Get up and go to the main house.
My parents were chatting about their daily life, and Younger Sister Fang Ying was playing with the jade rabbit pendant he gave me.
Fang Han chatted with him for a while, and seeing his family's peaceful and contented appearance, he felt warm and gentle in his heart.
This is what he wants to protect.
After only resting for half a day, Fang Han returned to Quiet Room in the afternoon. The hustle and bustle of the New Year was isolated from him, and his mind sank into cultivation again.
The verses of <Spirit Sniffing Art> flow in my heart.
With the support of sixty-four times Secret Art Talent, the insights gained through hard work in the past few days are now like hundreds of rivers returning to the sea, beginning to converge and collide, giving birth to some kind of transformation.
The faint smell of sweat and soap from the servants walking down the corridor, and the faint aroma of food wafting from the kitchen.
The smoke mixed with people's smoke coming from the distant market, and the smell of moist earth from the slowly melting snow in the corner.
Even the extremely weak breath of life of hibernating insects and ants deep in the soil...
Huge and endless information, like a raging tide, kept pouring into his perception.
Different breaths are automatically classified into categories in his perception, with different strengths and weaknesses, and clear movement and stillness.
He can even faintly feel the strength of the person represented by the breath through the uniqueness of the breath--
A strong person has strong Qi and blood, and his breath is hot and thick.
In a weak person, the energy of Qi is weakened, and the breath is thin and scattered.
A successful warrior, Internal Qi is pure, with a condensed aura and unique attribute connotations.
As for ordinary people, their breath is relatively loose and peaceful.
"<Spirit Sniffing Art>, Greater Accomplishment."
Fang Han's eyes flashed.
At this moment, the range, fineness, and analytical ability of his perception of breath have made a qualitative leap compared to the Proficiency Realm.
If we say that before, we held a lamp to illuminate an area and identify objects and paths;
So now, he seemed to have some kind of resonance with the aura of this area. There was no need to deliberately "see", this area was invisible to his perception.
He can even make a rough judgment on the strength of the person who emits the breath through the "quality" and "potential" of the breath.
In his perception, Fang Mansion, apart from him, has a breath that is stronger than others. This breath should belong to Clan Head Fang Lingyuan who has the cultivation level of Seventh Rank.
"With this ability to sense smell, no matter how good Shadow Leopard is at hiding, as long as it exists within a certain range, it will not escape detection."
Fang Han stood up and gently moved his muscles that were slightly stiff from sitting for a long time.
The Greater Accomplishment-level <Spirit Sniffing Art> gave him a little more confidence in solving the potential threat of Black Cloud Ridge.
I just don't know if the demon hunting team can successfully hunt down Shadow Leopard.
If the demon hunting team can successfully hunt, then he doesn't need to take action.
Black Cloud Ridge, five demon hunters disappeared into the vast mountain forest.
They are all experienced monster hunters, and they are like a fish in water after entering the mountains.
Ye Xiao led the way, his figure erratic, his eyes scanning every tiny trace on the ground, tree trunks, and grass like a hawk--
Broken grass stems, faint and almost invisible claw marks on the soil, inconspicuous scratches on the tree trunks, and a very faint smell remaining in the air.
Others followed closely behind, guarding the surroundings and guarding against sneak attacks.
The group of people moved silently and swiftly, like blending into the shadows of the forest.
"There's blood."
Ye Xiao suddenly squatted down in front of a bush, picked up a blade of grass with his fingertips, with a little dark black solidified liquid on it, and put it to the tip of his nose to smell it.
"It's human blood."
He looked for it, and behind a fallen bush, half of his broken clothes were vaguely exposed, as well as a section of his arm that had become stiff and black.
"It should be the hunters who went into the mountains before, or the herb gatherers."
Qing Man whispered without much emotion in his tone. He has been hunting monsters for many years and has seen too many scenes like this.
Tie Zhan glanced silently and waved to continue moving forward.
Based on broken branches, claw marks embedded in the soil, gnawed animal bones and human bones... they tracked all the way.
"Almost there."
Ye Xiao lowered his voice and pointed to the area ahead where the fog was getting thicker and the ancient trees were getting more ferocious.
Everyone mustered up their spirits, gathered their breath, and moved forward slowly.
Passing through a bush, the view suddenly opened up.
A few scattered pale animal bones and human bones were vaguely visible at the entrance of a cave half-covered by vines.
"This is it."
Ye Xiao said silently, with vigilance flashing in his eyes.
Tie Zhan made a gesture, and the five people quickly dispersed, relying on trees and rocks to quietly build a circle facing the entrance of the cave.
Shi Feng unhooked Ghost Head Blade from behind, held it with both hands, muscles tensed, ready to go.
Qing Man pulled out more than a dozen turquoise thin needles from the specially made pocket.
Yan Ling The two swords are unsheathed, one is held in the hands, the other is reversed. The body is slightly arched, like a civet cat ready to attack.
Tie Zhan slowly drew out a pair of dark short halberds.
Ye Xiao's figure flashed and disappeared into the shadow of an ancient tree on the flank. He is the best assassin and will deliver a fatal blow at the most critical moment.
"It's a pity that the distance is too close to set up a trap!"
The encirclement was properly arranged, Tie Zhan took a deep breath.
His chest bulged slightly, he opened his mouth suddenly, and let out a low but penetrating strange howl.
This howl is not an attack, but a provocation, mixed with Internal Qi vibrations, specifically targeting the sensitive hearing and perception of monsters.
"Ho--!"
Deep in the cave, almost at the moment the whistle sounded, a furious roar could be heard.
The roar was dull, but sharp enough to tear the eardrums. A fishy wind swept out of the cave first, causing ripples in the pool water and the rustling of the surrounding vines.
The next moment, a dark shadow sprang out of the cave entrance like a ghost!
It looks like a leopard, but is much larger than an ordinary leopard. Its body is over one foot long and its shoulders are taller than a person.
The fur on the whole body is not pure black, but has a strange luster like mercury flowing in the darkness, making it easy to blend in with the environment in poor lighting conditions.
The most heart-stopping thing is the pair of eyes, as scarlet as blood, full of cruelty and cunning, staring intently at Tie Zhan who issued the provocation.
"Do it!"
Tie Zhan shouted violently, and moved forward instead of retreating. The two halberds intertwined, drawing two black lights, and with great strength, they slashed Shadow Leopard's head.
Almost at the same time, Shi Feng roared and rushed up from the side, Ghost Head Blade rounded, with the momentum of Mountain-Splitting Stone-Cracking, slashed Shadow Leopard's waist and abdomen.
Yan Ling's figure is agile, like a butterfly walking through a flower. The two swords point out dozens of cold stars, covering Shadow Leopard's limbs, joints, eyes and other vulnerable parts.
Qing Man flicked with his slender hand, and several turquoise thin needles arrived first and then shot towards Shadow Leopard's body silently. The needle tips were quenched with highly toxic substances, designed to break the flesh of monsters.
Ye Xiao, like the real Ye Xiao, silently jumped down from the shadow of the tree canopy above Shadow Leopard's head, and the two short black blades in his hands stabbed directly at the connection between Shadow Leopard's back neck and spine!
The five people cooperated in a tacit understanding, and the offensive was like a violent storm, instantly covering Shadow Leopard who had just rushed out of the cave and was not yet stable.
"Dang! Dang! Puff! Tsk!"
The sound of metal and iron clashing together with the sound of a sharp knife piercing flesh sounded almost at the same time!
Tie Zhan's twin halberds struck the empty space, only shattering the residual image of Shadow Leopard that remained in place.
The real Shadow Leopard had moved several feet sideways inconceivably, and Shi Feng wiped its fur with a powerful and heavy knife, cutting off a few strands of black hair.
Most of Yan Ling's swords were in vain, only a few of them scratched Shadow Leopard's skin, leaving shallow blood marks on Shadow Leopard's steel-and-iron body.
Qing Man's poisonous needles hit three times, but they were like piercing extremely tough leather, not penetrating deep into the flesh and failing to cause ideal damage.
Only Ye Xiao's long-prepared assassination caught the subtle moment of stasis when Shadow Leopard dodged.
A short blade pierced the lower part of the back of Shadow Leopard's neck. Although it failed to penetrate deep into the vital point due to the instinctive contraction of Shadow Leopard's muscles, it still penetrated several inches, and blood immediately gushes out.
"Ho--!"
The severe pain of the injury completely aroused Shadow Leopard's ferocity!
It let out a deafening roar, and the Yao Qi all around it exploded, forming a dark air wave visible to the naked eye, violently shaking away the Ye Xiao that was close to it.
At the same time, its thick and long tail swept across like a steel whip, so fast that it only left a blurry black shadow in the air.
"Be careful!"
Tie Zhan reminded sharply.
But it's too late.
The first person to bear the brunt was Ye Xiao, who had just landed and was not yet stable.
Although he tried his best to twist around, the end of the leopard's tail was still swept into his ribs.
"Crack!"
There was a heartbreaking sound of bone cracking, and Ye Xiao screamed and flew away, breaking a small tree as big as a bowl and falling to the ground, with blood spurting out of its mouth.
Shadow Leopard didn't stop, kicked the ground with four claws, and four shallow pits exploded on the ground. His huge body turned into a black lightning, and went straight towards Tie Zhan.
Tie Zhan roared, and the two halberds danced like wheels, protecting the whole body.
"Dang Dang Dang..."
There were harsh clashes and sparks flew everywhere.
Shadow Leopard's sharp claws collided wildly with Tie Zhan's halberds. Each time, Tie Zhan's arms shook violently, causing his blood to surge and he kept retreating.
The arms seemed not to be his own.
The power of this beast is beyond imagination!
"Whoosh!"
Shi Feng and Yan Ling attacked from both sides, trying to share the pressure for Tie Zhan.
Qing Man quickly moved to Ye Xiao, took out Danyao and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Poof!"
Shadow Leopard suddenly gave up Tie Zhan, his body twisted strangely, and his sharp claws came out at a tricky angle, penetrating Shi Feng's fierce Blade Intent, leaving five bloody grooves on his shoulders that were deep enough to show the bones.
Shi Feng groaned in pain, Ghost Head Blade almost let go.
Yan Ling took the opportunity to stab Shadow Leopard's eyes. Shadow Leopard's head tilted, and the sword tip scratched his cheekbone, bringing up a stream of blood. However, he took advantage of the situation and slapped the sword body with his claw.
The majestic force came, the Yan Ling tiger's mouth burst open, the two swords flew out of the hand, and the person was shaken and staggered back.
"Form up!"
Tie Zhan knows that today is dangerous. The strength of this Shadow Leopard far exceeds expectations, and I am afraid it is infinitely close to the level of Upper Third Grade.
He used his unique martial arts move, and dazzling lightning erupted from his halberds. His power increased greatly, and he faced him again.
Shi Feng and Yan Ling also became red-eyed and attacked frantically regardless of their injuries.
Qing Man placed Ye Xiao behind a boulder, and also drew out his soft sword to join the battle group.
But Shadow Leopard is too fast, too powerful, and its minions are extremely poisonous.
Even if the four of them join forces, they are no match.
"Pfft--"
Shi Feng was hit with another claw in the chest, his flesh and blood were blurred.
"Tsk--"
Yan Ling's left arm was torn open with a deep visible bone cut, and severe pain came from the wound.
Tie Zhan, as the main attacker, bears the greatest pressure and is covered in scars. Internal Qi consumes heavily.
"Retreat!"
Seeing that the entire army would be annihilated if they continued to fight, Tie Zhan roared, forcing Shadow Leopard back with a halberd, then turned around and pounced on the seriously injured Shi Feng and Yan Ling.
"Whoosh!"
Qing Man understood and sprinkled a handful of pink powder. The powder ignited when exposed to the wind, exploding into a large cloud of pungent smoke that was extremely targeted at the monster's sense of smell.
It blocked Shadow Leopard's sight and made Shadow Leopard, who had never seen such a method before, stop on alert.
"Whoosh!"
Tie Zhan grabbed the seriously injured Ye Xiao, and the five of them took advantage of the smoke cover and fled towards the way they came.
Behind him came the angry roar of Shadow Leopard and the loud sound of trees breaking.
"Whoosh!"
The five people pushed their light body skills to the extreme, and while escaping, they dropped the powder to stop Shadow Leopard's pursuit.
I don't know how long I ran away, but the heart-stopping pressure and roaring behind me finally gradually faded away.
The four of them rushed out of the forest, and when they stumbled back outside Liangshui City, they were in a miserable state and covered in blood.
Tie Zhan and Qing Man can still hold on, Shi Feng and Yan Ling have fallen into semi-consciousness, and Ye Xiao is even more breathless.
When the soldiers guarding the city saw such a tragic situation, they were shocked and reported it quickly.
As if the news had wings, it quickly spread throughout Liangshui City and Lineage.