The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 604: Star Beast Blocking the Path

Ji You looked at Sheng Qingyan, who was hiding behind her, somewhat speechlessly: "Why are you hiding behind me?"

Sheng Qingyan, with no sense of shame, said: "I’m so scared, I feel safe only behind a big shot."

Ji You’s gaze drifted downward, stopping at Sheng Qingyan’s hand that was clutching the corner of her mecha with a mechanical arm, her eyes sharp as a falcon: "Then why are you pulling on my mecha?"

After a profound demonstration of what it meant to have a thick skin, Sheng Qingyan didn’t retract her hand but gripped it even tighter, saying: "I said I’m scared, I have to be next to the big shot to feel safe."

Ji You: "..."

Ji You took a deep breath and said: "If you keep this up, be careful I might kill a teammate!"

Everyone: "Cough..."

Sheng Qingyan pouted and said: "You really have the heart to kill me when I’m this cute? Go on, kill me, kill me, kill me..."

Ji You’s finger twitched, desperately restraining the hand ready to pull the trigger...

Chu Jiaojiao quickly stepped in, saying: "Rag Queen, stay calm! Stay very calm! Do not, under any circumstances, kill a teammate."

Ji You inhaled, exhaled, inhaled...

After repeating this about three times, she managed to control her foolish impulse: "Little Cutie, let me tell you, don’t try to test my patience again, or I’ll show you what it means to be fried Little Cutie, steamed Little Cutie, braised Little Cutie..."

Sheng Qingyan shivered all over, his fingers unwillingly relaxing a bit.

Ji You immediately sped up, to get away from this nuisance.

Then—

Turning her head, she realized Sheng Qingyan was once again hiding behind her, completely—clingier than a plaster!

Ji You was already too exhausted to point out the absurdity, and too tired to argue with Sheng Qingyan any longer.

The team headed once again towards Yunding Peak, bathed in the light of a star, the miasma and toxic vapors at the foot of Yunding Peak dissipated quite a bit, with Xuzhou and Zhang Ye still scouting ahead...

Suddenly, Zhang Ye sent a message: "Around 5000 meters away, there’s a Star Beast, estimated to be above level 7!"

As soon as the words fell—

"Not good!"

"It’s spotted us." Zhang Ye rolled on the spot, hiding in a crevice.

Shen Changqing issued a timely order: "Zhang Ye and Xuzhou hide, everyone else retreat!"

...

Soon, with the intelligence passed back by Zhang Ye, the team quickly deduced that it was a Peak Eagle, with exceptional eyesight. Its sharp beak and talons could even tear through some of the Alliance’s standard mecha, plus, its wings fully spread were like a small tornado—encountering a Peak Eagle above level 5 in the depths of space is more terrifying than an encounter with a small pirate gang...

This was enough to show that the Peak Eagle was not easy to deal with.

Peak Eagles have another trait; they are solitary, but extremely belligerent and combative. Once they engage in battle, it’s generally a fight to the death!

So—

When encountering a Peak Eagle in the wild, or in space, it’s best not to disturb it, not to conflict with it...

Shen Changqing, Chu Jiaojiao, Yue Qiyuan, Lou, Lance... everyone looked at each other, their faces far from optimistic.

After a silence, Lou asked: "Now that a Peak Eagle is in our way, what do we do?"

The path to the top of the peak was completely blocked.

Peak Eagles have incredible vision and a strong sense of territory. It seems that this half of Yunding Peak has been marked as its territory. If Ji You and the others attempt to climb recklessly, they’ll surely be attacked.

When Lou raised this question, everyone fell silent, no one made a sound.

Lance tentatively suggested, "Detour?"

Shen Changqing shook his head and said, "Detouring isn’t really feasible. I guess the other side is also within the Peak Eagle’s territory."

Yue Qiguang furrowed his brows and said, "What should we do then? How about this, I’ll go alone and see whether it’s the eagle that’s awesome or my cannon fire."

Upon hearing this, everyone facepalmed, seeming somewhat unwilling to acknowledge Yue Qiguang as a teammate.

Then, a prolonged silence followed.

Chu Jiaojiao seemed eager to try, saying, "Otherwise, I’ll really go with Yue Qiguang to test it out. What if we can actually beat the Peak Eagle?"

Shen Changqing directly shook his head: "No way! Starting a battle with it will make too much noise and could easily draw the attention of other teams."

...

By this time, people realized that this Peak Eagle must be one of the challenges set by the contest organizers for the students.

Ji You’s team could certainly kill the Peak Eagle, but the problem was that as soon as they engaged, it would surely attract the attention of other teams, potentially allowing others to reap the benefits without effort.

So, should Ji You and his team pay such a high price to take action against this Peak Eagle?

As everyone seemed to be at a loss, Shen Changqing and Ji You spoke at the same time, "In that case..."

Shen Changqing said, "You go first."

Ji You raised his hand to his chin and said, "Since that’s the case, let’s not climb the peak. Instead, let’s set up an ambush at the foot of the mountain and let other teams engage the Peak Eagle."

Shen Changqing said, "I’m afraid that might not work. If other teams engage with the Peak Eagle, we could easily get caught in the crossfire."

Peak Eagles are not only powerful flyers, but their perception is also extremely sharp, especially when it comes to sensing humans. It’s basically impossible to hide and take advantage of the situation without attracting its attention.

Ji You asked, "Then what’s your plan?"

Shen Changqing pondered for a moment, then said, "My plan is, both ’Dominate the Universe’ and I are Talents with S-level mental power; facing the Peak Eagle, we should have some chance of winning. Thus, ’Dominate the Universe’ and I will draw it away temporarily, while the rest of you seize the opportunity to climb the mountain."

If we can carefully conceal our spiritual power and prevent the Spiritual Network and Magnetic Field around us from dispersing, there is a good possibility of ascending the mountain without alerting the Peak Eagle.

Lou frowned and said, "If you two encounter even the slightest mishap, our team is finished."

S-level spiritual power wielders are even rarer than S-level Physiques and often play a decisive role in any team; whether in the Alliance’s Legions or other forces, as soon as they enter the battlefield, the presence of Spiritual Talents is absolutely essential.

Yue Qiyuan said, "Xiaoqing and I joining forces should not pose a problem."

Ji You shook his head and said, "Don’t say ’should’! Once you enter the battlefield, there should only be two answers: can do, cannot do!"

Hesitation and ambiguity are definitely big taboos on the battlefield!

Suddenly—

Zhang Ye sent a message: "It’s bad news; that Peak Eagle seems to have spotted Little Zhouzhou and me."

Shen Changqing’s eyes darkened as he said, "Don’t take any rash actions; we’ll come to support you right away."

Zhang Ye said, "If it really comes down to it, just give up on Little Zhouzhou and me."