Chapter 83 – The Great Li Mountains! Li Zixuan's Progress!

Jianghai City suburbs, the Great Li Mountains.

Towering peaks stood majestic as cool winds swept through the mountain forest. Giant pines reached for the clouds, their dense canopies casting deep shadows like enveloping darkness.

Within the mountain forest.

Snarls of Star Beasts echoed everywhere.

Piercing roars intertwined with the chilling sounds of flesh being torn and chewed reverberated through the deep shadows between ancient trunks…

Rustle.

A few fallen leaves drifted slowly downward.

A slender figure emerged atop a thick tree branch, crouching low as she cautiously surveyed her surroundings.

“I’m finally approaching the depths of the mountains.”

Li Zixuan breathed heavily, brushing aside the hair clinging to her temples as she took a small sip from her water flask.

Her current appearance was rather disheveled.

Her clothes were in disarray, sweat-dampened strands plastered to her forehead, her complexion pale as fine silk.

A large tear across her waist revealed glimpses of fair skin beneath, though fortunately the cut hadn’t broken the flesh.

“I’ve gone through all the spare clothes I brought.”

Zi Xuan looked down, smoothing the torn fabric with her hand.

A pang of regret washed over her.

A full week had passed since she entered the mountain forest, and already she’d exhausted all the clothing she’d prepared.

“Teacher was right – the areas beyond the city outskirts are truly treacherous.”

Calculating the time, Zi Xuan leaned against the tree branch while contemplating her next move.

Two choices lay before her.

One was to turn back now and properly digest the combat experience accumulated over this past week.

She could steadily improve her strength and aim for greater progress during her next expedition.

The second option…

Was to press deeper into the Great Li Mountains.

To seize the opportunity for breakthrough and charge straight through the threshold of the Innate Realm!

Both paths had their merits and drawbacks.

Zi Xuan’s brows furrowed slightly as she weighed the options, hesitation flickering briefly across her features.

But in that instant!

Hum!

Her sword vibrated in warning, its hum releasing a chilling killing intent that prickled against her back, instantly making her feel as if she’d been plunged into an ice cellar.

“Danger!”

Reacting instantly, she drew her sword in a reverse grip and slashed behind her.

The cold sword light shattered several rapidly approaching projectiles, their remnants scattering like shooting stars against the giant pine’s bark, sending wood chips flying in all directions.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Deep pits erupted across the mottled ancient bark as if bullets had drilled into them, demonstrating terrifying destructive power!

“Rocks? Someone’s here?”

Seeing this, Zi Xuan’s brows tightened further as she turned to look in the direction the stones had come from.

Beneath the sky-obscuring canopy, scattered beams of sunlight dotted the forest floor where a creature resembling an ape hung from a branch ahead. Its face displayed alternating red and white patterns, as if wearing a Nuo opera mask.

Grotesque. Terrifying.

When it noticed Zi Xuan looking at it, instead of showing fear or retreating, it bared its teeth in a grimace.

A piercing laugh emerged from its mouth, echoing through the gloomy mountain forest.

“Mountain Elf!”

Zi Xuan immediately recognized the creature, leveling her sword toward it as her heart began pounding violently in her chest.

Elder Li had specifically warned her before: “Mountain folk pass down an ancient saying – ‘Better encounter jackals than cross paths with Mountain Elves!'”

The Mountain Elf tribe was unpredictable in temperament and inherently lustful.

Once they set their sights on someone, they would cling like maggots in bones, tracking their prey relentlessly through the mountain forests with no possibility of escaping their notice.

“But when did it start following me?”

“Why didn’t I detect it at all?”

With these thoughts, Zi Xuan didn’t dare be careless, keeping her gaze locked firmly on the opposing Mountain Elf.

Boom!The immense Star Pressure surged forth like a raging flood, completely crushing down upon the mountain ogre.

She intended to intimidate it into retreat.

However,

It was useless.

The mountain ogre showed no signs of backing down. Instead, it released an equal amount of Star Power to counter the pressure, effortlessly neutralizing the force.

Vaguely, it had also reached the peak of the Acquired Realm!

“No wonder I didn’t notice it earlier.”

Li Zixuan’s pupils trembled violently, her grip on the sword slightly shaking, and her breathing grew somewhat rapid.

Seeing her like this, the mountain ogre on the opposite branch stuck out its thick tongue, licking its sharp claws, drool dripping in a continuous stream.

This was no child’s play.

Life and death hung by a thread.

Watching the ogre’s grotesque display, a trace of desperate madness flashed in Li Zixuan’s eyes.

She absolutely could not lose this battle.

Otherwise, if she were captured and taken back to its nest to be defiled and toyed with, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“I must stay calm, stay calm.”

Li Zixuan steadied her mind, sheathed the drawn sword, and restrained her aura to avoid attracting other Star Beasts.

She had released her energy earlier, so now she had to end this quickly.

Only one strike would decide the outcome!

Crack!

The sound of a branch snapping echoed!

The mountain ogre on the opposite branch paused for a moment, shattered the thick branch beneath its feet, and swiftly circled around Li Zixuan.

Its speed was extreme. The mountain wind howled through the forest, light and shadow flickering as the red-and-white ferocious ghostly face flashed by, seeming to be everywhere at once.

“Haa~”

Seeing this, Li Zixuan exhaled a heavy breath, closed her eyes, and listened intently to the surrounding clamor.

Leaves rustling, branches snapping…

Southeast direction!

The mountain ogre’s sharp claws shot out, slicing through the air as they aimed for Li Zixuan’s back.

Clang!

The next moment,

A cold sword light flashed out of its sheath, graceful as a startled swan, like the Sky Gate swinging open, blooming deep within the mountain ogre’s eyes.

Immediately after,

It felt a chill at its neck.

The world in its vision spun wildly as its head and neck separated, tilting and plummeting straight down beneath the giant pine.

Thud, thud—

After two dull thuds upon landing, no further sound could be heard.

The mountain wilderness returned to silence once more.

“Haa.”

Li Zixuan panted lightly, looking at the blood-stained longsword in her hand before raising her thumb to wipe away the few drops of warm blood on her face.

A flicker of madness crossed her delicate features.

The details of the earlier battle replayed in her mind, over and over again.

It felt like a heavy hammer striking the barrier to the Innate Realm, causing slight signs of loosening.

“As expected,”

Li Zixuan gazed deep into the mountains, a smile spreading across her face:

“Choosing to go out and train was the right decision.”

…………………………

Night fell, and the stars shone brilliantly.

Outside the Great Li Mountains, a certain patch of void trembled violently.

Qin Yang used Close at Hand, appearing atop an ancient pine with Xiaobai in his arms.

“Master.”

Xiaobai yawned, listlessly nestling in Qin Yang’s embrace, muttering softly, “What are you doing out in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”

“And you brought me along!”

“Shh, quiet.”

Qin Yang raised a finger to his lips, signaling for her to be silent.

He then expanded his spiritual energy, covering as much of the Great Li Mountains as possible, scanning for the locations of Star Beasts within range.

In an instant,

Countless red dots appeared across the vast green mountains—eerie, terrifying, densely packed, covering the entire landscape, sending chills down one’s spine!

“As expected, the wilderness is nothing like the city. This is the domain of Star Beasts.”Qin Yang withdrew his spiritual power, then holding Xiaobai, his figure drifted over the pine forest as they headed toward the Great Li Mountains.

“Keep an eye out for me later, Xiaobai.”

“What should I look for, Master?” Xiaobai lifted her head and asked innocently.

“Help me see if there are any fire-attribute Star Beasts.”

Qin Yang stroked Xiaobai’s head and whispered softly.

To obtain the Beast Fire needed for Alchemy, they first had to find the lairs of those fire-attribute Star Beasts.

(End of Chapter)