Wuying and Shandian, the two little ones, had their fur bristling almost simultaneously. They immediately assumed defensive postures, their four small eyes wide and fixed, warily scanning their surroundings.
Zhang Yang’s brow furrowed deeply. He swept his gaze around, but there was no sound, no movement anywhere. Even the small golden carp in the underground lake continued to swim leisurely, utterly oblivious to the change occurring outside.
Just then, the Ten Thousand Year Flat Peach tree returned to its original position, utterly still, as if silently observing Zhang Yang and the others.
Swish!
An energy fluctuation suddenly materialized. Zhang Yang spun around sharply but still detected nothing.
Swish, swish!
Two streaks of energy slashed across the surface of the lake like a fierce wind, kicking up a spray of water!
Zhang Yang twisted back in pursuit. This time, he saw it: a dark silhouette flashed over the surface of the underground lake and then hung silently in the center, directly beneath the golden peach tree.
Three eyes glowed brightly in the dim, lightless cavern, fixed intently on Zhang Yang, Wuying, and Shandian.
Only then did the few carp swimming in the lake belatedly realize the danger. They suddenly dove toward the bottom—but—
Splash!
A surge of water erupted from the depths, violently tossing one of the carp up to the surface! As the fish fell, the dark silhouette opened its maw, revealing a cavernous, bloody mouth, and the unfortunate carp fell directly into it.
Crunch, crunch!
The sound of chewing echoed through the empty underground space. Beneath the silhouette, the surface of the lake immediately began to spread with a crimson stain, as if red ink had been dropped into the water.
Its appearance was like a Tibetan Mastiff, half a person's height, but its fur was mottled grey and white, overlaid with two or three intersecting black stripes. The third eye on its forehead was currently blood-red, radiating a chilling light—and the savage aura that Zhang Yang and the others had felt earlier emanated entirely from that eye.
The opponent’s strength had reached the Great Perfection realm.
It turned out that the spirit beast which had just broken through to the Great Perfection realm moments ago was this creature!
"Three-Eyed Beast!"
Seeing the three eyes, Zhang Yang immediately recognized the spirit beast before him as the Three-Eyed Beast, ranked first among the Ten Great Vicious Beasts!
The Three-Eyed Beast was incredibly powerful. A mature specimen possessed strength beyond the Fourth Layer, and they could even evolve. An evolved Three-Eyed Beast could challenge even top experts at the late stage of the Fourth Layer. This one before them was clearly superior to its predecessors; the way it effortlessly snatched the carp from the water confirmed for Zhang Yang that its strength had reached the Great Perfection realm.
In other words, this was the spirit beast that caused that surge of surging energy—the guardian spirit beast of the Ten Thousand Year Flat Peach, which had just broken through to Great Perfection.
Dealing with an ordinary mature Three-Eyed Beast required at least the strength of the Great Perfection of the Fourth Layer. And this one before him...
Zhang Yang couldn't help but stare again at the Three-Eyed Beast. He hadn't expected it to successfully break through to the Great Perfection level. Spirit beasts were inherently stronger than human cultivators of the same level, and this one was a leader among spirit beasts. A cold prickle ran down Zhang Yang's scalp.
"Human, you should not be here!"
The voice of the Three-Eyed Beast resonated directly inside Zhang Yang’s mind once more. Zhang Yang took a sharp step back. The voice was subtly different now, tinged with a distinct layer of ferocious aggression.
When that type of energy, normally used for conveying information, became laced with such violent emotion, it gained the ability to inflict harm.
"Leave, or leave your life behind!"
This time, the Three-Eyed Beast’s demeanor grew stranger, and the crimson light in its third eye intensified. The accompanying savage emotion transformed directly into a beam of red light, shooting toward Zhang Yang.
"Wuying, Shandian, let’s go!"
Zhang Yang hesitated no longer. He darted aside, dodging the red beam, called out to Wuying and Shandian, and turned to flee!
Their purpose in coming here was simply to investigate the status of the Ten Thousand Year Flat Peach and scout this forest area. Now that they had gathered the necessary information, and since the Three-Eyed Beast did not seem intent on immediately attacking them, there was no reason to linger!
Even if a confrontation over the peach were necessary, it certainly shouldn't be now!
Fighting the Three-Eyed Beast now, even in victory, would surely be a pyrrhic one. Moreover, the Ten Thousand Year Flat Peach had not yet matured, and many others were watching outside. Any battle between Zhang Yang and the Three-Eyed Beast, regardless of the outcome, could not be concealed from those Great Perfection experts outside.
Wouldn't that simply give those external powers the chance to reap the benefits while they fought—the classic scenario of the snipe and the clam?
Zhang Yang was not that foolish, so he fled without a shred of regret!
Boom!
A shadow moving even faster suddenly lunged from behind. Before Zhang Yang, Wuying, and Shandian, a line of intensely pure energy exploded, blocking their path.
Stopping abruptly, Zhang Yang narrowly avoided this attack, which felt like a cold arrow.
In the blink of an eye, the Three-Eyed Beast had left the surface of the underground lake and rushed in front of Zhang Yang and his companions.
Zhang Yang was stunned. The Three-Eyed Beast had just told them to leave, yet it had reversed course and attacked them in an instant!
"Great Perfection? You are here to seize the Ten Thousand Year Flat Peach! You are not leaving!"
All three eyes of the Three-Eyed Beast were now blazing with a blood-red light. It stared at them, and a violent energy washed over them.
Zhang Yang felt the intent embedded in the beast’s energy as if every word were a sledgehammer relentlessly pounding his chest.
Eventually, he stopped trying to process the energy conveying the Three-Eyed Beast's intentions.
Puff!
Shandian jumped aside. Seeing the Three-Eyed Beast blocking the way, it immediately spewed a cloud of poisonous mist. The black fog shot forward like whistling arrows.
The Three-Eyed Beast watched the poison mist approach coldly, allowing it to strike its body without seeming to care in the slightest.
Shandian’s mist seemed to have no effect. The beast remained utterly unchanged, but it then retaliated by spitting out an identical cloud of black toxic mist toward Shandian!
"Chirp! Chirp!"
Shandian froze for a moment, then shrieked in alarm as the mist rushed toward it, darting away at top speed!
The Three-Eyed Beast ranked first among the Ten Great Vicious Beasts, while Shandian was merely ranked eighth. Although the appearance of their toxic mists was identical, their actual effects were worlds apart, especially coming from a spirit beast that had just broken through to Great Perfection!
"Squeak! Squeak!"
Seeing Shandian's setback, Wuying immediately leaped up, seemingly ready to avenge its companion. It took a deep breath, held it in its belly, and then unleashed a powerful blast toward the Three-Eyed Beast.
A surge of internal force shot from Wuying's mouth. However, the Three-Eyed Beast simply focused the gaze of all three eyes upon Wuying. Wuying, mid-air, instantly deflated like a pierced balloon, retreating rapidly, looking as if it would fall back into the underground lake behind them.
Zhang Yang instantly increased the speed beneath his feet, catching Wuying just in time.
He finally understood: this Three-Eyed Beast would absolutely not let them go. To escape, they would have to fight it first!
"Human, die!"
The Three-Eyed Beast finally sprang up, its target aimed directly at Zhang Yang. Wuying and Shandian were beneath its notice.
How fast could a Great Perfection spirit beast move?
Zhang Yang exerted every ounce of his strength, pushing his speed to the absolute limit, managing only to pull Wuying out of the Three-Eyed Beast’s attack range!
Thump!
Where Zhang Yang and Wuying had just stood, a red energy laser slammed into the ground, kicking up countless pebbles and dirt with a thunderous sound!
The strength of the Three-Eyed Beast was overwhelming, far superior to any other Great Perfection expert Zhang Yang had previously encountered. It even felt to him that at least three or four Great Perfection cultivators would be needed to contend with and defeat this creature!
But where could he find another Great Perfection practitioner here and now?
The Three-Eyed Beast's three red eyes were filled with mocking amusement. In its sight, Zhang Yang was reduced to mere flight fodder, lacking any capacity to fight back!
Zhang Yang gently set Wuying down and immediately drew the Cold Spring Sword. The energy of heaven and earth condensed at the tip of the blade, and as the long sword danced, it carved out countless faint, pale white halos of light.
Heavenly Energy, Materialized!
Whoosh, whoosh!
Several sword lights followed the Three-Eyed Beast. Only then did the beast slightly temper its contempt; it realized Zhang Yang was not as weak as it had assumed.
These sword lights contained a great deal of the energy of heaven and earth, but not enough to warrant genuine fear. What truly made the Three-Eyed Beast wary were the sword moves Zhang Yang executed with the Cold Spring Sword!
Knowing the enemy's power, Zhang Yang held nothing back, unleashing the first form of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Art immediately!
The Three-Eyed Beast evaded the first wave of sword light. Although it didn't know what the Heaven-Shattering Sword Art was, it could sense the devastating power of the technique!
"This is not power a Fourth Layer Great Perfection cultivator can wield!"
Roaring, the red light in the Three-Eyed Beast’s three eyes flashed violently again. It stared at Zhang Yang, radiating savage intensity.
The incredibly dense spiritual energy underground had almost condensed into layers of white mist, filling the entire space!
After his first move, Zhang Yang followed immediately with the second form of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Art!
This white mist converged with the heavenly energy, centering on the Cold Spring Sword in Zhang Yang’s hand, transforming into a white sphere of light with even more terrifying power.
The sheer might emanating from this attack caused the Three-Eyed Beast to take a step back for the very first time!
"Human, this power cannot be mastered by a Great Perfection cultivator! Who—who are you!"
The Three-Eyed Beast was now enraged. Under the threat of the second form of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Art, all its energy solidified outside its body, forming an energy shield to protect itself!
To protect itself! !RS