Now, having further amplified his spiritual force, Chen Xu's presence was unmistakable to the sabertooths. To them, the subtle currents of energy he exuded were no longer mere whispers of life—they were a challenge. A statement of defiance.
To human eyes, Chen Xu's gaze might have seemed calm, but to the sabertooths, it was as if his eyes carried sharpened blades, slicing through their thick, impervious hides, striking straight at the core of their pride, dismissing their dominance with unyielding contempt.
In an instant, Chen Xu understood the danger. There was no time for hesitation or regret. Cold sweat streamed down his back as he immediately dispersed the inner energy he had poured into his eyes. His true qi continued to flow, adjusting his body to the posture and momentum of the Eagle Soaring Technique, ready to spring toward the opposite riverbank at the first hint of peril.
At this moment, he could only pray that the sabertooths could not swim. For if they could, the labyrinthine forest offered him no advantage; escape by foot alone would be nearly impossible.
One of the sabertooths, sensing the subtle shift in Chen Xu's aura, narrowed its enormous eyes in suspicion. Slowly, it arched its back and lifted a massive paw, forming its body into the shape of a taut, deadly bow—an unmistakable preparation for attack.
The sheer magnitude of this motion immediately drew the attention of the other two sabertooths. Yet Chen Xu, though continuously circulating his inner qi, restrained his spiritual energy, no longer allowing it to leak outward.
The two sabertooths, perplexed by the subtle, enigmatic force emanating from the grass where Chen Xu crouched, hesitated. A faint yet overwhelming aura pulsed outward—a paradoxical presence, simultaneously grand and minuscule, leaving them unsure of the source.
Chen Xu's heart raced. "This is bad… one tiger could chase me to the edge of death itself. If all three attack together… today might very well be the day I meet my end. I can only hope these brothers of mine—the apes—can hold their ground and buy me some time."
He focused, channeling his energy as he watched the sabertooth prepare its strike. The creature's muscles coiled like a drawn bow, its fur bristling, radiating an aura of chilling slaughter, locking its gaze firmly on him.
With a subtle flick of his arm, Chen Xu was prepared to give the order to the four apes behind him to flee, drawing the sabertooth's attention. The pressure of the predator's presence made the apes tremble like quails, their fear so intense that they involuntarily wet themselves, leaving the grass a mess.
Chen Xu knew that if he gave the signal, the apes would dash away recklessly, shattering the sabertooth's psychic focus and creating an opening for his own escape. What would become of them afterward, he did not know—and he dared not dwell on it. The danger he faced now was unprecedented since his arrival in this world; survival itself was in question.
Then, without warning, an earth-shaking roar ripped through the air. Leaves rustled violently across the primeval forest as countless howls rose in succession, resonating from an unknowable distance.
The sound was so immense that it shook the very dust from the ground. It was a roar worthy of the term "thunderous, shattering the heavens and shaking the spirits," freezing the forest into a momentary silence, as though even time itself had paused in awe.
As the roar cascaded through the land, a series of shrill, contrasting cries erupted in rapid succession, weaving together like a storm gathering force, rumbling with the weight of untold centuries—like mountains of snow collapsing, like the first distant rumbles before a hurricane.
"Wolves? Tigers? Are such creatures even present in this world at this time?" Chen Xu muttered inwardly, his body still coiled for instant action. Yet the peculiarity of these sounds forced him to pause mid-motion, his half-raised arm suspended in air.
Though he could not discern the exact origin, the reaction of the surrounding beasts revealed the magnitude of the change. Even without full understanding, it was clear: this upheaval, whatever its source, was preferable to being singled out by three apex sabertooths.
The first type of howl—whether wolf or otherwise—remained a mystery. The second, however, quickly revealed itself.
Following the subsequent, thunderous cry, two of the three sabertooths nearest Chen Xu froze in disbelief. Their massive bodies quivered, rising onto their hind legs, forepaws stretching skyward. Chen Xu watched, stunned, as their savage heads lifted, and a hurricane of sound erupted from their gaping maws.
The roar itself generated a visible shockwave, radiating outward from the two standing sabertooths. Trees in its path buckled like wheat under a scythe, snapping with resonant cracks under the pressure.
By the time the colossal soundwave reached Chen Xu, his mind buzzed, ears nearly rupturing from the intensity. His cultivation in the Yi Jin Jing had brought him to the early Second Tier—a level few ever reached—but even for someone of his skill, the sheer magnitude of the force was staggering.
Instinctively, his true qi surged through him, cocooning his ears, preventing instant unconsciousness.
Sweeping his gaze to the sides, Chen Xu saw the chaos unleashed. Every creature, beast or ape, predator or prey, tumbled and rolled under the sonic onslaught, sustaining visible injuries.
The four apes behind him fared slightly better. Able to brace themselves with their hands over their ears, they displayed only pained expressions while avoiding total disorientation—a merciful reprieve in the face of nature's cataclysm.