The Demon Beast Mountain Range was one of the most dangerous regions in the entire Great Li Dynasty, home to a massive number of Demon Beasts.
And Celestial Water City was less than a hundred miles from the Demon Beast Mountain Range.
Xiao Hao reached it in just a few hours.
’The outer regions of the Demon Beast Mountain Range are usually home to only Tier One Demon Beasts. With my current strength, I can only hunt in these outskirts.’
Xiao Hao thought as he looked at the map in his hand.
This time, he hadn’t entered the Demon Beast Mountain Range empty-handed. He had brought a map of the range and a Treasure Sword that could slice through iron as if it were mud.
After all, Demon Beasts had incredibly tough bodies, and it was difficult to harm them with one’s bare hands.
But Xiao Hao’s Treasure Sword could cleave through the body of a Tier One Demon Beast.
More importantly, Xiao Hao had mastered a Mortal Level Upper Grade Sword Skill from the Xiao Family.
Paired with the Treasure Sword, it could unleash incredible power—enough to handle most Tier One Demon Beasts.
SWOOSH!
The next moment, Xiao Hao’s figure flickered. He darted through the mountain forest like a Spiritual Ape, searching for any sign of a Tier One Demon Beast.
’Found one! It’s a Cyan Wind Wolf.’
After half an hour of searching, Xiao Hao had finally spotted a Demon Beast.
It looked like a wolf, but it was a full ten feet long. Its entire body was covered in cyan fur, and its mouth was filled with razor-sharp fangs that looked as if they could bite through Refined Iron.
’Cyan Wind Wolves are relatively weak among Tier One Demon Beasts. I’ll start with this one!’
Xiao Hao instantly drew the Treasure Sword at his waist and, moving like a Spiritual Ape, charged the Cyan Wind Wolf.
Tier One Demon Beasts also varied in strength. Some were only equivalent to a Second or Third Layer Yellow Realm Martial Artist, while others could rival an expert at the Yellow Realm Ninth Layer.
A Cyan Wind Wolf’s strength was generally only comparable to an expert at the Yellow Realm Third Layer.
Naturally, Xiao Hao was confident he could kill it!
ROAR!
Upon spotting Xiao Hao, the Cyan Wind Wolf let out a furious roar, its massive body lunging toward him like a tiger.
In terms of speed, it was even faster than many experts at the Yellow Realm Third Layer.
SWOOSH!
In the blink of an eye, the Cyan Wind Wolf was upon Xiao Hao, swiping viciously at him with its five sharp claws.
’Spiritual Ape Body Technique!’
Like a Spiritual Ape, Xiao Hao dodged to the left, effortlessly evading the Cyan Wind Wolf’s attack.
This Body Technique was also one of the Xiao Family’s Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Arts, and Xiao Hao had long since cultivated it to the Perfection stage.
Combined with the fact that his Cultivation had already reached the Yellow Realm Fifth Layer, when he executed this Body Technique, his speed was far greater than the Cyan Wind Wolf’s.
’Die!’
The next moment, Xiao Hao swung his Treasure Sword. Like a flash of lightning, it stabbed into the Cyan Wind Wolf’s throat, piercing straight through.
YOWL!
The Cyan Wind Wolf let out a wretched howl before collapsing to the ground, dead.
’My Lightning Sword Skill is only a Mortal Level Upper Grade Sword Skill, but it was more than enough to deal with this Cyan Wind Wolf.’
Xiao Hao thought with a faint smile.
His Lightning Sword Skill was not only incredibly fast, but its lethality was also astounding.
The Cyan Wind Wolf didn’t even have time to use the power of its Martial Soul before it fell to his sword.
’I wonder if this Cyan Wind Wolf’s Martial Soul can make my own evolve.’
A trace of anticipation flashed in Xiao Hao’s eyes as he hurriedly activated his Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul.
SWOOSH!
In the next instant, a wolf-shaped Martial Soul floated out from the Cyan Wind Wolf’s body and merged into Xiao Hao’s own.
Xiao Hao could clearly feel his Martial Soul grow significantly stronger.
’It really works! I just need to devour the Martial Souls of a few more Tier One Demon Beasts to evolve my Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul into a Bronze Two-Stars Martial Soul.’
Xiao Hao was overjoyed.
...
Afterward, Xiao Hao resumed his search for other Tier One Demon Beasts.
Before long, he found a Black Iron Bear. It was even more formidable than the Cyan Wind Wolf, its strength comparable to an expert at the Yellow Realm Fourth Layer.
However, Xiao Hao still killed it in an instant.
Naturally, Xiao Hao devoured its Martial Soul as well.
An entire day passed in a flash.
Now, in a mountain valley, the corpse of a Demon Beast lay before Xiao Hao.
It was a Red Flame Tiger, with strength comparable to a Yellow Realm Fifth Layer Martial Artist.
Any other Yellow Realm Fifth Layer Martial Artist would have had a very difficult time killing it.
But Xiao Hao had cultivated a full five Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Arts to the Perfection stage, his strength long having surpassed that of an ordinary Yellow Realm Fifth Layer Martial Artist.
Even this Red Flame Tiger had fallen to his sword.
’This is the fifth Demon Beast I’ve hunted. Once I devour its Martial Soul, my Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul should evolve.’
Xiao Hao thought excitedly.
Then, he activated his Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul and instantly devoured the Red Flame Tiger’s Martial Soul.
HUMMM!
The next instant, Xiao Hao’s Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul erupted in a dazzling bronze light. Originally the size of an earthworm, it suddenly swelled to several times its size, becoming as thick as an infant’s arm.
’Success!’
Xiao Hao was overjoyed.
At this moment, his Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul had finally evolved to Bronze Two-Stars.
And the speed at which he could devour Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi had completely doubled.
This degree of improvement was far beyond his expectations.
’My Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul has only just evolved to Bronze Two-Stars, and my devouring speed for Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi has already doubled. If it evolves a few more times... that’ll be incredible. At that rate, breaking through to the Profound Realm within a month, even without Elixirs, definitely won’t be difficult!’
Xiao Hao thought with immense excitement.
However, he didn’t let the victory go to his head.
The Demon Beast Mountain Range was fraught with hidden dangers, and many powerful Tier One Demon Beasts could still threaten him.
Therefore, he had to be extremely careful with every Demon Beast he killed, lest a moment of carelessness lead to his downfall.
’Huh? What kind of Demon Beast is that?’
Just then, Xiao Hao’s expression changed drastically, his gaze locking onto a corner deep within the valley.
At some point, a small golden snake had appeared in that corner. It was only about an inch long, yet it gave Xiao Hao an overwhelming sense of danger.
HISS HISS HISS!
Suddenly, the small golden snake flicked its tongue and shot toward Xiao Hao like a bolt of golden lightning.
It was unbelievably fast. Even if Xiao Hao pushed his Spiritual Ape Body Technique to its absolute limit, he had no confidence he could evade it.
’Don’t tell me that’s a Tier Two Demon Beast! How could I be so unlucky!’
Xiao Hao couldn’t help but gasp.
After all, a Tier Two Demon Beast’s strength was comparable to that of a Profound Realm Powerhouse.
Instantly killing a Yellow Realm expert would be as easy as flipping a hand for such a creature.
Tier Two Demon Beasts weren’t supposed to appear in the outer regions of the Demon Beast Mountain Range, yet Xiao Hao had somehow stumbled right into one.
His luck was truly in a league of its own.
If he wasn’t careful, he might very well die here today.
’No! I still have to save my adoptive father! I can’t die here! Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul, get to work!’
Xiao Hao gritted his teeth and, with a single thought, pushed his Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul to its absolute limit.