Chapter 147: Murder (5)

In a jungle where attacks could happen at any moment, encountering wild beasts was terrifying, and encountering them in a completely unfamiliar jungle fraught with peril at every turn was even more terrifying.

Yet, the terror of that moment was overshadowed because the beast in question was a Desolate Beast—one comparable to cultivators in the third realm of Dao Transformation, and furthermore, a creature that had lived in this jungle for years and knew its terrain intimately.

Like cultivators, Desolate Beasts varied in strength within the same realm. A weaker one might be handled by Su Fan and Yuming joining forces, but a strong one would likely leave even the Junior Uncle with no choice but to flee.

Although the approaching Desolate Beast’s strength remained unknown, it would be troublesome either way. Even if they managed to defeat it, the toll would be heavy, and casualties were entirely possible.

Granted, Desolate Beasts possessed immense value. Their hides could be crafted into defensive armor, their blood and cores used to refine medicinal pills, and even their bones made exceptional materials for forging magical treasures—all commanding exorbitant prices.

However, this entire group together possessed only the strength to defeat it, not to kill it. Even if it were the weakest of Desolate Beasts, slaying it was utterly out of the question.

Out of caution, Su Fan ordered the troop to halt. If they could evade the beast, all the better; if not, they must not fight to the death. Under no circumstances would Su Fan allow casualties before they even encountered their true enemies.

Rumbling roars and fierce screeches echoed in their ears. Several timid disciples had long since turned pale, biting their bloodless lips tightly and trembling uncontrollably as memories of the terrifying and brutally cruel legends about Desolate Beasts, once told by their predecessors, surged into their minds.

Su Fan could not help casting a glance at the stern-faced Yuming, lowering his voice to ask, "Do you have any magical treasures that can conceal our presence and aura?" Desolate beasts were terrifying, and avoiding one would be no shame at all.

The disciples quickly turned their gazes toward the prodigy of their sect. Since he was a prodigy, the sect would undoubtedly have heavily invested in him, and with such heavy investment, wondrous treasures and pills should certainly not be lacking.

With hope reignited, their nerves were acutely sensitive. Everyone looked at Yuming with expectant eyes, praying only for survival.

"No," Yuming shook his head helplessly, his gaze sinking deep as he continued, "Even if I did, it would be useless. Desolate Beasts are of a very high grade, and since they are nurtured by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, their sensory perception is exceptionally strong and sensitive to fluctuations in spiritual energy."

The newly risen hope was instantly dashed, and the disciples' despair deepened. Who could have imagined that mere entry into this valley would bring mortal danger?

"If I had known it would be like this, I’d rather have stayed on the mountain for the rest of my life than..."

One terrified disciple finally failed to restrain himself, trembling as he uttered the words, though lingering awe of Yuming stopped him from finishing the sentence.

Yet, even unsaid, everyone knew what he meant: he would not have ended up dying here like this.

Su Fan’s expression turned icy as he sharply reprimanded, "Would staying on that mountain keep you safe? If you remain so cowardly and afraid of death, the Profound Mystery Sect will soon be conquered by the Everlasting Joy Sect, and your deaths then will be utterly wretched."

This was the first time Su Fan had ever lost his temper. Such severity from him was a novelty to the disciples, and the effect was immediate. They all lowered their heads, submitting to the rebuke like scolded children.

"Since you came to participate in this trial, it was for the sake of tempering yourselves. The executive disciples who taught you went through these very trials. Have they never taught you that cultivators without tempering are merely greenhouse flowers, unable to withstand wind and rain?"

"Although you were once the cream of the crop within your respective factions and the objects of worship among junior disciples, once you step outside the mountain gates, you are nothing. Everything must be earned through strength."

"Right now, it is merely the presence of a single Desolate Beast. We are not dead yet, and where there is life, there is hope. As long as we live, we cannot retreat."

At such a juncture, faltering morale was a fatal taboo. Therefore, the moment the first person thought of retreating, Su Fan decisively rejected it and sternly pointed out their error. Regardless of whether the arguments were sound, stabilizing morale was paramount.

Suddenly, a foul wind swept past, and several giant trees crashed to the ground. The earth beneath their feet shook violently as one of the cultivators cried out, "The Desolate Beast is coming!"

Within their line of sight, a fiery red shadow flashed into view. Staring in alarm, they saw a mountain-like red beast standing merely thirty feet away.

"The Profound Fire Crystal Beast!"

Yuming’s expression shifted drastically, a flash of hard-to-read excitement crossing his features as he cried out in a trembling voice, "This Profound Fire Crystal Beast commands fire; its flames can swallow the heavens and devour the earth. Everyone, protect yourselves!"

Su Fan’s expression remained unchanged as he forced himself to stand straight, staring at the beast. Though he appeared utterly calm, panic raged within his heart. Yet he could not afford to panic; if he faltered, this band of cultivators would be buried right here.

"Let's observe it first," Su Fan whispered.

Yuming nodded slightly, quietly pulling out a yellowish willow branch and silently executing hand incantations, ready to strike the moment the beast charged.

Su Fan formed hand seals as well, sending barrier after barrier into the surrounding air. While these restrictions were insufficient to harm the Desolate Beast, they might at least buy a moment of delay.

Even as he formed his seals, his eyes never once left the Profound Fire Crystal Beast. The beast was entirely crimson, its gigantic head crowned with a pair of ugly, curved horns, and its thick limbs crouched against the earth in a pouncing stance.

Suddenly, a brilliant flash crossed Su Fan’s eyes, and he murmured softly, "It appears to be injured."

Yuming abruptly raised his head, sweeping his divine sense over the creature before joyfully exclaiming, "Indeed, it is injured, and quite severely at that."

A faint smile touched Su Fan’s lips as he affirmed, "The wound is on its abdomen, which is why its movements appear somewhat sluggish. Even if we ran now, it wouldn't pursue us. But... who could have injured it to this extent?"

Yuming did not answer Su Fan. Instead, he slowly stood up, his stern eyes fixed unwaveringly on the Profound Fire Crystal Beast. Hand seals rapidly formed, and the withered yellow willow branch quickly radiated a deep green, ghostly luminescence.

Su Fan froze, staring blankly at Yuming. It wasn't until Yuming stepped ten feet forward that Su Fan realized Yuming intended to kill the beast. Panic gripped his heart, and he cried out frantically, "Senior Brother, no!"

His warning came too late. Three willow leaves had already shot toward the Profound Fire Crystal Beast, striking squarely into its existing wound. The blow tore the already elongated gash even wider, and under the excruciating pain, an earth-shattering roar echoed through the mountain forest.

The Profound Fire Crystal Beast lashed out with its massive claws at Yuming, who nimbly dodged aside. Given the beast's current condition, its movements were far too clumsy to match Yuming’s agility.

Having evaded several attacks, the beast’s fury soared. It abruptly halted in place, keeping its giant jaws clamped shut as its head swelled visibly.

Su Fan’s expression tightened as he gasped, "Not good!"

A massive fireball erupted from the beast's jaws. Yuming felt an overwhelmingly terrifying aura bearing down on him and was forced to scramble desperately out of the way. Yet the fireball seemed fueled by an eternal flame, refusing to extinguish even in this moisture-laden environment.

It ignited the rotting leaves on the forest floor, and fanned by the wind kicked up by the beast's movements, the fire spread with terrifying speed. Within moments, a vast expanse of the ground was engulfed in raging flames.

Amidst the roaring blaze, Yuming could only dodge. Fortunately, his footwork remained nimble, allowing him to narrowly escape the fireballs hurtling toward him time and again.

Yet the Profound Fire Crystal Beast seemed possessed by an undying hatred, relentlessly pursuing Yuming without a single pause.

As the chase wore on, Yuming gradually grew weary. For one, his spiritual energy was depleting too rapidly; for another, this Desolate Beast possessed immense intelligence, even employing rudimentary tactics in its attacks.

Consequently, several wounds soon appeared on Yuming’s own body. Driven to exasperation, Yuming lashed out with his whip. The willow branch could lengthen or shorten at will, and even though Su Fan and the beast were several yards apart, the strike connected.

The Profound Fire Crystal Beast shuddered violently, let out a thunderous roar, and lunged furiously at Yuming. Unflinching, Yuming lashed out once more, striking one of the beast's horns squarely.

A mist of blood exploded into the air, and one of the beast's horns snapped off and fell to the ground. The Profound Fire Crystal Beast seemed to instantly wither, its movements slowing dramatically.

Yuming let out a cold snort and slowly advanced toward the beast, raising his whip for another strike, when a small fireball suddenly spat from the beast's jaws, slamming directly into Yuming's chest.

Yuming was hurled backward through the air, fresh blood spilling from the corners of his mouth. A glaring, scorched wound appeared across his chest, clearly a severe injury.

Shock surged through Su Fan. He darted forward, landing before Yuming while executing hand seals with lightning speed. Instantly, the surrounding spiritual energy coalesced violently around the Profound Fire Crystal Beast.

Having exhausted itself in its previous desperate lunge, the beast, despite recognizing the mortal danger, lacked the strength to evade and could only glare at the two cultivators with bloodshot eyes.

At that very moment, tongues of flame erupted across the Profound Fire Crystal Beast's body, within which a fiery red finger manifested. The beast began to thrash and roar in frantic agony, yet utterly paralyzed and unable to move, it could only emit mournful, tragic wails.

An aura akin to that of a primordial ancestor descended upon the beast, forcing it to the ground. In a bizarre and surreal scene, the Profound Fire Crystal Beast slowly lowered its forelegs into a kneeling posture, gazing with utmost piety upon the flames and the spectral finger.

Even Su Fan had not anticipated that his Purple Shadow Phantom Immortal Finger would undergo such a profound transformation, the original purple Qi now replaced by blazing fire.

Leaving no time for hesitation, Su Fan silently pointed his finger forward.

The finger fell, and the Profound Fire Crystal Beast perished.

Yuming scrambled hastily to his feet, lunging toward the carcass as he whispered urgently, "Quickly, extract its bone marrow!"

Though utterly bewildered as to why his normally composed Senior Brother was acting with such reckless haste today, Su Fan saw that the beast was already dead and raised no further objections. He slowly approached the carcass.

"You all truly possess formidable strength. To be able to slay such a Desolate Beast—truly, you have opened my eyes."

A voice, both intimately familiar and intensely loathsome, drifted over. Su Fan frowned slightly, ignoring the speaker as he continued to examine the beast.

Moments later, a group of fifteen figures clad in black robes stepped out from the shadows of the trees.