Even Chen Zong would struggle against an assault from over thirty Red-Crested Wolves. But with ten people dividing the pressure, the burden on each individual was greatly reduced. Combined with their superior strength, they quickly annihilated all thirty-odd Red-Crested Wolves.
Chen Zong alone slew eleven Red-Crested Wolves, the highest number among the group. Chen Kaiyue followed with five kills, ranking second.
"Chen Kaiyue, now you see the difference between you and your Clan Brother Chen Zong?" Chen Zhong chuckled.
"Hmph, this is just the beginning," Chen Kaiyue retorted, his face cold.
Ignoring him, Chen Zong flicked his sword, scattering droplets of blood, and barked, "Move out!"
With a sword in hand and a horse beneath him, Chen Zong charged forward, leading the way to the left, where a Mid-Grade Level One Demon Beast—an Iron Claw Wolf—lurked.
"Kill!" Chen Zhong roared, immediately surging forward to follow Chen Zong.
"Who's coming with me this way?" Chen Kaiyue shouted, veering off to the right, where another Mid-Grade Level One Demon Beast awaited.
The original ten-member team immediately split. Chen Zong's group consisted of four Earth Courtyard disciples, while Chen Kaiyue's group had six Heaven Courtyard disciples.
Ignoring the division, Chen Zong's Precious Iron Sword blazed with unparalleled brilliance under the firelight, its razor-sharp edge piercing the air. With a single thrust, the sword seemed to pierce through space itself, causing the Iron Claw Wolf's eyes to turn white as only the sword's flash remained.
Since mastering the True Sword Eight Forms to the Subtlety Realm and replacing the Fierce Tiger Art with the True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique, Chen Zong's strength had surged. He now felt confident he could fully contend with even an Ironback Azure Wolf, let alone a mere Mid-Grade Level One Demon Beast like the Iron Claw Wolf.
The Subtlety Realm True Sword Eight Forms not only amplified the sword's power but also unleashed blinding sword light with each strike, creating a terrifying momentum and releasing a terrifying sharpness.
Before the Iron Claw Wolf could react, the sword pierced its throat, piercing straight through.
As blood splattered, Chen Zong's figure flashed past like the wind, his unstoppable Chopping Sword Stance aimed at the second Iron Claw Wolf.
Unlike Chen Zong, Chen Zhong and his companions couldn't instantly kill the Iron Claw Wolves. For them, defeating even a single wolf each would be a formidable challenge.
There were over a dozen Iron Claw Wolves in total. While Chen Zhong and his companions each engaged one, Chen Zong charged into the pack like a tiger among wolves. As he circulated the True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique, an astonishingly sharp aura erupted from him, sending a chill through the air.
Thrusting Sword Stance!
Swift Sword Stance!
Exploding Sword Stance!
His movements were incredibly agile, dodging the wolves' claws by mere millimeters. He struck from impossible angles, each sword strike unerringly finding its mark, killing the Iron Claw Wolves.
Having reached the Subtlety Realm with the True Sword Eight Forms, Chen Zong had transformed the sword technique from someone else's method into his own. It now perfectly aligned with his body's movements, allowing him to wield it with effortless precision and channel his power with optimal efficiency.
His overall strength had increased by at least thirty percent, and thanks to the True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique, his mastery over the sword had reached new heights.
Chen Zhong and his companions only caught a glimpse of three blinding sword flashes before their vision went dark. Three breaths later, their sight returned to normal, but the three Iron Claw Wolves they had been fighting lay dead in pools of blood.
Chen Zong had single-handedly slain all fifteen Iron Claw Wolves. In contrast, he remained unharmed, though his Martial Robe bore several tears.
"My Subtlety Realm still lacks refinement," Chen Zong murmured, glancing down at the rents in his robe.
Having only recently broken through, his mastery of the Subtlety Realm in the True Sword Eight Forms couldn't yet match the depth of his Phantom Shadow Sword Technique. Given time to fully grasp the Subtlety Realm of the True Sword Eight Forms, Chen Zong was confident he could face a dozen Iron Claw Wolves alone, slaying them all without injury or damage to his clothing.
"Such terrifying power!" Chen Zhong and his companions exclaimed in awe.
Though all three were at the fifth layer of the Qi Blood Realm, Chen Zong's strength far surpassed theirs. His capabilities rivaled even those at the sixth layer of the Qi Blood Realm.
The trio felt both shame at their inferiority and pride in Chen Zong's achievements, knowing he was a disciple of the Earth Courtyard. Chen Zhong, in particular, felt immense pride, as Chen Zong hailed from their shared hometown of Small Lake Town.
Meanwhile, the elder personally confronted the Black Scale Bear, the most formidable demon beast among them. Moving with blinding speed, he circled the massive creature, his palms striking out in rapid succession.
The Black Scale Bear was a massive, incredibly strong creature. Its black scale armor provided astonishing defense, even resisting the Precious Iron Sword. However, its speed was lacking. Each swing of its massive paws generated terrifying gusts of wind, as if summoning storm after storm.
Each strike carried the force of ten thousand kilograms, crushing everything in its path with earth-shattering power.
Even the elder, whose cultivation base surpassed the Qi Blood Realm, dared not face these blows head-on. A direct hit, even if not fatal, would leave him severely injured and coughing up blood.
The elder's palms struck the Black Scale Bear's body repeatedly, the terrifying Qi Blood Power shattering its scales and penetrating deep into its flesh, causing further devastation.
The excruciating pain drove the Black Scale Bear into a frenzy, its paw strikes growing even more violent.
But against such an overwhelming disparity in power, the bear's defeat was only a matter of time.
Meanwhile, Hall Elder Chen Shaojie engaged the Fierce Blood Tiger, while Captain Tie San and another ninth-layer Qi Blood Realm Iron Guard restrained the Dark Scale Python.
As the demon beasts fell, their blood splattered across the ground, the stench of blood growing thick in the air. Carried by the mountain winds, the scent attracted even more demon beasts from afar.
The Iron Guard possessed formidable strength, but they were not invincible. Facing demon beasts that outnumbered them several times over, they began to sustain injuries.
Soon, the first Iron Guard was torn apart by a demon beast's claws, his blood and entrails scattered across the ground.
This was a battle for survival, leaving no room for luck.
"Die!" the elder roared in fury, leaping into the air and unleashing a devastating palm strike. A faint azure light flickered within his palm, radiating terrifying power.
The strike landed with earth-shattering force on a shattered scale of the Black Scale Bear, as if shattering the very air itself.
The broken scale caved inward as the palm seemed to penetrate deep within, the terrifying force blasting a bloody hole through the bear's flesh.
Palm strike after palm strike followed in rapid succession. After three strikes, the formidable Black Scale Bear finally collapsed to the side.
Leaping into the air like an eagle taking flight, the elder charged toward the Fierce Blood Tiger.
Just then, a series of heavy, thudding sounds reverberated through the ground, shaking the earth violently. Countless pebbles and sand swirled into the air, making it difficult to maintain balance. The demon beasts seemed to sense something terrifying approaching, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
A terrifying, volatile aura permeated the air, filling everyone with unease. A suffocating pressure weighed down on their hearts, as if an invisible mountain had descended upon them, making it difficult to breathe.
The dull thudding grew louder and more urgent, the ground trembling with increasing intensity.
In the flickering firelight, a massive black shadow crashed through a towering tree, trampling the undergrowth as it charged forward.
The creature stood a staggering three meters tall, its body stretching over five meters long excluding its tail. Entirely black, it seemed clad in heavy armor, its four limbs thick as colossal pillars supporting its massive frame. Twin horns curved from its head like giant scimitars.
Its eyes burned crimson, radiating savage bloodlust.
It was a bull!
"Armored Barbarian Bull!" The elder trembled as if struck by lightning, his voice cracking in disbelief. "How could an Armored Barbarian Bull appear here?"
No one could answer his question.
Armored Barbarian Bull!
A Level Three Demon Beast!
Level Three Demon Beasts stood on the same tier as martial artists above the Qi Blood Realm.
Moo...
A deafening roar shook the heavens and earth. Without pausing, the Armored Barbarian Bull charged straight into the heart of the camp, not even the elder daring to stand in its path.
Wherever the Armored Barbarian Bull charged, buildings shattered instantly. Those who couldn't dodge—both humans and demon beasts—were crushed beneath its rampage, their bodies torn apart and limbs flying through the air.
"Run! Run! Run!" the elder roared. Defending the camp was no longer an option; escape was the only hope. Whether they survived depended solely on their individual skills and luck.
"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!" the Iron Guards immediately closed ranks, attempting to regroup. But other demon beasts swarmed in, splitting their formation and forcing them into isolated battles.
The miners, who were not martial artists, fared even worse, being trampled to death in droves.
"Save me..."
"I don't want to die..."
The screams rose and fell in a relentless, heart-wrenching chorus.
"Move!" Chen Zong shouted, his sword striking down a Mid-Grade Level One Demon Beast. He charged forward, leading the way out of Subduing Dragon Mountain, with Chen Zhong and the others close behind.
But ahead, three figures flashed into view—three Ironback Azure Wolves blocking their path.
"Kill!"
Exploding Sword Stance!
The Precious Iron Sword cleaved through the air with the force of a cannon blast, its power overwhelming. It collided with the claw of an Ironback Azure Wolf, shattering the creature's claw and sending it reeling backward. Chen Zong, however, was also jolted back several steps by the recoil.
More and more demon beasts surged from all directions. Chen Zong swung his sword, carving a bloody path through the horde. He lost all sense of direction, focusing solely on cutting through the weakest concentrations of beasts to escape.
Gradually, Chen Zhong and his companions vanished from sight, swallowed by the sea of demon beasts that surrounded them.
Unbeknownst to Chen Zong, his desperate flight was driving him deeper into the heart of Subduing Dragon Mountain.
"Die!"
With a single downward slash, his sword split the night sky. The head of a Mid-Grade Level One Demon Beast was severed, its blood erupting like a crimson geyser.
Before he could catch his breath, another demon beast charged from the side, its ferocity undeterred by death.
Wind-Treading Steps!
His body blurred like the wind, dodging the beast's lunge. As it prepared to counterattack, a bone-chilling dread washed over Chen Zong. Without hesitation, he swung his sword backward.
A venomous snake, launched like an arrow from a tree, was cleaved in two by the Precious Iron Sword.
Gasping for breath, Chen Zong sprinted forward relentlessly, his sword flashing in dazzling arcs.
He had no idea how far he had run, how many times he had swung his sword, or how many demon beasts he had slain.
All he felt was exhaustion. When his right hand grew weary from swinging the sword, he switched to his left. When his left hand grew numb, he switched back to his right. Soon, both hands felt numb, as if they had lost all sensation.
Tired, so tired, utterly exhausted.
Yet Chen Zong dared not stop. He feared that if he paused, more demon beasts would swarm him, tearing him to shreds and devouring him whole.
As the eastern horizon began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, a sliver of sunlight pierced through the mountain forest. Chen Zong collapsed against a massive boulder, panting heavily. His Qi Blood Power and physical stamina had been completely drained, leaving him too weak to move another inch.
I just want to lie down and sleep, Chen Zong thought, but he dared not. Gritting his teeth, he scanned his surroundings. The wind rustled through the grass, but no demon beasts stirred. Deciding to rest briefly to recover some strength, he settled down to catch his breath.