Frost Shadow Deer Lord

This massive fruit tree stood alone in the deepest part of the mist.

The mist continuously streamed from its branches and leaves.

Chu He's Spiritual Force swept through the branches. The fruits appeared and disappeared in the mist, giving off an enticing fragrance.

Suddenly, Chu He stopped. His Spiritual Force sensed a large herd of Frost Shadow Deer charging in their direction.

"The Frost Shadow Deer herd is closing in. Get ready to fight."

"Stay alert. Don't let their Mental Shock affect you." Chu He quickly warned them.

At the same time, the faint sound of hooves reached their ears.

It came from within the mist, drawing closer to the three of them at incredible speed.

On the way here, they had briefly discussed the Frost Shadow Deer's appearance and abilities.

So when the two men heard the sound, they reacted at once.

They had only just prepared to face the charging herd when they saw that Chu He's Flying Daggers had already shot into the mist.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The daggers streaked through the mist like shooting stars.

In the blink of an eye, the herd came into Zhou Haichao and Zheng Lei's view.

Blood-red antlers and a herd shimmering with silver light filled their vision.

"Clop! Clop!"

The Frost Shadow Deer charged with the wind beneath their hooves, the sound roaring in their ears like war drums.

Their charge crashed forward with the force of an avalanche, as if to destroy everything in its path.

"Bring it on!" Zheng Lei roared, his voice deafening.

Whoosh!

The Cold Iron Giant Axes carved arcs of light through the air. Their blades tore through the mist and collided with the charging Frost Shadow Deer.

"Bang! Bang!"

Blood and shattered bone flew everywhere.

The herd charged like angry waves crashing against the shore, one after another, battering Zheng Lei's line.

But beneath Zheng Lei's pair of Cold Iron Giant Axes, their assault faltered. The ground beneath the Frost Shadow Deer seemed to tremble under his blows.

They even began to push the herd back.

The pair of Cold Iron Giant Axes fell upon the herd like a merciless winter blizzard. Every swing filled the Frost Shadow Deer with a bone-deep chill.

"Break!" Zhou Haichao shouted, his voice echoing through the mist.

"Squish!"

His blade plunged into flesh once again!

Against these Frost Shadow Deer, whose strength ranged from Intermediate Beast General Level to Advanced Beast General Level, every one of Zhou Haichao's strikes found its mark, hitting their weak points with unerring accuracy.

Meanwhile, Chu He, who was only at Intermediate War General Level, had no choice but to rely on his Movement Technique to dart through the herd.

Tian-Heng Step, Tian-Xuan Step, Tian-Ji Step... The Seven Star Steps let him weave between the deer's hooves, each step precisely avoiding their charges.

The Flying Daggers controlled by his Spiritual Force streaked through the herd like shooting stars in the night sky, leaving trails of blood behind.

"Ao! Ao!"

The Frost Shadow Deer leader raised its head and let out a deafening cry. Its eyes gleamed with icy killing intent.

"Careful! It's a Primary Lord Level! I'll handle it!" Zheng Lei gripped his Giant Axes and charged at the Frost Shadow Deer Lord.

"Ya!" Zheng Lei roared. His muscles swelled as if inflating, and his pair of Giant Axes whirled through the air with a fierce whoosh.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

The Giant Axes that had carved a bloody path through the herd could only leave shallow wounds on the Frost Shadow Deer Lord.

"Hiss!" Zhou Haichao was busy slaughtering the herd, but he still spared some attention for the fight.

Seeing what was happening, he cried out in shock, "Its defenses are terrifying!"

The Frost Shadow Deer Lord howled again and again beneath Zheng Lei's Giant Axes. The ground beneath its hooves began to tremble.

Suddenly, Chu He's gaze sharpened. Seizing his chance, he unleashed his Spiritual Force in an instant.

"Whoosh!"

Two Flying Daggers curved toward the Frost Shadow Deer Lord's eyes as it struggled to keep its footing.

"Watch your right!" Zhou Haichao shouted. His shield slammed into a Frost Shadow Deer that had tried to take the opportunity to ambush Chu He.

"Clang!"

A deafening crash rang out, sparks flying everywhere.

The Frost Shadow Deer's powerful charge had actually cracked his shield.

But Zhou Haichao immediately followed up with a thrust, driving his blade into the deer's belly with a squelch.

On the other side, the Frost Shadow Deer Lord, ambushed by Chu He's Flying Daggers, let out an angry howl.

In the briefest instant, it lowered its head. Its blood-red antlers clashed with the daggers, sending up a string of sparks.

Then, apparently enraged by Chu He's ambush, the Frost Shadow Deer Lord twisted around. With agility that seemed to defy the laws of nature, it turned and charged straight at Chu He.

"Ha! You dare underestimate me!" Zheng Lei hurled the Giant Axe in his left hand.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Giant Axe spun through the air toward the Frost Shadow Deer Lord.

"Crack!"

The Frost Shadow Deer Lord's antler snapped under the blow, and a deep wound appeared on its neck, exposing bone.

Blood sprayed out.

"Ao!" The Frost Shadow Deer leader howled at the sky, then turned and fled.

"Hahaha!" Zheng Lei laughed, his voice brimming with confidence. "Run, run! Let's see how far you get!"

As he spoke, Zheng Lei's Giant Axe crashed through the Frost Shadow Deer herd blocking his way as he chased after the fleeing Frost Shadow Deer Lord.

After the Frost Shadow Deer Lord abandoned its herd and fled for its life, the remaining Frost Shadow Deer lost their nerve and scattered.

Chu He and Zhou Haichao seized the chance to slaughter the herd.

The two of them might have struggled against the Frost Shadow Deer Lord, but dealing with a scattered herd fleeing in all directions was easy.

Zhou Haichao struck again and again, his blows relentless as a storm. Every swing made the Frost Shadow Deer cry out in pain.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The Flying Daggers traced lines through the mist, whistling through the air.

After dealing with the herd, the two glanced at the Mist Fruit Tree, now just a stone's throw away.

The tree showed no sign of movement.

"Too bad! This thing isn't a Spirit of Vegetation..." Zhou Haichao sighed, then looked toward the direction in which the Frost Shadow Deer Lord had fled. "I wonder if Zheng Lei can kill it. At least that might help make up for some of our losses."

By then, Zhou Haichao and Chu He had accepted that there really was no Spirit of Vegetation here.

After all, they had already found the source of the mist. There was no need to keep exploring the entire Mist Residential District.

"Let's go find Senior Brother Zheng," Chu He said. "Looks like Senior Brother Zheng took quite a loss this time."

They exchanged a glance, then hurried toward Zheng Lei.

Nearby, Zheng Lei's roars still rang out.

As they drew closer, the mist's effect on their vision lessened, and they could finally see just how badly the Frost Shadow Deer Lord had been hurt.

Wounds of all sizes covered its body. Blood streamed from them, quickly pooling on the ground.

"Die!" Chu He fixed his gaze on the Frost Shadow Deer Lord and willed the nine Flying Daggers to accelerate!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The nine Flying Daggers became nine streaks of silver light, shooting toward the Frost Shadow Deer Lord's neck.

There was a huge diagonal wound there.

"Ao!"

The Frost Shadow Deer Lord howled furiously.

But the blood-red glow in its antlers had grown extremely faint, and it no longer had the speed to evade the nine Flying Daggers.

All it could do was watch as the daggers, traveling far faster than sound, angled toward its neck.

Several squelches rang out as the blades sank into flesh. The Frost Shadow Deer Lord flickered out of sight, reappearing over a hundred meters away, before momentum finally sent it tumbling to the ground.

"Hmph!" Zheng Lei snorted and stepped forward to cut open the Frost Shadow Deer Lord.

He had realized the Mist Residential District contained no Spirit of Vegetation as soon as he saw the fruit tree remain motionless during the battle.

After spending so much, he would have to recoup his losses from the Frost Shadow Deer.

Suddenly, several vines slithered across the ground along the trail of blood, moving like pythons.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Within a few breaths, they wrapped around the Frost Shadow Deer Lord's corpse and dragged it down into the Underground Garage.

"Vines!"

"A Spirit of Vegetation!"

"Good!"

Several voices rang out.

The group exchanged glances, then turned toward the Underground Garage.