Chapter Nine: The Azure Cunning Beast

In the dense forest, with no sense of direction, Chen Xiang had been walking in one direction for half the day.

“What on earth is this place? I was heading east all along, but ever since I used that Void Slip Talisman, I can’t tell which way I’m going.” Chen Xiang frowned as he spoke.

Over the course of this journey, he’d come across a few blind and reckless beasts, none of them particularly powerful—just at the second or third level of Qi Refinement. By now, he himself had reached the eighth layer of Qi Refinement.

Along the way, he’d also seen swarms of bees and stampeding wild beasts, all rushing in the same direction, which made him worry about that old man. Had he gotten the old guy into trouble, only for him to be swallowed up by the beast tide and the swarm?

On the far side of the forest, Jiang Tianyi was tearing roasted meat into small pieces with one hand, dashing through the woods at breakneck speed. Every now and then, he’d take a swig from his wine gourd, looking thoroughly content.

“Burp—delicious! Who would have thought Brother Chen’s culinary skills were so extraordinary? Even Nascent Soul-level demon beasts were drawn in, and those swarms of bees in the sky—unbelievable! I wouldn’t dare go head-to-head with them. If those old devils knew I’d tasted such a divine meal, they’d die of jealousy! Hahaha!” Jiang Tianyi laughed heartily, quickening his pace.

A deafening chorus of beastly roars surged behind him—at least several thousand demon beasts in pursuit.

Jiang Tianyi glanced back with a sneer. “You bunch of idiots, trying to snatch food from me? If I weren’t worried about getting tangled up with the bee swarm, I’d wipe you all out in an instant.”

Some of the demon beasts had only just developed a trace of intelligence, while a few Nascent Soul-level beasts were as clever as humans. Enraged, they howled furiously, making the beast tide even more frenzied.

Jiang Tianyi, unconcerned, continued to savor his meal as he fled, unwilling to finish it all at once—he wanted to enjoy every bite.

At the forest’s edge, a group of young men and women were searching about. There were three men and two women. At the front walked a man with a resolute face, clearly the leader.

“Senior Brother, with the beasts in Floating Light Forest in such turmoil these days, will we be in trouble looking for a Green Sly Steed?” asked one of the women, her face showing concern.

She was worried; the forest was dangerous enough, but now, for reasons unknown, the beasts had suddenly gone wild—even the inner forest was in chaos.

The leader shook his head gravely. “We should be fine. We’re at the edge of the forest where there aren’t many high-level beasts, so it’s relatively safe. Besides, all the beast packs we’ve seen have been heading in the same direction. As long as we don’t provoke them, we’ll be safe.”

“Don’t worry, little junior sister. If there’s danger, I’ll protect you,” said a handsome young man with a long sword strapped to his back—the best-looking among them, though a shadow on his face marred his handsomeness.

The girl smiled faintly. “Thank you, Senior Brother Zhang.”

“All right, let’s search carefully. This place is full of danger. We must return before sunset,” the leader said sternly.

“Yes!” the group responded in unison, evidently holding the leader in high regard.

They focused intently on their surroundings. The Green Sly Steed was a kind of demon beast resembling a horse, though nothing like the gentle animals horses were thought to be. Cunning as foxes and savagely violent, they were universally despised—except for one reason: their gallbladders were an exceptionally rare medicinal ingredient. When combined with other herbs, they could cure damaged meridians—a priceless elixir.

Ever since an alchemy master discovered this use for the gallbladder thousands of years ago, the once-loathed Green Sly Steeds had become highly sought after, their numbers dwindling to near extinction, surviving only in the most primitive forests.

It’s no wonder a species could be driven to extinction for a reason.

They sought the Green Sly Steed because their fiercely ambitious junior brother had damaged his meridians after forcing his cultivation and suffering backlash. Without a cure, his future would be ruined—so they had no choice but to enter the Floating Light Forest.

The leader, being the strongest, led from the front. Everyone gripped their weapons tightly, ready for trouble at any moment.

“Wait, there’s movement up ahead!” The leader suddenly halted, raising a hand to stop the group, his face grave.

Everyone tensed, weapons and techniques at the ready. Their caution was justified: with the forest plunged into chaos and beasts running wild, even a moment’s carelessness could be fatal.

“Don’t look at me—I’m just a sheep…”

“Green grass smells sweeter because of me…”

“The sky is bluer because of me…”

“Damn it, what kind of wretched forest is this? I’ve been walking four or five days and I’m still not out…”

After a rendition of that familiar children’s song, the tune drifted through the woods. Chen Xiang, a stalk of wild grass in his mouth, lounged atop a strange, menacing steed over two meters tall, gazing lazily at the dappled sunlight as he cursed.

The spiritual energy around him was even denser than before—he was now at the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.

“It’s a Green Sly Steed!” exclaimed the two women in the group, delighted.

The young men and women eyed Chen Xiang nervously, but, seeing that it was only a youth, they relaxed—until they spotted the monstrous horse beneath him and were instantly overjoyed.

“Huh? Someone? Damn, finally a living soul!” Chen Xiang, hearing voices, straightened up and spotted five young people looking at him with equal surprise. Whistling cheerfully, he called out, “Hello, brothers and beauties! Come on, beast, faster!”

Chen Xiang had been stuck in this forest for days; aside from running into Jiang Tianyi, he hadn’t seen another soul. He raised a sturdy wooden stick and smacked the rump of his steed, which galloped forward at speed.

Unable to contain themselves at the sight of their target, the group rushed to meet Chen Xiang.

“Hey, kid, leave the Green Sly Steed and you can get lost!” called the handsome young man, his eyes full of excitement, not sparing Chen Xiang a glance.

He spoke with such practiced ease that he’d clearly said this to others before.

Chen Xiang: “…?”

So this is what they call a challenge?

He was baffled—he hadn’t even spoken yet, and the first thing they noticed was his horse?

The leader was startled and quickly snapped, “Junior brother! Enough!”

He then turned to Chen Xiang, embarrassment on his face. “Sorry, little brother, my junior was a bit rash. We’ve been searching for a Green Sly Steed for so long we lost our composure.”

The junior shut up after the reprimand, glaring at Chen Xiang with resentment.

Chen Xiang: “…And this is my fault?”

“Oh, it’s all right, I understand. Actually, I wanted to ask you something.” Chen Xiang waved it off, unconcerned.

“What is it, little brother?” the leader asked, eyeing the size of the Green Sly Steed under Chen Xiang. Judging from its build, it must have reached at least the second or third level of Foundation Establishment—yet it was willingly serving as this youth’s mount. Clearly this young man was extraordinary.

Chen Xiang leaned in and asked in a low voice, “I just want to know how to get out of this forest.”

“Oh? Have you been in the Floating Light Forest long?” the leader asked, surprised, and the group looked taken aback.

Chen Xiang nodded, his face pained. “Ah, it breaks my heart to say it. I’ve been wandering this cursed forest for five or six days, like a headless fly, ran into several beast tides, and at last I’ve found someone human.”

A collective gasp ran through the group—five or six days? In the Floating Light Forest? The beast riot had started five days ago.

And at a closer look, he was only at the ninth level of Qi Refinement—surviving even half a day here would have been a miracle!

“Hmph, kid, if you’re going to make up stories, at least make them believable. Five or six days in the Floating Light Forest? Ran into a beast tide? Why don’t you claim you flew to the heavens?” scoffed the brooding young man.

The others seemed to agree; it was impossible. The five of them were all at Foundation Establishment, treading carefully even in the outskirts. This youth had come from the direction of the inner forest, which was even more dangerous. It made no sense—unless he was lying.

The two women and a slightly chubby young man all looked at Chen Xiang with open disdain. Even the leader, though expressionless, had disbelief in his eyes.

“You’re the liar here—your whole family are liars.” Damn it, what did I ever do to you?

“Big brother, never mind that. Just tell me the way out,” Chen Xiang said, ignoring him and addressing the leader.

“You little brat, who’re you calling a liar?” the brooding young man shouted.

The leader frowned slightly but replied, “Little brother, if you want to leave the forest, just follow this path straight ahead.” He pointed to a direction.

“Really? Thank you so much! If fate allows, we’ll meet again!” Chen Xiang said excitedly, eager to leave.

The group was stunned to see Chen Xiang about to depart. They’d finally found a Green Sly Steed—if it left, they’d be stranded here still searching. Instantly, they blocked his way.

“Wait, little brother, don’t be in such a hurry,” the leader said quickly.

“What is it? Something else?” Chen Xiang looked at him in confusion.

“Well, little brother, would you be willing to part with your Green Sly Steed? Don’t worry, we’ll offer you something of equal value in exchange,” the leader said.

“Oh? You want my horse? But I don’t want to trade it. I don’t want to walk, so I caught a horse to ride. Ugly as it is, after a few days together, I’ve grown attached. I can’t bear to part with it,” Chen Xiang replied with feigned reluctance.

The Green Sly Steed’s eyes brimmed with tears as it gazed at the leader, as if to say: Spare me, please! Every time I slow down, he beats me; when I run fast, he still beats me. When he wants a joyride, he beats me even harder. I’m a demon beast, not a beast of burden!

“To be continued…”