Overbearing and Aggressive

The strength of this Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle was at least thirty percent greater than his own!

Zhou Heng calculated inwardly, yet paid no attention to the wound on his lower abdomen. It had merely scratched the skin and had not caused much damage. However, if his sword had been even the slightest bit slower, that claw might very well have ripped open his belly and severed his intestines!

This demonic beast's claws were as sharp as weapons.

Once a martial artist completed Skin Refining, the skin over their entire body became as tough as oxhide. Even a sharp blade would need some force to cut through it! After completing Flesh Refining, the muscles became dense and solid. Even if a sword could cut through the skin, it would be caught by the dense muscles and unable to inflict much damage.

The Bone Refining Realm was even more formidable, with bones like refined iron that could directly withstand sharp weapons! Finally came the Blood Refining Realm, where one's blood and vitality surged, no illness could take root, evil could not invade, and a burst of aura alone could frighten the more timid into fainting.

Zhou Heng had already completed Skin Refining, yet before the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle's claws, he was as fragile as paper or silk. This showed just how sharp this demonic beast's claws were, and how terrifying its strength was.

"Awooo—" Failing to kill him in one strike, the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle threw back its head and let out a long howl, like metal and stone tearing through the sky, leaving everyone's ears ringing and rumbling.

After the howl, the demonic beast pounced again. Clearly, it had gauged Zhou Heng's approximate strength from that previous strike and fearlessly launched another attack.

Excited light flickered in Zhou Heng's eyes. Recalling that dangerous instant when his belly had nearly been ripped open, a constant buzzing echoed through his mind. It seemed as though he was about to enter a special state, yet he was still short by the slightest bit, forever lingering at the doorway.

"Not enough! Not enough! I need greater pressure!"

His feet shifted as the longsword in his hand repeatedly clanged against the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle, blocking the demonic beast's attacks time and again.

This was an extremely dangerous thing. The slightest lapse could cast him into a place of eternal doom!

Pop, pop, pop—bloody blossoms continuously burst from his arms, chest, and back. The deepest wound even sank several inches into his flesh, nearly piercing his heart! In just a few short minutes, he had circled the line between life and death more than ten times. Every time, he had come within a hair's breadth of losing his life!

Yet Zhou Heng savored it as if it were sweet nectar, the excitement in his eyes growing ever more frenzied. Only now did he realize just how fanatical his obsession with martial arts was. To become stronger, he could gamble with his life!

If he remained unable to cultivate, he would surely waste away in despair before reaching thirty!

He had been born for the martial path!

Boom!

Zhou Heng's mind jolted, and he suddenly entered a wondrous state. The nine diagrams of the Heaven-Soaring Nine Styles automatically surged forth from his mind, changing without end!

So that was it!

He let out a long cry and swung his sword, tracing a trajectory brimming with profound mystery!

Terror immediately appeared in the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle's savage eyes. Yet it could neither dodge nor evade, as though struck by an immobilizing spell, able only to helplessly watch the sword come at it!

Pfft!

That sword pierced straight through the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle's chest. The blade entered its body, and amid a spray of blood, its tip emerged from the beast's back! The Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle did not even manage a groan before its body tilted and collapsed to the ground, a pool of blood quickly soaking the earth.

Zhou Heng panted heavily, nearly dropping onto the ground on his backside.

That sword strike had directly consumed half the True Essence Power in his body!

Only because of that had he been able to pierce through the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle's hide! That was an excellent defensive layer, no less protective than the chainmail worn by martial artists. How could it possibly be pierced clean through by a single sword?

"I've finally... completely grasped the form of the First Form of Heaven-Soaring!" A smile appeared at the corner of Zhou Heng's lips. This delighted him even more than killing the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle.

"Just the form alone is already this terrifying. When I can comprehend the intent within it and truly unleash this sword style, what kind of power will it erupt with?"

"And there are nine forms in all!"

He took clean gauze from his pack and simply bandaged himself. Though every injury was only flesh-deep and had not damaged his muscles or bones, if he did not treat them, he could still bleed to death!

His physique was now extremely robust. In such a short time, his wounds had already begun to scab over.

After bandaging himself, Zhou Heng looked behind the boulder—during his battle with the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle, the Black Broken Sword had continuously pointed toward the boulder without changing direction.

In other words, it was not the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle that had caused the Black Broken Sword to react, but whatever lay behind the boulder. The Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle had been guarding that thing.

Just as he was about to walk over, he heard rustling footsteps behind him. Zhou Heng immediately stopped and spun around.

Six men and two women emerged one after another from the woods at an angle. They were all young, around twenty years old, with weapons on their backs and at their waists. All eight wore fitted martial attire. The two women were especially eye-catching; their tight clothes fully outlined their youthful **, their high, full breasts, round and perky buttocks, and beautiful faces forming a powerful temptation.

When the eight saw Zhou Heng, they were all slightly startled. But when their gazes fell upon the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle on the ground, greed appeared in their eyes.

"Not bad luck. We've only been out for a few days, and we've already come across a demonic beast!" A handsome young man in his twenties laughed loudly, though his arrogance was too pronounced. He seemed to have already regarded the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle as his personal possession.

"Senior Brother Zhao's luck is always good!" A youth of seventeen or eighteen flattered the man, then turned toward Zhou Heng, drew his sword, and pointed its tip directly at him. "Kid, get lost from beside that demonic beast's corpse!"

The others said nothing, but neither did they stop him. Clearly, they tacitly approved of his actions.

Naturally, they recognized this Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle and saw the wounds covering Zhou Heng's body. Thus, although they guessed that Zhou Heng had killed the demonic beast alone, they did not become wary because of it!

—Their Senior Brother Zhao was in the Bone Refining Realm. He could kill a Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle by himself, and do so with ease!

Therefore, they had Zhou Heng completely figured out!

Strictly speaking, their actions were already rather "merciful." Had they encountered someone more ruthless and vicious, that person would have rushed up and killed him without another word!

Why?

Naturally, because of the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle!

A demonic beast's entire body was treasure. Its hide could be made into armor; being light and soft, it was not only comfortable and attractive to wear, but also possessed formidable defense, even surpassing ordinary chainmail! Demonic beasts' claws could be removed and embedded into weapons, granting astonishing killing power.

Last came demonic beast meat!

Demonic beasts were wild beasts capable of cultivation, equivalent to martial artists among ordinary beasts. Their flesh contained abundant energy and was a great tonic for martial artists!

Some demonic beasts also possessed unique properties. The gallbladder of a Golden-Crowned Snake could be used in medicine to cure all poisons! Tiger bones from a Red Fire Tiger, when boiled for bathing, could increase the toughness of a martial artist's skin, flesh, tendons, and bones!

The martial world had always revered the strong. Who cared about who came first? Since the eight of them had seen it, this Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle belonged to them!

Rage welled up in Zhou Heng's heart, but the other side had eight people. Each had a deep and steady aura, and none had cultivation lower than his own. One against eight, he had almost no chance of victory. More importantly, after using the First Form of Heaven-Soaring, his True Essence Power had yet to fully recover.

He would endure this grievance!

Zhou Heng slowly retreated. Though the demonic beast's corpse was valuable, he did not care much about it. What truly concerned him was the thing behind the boulder that the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle had guarded. Since it could make the Black Dagger react, it was surely extraordinary.

He memorized all eight of their faces. If he encountered them again in the future, he would make them cough up everything, principal and interest together!

Seeing Zhou Heng obediently retreat, all eight displayed contempt.

However, being able to kill a Flesh Refining Realm demonic beast alone meant Zhou Heng's combat strength was quite astonishing. Though the eight of them held an absolute advantage, if they truly fought, there was no guarantee that Zhou Heng would not desperately drag one of them down with him.

Therefore, Zhou Heng's voluntary retreat was a happy outcome for everyone.

The youth who had pointed his sword at Zhou Heng walked to the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle, bent down, and hoisted the demonic beast onto his back. Though it weighed several hundred jin, it was not too great a burden for someone with Flesh Refining Realm cultivation.

Besides, there were eight of them, and they could take turns carrying it.

Having seized the spoils, the eight began to leave. Yet after only a few steps, one person suddenly stopped and said, "Why was this demonic beast here?"

The question was abrupt, but the other seven immediately understood.

Generally speaking, land-dwelling demonic beasts lived in caves and rarely ventured outside. Yet apart from a large boulder, there was no cover here at all. There was no reason for a demonic beast to make its nest here!

"There's treasure here!" another person cried out.

Excitement appeared on all eight faces. Indeed, if a demonic beast encountered a naturally born spiritual treasure, it would guard the area until the treasure matured and it could consume it.

"Kid, you can get lost now! Otherwise, die!" Senior Brother Zhao shouted at Zhou Heng.

Clearly, they intended to drive Zhou Heng away before slowly searching for the treasure guarded by the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle.

"Senior Sister, aren't we going too far?" A girl with large eyes revealed an uneasy expression and quietly asked the other girl.

"Your heart is just too soft! You must know that the martial world is all about seizing and plundering. Without strength, how could one deserve to possess treasure?" The other girl looked completely unconcerned.

Zhou Heng's face remained expressionless, but the flames in his heart burned ever hotter. He could tolerate them taking the Three-Tailed Wolf Eagle's corpse, but the treasure hidden behind that boulder was something he was determined to obtain!

"Kid, don't just stand there like an idiot. We're disciples of White Jade Valley!" A young man with Triangular Eyes stepped forward, his expression full of arrogance.

White Jade Valley? What was that supposed to be?

Seeing the unconscious confusion Zhou Heng revealed, all eight showed faint contempt, as though not having heard the name White Jade Valley was the height of ignorance.

Because of this, they looked down on Zhou Heng even more and paid him even less attention.

"Get lost already!" Triangular Eyes' courage swelled. He reached out to shove Zhou Heng.

Swish—the sword flashed, and a chilling sword light sliced through the air!

Triangular Eyes was terrified. He had never imagined that Zhou Heng would actually dare attack him! It was already too late to parry, so he hurriedly exerted force through his feet, trying to pull back and retreat.

However, he discovered in horror that his body could not move!