Chapter 635 - 414: Seventh Layer

Chapter 635: Chapter 414: Seventh Layer

However, things like Earth Vein Spiritual Fire weren’t only utilized by Martial Artists. Exotic Beasts would also use such places to strengthen themselves. There might be an incredibly formidable Exotic Beast here.

Approaching cautiously, Xu Yang soon realized he had entered the territory of a powerful Exotic Beast. It was dead silent; there were no chirping birds or buzzing insects. Moreover, his five senses had already caught a fiercely wild and savage aura. Exotic Beasts possessed extremely strong territorial instincts. Not only would they refrain from concealing their auras, but they would actively project them to deter other Exotic Beasts from approaching.

"It’s at least at the Celestial Essence Third Layer," he thought, instantly growing excited. To him, a powerful Exotic Beast meant obtaining Essence Blood for Body Refining, which would cause his Cultivation to surge.

"I hope it isn’t too strong," he thought. If it was an Exotic Beast comparable to the Celestial Essence Fourth Layer, he could kill it. If it was at the Celestial Essence Fifth Layer, he could only sigh in despair and retreat.

Concealing all his aura, Xu Yang drew upon the Power of Heaven and Earth and slowly crept toward the source of the savage presence. Soon, he spotted a giant beast lying on its back atop a massive boulder, basking in the sun. The Exotic Beast resembled a bear, but it was fiery red all over. It looked as if its entire body was enveloped in a layer of burning flames.

"It’s a Fire Bear," he realized. This was actually the other type of Exotic Beast he was tasked to find: the Fire Bear. As long as he killed it and extracted its gallbladder, his other mission would be complete.

"Although Fire Bears aren’t pack-living Exotic Beasts, they usually live in male-female pairs," he thought. "Why is there only one here?"

While Xu Yang was puzzled, an earth-shattering noise suddenly echoed from behind him.

RUMBLE...

He turned to look and saw a giant bear, standing over ten feet tall, holding the carcass of a wild bull. It strode through the mountain forest; wherever it passed, earth and stones crumbled, and trees snapped in half. A boulder the size of a cabinet blocked its path, but the beast effortlessly stomped it into powder. Vigorous Qi-Blood surged out from its body, forming a pillar of Qi-Blood smoke that soared into the sky.

This was actually a Fire Bear Exotic Beast comparable to a Celestial Essence Fourth Level Martial Artist. Its Physique was already powerful enough to reach the Realm of Qi and Blood Manifestation. Its silk-like fur rippled up and down like waves. Its ferocious aura radiated unbridledly, causing the Power of Heaven and Earth to churn restlessly.

It threw aside the wild bull carcass and fixed its gaze on Xu Yang, its eyes erupting with a chilling, heart-palpitating glare. Clearly, it had discovered the creature that had invaded its territory and was now bearing its killing intent.

"This thing actually knows how to hide its aura," Xu Yang thought. This was the first time he had encountered an Exotic Beast of this caliber. He hadn’t even noticed it until it was so close. Of course, this was mainly because he had completely concealed his own power; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been caught so off guard.

The giant bear, over ten feet tall, had arms thicker than water barrels. Its lean, robust muscles knotted together like a tangle of massive pythons.

ROAR!

Seeing that Xu Yang had discovered its presence, the Fire Bear let out a furious roar. Its hind legs kicked off the ground with immense force, shattering the soil beneath as it pounced fiercely at him. Initially, there was a fair distance between the two, but with this single leap, the gap was almost completely closed.

Accompanied by a fierce gale, the beast’s oppressive might made Xu Yang’s body feel heavy, as if a great mountain was collapsing upon him. The ground beside him cracked and exploded, and his legs began to sink into the earth. On a bear Palm wider than a washbasin, sharp claws flashed with a bloody glint. Surging with rolling Qi-Blood, the massive Palm swiped down at his head, seemingly intent on smashing him to pieces.

Xu Yang had no intention of taking the Fire Bear head-on. For an Exotic Beast comparable to a Celestial Essence Fourth Level Martial Artist, its physical body wouldn’t be any weaker than his—it would only be stronger. Furthermore, Fire Bears were renowned for their raw strength and robust bodies, making them even more terrifying than Stone-Splitting Boars in the same Realm.

BANG!

Gang Yuan exploded beneath his feet, allowing him to pull his sunken legs out of the dirt. Executing the Perfection Wandering Dragon Void Step, he vanished from his spot just as the bear Palm brushed past his body and slammed heavily into the ground.

The partially erected Protective Gang Yuan rippled violently, instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks. Just the wind from the Palm strike had nearly shattered his Protective Gang Yuan; the Fire Bear’s strength was terrifyingly immense. Of course, this was because he hadn’t circulated his Gang Yuan to its limits. With his Combat Power, it wasn’t as if the sheer wind of the Fire Bear’s Palm could so easily break his Protective Gang Yuan. If it were truly that horrifying, he would have turned and fled immediately.