First Intimate Contact

From Qingshan Town, one could enter the depths of the Magical Beast Forest. Beyond the Magical Beast Forest lay the Snake-People tribe's Tagor Desert.

According to Nalan Chaoge's arrangements, the ultimate destination of this training journey was the Tagor Desert.

At the very least, the desert had Qing Lin, the Green Lotus Core Flame, and Medusa.

But compared to Xiao Yan, Nalan Chaoge decisively gave those things up for the chance to spend time alone with Nalan Yanran.

Speaking of training, the four of them did not leave the Magical Beast Forest. Instead, they traveled north along its edge, which also counted as a form of cultivation.

Kill monsters, gain levels!

With Ge Ye, a Seven-star Great Dou Shi, watching over them, there was no real danger.

"Be careful. This is a Tier 2 Magical Beast, a Snake-tailed Leopard!"

At the edge of the forest, the three of them surrounded a Snake-tailed Leopard, and Nalan Yanran called out softly.

Nalan Chaoge and Yun Feng each drew their weapons.

In Nalan Chaoge's hand was the Fiery Poison Seal Whip, forged from the Living Dragon Tendon gifted to him by Nalan Jie.

"A Tier 2 Magical Beast is equivalent to a human Dou Master, and this Snake-tailed Leopard is incredibly fast. Be careful of the snake tail on its tail. Watch its tail closely!"

Ge Ye reminded them from the side.

Upon closer inspection, the Snake-tailed Leopard's tail was actually a venomous snake over a meter long, its tongue flickering with soft hisses.

The Snake-tailed Leopard was a fusion of a venomous snake and a leopard.

It was one of the most formidable Tier 2 Magical Beasts.

With a leopard's immense speed and strength, coupled with a venomous snake tail, even ordinary Dou Masters would keep their distance when facing one.

"The usual rules. Brother Yun Feng and I will attack, Sis, you defend!" Nalan Chaoge shouted softly. He exchanged a glance with Yun Feng, and the two charged at the Snake-tailed Leopard.

"Wind Spirit Fractal Sword!" Yun Feng gave a low shout as well. His longsword split off an energy afterimage sword that sped toward the Snake-tailed Leopard.

The energy afterimage sword was extremely fast. Nalan Chaoge had only sprinted a few meters when it had already shot toward the Snake-tailed Leopard.

Pfft!

The energy afterimage sword left a bloody mark on the Snake-tailed Leopard's body.

A Tier 2 Magical Beast truly was formidable. That attack had not caused it any substantial damage.

Roar!

The Snake-tailed Leopard threw its head back and roared, then turned to charge at Yun Feng.

But during that brief delay, Nalan Chaoge had already rushed over.

The Snake-tailed Leopard immediately turned around, and its snake tail lashed at Nalan Chaoge like a whip.

"Xiao Ge, watch out for its tail!"

Nalan Yanran's heart suddenly skipped a beat. At the same time, her longsword released an energy afterimage sword that struck the Snake-tailed Leopard.

The Snake-tailed Leopard lunged forward, evading Nalan Yanran's attack while charging at Nalan Chaoge.

Nalan Chaoge leaned backward and slid across the ground, ending up directly beneath the leaping Snake-tailed Leopard.

He planted one hand on the ground to halt his slide. Lotus Flower!

Bang!

Nalan Chaoge delivered a heavy blow to the Snake-tailed Leopard's lower abdomen.

This move could normally kick an object weighing several hundred pounds high into the air, but when Nalan Chaoge's foot struck the Snake-tailed Leopard's abdomen, it actually sank in.

The sensation of striking cotton made the blood and energy in Nalan Chaoge's body churn violently.

"Watch out!"

His strike had missed!

The Snake-tailed Leopard was still in midair, but its snake tail suddenly curved around. With its tongue flickering, it lunged straight for Nalan Chaoge's head.

Everyone was startled.

The Snake-tailed Leopard's snake tail was highly venomous. A bite anywhere else might not be fatal, but if it bit his neck or eyes, there would be no saving him!

No one had expected the Snake-tailed Leopard's soft abdomen to be able to absorb force.

Nalan Chaoge was startled as well.

He lashed his whip toward a nearby tree and pulled hard, causing the whip to drag him rapidly backward.

At the same time, two energy afterimage swords shot toward the beast with two puffs.

Barely avoiding the Snake-tailed Leopard's attack, Nalan Chaoge landed against a large tree, gasping for breath.

If his reaction had been even a fraction slower, he might have been finished.

Damn it, being with these people really makes me feel restrained.

By my usual fighting style, I should use Shadow Clones and the Eight Inner Gates, then combine them with the Rasengan. I could definitely kill this thing instantly.

But now, those count as my trump cards. I absolutely can't reveal them.

Unlike ordinary Clone Techniques, Shadow Clones were solid and could attack. They could be used in all kinds of ninjutsu, but if they suffered a fatal blow, they would disappear.

Everything each clone experienced before disappearing would be transmitted back to the original body.

"Xiao Ge, are you all right?" Nalan Yanran asked worriedly.

"Sis, I'm fine! This beast's body can absorb force. Close-range attacks are useless against it!" Nalan Chaoge said, panting.

"You defend. Yanran and I will attack!" Yun Feng said calmly as he charged forward.

Yun Feng and Nalan Yanran both wielded swords. Even if the Snake-tailed Leopard could absorb force, it could not avoid the sharpness of their blades.

Calling it defense was merely keeping watch and preventing it from escaping.

The Misty Cloud Sect's sword Battle Skills truly lived up to their reputation. With just the two of them working together, they suppressed the Snake-tailed Leopard until it charged left and right in vain. Before long, its body was covered in blood.

Nalan Yanran and Yun Feng had trained together at the Misty Cloud Sect, so they understood each other's moves and strength extremely well.

You advance, I retreat. You attack, I defend!

It also made Nalan Chaoge realize that a team's strength was definitely not as simple as one plus one equaling two.

The most important thing was to quickly build his own team.

Roar!

The Snake-tailed Leopard, pinned down and unable to move, let out a furious roar!

"Careful, it's about to go berserk!"

"Fall back!"

"Retreat, now!"

Ge Ye and Nalan Chaoge shouted at the same time.

But how could Nalan Yanran and Yun Feng possibly be faster than the Snake-tailed Leopard?

Just as Nalan Chaoge shouted for them to retreat, the Snake-tailed Leopard endured a hit from the Fractal Sword and lashed Yun Feng away with its tail.

Then, with another leap, it crashed toward Nalan Yanran.

Ge Ye was frightened out of his wits.

If Nalan Yanran was injured, it would be a grave failure on his part.

Whoosh!

Ge Ye moved, rushing into the battlefield.

But Ge Ye was still one step too late.

Just as the Snake-tailed Leopard was about to collide with Nalan Yanran, she suddenly rose into the air.

The moment Nalan Chaoge had shouted for them to retreat, his whip had already wrapped around Nalan Yanran's body. With a flick of his wrist, he reeled her back.

He caught her slender waist and securely sheltered Nalan Yanran in his arms.

Softness filled his hand. Nalan Chaoge's heart stirred, and for no reason at all, his heart suddenly trembled.

The past few days of fighting had left a faint sheen of sweat on the young woman's body. Her delicate fragrance, enough to make one's blood race, nearly made Nalan Chaoge's blood surge.

This...

It was also Nalan Yanran's first time being so close to a man. Even though he was her younger brother, why was her face burning so hot?

For an instant, it was as though time had stopped.