But it seemed too late, for the leader had already raised his sharp claws high, bringing them down toward the top of Number 12's head.

Just as those claws were about to split Number 12’s head in two, Number 12’s figure suddenly vanished, replaced by another adventure team member covered in black fur.

The leader, unable to stop his momentum, slammed his palm down, causing the replacement’s head to explode in a spray of gore—an utterly gruesome scene.

Witnessing the sheer force of that strike, which had driven the man's head back into his own chest cavity, Number 2 and I both gasped in a sharp intake of breath. Clearly, the strength of these creatures far exceeded ordinary human imagination.

The leader showed no remorse for crushing his companion's head; he merely hesitated, perhaps confused why Number 12 had suddenly changed form.

Then, he let out a roar toward the sky and lunged straight for me.

There was no way I was letting him get close. I channeled my psychic energy, swinging my fist across the distance, the force transforming into an invisible giant fist in the air that sent the creature flying backward.

This was a new ability I had recently developed, shaping my psychic power into tangible forms—it seemed incredibly effective.

Number 2, standing beside me, pulled out his iron rod and began to wield it masterfully. Every black-furred monster that approached was smacked back seven or eight meters with a single swing.

Number 12 was even more agile, constantly using the enemy's attacks against them, moving with a speed that even I couldn't track clearly.

The three of us held a significant advantage on the field, but although the enemies we struck appeared to take massive damage, once knocked down, they stood right back up without even brushing off the dust. Their bodies were surely forged from iron.

To be honest, with our combined combat power, even an army of several hundred men armed to the teeth would have been no real challenge. Yet, facing a dozen creatures resembling automatons left us helpless.

Thus, the battle didn't last long before all three of us began to pant heavily.

At this point, the enemies showed no urgency to attack; instead, they slowly encircled us, closing in gradually.

Taking this moment to catch my breath, I spoke to Number 2, "What is going on... these things seem even tougher than Da Zhu; they're practically immortal."

Number 2 frowned, saying, "I don't know, but I suspect the fur on these creatures might be different from Da Zhu's. Perhaps they are variants. You know the Emissary Number 2 has the ability to evolve."

Number 12 interjected, "You're both right, but what I find strangest is that people who normally only show anomalies at night have now turned into monsters."

I pondered for a moment and replied, "That's not hard to explain. It's because Emissary Number 2 is aware of our presence. It was behind the mischief in the earth forest, so it's only logical that it would set a trap now to stop us."

Number 2 stated, "Regardless, that old man Li must be involved. Once we escape this place, we must capture him and question him."

Before we could respond, he added, "You two step back. I'm about to use my ultimate technique."

Seeing his expression that suggested he was about to unleash something huge, I pulled Number 12 behind him.

Turning around then, I saw Da Zhu had been hiding behind the trees the whole time, wearing that same voyeuristic look.

His demeanor suggested he had harbored hostility towards these strange adventure team members from the start, and his previous attacks hadn't been accidental; he probably knew this would happen.

Therefore, his allegiance might actually be on our side.

Noticing his very odd behavior, I asked, "Da Zhu! Where is your father?"

Unexpectedly, Da Zhu let out a sound like a whimper, sniffing repeatedly; he actually seemed to be crying.

I found it increasingly bizarre, but I couldn't press him for answers now.

Meanwhile, Number 2, who was in front, tossed his iron rod to the ground, settled into a low horse stance, and began executing a set of movements resembling Mantis Fist.

I casually inquired, "Who taught you Mantis Fist?"

Number 2 scoffed, "This isn't Mantis Fist at all. This is Crane Fist from the Shaolin Eighteen Styles."

Number 12 also asked with interest, "You're lying, Crane Fist doesn't require extending two index fingers like that, does it?"

Number 2 snorted and replied, "Those are the crane's beak. Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand."

As we were half-jokingly conversing, one of the black-furred monsters suddenly lunged at us.

Perhaps confident in its iron head and bronze arms, it tried to embrace Number 2 with both hands.

At that moment, Number 2 leaned forward in a posture that defied physics, thrusting out both index fingers like twin swords.

With two swift poof sounds, two bloody holes were instantly torn open in the black-furred monster’s chest.

The monster shrieked and stumbled back a dozen paces before collapsing backward onto the ground, clearly finished.

When Number 2 launched those two fingers, I actually seemed to see the shadow of a crane delivering a full-force peck; the aura was extraordinary.

I finally understood that his so-called ultimate move referred to Shaolin martial arts.

I had long heard that all martial arts originated from Shaolin, and among the eighteen Shaolin disciplines, many imitated animals, such as Monkey Fist, Tiger Fist, Mantis Fist, and so on.

But those were all things from television shows. I had seen real Shaolin techniques before, but the supposed lightness skill and internal energy were all fake; they were just exercises for physical fitness.

It was also possible that because ancient martial arts had been lost, modern Shaolin training lacked the mystique people imagined.

That was what I had thought, but seeing Number 2 perform this set of Crane Fist suddenly rekindled my yearning for Chinese martial arts.

Perhaps he had received some genuine transmission and mastered a skill distinct from ordinary monks. Combined with his abilities surpassing those of a normal person, the force of his strikes was boundless.

Thinking this, I asked Number 2, "Do you have any others! Like Monkey Fist or something!"

Number 2 nodded and said, "I do! Watch this!"

He then shifted his stance, balancing on one foot, scratching his cheek, adopting a perfectly simian posture.

Two more black-furred monsters simultaneously rushed him. He agilely ducked low, evading their attacks, then slipped between them, grabbing both their ankles as he passed and hoisting them up, throwing them both to the ground.

Then, he let out a monkey-like giggle, scampered a short distance on all fours, leaped high into the air, and landed squarely on the stomach of a black-furred monster, forcing it to spit out a mouthful of black blood.

Number 2's weight was negligible compared to these immensely strong black-furred creatures, but the monster struggled, unable to rise.

Number 2 then announced to us, "Watch closely, this move is Bear Fist, called 'Old Bear Eating Sticky Cake'!"

I thought, what kind of move is that? I had never heard of Bear Fist, nor such a mood-destroying technique as 'Old Bear Eating Sticky Cake.' Where did he even pull it from?

But looking at Number 2's mannerisms, he genuinely mimicked a bear eating, placing his paws near his mouth and snapping his jaws open in a tearing motion.

I truly admired the man; he could imitate any animal perfectly. But what was the uniqueness of Bear Fist?

As I pondered this, I suddenly recalled what happens if someone disturbs a bear while it is feeding...

Just as the thought crossed my mind, a black-furred monster charged toward Number 2.

Before it could reach him, Number 2 roared and swung his massive palm upward from below, hitting it squarely.

The monster couldn't dodge and was struck under the chin. Its neck bone snapped with a crisp crack, and the creature was sent flying three or four meters high, slamming violently into a tree. Leaves rained down like water from the impact, and the monster fell, its neck hanging limp, lifeless.

The sound of that breaking neck sent shivers down my spine; I wondered how much pain that must have caused.

Number 12 touched his own throat, feeling a sudden dryness.

Number 2’s sudden surge of aggressive power was so intense that the remaining black-furred beasts nearby were paralyzed by fear and dared not advance for the moment.

However, they didn't seem ready to let us go either, and they maintained their tight encirclement around us.

I said to Number 2, "They seem to be stalling for time. They must be waiting for their companions to finish something. Perhaps Old Man Li..."

As I spoke, I glanced toward Da Zhu’s position.

Unexpectedly, I caught sight of Da Zhu emerging from behind the trees, his face contorted in fury. He seemed to have made some kind of decision, glaring through gritted teeth at the circle of black-furred monsters surrounding us.

Then, under our watchful eyes, he charged out viciously and threw himself at the black-furred creatures.

Da Zhu’s build was sturdier than that of the average monster, and he instantly knocked down several, engaging them in a fierce struggle.

Seeing his clear intention to help us, we prepared to join in and eliminate the black-furred beasts.

But to our surprise, the black-furred monster that Number 2 had struck down with Crane Fist was slowly beginning to rise. The two holes in its chest were emitting white smoke as they knitted themselves slowly closed.

I stared, dumbfounded, suddenly recalling the black snake we encountered in the earth forest—it had repaired its wounds just as quickly after consuming the Poison Dragon Fruit.

Did that black snake have some connection to these adventure team members turned into black-furred monsters?

At that moment, the creature whose neck bone had been broken was also slowly getting up, its posture deeply unnatural.

Seeing their condition, I seemed to understand how Boss Bai had been able to resurrect himself—these things possessed such powerful regenerative abilities.

If they could recover after being beaten into a mere skin, then the prior incident with Boss Bai was no longer so inexplicable.

But witnessing their incredible recovery shattered Number 2's earlier assertion that they were normal during the day.

Because they truly could no longer be considered human; humans simply did not possess such formidable recovery powers.

All three of us were stunned into momentary inaction by the sight.

Then Da Zhu shouted at us in human language, "Go quickly! Get out of this village! Or you will die..."