Chapter 119
/*unedited*/
The deepest part of the Dark Forest is where many powerful demon beasts reside. They ruled the Dark Forest like their own backyard, each demon beast controlling their own area of influence and most of the time many would fight over each territory.
No low-level cultivator would dare go in this place, and a cultivator with at least a late-stage gold core realm might have a chance to survive in this place.
Those who have higher cultivation would not dare enter the deepest part as it is the territory of a powerful demon beast. It has been rumored that there exists a level 7 demon beast called Dark Lion, which existed deep inside the Dark Forest. This is due to a group of elders from the Heavenly Crow Sect which was led by a nascent realm cultivator entering the deep forest. Three weeks later that powerful cultivator returned alone gaining heavy wounds all over his very strong physique.
This started the rumor, how could a nascent realm cultivator be easily wounded by any low-level beast. Only a level six beast or a level six beast king can hurt such a cultivator, but to wound him to that extent should be the work of a level 7 demon beast. Then those onlookers heard about a huge Dark Lion nesting inside the Dark Forest.
Then everyone came into conclusion that, because of the strange environment inside the Dark Forest the Dark Lion chooses to make the forest it's home. And since then, none dared enter the innermost part of the Dark Forest.
Meanwhile…
Deep inside the same forest, a shadow can be seen jumping stealthily from tree to tree. Like a ghost, the shadow weaves through the thick woods with ease as if it considered it as its backyard. Down on the ground, a pack of huge gray furred wolves is currently walking carefully as they tried to hunt for prey.
The shadow suddenly stopped atop a tree and carefully watches the area. The weird suit he is wearing made him blend to his surroundings.
He then noticed that the pack of gray furred wolves is advancing towards a demon beast lying not too far ahead. It seems that the demon beast has just given birth to a small cub which is lying beside it. When the shadow figure saw the demon beasts his eyes immediately brighten up, it's actually a golden-winged tiger. These kinds of demon beast are rare and can be considered as Deity beast if cultivators can find its cub they would fight tooth and nails just to have it. It might even cause a great commotion amongst the clans in this area. Luckily no cultivator is present at the moment.
These kinds of demon beast are very precious and a great source of power. If a clan or a person found a cub they could forcefully make a blood contract with it without any effort. Then they just have to feed the cub 10 low-grade spirit stones each day and it will slowly reach level 5 after two to three years. Although it is costly however the sacrifice is worth the price because once it matures the demon beast can be mounted and at the same time can become a powerful ally.
Then after that, one needs medium grade and high-grade spirit stones to make it grow further. But none ever dared do so as the prize one has to pay would be too exorbitant as everyone knows that high-level demon beast almost has a bottomless stomach.
"This is a great chance for me. The mother tiger is a level 6 demon beast; if I can have its core then I don't have to worry about anything anymore." The shadow muttered.
Then he just kept his presence hidden and waited for the demon beasts to kill each other. No matter what he didn't want to expose himself as he knows his power is not yet enough to contend with these strong demon beasts. The wolves themselves are already a group of level 4 demon beasts, though he has the confidence to be able to face them head-on yet the golden-winged tiger is a different story. With just a swing of its paw, he knows that it would be the death of him. So he is not that foolish to face it head-on along with those mutts.
As he waited for some time, he can now observe the wolves slowing down and silently approach the cave. But then, as soon as they reached around the distance of 300 meters away from the golden-winged tiger's den, the mother suddenly lifted its huge head and turn towards the wolves' direction.
"Stupid mutts, demon beasts are really slow when it comes to stealth. They are all going to be illuminated this early." The shadow muttered as he sighs in disappointment.
Then he saw something incredulous, the golden-winged tiger didn't do anything and just grab the small cub with its large paw and led it inside the cave behind it.
"It seems that this demon beast is wounded and the wolves knew its situation. They are grabbing this opportunity to take it down with their numbers. I think a higher level demon beast is leading this pack." The shadow muttered as his gaze turns towards a certain direction.
"I knew it. It's another high-level demon beast. From its Qi undulation, it seems that this demon beast is a level 5 demon beast… No, it's a beast king…" the shadow muttered with excitement.
It seems that the golden-winged tiger also knows the presence of the beast king as it lifted its gaze towards its direction. Then it threw an angry look towards it, but helplessness can still be seen in its expression as its eyes would always take a side glance at the cave behind it.
The shadow calmly watches the situation and waited for the battle to start. And true to his conjecture, the demon beast king suddenly howled through the air which reverberated everywhere. This howl is like a territorial marking of a powerful demon beast. It means that those who would intrude this area would be attacked by its pack.
And so upon hearing this, the demon beasts from the vicinity immediately scuttle far away and didn't dare turn back in fear.
The gray furred wolves dashed one by one out of the thick thickets and surrounded the cave. They began to show their fangs while snarling towards the golden-winged tiger. But at this time none dared to attack as the golden-winged tiger also showed its domineering presence while it exudes its powerful aura. The pressure it emits alone pushes the wolves a few steps back.
Upon seeing this the demon beast king of the gray furred wolves suddenly jump down the top of the rocky hill and slowly approached the area. As it approaches it suddenly sent a powerful spiritual force weakening the aura of a golden-winged tiger. As the two aura clashed, the strong force immediately negates each other. When this happens something caught the shadow's eyes as his gaze turns sharp towards the cave.
"This is… spirit vein… a low-grade spirit vein. Damn… This is the real reason for this fight. The wolves are trying to invade this territory because of the spiritual vein. I never thought that demon beasts would also be interested in these things. I thought humans are the only greedy ones on this planet. Even demon beasts are also like this." he muttered as he continues to watch the situation.
"If the wolves can win this, I am confident to be able to finish them all. But if that strong demon beast won then I can just go back here after I became stronger." He mulled over.
As the demon beast king approaches, the pressure on all the other wolves was lifted and they began to once again show their fangs towards the golden-winged tiger. Then, the demon beast king which is their Alpha suddenly sent a signal to everyone and with a tacit understanding the gray furred wolves suddenly jump towards the golden-winged tiger together.
Upon seeing this, the expression on the golden-winged tiger turned sour as anger can be seen on it. Then it didn't hesitate, with a quick slash the first wave of the wolves was immediately cut into four sections. Their blood and gore immediately stained the ground. But that didn't deter the wolves as the rest were able to reach the golden-winged tiger's body and began to bite and scratch it.
Growl!!! Snarl!!!
Sounds of demon beast growling and fighting immediately filled the air. The wild bellowing of the sound and the accumulating dust covered the surroundings. The number of wolves seemed to be endless as more would appear from within the bushes and without a word blindly attacks the golden-winged tiger without any care for their own lives.
Upon seeing the brutal and bloody carnage in front of him, the shadow could not help but gasp. Although he didn't feel fear still the raw battle of the demon beasts in front of him made him think of the ferocity and savageness of the creatures.
After a long time, it seems that the golden-winged tiger began to weaken as its fur is now covered with blood. Gaping wounds can be seen all over its body and the whole area is strewn with incomplete corpses of the gray furred wolves. This time the alpha wolf suddenly took a step forward as it now grabs the opportunity to attack as the golden-winged tiger is now too weak. The remaining number of wolves in the area took a step back as if giving the stage to their leader.
The huge gray furred wolf and the golden-winged tiger clashed. But what surprised the wolf is that the golden-winged tiger suddenly stood up. Then from its weak appearance, it seems to have gained some strength. This made it almost hesitate from attacking, but it was already too late as it has made its move. Then with a quick growl, it seems to have sent some signal to the rest of the wolves to attack.
With a swipe of its huge paw, the golden-winged tiger hit the Alpha wolf directly on its body, but with an agile movement, the impact seems to have been negated as it just somersaulted and landed to the ground with ease. Its expression seems to show a sneer as it resumes charging towards its opponent.
The rest of the wolves jumped towards the golden-winged tiger and once again began biting every part of its body. Though many of them have already fallen but with their number many were able to reach the golden-winged tiger's body and cause some damage.
With another jump, the Alpha wolf was able to send a wind slash towards the golden-winged tiger's head. Upon hitting, it drew four deep gashes on the golden-winged tiger's face.
Growl!!!
In anger, the golden-winged tiger suddenly suck in a huge amount of air. This causes all the wolves to be alarmed, but before they could react, a searing heat suddenly came out of the latter's maw and burned the wolves in front of it into crisp. The alpha wolf was able to immediately use its wind attributed Qi to create a windshield which protected it from the fire breath.
But the surrounding wolves were too unlucky as almost all of them were burnt. Out of all the wolves, only 6 were left including the Alpha. But this didn't deter the wolves as after the fire breath they noticed that their opponent's aura suddenly weakened. Grabbing this opportunity, all of them immediately attacked. But the Alpha, made a strange movement as it suddenly disappears from where it stood. Before the golden-winged tiger could react, the Alpha wolf already has the cub on its mouth inside the cave.
The hostage cub didn't move as it innocently looks at its mother.
Feeling its victory is imminent the Alpha wolf sends its signal for the rest of the wolves to attack. But then, before the wolves could move, the cub suddenly disappears from the Alpha wolf's mouth as if it didn't even exist.
Then a strange figure showed itself in front of the Alpha wolf. The figure has a bulky and strong body of a man and the head of a tiger.
With a sneer clearly written on his face, the figure lifted his hand and with a flash sent a punch towards the Alpha wolf. The speed of the punch tore through space as it soundlessly sent a very strong force towards the Alpha wolf.
It didn't even have time to rise up its windshield as it was suddenly sent flying towards the cave wall. Sounds of bone-breaking can be heard as the Alpha wolf's body hit the cave wall.
"Haha… a weak mutt like you thinks that you can get me and my pet." The tiger beast-man suddenly laughed and said in a human's voice.
"Kill them all." He then commanded as he signaled the golden-winged tiger.
Then suddenly a strong aura came out of the tiger's body which envelops the rest of the wolves. Without any defenses, the wolves could not even raise up a wail as they were killed by the golden-winged tiger.
"The number of demon beast cores are still not enough for the prince, we have to get more. This trap is good, well just have to wait here for another group of these mindless beasts to appear and harvest more." The beast-man muttered while he waves his hand.
With this action, a golden light suddenly came out of his hand and envelops the golden-winged tiger. The spiritual Qi undulation of the beast-man is very strong, this trap would have not worked if the other demon beasts would know in advance his power. Instead of attacking they would surely run away immediately in fear.
The beast-man then walks towards the fallen Alpha wolf. He then stretched his hand and a spear suddenly appears, then without care he drove the tip of the spear directly towards the unmoving but still breathing Alpha wolf.
With a twist, he was able to split its skull and a demon core suddenly jumps out of it and flew directly to his already outstretched hand.
The beast-man didn't waste time and started to collect the rest of the demon beast cores in the area. It took him quite some time before he finished gathering the cores. Then he turns towards the golden-winged tiger and smiled. The creature has already recovered its vitality and the wounds on its body have already healed. Though it almost took an hour however it was enough as the demon beast is already level 6, its physique is as tough as a nascent realm cultivator.
"You can have their flesh as your reward for doing a good job." The beast-man said nonchalantly as he went back inside the cave.
The shadow on top of the tree suddenly frowns upon seeing this.
"Beast clan people… What are they doing here? This situation might not be that simple after all."