Chapter Twenty-One

Both of them looked at Tao Jiaojiao with a hint of pity. Her first contracted monster was only a vessel with transportation abilities—no wonder she had failed to advance. To score impressively in the entrance exam scenario, one needed real strength; unless luck was overwhelmingly on your side, there was simply no way through.

The White Bird hopped energetically in front of Tao Jiaojiao. Cheng Yuan glanced at the White Bird and asked, "What about this one?" Tao Jiaojiao stroked its head and replied confidently, "Golden-Tailed Icefinch. It specializes in area damage skills. With it, coupled with the Evercrossing Vessel, I can directly deny airspace."

Cheng Yuan applauded immediately. "That’s a brilliant strategy." He could see that her plan was highly feasible. The Golden-Tailed Icefinch was a rare and beautiful bird—if the Pegasus tribe were mere showpieces, then the Icefinch was a crystal cannon: dazzling yet powerful, but fragile. It had another name—Curse Mage Bird.

The Golden-Tailed Icefinch easily mastered large-scale skills regardless of their attributes. If raised well, it deserved the mage title; if not, it was little more than a scratcher. The Evercrossing Vessel ensured survival, and with the Icefinch perched like artillery, it became an airborne warship. She aimed to build her own monster battle system around this, supplementing and strengthening it as needed—a promising future indeed.

Just as the three were chatting enthusiastically, a strange pressure suddenly descended, leaving them all stunned, as if a heavy stone pressed upon their hearts. Their eyes lit up—something big was coming.

They held their breath, and in an instant, Cheng Yuan felt an incomparable force transmitted through his fishing rod. Before he could react, with a whoosh, he was pulled straight into the water. Luckily, Cheng Zelong reacted quickly, grabbing Cheng Yuan’s leg mid-submersion.

As Cheng Yuan struggled, he saw rows of gray-white eyes beneath the water. Immense force from the rod tried to drag him into the depths.

Cheng Zelong sensed this power and immediately shouted to the Jade Jiao on the boat, "Get in the water and fight, restrain it!" A dragon’s roar sounded, and the Jade Jiao dove in, its nictitating membrane opening. It soon spotted its adversary—a creature of equal strength. The Jade Jiao lashed its tail and charged, sending waves surging. The enemy sensed the arrival of a rival and ceased moving.

It roared at the Jade Jiao, and Cheng Zelong seized the opportunity to haul Cheng Yuan out, then took the rope Tao Jiaojiao had prepared and fastened the fishing rod to the vessel. Only then did he turn to Cheng Yuan, who understood Cheng Zelong’s intent and wiped himself dry as he explained, "I saw a body like a plesiosaur, with a head covered in countless eyes."

A plesiosaur? The finned monsters were formidable, but normally, plesiosaur-type creatures didn’t have so many eyes—quite strange. Not being able to identify the monster’s species was a serious mistake. Cheng Zelong’s plan was simple: no matter what, first clarify the monster’s type.

He said to Tao Jiaojiao, "Fly up—let the Evercrossing Vessel ascend."

Tao Jiaojiao immediately understood and ordered, "Evercrossing Vessel, take off!" The hull gradually rose, tightening the fishing line. Minutes later, underwater, the Jade Jiao and the monster were locked in a biting duel. The monster began to be pulled upward by a force. The Jade Jiao, experienced in battle, seized the chance, clawing the monster’s head and shattering numerous eyes. The pain forced the monster to release the Jade Jiao’s tail, freeing it to dive deeper.

Meanwhile, blood bubbled up from below. The trio in the air grew tense—Cheng Yuan worried his fishing line would snap, Tao Jiaojiao was anxious about how to assist, and Cheng Zelong was concerned about losing sight of the situation. As fragments of white eyeballs floated to the surface, Cheng Zelong realized the tide was turning in their favor.

He said, "Have the Golden-Tailed Icefinch ready its skill—aim for the surface, preferably ice-type." Tao Jiaojiao commanded, "Prepare Icewind, target the water’s surface."

The Icefinch soared, its wings beating as shards of ice began to swirl between them. Cheng Yuan noticed the shadow in the water expanding. "It’s coming." "I know."

With a mournful wail, a stretch of gray-blue skin broke through the surface. "Release!" A blast of icy wind swept across, briefly freezing the water. Ice crystals hit the gray-blue skin, and immediately ice shards began to "grow" from its