Resolution and Departure

"Moo!!"

Thick white mist billowed from the Raging Bull's nostrils and mouth, seemingly carrying wisps of scorching steam. It raised its head high, viciously hooked Li Zhouhai up with its horns, and flung him aside.

The weapons reinforced with runes wielded by the surrounding combat team members struck the Raging Bull's body, yet they could only leave pale marks on its skin. Had they been using ordinary weapons, they might have shattered by now.

Not only did their attacks fail to have any effect, they angered the Raging Bull even further.

Its hooves stomped the ground with a thunderous boom like pounding drums. Roaring, the Raging Bull charged at the nearest person.

Lincon rushed forward and saved the team member at the critical moment, throwing him aside.

A mutant creature—or, more accurately, a mutant beast.

This mutant beast was almost as strong as a D-rank enhancement-type ability user, and its explosive power and tough hide were even more unimaginable.

After watching from the side for only a few seconds, Lincon knew that this creature could not be provoked lightly. Even if he wanted to take it down, it would likely be quite difficult.

What Lincon could not understand was why this bull had such a terrible temper.

"What did you do to it?"

Li Zhouhai ran back while clutching his injured arm. He had just been flung into the trees behind them. His arm appeared to be broken, with a large swollen lump bulging beneath the skin.

He hurriedly explained, "It appeared nearby at first. We thought it was some unknown dark creature, so we attacked first."

Well then. They had been the ones to provoke it first.

Lincon used his mental connection to contact the Demon Ancient Tree and learned about the Raging Bull from it.

This Raging Bull truly was not a dark creature. Since the Demon Ancient Tree had been born, its unique Luminous Life Domain had not only caused the surrounding plants to mutate, but also attracted some mutant beasts to come here for water.

It was not because the swamp water tasted good. Whenever the Luminous Life Domain activated, the surrounding luminous plants would awaken as well. This bull had simply come to drink and eat.

Yet before it could eat, it got beaten up first. Forget a bull—few humans could tolerate such a temper either.

But now that things had come to this, there was no other choice. They could only subdue the Raging Bull first.

Lincon continuously examined the Raging Bull.

This mutant bull had a rather ferocious appearance. Its entire body was pitch-black, and strange patterns covered its skin. No wonder Li Zhouhai had mistaken it for an unknown dark creature at first.

The aggressive Raging Bull sensed the hostile gaze. Its aura shifted, and its enormous bovine eyes glared at Lincon.

"Hiss..."

It lowered its head. Its sharp horns were like the lance of a knight charging on horseback in the Middle Ages. Its iron hooves struck the ground as it fearlessly charged toward Lincon.

"Everyone, stay back."

Lincon waved away Guan Teng and the others, who wanted to rush over to help. He had them watch for dark creatures nearby while he retreated and summoned the Ancient Maple Guardian to assist him.

The Ancient Maple Guardian did not fear pain, making it the best opponent for the Raging Bull before them.

The two massive figures collided with a deafening crash. In a contest of pure strength, the enormous Ancient Maple Guardian was not inferior by much.

At the same time, the Ancient Maple Guardian had supporting roots. Thick roots burst from beneath the Raging Bull's hooves, but just as they were about to entangle its body, scorching steam suddenly blasted from its nostrils and mouth. Its strength multiplied severalfold, tearing the roots apart.

It first dodged the Ancient Maple Guardian's obstruction, then twisted around and opened its mouth, biting toward Lincon from a bizarre angle.

Yet just as it was about to make its next move, a black longsword was already resting against its neck.

"Can you not move?" Lincon asked calmly.

There was no superfluous emotion on the icy blade, only pure, extreme killing intent.

The Raging Bull froze in place. Its mouth was clearly only ten centimeters from Lincon, yet it never managed to bite down.

Animals sensed danger far more keenly than humans, and evolved mutant beasts were even more so.

Not only did they possess greater intelligence than before, they also understood how to seek fortune and avoid disaster.

It could foresee that if it made even the slightest unnecessary movement, its head would be separated from its body.

That sense of danger came not only from the man before it, but also from the black sword.

In the end, the Raging Bull followed its biological sixth sense. It slowly withdrew its mouth, and its violent temper gradually subsided beneath the Shadow Sword's suppression.

"Looks like it can communicate."

Lincon softened his tone. He did not want to kill this mutant beast. In his eyes, it was more valuable alive than dead.

The others did not think so, however. Guan Teng's face lit up with delight.

"Sir, does that mean we can eat beef next?"

Li Zhouhai slapped Guan Teng on the shoulder and said sternly, "Even if you cut its meat off, would you dare eat it?"

"Uh..." Guan Teng scratched his head and ultimately did not dare continue.

Lincon explained, "This is not a dark creature. It is a mutant beast. Generally speaking, mutant beast meat can be eaten after special processing."

The moment he said that, the people around them immediately began to drool.

Meat... they had not eaten that stuff in a very long time.

The Raging Bull kept pacing in place. Guan Teng and the others' stares made it uncomfortable, and its temper seemed ready to flare up again.

Lincon had people gather some luminous plants nearby, then personally held them out to the Raging Bull's mouth.

The Raging Bull glanced at the black sword in Lincon's other hand and silently opened its mouth to eat.

Lincon was very satisfied at the sight. He reached out and patted the Raging Bull on the head.

Its willingness to accept food meant its habits could be changed through taming.

Of course, that required the suppression of overwhelming strength. Otherwise, it would easily rebel.

After chewing through the luminous plants in its mouth, the Raging Bull raised its head and looked around. Its nostrils twitched, and it suddenly walked to the Living Water Shrine Lincon had just built. Lowering its head, it began drinking the water flowing out after being purified by the Shrine.

While drinking, the Raging Bull's eyes visibly brightened. It even wanted to step its entire hoof into the water.

But the moment it moved, Lincon pulled it back.

Lincon raised the remaining plants in his hand and said calmly, "I have food that tastes even better than this, as well as cleaner water. If you are willing to come with me, we can all live in peace. If not, I have not tasted beef in a long time either."

Lincon did not care whether the Raging Bull could understand those words. He was simply giving it a reason to choose.

There were about two hours left until dawn. It could either go with them or become a corpse for them to drag back.

The Raging Bull's fan-like ears twitched. It stared wide-eyed, seemingly lost in thought.

When the dark curtain covering the sky was dispelled, the glow emitted by the Demon Ancient Tree faded like candlelight, returning to how it had looked when everyone first arrived yesterday.

The only difference was that three strange Shrines now stood in this swampy region.

"Splash, splash..."

The roots within the swamp suddenly writhed, like giant pythons raising their heads, spitting clumps of black, viscous resin into the thickets along the swamp's edge.

The Demon Ancient Tree honored its agreement with Lincon, expelling the resin converted after devouring Dark Energy into the designated area.

The people around them were all startled. Only Lincon smiled and waved at the Demon Ancient Tree.

"Are... you leaving...?"

A naive, childlike consciousness echoed in his mind.

Lincon pointed at the Living Water Shrine. "Those three Shrines are my eyes. They represent the connection between this region and me."

"When my territory can one day cover this place, perhaps even if we are separated by a thousand miles, we will still be able to communicate through our consciousness at any time."

"And I will come here often in the future."

The Demon Ancient Tree's branches swayed. Though its appearance was terrifying and strange, it displayed a hint of eerie beauty beneath the dawning sunlight.

"That... is good..."

"Yes." Lincon sighed.

This Demon Ancient Tree possessed potential no less than that of the Seed of Life. How could he possibly give it up?

He slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at the Raging Bull standing silently nearby. At that moment, Li Zhouhai, Guan Teng, and the others were all staring fixedly at it.

All right, little bull. It was time for it to make its choice.