Chapter 412: A Chance Encounter?

"Let's go!"

Shen Daoxing, Wan Hai, and Tang Yi stepped forward, entering the mountain forest.

The surrounding forest was filled with towering ancient trees and dense, thick bushes. Strange calls from birds and beasts echoed from its depths. A gentle breeze rustled the undergrowth, making it seem as if a demonic beast could leap out at any moment.

The group hadn't gone far when Shen Daoxing suddenly paused. He sensed something. At the same time, the Golden-Eyed Treasure-Seeking Rat in his robes squeaked a few times, alerting him.

Someone else was approaching.

Heh!

'They sure move fast!'

'Someone's already come looking for us.'

'It seems someone tampered with us before we even left.'

However, Shen Daoxing gave no sign of this, continuing to walk forward with an indifferent expression.

Whether intentionally or not, Wan Hai had naturally taken the lead, while Tang Yi had quietly fallen to the rear. The two of them flanked Shen Daoxing, seemingly protecting him.

As the trio ventured deeper, the bushes on either side receded, and the towering ancient trees ahead began to thin out.

The sound of flowing water reached their ears, and a rushing stream appeared before them. Following the stream with their eyes, they saw a great mountain piercing the clouds, shrouded in mist and standing tall in the depths of the forest.

That was Pengze Immortal Mountain, their destination for this trip.

"If we follow this stream, we'll reach the Immortal Mountain. Let's go!"

Without resting, the trio pressed on.

However, they had only just taken a single step.

"ROAR!"

A terrifying roar suddenly echoed through the sky, sending flocks of birds scattering into the air.

Immediately after, a massive tiger burst from the tall grass and appeared before them.

The tiger was entirely crimson, wreathed in roiling flames. A pair of sharp fangs protruded past its lips, giving it a ferocious and menacing look. The ground in its wake was scorched black.

This was a Crimson Flame Profound Tiger, a demonic beast with the strength of the Earth Profound Realm's Ninth Layer. It was exceptionally skilled at manipulating flames and was an incredibly vicious creature that relished torturing its prey to death.

For Shen Daoxing's group to encounter such a ferocious demonic beast right after entering the Immortal Island was truly a stroke of bad luck.

"ROAR!"

The Crimson Flame Profound Tiger threw its head back and roared. The flames engulfing its body surged, seeming to burn the very air. It leaped high, opened its savage maw, and pounced toward Shen Daoxing and the others.

Suddenly, Shen Daoxing's expression flickered, his hand moving to his Sumeru Ring as he prepared to make a move.

But before Shen Daoxing could act...

A cold glint of light flashed by.

Wan Hai had already leaped forward.

"Flame Thunder Sword!"

He let out a soft cry. The Deep Blue Treasure Sword in his hand suddenly lit up and shot out, spinning through the air in a series of flourishes. It sliced past the Crimson Flame Profound Tiger, then whipped around behind the beast and spun back, cutting through it a second time.

In an instant, Wan Hai lunged forward, caught the returning Deep Blue Treasure Sword, and reappeared behind the Crimson Flame Profound Tiger.

A Sword Mark appeared on the Crimson Flame Profound Tiger's neck, extending all the way back to its tail.

The next moment!

The Crimson Flame Profound Tiger was sliced in two down the middle, collapsing to the ground with a heavy THUD.

Shen Daoxing was a bit surprised. Although demonic beasts lacked the intelligence of the Human Race and were generally weaker than humans of the same realm, this Crimson Flame Profound Tiger was still a beast at the Ninth Layer of the Earth Profound Realm. Yet Wan Hai had slain it with ease despite only being at the Fifth Layer of the Earth Profound Realm.

Clearly, Wan Hai's skills were anything but ordinary.

As if sensing Shen Daoxing's surprise, Wan Hai laughed smugly. "Hahahaha! Junior Brother, if I was willing to bring you, it's because I'm strong enough to pass this Immortal Island trial. Don't worry. With me around, you'll reach Pengze Immortal Mountain safe and sound."

But just as Wan Hai finished speaking...

"ROAR!"

Suddenly, another terrifying roar echoed out.

Shen Daoxing whipped his head toward the sound to find that another Crimson Flame Profound Tiger had appeared behind them at some point. It lunged, opening its cavernous, blood-red maw to bite at Shen Daoxing and Tang Yi.

Shen Daoxing swiped a hand over his Sumeru Ring, ready to summon the Great Ming Demon Sparrow and attack.

But just as he was about to act, a white figure flashed before his eyes. Tang Yi had already leaped into the air.

"Cyan Wind Sword!"

With a sharp cry from Tang Yi, the cyan Treasure Sword in her hand flew out. In a single spin, it multiplied into dozens of identical blades.

Tang Yi then grabbed one of the cyan blades and leaped up. In an instant, piercing gales howled like knives as dozens of swords shot forward.

"SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!"

In a mere moment, the piercing gales and sword-rain carved countless bloody Sword Marks into the Crimson Flame Profound Tiger's body.

Then, Tang Yi appeared before the Crimson Flame Profound Tiger. Swinging the cyan Treasure Sword in her hand, she transformed into a streak of light that passed through the beast and soared gracefully into the air.

The next moment!

"BOOM!"

A massive explosion rang out.

Countless flashes of cyan sword light erupted from the Crimson Flame Profound Tiger's body. It blew apart, torn to pieces.

It turned out that Tang Yi, who seemed so gentle and frail, was actually quite strong. She also possessed the cultivation of the Earth Profound Realm's Fifth Layer.

Then, Tang Yi descended gracefully from the sky with a lovely laugh. "Hehehe, of course! Junior Brother Shen, Wan was willing to bring you because he was confident that the two of us alone could pass this Immortal Island trial. If he had tried to bring some pretty junior sister this time, I wouldn't have let him!"

As she spoke, Tang Yi shot Wan Hai a meaningful glance.

Wan Hai chuckled. "Yi, if you had tried to bring some other senior brother along, I wouldn't have agreed either."

'These two...'

Hearing this, Shen Daoxing couldn't help but smile.

But at that moment, Shen Daoxing suddenly frowned as he sensed something. "They're here!"

Hearing Shen Daoxing's words, Wan Hai's expression shifted. He had also sensed it. "Careful!"

He immediately leaped up, placing himself in front of Shen Daoxing.

The next moment.

Not far ahead of Shen Daoxing, the tall bushes rustled, and three figures suddenly shot out.

"Xu Zhengwei!"

Seemingly recognizing the arrivals, Wan Hai suddenly grew alert and serious.

Then, a tall figure from among the three stepped forward with a faint smile. "Heheheh, what a coincidence. I didn't expect to see you here, Wan Hai!"

But Wan Hai just curled his lip. "Heheh. Xu Zhengwei, is this really a coincidence? Or did you come looking for me?"

Seeing Wan Hai's grim expression, Xu Zhengwei dropped the pretense and laughed. "Wan Hai, in that case, don't blame me. Who told you to bring along the dead weight of an outer-sect disciple? It's three against two. Victory is ours!"

With that, Xu Zhengwei waved his hand, and the two figures behind him stepped forward.