The scent of blood in the air grew thicker with each careful step Wen Ran took forward. He could clearly distinguish the smell of human blood among the beastly odor, fresh and potent. There must be a battle ahead, probably a group of cultivators against a fierce beast. But what puzzled him more was why all these people were gathering in this hidden realm. Now, I’m truly convinced there must be multiple sects residing here, perhaps even more than I imagined…
Wen Ran slowed his pace, staying low and carefully approaching an opening in the valley that revealed a larger clearing surrounded by tall, rugged cliffs shrouded in thick fog. The walls of the valley had numerous caves scattered throughout, some dark and ominous, others emitting faint auras of mystery, yet Wen Ran ignored them for now. His attention was drawn entirely toward the ongoing battle in the clearing ahead.
There, a group of cultivators dressed in elegant violet robes stood in formation, clearly exhausted yet still fiercely battling against a massive beast. On their robes, each wore the emblem of a vibrant lotus flower, marking their sect. Wen Ran quickly analyzed their strength: all of them were Spirit Refinement cultivators, their combined auras swirling powerfully around them, suppressing the beast but barely holding on.
The group was led by a young man who appeared around sixteen or seventeen, with short black hair, sharp features, and eyes that radiated confidence and determination. Wen Ran could sense his cultivation, the youth had reached the peak of the Spirit Refinement stage, just a step away from advancing to the next realm. He wielded a large halberd infused with lightning, crackling and roaring each time he swung it, pushing the massive bear-like beast back repeatedly. Wen Ran couldn’t help but acknowledge this young man’s impressive strength and composure under pressure.
"Senior brother Lin Hao! This bear has completely lost its senses! Even our attacks aren’t penetrating its hide properly!" shouted one of the cultivators anxiously, stumbling back as he narrowly avoided being mauled by the beast’s enormous claws.
"Keep attacking! We can’t retreat just yet!" Lin Hao shouted back, his voice firm and steady, betraying no hint of panic despite their disadvantageous situation. The lightning on his halberd intensified, lighting up the valley in bursts of brilliant violet-blue, briefly illuminating the fog-covered cliffs surrounding them.
"Damn those bastards from the Black Venom Sect! This must be their doing, I guarantee they poisoned the beast, sending it into this berserk state!" cursed another cultivator through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with anger and frustration. "They’ve been sabotaging everyone lately, trying to weaken the other sects before the gathering of the Divine Five!"
Wen Ran’s ears immediately perked up, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought. So, there really are exactly five sects hidden here. The Divine Five, is it? Interesting. He made a mental note to remember the name Black Venom Sect, wondering what exactly their goal was in disrupting the others like this. Poison cultivators were always tricky, difficult to deal with, and vicious to the core.
The massive beast, now clearly visible under the intermittent lightning flashes, was a huge black bear, its fur darker than midnight itself and its eyes glowing an eerie crimson. It roared furiously, slashing and biting wildly, completely out of control as if driven mad by an unseen force. Each swing of its massive claws cut through the air with deafening power, cracking rocks and leaving deep gashes in the ground. Wen Ran, though wary, couldn’t help but feel his stomach rumble. That bear looks… strangely appetizing. If I cook its meat carefully enough, maybe add some herbs to offset the wild taste... He almost drooled at the thought, hunger momentarily overshadowing his caution.
As the fight continued, Lin Hao finally seemed to recognize that victory wasn’t within their reach this time. Several of his companions were already severely injured, bleeding heavily, and barely holding themselves upright.
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"Retreat! Everyone fall back, now! We’ll have to leave this beast be for today and we’ll report this to our elders!" Lin Hao shouted decisively. His group immediately obeyed, moving swiftly and retreating deeper into the valley, disappearing into the misty forest.
Wen Ran’s lips curled into a faint smile, hidden behind the dense fog and shadows of the cliffs. He waited quietly, watching as the beast snarled furiously, still rampaging around the area, its eyes glowing red with madness and confusion.
Finally, his stomach growled once again, prompting him to rise from his hiding place. He readied himself, sword firmly in hand, determination filling his gaze.
"Well, looks like it’s my turn now. Don’t blame me, friend, you simply picked a bad day to become my meal…"
Wen Ran moved swiftly, seizing the moment while the beast was still disoriented. He quickly drew upon the blood flowing freely from the beast’s numerous wounds, forming countless small blades that danced through the air and struck the beast from every direction. The massive creature roared furiously, howling in agony, but Wen Ran paid no mind to its cries. His blade flashed like lightning, precise and decisive, slicing deeply into the beast, making its roar even more desperate and full of pain.
Ignoring its struggles, Wen Ran leaped forward, gripping his sword tighter as he sent a fierce slash toward its neck. A loud, powerful roar shook the valley as the beast fell, trembling under the force of his attack. Wen Ran felt a wave of relief wash over him—he’d struck at just the right moment, making this battle quick, clean, and efficient.
"As easy as snacthing chickens... Hehe," Wen Ran chuckled lightly, a satisfied smirk appearing on his lips as he gazed down at the fallen beast.
However, as always, Wen Ran’s plans never unfolded as smoothly as he wished. He quickly noticed a thick, eerie mist rising rapidly from the fallen beast’s corpse. Its dark color was sinister, clearly poisonous, and he realized immediately what it meant.
Damn it, that poison again… What rotten luck! Wen Ran cursed in his mind, swiftly stepping back to avoid inhaling the lethal mist. Your journey continues at freewebnovel
The thick cloud of poison quickly spread, engulfing the area and contaminating the entire carcass, rendering every valuable part unusable. Wen Ran’s excitement faded into frustration, leaving only bitter disappointment in his heart.
"Such a waste," he muttered with annoyance, glaring at the poisoned corpse. "Is the universe playing with me? Can’t anything ever go right for once?"