However, the steady old cultivator still frowned, feeling that the deaths of those mighty cultivators earlier had something to do with Huang.
Yet, he had no proof. No one would believe that Huang could command that ancient beast—it was inconceivable, utterly impossible!
“Regardless, we must be cautious!” the old cultivator warned gravely. As one of the leaders overseeing the allied forces, his words carried weight, and everyone present took his advice seriously.
“Rest assured, once we surround him, we’ll strike immediately—he won’t have the slightest chance!”
“Elder, don’t worry. With all of us attacking together, what can a mere brat do to defy the heavens?”
The group set off, fueled by rage and indignation, swiftly charging into the Heavenly Beast Forest, determined to eliminate Huang without delay.
This battle had been disastrous—no victories to celebrate, only the loss of countless experts. The casualties were staggering.
Many could hardly wait, eager to kill Huang and vent their fury. Some were even exhilarated, itching to personally strike down their target.
“Come on, Huang. I’ve been looking forward to this. Finally, I’ll meet you—and snap your neck with my bare hands!” a burly man growled, his excitement palpable.
“Those poor souls were unlucky, caught in the ancient beast’s roar and torn apart. Once we kill Huang, we’ll honor their spirits!”
Most were confident, certain that this would mark the end of their mission in the Heavenly Beast Forest. Huang’s death was imminent, and their task would be complete.
The group moved swiftly, surrounding the quiet area before closing in slowly, tightening their encirclement.
The region was lush with vegetation, especially the verdant mountain ridge ahead, shimmering with emerald radiance and brimming with life essence.
Yet, deep within the ridge, something stood out—an ancient black tree, long dead, leafless and lifeless, having withered for tens of thousands of years.
It was shrouded in mist, faintly discernible.
Beneath it sat a young man, cross-legged, exuding a mysterious Dao rhythm as if immersed in profound enlightenment.
“I want to skin him alive!” someone muttered.
“Is this bastard mocking us? Or is he truly oblivious, daring to cultivate in such a situation? What an idiot!” others cursed indignantly.
While countless experts hunted Huang through the Heavenly Beast Forest, here he was, utterly unperturbed, meditating beneath an ancient tree.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been laughable—proof of his arrogance and impending doom.
But now, after so many losses, seeing Huang so composed only infuriated them, as if they were being mocked.
Shi Hao remained unshaken, still seated in meditation. Even with so many approaching, he showed no sign of alarm. Was he simply oblivious, or was his reaction delayed?
His calmness, however, unsettled the group.
It wasn’t his fault—he had fallen into a peculiar state, one both terrifying and mystical, making it impossible for him to awaken immediately.
But he feared nothing. He had already considered this: beneath this ancient tree, he was safe. Anyone who dared attack would meet a grim fate.
“Hah… This fool is in deep meditation, lost in enlightenment. We can’t even give him a chance to live!”
“He’s doomed by his own stupidity!”
The group laughed, encircling the ridge from all sides—perched on boulders, atop hills, their figures numerous and imposing.
This was a full-scale operation. Not all were mighty cultivators, but among the eight thousand, dozens of experts had been deployed to ensure Shi Hao couldn’t escape.
The rest were part of the sweeping search party.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, someone spotted the golden lion trapped in the swamp. Though sealed and motionless, half-submerged in mud, it was still recognized.
“Isn’t that the descendant of the Fearless Lion lineage?” Many were shocked—this lion was renowned among the younger generation.
Yet here it was, captured and humiliated, kneeling in the mud, facing Shi Hao.
“This lion is incredibly strong. How did he subdue it? The Fearless Lion lineage won’t take this lightly.”
“What a disgrace! The golden lion, so proud, now bows its head in the dirt!” others fumed.
The golden lion saw the crowd, its eyes flashing with anxiety. But it couldn’t communicate—Shi Hao had sealed it before his meditation, fearing it might act while he was defenseless.
Now, the lion wished it could roar, warning them not to attack. Shi Hao had told it: violence here meant certain death.
“Huang, wake up! The ones who’ll take your head have arrived!” someone called, stepping forward with a cold smirk.
“Fall back!” an elder snapped sternly.
Some remained cautious, heeding the earlier warnings. After all, many had already died mysteriously.
A few grumbled, itching to rouse Shi Hao, drag him out, humiliate him, and then kill him.
But the elder’s reprimand held them back.
“That box—it’s under his leg!” someone exclaimed, spotting the rotten wooden chest.
“That’s it! We’ve finally found it!”
“Elder, aren’t we being too cautious? Huang’s clearly deep in meditation. Let me go—I’ll behead him and retrieve the box!” a warrior urged.
“No!”
“Do not act recklessly!”
The leaders unanimously refused.
Many felt stifled. They had Huang right there, defenseless—yet they had to hold back? The elders were being overly paranoid.
From afar, the golden lion sighed in relief. The elders’ prudence was commendable.
But then, its blood ran cold.
The leaders had made a decision—one that horrified it.
“Huang may be young, but he’s survived this long for a reason. I suspect he’s connected to the deaths of those experts—perhaps he can summon that ancient beast.”
The lion silently agreed—the elders were sharp.
But their next words made its fur stand on end.
“Therefore, we must act decisively. Attack together—kill him before he can awaken and call the beast!”
“Elder, this is excessive! I could slay him alone in seconds!” someone protested.
The golden lion silently screamed in its mind: *No! Don’t attack together!*
“Caution is paramount. Huang is cunning—this could be a trap. No one approaches. We strike from afar, obliterating him and any hidden dangers!” an elder declared firmly.
“Fine. But it’s a shame—I wanted him to suffer first,” a burly man grumbled.
The next moment, countless lights flared as the group prepared their ancestral techniques.
Those at the rear held back, deeming it unnecessary—the front-line experts would ensure Huang’s annihilation.
“Attack!” a white-haired leader roared.
**BOOM!**
A storm of lethal energies surged forth, converging on Shi Hao—a concentrated, merciless assault.
But what followed defied all expectations.
The withered tree transformed into a monstrous entity, its black branches lashing out like spears, shredding their techniques and impaling the attackers.
**SPLATTER!**
Blood painted the sky. The scene turned into a slaughterhouse.
“AHHH—!”
The screams echoed beyond the forest, reaching observers monitoring from afar via mystical artifacts.
“Something’s wrong!” The leaders outside paled, sensing catastrophe.
Then, they saw it—a crimson tide rising, staining the heavens.
“Has… has tragedy struck again?!” a commander trembled, his face twisted in horror.
The others’ expressions mirrored his—disbelief, dread, and fury as they stared into the depths of the Heavenly Beast Forest.
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