Entering the Ningyun Mountain Range, First Encounter with a Demon Beast

The next day, before dawn had broken, Chen Xun and Big Black Ox set out on the road, heading west until they gradually vanished into the depths of the streets.

Once the townspeople awoke and took to the streets, they all heard that Chen Xun had left the medical clinic. Some were inexplicably delighted, as though they themselves had driven away an evil man.

Others felt strangely bereft, believing that Chen Xun truly had been a good doctor and had done no evil.

Yet after a few days, everyone forgot about it. Whether Chen Xun left or not would not put another string of copper coins in their homes. In times like these, no one had the energy to care about a stranger.

The Ningyun Mountain Range stood tall between heaven and earth, setting an example through the ages and enlightening all things. No one knew how many years it had stood here.

The boundless, dark cliffs rose into the sky like they had been carved by blades and axes. The winding mountain ridges twisted and coiled like a gigantic dragon sleeping soundly.

Looking down, white clouds permeated the world below; looking around, mist curled about the peaks.

On a mountain path, a young man carried a bamboo basket on his back as he searched everywhere for medicinal herbs, with a Big Black Ox following behind him.

Over the past three years, Chen Xun had continued adding his Longevity Points to speed. He wanted to see whether, upon reaching twenty points, it would once again become impossible to improve.

Their current Longevity Points were: Strength, 21. Speed, 18.

It was the same extraordinary speed beyond that of ordinary people. If Chen Xun ran with all his strength, the naked eye could no longer see him clearly. It was utterly outrageous.

"Old Ox, let's search carefully."

Chen Xun's bamboo basket was filled with herbs. "Maybe we'll find one of those legendary spirit herbs, capable of curing every illness."

The Ningyun Mountain Range often yielded spirit herbs to townsfolk gathering plants. Some were hundreds of years old; selling them in the city meant getting rich overnight.

Moo moo!

Big Black Ox ran around in high spirits. It even recognized many medicinal herbs. One truly had to marvel at the power of knowledge—its mind was much clearer now.

"But don't go too deep in. They say there are demon beasts there, and those aren't like ordinary wild animals."

Chen Xun spoke nervously. "What if we run into some cultivator again, and they take a dislike to us and just kill us?"

Moo!

Big Black Ox answered, showing that it understood.

"Ah!!"

A miserable scream came from the woods, startling countless birds into flight. Chen Xun instinctively pulled on his Bandit Mask. Big Black Ox halted, and their gazes met.

"There's a demon beast!!"

Several townspeople came running from the distance, shouting in panic without pause. When they saw Chen Xun's mask, they all froze for a moment before crying out again, "Run! A de... demon beast!"

"Old Ox, run!"

Chen Xun was horrified, panic flooding his heart as he charged forward with Big Black Ox. A roar sounded behind them, and a demon beast resembling both wolf and tiger came chasing after them madly. Its body was even larger than a tiger's, and its eyes were incomparably crimson.

"What the hell is that thing? It looks terrifying."

"Moo! Moo!"

Chen Xun and Big Black Ox cried out in fright. After living so many years, their eyes had truly been opened.

Neither man nor ox slowed in the slightest. Countless dead branches snapped beneath their feet as they became two gusts of wind, leaving the townspeople behind them dumbfounded. Damn it, they were fast!

The demon beast grew enraged, its eyes becoming even redder as saliva sprayed everywhere. Fast prey was its favorite.

"Ah!! It's coming!"

The townspeople shrieked in terror, and one of them was so frightened that he fainted. Yet the demon beast actually leaped past them and continued chasing that man and ox.

"What are you doing? Are you sick in the head?!"

Chen Xun's eyes widened. The demon beast had actually come straight after them, and it was far faster than any ordinary beast.

"Moo! Moo!" Big Black Ox charged madly, sweat emerging on its head. This demon beast was far too terrifying.

"Moo~~!" Boom!

Big Black Ox made one careless mistake. In its panic, it rammed headfirst into a huge tree. Fine cracks spread through the trunk as it began to tilt; even its roots were almost torn from the ground.

"Old Ox!" Chen Xun stopped and shouted anxiously, rushing over to inspect its head.

"Moo~~"

Big Black Ox was a little dizzy, but it was fine—only slightly scraped. It even rubbed itself against Chen Xun.

Roar!

The demon beast was nearly upon them now, excitement appearing in its eyes. This was the first time it had encountered prey that could run so quickly.

Chen Xun and Big Black Ox were surrounded. Standing together, their eyes were filled with panic. This demon beast looked far too horrifying.

"We're done for, Old Ox."

Chen Xun's voice trembled as he held the ox's head with one hand. Big Black Ox's pupils also quivered, its hooves shaking. Was their road to immortality about to end here?

Saliva dripped continuously from the demon beast as it circled them again and again. These two prey were so timid that it felt no wariness whatsoever.

The demon beast suddenly crouched low, bloodlust in its eyes. A drop of saliva fell onto the ground, and it lunged viciously at Chen Xun.

Excited Killing Light flashed in its eyes. They were already within arm's reach when its expression suddenly changed. That human no longer seemed afraid; instead, he had become incomparably calm.

A violent whirlwind rose from the ground. Chen Xun became an afterimage, his speed so absurdly fast that the demon beast's eyes could barely keep up. Horror filled its face.

"Your Excellency may be strong, but you are not enough to make me use my second Mountain-Splitting Axe."

Chen Xun had already arrived behind it, walking away with his back turned. He held a bloodstained Mountain-Splitting Axe in his hand, while the Bandit Mask revealed only a cold gleam in his eyes.

A violent pain suddenly erupted in the demon beast's abdomen. It collapsed to the ground in agony, wailing as blood flowed everywhere.

Big Black Ox sprang up fiercely. Black Ox Overhead! Bang! A huge pit was smashed into the ground, and the demon beast's intestines were crushed out. It could not have been deader.

Chen Xun struck ruthlessly. Sshk! Blood splattered again.

"That's it?! Ah, that's it?!"

"Moo! Moo!"

"Trying to scare your daddies, huh? Why aren't you barking anymore?!"

"Moo moo!"

Man and ox whipped the corpse madly, venting like maniacs as spit flew everywhere. They had truly been scared half to death by this demon beast.

They set up a big pot and brought the water to a boil. Damn it, it was time for a feast!

"Old Ox, we got lucky this time. This demon beast could use demonic arts, things like Ice and Fire Dual Cultivation."

After thinking it over, Chen Xun recalled hearing legends about demon beasts in the city. "Those are things only cultivators can kill. But this meat really is delicious."

"Moo moo~~"

Big Black Ox let out happy cries with its mouth full. It was so delicious; this was the first time it had ever tasted meat this fragrant.

After finishing their meal, man and ox swiftly buried all traces, packed up the leftover meat, and even filled in the pit.

Chen Xun was extremely meticulous this time, carefully arranging the scene of the crime. Demon beast ashes scattered everywhere, and everything looked as though nothing had happened.

They ran far away and found a patch of woodland with fewer wild beasts.

"Old Ox, even cunning rabbits have three burrows. We can't be weaker than rabbits. Start digging!"

"Moo!"

Great strength really was useful. Chen Xun was skilled in all kinds of wilderness digging techniques—laying foundations, digging clay, and the like. He absolutely would not sleep on the ground.

In the end, Chen Xun carefully moved huge rocks over to seal the top, leaving a trace of a gap. He covered it with turf and fallen leaves, so no one could tell there was a burrow beneath.

Candlelight lit up inside the burrow, and the whole world was safe.

"Comfortable."

"Moo moo!"

Chen Xun leaned against Big Black Ox and sank into thought. This world was dangerous in the end, especially today's demon beast, which had nearly scared them into wetting themselves.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally took out the book Sun Lao had given him—the "Qi Refining Art."