Chapter 19: The Cave Beast Priest, Dead!

“Red fur? That makes me curious about who your mother is, to be compared to the Cave God.” The Cave Beast Priest spoke.

There was no trace of brutality or ambition in the priest’s expression; instead, he possessed a lively intelligence, almost human-like.

“You haven’t lost your sanity?” Chu Danqing interjected.

“How could I lose my reason and still perform rituals for my father, the Cave God?” The Cave Beast Priest chuckled lightly. “At the very beginning, I truly had no reason.”

“I must thank Xianghua Village—they created enough guardians to protect the village.”

“I devoured too many of my brothers and sisters, and the Cave God’s bloodline within them gradually forged my wisdom.”

“That’s why I’m curious—how have you managed to keep your sanity?” The Cave Beast Priest squatted down, a teasing look in his eyes.

At that moment, Chu Danqing seemed to understand the cause and effect: “So every time you fought Dabao, you never actually intended to kill him.”

“Yes, I need his bloodline to fully awaken. Otherwise, even if I devoured him, it would be meaningless.” The Cave Beast Priest licked his claws.

Without showing any emotion, Chu Danqing pulled out the Howl of the White Dragon Fish and tossed it to Dabao.

The Cave Beast Priest’s eyes lit up at the sight. “A weapon? How intriguing.”

“But our claws are truly the weapons best suited for us.”

Dabao had given him too many surprises.

In the next instant, Dabao activated the active effect of the Howl of the White Dragon Fish—the power of the White Dragon Fish—adding five points of strength to himself.

Afterward, he threw it back to Chu Danqing and suddenly launched an attack on the Cave Beast Priest.

During this, Dabao also activated his own skill, the Ripping Claws.

Bloodrage power instantly covered his body, especially the claws on his hands and feet, which glowed with a crimson radiance.

“A very peculiar power, somewhat similar to that fish with rare dragon blood, but you still...” The Cave Beast Priest rose with confidence to counterattack.

But when Dabao’s claws struck him, he realized his arrogance was misplaced.

With a strength attribute as high as twelve points, the Cave Beast Priest could not withstand the blow. A large chunk of flesh was torn from him, blood gushing forth.

Not only was he wounded on the first clash, but he was also afflicted with a bleeding status.

This meant the Cave Beast Priest was about to face Dabao, who had the passive skill Bloodthirsty Pursuit active.

Frustrated, the Cave Beast Priest unleashed his ferocity, baring his fangs as he lunged to bite Dabao’s shoulder.

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But Dabao’s speed was no slower. His Ripping Claws pierced through the Cave Beast Priest’s chest.

This was physical damage plus tearing damage plus bleeding damage, with the lifesteal effect triggering and further intensifying the bleeding.

And this was only the skill effect. Within Dabao’s Bloodthirsty Fury talent, there was an effect that increased damage dealt to enemies with lower health.

Though the Cave Beast Priest tore a large chunk of flesh from Dabao’s shoulder, the lifesteal effect rapidly generated granulation tissue to begin repairing the wound.

Instead, when Dabao retracted his claws, the Cave Beast Priest suffered severe trauma and was barely able to stand.

The entire exchange lasted less than thirty seconds. Without other means, the Cave Beast Priest’s fate was sealed.

Swallowing the flesh torn from Dabao’s shoulder, the Cave Beast Priest’s expression showed satisfaction: “The blood carries the taste of rage—it is truly delicious.”

“So this is the new power you’ve gained.”

“But after all, it carries the bloodline of my father, so...” As the Cave Beast Priest’s voice trailed off, a crimson aura appeared around him.

Though compared to the one on Dabao, it seemed very faint.

“I have it too.”

The crimson aura flowed to the Cave Beast Priest’s claws. Ignoring his injuries, he lunged at Dabao once more.

The two clashed again.

Chu Danqing watched closely and sensed danger.

Although the Cave Beast Priest hadn’t fully acquired Dabao’s talents and skills—only a simplified version—his combat experience and intelligence far surpassed Dabao’s.

Dabao fought purely on beast instinct, relying on reflexes.

Naturally, he was inferior in skill and talent application.

More importantly, a minute had passed, and the five extra strength points granted by the White Dragon Fish’s power had vanished.

Thus, Dabao’s strength attribute was now lower than the Cave Beast Priest’s—though only by about one point at most.

“Father, I am your most loyal offspring!” The Cave Beast Priest bit a chunk of flesh from Dabao but had the skin on one hand torn off in return.

Chu Danqing had thought this was just a declaration of loyalty, but clearly, the Cave Beast Priest was not so idle as to say such things mid-battle.

As the words left his mouth, the Cave Beast Priest’s fur began to swell, his body inflating like a balloon, and his strength grew accordingly.

His wounds visibly began to heal.

Clearly, he had used some skill—likely a trump card.

With his health declining and bleeding worsening, Dabao’s damage and lifesteal effects were increasingly potent, forcing the Cave Beast Priest’s hand.

Though he grew stronger, he paid a price.

He completely lost his sanity, becoming a beast driven by instinct. His sharp teeth and claws struck with abandon, and a single blow dropped Dabao’s health to a perilous 20%.

Chu Danqing’s face grew anxious, then saw Dabao’s passive skill, Beast Instinct, activate a berserk state, losing reason as well.

All his attributes temporarily increased by one point.

“On the Cave Beast Priest, it’s an active skill; on Dabao, it mutated into a passive one.”

“And both are utterly ruthless...” Chu Danqing quickly grabbed the mule and ran aside.

Just by looking at their ferocious forms and expressions, it was clear staying here was unwise.

Dabao’s berserk would end once his health recovered to 30%. With his lifesteal, that would happen quickly.

But the Cave Beast Priest—Chu Danqing had no idea what state he was in.

Once at a safe distance, Chu Danqing opened Dabao’s status panel to observe his health.

His health fluctuated wildly like a roller coaster, rising and falling between 20% and 30%, with the swings growing faster.

Five minutes later, it began a steady increase.

This meant the battle was over.

Yet Chu Danqing did not leave immediately but waited until Dabao’s health reached 31% before driving the mule cart back.

Dabao held an excellent-grade treasure chest in his left hand, while with the other he feasted on the Cave Beast Priest, whose body was torn to the point that not a single piece of good flesh remained.

His eating was rapid; by the time Chu Danqing returned, the Cave Beast Priest’s head and half his chest had vanished.

It was precisely this feeding that allowed his health to recover so quickly.