Feng Zikang delicately plucked the cyan wooden chip between two fingers, immediately sensing a fluctuation of spiritual energy within. He stealthily threaded a wisp of internal energy into it, confirming it was a message left by Mo Fenghuang.

It was remarkably simple, containing only two characters.

"Flee quickly!"

Feng Zikang’s expression darkened, and he glanced out the window towards the distance.

"Martial Uncle, what message did Elder Mo leave?"

Luo Kedi approached, asking curiously. Feng Zikang hadn't time to answer before he suddenly shook his head and sighed.

"Mo Fenghuang wants us to leave immediately, but..." Feng Zikang managed a faint smile, "it seems we are too late!"

The sky outside suddenly grew dim, as if night had fallen, or perhaps an oppressive overcast day. Thick clouds completely obscured the sun, allowing not a sliver of light to penetrate.

The wind abruptly ceased its movement.

Only a faint, acrid, foul odor drifted over, perceptible one moment and gone the next.

"What is this?"

Luo Kedi began to ask, but Feng Zikang reached out and clamped a hand over his mouth. "Silence! Everyone, hold your breath and remain still, utter no sound!"

Feng Zikang’s lips moved, but no sound escaped; yet, every ear present distinctly heard the command.

No one present had any reason to disobey Feng Zikang. They instantly ceased breathing, not daring even to gasp for air.

Each person secretly wondered what kind of entity they were facing.

It grew darker outside the window, and the air seemed to grow colder. Even Ghost King Tu, who possessed a ghostly form and had been refined into one, felt a bone-deep chill, causing waves of goosebumps to rise.

Zhu Li’er’s face turned deathly pale, a sheen of cold sweat appearing on her brow.

Both were cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage. They were acutely sensitive to such terrifying pressure and power, making them the two most frightened individuals present.

In contrast, the blissfully unaware Celestial Maiden Tianfu and the completely uncultivated Man Jiao merely felt instinctual coldness and dread.

Luo Kedi, possessing some cultivation, felt his palms grow slightly sweaty. He looked at Feng Zikang, forcefully suppressing the urge to question further.

Long Que also felt the infinite pressure, but owing to the pride of the Divine Dragon, he refused to lower his head. Despite feeling boundless fear, he maintained an uplifted posture.

Only Feng Zikang’s expression remained unchanged. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed toward the endless darkness on the horizon, his brow faintly furrowed.

A moment later, a sliver of light reappeared on the horizon, and the darkness gradually receded.

After a long while, the sky finally regained its brightness. That patch of darkness vanished without a trace, as if it had never been there. Only the lingering, faint stench in the air kept everyone’s nerves taut.

"What... what was that thing?"

Once Feng Zikang signaled that they could speak, Luo Kedi eagerly broke the silence, thoroughly shaken by the oppressive atmosphere.

Zhu Li’er and Ghost King Tu remained silent, deep in thought.

Feng Zikang shook his head.

"I don't know..."

"You... don't know?" Luo Kedi was stunned by his Martial Uncle’s answer. If he didn't know, why the need for such stringent caution?

"I don't know what it was, but I know one thing..."

Feng Zikang turned to look at Mo Ji’er and Ghost King Tu, then nodded toward Long Que. "You all felt it too, didn't you?"

Ghost King Tu’s color shifted slightly; his lips trembled, but he couldn't speak. Sha Li’er remained ashen-faced and silent. Long Que raised his head. "My Lord. Could it truly be..."

Feng Zikang gave a slight nod. "That’s right. What just flew over our heads, without a doubt, was a..."

"Nascent Soul stage Fierce Beast!"

This must be why Mo Fenghuang left only that single message before taking the Dong people and fleeing.

Because this place, Liyue Dong, had somehow become part of the activity zone for this single Nascent Soul stage Fierce Beast!

"Na... Nascent Soul stage..."

Luo Kedi could hear the chattering of his own teeth.

He was not entirely without experience; after all, he had served as an Outer Disciple Steward for several years at the Military Sect of Mount Longhu. He had even held office in the Scripture Hall and encountered many cultivators.

Even Elder Wu, a Core Formation cultivator, seemed to him nothing more than an old man idling under the sun.

But Nascent Soul stage...

Since General Lu perished, there hadn't been a single Nascent Soul expert in the entire Military Sect of Mount Longhu!

Thus, Luo Kedi’s concept of the Nascent Soul stage was as ethereal and distant as a celestial being. How could he not be terrified to hear that a Nascent Soul Fierce Beast had flown overhead!

The cultivation of Fierce Beasts differs from that of Monsters.

Monsters, generally, are ordinary birds and beasts that absorb spiritual energy to gain sentience and take human form. Cultivating in human form is then called being a Monster.

Fierce Beasts, however, are innately different species that cultivate in their natural forms. The results of their cultivation in beast form may not necessarily be inferior to human form, and their massive size and sharp claws and teeth offer superior advantages in combat. They often choose not to shapeshift, instead cultivating as beasts, hence the name Fierce Beast.

Because these Fierce Beasts are all naturally divergent species, their path to cultivation is vastly different from that of Monsters or humans.

They fundamentally rely on ancestral inheritance and their incredibly long lifespans to advance... A Nascent Soul stage Fierce Beast could potentially live for over ten thousand years!

This enormous Nascent Soul stage Fierce Beast should typically reside deep within its lair, rarely showing itself. How could they be so unlucky as to cross paths with one!

"Fortunately, it didn't spot us," even the fearless Long Que felt a lingering dread.

Upon hearing this, everyone realized the danger they had narrowly escaped.

If that Nascent Soul Fierce Beast had noticed them, it would have been far from a pleasant affair.

"They must have been in the same situation back then. They discovered the Beast, so they all fled the area, hoping to return once it departed."

This deduction seemed logical and reasonable.

Feng Zikang nodded. "That means the Dong people and Senior Sister Mo are not far, likely in a very concealed location. They should be able to perceive the Beast's trajectory."

Man Jiao’s eyes lit up. "Celestial Lord, I know where they went!"

"This is definitely the place?"

Luo Kedi stared at the dark, circular hole Man Jiao had dug out of the grass behind the mountain, scratching his head in disbelief.

"Yes, it must be here!"

Man Jiao nodded firmly. "This is a cave left by an immortal, discovered when Liyue Dong was first built. Don't let the entrance fool you; it's quite spacious inside! All several thousand of our clansmen hid in there without issue!"

"Oh?"

Feng Zikang examined the cave closely, feeling it was profoundly mysterious; even with his cultivation, he couldn't see through it.

It truly did resemble a hidden grotto belonging to an ancient cultivator.

"We'll know once we enter!" Feng Zikang commanded. Long Que, being the most loyal, took the lead, his massive body burrowing into the earth hole first. The others followed in single file, descending slowly.

The passage was pitch black, but everyone entering, except for the familiar Man Jiao, was a cultivator and could see reasonably well in the dark. They moved steadily, only Celestial Maiden Tianfu stumbled slightly.

Feng Zikang smoothly lifted her into his arms. Tianfu’s face flushed slightly, though her heart swelled with pleasure.

This path twisted and turned, seeming bottomless, coiling several times—up, then flat, then down—enough to cause dizziness. Just as impatience set in, they finally spotted a faint glimmer of light ahead, suggesting human presence.

"Good, there really are people here!"

Luo Kedi cheered and rushed forward recklessly. Feng Zikang’s expression turned serious, and he hissed a low warning, "Careful!"

Before the word fully left his lips, several flashes of cold light streaked through the corridor. Luo Kedi, experienced in life and death, though reckless, was also sharp; he leaped backward and roared, releasing a Yellow Dragon from his chest that slammed into the cold lights, holding them back.

It turned out to be a grotesque, giant beast with wickedly sharp claws and teeth, screeching menacingly. It engaged the Yellow Dragon released by Luo Kedi in a fierce struggle.

"Not bad!"

Feng Zikang nodded. Luo Kedi managed the Yellow Dragon Banner with such mastery that he must have invested considerable effort. The Yellow Dragon’s offense and defense shifted seamlessly according to a tactical pattern, subtly echoing military doctrine, locking the beast in an evenly matched fight.

"Wait! Wait!"

Man Jiao rushed forward, quickly interposing himself. "Don't misunderstand! This Guardian Beast belongs to our clan; don't be afraid!"

He whistled with a specific, strange cadence. The giant beast heard the sound, immediately stopped attacking, and lay down obediently on the ground.

"Kid, you can keep something like that? Impressive!"

Luo Kedi gave him a thumbs-up. That giant beast possessed immense power; fighting it with the Yellow Dragon maneuver only achieved a stalemate, yet it instantly obeyed Man Jiao. That was quite interesting.

Man Jiao grinned sheepishly. "I've always been the one to feed the Guardian Beast, so it listens to me..."

He pulled a piece of dried meat from his and tossed it casually. The Guardian Beast eagerly chased after it, tail wagging.

"If the Guardian Beast is here, our tribesmen must be here too!"

Man Jiao was overjoyed; a massive stone in his heart finally lifted. He led the group forward, and indeed, the corridor grew wider and wider. Light began to filter in from an unseen source.

Feng Zikang paused in surprise, looking around. The walls were inlaid with the same sky-blue crystals found inside the mountain on Dragon’s Tooth Island, though fewer in number. This dimmer light made the cavern resemble twilight.

Moving further in, the space grew wider and brighter. Finally, they saw a village nestled deep underground, though the atmosphere remained shrouded in a heavy dusk, with smoke curling faintly from a few chimneys.

"Clan Chief! Father, Mother! Miss Mo! Where are you?"

Man Jiao dashed forward in high spirits, about to rush into the village, when a sharp female cry rang out: "Stop!"

Man Jiao recognized Mo Fenghuang's voice. He halted his run, about to cheer, when a streak of white light shot forward! Man Jiao, caught off guard, scrambled to dodge, but it was too late.

"Thwack!"

An arrow pierced his chest! Man Jiao’s body went limp, his eyes wide with disbelief!