Whoosh!
A blood vine shot up, ensnaring one of the foreign creatures that had entered the mountain range. It coiled around him, draining his body dry in an instant—his flesh withered, his essence blood completely siphoned away.
With a *puff*, he turned to dust in the blink of an eye, a sight both eerie and horrifying.
“Run!” someone screamed.
When they had entered the mountains, they had deliberately avoided the Ironblood Ancient Trees, only to attract something far more sinister—the dreaded blood vines. These things were the worst, insatiable for blood.
The creatures in these mountains were bizarre, their spiritual senses dulled, acting purely on instinct to slaughter any intruders in their territory.
Though their minds were clouded, these beings were incredibly powerful, their divine might profound, enough to make even the bravest tremble. Few could match them in a bloodbath.
This was a team of elites—dozens of young powerhouses from different races—yet in the blink of an eye, four had been slaughtered.
*Thud!*
The most gruesome death was one who, while fleeing at top speed, had his skull pierced by a blood vine, his divine soul obliterated, his body exploding on the spot. A terrifying and miserable end.
“This damned place… I never wanted to come here. It’s too demonic.”
Here, several blood vines lurked, each terrifyingly strong.
“Where are our Dao Attainment realm experts? Have they entered? Why aren’t they helping?”
“Over there—they’re drawing the attention of the Ironblood Ancient Trees, covering our advance.”
A Dao Attainment expert had arrived, using ancient treasures to distract the Ironblood Ancient Trees, but even they could only hold their attention, not harm them.
“Gods above! The Demon Vine Ancestor is still alive! Run!” someone suddenly shrieked in terror.
Because in a distant valley, crimson mist surged, dark red fog billowing into the sky as a colossal figure burst from the earth.
“Go! Now!” someone roared.
“Rumor has it this was once a being from our world. But for some reason, its mind was clouded in the Divine Medicine Mountain Range, its intelligence extinguished, turning it into a calamity.”
The group of youths fled in terror. This blood demon vine had existed for eons. Had it not fallen here, it might have even reached immortality by now.
A vine thicker than a mountain erupted from the earth, shattering the valley, sending boulders flying. Its blood-red leaves rustled like celestial blades, swirling with murderous intent.
*Thud!*
This time, it moved too fast—a slender, inconspicuous vine tip shot up like a blood-red spear, impaling a Dao Attainment expert in the distance.
The expert acted decisively, severing his left shoulder where the vine had pierced him, sacrificing half his body before retreating rapidly.
The severed shoulder withered instantly, crumbling into dust that scattered in the wind.
Such was the horror of the Blood Vine Ancestor. Had its mind not been lost, it would have been a figure of legend!
The young cultivators who had entered the mountains paled, fleeing deeper into the range. Fortunately, they encountered no further dangers.
But this was just one team. Others had fared worse, losing nearly half their numbers.
Some, however, were far luckier—emerging unscathed, already deep in the mountains, nearing Shi Hao’s location. From afar, they spotted a golden glow.
“What is that? Yellow Dao Immortal Gold? A chunk that big… Even an immortal would go mad for it, taking it to forge supreme treasures!” someone stammered in awe.
As they drew closer, their excitement wavered. The Yellow Dao Immortal Gold had taken the form of a living creature—a terrifying sight.
“Shi Hao was struck down by it, lying there grievously wounded!” someone whispered, eyes gleaming with greed.
“Don’t approach yet. Observe first,” cautioned a more prudent member.
“Just watch? Shi Hao is said to carry divine medicines. Shouldn’t we act?” another said, covetous.
“I have a feeling this golden ox is too strong. Even dozens of us might not be enough.”
“Nonsense! If Shi Hao alone held out this long, how could we—so many kings—fail to suppress it? The creatures in the Divine Medicine Mountain Range are usually mindless. We can exploit that!”
As they debated, another team arrived from a different direction, approaching the scene.
In the center, the golden ox paced slowly, circling Shi Hao. It hadn’t struck yet, its bovine eyes fixed on the Great Luo Sword Embryo, wary and uncertain.
“Hah! Shi Hao, to think you’d fall so low. The mighty young supreme being, brought to his knees by a mere ox—almost killed here!”
From afar, a figure strode forward, laughing mockingly, utterly unafraid.
This second team was extraordinary—among them was a Dao Attainment expert, a rare presence in these mountains!
In the past, the stronger the cultivator, the less willing they were to enter.
Because the Divine Medicine Mountain Range was strange—the Ironblood Ancient Trees, demon vines, and other horrors primarily targeted high-level beings.
Once a powerful expert entered, they would be relentlessly attacked.
Even a Supreme Being had once perished here!
With a Dao Attainment expert at their side, this team felt invincible, certain of victory.
Shi Hao said nothing, his gaze icy as he watched them.
“Well, you’ve survived days in here. You must have reaped great rewards. Hand over the divine medicines,” one said lazily.
“Hurry up. We still need to take your head back as proof. Everyone will see—Shi Hao was nothing, dying a pathetic death!” A horned humanoid creature laughed, taunting mercilessly.
Others eyed the golden ox warily, warning their companions of its potential danger.
The horned being scoffed. “You worry too much. Look at this battlefield—utterly ruined. If Shi Hao could hold out so long, this ox can’t be that fearsome. With a Dao Attainment elder here, it’s as good as ours!”
Reassured, the others grinned, surveying the shattered earth.
“Not only will we take Shi Hao’s head, avenging our world’s humiliation, but we’ll also claim the Yellow Dao Immortal Gold! What fortune!”
They relaxed completely, convinced the ox wasn’t too powerful, its consciousness weak, likely newly formed.
The ox remained still, no overwhelming aura radiating from it, still studying the sword embryo intently.
“A pack of losers, only daring to show your faces now. If not for my day-long battle with this ox, leaving me wounded, I’d slaughter every last one of you!” Shi Hao finally spoke.
Further back, others chuckled, stepping forward confidently.
“Shi Hao, where’s your famed strength now? Couldn’t even handle a little ox? Pathetic,” the horned creature jeered.
“A foot-long calf brought you to death’s door? Hilarious! When I return, I’ll tell everyone how the mighty Shi Hao fought a tiny ox for a day and night, only to be left half-dead. The whole world will laugh at you!” A blue-haired being with azure wings sneered, relishing Shi Hao’s downfall.
Shi Hao’s expression was frosty, silent as he stared.
“Angry, Shi Hao? Your glare pleases me. The terror of the border, slaughtering our geniuses, now reduced to a dying dog!” someone crowed.
“Friends, grant me this favor—I wish to take Shi Hao’s head, to craft a wine cup. Don’t fight me for it,” the blue-winged being declared.
“No, that cup is mine! I spotted him first!” another shouted.
They bickered, mocking him openly.
“Keep the head. I’d rather have this golden calf.”
“Indeed. Forget the medicines—just give my clan a share of this ox!”
Many clamored for the ox, eyes blazing with greed.
Shi Hao remained silent, watching them like they were already dead. Their words meant nothing to him.
“Shi Hao, since you couldn’t handle a foot-long ox, just sit back and watch how we tame it,” someone laughed.
“No, behead Shi Hao first. To avoid complications—elder, stand ready!” a cautious one urged.
“Good calf, step aside. We’ll deal with you later. Submit, and we might even take you to meet an immortal,” someone coaxed the ox.
But the moment they approached, their bodies locked in terror.
The foot-long ox finally lifted its head, its gaze shifting from the sword embryo to them. Its pupils blazed with an overwhelming, dreadful aura.
“It—it—” someone stammered, their blood running cold. Every smile froze.
“Shi Hao! You tricked us!” they roared in fury and horror, faces ashen, as if plunged into the depths of hell.
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