Qiu Changan presented a look of confusion. "Do these beasts also divide themselves into factions?"
Just then, intense fighting and wailing sounds came from deep within the dense forest ahead.
"There are still people in the mountains?"
Qiu Changan shivered instantly, his footsteps quickening.
At the same time, he reached for several talismans from his waist, sticking them to his arms and legs, and then began to circulate a special cultivation technique.
With a surge of origin qi within his body, in the blink of an eye, he merged completely with his surroundings, making it impossible to discern his trace.
During his years in the Xuntian Division, Qiu Changan had learned many magical techniques besides his main cultivation technique.
Among them, this technique, "Spirit Dragon Mimicry Art," which could conceal his aura and presence, had been cultivated by him to the great accomplishment stage.
Once this cultivation technique was activated, even cultivators a realm higher than him would find it difficult to discover his whereabouts.
This was also the confidence Qiu Changan had in venturing to Xian Zong Mountain alone.
Soon, Qiu Changan followed the sound and found the location of the fight.
"What is this?"
But when he saw the scene before him clearly, his eyes widened involuntarily.
The ground was strewn with the corpses of monster beasts, almost dyeing the entire mountain forest a scarlet hue.
Not far away, two figures were engaged in a fierce battle, the fluctuations of their exchange even leveling nearby mountain tops.
Of the two combatants, one was clearly at a disadvantage, constantly retreating.
Innumerable monster beasts also stood still around them, surrounding the two as if awaiting a result.
"Dream Lotus Lord!"
Qiu Changan's heart trembled violently.
The one with the advantage in the fight was the Dream Lotus Lord, dressed in white.
And his opponent was a burly, towering man.
That man was covered in wounds. Although human-shaped, the immense demonic aura emanating from him made Qiu Changan frown.
"The Dream Lotus Lord is indeed here, and the other person appears to be a transformed demonic beast, someone who looks somewhat familiar.
Hmm? It's Earth Lion!"
At this moment, Dream Lotus Lord also spoke.
"Earth Lion, you are no match for me!
Surrender obediently, and perhaps you might spare your life."
"Dream on if you want me to surrender!"
The burly man named Earth Lion did not flinch, still resisting desperately.
"Stubborn fool, then die!"
Dream Lotus Lord sighed, his eyes suddenly becoming sharp.
His demonic power surged, and he struck Earth Lion with a palm, not holding back.
The immense pressure pinned Earth Lion to the spot, attempting to break free but unable to move.
At the brink of death, Earth Lion hurriedly shouted:
"Dream Lotus, aren't you afraid of retaliation from the human cultivators here if you kill me?
You know the consequences if these human sects lose my suppression."
"Heh heh, them?"
Dream Lotus Lord's eyes held a hint of disdain.
"The human sects are filled with useless Taoist priests with weak magic, I can crush them with a flick of my wrist!
Only Old Daoist Qingmu from Coiled Dragon Temple has some skill; the rest are not worth mentioning."
"You might not fear them, but what about the people from the Great Yu Dynasty? If they send experts, can you resist them alone without me to keep them occupied?"
Earth Lion said, attempting to break free from Dream Lotus Lord's confinement.
"Great Yu? Heh heh, they can't spare the time right now."
Dream Lotus Lord chuckled lightly, then pointed to the sky.
Qiu Changan followed his gaze.
The sky was clear, without a cloud in sight, and a bright red full moon hung high in the firmament.
"Blood Moon!" Earth Lion exclaimed.
"Blood Moon?"
Qiu Changan was also somewhat puzzled. Staring at the red moon, he felt a chill run down his spine.
When the originally bright moon was stained with a blood-like red, it looked ominous no matter how he looked at it.
"So that's how it is, so that's how it is, you actually plan to..."
Before Earth Lion could finish speaking, Dream Lotus Lord interrupted him.
"The Blood Moon has risen... otherwise, why do you think I would make a move on you now?
Earth Lion, you are merely a lowly demonic beast, reaching your current position through sheer luck, yet you still cannot see the situation clearly.
Do you think you are valuable? That I wouldn't dare to act against you?
Ridiculous!
In my eyes, you are simply utterly foolish!"
As Dream Lotus Lord's voice fell, he instantly unleashed his full power. His fair palm, infused with a formidable demonic force, slammed towards Earth Lion's head.
Earth Lion's eyes widened in panic as he roared: "No, I'm willing..."
Before he could finish, a 'crack' was heard.
Earth Lion's entire head was smashed into pieces like a watermelon, and his massive body then collapsed powerlessly onto the ground.
"Alas, I was a bit too heavy-handed. I should have left you with your whole body.
Now I have to compensate for this, it's quite troublesome!"
Dream Lotus Lord chuckled, shook his head, and with a wave of his right hand, Earth Lion's corpse was absorbed into his sleeve.
Qiu Changan watched this scene with a chill running down his spine.
He knew how formidable the demon beast named Earth Lion was.
Humans and these demonic creatures had been in conflict for a long time. In Wioska Luoyun, records and investigations were kept on these more troublesome demonic creatures.
Especially these powerful, human-like transformed demonic beasts posed a great threat.
They not only appeared at night but could also linger in a place for a long time, establishing their territory, or disguise themselves and infiltrate human cities. Once they attacked, they could cause immense disaster.
According to records from the Xuntian Division, Earth Lion was a transformed demonic beast recorded in Wioska Luoyun as having permanently resided deep within Xian Zong Mountain.
Many local sects had attempted to subjugate it in the past, but all failed, and some sects even suffered heavy losses.
Yet, such a terrifying old monster died so easily in the hands of Dream Lotus Lord.
"Earth Lion was actually killed. What does Dream Lotus Lord want with Earth Lion's corpse?
And what is his goal? What is the effect of the Blood Moon?
Damn it, couldn't he have waited for Earth Lion to finish speaking before acting?"
Qiu Changan cursed inwardly a few times, growing increasingly anxious.
"I need to report this to the superiors quickly."
Just as Qiu Changan turned to leave, Dream Lotus Lord's light laughter echoed.
"So a little mouse has snuck in. Watching for so long, are you going to leave without saying hello?"
Hearing this, Qiu Changan felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, a chill rising from his feet to the top of his head.
"Heh heh."
The laughter came again, and Qiu Changan felt like he had been struck by lightning.
His throat felt sweet, and a mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth.
"Pfft!"
"I've been discovered, run!"
Qiu Changan endured the discomfort and decisively unleashed his escape technique with all his might.
The phantom image of a golden core slowly materialized, emitting wisps of spiritual energy that enveloped Qiu Changan's entire body.
He no longer cared about concealing his presence, channeling all his magical power into boosting his escape technique, seeking only maximum speed.
Dream Lotus Lord watched the fleeing figure without choosing to pursue. Instead, he mused:
"Blue clothes? Looks like a Golden Core cultivator from the Great Yu Dynasty's Xuntian Division!
Hmm, this is also good...".
Dream Lotus Lord's eyes rolled around, thinking about something.
After a long while, his lips moved: "Set off for the next location!"
......
As Qiu Changan ran, he found the mountain forest ahead was shrouded in a thick fog.
A gray mist, originating from an unknown source, had completely covered the path he had come from, making direction indistinguishable!
"Damn it! Where did this mist come from? It can actually block divine sense!"
Qiu Changan sensed the gray mist and, seeing no apparent danger, plunged into it without a second thought.
After all, being lost in the fog was better than facing that terrifying demon beast directly...
Meanwhile, in an inn in Miasto Heqiu.
Liu Mingyue was looking with sparkling eyes at the man standing before her, who was shirtless.
In front of her was a large wooden tub, and the person sitting in it was Lin Wansheng.
"I truly didn't expect that in less than half a day, you could temper your entire body's flesh and even absorb most of this medicinal soup, pushing your flesh to the great accomplishment stage.
My goodness, how did you manage it?"
"That's my extraordinary talent!" Lin Wansheng smiled.
At this moment, his skin was all red, and white steam was rising from his body, making him look like he had been boiled.
But Lin Wansheng felt an indescribable sense of fullness.
He felt that his entire body was filled with strength, his vital energy exceptionally abundant, giving him the feeling that he could kill a cow with his bare hands.
What he didn't tell Liu Mingyue was that there were many pills in the Wszechstronny Sklep similar to Crimson Fire Body Pill, which could increase a martial artist's physical strength and potential.
It was understandable why his martial arts aptitude was rated as mediocre by the system.
He had almost redeemed them all before barely reaching the great accomplishment stage of flesh tempering.
"Even when I trained my skin back then, it took me a full seven days. You accomplished it in half a day. Your talent is no less than Huang Yulou's.
I suspect you might have been an idiot before. Otherwise, with such talent, why did you remain at the first realm, first layer of martial arts for so many years?"
Liu Mingyue said, expressing her frustration.
Lin Wansheng's face darkened. "Speak properly! Haven't you heard the saying, 'A prodigal son returning is worth more than gold'?"
"Quickly tell me, how do I cultivate the next realm, the Bone and Tendon Realm!"