" Shan Bao asked for Su Zhi’s opinion.

"It’s actually quite simple."

Su Zhi, who had been resting his chin on his hand in thought, gave a slight smile.

"We don’t need to fly into the air to dodge; just stay on the ground. You can still use Golden Feather Flying Blade the same way. That won’t be affected."

"Chirp?" Shan Bao asked. ’But what about the opponent’s Cognitive Camouflage?’

"...That’s also quite simple, actually," Su Zhi said thoughtfully.

"If you just shout the opponent’s name while you’re fighting, you won’t forget, right?"

"...Chirp?"

"Come on, let’s shout together!"

"Chirp!"

"Big Stick!"

"Chirp!"

"Big Stick!"

"???" Big Stick, who was just about to circle around for a sneak attack, froze in place, watching in stunned disbelief as Shan Bao shouted its name while deftly clearing out the Fist Blade Mushroom Forest.

"Big Stick, Big Stick, Big Stick!" Su Zhi chanted from a distance, repeating Big Stick’s name.

"Chirp!" Shan Bao’s eyes shone as she came hopping over.

"QAQ! GOO!!!" Big Stick was so scared he jumped into the air, then took off running the moment he landed.

’What kind of demonic tactic is this? Why isn’t this going the way I thought it would!’

"Don’t panic... The opponent just saw through the Cognitive Camouflage, but we haven’t lost yet! Keep using Fist Blade Mushroom Forest! The Paralyzing Spore will take effect soon!"

"Goo!"

And so, the pitiful Big Stick released Skills to block its pursuer while fleeing, fantasizing about the turning point when the Paralyzing Spore would finally kick in.

But it never came...

"BAM—"

Big Stick, its stamina depleted, was finally caught. It was unable to get back up under Shan Bao’s crushing assault.

[Assignable Attribute Points (Shan Bao)... 0.30]

"Chirp!"

Shan Bao turned around and once again gave Yu Bao a look that begged for praise.

"Woof!" This time, Yu Bao gave her a thumbs-up.

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