The giant beast seemed to sense the danger and let out a furious roar, spewing a gust of icy, sinister wind from its mouth.
The arrows flying toward it were not only blown off course by the wind but also instantly coated in a layer of glittering black ice, falling to the ground before they could even touch the beast’s body.
As for heavier weapons like spears, though they managed to pierce the beast’s massive body, their lethality was greatly diminished by the gale, only causing superficial wounds. This, however, only enraged the creature further.
In its fury, the beast’s four eyes suddenly flashed with a bloody light, and with a loud *bang*, the stiff hairs on its neck stood on end, making it look utterly terrifying.
Han Li, standing atop the roof, was momentarily stunned. Before he could grasp the beast’s intent, it lowered its massive head, and the erected hairs transformed into countless black streaks, shooting toward the stone wall like arrows.
The people on the wall seemed well aware of this tactic. Though their faces were tense, they shouted in unison and raised their large shields in perfect coordination.
A rapid *clatter* of impacts, like a sudden downpour, erupted from the shields.
Though the black streaks penetrated several inches into the shields, most were successfully blocked. However, a few unlucky individuals, caught in gaps in the defense, were pierced through and toppled off the wall, their fates unknown.
The others had no time to worry about the fallen. At a loud command, another volley of spears and arrows was launched, but again, most were blown away by the beast’s sinister wind.
Strangely, the beast appeared to have only the stiff hairs on its neck as a projectile weapon. Though it howled in pain as more spears struck it, it could only struggle desperately to rise, lacking any further means of counterattack. Meanwhile, the purple mist’s tendrils tightly bound its legs, never loosening for even a moment.
After five or six rounds of such attacks, the beast’s sinister wind weakened drastically, losing its initial ferocity.
Now, the arrows and spears from the wall intensified, embedding themselves densely into the beast’s body until it resembled a porcupine.
Yet, despite the onslaught, the beast seemed only mildly injured, still roaring with vigor and wildly swinging its massive black club, smashing the ground around it into a pockmarked mess.
Han Li couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear at the beast’s thick hide and immense strength.
The villagers, however, clearly had their own methods for dealing with such creatures. A group of agile, burly men swiftly ascended the wall, carrying nothing but several three-to-four-zhang-long spears under their arms.
Once atop the wall, they raised their spears, took brief aim, and hurled them with tremendous force at the beast’s massive frame.
The *whoosh* of the spears cutting through the air made Han Li’s expression shift slightly.
These men were no ordinary fighters—each possessed considerable internal strength, effortlessly launching the massive spears as if they were mere straws, their force rivaling that of a crossbow.
Instantly, blood blossomed across the beast’s body as every spear found its mark, pinning the creature to the ground. Its earlier ferocity vanished in an instant.
Cheers erupted from the wall as relief washed over the villagers. The purple mist binding the beast’s legs finally dissipated.
Some eagerly lowered the wooden gate, ready to rush out and finish the beast off with swords and knives, while others tended to the wounded.
But before the gate could fully descend, the beast, which had been hanging its head weakly, suddenly let out a final, resounding roar. With a mighty swing of its arm, it hurled its massive club high into the air, sending it crashing toward the village center with terrifying momentum.
Below were women and children who had rushed out in celebration of the beast’s impending demise. As the club descended, it seemed certain to crush seven or eight villagers into pulp, prompting horrified screams from the onlookers.
At that moment, a figure darted forward, intercepting the falling club midair. With a low shout, the person struck the club’s midsection with both hands.
A deafening *boom* echoed as the black wood was deflected, landing harmlessly in an empty area.
The figure landed gracefully—it was the pale-faced, stern-looking middle-aged man.
The rescued villagers sighed in relief, crowding around him with heartfelt gratitude. But the man merely waved them off indifferently and returned to his original position.
Han Li, however, noticed something odd. After saving the villagers, the man had cast a cold, almost disdainful glance in his direction. Though he couldn’t fathom the reason, it was clear the man held some animosity toward him.
Frowning, Han Li pondered the possible reasons when the gate finally lowered. Dozens of men rushed out and finished off the grievously wounded beast.
But they weren’t done yet. One man took a white longsword and split open the beast’s skull. After a gruesome search through the gore, he raised his hand triumphantly, clutching a thumb-sized green crystal.
A wave of excitement swept through the crowd as the man shouted in joy.
Han Li blinked, suddenly finding the green crystal oddly familiar. He lowered his head in thought, and a flash of recognition struck him.
Back in the Void Heaven Palace’s inner hall, he had found similar green crystals inside the remains of the puppets he’d collected. Could this be the same thing? Han Li mused silently.
After observing for a while longer, Han Li leaped down from the stone house without another word.
The plump elder and the other village elders had already returned to the hall, and Han Li had a multitude of questions to ask.
Seeing Han Li re-enter the hall, Mei Ning followed with her head lowered. After witnessing the battle with the beast, she seemed more aware of the dangers here, her face clouded with worry.
When Han Li entered, the elder and the other leaders had resumed their seats.
Spotting Han Li, the elder smiled and was about to speak when a tall, burly man strode in, holding the green crystal.
“Great Elder! This is the Netherbeast Crystal from the Zhēngjiǎo’s skull. Please examine it,” the man said respectfully, placing the crystal on the stone table before the elder.
“You’ve all worked hard. Thanks to the recent surge of Spirit-Sealing Qi, Xin Shi and the others managed to bring back some fish and shrimp. Later, everyone can take extra as a reward,” the elder said cheerfully upon seeing the crystal.
“Thank you, Elders!” The man beamed with delight before bowing and exiting the hall.
Han Li watched coldly from the side.
“What you two just witnessed was the Zhēngjiǎo, a unique Netherbeast of this land. It must have been quite a shock,” the elder said, carefully tucking the green crystal into his robes before turning to Han Li with a serious expression.
“There are demonic beasts here too?” Han Li asked, surprised.
“Of course. When the spatial rifts occur, they don’t discriminate—whether you’re a cultivator or a demonic beast, you’ll be dragged in all the same,” the elder replied with a bitter smile. After a pause, he continued,
“Demonic beasts here can’t use their arts either, but their bodies, tempered through countless trials, are incredibly tough. Neither humans nor Netherbeasts dare provoke them. Fortunately, they usually stay in fixed locations, feeding on Netherbeasts and rarely venturing out, so they pose little threat to us. But Netherbeasts are different. Born from the Nether Qi of this land, they instinctively crave human flesh. Almost regularly, powerful Netherbeasts attack human villages. While most are repelled, smaller villages have occasionally been overrun, their inhabitants devoured entirely. On the other hand, even if we kill a Zhēngjiǎo today, another will soon emerge from the Nether Qi’s convergence. These creatures are practically endless.”
“From your words, it seems there are other human villages besides this one?” Han Li asked after a moment of silence.
“Indeed. Though not many, there are about seven or eight scattered across the Nether Land. Food here is scarce—only a few patches of land can grow coarse grains, while the rest, too saturated with Nether Qi, are barren. Most Netherbeasts are highly toxic. While demonic beasts can stomach them, humans would die upon contact. Aside from a few special species, even if we kill Netherbeasts, we can’t eat them. These harsh conditions cap the human population here. To survive, everyone must contribute. Those who can’t are cast out to fend for themselves.” The elder’s tone turned icy toward the end.
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