Chapter 480: [ Encounter in the Woods ]

Si Mulan found a nice cave that seemed to be quite covert due to the thick bushes that covered it. After seeing that it was unpopulated and seemed safe, she entered it and immediately gathered some bushes and rocks to cover the entrance. Then, with a plop sound, she sat down on the ground.

She used brute force to split open a fruit with a hard shell and gulped down big mouthfuls of the sweet fruit juice. This feeling was indeed extremely splendid.

For Si Mulan, the fruit juice could seemingly be compared to top quality wine. When she ate it, she actually felt a large amount of spiritual Qi entering her body—this was actually a high-level spiritual fruit…?!

She exclaimed in surprise and her eyes started sparkling--as expected of a high-level location, even normal fruits are Spiritual Fruits!

Quietly sitting inside the small cave with her back leaning against the wall, Si Mulan’s body began to flicker with a sparkling luster as if her body was being enveloped by a layer of hazy light. The essence of the Heaven and Earth, the spiritual Qi came together unceasingly, and the spiritual energy within the fruit was gradually spread out as if there were dim multicolored rays enshrouding the forest.

The roars of beasts constantly rang out.

This place wasn’t really a ‘Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss’. Now, her highest priority was to raise her strength as soon as possible so that she would be able to pass this trial no matter how difficult it was.

This primitive jungle had all sorts of wild monsters and magical beasts. During the day, the sounds of various wild beasts could be heard, and the deep blue sky stretched boundlessly.

At night, the sky was filled with the soft light of the multitudinous stars and gentle moon, the sight of which enchanted the heart. One could even wonder, is this still the same world? Or probably even was this still the Passing Cloud Mountain...?

After going out of the cave, Si Mulan walked cautiously, and just when she was rejoicing over the fact that she had not encountered a large carnivorous beast, she unexpectedly bumped directly into a wolf magic beast!

How was I so unlucky...!?

That wolf stepped forward, and the ground seemed to shake like a level ten earthquake.

This had become a deadlock.

Si Mulan had an extremely painful headache. After thinking back through, her rapid breath somewhat came down as she stared at the magic beast in front of her. Even though she was a Grandmaster Cultivator, she had only wrestled against humans, never with large carnivorous wild beasts like this one. In addition, this ferocious monster was certainly way beyond her league.

She was surely not the magic beast’s match!

She had already walked for an entire day and was exhausted since long ago. At this time, even her limbs had weakened.

If she wasn’t careful enough, she’ll be eaten…

“Looks like my only choice is to fight!” Si Mulan’s eyes flashed with a smear of killing intent.

If she didn’t want to be the monster’s food, then she had no other choice but to kill it!

No matter what she does, she doesn’t have a choice. Fortunately, her sister gave her many life insurances.

Whoosh! As she was about to put everything she had to fight, suddenly at this moment, a burst of wind blew, and a strange black thing fell down from who knew where!

Caught off guard, the wolf-beast was smashed head-on.

Along with a wretched howl, it was smashed on the ground.

When it struggled, at this moment, a howl of another beast rang out from the cloud of dust. Finally, at this very moment, under Si Mulan’s dumbstruck and terrified gaze, she finally saw the real form of the one that had appeared out of nowhere.

It was an over two to three meters tall monster that looked like a magnificent lion with a mohawk-like mane composed of blazing flames that extended from its head through its tail.

Several crimson colored spikes can now be seen protruding on its head, while the rest of them were on its neck running till its tail as if they were protruding from its spine.

It has beautiful crimson colored fur on its face and legs which were the same color with the flames emitting from its body. And if one looks closely, several violet flame-like spikes can be seen on the back of its four legs, giving it a fearsome but beautiful appearance and aura.

And then, what happened next was hard to explain, even for Si Mulan who had gotten used to anything magical happenings in the world.

For the girl who was watching it, it was almost as if she could not make out what had happened at all. With only the time it takes an Incense Stick to burn, the fight was over in an instant.

What she saw was burned right into her retina and very mind.

In fact, the fight between these two monsters was so fast she can’t follow them at all. Each time the claws and fangs swung with a speed that left afterimages, a trail of crimson light and flames drawn in the air. In the contest of strength, the wolf was easily beaten and after a few swings, the monster’s posture was destroyed.

Awoooo……

The howl of the wolf suddenly came to a stop, and when Si Mulan finally saw them clearly as the dust thinned down, she was terrified beyond belief. What she saw was a bloody scene where the monster with a beautiful appearance unexpectedly tore the wolf apart with its claws while its fangs bored down on the beast’s neck, causing the beautiful crimson and violet fur to be stained with blood, in which was then ignited into blazing fires.

The wolf she wasn’t certain she could defeat was easily killed by the new monster that had appeared. Even an idiot knows how terrifying this monster in front of her was!

Terrified, Si Mulan immediately turn around as she ran away with speed as fast as lightning. Who still dares to stay here and wait for death? Is she an idiot?

She didn’t think of fighting against it anymore as that would really spell death for her.

As she runs, she could frequently see some skeletal remains. Aside from humans, these were the remains of tigers, lions and elephant-type monster and magical beasts, as well as some unknown gigantic skeletons.

There were dozens of seven to eight meter long disintegrated skeletons hidden between the woods and grass, making the forest seem especially frightening.

ROOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!

As she continuously runs without stopping, a huge roar was suddenly transmitted from behind. Her body jerked and trembled violently as the roar was ear-splitting as it pierced the sky!

Though it was not her alone, also countless beasts within the large forest were startled by the roar and started to wail, causing a huge chaos to erupt in the depths of the forests.

Si Mulan had also been shaken to her core. Her body trembled violently, and her eardrums nearly ruptured.

It was only natural as this was comparable to the roar of a legendary dragon!

This roar was by no means any bit inferior to the Dragon’s roar she had heard previously!

She then suddenly realized that the roar was almost just behind her. Thus, she could hear it more clearly than any other being. With trembling hands, she slaps her storage pouch and a jade bead appeared on her hand.

"Kyaa?!!" She was about to crush it when Bang!! A massive figure fell down from in front of her. The wind and dust caused her to wobble and jade bead accidentally fell into the ground. What an idiotic mistake!

When she raised her head, she saw the familiar lion-like monster that she had just seen a while ago, standing before her, looking at her down…

No, no way… did, did it want to eat her…??!

Si Mulan’s body trembled violently. Without hesitation, she crouched down and picked up the fallen jade bead but the monster in front of her once again let out an ear spitting roar, startling her. The Jade Bead she had picked once again fell down due to fear. Gritting her teeth, Si Mulan’s face paled like a white sheet of paper.

She closed her eyes in despair.

However, no matter how much she waited, the pain she had expected didn’t come…

When she opened her eyes, she was stunned to see the monster she feared was actually bowing its head towards her. It’s clear ruby eyes didn’t show any hostility and was instead, sadness and sorrow.

Eh? What’s going on…?

Rooarr… The monster let out a low growl causing Si Mulan to tremble again. However, the monster didn’t attack her but instead kept its head low. But the thing that shocked Si Mulan the most was that this monster’s clear eyes were a showing a very human-like expression.

A Holy Beast…!!?

Si Mulan seemed to have been struck by lightning! That’s right, a Lightning out of the blue sky!

Among monsters, there were those who had opened sentient and possess very high-level intelligence!

Of course, not all monsters have the opportunity to open such wisdom. Even among Saint Beasts, possessing extremely high wisdom like this is very rare--most only a fragment but retained the instinct of a beast—And this monsters who had such high intelligence were considered; Holy Beast!

They are very powerful beasts and from what Si Mulan knew, a Holy Beast with only just a Foundation Building Rank can contend against with a normal Saint Beast—just by this, one can see how mighty being a Holy Beast was. Well, in any case, being a true Holy Beast was actually rare--they are after all, not similar to Mythical and legendary beings such as Dragons or Phoenixes that was regarded as natural Holy Beasts…

Cultivation of a monster to become a real Holy Beast was not a normal cultivator could understand.

Then this monster—was it a Holy Beast…?

Groowl…

The monster called out again. At this, Si Mulan felt as if the monster in front of her was calling at her, with this human-like expression full of sadness…!

Does it need something from me…?

“You, you need anything…?” Si Mulan bore the weight of that oppression coming from the monster in front of her; it was as if her entire body was being pressed on by a huge mountain; her blood was almost freezing. Still, she grits her teeth.

“… ….”

Time passed very slowly. Even in such cold weather, beads of perspiration formed on her forehead.

As for the monster, it stared at Si Mulan, its eyes sparkling. It nodded its large head happily as if it was being pardoned. It let out a few growls before gently nudging its head towards Si Mulan. It was being playful a like a small kitten.

Si Mulan was startled. She had just gone through this hair-raising experience and her legs almost gave way. Now, she stood there blankly, slowly regaining her senses. What is happening…?

Si Mulan unconsciously hugs the monster’s head.

Growl…

The beautiful Holy Beast’s eyes sparkled before it turned around and started walking away. But when it noticed Si Mulan just stood there, the Holy Beast stopped and glanced at her. It then started nodding its head as if it wanted to tell her to follow it…!

"What, what?" Si Mulan asked after seeing the desperation in the monster’s eyes.

It would not be an exaggeration to think that a monster with that level could kill her with just the touch of a finger. But the monster raised its arm and waved at her, wanting her to follow.

Si Mulan’s body jerked and without guessing anymore as to what the monster wanted from her, she grabbed the jade bead that fallen near her feet and followed at the monster.

Just what is it trying to do?