Preparations for Battle!

The flock of birds took flight in alarm,

Beneath a hundred-meter-tall ancient tree, the Cat-Ear Clan gathered together, their gazes vigilant to the extreme.

"Human, was this where the Signal Flare was fired?"

Mu Kang swallowed and cautiously looked up.

The canopy was lush with branches and leaves, but with his eyesight, he could still see that there was no one up there.

Whoosh!

Mu Kang quietly let out a breath of relief.

"Young clan chief, the Sharp-Horned Rat has the sharpest sense of smell. It has confirmed that this is where the Signal Flare was activated, but..."

The clansman speaking also looked up at the canopy and hesitated.

"That human probably never landed. He flew away directly, and even the Sharp-Horned Rat cannot track his location. What should we do next?"

"What should we do?"

Mu Kang muttered, turning to look at the gathered clansmen awaiting his orders.

Being able to fly meant at least second-rank high-level strength.

With so many clansmen and exotic beasts on their side, a second-rank high-level opponent was indeed nothing much.

But that was only the minimum!

And the other party was human!

At that thought, Mu Kang's eyes instantly cleared, and he said without hesitation,

"Everyone, withdraw to the camp immediately and prepare to leave the rift."

"Huh?"

Everyone froze. Quite a few clansmen protested unwillingly,

"Young clan chief, we're not searching for the rift anymore? What about the Azure Envoy's orders?"

Mu Kang stared at the speaking clansmen. Seeing the greed in their eyes, he could not help frowning.

"You can't even see a shadow, and you still want to search for the rift?"

"I'll handle the Azure Envoy's inquiries. Return at once!"

Mu Kang turned and left, shaking his head inwardly.

A pack of idiots. He was clearly trying to save them...

Plop!

A Cat-Ear Clan head rolled down in front of him, blocking the way.

"What!"

Mu Kang's pupils shrank. Like a cat with its fur standing on end, he abruptly arched his back and leaped away.

"The human! The human is here!"

Cries of alarm rang out as the Cat-Ear Clan immediately raised their weapons and formed a defensive formation.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

The beast herd descended into chaos. In the blink of an eye, one exotic beast after another turned into showers of blood.

"Where is the human?!"

All the Cat-Ear Clan members panicked, their eyes following the fleeing exotic beasts as they searched in every direction.

Yet apart from the drifting rain of blood, they could not see a single figure.

Monster killed. Martial Dao Space experience +3. Available time increased by 3 years.

Monster killed. Martial Dao Space experience +80. Available time increased by 80 years.

Monster killed. Martial Dao Space experience +8. Available time increased by 8 years.

Monster killed. Martial Dao Space experience +100. Available time increased by 100 years.

The panel notifications flashed wildly.

A smile gradually curled onto Li Qingshan's lips. His Celestial Net Mystic Steps grew ever lighter as he appeared beside one exotic beast after another.

In less than a minute,

More than a hundred exotic beasts, whether first-rank or second-rank, were wiped out without exception. Not even their corpses remained.

Blood soaked into the soil, and scraps of flesh blanketed the dead leaves. A pair of feet landed silently.

Li Qingshan turned to look at the hundred-plus Cat-Ear Clan members. The excitement between his brows faded, leaving only disappointment.

"Your skill at taming exotic beasts has satisfied me."

"But why aren't you Evil God Cultists?!"

At this moment, he could already confirm that this group of Cat-Ear Clan members before him were all weaklings.

The first one he had killed had merely been a test.

But ordinary Cat-Ear Clan members gave no experience and did not count as "monsters"!

That was why he had turned around and targeted the exotic beasts first.

"H-Human!"

All the Cat-Ear Clan members trembled from head to toe, their eyes filled with boundless terror.

Greed could only give them courage for a moment, but their fear of humans had been carved into their bones.

Especially now,

The human youth stood upon a carpet of blood, yet not a drop stained his blade!

"Run!"

That cry seemed like a signal, and all the Cat-Ear Clan members scattered and fled.

Li Qingshan ignored them. His gaze shifted toward a point several hundred meters away.

From the moment the first Cat-Ear Clan member died, that Cat Clan Youth had quietly withdrawn. Only now did he shoot into the sky.

"Rather clever."

Li Qingshan's lips curled as he stomped down hard with his right foot.

Boom!

The ground cracked apart. Spiderweb fissures tore through the bloody carpet as his body shattered the sound barrier.

In midair, a streak of purple lightning flashed and vanished. The Cat-Ear Youth became a rain of blood that filled the sky.

The purple light instantly turned back, slicing toward another Cat-Ear Clan member.

"Faster!!!"

"Run faster! Don't block me!"

"Please, don't kill me!"

More than a hundred Cat-Ear Clan members either fled in blind panic or dropped to their knees to beg for mercy.

But the purple lightning was like Death's scythe, never pausing for even a moment. Every appearance brought another spray of blood.

In mere seconds, every Cat-Ear Clan member died beneath the blade.

Li Qingshan suddenly stopped and turned to stare a thousand meters away.

Within the forest, a round-bodied Cat-Ear Youth was running wildly toward him with puffing breaths.

Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on the youth's clothes.

"He's actually wearing cloth?"

Every Cat-Ear Clan member he had seen so far wore animal hides. Anyone able to wear cloth clearly had no ordinary status.

Li Qingshan tapped lightly with his right foot and instantly appeared before the Cat-Ear Youth, pressing his left hand against the youth's head.

"Did you come here willingly to die?"

Shan Bin shrank his neck, but still stubbornly raised his head, his eyes full of anxiety.

"Human! Have you seen Mu Duo?"

"Human, release Prince Shanbin!"

An angry shout came from afar. A streak of azure light tore through the air and arrived overhead in the blink of an eye.

"At least third-rank mid-level!"

Li Qingshan's gaze sharpened. The Thunderclap Saber in his right hand immediately moved to Shan Bin's neck.

The Azure-Clad Middle-Aged Man's face was ashen, but inwardly, he let out a sigh of relief.

Good. He was alive!

The human before him was clearly ruthless. What he feared most was Shan Bin being casually killed.

Holding Shan Bin hostage, Li Qingshan looked up at the Azure-Clad Middle-Aged Man and understood.

"So he's important?"

"Yes, extremely important! He is His Majesty's most favored prince!"

The Azure-Clad Middle-Aged Man did not hesitate to reveal Shan Bin's importance and said seriously,

"Human, I can 'escort' you all the way back to the rift, on the condition that you do not harm the prince in the slightest!"

"Fine!"

Li Qingshan nodded directly.

If he killed Shan Bin, he would never shake off this man's pursuit.

Besides, the rift was only second-rank. He had no fear of the Azure-Clad Middle-Aged Man discovering it.

The three of them rose into the air, two in front and one behind, flying toward the depths of the mountain forest.

The blade rested beneath his neck, yet Shan Bin was no longer afraid. Instead, he shouted,

"Human, you still haven't answered my question!"

"Never seen her." Li Qingshan looked impatient.

"Impossible. This Star Realm has not fully formed yet, and it isn't large. Mu Duo disappeared more than twenty days ago. She must have reached your human territory!"

Shan Bin grew ever more anxious, his voice carrying a trace of pleading.

"Human, please. As long as you return Mu Duo, I'll agree to anything!"

"A lovesick fool?"

Li Qingshan looked at him in surprise, the corners of his mouth rising unconsciously.

"Now that you mention it, I seem to have some impression. Were her ears fluffy?"

"Her ears! You touched her ears?!" Shan Bin's face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Only her ears—no, and her hair too." Li Qingshan's expression turned solemn.

"I guarantee I only touched her ears and hair!"

"Phew! Then that's all right." Shan Bin accepted it awkwardly and sighed.

"Human, name your terms. What will it take for you to return Mu Duo?"

"Flame Sun Elixir, Primal Dragon Sand, White Tiger Pearl..."

As soon as Li Qingshan opened his mouth, a string of names poured out.

Shan Bin's eyes widened, and he said angrily,

"Impossible! Those are all top-tier heavenly treasures!"

After traveling at full speed over several thousand kilometers, the fifty-meter-long Star Realm Rift was already right before them.

The Azure-Clad Middle-Aged Man hovered in midair. He glanced at the rift and consciously stopped a thousand meters away.

"Human, I hope you will keep your word!"

Li Qingshan smiled but ignored him, holding Shan Bin hostage as he stopped before the rift.

"Not even one of them?" Li Qingshan's voice carried disappointment as he patted Shan Bin's shoulder.

"Then I'm sorry. You can only bid farewell to your Mu Duo forever."

"No, I do! I do!" Shan Bin's face turned pale as he hurriedly said,

"The Royal Treasury has Purple Ganoderma Herb!"

Purple Ganoderma Herb, a seventh-transformation limit-breaking heavenly treasure!

Li Qingshan's eyes lit up. He glanced at the Azure-Clad Middle-Aged Man, then looked back at Shan Bin with a meaningful gaze.

"Fine. I'll stake my Martial Dao future on it: after I leave, I absolutely won't touch Mu Duo!

"I hope that the next time I see you, I'll see the Purple Ganoderma Herb."

With that, Li Qingshan stepped one foot into the rift while preparing to release Shan Bin.

But unexpectedly, a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

Shan Bin's face was full of pleading.

"Human, I want to go with you and see Mu Duo!"

"No!"

The furious roar shook the air as the Azure-Clad Middle-Aged Man's brows shot up.

He could tolerate this ridiculous love. He could even tolerate the promise of heavenly treasures.

But now, he suspected Shan Bin had no brains at all!

Li Qingshan also sighed in relief inwardly. With regret on his face, he patted Shan Bin's arm.

"You see, I wanted to invite you over as a guest too. What a pity."

"Young man, work hard! Strive to reunite with Mu Duo soon!"

As his voice fell, his figure silently withdrew behind the rift.

"No! My Mu Duo!"

Shan Bin wailed and tried to rush into the rift.

A flash of azure light swept up his round figure, and a cold voice sounded beside Shan Bin's ear.

"Prince, if Mu Duo is still alive, sooner or later we can snatch her back from the humans!"

"This is love!"

Li Qingshan let out a soft sigh and descended from midair.

The people waiting anxiously froze at once, all wearing baffled expressions.

"Nothing. I was just feeling a little sentimental."

Li Qingshan gently shook his head, then turned to Jing Shen, his expression gradually turning solemn.

"Director Jing, prepare for battle!"

"Prepare for battle?!!"

Xiang Wuji and the others tensed involuntarily, each gripping their weapons tightly.

The little old man instead released the beard he had been clutching and said gravely:

"The Cat-Ear Clan is still in that star realm?"

Li Qingshan nodded.

"That's right. And a third-rank has appeared!"

"Third-rank!" Xiang Wuji's eyes widened as he cautiously asked,

"Junior, is it an entry-level third-rank?"

Li Qingshan shook his head without further explanation, merely turning his gaze toward Jing Shen.

"Director, the fusion of the star realms is already a foregone conclusion. I want to know how long it will take to complete."

Jing Shen raised his head to look at the crack in midair and pondered.

"For the 'passage' to merge into the star realm is not something that can be done overnight. These are only the first signs. At the very least, it will take half a year."

"Half a year is enough for us to arrange an evacuation."

A third-rank appearing on the other side meant that a third-rank World Gate would very likely form.

They were in the same star realm. The other side had a third-rank, while the academy only had second-ranks.

The threat spoke for itself!

Li Qingshan nodded, not interfering with Jing Shen's decision, then turned and left.

"Then I'll head back to class first."

"Class?!!"

Pairs of eyes widened in disbelief.

The fire was already burning their eyebrows—what class was there to attend?

"To deal with threats, of course we first have to increase our strength!"

Li Qingshan smiled faintly, rose into the air, and swept his gaze over the last three lines of the panel.

Function: Martial Dao Space Lv3(/)

Available time: years 256 days

Time flow rate: 1:1000