Chapter 148 — Anesthetic Faint

" The ox looked as though thirty thunderbolts had struck it in succession; it stood there woodenly, its soul flown, and then suddenly burst into loud wailing. Snow Fox hurried up to comfort him. "There, there, male or female makes no difference; she never liked you anyway. And besides, if she did like you, you would be even worse off.

" Libationer Bashan shook his head and led them out of the Grand Academy and out of the capital.

Suddenly the ox crouched low and a muffled roar came from its throat; then the body beneath its hide began to bang and thud, bones growing at furious speed, muscles swelling and shuddering outward, hide and hair sprouting wildly. Standing, he had been as tall as two or three men; now he revealed his true form, vaster still, his body more than ten times larger, his hands turned to hooves, smoke jetting from his nostrils, wind rising beneath his feet. Libationer Bashan had Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu climb onto the ox's back and slung their bundles there as well.

"Second Prince, see us no further. Go back! " Libationer Bashan looked at Ling Yushu, who had escorted them all the way out of the capital, and smiled.

"Nothing will go wrong.

Go back.

" Ling Yushu, his face bitter, waved to Ling Yuxiu. She was talking with Shen Mu; that muddle-headed lad had said something or other, and Ling Yuxiu giggled and punched the youth in the chest.

Ling Yushu felt as though his own chest had taken a heavy blow, and his belly was full of stifled anger. The azure ox stretched out its four legs, wind whistling under its feet, and galloped into the distance, leaving him far behind. Snow Fox sat in the curved tip of one horn, her pure white fur streaming backward in the headwind; the two horn tips curled into rings, so that she could sit at ease within them without being blown away.

The little fox asked curiously, "Ox Two, so you even know how to command the wind.

" The ox laughed.

"Commanding wind is no great feat. I am of dragon breed myself; to ride wind and thunder is an inborn gift. Look at my hide and you will see.

My coat is all blue-green; am I not much like the Azure Dragon?

My ancestor was the Azure Dragon himself, no little monster like you can compare! " He was very proud; this bloodline set him far apart from other strange beasts. Should he meet another, the mere awe of his dragon majesty would make it meek and obedient. Snow Fox stroked the top of his head.

The ox hide was glossy and gleaming, extremely thick, its defense formidable, and the dragon scales on his neck shone dazzlingly. She could not help praising him.

"Ox Two, this hide of yours must be worth a good deal of money. " The ox stumbled in its stride and hastily shut its mouth, thinking, This sworn sister of mine is a ruthless one too. Her master wants to eat me, and she wants to strip my hide and sell it for money.

Ferocious! Truly ferocious by nature! I, Ox, am simple and kindhearted; best keep away from these wicked folk. Only, she got me drunk and I bowed to her as my sister, and fell into her cunning snare. .

.

Ling Yuxiu turned her head and said to Libationer Bashan, "Teacher, where are we going for our training?

" "Beyond the Frontier. " Libationer Bashan was reading the scrolls handed up by Shen Mu and by her, studying them one after another, and answered without raising his head, "The Man-Di Kingdom.

" Ling Yuxiu was startled.

"The Man-Di Kingdom?

" She had long since heard of the savagery of the Man-Di battlefield, beyond all imagining. Something stirred in Shen Mu; he looked at Libationer Bashan and said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, have you found word of where Grandpa Tu's lower half is?

" Libationer Bashan nodded. "Master's lower half was carried off by a small sect. That small sect was destroyed by the Man-Di Kingdom's shaman faith, the Loulan Golden Palace, so Master's lower half must now be in the hands of the Loulan Golden Palace.

" Shen Mu breathed a sigh of relief; no wonder Libationer Bashan had chosen the Man-Di Kingdom.

Yet a doubt remained in his heart: why would the Loulan Golden Palace destroy that small sect and carry off the Butcher's lower half? The azure ox ran westward, and before long came to the bank of the Tu River; treading upon the water, it ran upstream.

The author will from time to time come into the group to chat with all you brothers!