Bloody Battle in the Dense Forest

The stench of blood, carried by low beast roars, instantly tore through the silence on the outskirts of Sunset Mountains. Six blurred afterimages, like evil spirits emerging from the dark earth, surged from the dense undergrowth, cloaked in a suffocating killing intent! Their movements were too fast for the average person's vision to catch, leaving only distorted, flickering outlines on the retina. These were the Shadowless Leopard, beasts renowned for their speed and stealth!

"Hold the line! Don't panic!" Yan Xiao Liu's sharp shout was like a thunderclap, instantly suppressing the few short gasps of surprise from the team. Though startled, they remained composed, quickly forming a defensive circle back-to-back. The clang of swords being drawn echoed together, flashing cold light in the dim forest. The net wielders gripped their ropes tightly, their eyes sharply tracking the elusive shadows; the swordsmen lowered their stances, blades pointing outwards, forming a defense circle that, while not impenetrable, was sufficient for self-preservation.

Ye Yun tightly gripped the standard-issue steel saber in his hand, his body sinking slightly, but his gaze was like that of the calmest falcon. He swept over the chaotic battlefield, firmly locking onto Li San and Wang Wu at the edge of the team. These two stood like reefs at the surging edge of the beast tide. Facing the ferocious leopard shadows lunging at them, they showed no intention of attacking proactively! Only when the Shadowless Leopard's gleaming claws or dripping fangs approached within a foot of them did the two men "coincidentally" shift half a step, or their wrists twitch slightly. Li San's saber precisely parried a leopard's claw with a crisp "clang," sending sparks flying; Wang Wu casually deflected another Shadowless Leopard's determined pounce with the wide blade of his heavy-backed saber, neutralizing it as if brushing dust off his clothes. Their movements were minimal, yet astonishingly efficient.

The few Shadowless Leopard that had probed them clearly sensed something was amiss. These cunning beasts possessed an almost instinctual danger sense. The faint yet profound aura emanating from Li San and Wang Wu, coupled with their effortless, unshowy defensive postures, instilled a deep, primal fear in them. They let out threatening growls, their eerie green eyes fixed on the two men, paws restlessly scratching the ground, but ultimately, they dared not advance easily. After a brief standoff, they abruptly changed direction, pouring their bloodthirsty desire and onslaught of attacks without reservation towards the targets that appeared "easier to bully"!

Ye Yun sneered inwardly. This was the moment he had been waiting for. He deliberately suppressed the power dormant within him, controlling his actions to the level of an ordinary expert. Facing a lunging Shadowless Leopard, he "flusteredly" swung his saber to block. The blade clashed violently with the leopard's claws, numbing his hand and forcing him to stagger back "clumsily" a few steps. He even deliberately let his robe be torn by a claw, getting some dirt and dead leaves on it. He deliberately made his breathing ragged, forcing fine beads of sweat onto his brow (partly genuine tension, partly disguise), appearing no different from his companions locked in a tough fight. However, his eyes remained as calm as frozen ice, his peripheral vision never leaving Li San and Wang Wu, trying to catch any slightest flaw in their subtle expressions and movements.

The battle instantly entered a white-hot phase! The dim jungle seemed to transform into a giant grinding mill of flesh and blood. The Shadowless Leopard's speed advantage was pushed to its absolute limit, their forms becoming streaks of black lightning tearing through the air, launching fatal ambushes from tricky angles. Each pounce was accompanied by the whistling of foul wind and the sharp sound of claws rending the air. Although the team had a numerical advantage, their formation was constantly broken and cut apart under this absolute speed suppression. Cries of alarm, roars of anger, the clash of weapons, the tearing of flesh by claws, and the roars of beasts mingled together, making one's scalp tingle.

Screams occasionally rang out. A net wielder, a moment too slow, was ambushed from the side by a Shadowless Leopard. Its sharp claws raked across the outer side of his thigh, instantly tearing open flesh and skin, blood gushing out like a spring, dyeing his pant leg red. He fell to the ground with a scream, his net flying from his grasp. Another swordsman, to cover the injured companion, took a Shadowless Leopard's claw strike directly on his back. The tough leather armor was torn open in three deep gouges, flesh and blood a bloody mess. The immense impact forced him to spit out a mouthful of blood, crashing heavily against a tree trunk, almost unconscious. The smell of blood permeated the humid air, further stimulating the ferocity of these bloodthirsty beasts.

And at the core of the battlefield was Yan Xiao Liu fighting the exceptionally strong Shadowless Leopard king, distinguished by a prominent tuft of white fur on its forehead! This leopard king had clearly surpassed the realm of ordinary ferocious beasts. When it stopped deliberately restraining itself and unleashed its full power, an aura of brutality several times more ferocious and concentrated than its companions erupted! A faint aura of malevolence surrounded it, and its claws whistled as they moved, leaving sharp, tearing sounds in the air. The wind from its claws swept across the ground, leaving shallow white marks on the hard rock!

"First-Order Demon Beast!" Ye Yun's heart tightened, confirming his earlier guess. This leopard king's strength had definitely entered the threshold of a demon beast!

Yan Xiao Liu's expression was extremely grave, all previous ease gone. The long saber in his hand danced like the wind, its light splashing out sheets of silver brilliance – his renowned swift saber technique! The swordplay was rapid and ruthless, each move targeting the leopard king's vital points – throat, eyes, soft abdomen. However, the leopard king was even faster! Its massive body displayed incredible agility, weaving and dodging through the saber light like a phantom, each twist narrowly avoiding the fatal edge. Its thick tail was like a steel whip, carrying a whistling gale, occasionally lashing at Yan Xiao Liu's lower body, forcing him to divide his attention to block.

"Screech!" The leopard king seized a tiny gap when Yan Xiao Liu took a breath, suddenly ducking low and lunging forward. Its claws flashed like lightning, instantly tearing through the leather armor and sleeve of Yan Xiao Liu's left arm, leaving three bloody marks on his sturdy forearm! Blood immediately dyed half of his arm red. Yan Xiao Liu grunted, the pain only igniting his ferocity. Instead of retreating, he advanced, his saber technique suddenly becoming more ferocious. With a " Cleaving Mount Hua," he slashed down with all his strength and anger!

"Pfft!" Blood splattered!

Even as the leopard king desperately dodged, the saber's edge still carved a ferocious, ugly gash nearly a foot long across its glossy black fur, deep enough to expose bone! Hot blood sprayed out, dyeing the ground red. Yet, this severe injury, which would have incapacitated an ordinary beast, only seemed to ignite an even fiercer flame within this First-Order Demon Beast! The intense pain elicited a deafening roar, filled with agony and fury, its eyes instantly turning blood-red! Its attacks didn't weaken; instead, they grew even more frenzied and reckless!