Chapter 42: Reinforcements Arrive

"The flesh of these two-legged beasts is the most fragrant; I must not let them go."

It narrowed its eyes, watching the two-legged beasts hurriedly gathering in the distance, pointing bright, blazing fires at it, and laughed coldly in its heart.

"I will exhaust their strength first. Once those two-legged beasts scatter in chaos, I can feast upon the beast king."

It cautiously accelerated, weaving through the snow-covered woods. Seeing the two-legged beasts growing increasingly panicked and their formations becoming more disorganized, it felt immense satisfaction.

Ever since it had eaten that injured white deer, its mind had become clearer and clearer. Relying on this sharpening intellect, it had evaded several encirclements by the patterned two-legged beasts, eventually abandoning its own kin and stumbling its way to this place.

It had dealt with many of these two-legged beasts and knew well that such beast kings often spat black mist or hurled deep green bone swords; pressing too hard would only result in its own injury.

One had to press them slowly, attacking from time to time to gradually exhaust their tricks before devouring them.

"These two-legged beasts have no patterns; I wonder what breed they are."

It nonchalantly leaped over a sweeping long staff, ducked its head to avoid a flying arrow, and bit down on the arm of a two-legged beast, crushing it instantly. It thought viciously

"If my children hadn't all been killed by that patterned two-legged beast, I wouldn't have had to act personally!"

Recalling how it had been chased across seven great mountains by that patterned two-legged beast, its primordial essence and magical power had yet to recover to this day. Its emerald eyes grew even colder.

These patternless two-legged beasts seemed much weaker; the golden light they released lacked power, though it was continuous and irritating.

————

The mountain forests in winter were exceptionally silent. The woods were laden with snow; one could hear the constant rustle of snowflakes falling, punctuated occasionally by the *crack* of snow-heavy branches snapping.

"Swish!"

Li Xiangping released a shimmering golden arrow. Watching the wolf duck to avoid it, only to bite through a villager's arm, he remained unfazed. He nocked another arrow and fired, repelling the giant wolf just as it prepared to pounce on the next villager.

Watching the villager spray blood and fall to the ground with a scream, painting a hot crimson flower upon the pure white snow, the other villagers couldn't help but shudder. Their long staves swung weakly. Nearby, Chen Erniu, with a cold expression, picked the man up, wrapped the wound haphazardly with clothing, hoisted him onto his back, and hurried to catch up with the group.

"How much further to Lijing Mountain!"

Li Xiangping shouted in a low voice, trudging heavily through the snow as he called out to Chen Erniu.

"Fifteen minutes!"

Chen Erniu understood immediately. He handed the villager on his back to others, looked into the distance, and shouted back.

Hearing that they were approaching Lijing Mountain, the villagers' hearts steadied somewhat. They glared at the monster through gritted teeth, praying that they would not be the next to be tackled.

"We just need to lure this monster into the mountains for an ambush! If we fail to kill it today, let it kill us and go back—but you, you, and you! The women and children in your homes will all become food for the monster!"

Li Xiangping wiped the blood from his face. There was little magical power left in his dantian. Looking at the terrified villagers beside him, he roared sternly.

At these words, the villagers looked at one another, their expressions hardening with resolve. One by one, they raised their leaden arms, pointing their torches and staves at the monster.

"Awoooo—!"

The monster licked the blood from its silver-gray claws. Looking at the torches and staves pointed at it, it seemed somewhat impatient. It stamped the ground and increased its speed, biting through several villagers in rapid succession.

*Crack!*

A whip-crack exploded out of nowhere. A glowing, emerald-green vine whip lashed out directly. Caught off guard, the monster's waist was torn open, leaving a bloody streak.

"Awoooo—!"

The monster howled loudly and retreated several steps, glaring fiercely at the man in fine silks holding the long whip.

"Clan Leader!"

Seeing the vine whip, Wan Tiancang let out a long sigh of relief. A great weight lifted from his heart, and joy appeared on his face.

Wan Xiaohua had succeeded with his strike but did not pursue. His face was pale; he stood in place to regulate his breathing for a few moments before color slowly returned to his visage.

Having received Wan Tiancang's message, Wan Xiaohua had used three consecutive Divine Speed techniques to rush from the Wan estate to Lichuan Mouth, and then used his dharma treasure to repel the monster. Even with his peak Yu Jing Realm cultivation, he was somewhat winded and needed several moments of meditation to catch his breath.

"What a tough monster."

Looking at the shallow wound on the creature's back, Wan Xiaohua couldn't help but gasp, his expression grim as he spoke

"Mortals, leave first."

His vine whip was originally a Qi Refining stage dharma treasure. Using it at his peak Yu Jing Realm cultivation consumed significant energy, yet it was powerful enough to shatter stone. However, it had only left a shallow scratch on the monster's back. Though he had struck hastily, it was evident how physically resilient the creature was.

Li Xiangping waved his hand, and Chen Erniu quickly directed the villagers to carry the wounded and trudge through the snow toward Lijing Village to the west.

Watching the man and beast facing off in the snow, Li Xiangping shouted loudly

"Clan Leader Wan, if the monster is too difficult to handle, head southwest! Lijing Mountain is protected by formations; even if you cannot defeat the monster, you can still escape with your lives!"

Wan Xiaohua gave Li Xiangping a brief, low glance and murmured

"Understood."

He flicked his long whip, which whistled through the air toward the monster's waist.

"Awoo—"

The monster twisted its waist slightly to dodge the vine whip. In two strides, it closed the distance to Wan Xiaohua and lunged at him.

As the fierce wind rushed toward him, Wan Xiaohua remained composed. With a hand seal, a small white-jade shield materialized out of thin air. Although it was shattered in a single blow by the monster's paw, it allowed Wan Xiaohua to pull back and create distance.

The monster tapped the ground lightly and lunged at him again. Wan Xiaohua's eyes brightened as he thought

*A perfect opportunity!*

The vine whip erupted with brilliant white light as he lashed toward the wolf's waist. However, the monster did not dodge. A flash of cunning crossed its eyes; it opened its maw, exhaling a surge of pitch-black breath directly toward Wan Xiaohua's face.

"Damn it! What a cunning beast!"

Wan Xiaohua cursed inwardly. He was forced to loosen his grip on the whip and retreat repeatedly.

Having endured a direct strike from Wan Xiaohua's whip, the monster let out a low growl. It used its claws to scratch at the vine whip on the ground, then stepped onto the whip to stare at Wan Xiaohua, its emerald eyes cold.

"Such a cunning monster..."

Looking at the giant silver-gray wolf, a bitter smile curled on Wan Xiaohua's lips. His clan did not border the Great Li Mountains, and they had little experience fighting monsters, let alone one of this Yu Jing Realm caliber.

The monster used its hind leg to bury the vine whip in the snow, then charged toward Wan Xiaohua through the shallow drifts. He hurriedly performed hand seals, and the white-jade shield materialized before him once more.

However, black mist rose from between the monster's four paws as it leaped into the air. With a single strike, it shattered the white-jade shield, its jaws snapping toward Wan Xiaohua's neck.