Stop! Stop now..."
"Stay the fucking way here..."
"You damned leftover! Who told you to run..."
A
wave of curses soon erupted from behind Yan Qingshan. Seeing Yan Qingshan, these people, ready to deflect the blame, changed direction and ran towards him. However, Yan Qingshan was so alert, not only did they fail to steal the chicken, but their change of direction also hindered their escape, putting them one step closer to danger.
"Roar~~~~"
Just as Yan Qingshan was running wildly, leaving these assholes far behind, a beastly roar suddenly erupted in the forest. The demonic beast chasing the herbalists finally appeared.
"This is... a blue-maned scorpion lion beast!!!"
Yan Qingshan rolled onto a rise. A small river lay ahead, and beyond it, a complex rocky canyon. It would be easy to shake off these creatures.
But after rolling over, he turned his head and glanced, and then stopped.
A calf-sized magical beast, its body awash in blue and purple, shrouded in lightning, resembled a lion from a previous life.
A fringe of pale blue mane stood out from its neck, seemingly wisps of hair. Its powerful lion-like body was disproportionately adorned with a scorpion-like blue and purple tail, now swirling with lightning and thunder, it dispatched the fleeing herbalists one by one.
The Blue-maned Scorpion Lion Beast, a rare third-tier lightning-attribute magical beast found within the Magical Beast Mountains, possesses the power of thunder from birth. Its juvenile form is at the strength of a first-tier beast, but after a year of maturation, it reaches the level of a second-tier beast, and upon reaching adulthood, it becomes a full-fledged third-tier beast.
Thunder-attributed magical beasts are naturally exceptionally powerful within their tier, and the Blue-maned Scorpion Lion Beast is said to be a hybrid of an ancient thunder lion and a scorpion dragon, possessing traces of high-tier magical blood. A mature Blue-maned Scorpion Lion Beast could even face weaker fourth-tier beasts.
Blue-maned scorpion lion beasts typically reside only in the inner circle of the Demonic Beast Mountain Range and rarely venture out to the outer reaches. These herbalists must have committed something inflicting such hatred to be pursued all the way here by this powerful beast.
"It seems to be a young beast?"
Yan Qingshan carefully hid behind a rock, watching from afar as the blue-maned scorpion lion beast pursued the herbalists. This calf-sized blue-maned scorpion lion beast, considering its size, hadn't even reached full growth yet, being less than a year old.
Even a young lion possessed the strength of a peak first-tier beast. Furthermore, this beast was already at the top of its tier, making it even more formidable than a second-tier beast.
"Here, back to you! We shouldn't have taken it..."
After two unfortunate individuals were caught and brutally slaughtered, one of the fleeing group collapsed. He knelt, pulled a fruit from his medicine bag, and cried out to the beast for mercy.
"Thunder Tempering Fruit, no wonder..."
Yan Qingshan watched from afar. Only after seeing what the man held did he understand why these people were in such a plight.
The Thunder Tempering Fruit is considered the companion fruit of the Blue Mane Scorpion Lion Beast, or rather, a special elixir cultivated by their tribe. It's similar to the Amethyst Source, the companion fruit of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. It's crucial for young scorpion lions. Only with sufficient Thunder Tempering Fruit can a Blue Mane Scorpion Lion Beast successfully enter its growth stage after a year.
This group must have found a Thunder Tempering Fruit tree and harvested all of it while the Scorpion Lion Beast was away, which is why they were being hunted so relentlessly.
"Roar! Roar..."
The Blue Mane Scorpion Lion Beast stopped before the begging man. The fleeing herbalists watched nervously, hoping for a turnaround.
After being hunted, they considered escaping separately, but the Monster Mountain Range was too dangerous. They'd all been together when they arrived, but only two of them had been killed. If they'd fled the area, even if they'd scattered, they'd likely be quickly caught and killed by the Scorpion Lion.
They'd finally reached the outskirts, planning to run a little further before scattering and fleeing, when they spotted a stranger. The leader, with malicious intent, ran towards him, but he was wary and didn't even bother to engage. Instead, they suddenly changed direction, allowing the Blue Mane Scorpion Lion to catch up.
"Roar..."
The man's plea for mercy ultimately failed to impress the Blue Mane Scorpion Lion. The lion's jaws suddenly opened, biting off half of his arm, which was holding the Thunder Tempering Fruit, and chewing it several times before swallowing it. Before he could scream, the Scorpion Lion's tail swung forward, blasting his head clean off. Then, the Scorpion Lion roared again, pursuing him.
"Ah..."
"Everyone, run!!!"
"Separate, separate, separate. We've reached the outer reaches. Life and death depend on fate..."
The herbalists who had stopped finally reacted and broke into a run, each one fleeing towards the outskirts of the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. They were no longer in the same group as before.
Yan Qingshan carefully hid behind a rock, his peripheral vision peeking at the blue-maned scorpion lion beasts that were pursuing him. "The blue-maned scorpion lion beast, while not having the wood attribute, isn't the best choice.
But... young blue-maned scorpion lion beasts are extremely rare, and... a young third-tier demonic beast is definitely stronger than a first-tier one."
Yan Qingshan's cultivation was currently on the right track. He had barely gotten started with the advanced Xuan-tier Lion Heart King Technique. However, while this technique wasn't restricted to any attributes, it did have some special requirements: forging a lion's heart and consolidating a lion's form. The practice of the Lion Heart King Technique required the use of a lion-type demonic beast.
Yan Qingshan's current cultivation pace was not slow, but he still desired to accelerate it. The Lionheart King Technique also contained a secret method to increase his cultivation speed: the Lionheart Baptism. This baptism, performed with the heart blood of a lion-like demon beast and combined with the secret method, could be performed once per level for Lionheart King Technique practitioners beyond the Fighter stage.
The Lionheart Baptism, utilizing the warm blood of a lion-like demon beast, not only boosted the practitioner's cultivation but also strengthened and tempered their physique. With some luck, it could even grant them special abilities.
More than two weeks after entering the Monster Mountain Range, Yan Qingshan, relying on his previous accumulation and the opportunity in the cliff cave, achieved three-star fighter status in less than a month. However, even now, he seemed to be struggling.
The three- to four-star barrier wouldn't be too difficult for him, having cultivated profound techniques, and he could certainly cultivate slowly and steadily.
However, he felt a sense of urgency and didn't want to procrastinate. Now that a suitable lion-like demon beast had appeared, he wouldn't take what heaven had given him. Furthermore, he wanted to see the results of his long days of hard work.
"Although the Blue-maned Scorpion Lion Beast is a leader among its rank, there's still a chance of success. For the sake of a better Lionheart Baptism, I'll give it a try."
Yan Qingshan had originally planned to flee, but the appearance of the Blue-maned Scorpion Lion Beast behind him changed his mind.
Lion-like monsters are rare in the Monster Mountain Range. A Blue-maned Scorpion Lion Beast of rank one, with the blood of a high-level monster, is a rare sight. If he missed this opportunity, he might never have another. He was unwilling to retreat without trying.
"Shuguang, gather intelligence and deduce a battle plan..."
Yan Qingshan made up his mind and carefully observed his surroundings. He first needed to confirm whether the Blue-maned Scorpion Lion Beast was acting alone or if an adult Scorpion Lion was accompanying it.
This was crucial. If an adult Scorpion Lion was following closely for safety, Yan Qingshan would leave without a second thought.
A full-grown blue-maned scorpion lion beast was a formidable third-tier magical beast, one he couldn't possibly provoke. Once targeted, even with his flying skills, he couldn't guarantee his safety.
"Looks like the situation is good,"
Yan Qingshan stealthily slipped away, spreading his purple cloud eagle wings and circling the blue-maned scorpion lion beast. After a quick inspection, he didn't see a second blue-maned scorpion lion beast, which reassured him. The young beast appeared to have escaped alone, unaccompanied by an adult.
Yan Qingshan returned to the canopy of a large tree behind the blue-maned scorpion lion beast, his movements so careful and gentle that neither the pursuing or fleeing forces noticed his return.
"Roar~~~~!"
The blue-maned scorpion lion roared, unleashing a bloody slaughter on the remaining herbalists. It had been chasing these thieves for a whole day and night, its heart brimming with rage.
The day before, these herbalists had boldly entered the inner ring of the Monster Mountain Range and discovered the Thunder Tempering Fruit tree where the blue-maned scorpion lion lived. The young beast had been away hunting, leaving the entire tree completely ravaged by these herbalists. By the time the blue-maned scorpion lion emerged, they had already retreated, leaving only traces and a scent.
Thunder Tempering Fruit isn't particularly valuable among low-level medicinal herbs, with a single use. However, because it's unique to the blue-maned scorpion lion species, it's relatively rare and highly valued. Furthermore, a single tree can produce hundreds of fruits, collectively worth tens of thousands of gold coins. These herbalists were determined to seize this opportunity.
A tree's rations had been completely stripped clean, and the fruit trees were left utterly damaged. This was a lethal threat to the growth of the Bluemane Scorpion Lion. The young beast couldn't stand this, abandoning its home base and pursuing the attackers through the night.
Shortly this morning, the Bluemane Scorpion Lions overtook these individuals on the outskirts of the Monster Mountain Range. After a brutal slaughter, only the remaining individuals remained. They had considered splitting up, but the Monster Mountain Range was too dangerous. The few who initially scattered were soon screaming in agony.
Seeing this, they dared no longer run. The entire group followed the mercenary trail, desperately running. Just as they reached Yanqing Mountain, one of them, with malicious intent, changed direction. Unable to harm anyone, the sudden turn slowed them down, and the Bluemane Scorpion Lions caught up and slaughtered them all.
"Everyone, stop running! Running any further will kill you! Fight this beast..."
One herbalist, likely a mercenary, still had some courage left, trying to turn and fight. But as he did so, the blood-drenched silver-blue scorpion's tail pierced his chest. His body, dangling from the tail, was flung outward, hitting the ground in a pool of bloody mud.
Seeing this, the fleeing herbalists took even greater risks. They had tried to surround and kill it before, but their efforts had always failed. Who would dare to stay now?
They were now competing for speed. The blue-maned scorpion lion beast took time to kill, and they had previously tried to keep their distance when it killed them, but the scorpion lion was so skilled at tracking scents that they couldn't completely shake it off.
But they just had to make sure they weren't the last. They were already at the outskirts of the Monster Mountain Range, not far from the nearest Monster town. The danger level had greatly decreased. If they could survive this time, they could split up and flee, leaving their fate to fate.
These men had good intentions, but this time the blue-maned scorpion lion beast seemed to have no interest in pursuing them. Its killing speed and efficiency were noticeably faster. In a short time, only three remained of the nearly twenty-man team, the fastest of whom was only a few steps away from the slope where Yan Qingshan had previously taken refuge.
"Ouch!"
"Who did this..."
"Who the hell!"
Just when the three men thought they had finally escaped, they almost simultaneously tripped and fell flat on their faces. This delay cost them all precious time, and the blue-maned scorpion lion beast was already approaching with a foul gust of wind.
"Li Lie, you son of a bitch, how could you be so vicious!"
"Wang Chong, why are you slandering me? I told you it was you and Yu Ping who were plotting against me!"
"Who the hell is this bastard? Now we're all doomed!"
The three men climbed to their feet, accusing each other, but at the same time, they drew their swords, wary of each other, and faced the blue-maned scorpion lion beast together.
They all knew that if they turned and ran, they would all be doomed. The only way to lure the blue-maned scorpion lion beast was to trap another person to attract its attention.
The situation now was that whoever turned first would most likely provoke the blue-maned scorpion lion beast's attack. Everyone wanted to flee, but no one was willing to turn first. However, if they were to join forces against the enemy, all those men had been useless before, and now only three of
them would be useless. The three men, drawing their swords and adopting a joint defensive stance, effectively handed the blue-maned scorpion lion beast the final say. If it attacked first, the other two, who were currently defending, would turn and run. Each of them prayed they wouldn't be attacked first, but none dared to act rashly at this moment.
"Assistance activated, combat prepared..."
Suddenly, a sharp whistle rang out from the treetops. Two whistles, originating from two directions, struck the blue-maned scorpion lion beast simultaneously. The two porcelain bottles exploded in succession, and a cloud of dust instantly engulfed the blue-maned scorpion lion beast, including its lion head.
The sudden sight startled the three herbalists. Then, from the treetops, something shot out from the direction. A web of traps unfurled in mid-air, enveloping the lion's head, which had just emerged from the dust. A flash of light suddenly flashed above the blue-maned scorpion lion beast.
A brilliant light flashed down, and with a resounding clang, a figure slammed to the ground, accompanied by the blue-maned scorpion lion beast's massive scorpion tail. The sword severed it, leaving a furrow over three inches deep. The
blue-maned scorpion lion beast was severely wounded by the sudden attack. The severed tail wound on its spinal cord gushed blood, and the loss of its tail also disrupted its balance, significantly hampering its movement.
Its movements were slow, but Yan Qingshan was not hesitant. The blue-maned scorpion lion beast tore through the net and turned. Yan Qingshan spread his wings and soared into the air, gliding in an arc through the air to avoid the pursuit, his sword slashing across the blue-maned lion's head.
Yan Qingshan's sword still couldn't sever the lion's head. Halfway through, the blade failed, caught in the bone between its mane. With no other options, he immediately abandoned his weapon, leaping into the air.
Yan Qingshan spread his wings and darted to atop a large tree ahead. He whipped out his bow and arrows, nocked them, and swiftly unleashed them.
Three arrows whistled, piercing the throat and two of the lion's eyes. The mighty beast, battered by this seamless onslaught, finally collapsed to the ground, its mouth and nose twisted, spitting blood, before slowly fading.
"Operation plan successful. Target will be dead in three minutes. Warning, other dangers nearby..."
"Swish... clang..."
The blue-maned scorpion lion fell silent, but the next moment, a fierce battle ensued. Two of Yan Qingshan's arrows pierced two of the blocking herbalists, while the third, more agile, deflected the arrows and fled.
This group of herbalists had harbored ill will towards Yan Qingshan from the beginning, hoping to deflect the blame. They all deserved to die. Yan Qingshan had just revealed too much; if word got out, it would be a disaster. He couldn't take the risk. These people must all die here.
"Phoenix Soaring Step, Wild Lion's Roar!!!"
Yan Qingshan, with a sudden thought, leaped from the treetops in pursuit. The Fengxiang Step, a low-level Xuan-level footwork, could unleash the power of a high-level Xuan-level body technique when combined with a flying fighting technique. In a matter of steps, his figure had crossed dozens of feet
and
appeared behind
the man. His fighting spirit surged, forming the faint shape of a lion's head of energy, howling to the heavens. "Nooo ...
Yan Qingshan didn't let this happen. He soared into the air, carefully circling the area to ensure there were no survivors. Then, he gently landed. Looking at the corpses and bloodstains scattered across the ground, he didn't linger. After a brief search of his finds, he quickly departed with the blue-maned scorpion lion's corpse.
Shortly after Yan Qingshan left, the howling of wolves rang out. The strong scent of blood attracted countless carnivores, the best cleaners of the Monster Mountain Range.
The howling continued, and before nightfall, the tangled woodland was devoid of any bodies. Only ripped and tattered pieces of cloth seemed to tell of what had happened.
...
Qingshan Town, though deserted in winter, was always bustling with merchants at this time of year, and the sound of bells echoed everywhere.
Around the New Year, many merchants flocked to towns like Qingshan Town, near the Monster Mountain Range, to collect the mercenary groups' overstocked goods. Amidst this bustle, the not-so-deserted Wanyaozhai welcomed a late-night visitor amidst the snow and wind.