It was the Yulan Festival.
In the year 9963 of the Yulan Calendar, the Yulan Festival breeze should have carried the fragrance of flowers throughout the city, yet now there was only the lingering stench of blood and agitation in the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts.
There was still no word of Shiheng or Xiaoman.
Huohe and his companions looked exhausted, their eyes bloodshot, their voices hoarse yet filled with unquestionable resolve. "Today, no matter what, we must get past this sixth-rank Shadow Leopard and push deeper into the mountains-if they're alive, we must find them; if they're dead, we must find their bodies!"
More than half a month had passed in a flash. The anxiety in their hearts had long since spread like wildly growing vines, choking every one of them. They had to race against time, had to keep moving without rest. Only by finding those two could they truly set their minds at ease!
Kelan Kai stood to one side, one sleeve hanging empty, looking all the more desolate as the wind blew through it. His brow was tightly furrowed, and his voice held worry he could not suppress. "Magical beasts swarm the middle reaches of the mountains, and they're exceptionally powerful... could those two have met with disaster on this journey?"
After Shiheng had chased the Swift Raptor into the distance that day, Huohe and the others had returned to camp. At the time, both Kelan Kai and Huohe had been gravely wounded and could barely move freely. Xifaman had resolutely taken on the difficult task: by day, he ventured alone to the outskirts of the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts, trying to meet Shiheng and his companion, leaving Nalan Ruoshui and her sister to care for the two badly wounded men; when night fell, he returned to protect the rest of his companions.
Day after day passed, many days slipping by, but Shiheng and his companion still did not return. During that time, the others gradually recovered most of their strength. Yet although Kelan Kai's wounds had healed, he had lost a precious arm forever. Once everyone had more or less recovered, they decided to set out together for the middle reaches to search for the missing Shiheng and his companion.
But who could have foreseen that, on this journey filled with hope and uncertainty, a sudden turn of events would disrupt everyone's plans—a tremendously powerful, fearsome Sixth-Level Magical Beast blocked their way! Facing such a formidable enemy, the two sides became locked in a stalemate, neither able to prevail for the moment.
With numbers on their side, Huohe and his companions were not entirely at a disadvantage; the Sixth-Level Magical Beast, however, relied on its tough body and extraordinary tenacity, leaving them helpless to kill it. They could only retreat several li to rest and discuss a plan.
Ahead lay a terrifying Sixth-Level Magical Beast; behind them lay companions from whom they had heard nothing. They no longer had any way to retreat.
The campfire crackled in the woods, but it could not warm the chill in their hearts. The joy of the Yulan Festival was far beyond the horizon. At that moment, the Shadow Leopard's ink-black, savage form weighed on every heart.
The next day, they entered the middle reaches of the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. Barely had they ventured deeper when they ran headlong into the sixth-rank Shadow Leopard again, and the two sides instantly plunged into a deadly fight.
Huohe tightened his grip on his refined-iron longsword, its blade still bearing notches from the earlier fierce battle. He looked at his grim-faced companions beside him, his gaze finally settling on the one-armed Kelan Kai, and said heavily, "That Shadow Leopard has thick hide and tough flesh, and its speed surpasses every other magical beast of its rank. Ordinary attacks can't break through its defenses at all. If we keep wearing ourselves down like this, not only will we fail to find Shiheng and Xiaoman, we'll all die here!"
Kelan Kai slightly clenched the hand of his remaining arm at his side. The old wound where he had lost his limb still ached faintly, but there was not a trace of retreat in his eyes, only fierceness. "Its weak points are its throat and belly, but it guards both those vital spots so closely that we can't find an opening. My wounds have healed. Even with one arm missing, I can still help keep it occupied at close range. I'll draw its attention head-on in a moment. Find your chance and strike its vital points!"
"No!" Xifaman immediately spoke up to stop him. His eyes were bloodshot from days of rushing about, yet he still stood straight. "You've already lost an arm. Facing a sixth-rank Shadow Leopard head-on is far too dangerous. Let me take the lead instead. I can keep up with its speed, so I have a better chance of holding it off."
As they argued, a cold gust suddenly swept through the woods. A strong, rank stench instantly filled the air, and the chirping birds and insects fell silent. Their surroundings became terrifyingly still.
"Look out! It's come after us!"
Huohe shouted a sharp warning. Everyone instantly rose, gripped their weapons, and braced for battle.
Nalan Ruoshui and her sister acted at once. Gentle yet powerful wind magic enveloped the entire area, enhancing everyone's speed and agility.
From the pitch-black shadows of the dense forest, a dark shape suddenly shot out like lightning. Its huge body made not a sound, its entire form covered in smooth, ink-black fur, its dark-green eyes gleaming with bloodthirsty ferocity. It was the sixth-rank Shadow Leopard! Clearly drawn by their presence, it gave them no time to rest. The instant it appeared, it kicked off the ground and sprang into the air, hurtling through a fierce rush of wind toward Kelan Kai, who stood nearest. Its sharp claws gleamed coldly, capable of easily tearing through flesh.
Kelan Kai's gaze sharpened. Gripping his battle-axe with his only arm, he advanced instead of retreating, turning sideways to narrowly evade the claws while swinging his axe viciously at the Shadow Leopard's flank. With a sharp clang, the axe struck its hide, yet left only a faint white mark. The powerful recoil numbed his arm and sent him staggering backward.
The Shadow Leopard roared deafeningly in pain, then turned and snapped at Kelan Kai, moving so fast that only an afterimage remained. At that critical instant, Xifaman suddenly rushed over and thrust his short blade straight at the Shadow Leopard's right eye, forcing it to turn its head aside and halting its attack.
Seizing the opening, Huohe roared and led the remaining companions in from both sides to surround it. Blades and swords swung together, raining attacks upon the Shadow Leopard's body. The clash of metal, bestial roars, and ragged breathing mingled as dust flew through the woods, and the battle instantly reached a fever pitch.
Enraged, the Shadow Leopard twisted wildly and swept its claws in every direction. Any weapon it struck was knocked from its wielder's grasp. Several companions failed to avoid its claws, and blood instantly stained their clothes. Its vitality was truly tenacious. Even after taking several blows, its fighting strength remained undiminished. Instead, it grew still more frenzied. Black mist curled around its body, and its speed surged again. Their formation gradually broke apart under its charges, and they slowly fell to a disadvantage.
Seeing his companions wounded one after another, Kelan Kai's eyes turned red. He abruptly gritted his teeth and, disregarding his own safety, charged straight at the Shadow Leopard's front, using himself as bait as he roared, "Forget about me! Attack its belly! Hurry!"
Thoroughly enraged, the Shadow Leopard abandoned its other targets, opened its gaping jaws, and lunged straight for Kelan Kai's neck. Mortal danger instantly closed in. Xifaman and Huohe's eyes stretched wide with fury as both unleashed all their strength, one thrusting straight at the leopard's eye, the other slashing across its belly. At the same time, Nalan Jingyu activated her fire magic, sending flames roaring forth. Everyone brought every ounce of their ability to bear.
Just as the Shadow Leopard's sharp teeth were about to reach Kelan Kai, Xifaman's short blade struck its right eye first. The terrible pain drew a shrill scream from the leopard and abruptly checked its movement. Immediately afterward, Huohe drove his longsword with all his strength into its unguarded belly. Warm blood gushed out, splashing all over them.
The Shadow Leopard struggled wildly, its enormous body crashing into the surrounding trees with thunderous booms. But the fatal wound in its belly rapidly drained its strength, and its struggles gradually weakened. Not daring to relax for even an instant, everyone mustered their last strength for a furious assault. Finally, the formidable Sixth-Level Magical Beast could endure no more. It crashed to the ground and stopped breathing altogether.
They collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Every one of them was covered in wounds and utterly exhausted. The campfire shone on their bloodstained faces, but none had the heart to tend their injuries.
Kelan Kai looked at the Shadow Leopard's corpse on the ground, his remaining arm trembling slightly. His voice was hoarse. "At last... we made it past."
Huohe pushed himself upright with his longsword and looked into the depths of the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts. Clouds and mist swirled there, and danger lurked everywhere, yet his gaze was utterly resolute. "We'll rest briefly, then set out at once for the middle reaches. No matter what, we must find Shiheng and Xiaoman!"
The night wind blew again, carrying the smell of blood from the woods, along with a trace of resolve that would permit no retreat. After briefly gathering themselves, they once again set off in search of their companions. The road ahead remained perilous, but they had no intention of turning back.
Before you continue