Upon hearing Han Li’s words, Shi Kun was momentarily stunned but quickly laughed and said, “Fellow Daoist, your abilities are certainly no less than mine or Fairy Liu’s. Let’s not flatter each other and get down to business. Another day or two ahead, and we’ll truly enter the depths of the Shadow Beast Forest. Most shadow beasts reside there. We must be extremely vigilant if we wish to pass through this area.”
“When traversing the heart of the Shadow Beast Forest, do not even think about hunting lone shadow beasts. Our restrictions may work against ordinary shadow beasts, but against high-tier Three-Eyed Shadow Beasts, any action will immediately alert them. Moreover, deep in the forest, we cannot scout the area with our spiritual senses beforehand. Once a fight breaks out, the danger will be unimaginable,” Liu Shui’er added gravely.
“If we are forced to fight, we cannot afford to drag it out like we have been. The three of us must strike together and kill the target instantly to minimize the risk,” Shi Kun added after a moment of thought.
“Indeed. With the combined strength of the three of us, killing an ordinary shadow beast instantly shouldn’t be too difficult. But if we encounter a high-tier shadow beast, that’s another matter,” Han Li mused, stroking his chin.
“If we are truly targeted by a high-tier shadow beast, our combined Magnetic Divine Light technique might just come in handy,” Liu Shui’er chuckled lightly.
“Right! I almost forgot about that secret technique. With it, even a lone high-tier shadow beast wouldn’t be something to fear,” Shi Kun exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he clapped his hands in delight.
“However, unless absolutely necessary, this technique should only be used as a last resort. I have no desire to be hunted by a horde of high-tier shadow beasts,” Han Li shook his head, still seemingly concerned.
“Rest assured, Brother Shi and I are well aware of that. Now that we’ve both obtained shadow beast pelts, let’s transform and set off immediately. It’s best if we maintain some distance between us to avoid drawing too much attention,” Liu Shui’er suggested.
“Fairy Liu speaks wisely. I shall take the lead then,” Shi Kun replied with a grin.
With a single hand seal, a dark beast pelt emerged on his body, and a silver light flew from his sleeve, merging into the pelt. In an instant, the burly man transformed into a black shadow beast and shot forward like an arrow.
Han Li and Liu Shui’er wasted no time either, transforming into two other black shadow beasts and swiftly following, splitting to the left and right. As they advanced, all three activated their treasures to further conceal their forms.
In this dim, tree-filled environment, spotting the trio became nearly impossible.
For the remainder of their journey, whenever Han Li and the others detected any signs of beasts or unusual movements, they silently detoured far around, avoiding any contact whatsoever.
In the first few days, encounters with shadow beasts were infrequent, and most appeared in pairs or small groups. However, after seven or eight days, as they reached the forest’s core, shadow beasts began appearing in groups of five or six, sometimes even a dozen at once. This heightened their caution.
Fortunately, their movement techniques were superb, and their spiritual power far surpassed that of ordinary shadow beasts, allowing them to proceed without incident.
Moreover, whether by luck or some anomaly in the forest, they encountered none of the legendary high-tier Three-Eyed Shadow Beasts, enabling them to advance deep into the forest’s heart.
If they could maintain this pace for another three or four days, they would pass through the most dangerous stretch of the Shadow Beast Forest and breathe a sigh of relief.
Yet, far from relaxing, the trio grew increasingly tense. Their vast experience had taught them the perils of complacency, and the absence of high-tier shadow beasts, while initially a relief, now filled them with unease.
As they pressed forward, even ordinary shadow beasts became scarce, with only a handful encountered over the next two days. This deepened their wariness.
—
Han Li moved through the forest like a ghost. Even when faced with towering trees, his shadowy form passed through them effortlessly, leaving no trace or sound. This eerie movement technique allowed him to advance at incredible speed.
Yet his brow remained furrowed, his eyes flickering with faint blue light as he scanned his surroundings. Unable to use his spiritual senses in the forest’s heart, he relied on his Brightsight Spirit Eyes to detect shadow beasts and avoid them early.
He noted with surprise that Liu Shui’er and Shi Kun were just as adept at evasion, whether through some sensory technique or unknown treasure. This earned them further respect in his eyes.
Glancing left and right, he confirmed that the two were advancing swiftly about a hundred yards away on either side. Seeing no issues, he relaxed slightly and refocused ahead.
But then, disaster struck.
From the darkness ahead, a golden streak shot toward them, crossing dozens of yards in an instant and slamming into Shi Kun, who was still concealed. Caught off guard, Shi Kun had no time to dodge. Abandoning stealth, he flared with yellow light, reinforcing his protective aura.
A deafening crash echoed as golden and yellow lights clashed. The golden figure staggered back a few steps before steadying itself, while Shi Kun’s shadow beast form was sent flying, smashing into a massive tree dozens of yards away. The impact split the trunk—several men thick—in two before he finally came to a stop.
Half-buried in splinters, Shi Kun’s beast form writhed in pain, unable to rise.
Han Li and the cloaked woman nearby paled at the sight. Shi Kun’s physical resilience was legendary, yet a single collision with the golden figure had left him in such a state. Just how terrifying was this thing?
Han Li’s blue-lit eyes focused on the distant golden figure, and his heart nearly stopped.
The creature was a shadow beast, barely ten feet long, with golden fur and pitch-black eyes—a King-Class Shadow Beast!
Unbelievable! Before setting out, he’d joked about the unlikelihood of encountering such a beast. Yet here it was, before they’d even faced a high-tier Three-Eyed Shadow Beast. Though its abilities were unknown, it was undoubtedly at least Saint-tier.
Han Li’s heart sank. He froze in place, eyes locked on the golden beast, not daring to blink. Several treasures within him trembled in response to his heightened alertness.
Nearby, Liu Shui’er’s shadow beast form perched on a thick branch, equally tense.
The King-Class Shadow Beast, momentarily dazed by the collision, shook its head and fixed its murderous gaze on Shi Kun. Its front limbs flexed, razor-sharp claws glinting as it prepared to strike.
Han Li and Liu Shui’er exchanged glances. The dilemma was clear: intervene and risk annihilation, or flee and abandon Shi Kun to his fate.
If they left now, unseen, they might escape unscathed. But if they fought, even a momentary delay could allow the beast to summon reinforcements, sealing their doom.
Yet Shi Kun’s death would doom their mission—the ruins’ restrictions couldn’t be opened without him. Failure here would mean facing the wrath of Cai Liuying and Duan Tianren upon their return, regardless of their survival in the Guanghan Realm.
Still, survival took precedence. Han Li swiftly weighed the risks and was about to retreat when he noticed Liu Shui’er’s shadow beast form crouching, faint white light emanating from her body—she was preparing to attack!
This stunned him. Was she truly willing to risk certain death?
Just as he steeled himself to flee, the unthinkable happened.
The golden beast, poised to strike, suddenly twitched its ears. Its murderous glare shifted to one of alarm and fury. With a low growl, it transformed back into a golden streak and vanished into the trees, leaving the trio in stunned silence.
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