Chapter 154: Strange Beast Devours Kun

However, Stone Kun's subordinates had already prepared their defenses. Of the remaining five, the four strongest moved to intercept him, while the weakest one administered medicine to Stone Kun.

Having previously witnessed Zu An's elusive movements and swift sword techniques, they dared not be careless this time. Each of them wielded their weapons defensively, aiming only to protect themselves rather than attack.

Zu An charged several times but was ultimately unsuccessful. Given that each of his opponents had a higher cultivation level than him, a direct clash of weapons made it extremely difficult for him to break through their defenses.

By then, the remaining subordinate had retrieved the medicine and handed it to Stone Kun. Stone Kun was in such agonizing pain that tears and snot streamed down his face; he would have unhesitatingly accepted any suggestion, even eating dirt, if it promised relief.

He quickly poured the pills into his mouth. After a short while, the intense pain truly began to subside. Although still present, it was now barely within a tolerable range.

"How do you have medicine like that?" Stone Kun asked, his face drenched in sweat, hair plastered damply against his skin. His gaze at Qiao Xueying held a mix of approval and surprise.

Qiao Xueying glanced at Zu An, her face slightly flushed. "I've had stomach pains before, so I keep some medicine ready for emergencies," she explained.

Her previous experience had left her with lingering unease, especially given the unknown cause of her pain. Therefore, she had specifically paid a substantial sum to obtain the Pain-Relieving and Calming Pill from Divine Doctor Ji, hoping to prevent a recurrence. She hadn't anticipated it actually coming in handy.

Zu An was dumbfounded; his skill had been countered in such an unexpected way!

Had he forgotten to check the almanac before leaving today? This was a truly painful loss!

His "Close to a Billion" skill had wasted 100,000 taels of silver, and "Trust Brother Chun" hadn't worked as expected. Now, another precious use of "Stare and Impregnate" had been squandered.

He had used several skills in a row; if their crisis had been resolved, it would have been acceptable. However, not only had the skills failed to take effect, but their danger still lingered. This was an absolute bloodbath!

Since Stone Kun had recovered, Zu An dared not press forward and swiftly retreated to Chu Chuyan's side. Chu Chuyan and Qiao Xueying also tacitly ceased their combat.

"Well done!" Stone Kun exclaimed, clutching his stomach. His face was pale, and he still felt a lingering sense of dread.

"Brother Ri, congratulations on becoming the first pregnant man in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty," Zu An's voice rang out. "Now that you've experienced the agony of childbirth, do you feel an even greater appreciation for the greatness of mothers? Will you be more filial from now on?" He had suffered a major loss this time, so earning some rage points to offset it was a small consolation.

"Was that your trick just now?" Stone Kun's expression changed as he recalled the recent pain. "Wait, what do you mean by 'pregnant'?"

Rage points from Stone Kun +233!

"Isn't it obvious?" Zu An asked with a hint of curiosity. "The excruciating pain in your stomach just now—weren't those the symptoms of pregnancy and childbirth? I'm genuinely curious, though: as a man, you shouldn't have a uterus, so where exactly did that pain originate?"

Stone Kun: "..."

The pain just now had indeed been his doing. The mere thought of that hellish experience sent a surge of anger to Stone Kun's head.

Rage points from Stone Kun +1024!

Qiao Xueying was equally stunned, realizing that it truly felt like pregnancy. The thought of being "impregnated" by this obnoxious person made her face flush crimson.

Rage points from Qiao Xueying +1024!

"I'll kill you!" Stone Kun roared, veins bulging on his hands as dense wind blades once again gathered around him.

Zu An neither dodged nor retreated; instead, he stepped forward. "What, do you want to experience pregnancy again?" he challenged.

At his words, the memory of that excruciating, life-draining pain flashed through Stone Kun's mind. His aura instantly destabilized in fear, and the wind blades around him dispersed. "You... how did you do that!" he stammered.

Zu An smiled faintly. "This skill of mine is called 'Stare and Impregnate'," he explained. "Once activated, anyone I look at will experience the 'joy' of pregnancy. So, who among you would like to try?"

Wherever his gaze fell, not only Stone Kun but also his subordinates involuntarily took several steps back. What normal man would ever wish to experience pregnancy?

Even Qiao Xueying, being a woman, underwent several changes of expression. Among everyone present, she was likely the only one who could truly understand Stone Kun's feelings, as she had experienced that agonizing, life-draining sensation herself.

"Nonsense! How can there be such... such a bizarre skill in this world?" Stone Kun's voice trembled uncontrollably as he spoke, clearly still reeling from the unforgettable trauma of the recent encounter.

"Didn't you just experience it yourself? If you don't believe it, want to try it again?" Zu An asked, taking another step forward.

The entire group, as one, took another step back, continuously waving their hands in refusal.

"If there's nothing else, then we'll be leaving," Zu An said, taking Chu Chuyan's hand. "Wife, let's go."

Chu Chuyan remained somewhat dazed. Everything that had just transpired felt utterly unbelievable—a skill that could make someone pregnant?

Did that mean he could make *her* pregnant anytime he wished?

At this thought, Chu Chuyan's pretty face flushed, and she chided herself for her absurd thoughts.

Just then, her expression abruptly changed. With a wave of her hand, another ice shield rose behind them, deflecting countless wind blades with a clattering sound.

Zu An spun around abruptly, realizing that Stone Kun and his subordinates had already caught up.

"Hahaha, you almost had me fooled," Stone Kun said, a mocking smile appearing on his face.

Zu An's face darkened. "What, do you really want to experience pregnancy again? Even if you have medicine, there wouldn't be enough for all of you, would there?"

The moment he spoke, all of Stone Kun's subordinates, except for Qiao Xueying, changed their expressions. They began to wonder if their young master would give them medicine should they truly be affected by the skill. The young master and Miss Qiao would certainly be provided for, but it would be difficult for the rest of them.

Stone Kun snorted. "Don't be intimidated by him. There's no such thing as a pregnancy skill in this world. Even if there were, it would surely come at an enormous cost with each use. Otherwise, given his vengeful nature, why would he have let us off just now? He could have simply looked at each of us to render us helpless; why would he waste so much breath talking?"

Zu An's expression subtly changed. He had underestimated this individual; to have cultivated to such a level at a young age and to command so many personal guards truly showed he was no ordinary person.

Although he could use "Stare and Impregnate" one more time, his opponents still had many people and pain relievers. It would be a complete waste to use the skill on them.

He shouldn't act impulsively; it would be better to save the skill for future use against others. It was highly unlikely that everyone else would coincidentally carry pain relievers.

Chu Chuyan stepped forward, shielding him behind her, and coldly eyed Stone Kun. "The previous battle hasn't determined a winner yet. Let's continue," she stated.

Stone Kun's expression changed. "Your aura... why do you seem completely unharmed?"

From their recent exchange, he knew that under normal circumstances, he was no match for her. Moreover, having just been struck by "Stare and Impregnate," his limbs still felt weak, making victory utterly impossible.

Someone quickly informed him that Zu An had just given her medicine. Stone Kun then gave Zu An a profound look. "I must admit, my initial assessment of you as a negligible good-for-nothing was entirely mistaken," he stated. "Now, it's clear you possess so many extraordinary abilities; I absolutely cannot allow you to live."

The more exceptional his opponent was, the greater the chance of him winning Chu Chuyan's heart and devotion. Furthermore, even setting Chu Chuyan aside, to incur the enmity of such an unpredictable genius meant he had to be eliminated while still weak; otherwise, his growth would pose an immense danger.

"Isn't your tone a bit too confident, sir?" Chu Chuyan remarked, frowning slightly. Her injuries had significantly recovered, and Stone Kun's current condition was also poor. Even if he and Qiao Xueying teamed up, she was confident she could hold them off.

As for the remaining individuals, they had just witnessed Zu An's extraordinary movement technique. While her side might not necessarily win a full-blown fight, they wouldn't easily lose either. However, the absolute certainty in his opponent's tone filled her with unease.

"Indeed, in my current state, defeating you is quite unlikely. At any other time, perhaps we would have shaken hands and called a truce," Stone Kun paused, his gaze settling on Zu An. "But this fellow possesses too many strange abilities. I must eliminate him at all costs."

"Come forth, exotic beast—Devouring Kun!"

Stone Kun held his ring high, chanting obscure incantations. Then, the ring flashed with a gray light, and an immense, overwhelming pressure descended.

His surrounding subordinates trembled, completely overwhelmed by the mighty pressure; they collapsed to their knees, unable to rise. A circle of green light shimmered around Qiao Xueying, allowing her to barely stand her ground with great effort.

Zu An fared no better; the sudden pressure made his breathing shallow and rapid. It felt as though he carried a colossal mountain on his back, making his bones audibly creak.

Even those at the fourth rank couldn't withstand it and knelt. How could he, merely at the third rank, possibly endure? However, having lived two lives, an unyielding spirit resided within him; he might accept help, but kneeling was absolutely out of the question.

Yet, often, in the face of absolute power, even the strongest will is helpless to change the outcome.

Just as he was about to collapse, a cool, soft hand gripped his, and all the pressure on him instantly vanished.

A familiar blue light shield rose around them both. Chu Chuyan had once again activated her Blue Guardian.

Though it was broad daylight, the sky suddenly darkened. He looked up, and his expression instantly shifted dramatically.

A colossal beast, approximately a hundred meters long and entirely dull gray, floated in the sky. Its body resembled a massive whale, yet it looked far more ferocious, with two blood-red eyes glowing ominously. Its gargantuan mouth, large enough to swallow the sky, and countless gleaming, chilling teeth were enough to terrify any creature to its core.

As he observed the numerous fleshy tentacles dangling from its mouth, a flicker of doubt crossed Zu An's eyes. Why did this creature bear such a striking resemblance to the various Kuns he remembered from web game advertisements in his previous life?

"This pressure, is it Ninth Rank?" Chu Chuyan's face was deathly pale. "No, the pressure is Ninth Rank, but its actual power is clearly much weaker."

Yet, no matter how weakened it was, it was still far beyond her ability to handle.

A smug smile spread across Stone Kun's face. "This is the true foundation of our Stone family, a defensive item specifically prepared for me. I would never have activated it unless it was absolutely necessary. For you, Zu, to die beneath the divine beast Devouring Kun, your death will at least have some value..."

He was interrupted by Zu An before he could finish. "Did you just say this thing is called Devouring Kun? So, it shares your name—it wouldn't happen to be your father, would it?"