Having wrapped up the last of their affairs, the twelve companions once again surged toward the mountain range, though the mountain seed no closer despite their relentless pace. Yet, the scenery surrounding them was dramatically changing.
No longer were there open plains or farmland; instead, the terrain began to feature massive boulders and rocks. The ground subtly sloped upward, and smaller trees and sparse forests gave way to dense pinewoods as they pressed onward, further in the direction of the mountain.
The path they had been following had completely vanished; now they traversed animal trails or forged their own paths through the wilderness.
The companions had traveled for several days without rest before finally reaching the base of the parallel mountain ranges. As they prepared to ascend, excitent welled up within them.
Moving through cave systems brought them steadily closer to their destination each day. Every passing day echoed the first, a relentless quest of determination.
After a brief journey with Yan Xiaobao and his friends, the awkwardness between the formation experts and the others dissipated, and conversations began to flow between the two groups.
Though they avoided critical matters or sharing vital information, they instead spoke eagerly of tantalizing battles, the weather, or past discussions on vegetation diversity.
The conversations, though shallow and trivial, fostered a more comfortable atmosphere, leaving everyone feeling calm and at ease as they made their way toward the distant, veiled mountain range.
Day by day, they drew closer until one evening, they found themselves standing at the foot of the mountain. As they prepared to scale the final obstacle blocking their path, smiles of excitent lit their faces.
Seeing how close they had co, everyone pushed themselves to their limits, racing toward the summit at an astounding pace. They scrambled over the rugged, steep terrain as the twelve cultivators ascended together.
Yan Xiaobao was the first to reach the peak, likely because Zhou Long had inadvertently held the others back. His gaze fell onto the valley nestled between the two parallel mountain ranges, and his eyes widened in astonishnt as he took a deep breath of the cool air.
When Zhou Long had described the beast as massive, he had certainly not exaggerated. While the beast didn’t occupy the entire valley, its sheer length spanned several kiloters.
The beast’s scales were a murky green, each one as tall as Yan Xiaobao and twice the length of a human. Its elongated body rested entirely within the valley, its massive head lying directly below Yueyue. Yan Xiaobao could not help but question whether it was truly possible to assist Zhou Long in defeating a serpent of such ancient and overwhelming size.
The head was far larger than Yan Xiaobao had anticipated—ten ters long and seven ters wide. Atop the serpent’s forehead, a towering, sowhat serrated spiral-shaped horn caught his eye. The horn appeared razor-sharp, its bony fra astonishingly pristine, shimring faintly with a silvery hue from within.
One by one, the others caught up to Yan Xiaobao. As they peered down at the colossal beast, solemn expressions replaced their earlier confidence. Though they had initially believed themselves capable of vanquishing it, their certainty began to crumble as they stood beside the slumbering creature.
"Let’s set up camp here," Zhou Long spoke in a low voice as he watched the beast, his tone calm, devoid of any surprise or doubt. It was evident he had encountered this creature many tis before.
Hearing Zhou Long’s suggestion, Yan Xiaobao nodded. Although the creature’s size had shocked him as well, he had quickly observed that it was indeed in a state of deep sleep. If they managed to strike while it slept, their chances of victory would significantly improve.
The thing that reassured Yan Xiaobao the most about their prospects of success was Zhou Long himself. There was nothing ordinary about this man; the fact that he had been sent to this Demon Residence Cave underscored the importance the higher-ups placed on acquiring its Demon Core.
Reflecting on Zhou Long’s abilities and how effortlessly he had defeated the shadows ford of elental fla and beast spirits, Yan Xiaobao found a quiet alertness stirring within him as his eyes road their surroundings.
The camp was established as smoothly as on any other night. Once the food was prepared, everyone gathered around Zhou Long, impatient to hear about the plan.
"As you’ve guessed, that beast down there is none other than the Devil-Dwelling Beast for which this cave is nad," Zhou Long began, stretching lazily as he gazed into the valley, where the serpent’s massive form lay.
Looking at the creature, Zhou Long showed neither fear nor hesitation, only a patient indifference, as though staring at an insignificant worm he could crush with ease.
"At dawn, we’ll descend into the valley along the gorge. Once inside, we’ll split into three groups. The formation experts will move to the right flank, I’ll head to the left, and the rest will approach the serpent’s head," he continued.
"During the assault, everyone must watch their backs. If soone dies, they are to bla no one but themselves."
"Forming the spiritual art will require the use of elental fla, and I hope you can also utilize elental star fall." With that, Zhou Long cast a aningful glance at the formation experts, who all nodded in agreent.
"I expect you to use every attack at your disposal," Zhou Long said with a smile to Yan Xiaobao. "Do your best, but rember—your survival is paramount."
Hearing this, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but wonder why his survival was so critical. However, he had no intention of questioning the older man. Instead, he nodded quietly and ate his al, avoiding any unnecessary eye contact with Zhou Long.
That night, like every other in their journey, the group retired early. Yet Yan Xiaobao stayed awake on the first watch, his eyes fixed on the beast below.
Wrapped tightly in his blanket, Yan Xiaobao stared at the creature, its sleeping form illuminated by the light spilling down from the moon and stars. The beast clearly remained in a deep slumber, and Yan Xiaobao saw no reason to believe it might awaken or detect their presence anyti soon.
Had the decision to execute it been driven by their need for a powerful beast core? Yan Xiaobao knew the creature below was likely an Emperor-level entity. It wasn’t quite as powerful as Lan Feng, but it felt markedly stronger than Xie Lan and Xu Biao. Its aura was palpable, affecting every cultivator nearby.
Considering this aura, the only person with a presence akin to that of Lan Feng was Zhou Lan. Yet Yan Xiaobao suspected him of being a Peak Emperor cultivator, and most likely, his rank was accurate.
"May I sit here?" Zhou Long’s voice startled Yan Xiaobao, the older man appearing once more without warning and eliciting the sa subtle unease as before.
Despite his discomfort and remaining on guard, Yan Xiaobao’s deanor betrayed nothing. His expression was calm, much like when he spoke with Sha Yun.
Patting the ground beside him, Yan Xiaobao gestured for Zhou Long to sit. Though casual in manner, this gesture acknowledged Zhou Long as one of his trusted companions. Zhou Long’s smile deepened significantly in response.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Zhou Long asked after a mont of silence, his eyes narrowing slightly as they fixed on the beast below.
"Not really," Yan Xiaobao replied with a smile. "Truth be told, I’m fairly certain that you alone could deal with this creature," he added, studying Zhou Long’s expression.
A knowing smirk curled on Zhou Long’s lips—one whose aning was inscrutable.
"It will be dangerous," Zhou Long said quietly. "Even with here, it will be dangerous. If you find yourself in a position you cannot handle, make sure to co to . I will see to it that you survive." With that promise, he patted Yan Xiaobao’s shoulder before rising to his feet. "I should get so sleep," he added, offering it as his excuse to leave. "Tomorrow will be a fierce battle, and you’ll need all the rest you can get."
...
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