"It worked!"
Wang Mu stared at the distant Xuan Gu, taking a deep breath. After a period of observation, as if possessed by the Arrow God himself, he identified a weakness in the Xuan Gu. This weakness was located a few inches below its beak. He had spotted it because whenever the Xuan Gu expelled its poisonous fog, its feathers would contract, and this specific spot appeared to be the most protected.
It feels like it's injured...
Wang Mu couldn't see clearly and could only rely on its aura to judge.
He immediately took out his bow and arrows, firing four in quick succession while moving rapidly around the tree to aim from various angles.
The arrows themselves were ordinary. Materials for crafting special arrows were scarce, and since he hadn't mined any spiritual ore, he was unable to forge arrows with elemental attributes.
Under normal circumstances, ordinary arrows could hardly damage Fierce Beasts like the Xuan Gu.
However, if he targeted a single spot repeatedly, the outcome might differ. Firing a rapid volley of arrows at that precise location could allow the damage to accumulate.
Each arrow found its mark. The rapidly spinning arrowheads, creating intense friction with the air, glowed hotly before exploding against the Xuan Gu's weak spot four consecutive times.
Even so, it was only injured... Such extraordinary Life Force!
The infuriated Xuan Gu almost instantly pinpointed Wang Mu's location; its perception was incredibly sharp.
At my current level, hunting a legendary Fierce Beast like the Xuan Gu is indeed a bit beyond my capabilities, Wang Mu inwardly shook his head. My equipment isn't up to par either. Once I've mined some spiritual ore, I can ask Uncle Tie Hu to forge some special arrowheads. Then, with the Mountain-Shattering Bow, I might be able to face it head-on.
I should get out of here. There are other Cultivators over there; they should be able to handle it.
Wang Mu turned, intending to leave. This kind of roaming event is clearly very difficult, he thought. Failure is to be expected.
He glanced back at the Xuan Gu. Huh? Wang Mu paused, stunned for a moment.
Having sensed his presence and been struck by four of his arrows, Wang Mu had fully expected the Xuan Gu to retaliate. Instead, it merely glanced in his direction a few times before resuming its focus on the Thunder Light Rabbit.
It's not even coming after me? Is this Fierce Beast's spiritual wisdom that high? I've never heard of Xuan Gu possessing such restraint...
Wang Mu frowned slightly, a subtle feeling of unease washing over him.
Just then, a golden sword light suddenly shot out from the other side.
Wang Mu halted, watching intently.
The sword light was a brilliant crimson-gold. It had an ancient form, not a physical sword, but purely a manifestation of sword light, and it streaked towards the Xuan Gu with the force of a raging tempest.
They've made their move? Wang Mu's eyes widened.
The golden sword light, small yet agile, left shimmering trails like a comet's tail as it instantly struck the Xuan Gu.
This seemingly intangible sword light transformed into what felt like the sharpest weapon in existence, directly piercing through the Xuan Gu's iron-hard feathers!
SHRIEK!
The Xuan Gu emitted a painful cry. A bloody, fist-sized hole had been gouged in its body where the golden sword light passed through.
Wang Mu's eyes filled with envy. Such incredible power! This must be a Cultivator's spell, right? I exhausted myself firing four arrows and only managed to slightly injure it. Yet, their single beam of sword light possesses such terrifying power.
Wang Mu sighed inwardly. I absolutely must pursue Cultivation. Simply having high physical attributes isn't enough.
Just then, the fog around the Xuan Gu suddenly changed from black to a light pink in mere seconds.
What's happening?
"Oh my, I was just trying to catch a little rabbit, but it seems I've hooked a big fish instead, teehee!"
"A disciple from the Shangxiao Sword Sect! Big Sister loves boys like you!"
From within the pink mist, a voice so seductive it could melt bones drifted out.
As her words faded, the pink mist centered on the Xuan Gu instantly billowed outwards, engulfing the entire area.
Within the pink mist, anything hidden was instantly revealed, as if rendered transparent.
Wang Mu now saw the Cultivator on the other side who had unleashed the sword light. He looks like Su Yu, the one who visited the village the other day? Even from afar, Wang Mu could identify him by his build.
Currently, Su Yu was forming a sword seal with his fingers, his expression a mixture of astonishment and profound gravity. Behind him, several younger disciples watched, their faces etched with panic, yet also, strangely, a flicker of excitement.
That voice... it's a woman. Could the Xuan Gu be under someone's control? If so, that would explain why the Fierce Beast held back from attacking me earlier. This is not good. Judging by her voice alone, she sounds like trouble.
At that moment, another peal of laughter drifted from the dense fog. It was as crisp as wind chimes, sounding pure and captivating, yet also like a lover's intimate whisper, inexplicably making one's heart pound.
At this moment, Su Yu could only curse his rotten luck.
No wonder the Xuan Gu was behaving so oddly... It's being controlled by a Demoness from the Fengyue Sect! Su Yu's heart sank.
This wasn't his first encounter with a Demoness from the Fengyue Sect; it was his second. The first time, he had been on an experiential training mission with the former head Senior Disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak. He had personally witnessed that Senior Disciple, a man of profound cultivation, being utterly bewitched by the Fengyue Sect Demoness...
I can't believe these Demonesses dare to show their faces within the territory of Gu Yun Mountain! Still, to dare appear in Gu Yun Mountain, this Demoness must be no ordinary individual...
"Quick, all of you, leave!" Su Yu urged the disciples behind him. "Head north through the Divine Wood Forest. You'll find a village called Anle Village. Since you don't know the Sect's location, hide there for the time being!"
The young, inexperienced disciples didn't fully grasp the gravity of the situation, but they still obeyed Su Yu's command. Just as they were about to move…
"Thinking of leaving? Little Sister here won't allow it, teehee. Such adorable little boys... it would be a terrible waste for you to join the Shangxiao Sword Sect."
The enchanting voice, sometimes a soft croon, sometimes a bewitching whisper, sounded again.
At the same instant, a figure resembling a celestial Fairy emerged from the pale pink fog, now standing upon the Xuan Gu's back.
She wore a flowing crimson gown that left her snow-white, satiny shoulders bare. A light, sheer outer garment only partially concealed the area below her collarbones, her exquisitely proportioned figure tantalizingly visible beneath the translucent fabric. A pure white Jade Belt cinched her waist, and even the long gown could not fully hide the alluring curve of her hips.
Wang Mu was left speechless.
He instinctively wanted to flee but found himself enclosed by some kind of peculiar barrier. Any attempt to move away from the spreading fog was met with an inexplicable resistance.
Looks like I can only watch... Su Yu... hmm, he's a disciple of an Immortal Sect, too. He managed to heavily injure the Xuan Gu with a single sword light. He must be quite powerful! Wang Mu thought.
However, no sooner had the woman's voice faded than the disciples behind Su Yu, as if completely mesmerized, began to walk towards the dense fog.
"Demoness, cease your insolence!" Su Yu roared in anger. His fingers formed a spell seal, and a clear, bright light erupted from his body, swiftly enveloping the young disciples behind him.
Yet, the young disciples merely paused for an instant before resuming their advance.
"Tsk, tsk, little Cultivator, your mastery of the Clear Heart Technique is still lacking, I see."
The Demoness within the fog let out a series of crisp laughs. Her laughter possessed a demonic charm, relentlessly drawing Su Yu's disciples towards her.
Hmm, they are indeed fine specimens, quite promising...