In the depths of the forest, Hu Ying saw the two men rushing forward and bared his fangs, letting out an angry roar.
"Beast, today I'll tear you into a thousand pieces!"
Lei Pi's yuan power surged out as he charged forward barehanded.
"Let's flank it from both sides!" Xie Yu drew his sword and split away, his figure trailing slightly behind Lei Pi.
"Roar!"
Hu Ying pounced at Lei Pi, its sharp claws slashing out. Lei Pi narrowly avoided the strike.
Whoosh—Xie Yu followed up, channeling yuan power into his sword. A flash of sword light cut downward fiercely.
The Xie Clan specialized in sword arts, and he wielded a formidable four-grade sword technique.
Clang!
Hu Ying's python-like tail lashed out with terrifying flexibility, coiling around Xie Yu's sword. With jaws wide open, it lunged for Xie Yu's hand.
"Ah!"
Startled, Xie Yu abandoned his sword and leapt back.
"This beast has terrifying defense." His face paled. "My sword couldn't even cut through its tail."
"Be careful, this creature is likely at the mid-stage of the Sky Origin Realm." Lei Pi warned.
Xie Yu was only at the early stage of the Sky Origin Realm, clearly outmatched. Against beasts of the same realm, humans were often at a disadvantage.
"Thunderflash!"
Lei Pi shouted, yuan power erupting violently. The glow in his hands intensified, forming a wildly compressing sphere of energy, rolling furiously in his palm.
Sensing the immense fluctuation, Hu Ying's eyes widened. With a sharp roar, he spun around and bolted.
Lei Pi's strength was comparable, but with Xie Yu present, prolonged combat offered no benefit.
Crash!
Lei Pi's strike shattered a massive tree. "Damn beast, trying to run?"
He gave chase, but within the dense forest, neither of them were fast enough to catch Hu Ying.
In just moments, the fiery shadow vanished from sight.
Returning to Lin Xuan's side, Hu Ying lowered his head. Lin Xuan patted the beast's massive skull approvingly.
"Well done."
"It's time we change locations."
Man and four beasts set off once more, delving deeper into the forest.
---
Two days later, Lin Xuan had circled from the northern forests near Qingyang Town to the south, close to the area of the past hunting event.
"Master, the deeper regions here are filled with powerful beasts. It's best we don't go in." Hu Ying's tone carried unease as he communicated with Lin Xuan.
"Oh?"
Lin Xuan stopped, studying Hu Ying. The beast's emotions wavered, filled with hatred. He gently stroked its head and asked,
"You ran out from this forest back then, didn't you? What beast injured you? What about your mate, your clan? Are they still alive?"
"Roar…"
Hu Ying leaned into Lin Xuan's embrace, growling in sorrow.
Once, Hu Ying had lived happily here with his mate, the two occupying a mountain and starting a family. But then, a pack of Green-Eyed Fire Lions invaded their territory.
These lions were also Sky Origin Realm beasts, no weaker than the Fire Python Tiger, and they fought in groups. Seven or eight came at once, with four full-grown adults—each as strong as Hu Ying.
And Hu Ying's mate was pregnant with three cubs…
In that desperate struggle, Hu Ying's partner fought to the death so she could escape. He was ultimately devoured by the lion pack.
"Four Sky Origin Realm fire lions…" Lin Xuan clenched his fist and comforted Hu Ying. "Don't worry, I'll avenge you one day."
"Roar!" Hu Ying nudged Lin Xuan, urging him not to act rashly.
The lion pride was far too powerful. To fight them now would mean death. Protecting the cubs came first.
"Not now," Lin Xuan reassured. "When we all step into the Sky Origin Realm, we'll strike."
He marked the place in memory before leading his beasts away.
By now, Lin Xuan had reached the late-stage Earth Origin Realm. It was time to prepare for his Sky Origin breakthrough. To do so, he needed the Yang Gang Qi.
"That means heading to Ironwood Manor…"
His mind immediately turned to Lei Clan's Ironwood Manor. Beneath it lay a Yang Yuan Stone mine. In the original path, the Lin Clan had gambled for control of the manor during the hunting competition. Lin Dong had won, securing both the manor and the mine.
But with the fire python tiger family taken away earlier, that event never happened.
No matter. Lin Xuan would seize it directly. Lei Clan hadn't discovered the mine yet anyway.
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