C54 Berserk Golden Rhino

The Berserk Golden Rhino, a Fourth Level Spiritual Beast, charged with such ferocity that even cultivators at the Profound Break Stage had to steer clear of its path.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Its hooves struck the ground like hammers, shattering rocks and sending shards flying.

Members of the Yuan, Yu, and Zhao families, all from Darkmoon City, swiftly cleared a path for the rampaging beast at Yuan Lianyao's command.

"Yu Yuan! Move!"

Yuan Ting's voice boomed.

"I am moving!"

Yu Yuan dodged repeatedly, yet the Berserk Golden Rhino seemed to be deliberately adjusting its trajectory towards him.

The gap between them closed rapidly!

"Damn!"

Yu Yuan was getting frustrated. At his current Pulse Opening Stage, a collision with the Berserk Golden Rhino meant certain death.

His eyes darted about, desperate for a solution.

Yuan Lianyao, sensing trouble, called out sharply, "Yan Lu!"

The robust young man, not riding but standing atop the Berserk Golden Rhino, snapped to attention at her cry.

His gaze shifted from the Luan Bird in the sky to Yu Yuan with curiosity.

The Berserk Golden Rhino charged on!

Trapped with no escape to the left or right, Yu Yuan's eyes sparked with an idea, and he quickly pressed closer to Yuan Lianyao.

The beast, seizing the opportunity, veered in their direction, barreling straight towards them.

"You jerk!"

Despite her curses, Yuan Lianyao channeled her Spiritual Energy, releasing fire lotuses to rapidly erect a barrier before her.

"Don't be mad, sister. You're the only one here who can withstand the impact of a Fourth Level Berserk Golden Rhino."

Yu Yuan shamelessly cowered behind her, his hands bracing against her back, effectively using her as a human shield.

Without Yuan Lianyao to protect him, he was out of options in the face of imminent danger.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" Yuan Lianyao seethed with anger.

"I can't, I'm worried you'll dodge out of the way," Yu Yuan replied, gripping her clothes even tighter, fearing she might slip away if he loosened his hold.

Yuan Lianyao's mastery of the Penetrating Stage meant she could move away in an instant, which was to be expected.

"Damn it!"

Frustrated beyond measure, Yuan Lianyao pointed her finger, and a flurry of red lotuses burst forth.

She was clearly intent on striking first.

"Freeze!"

In that moment, the youth atop the Berserk Golden Rhino slammed his foot down.

The maddened Berserk Golden Rhino, which had lost all sense, miraculously came to its senses. Its massive golden eyes whirled, halting its frenzied charge.

The earth had been furrowed into stone trails by the rampaging beast.

Now, the Berserk Golden Rhino seemed puzzled, eyeing Yu Yuan as it tried to piece together the reason for its sudden frenzy.

"Huff! Huff! Huff!"

The lotuses unleashed by Yuan Lianyao also hung suspended in the air at this crucial juncture.

"City Lord Yuan, my apologies for the oversight." Yan Lu said with a furrowed brow. "Is that brother, the one taking shelter behind you, also from the Yuan clan?"

His expression was undisguised contempt.

Hiding behind a woman? Hardly the mark of a man.

"No, he's from the Yu family of Darkmoon City," Yuan Lianyao replied, then turned and glared at Yu Yuan, demanding, "Will you let go already?"

"Don't be mad, sister. I really am scared to death," Yu Yuan said with a sheepish grin, finally stepping away from her. "Hey, Yan, if you can't control your beast, don't parade it around, making a spectacle of yourself! If not for my quick thinking, I might've been trampled to death by your creature!"

"Brother Yu, you're impressive," Zhao Yafu commended. "You even dared to rebuke Yan Lu!"

Yu Feifei spoke up timidly, "That man, he's from the Yan family of the Empire, isn't he?"

"That's right, Yan Lu, one of the Empire's Five New Moons," Zhao Yafu whispered back, "An incredibly arrogant man, but undeniably skilled."

"I noticed," Yu Feifei murmured, "My brother, he won't be in trouble, will he?"

"Not at the moment, but once we reach the trial's forbidden area, it's hard to say," Zhao Yafu replied.

"Rest assured, I'll discipline my Yan family's spirit beast properly!" Yan Lu frowned in secret, unable to fathom Yu Yuan's thoughts. "Even without City Lord Yuan's intervention, I can restrain it. It won't be the death of you."

"So, was it your intention to have your creature intimidate me just now?" Yu Yuan's expression chilled.

"I'm simply curious as to why it singled you out," Yan Lu huffed. "Even in a berserk state, it wouldn't randomly charge at someone. There's something about you—some scent or object—that's setting it off."

Yu Yuan paused, his brow creasing. "How am I supposed to know?"

"Let's drop it." Yan Lu ceased his questioning and offered a fist-and-palm salute to Yuan Lianyao as an apology. "I'm pressed for time, so I must take my leave."

Once again, the Berserk Golden Rhino lifted its hooves and made its way toward the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area.

"Oh, by the way, what's your name? Are you also here for the Forbidden Area Trial?"

After the Berserk Golden Rhino had passed Yuan Lianyao and Yu Yuan, Yan Lu suddenly turned back to ask Yu Yuan.

"From Darkmoon City, of the Yu family—I'm Yu Yuan. I look forward to your guidance." Yu Yuan replied with a forced smile.

"Yu Yuan, Yu Yuan, of Darkmoon's Yu family..." Yan Lu mused, his eyes brightening, his expression turning curious. "Lim Zhuyun's betrothed?"

"Indeed, that is me," Yu Yuan responded with a bow.

"Heh, how intriguing," Yan Lu nodded thoughtfully, murmuring to himself, "What's the story with the Lim family's betrothed? The Forbidden Area is bound to be quite entertaining."

As he spoke, the Berserk Golden Rhino picked up speed and soon vanished from sight.

"Berserk Golden Rhino..."

Watching the golden rhino disappear, Yu Yuan smirked slightly. "Seems its sense of smell is even keener when it's berserk."

"What was that?" Yuan Lianyao inquired, puzzled.

"Nothing important." Yu Yuan's interest in the Forbidden Area Trial was piqued. "Oh, one more thing—can I bring a spirit beast with me into the trial?"

"Absolutely not," Yuan Lianyao replied, giving him a look of disbelief. "Allowing Fourth Level spirit beasts like the Luan Bird or Berserk Golden Rhino would completely disrupt the trial's balance."

"Oh," Yu Yuan expressed, tinged with a hint of regret. "What a shame."

"You're not seriously considering messing with that Berserk Golden Rhino, are you?" Yuan Lianyao asked, her voice laced with concern. "I'd strongly advise against it. That Fourth Level Berserk Golden Rhino has been with Yan Lu since it was young. If anything were to happen to that creature, Yan Lu wouldn't let you off the hook."

"Is he more formidable than Lim Zhuyun or Su Yan?" Yu Yuan countered. "More troublesome than that An family girl?"

Yuan Lianyao paused, taken aback, then advised, "Try to keep a low profile and stay out of trouble during the Forbidden Area Trial, will you? I don't want to be left cleaning up your messes."

Yu Yuan's words left her fretting over the fate of those participating in the trial. After all, hadn't Yinn Jue, Lu Yue, and members of the Huang family met their ends in Darkmoon City, directly or indirectly at the hands of Yu Yuan? And hadn't Ann Ziqing of the Yin God Stage ultimately been bested by him?

Yan Lu, having encountered Yu Yuan in the Forbidden Area Trial, might find himself in a dire predicament.

...

Approaching the ring-shaped archway, the Berserk Golden Rhino finally decelerated.

Its hooves no longer shattered the stones beneath them as they touched the ground.

In silence, Yan Lu employed a secret method to reach out to the Fourth Level Berserk Golden Rhino's mind.

Though incapable of transformation or speech, the spirit beast still held a rudimentary, instinctual consciousness.

Yan Lu pressed himself against its golden hide, tuning in with his heart.

"Fear?"

"Is it fear that makes you so agitated, driving your instinct to attack him, to muster your strength and charge with the intent to kill?"

"What about him, what thing, instills such fear in you?"

After a moment, Yan Lu straightened, his expression steely as he cast frequent glances back.

"Just a Yu family member from Darkmoon City. If I'm not mistaken, his cultivation is merely at the Pulse Opening Stage!"

Despite his words, Yan Lu had shed all underestimation of Yu Yuan, recognizing him as a formidable contender in the Forbidden Area Trial.

"Darkmoon City's Yu Yuan!"

He trusted the instincts of the spirit beast that had been his constant companion.

He was aware that his current level of cultivation and lack of experience might lead to errors in his judgment.

Yet, the instincts and olfactory prowess of the Berserk Golden Rhino were infallible!

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