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"Senior Brother! Senior Brother! I found it, I found it!"

Xiao Lin, who was crouching on the ground watching ants move their home as per the System's task requirements, heard the voice behind him and instinctively blurted out, "Beast, what did you get hit with?"

"Huh?"

Lu Xingqiu, who had jogged over to Xiao Lin, was instantly dumbfounded.

"Ahem, Third Junior Brother, what did you find?" Xiao Lin quickly stood up, smiling at Lu Xingqiu.

Damn, my slip of the tongue almost got me. Luckily, it was Third Junior Brother. If it had been Second or Fourth Junior Sister, my identity might have been exposed...

"Uh..." Lu Xingqiu blinked, beads of sweat beginning to form on his still youthful face.

[Did Senior Brother just scold me? Did I make some serious mistake recently? Oh no, what should I do? Think, Lu Xingqiu! What have you done these days? Was it because I spoke for Lin Aotian before? No, no, that shouldn't be enough to make Senior Brother scold me... What is it? What is it? Should I just kneel and apologize to Senior Brother?]

"???"

Seeing the three question marks pop up over Xiao Lin's head, he immediately placed a hand on Lu Xingqiu's shoulder and said sincerely, "I was a bit distracted earlier and spoke nonsense. Don't take it to heart, Third Junior Brother."

He was truly afraid that if he delayed any longer, Lu Xingqiu might actually kneel before him.

"Oh... I see..." Lu Xingqiu visibly relaxed, then quickly shook his head and smiled, "No worries, no worries, Senior Brother, you shouldn't take this to heart either."

"So, what did you find?" Xiao Lin quickly changed the subject.

"Well, regarding the shadow that appeared behind you when you activated the mark, I think I found its original form." Lu Xingqiu said with a hint of excitement.

"Oh? Let me see." Xiao Lin was intrigued.

Previously, Lu Xingqiu had volunteered to find out the true nature of that shadow, and Xiao Lin hadn't stopped him. He didn't expect Lu Xingqiu to actually find something.

"Please take a look, Senior Brother." Without wasting time, Lu Xingqiu took out a scroll and unfurled it with a flick of his wrist.

An ink painting immediately appeared before them.

The main subject of the painting was a giant ox, its body a bluish-green color, with no horns on its head and only one hoof. Despite its strange appearance, the giant ox looked fierce and terrifying, especially with the stormy backdrop of wind and rain, making it seem like a World-Destroying Fiend Beast...

Wait, a World-Destroying Fiend Beast?

"Third Junior Brother, this is actually a benevolent divine beast, right?"

Recognizing at a glance that it was indeed the shadow that appeared when he activated the mark, Xiao Lin quickly turned to Lu Xingqiu.

"Uh..."

The smile on Lu Xingqiu's face immediately froze.

[Senior Brother, looking at it like this, do you really think it could be benevolent?]

Indeed, it couldn't be...

Xiao Lin quickly accepted reality, glanced again at the painting in Lu Xingqiu's hand, and sighed, "Forget it, Third Junior Brother, what kind of fiend beast is this?"

"Reporting to Senior Brother, this fiend beast is called the Kui Ox, also known as the Thunder Beast. It's an ancient World-Destroying Fiend Beast, said to bring storms and lightning when it appears. Some records suggest it might have been the mount of the Ancient Thunder God." Lu Xingqiu quickly shared the information he had gathered.

An ancient World-Destroying Fiend Beast... The term 'World-Destroying' alone is extraordinary, let alone from the Ancient Era...

Xiao Lin clicked his tongue in amazement.

Having lived in this world for over twenty years, Xiao Lin naturally knew about that distant Ancient Era.

It was quite cliché, to sum it up: an era where immortals walked the earth, and various fiend beasts and divine beasts were born as if in a competition, like the famous Four Cardinal Beasts, which were ancient divine beasts.

It wasn't easy for the human race to survive from the Ancient Era...

With a casual sigh, Xiao Lin rolled up his sleeve, looked at the mark on his right arm, and said expressionlessly, "So, my true form is actually an ancient World-Destroying Fiend Beast?"

[Senior Brother, even if you were an ancient World-Destroying Fiend Beast, I would always stand by your side!]

I was just making a joke, don't take it seriously! How could I possibly be an ancient World-Destroying Fiend Beast? Fiend Beasts don't even have a Dantian and Qi Palace, their cultivation methods are completely different!

Xiao Lin couldn't help but rub his forehead.

[However, if Senior Brother really is an ancient World-Destroying Fiend Beast, then maybe the world has misunderstood fiend beasts all along, and they're actually benevolent?]

Don't be ridiculous! Just because it's related to me doesn't make it good, right? What kind of simplistic view of good and evil is this? Linmen?

Filled with inner complaints, Xiao Lin quickly continued, "Just kidding, anyway, this mark is indeed related to the Kui Ox... I developed this mark after being targeted by Tribulation Lightning, and since the Kui Ox is a Thunder Beast, that might be why I have this mark?"

"Yes, that's certainly possible."

Hearing Xiao Lin's analysis, Lu Xingqiu immediately abandoned the idea of "Senior Brother is an ancient World-Destroying Fiend Beast" and began analyzing according to Xiao Lin's logic, "Moreover, although this mark is related to the Kui Ox, since the Kui Ox is the mount of the Ancient Thunder God, Senior Brother, you might have a connection to the Ancient Thunder God, which is why this mark appeared."

Hmm, be bold, maybe I'm the Ancient Thunder God?

With the thought that it doesn't hurt to imagine, Xiao Lin cheerfully finished in his mind, then waved his hand, "Forget it, we definitely can't figure out this mark now. Since Master hasn't mentioned any issues, and I can use this mark, let's not worry about it for now."

As the saying goes, when you owe a lot, you don't feel the pressure. Since he already had so many unsolved mysteries, Xiao Lin didn't mind having one more.

Bring it on, if you dare, send an immortal down to deal with me!

"Yes, Senior Brother." Lu Xingqiu had no objections, immediately putting away the painting and taking out a stack of rice paper filled with tiny characters, handing it to Xiao Lin, "Senior Brother, I've also gathered almost all the information about Fellow Daoist Gu. Please take a look."

"So soon?"

Xiao Lin took the rice paper in surprise and began reading.

After successfully activating the mark two days ago, he had planned to prepare for the upcoming battle by gathering information on Gu Qingqing.

Lu Xingqiu had confidently taken on the task, and Xiao Lin was happy to let him handle it.

"Fellow Daoist Gu broke through to the Core Formation Realm half a year ago and should still be at the Lower Core Formation Realm. Her cultivation method is likely the 'Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Art' from Mysterious Maiden Peak, and she specializes in using a long spear..."

While Xiao Lin read the report, Lu Xingqiu didn't idle, highlighting what he considered important.

"Oh, she's also at the Lower Core Formation Realm, and she just broke through six months ago, while I've been solidifying my foundation for two and a half years. This time, I have the advantage!" Xiao Lin chuckled as he read the report.

"Senior Brother, don't be complacent." Lu Xingqiu rarely spoke against Xiao Lin's opinion.