Chapter 593 - 409: Wind Breath Returning Soil Beast

Having accepted Tu Wuzhao’s task, Fang Qingyuan wanted to complete it as quickly as possible. Thus, he couldn’t yet spare the time to study his newly obtained *Liu Yu Celestial Demon Transformation*. Instead, he took Qiqi to the Barbaric Land, found Xiong Feng, and picked up Jinbao, who had been training there for some time.

After being trained under Xiong Feng, Jinbao’s vitality was clearly much stronger. As a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast, any casual techniques Xiong Feng imparted about the application of Gold Spirit Power were more than enough for Jinbao to benefit from endlessly.

Upon learning that Fang Qingyuan was working for Tu Wuzhao and had to travel to Awakening Lion Valley, Xiong Feng suggested that Qiqi accompany him as backup.

As a demonic beast at the Golden Core Perfection Realm, Qiqi was so powerful that she could protect herself without worry, as long as she didn’t encounter an opponent with Nascent Soul Battle Power.

Qiqi expressed no concern about the trip to Awakening Lion Valley; she had extensive survival experience in the Barbaric Wilderness.

"Go and return as quickly as possible. Do not linger. Delays invite complications. Remember this."

As they prepared to leave, Xiong Feng offered his earnest advice. Fang Qingyuan and Jinbao both nodded obediently. In that moment, Xiong Feng was like a fussing elder, possessing less of his bestial nature and more humanity than before.

Qiqi watched the scene from the side, bored to tears. She couldn’t help but stick out her pink tongue and lick her paw. ’My fur has felt a little dry recently. The climate outside the Barbaric Wilderness is just too arid.’

....

Before the striped, giant tiger, Blood Saber was making a report. He knelt on one knee and said with a sinister smile:

"Your wise judgment, Mountain Monarch. Nightmare Tiger’s original name is Huo Hu. He was a genius disciple of the Beast Taming Sect who later fell into demonic cultivation for certain reasons and eventually made his way here. Recently, this man has been secretly helping human Cultivators, and your subordinate caught him in the act. Now he wants to kill me to silence me. I beg the Mountain Monarch to deliver justice."

Blood Saber’s form looked especially faint; this was the result of being hunted relentlessly by Huo Hu ever since he’d stumbled upon Huo Hu’s dealings with Huo Bai. But Blood Saber’s cultivation technique was treacherous, and even with Huo Hu’s peerless battle power, he couldn’t be held back when he was focused solely on escaping.

As Blood Saber struggled to get before the striped giant tiger and smugly revealed all that he knew, Huo Hu stood in the distance, his expression cold as ice.

But to Blood Saber’s surprise, the Mountain Monarch just gave its tail a bored flick to show it understood, and then gave no other reaction.

"Mountain Monarch? He’s colluding with humans!"

Perhaps because Blood Saber’s voice was too shrill, the Mountain Monarch abruptly rose. Its massive paw shot out and gripped Blood Saber tightly. A smile spread across its muzzle, its two ghastly white fangs protruding as it said:

"I already knew all of this. But you... I sent Feather Ghost to summon you, and yet you devoured him and refused my call. You clearly don’t have much respect for me, do you?"

Pinned by the late-stage Nascent Soul striped giant tiger, Blood Saber’s expression soured. His body writhed instinctively, but a thick layer of Spiritual Light from the tiger’s paw enveloped him, making it impossible to struggle free.

"Quell your anger, Mountain Monarch! Your subordinate lost his head. I was consumed by my bloodlust and thus neglected your important summons. Please, give your subordinate a chance to atone for his deeds."

Blood Saber was also cunning. Seeing the situation was dire, he immediately submitted, not daring to fight back even as the striped giant tiger squeezed him to within an inch of his life.

He now understood Huo Hu’s standing in the Mountain Monarch’s eyes. The beast didn’t even care about his association with humans. Blood Saber understood he had seriously misjudged the situation.

He recalled how Huo Hu had desperately tried to stop him just moments ago. He had been so sure he could get Huo Hu killed, avenging the raid on his Blood Well. He never imagined that fellow was so favored by the Mountain Monarch.

He recalled that before falling into demonic cultivation, Huo Hu had raised a Spirit Tiger as his Companion Beast. ’Could this guy really have such a knack for dealing with tiger-type demonic beasts?’

The striped giant tiger lifted Blood Saber to its face and extended a tongue covered in sharp barbs, giving him a light lick. With just that single touch, Blood Saber felt like half his life was gone.

The striped giant tiger savored the bloody aroma in its mouth, fighting the urge to swallow Blood Saber in a single gulp. With a casual flick, it tossed Blood Saber far into the distance before speaking:

"Go and serve Nightmare Tiger well to atone for your failure. This time, you need to kill ten Golden Core Cultivators. Otherwise, I will claim your soul."

He could sense that a small piece of his soul was missing from the giant tiger’s lick, which filled him with terror. ’I must’ve been out of my mind to come here and report on him,’ he thought. ’It seems that after completely converting into a Blood Cultivator, my mind is far less clear than it used to be.’

"Do you understand?"

the striped giant tiger boomed, its maw gaping. Blood Saber lowered his head helplessly and replied:

"Your subordinate understands. I will do everything in my power. Please rest assured, Mountain Monarch."

"If that is the case, then go! I can smell many unfamiliar auras entering the valley. Eliminate every last one of them!"

Hearing the striped giant tiger’s roar, a bitter look crept onto Blood Saber’s sinister face. He turned his head and saw Huo Hu staring coldly at him. In that instant, Blood Saber felt a chill of desolation.

....

Over a boundless expanse of black, sticky earth, one person and two beasts were flying slowly at a low altitude.

Not a single blade of grass grew here; there was only an endless expanse of black clay that, following the lay of the land, formed a gentle slope rising from north to south. This was the territory of the Wind Breath Returning Soil Beast.

It was impossible to walk here, because this black clay was exceedingly strange. The moment it touched any foreign object, it would produce an immense suction, like a quicksand trap, and swallow things whole.