Hiss! Roar! Just as I closed my eyes, expecting certain death, a heaven-shattering explosion ripped through the air!
The sound was monstrously loud, even more staggering than the final, despairing roar of the Beast King just before Da Lei perished. As I was already critically wounded and unable to move, I uncontrollably spat out a mouthful of blood, my vision went dark, and consciousness fled...
The sudden, violent roar struck everyone present as if they had been blasted by lightning, their very bodies instantly paralyzed. A fierce surge of killing intent erupted.
Ah! What is this! Mo Luo Aotian, mid-swing with his greatsword, felt an overwhelming, savage aura suddenly manifest behind him!
Ah! Mo Luo Aotian was far too familiar with this sensation; it was exactly the same as the desperate, final Beast King’s Roar unleashed by that incomparably magnificent Cloud-Thunder Beast King during the battle at Yuncheng.
Distorted space, buzzing eardrums, and that suffocating, terrifying killing aura—everything was achingly familiar. This nightmarish feeling had returned, stirring the most fragile nerves in Mo Luo Aotian’s heart.
But the battle-hardened Mo Luo Aotian reacted instantly, pouring every ounce of his strength into action! With a fierce yell, feeling flooded back into his paralyzed limbs, he drove the Frost-Congealing Greatsword downward with undiminished speed.
The terrifying assassin who had appeared suddenly was absolutely an enemy, not an ally. Mo Luo Aotian realized this in an instant. Regardless of who it was, their target could only be one: Jiuyao Shenzhen.
No matter what, Jiuyao Shenzhen could not be allowed to escape. Yes, instinct told Mo Luo Aotian that even as he brought this sword down, he himself could not escape the pounce of this mysterious assailant. Yet, Mo Luo Aotian held no hesitation; he would risk his own life for this.
Whoosh! The greatsword continued its descent, speed unwavering!
Thump! But before Mo Luo Aotian could complete his downward strike, a horrifying impact slammed into him, feeling as if a massive sledgehammer had struck his back.
Splat! Blood sprayed wildly, and his entire body was thrown helplessly into the air!
Roar! Everything had happened too suddenly!
Mo Luo Zhanxiong and the others fared no better than Mo Luo Aotian. Almost simultaneously as he was flung backward, they too were knocked soaring by a sudden, terrifying force.
Thump, thump, thump! Thud!
Six figures were skewered like targets by a single bullet. Fortunately, their reflexes were lightning-fast, and just before impact, they managed to activate their protective Dou Qi shields.
As they were violently tossed, Mo Luo Aotian and his companions caught a fleeting glimpse of a massive white light that streaked past their eyes like lightning.
Roar! Roar! The two Sacred White Tigers reacted the fastest, simultaneously lunging toward the sudden streak of white light.
However, the white light shot up with a swift swoosh! It bounded more than ten meters into the air, ghost-like, sailing clear over the heads of the two Sacred White Tigers!
Whoosh! The white shadow's speed multiplied tenfold the moment it touched the ground, vanishing a hundred meters away in the blink of an eye. By the time Mo Luo Aotian and the others used their Heavenly Demon Wings to reorient themselves and land, the white light had already crossed the Iron Chain Bridge and disappeared without a trace! And Jiuyao Shenzhen, who had been lying on the ground, was gone too!
It all unfolded in the briefest flash of lightning!
“.............” The sudden, monumental shift left Mo Luo Aotian and his men dumbfounded, even forgetting the pain of the injuries inflicted by that terrifying impact!
“It was... the Mammoth Beast,” admitted Xuan Zhi and Xuan Yi, who suffered the worst among them. They were not warriors and lacked protective Dou Qi. If not for the astonishing defense of their Heavenly Venerable Robes, they would likely have been torn apart. Now, however, their faces were ashen with defeat.
No one had expected a Mammoth Beast suddenly bursting forth at the critical moment to ruin their success.
“Such speed!” Mo Luo Zhanxiong was equally horrified. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed such terrifying velocity existed in this world.
“Not just any Mammoth Beast, but a Mutated Mammoth King,” Mo Luo Aotian’s face was utterly gray. Who could have imagined that the surely doomed Jiuyao Shenzhen would be snatched away by a Mammoth King that suddenly appeared?
“Why?” Mo Luo Zhanlong screamed in near collapse, utterly unwilling to accept it. “Why did this happen? What kind of monster is this Jiuyao Shenzhen? He was clearly already...”
“Is this fate?” Mo Luo Zhankong asked bitterly. “Is this the lover of the Goddess of Luck?”
For a moment, everyone stood frozen. Indeed, in all their intelligence analysis regarding Jiuyao Shenzhen, the Aotian Legion had discovered a shocking fact: Jiuyao Shenzhen possessed inexplicably good fortune. Seizing the Zuma Head, killing the Huangquan Sect Master, escaping the Illusionary World, breaking free from the Sacred Domain space, surviving the ambush at Cicheng, the defeat at Lanling—and so on. If luck hadn't been involved, Jiuyao Shenzhen would have died countless times already.
Now, this almost cursed luck was manifesting before them once again.
This blow was undoubtedly fatal. So much so that the first thing the group thought of was not pursuit, but despair and dread. Facing an opponent like this, what method could possibly kill him?
“No matter who or what he is,” Mo Luo Aotian finally regained his composure, gritting his teeth, “We must kill him. He is heavily wounded now; we absolutely cannot let this chance slip away.”
Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap!
All I could hear were heavy gasps and the muffled rush of wind.
I had no idea what happened. When I woke up, I felt as if I was held fast in a giant pair of pincers. The first thing that greeted my eyes were two red pupils the size of my fists.
Ah! It's the Mammoth Beast! I almost passed out. The creature carrying me at breakneck speed was a Mammoth Beast.
What in the world is going on!
Does it intend to eat me? The memory of that earth-shattering roar before I lost consciousness flashed through my mind. Did the Mammoth Beast snatch me away from Mo Luo Aotian’s hands?
The thought of dying by the jaws of this Mammoth Beast instead of Mo Luo Aotian sent a chill of terror through me. I didn't fear death itself, but being torn into pieces and swallowed by a Mammoth Beast was definitely not the fate I wished to face.
I struggled with all my might, but I was utterly immobilized.
It’s over! I can’t believe my journey in Mafa will end so miserably.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
The Mammoth Beast carried me, running nonstop for a full four hours before it finally stopped. It then gently released me from its jaws onto the grass.
It’s over! It’s going to eat me now!
I was like a prisoner awaiting execution, trembling as I awaited the final moment.
Roar! The Mammoth Beast let out a low, muffled rumble, and its viscous, scarlet tongue licked my face a few times!
Ugh! So ticklish!
Oh, heavens! If you’re going to eat me, just do it; stop tormenting me!
I couldn’t bear to imagine what fate awaited me next, so I simply closed my eyes. If it wants to eat me, let it be quick.
Huh! Why is it still licking! My face was still itchy, but the horrific, tearing pain I imagined never materialized. I forced my eyes open, only to see the Mammoth Beast still staring intently at me, its huge eyes showing an expression of worry.
This creature... maybe it doesn’t want to eat me!
I stared at it; it stared back at me!
We remained locked in this stare-down, time dragging on.
But I suddenly recalled something. Could this creature be the one I saved in the past? Instantly, I remembered the Mammoth Beast I had rescued on the way to Cicheng.
Could the giant creature before me really be the one I once saved?
“Hey! Big fellow, could that really be you?” I managed to ask, forcing my voice steady despite the near-fainting numbness and dizziness.
Roar-woof!
The Mammoth Beast let out a series of joyful roars, like a happy puppy praised by its master. It then began to jump and hop around, nodding its massive head twice. However, this 'puppy' was just too large; its jumping and hopping created quite a commotion.
Thump-thump-thump! The ground shook violently, kicking up sand and stone!
Several large birds scattered from the surrounding woods.
Hah! It really is that giant creature! I recognized it! Since it was an acquaintance, things were easier; my heart settled. It was well known that Mammoth Beasts were not only fierce and brutal but also held grudges fiercely. Any creature that had harmed them would be hunted down relentlessly, even at the cost of their own life. But I had never heard of a Mammoth Beast showing gratitude.
Yet now I was witnessing it firsthand. Thinking back carefully, since they were creatures that remembered grudges, their memory must be good, which explained why it remembered me. Perhaps my death was not yet fated, or perhaps this was the so-called reward for good deeds. I never imagined that the Mammoth I saved on a whim one misty, moonlit night would save me again in such a dramatic fashion.
But then, I became confused. The Fengmo Continent is thousands of miles from the Demon Dragon Continent, separated by a vast ocean—a distance comparable to that between the US and China!
How could this creature have crossed the ocean to arrive here, and more importantly, save me? I believed it could swim, but no matter how powerful, how could it swim across the Black Sea and reach the Fengmo Continent!
For a moment, my head spun. Forget it; I probably couldn't figure this out. But regaining my life was what mattered most.
Besides, this wasn't the time for deep investigation! I needed to treat my injuries immediately.
Roar-roar! The Mammoth Beast seemed to sense the severity of my wounds, its huge eyes showing a flicker of distress and anxiety. It let out a couple of low growls and then dashed away quickly!
“Hey! Hey! Don’t leave!” I panicked. I was an injured man; even a stray cat or dog could end my life now. How could this creature just abandon me here!
But the giant creature seemed not to hear my shouts, vanishing in an instant.
Seriously! I could only manage a wry smile. Then, bracing myself with both hands, I painfully managed to sit up. I had to take medicine quickly. With difficulty, I reached into the spatial pouch hanging at my waist, pulled out a bottle of healing medicine, twisted off the cap, and swallowed a few gulps!
Hoo! A gentle coolness flowed down my throat into my stomach, and the numbness in my body began to recede, immediately followed by waves of tearing, sharp pain.
I knew this meant the medicine was working. Feeling the intense pain confirmed that my physiological functions were gradually recovering. The previous weakness, dizziness, and emptiness also began to fade.
At least now I had a little strength, but my injuries were severe! The Blazing Sword Qi of a Heavenly Demon Warrior was not something easily shaken off. Even the miraculous effects of the healing medicine couldn't cure me in a short time. I could only grit my teeth and endure.
Rustle-rustle!
After a brief, indistinct sound, a white flash appeared before my eyes! The massive, white body of the Mammoth Beast materialized before me.
Heh, this fellow is truly elusive. Although I am severely wounded and my spiritual perception is greatly diminished, I am still a Heavenly Demon Warrior. How did I not notice it getting this close until it was right upon me?
The Mammoth Beast had several clumps of flowers, grasses, and roots in its mouth!
I instantly recognized them: Seven-Leaf Lotus, Bitter Herb, Angelica, and other herbs specifically used for healing.
Hah! This guy went out to find me herbs—I worried for nothing.
However, when the Mammoth Beast saw the bottle of healing medicine in my hand, it actually froze. I could clearly sense a strange flicker in those expressive, large eyes!
Yes! It was embarrassment! Its giant head shook listlessly a couple of times! Clearly, it remembered the healing medicine I had given it before.
Haha! I couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, clutching my stomach. This creature was truly too adorable.
But then, the Mammoth Beast’s pointed ears suddenly shot up, and it let out an uneasy, low growl!
What’s wrong! Could Mo Luo Aotian have caught up!
The Mammoth Beast opened its large mouth, ready to snatch me up again!
“Stop, stop!” I waved my hands quickly to halt it. “Please, I’m a living person, not a mouse. What kind of dignity is there in being carried around like that!”
“...........” A look of confusion flashed in the Mammoth Beast’s huge eyes.
I quickly struggled to stand up with difficulty, pointed at its back, and my meaning was unmistakable! Of course, I wanted to ride on its back.
Whine! The Mammoth let out a resentful, muffled roar, clearly annoyed by my rude demand. Mammoth Beasts are notoriously solitary and incredibly arrogant. In the past, people had tried to tame them as mounts, but no one had ever succeeded. They would rather starve to death than become someone’s ride.
There’s an old Chinese saying that you shouldn't touch a tiger’s backside, and the back of a Mammoth Beast was not easily mounted. But seeing my half-dead state, a flicker of hesitation crossed the Mammoth’s eyes before it reluctantly lay down on the ground. It had clearly compromised! But it impatiently swished its long tail, showing it was deeply displeased. Still, given the urgency, I couldn’t afford to be particular!
“Thanks, pal!” I quickly scrambled onto its back. I gripped two protruding barbs, braced my feet against two other hard, short spikes on the side, and surprisingly, although the Mammoth Beast was covered in hard scales and thorns, there was a perfect depression on its back where I could sit. Gripping the two large spikes and stepping on the two short ones felt just like riding a motorcycle before—stable and secure.
Roar! The Mammoth Beast bellowed!
It instantly sprang up!
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh! It then leaped onto a giant tree, using the astonishing elasticity of the thick branches to launch itself forward. It moved like a nimble mountain cat, rapidly bounding between countless trees!
Riding on its back, all I perceived were blurred, sharp sounds of wind. This speed was far greater than when I rode Da Lei at full sprint.
The scenery on both sides whipped past at an incredible rate! This was still a dense forest, yet the Mammoth was using the springiness of the branches to leap forward at high speed. On flat ground, its speed would be even greater.
In the Mafa World, the Mammoth Beast is the fastest land creature. Converted to modern speed units, it easily reached over 350 kph. If it went into a full sprint, its speed would be even faster. As for exactly how fast, no one knew, because no one had ever witnessed a fully sprinting Mammoth Beast.
Even though we were deep in the woods now, the speed was astonishing.
The Blood-Colored Giant Wolves are masters of jungle traversal, but they cannot climb trees.
And the Mammoths of the Cangyue Continent, while they can climb, are far inferior to the Mammoth Beasts here! The Mammoth Beast can not only climb but also sprint at full speed in the canopy, leaping and moving as if on level ground.
Furthermore, besides climbing trees and scaling cliffs, water traversal is also a specialty of the Mammoth Beast, and its speed, endurance, explosive power, and jumping ability are astonishingly high!
In my opinion, the Mammoth Beast should be considered a mutated feline, very similar to a cheetah. Although its body size is enormous, its physique is streamlined and not clumsy, giving it an impression of agile, elusive grace. Of course, this does not mean the Mammoth Beast lacks impact force.
On the continent, even the Bichy Great Horned Dragon Beast, renowned for its powerful charge, would hesitate to collide head-on with a Mammoth Beast. The pair of huge, sharp horns on the Mammoth’s head could pierce a city gate; that was no joke.
Under my guidance, the Mammoth Beast bolted south at full speed. At this velocity, I didn't believe Mo Luo Aotian and his group could possibly catch up to me.