“Stop!
Stop right there…”
“Stop your damn running…”
“You little brat, who told you to run…”
Curses and shouts soon erupted from behind Yan Qingshan.
These people had seen him and immediately tried to shift the disaster onto him by changing direction.
They didn’t expect him to be so alert, running away far into the distance without stopping.
Now, their scheme had backfired; the turn had slowed their escape, bringing them one step closer to danger.
“Roar—”
Just as Yan Qingshan sprinted away and left those bastards far behind, a beastly roar exploded in the forest.
The Magical Beast chasing the herb hunters finally revealed itself.
Yan Qingshan flipped and leaped onto a high ground.
Ahead lay a small river, and beyond that was a rocky canyon with complex terrain.
It wouldn’t be difficult to lose those guys there.
However, after he flipped over, he stole a glance back and stopped in his tracks.
A bovine-sized Magical Beast, its body a mix of blue and purple and wreathed in lightning, stood there.
Its appearance resembled a lion from his past life.
A ring of pale blue mane around its neck stood upright like needles.
Its powerful lion-like torso possessed a completely disproportionate, blue-purple tail resembling that of a venomous scorpion.
Currently, it was flickering with lightning, killing the fleeing herb hunters one by one.
‘That’s…
a Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion!!!’
The Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion is a rare 3rd Rank lightning-attribute Magical Beast in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
It can control lightning from birth.
It is at the 1st Rank during infancy, reaches the 2nd Rank during its growth stage after a year, and becomes a genuine 3rd Rank beast upon adulthood.
Lightning-attribute Magical Beasts already possess top-tier combat power among those of the same rank.
Legend has it that the Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion is a crossbreed of the Ancient Lightning Lion and the Scorpion Dragon, containing a trace of high-rank bloodline.
An adult Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion would dare to fight even a weak 4th Rank Magical Beast.
Blue-Maned Scorpion Lions usually live in the inner regions of the Magic Beast Mountain Range and rarely venture to the outskirts.
These herb hunters must have done something incredibly hateful to be pursued all the way here by such a powerful beast.
‘This seems to be a cub?’
Yan Qingshan carefully hid behind a rock, watching from afar as the Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion hunted the group.
Given its bovine size, this cub hadn’t even entered its growth stage yet—it was likely less than a year old.
Even so, a lion cub possessed the strength of a 1st Rank peak.
Combined with the natural superiority of its species, it was more troublesome than an ordinary 2nd Rank Magical Beast.
“Take it!
I’m giving it back!
We shouldn’t have taken it.”
After two unlucky souls were caught and brutally killed, one man in the fleeing group collapsed.
He knelt, pulled a fruit from his medicinal pouch, and cried out for mercy to the beast.
‘Thunder-Tempering Fruit.
No wonder.’
Yan Qingshan watched from a distance.
Seeing the item in the man’s hand, he understood why they were being hunted so ruthlessly.
Thunder-Tempering Fruits grow alongside Blue-Maned Scorpion Lions, or rather, they are a spiritual medicine specifically planted by the species.
It is somewhat similar to the Amethyst Winged Lion King’s Accompanying Amethyst Source.
It is vital for lion cubs; only by consuming enough Thunder-Tempering Fruits can a cub successfully enter its growth stage after a year.
This group probably found a Thunder-Tempering Fruit tree while the cub was away hunting and picked it clean, leading to this life-and-death pursuit.
“Roar…
Roar…”
The Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion stopped in front of the pleading man.
The other fleeing hunters watched nervously, hoping for a turn for the better.
After being chased, they hadn’t considered splitting up because the Magic Beast Mountain Range was too dangerous.
Even together, they had already lost two people.
If they scattered and ran blindly, they would likely be caught and killed quickly by the lion.
Having finally reached the outskirts, they were planning to scatter after a bit more distance.
Who knew they would run into a strange boy?
The leader had malicious intent and ran toward him, but the boy was so alert that he didn’t even show his face.
Instead, their sudden change in direction allowed the lion to catch up.
“Roar—”
The pleading man ultimately failed to move the lion.
The beast’s maw snapped shut in front of him, biting off the arm holding the Thunder-Tempering Fruit.
After a few chews, it swallowed the limb.
Before the man could even scream, the scorpion tail on the lion’s back lashed forward, piercing his head and making it explode.
Then, the scorpion lion let out another fierce roar and resumed the hunt.
“Ah!”
“Everyone run!”
“Split up!
We’re at the outskirts now, it’s every man for himself!”
The remaining herb hunters finally snapped out of it.
They scattered in all directions toward the outskirts, no longer sticking together.
Yan Qingshan hid carefully behind the rocks, his peripheral vision tracking the hunting lion.
‘A Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion.
Although it’s not a Wood-attribute and isn’t the best choice.’
‘However, a cub is extremely rare.
And a 3rd Rank species’ cub is definitely stronger than a common 1st Rank beast.’
Yan Qingshan’s cultivation had reached the right track, and his High Xuan Class Lion Heart King Qi Method was at the beginner stage.
Although the Qi Method was attribute-neutral, it had special requirements.
To cast the Lion Heart and condense the Lion Visage, one needed to use lion-type Magical Beasts.
His current cultivation speed wasn’t slow, but he wanted to be faster.
The Lion Heart King Qi Method contained a secret art to increase cultivation speed called the “Lion Heart Baptism.” By using the heart’s blood of a lion-type Magical Beast combined with the secret art, a practitioner could perform a baptism once at every rank after becoming a Dou Zhe. New chapters come out on g.com first.
The Lion Heart Baptism used the fresh heart’s blood to not only advance the practitioner’s cultivation but also strengthen their physique.
If lucky, one could even obtain special abilities.
After nearly a month in the mountains, relying on his previous accumulation and the lucky break in the grotto, Yan Qingshan had become a 3-Star Dou Zhe.
But now, he had hit a small snag.
The barrier between 3-Star and 4-Star wouldn’t be too hard for him, given his High Xuan Class Qi Method; he could simply use time and effort to break through.
But he felt a sense of urgency.
He didn’t want to just drag it out.
Now that a suitable lion beast had appeared, “if the heavens offer and you do not take,” it would go against his character.
Besides, he wanted to test the results of his hard training.
‘Although the Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion is a standout among its rank, it’s not like there’s no chance of success.
For a better Lion Heart Baptism, it’s worth a shot.’
He had originally planned to leave after escaping, but the appearance of this cub changed his mind.
Lion-type beasts were not common in this range.
A 1st Rank cub with a high-rank bloodline was something one could only encounter by pure luck.
If he missed this, he might not get another chance.
He wouldn’t be satisfied leaving without trying.
“Dawn, gather intelligence.
Deduce a combat plan.”
Yan Qingshan made up his mind and carefully observed the surroundings.
First, he had to ensure the cub was acting alone and wasn’t being followed by an adult.
This was vital.
If an adult were guarding it from afar, he would leave immediately.
An adult Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion was a standout among 3rd Rank beasts—not something he could provoke.
If targeted, even with his Flight Dou Technique, he couldn’t guarantee safety.
‘It seems the situation is good.’
Yan Qingshan stealthily moved away, unfurling his Purple Cloud Wings to circle the area.
After a quick survey, he found no sign of a second lion.
He relaxed slightly; the cub seemed to have snuck out alone to hunt without an adult following it.
He returned to the canopy of a large tree behind the lion.
His movements were careful and light.
Neither the hunter nor the prey noticed he had returned to the field.
“Roar—”
The Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion roared, continuing its bloody slaughter of the remaining hunters.
It had been chasing these thieves for a day and night, and its heart was full of fury.
These herb hunters had dared to enter the inner region of the Magic Beast Mountain Range two days ago and found the Thunder-Tempering Fruit tree where the lion resided.
The cub happened to be out hunting for food, so the group picked the tree clean.
By the time the cub returned, they had already fled to the outskirts, leaving only a trail and scent.
Thunder-Tempering Fruits weren’t extremely valuable among low-level herbs and had niche uses, but because they were unique to this species, they were rare and expensive.
A single tree could yield over a hundred fruits, with a total value of over ten thousand gold coins.
These herb hunters couldn’t let such a prize go.
Its food source for a year had been stripped bare, and the tree was damaged.
This was fatal for the cub’s growth.
It couldn’t endure such an insult, so it abandoned its den to hunt them down overnight.
This morning, the lion caught up to them at the outskirts.
After a massacre, only a few remained.
They had considered splitting up, but the range was too dangerous; those who ran blindly early on were met with screams of pain shortly after.
Seeing this, they didn’t dare run haphazardly.
They sprinted along the mercenary paths until they ran into Yan Qingshan.
They turned toward him, but the plan failed.
The sudden turn slowed them down, and the lion caught up for another round of slaughter.
“Don’t run anymore!
We’re dead either way!
Fight this beast.”
One hunter, likely a former mercenary, tried to turn and fight with a burst of courage.
But the moment he turned, the silver-blue scorpion tail, dripping with blood, pierced his chest.
His corpse was flung away and became a pile of bloody mush upon hitting the ground.
The fleeing hunters ran even harder.
They had tried to gang up on it earlier, but failed even when they had the most people.
Who would dare stay now?
They were simply racing to see who was faster.
The lion took some time for each kill, and they had managed to gain distance during those moments.
However, the scorpion lion was excellent at tracking scents, and they couldn’t lose it.
They only had to ensure they weren’t at the back.
They were already at the outskirts, not far from the nearest town.
The danger level had dropped significantly.
As long as they survived this and scattered, their fate would be up to the heavens.
Their plan was good, but the lion seemed to have lost interest in the chase.
Its killing speed and efficiency increased noticeably.
Before long, of the nearly twenty people, only three were left.
The fastest one was only a few steps away from the slope where Yan Qingshan had previously hidden.
“Ow!”
“Who did that…?!”
“Which bastard is it?!”
Just as the three thought they were about to escape, they tripped simultaneously.
All three fell face-first into the dirt.
This delay cost them precious time; the lion arrived with a gust of bloody wind.
“Li Lie, you bastard!
How can you be so vicious!”
“Wang Chong, why are you framing me?
I’d say you and Yu Ping plotted against me!”
We’re all finished now!”
The three scrambled up, accusing each other while drawing their blades and facing the lion together.
They knew that if they turned and ran now, all three would die.
They had to trap someone else to draw the lion’s attention.
The situation was that whoever turned first would most likely trigger the lion’s attack.
Everyone wanted to run, yet no one was willing to turn first.
But as for working together…
so many people had failed earlier, what could the three of them do?
By drawing their blades and posing in a defensive stance, they were essentially leaving the choice to the lion.
As soon as it attacked one direction, the other two would turn and run.
All three prayed they wouldn’t be the first target, yet none dared to make a small move at this moment.
“Auxiliary functions activated.
Combat preparations…”
Suddenly, a piercing screech came from the treetops.
Two screeches echoed from different directions, striking the scorpion lion one after another.
Two porcelain bottles exploded, and a cloud of powder instantly enveloped the lion’s head and half its body.
This sudden turn of events stunned the three hunters.
Then, an object shot from a tree canopy.
A mechanical net expanded in mid-air, firmly wrapping the lion’s head as it emerged from the powder.
A streak of light abruptly flashed above the scorpion lion.
A brilliant blade light swept down.
With a massive crash, a figure slammed into the ground.
Landing with it was the scorpion lion’s massive tail.
The war blade had severed the tail completely, leaving a trench over three inches deep in the earth.
The Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion was suddenly ambushed and heavily wounded.
With its tail severed, blue blood gushed from the wound.
Losing its tail also destroyed its sense of balance, severely affecting its movements.
Its actions were sluggish, but Yan Qingshan did not hesitate.
As the lion tore through the net and turned, Yan Qingshan unfurled his wings and soared into the air.
He traced an arc in the sky to dodge the counterattack while sweeping his blade across the lion’s neck.
His blade failed to sever the lion’s head in one go.
The blade cut halfway through, but the weapon couldn’t take it; the bone got stuck between the mane.
Having no choice, he immediately abandoned the weapon, flipped, and soared upward.
He landed on a nearby tree, flipped his hand to take out his bow, and fired rapidly.
Three arrows whistled through the air, piercing the throat wound and both eyes of the lion.
Faced with this seamless sequence of attacks, the powerful beast finally collapsed.
It lay there with its mouth and nose spraying bloody foam, slowly falling silent.
“Combat plan successful.
The target will be completely dead in three minutes.
Warning: other dangers in the vicinity.”
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Clang!
The lion was dead, but in the next moment, a new death match began.
Two of Yan Qingshan’s arrows pierced the two hunters who tried to block them.
The third man was more skilled; he swatted the arrow away and turned to run.
This group of herb hunters had harbored ill intent toward him from the start, trying to lure the disaster to him.
They deserved to die.
Yan Qingshan had exposed too many things; if news leaked, it would be a disaster.
He couldn’t take that risk; these people had to die here.
“Phoenix Flight Steps!
Mad Lion’s Roar!”
With a thought, Yan Qingshan leaped from the canopy to pursue.
When paired with the Flight Dou Technique, the Low Xuan Class Phoenix Flight Steps could exhibit the power of a High Xuan Class movement technique.
Within a few steps, he crossed dozens of feet and appeared behind the man.
As his Dou Qi surged, it faintly formed the image of a roaring lion’s head.
“No!”
The hunter finally sensed the fierce roar behind him.
He turned to see Yan Qingshan’s fist growing larger and let out a final, unwilling scream.
Amidst the roar of a mad lion, Yan Qingshan’s fist erupted with full power.
The massive energy lion head completely submerged the man.
A thunderous explosion followed, blowing away all the fallen leaves in the area.
Massive cracks spread like a spiderweb, and a dark pit a foot wide appeared on the spot.
The last witness…
was completely obliterated.
Yan Qingshan did not get careless.
He soared into the air and circled the area to check carefully.
After ensuring no one was left alive, he landed slowly.
Looking at the mangled corpses and blood everywhere, he didn’t stay long.
After a quick search for loot, he took the Blue-Maned Scorpion Lion’s carcass and quickly left the area.
Shortly after he left, howls of wolves echoed.
The heavy scent of blood attracted countless carnivores—the best cleaners in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
Howls and roars continued.
Before late night, the messy forest was cleared of all corpses, leaving only torn rags that seemed to tell the story of what had happened there.
…
Although winter in Qingshan Town was quiet, many merchants traveled through during this time of year, and the ringing of horse-carriage bells could be heard everywhere.
Around the New Year, many merchants came to towns like Qingshan Town near the mountain range to collect goods accumulated by mercenary groups.
Amidst the bustle, a night-traveler returned to the Thousand Medicinal House through the wind and snow.
(End of Chapter)