A Blessing in Disguise

In the center of the encirclement, Hagon, trapped by the yellow net, watched the dramatic changes around him with wide eyes. He was quite curious about the white figure that had suddenly appeared.

Just then, a figure darted out from the smoke. It was Yuan Ming, transformed into a White Ape, his Azure Fish Sword turning into a green streak and fiercely slashing at the yellow net.

The Azure Fish Sword was already sharp, and after being infused with mana, its edge became even more pronounced. A gap was immediately cut into the yellow net.

"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to leave first?" Hagon said, lowering his voice and speaking with some urgency upon seeing Yuan Ming.

"Shut up!" Yuan Ming swung his sword down again, and the third ape claw on his chest and abdomen fiercely clawed at the net.

With a "Screech," the yellow net was finally torn open, and Hagon rolled out from within.

"Go!" Yuan Ming, without a word, scooped up Hagon and dashed outwards.

The surrounding encirclement fell into chaos, with smoke filling the air. The two of them easily broke through the layers of blockade and were about to escape the encirclement.

A figure appeared ahead. It was Wulu.

"Wulu!" Yuan Ming's eyes darkened. The Azure Fish Sword in his hand gleamed with a cold light as he slashed down at the opponent's head!

The surrounding smoke would dissipate soon. He couldn't afford to delay here; he had to end this quickly!

Wulu's face showed a complex expression as he dodged to the side, clearing the path.

Yuan Ming's eyes showed surprise, but he didn't stop, darting out of the smoke-filled area.

"Not good, Yuan Ming escaped!" Once they left the encirclement, Yuan Ming and Hagon's figures were clearly revealed. A Furred Beast Slave who had been on guard outside spotted them.

Yuan Ming ignored them and fled towards the misty canyon to the south.

In his White Ape form, he unleashed the Shadowless Step to its extreme. Even with a person on his back, his speed was still incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the dense forest.

A figure suddenly detached itself from the battlefield. It was that white-haired monster, chasing in the direction Yuan Ming and Hagon had fled.

Wubao, Jin Kun, and others soon rushed out of the smoke-filled area, their expressions not looking good.

Their meticulously planned, seemingly foolproof capture plan had been ruined by a white-haired monster that appeared out of nowhere.

"Cough! You can't blame me for this. I held the person off for you. Who knows where that thing came from." Jin Kun shrugged, spreading his hands.

"We didn't catch the person, so the bounty can't be claimed," Wubao said with a grim expression.

"You saw the strength of that white-haired monster just now. I'm afraid even if you and I teamed up, we could barely handle it. While I, Jin Kun, am greedy, I won't risk my brothers' lives," Jin Kun said, licking his slightly chapped lips and letting out a cold laugh.

"If you catch the person, besides what was promised earlier, I will offer further rewards. But I must have him alive," Wubao said in a deep voice.

"I don't know why you're so concerned about that kid. My Hyena Hall won't participate. Until next time. Let's go!" Jin Kun said, beckoning his men to carry the injured and turning to leave.

"Which way did Yuan Ming flee?" Wubao watched the Hyena Hall members gradually disappear into the distance, his eyes red, clearly on the verge of rage. He asked coldly.

"I vaguely seemed to see that he went in that direction. That white-haired monster also chased after him," Wulu pointed towards a direction to the east.

"Chase!" Wubao gave the order and took the lead, heading east, with the others following closely behind.

After the two groups left, the scene fell silent once more.

Just then, a faint rustling sound came from a branch as thick as a child's arm atop a nearby large tree. A Silver Cat emerged with elegant steps.

After licking its body, it raised its head again. Its golden-amber eyes blinked, and it glanced towards the south.

Then, with a light leap, it landed on another nearby tree. After a few more leaps, it had disappeared into the distance.

Yuan Ming, in his White Ape form, carried Hagon and fled with all his might towards the direction of the misty canyon.

Looking at the gradually thickening white mist ahead, Yuan Ming felt a slight relief.

As long as they entered the canyon area, they would basically be safe.

"Brother Yuan, be careful!" Hagon, who was on his back, suddenly exclaimed.

A white figure was silently and swiftly pursuing from behind. It was actually faster than Yuan Ming. In just two or three breaths, it had caught up to Yuan Ming's back and swung a fist towards Hagon's head.

Yuan Ming quickly ducked and rolled to the side.

However, the white-haired monster was too fast. He couldn't completely dodge it. His left shoulder was hit, sending him flying sideways, and Hagon was also flung off his back.

Yuan Ming felt a sharp pain in his left shoulder, half of his body went numb, and a surge of hot blood rushed to his throat, which he forcefully swallowed back down.

The white-haired monster ignored Yuan Ming and instead turned into a white streak, rushing towards Hagon.

"Watch the sword!" Yuan Ming saw that he couldn't rescue Hagon in time. He activated the Essence Accumulating Arm, his right arm instantly thickening by a circle, and threw the Azure Fish Sword.

Whoosh!

The Azure Fish Sword cut through the air, leaving a chilling afterimage, like swift lightning and fierce wind, instantly reaching the white-haired monster.

The white-haired monster swung its fist at the Azure Fish Sword, while its body continued to charge forward.

With a loud "Clang," the Azure Fish Sword was knocked away. The surface of the white-haired monster's fist was cut with a wound so deep it exposed bone.

The power of the Essence Accumulating Arm contained within the Azure Fish Sword surged, causing the white-haired monster's body to sway slightly.

Before the monster could stabilize itself, the ground beneath its feet made a "Rumble" sound. A thick wooden spike emerged. Although it didn't pierce the monster's foot, it still caused its already unstable body to stagger, nearly making it fall.

Yuan Ming seized the opportunity to use the Shadowless Step, appearing beside Hagon in a flash. He grabbed Hagon's body and leaped onto a nearby tree, climbing to the top in a few swift movements.

"Brother Yuan, thank you for saving my life again," Hagon said, opening his blood-soaked mouth and managing a weak smile.

"You can thank me later for saving our lives," Yuan Ming said, leaping away with Hagon.

He hadn't taken Hagon into the canyon. The white-furred monster was too close. Entering the canyon now wouldn't help them shake it off; in such open terrain, they would have no chance of survival.

Only in the familiar forest did they have a sliver of hope.

The white-furred monster steadied itself, roaring with blood-red eyes. Ignoring the injury on its hand, it transformed into a white blur and gave chase.

This monster was incredibly agile, easily climbing large trees and leaping from one to another, not a bit slower than Yuan Ming.

"Hagon, I've noticed that monster's target has always seemed to be you. Have you encountered it before?" Yuan Ming pushed his speed to the limit, managing to create a small distance between himself and the white-furred monster, and asked urgently.

Hagon's expression flickered with unnaturalness, and he remained silent.

Whoosh!

A thick tree trunk shot from behind, aimed at Yuan Ming's back. It was the white-furred monster that had severed a section of a tree and thrown it.

Yuan Ming ducked low and darted sideways, narrowly dodging the attack.

However, this slight delay allowed the distance between them to close considerably.

"Hagon, if you have something to say, say it quickly! If we delay any longer, we'll be caught. I can't fight that monster," Yuan Ming said sternly.

A struggle flashed in Hagon's eyes. He finally made up his mind and spoke, "Brother Yuan, rest assured. I know why it's attacking, and I also know how to defeat it."

As he spoke, he took out a jade bottle from his embrace. He tilted it slightly, and a blood-red bead the size of a pigeon's egg rolled out, emitting an unusually potent aura of vital energy.

"What is this?" Yuan Ming's eyes widened.

The white-furred monster behind them smelled the blood-red bead, its eyes gleaming with greed, and its speed suddenly increased significantly, closing the distance between them to less than thirty feet.

Hagon, however, showed no concern. He waved his arm and threw the blood-red bead far away.

The white-furred monster let out a strange cry and immediately abandoned them, chasing after the blood-red bead.

Yuan Ming was inwardly astonished but said nothing. He turned and ran towards the canyon, leaping into it without hesitation.

Even carrying someone, his White Ape transformation allowed him to climb like a flying monkey. He soon disappeared into the thick mist, reaching the bottom of the valley.

Yuan Ming didn't stop. He ran deeper into the canyon for two to three miles before finally halting.

"The mist here is dense, making it difficult for Wubao and the others to track us. We should be safe for now." He set Hagon down, formed a hand seal to dispel the Fur Transformation Technique, and sat down on the ground, panting.

After several consecutive battles, his magical power was depleted, and his stamina was completely exhausted. He couldn't run anymore.

"Today, I owe you my life, Brother Yuan," Hagon said slowly.

"Wubao and his group were after me anyway, so don't talk about owing me. What exactly is that white-furred monster, and why was it chasing you? And what is that blood-red bead?" Yuan Ming asked after catching his breath and his energy gradually stabilizing.

"It's a long story. That blood-red bead is called a Blood Pellet. It only forms within a Rank 1 Upper-class Fierce Beast and can be considered the essence of its entire vital energy," Hagon explained.

"A Rank 1 Upper-class Fierce Beast! How did you kill it?" Yuan Ming was quite shocked.

With his current strength, he wouldn't dare to provoke a Rank 1 Upper-class Fierce Beast.

"I don't have that kind of skill. I happened to encounter a severely injured and dying Upper-class Fierce Beast earlier, and I managed to obtain that Blood Pellet from its corpse. That's when the white-furred monster started targeting me," Hagon said with a wry smile.

"That monster is powerful. How did you escape?" Yuan Ming, still somewhat disbelieving, pressed on.

"The monster was injured at the time, and I had a sealing-type talisman on me, which allowed me to escape by sheer luck. I didn't expect it to still be chasing me after all this time," Hagon sighed.

"So that's how it was. But this can be considered a blessing in disguise. If that monster hadn't shown up, we might have been finished by Wubao's group. Now, even though you threw away the Blood Pellet, there's no guarantee that the monster won't pursue us again. Recover quickly." Yuan Ming nodded, then went to a corner and sat down cross-legged, beginning to circulate his energy.

Hagon's injuries had been aggravated by the white-furred monster's punch, and every part of his body ached. He also sat down cross-legged and began to circulate his energy to heal.

About half an hour later, Yuan Ming was the first to open his eyes.

With the help of the Nine Yuan Art, his magical power had fully recovered, and his stamina was almost completely replenished.

The surroundings were quiet, with no signs of abnormality. It seemed the white-furred monster had left after obtaining the Blood Pellet and hadn't pursued them further.