45: Meeting an "old friend"

Jiang Donghua slowly straightened his body, the fresh blood on his short blade dripping onto the ground, emitting a faint tap-tap sound.

His icy gaze swept over the several Demonic Beasts that had emerged from the dense forest.

The Iron-Backed Azure Wolf, its fur like steel needles and its fangs menacing, had previously led its pack to besiege him three times, only to flee after he killed seven of its pack members.

The Shadow Demon Leopard, jet black all over and moving like a phantom, specialized in sneak attacks, and had nearly succeeded while he was fighting another Demonic Beast.

The Red-Eyed Giant Ape, with bulging muscles on its arms and boundless strength—capable of smashing boulders with a single punch—had once teamed up with the Earth Tyrant Bear, forcing Jiang Donghua to temporarily avoid confrontation.

These fellows were all veteran overlords of this region, each possessing the strength of a peak Dou Practitioner!

Over the past month, they had joined forces more than once to try and kill Jiang Donghua, but he always escaped using the ghostly movement technique of the Roaming Cloud Steps.

But now, as they stared at the corpse of the Earth Tyrant Bear on the ground, a trace of human-like shock appeared in their beast eyes!

How many days had it been?!

During the last encirclement, this human was forced into a desperate retreat, only able to maneuver using the Roaming Cloud Steps, and dared not clash head-on!

Yet now, he had actually solo-killed the Earth Tyrant Bear?!

"What, surprised?"

Jiang Donghua curled his lips into a cold smile, spinning his long sword once in his palm, the cold light sharp and fierce.

"Roar—!"

The Iron-Backed Azure Wolf let out a low growl; a flicker of apprehension crossed its wolf eyes, but it was quickly replaced by ferocity.

After all, as the King of the Wolf Pack, it would never tolerate a challenge from its prey!

The Shadow Demon Leopard lowered its body, its jet-black fur nearly merging with the shadows, ready to launch a fatal strike at any moment.

The Red-Eyed Giant Ape pounded its chest, letting out an earth-shaking roar, but this time, the sound held less arrogance and more caution.

"Heh, looks like you still haven't recognized reality."

Jiang Donghua's gaze sharpened, and the Dou Qi within his body violently erupted!

"Boom—!"

The aura of a Seven-Star Dou Zhe was unleashed without reservation, but unlike before, his Dou Qi now faintly carried a scorching, fire-attributed fluctuation!

The refinement brought by the Azure Spirit Body Tempering Grass had advanced his physical strength further, and his Dou Qi circulated even more smoothly!

"Today, none of you will leave alive!"

Before his voice faded, Jiang Donghua's figure abruptly vanished!

"Roaming Cloud Steps: Afterimage!"

"Swish—!"

His speed was faster than before; an afterimage was left where he stood, while his true body appeared behind the Red-Eyed Giant Ape like a phantom!

"Blazing Flame Palm: Burst!"

His right palm was crimson like a hot iron, scorching Dou Qi compressed to the extreme, as he fiercely slammed it toward the ape's back.

"Bang—!"

"Awoo—!"

The Red-Eyed Giant Ape howled in pain; the fur on its back instantly charred black, and its massive body stumbled forward!

"Roar!"

Seeing this, the Iron-Backed Azure Wolf immediately lunged and bit, its fangs aiming directly for Jiang Donghua's throat!

Jiang Donghua sneered, ducked his body, and his short blade flicked upward like a venomous snake!

"Pfft!"

The blade accurately pierced the wolf king's lower jaw, and blood splattered!

"Awooo—!"

The wolf king retreated furiously in pain, but how could Jiang Donghua let it go?

"Trying to run?"

Dou Qi exploded beneath his feet; his figure shot forward like lightning, and with a backhand, he delivered another Blazing Flame Palm, slamming directly into the wolf king's flank!

"Boom—!"

The wolf king was sent flying by the palm strike, crashing through several large trees before stopping, blood spilling from its mouth, clearly suffering internal injuries!

"Swoosh—!"

The Shadow Demon Leopard finally seized its opportunity, bursting out of the shadows, its sharp claws aiming straight for Jiang Donghua's back!

"I've been waiting for you!"

Without turning his head, Jiang Donghua fiercely hurled the long sword in his left hand backward!

"Hiss—!"

The short blade, like lightning, pierced through the Demon Leopard's front paw, nailing it to the ground!

"Roar—!"

The Demon Leopard wailed miserably, struggling to break free, but Jiang Donghua had already turned and closed in, the blazing flame rising again in his right palm!

"Die!"

"Boom—!"

The Blazing Flame Palm heavily struck the Demon Leopard's skull; the scorching Dou Qi instantly erupted, and the Demon Leopard bled from its seven orifices, dying instantly!

In just a few breaths, the three peak Dou Practitioner Demonic Beasts...

One was injured, one crippled, and one dead!

The Iron-Backed Azure Wolf struggled to stand, and fear finally appeared in its beast eyes.

The Red-Eyed Giant Ape clutched its scorched back, panting heavily, no longer daring to advance.

They finally understood that this human was no longer prey they could hunt!

"Now you know fear?"

Jiang Donghua shook the blood from his hands, his gaze icy cold.

"Too bad, it's too late."

He slowly raised his hand, and Dou Qi condensed once more.

"Roar—!"

Suddenly, an earth-shaking roar came from the depths of the dense forest; the sound wave was like thunder, actually shaking the leaves down!

Jiang Donghua paused his movement, his brow furrowed slightly.

This sound?

It was more terrifying than the Earth Tyrant Bear!

Hearing this roar, the Iron-Backed Azure Wolf and the Red-Eyed Giant Ape acted as if they had been granted amnesty, fleeing toward the depths of the forest without looking back!

Jiang Donghua only felt that the sound was somewhat familiar, but right now, the priority was naturally to hunt down these two wastes.

Jiang Donghua shook the blood off his sword, his eyes as cold as ice.

At his feet, the head of the Iron-Backed Azure Wolf had been split in two, brains mixed with blood splattered all over the ground.

Beside it, the Red-Eyed Giant Ape's chest had a large charred hole burned into it by the Blazing Flame Palm, and it was still smoking.

"Useless trash, wasting my time!"

He cursed and kicked the wolf king's corpse aside.

Three peak Dou Practitioner Demonic Beasts, and not even one Demonic Core dropped!

These beasts had previously relied on their numbers, trying repeatedly to surround and kill him.

Now, well, they had all become ghosts beneath his sword.

In the distant dense forest, the roaring continued, rolling like muffled thunder, making the leaves rustle loudly.

Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes and twitched his ears.

"This sound is a bit familiar?"

He thought for a moment but couldn't recall what specific Demonic Beast it belonged to.

But it didn't matter.

Whatever it was, he'd chop it down first!

"I'm idle anyway."

He grinned, revealing a cold, sinister smile, and with a burst of Dou Qi under his feet, he shot toward the direction of the sound like an arrow!

Jiang Donghua's figure was like lightning, rapidly approaching by stepping on branches, when his nose suddenly caught a familiar stench: damp, rotten, mixed with a faint smell of blood.

A Black Water Profound Serpent!

His pupils constricted slightly; he halted his steps, stopping on the branch of a giant tree, his gaze coldly sweeping toward the area below.

It was a small pool of water, the water as black as ink, with an eerie, faint blue light shimmering on the surface.

And by the edge of the pool, a massive black-scaled serpent, as thick as a giant log, was coiled, flicking its tongue, its vertical pupils chillingly cold—it was precisely the Black Water Profound Serpent that had previously escaped from him!

With the strength of a Two or Three-Star Dou Master, combined with its terrifying venom, even a Dou Ling Expert wouldn't dare to easily fight it in the pool!

Jiang Donghua curved his lips into a cold smile.

"Heh, so it's you, you smelly snake."

But quickly, his gaze fell upon the other side of the pool.

There, a massive crocodile-type Demonic Beast was actually lying in wait!

It was dark green all over, its scales like iron armor, its fangs menacing, its limbs as thick as pillars, and a flick of its tail could carve a deep fissure into the rock!

An Eight-Star Dou Master!

Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes.

"Interesting. This small pool can actually attract fellows of this level?"

The Black Water Profound Serpent clearly sensed the presence of the crocodile Demonic Beast; its body tensed slightly, and its snake eyes flickered with cold murderous intent.

The crocodile Demonic Beast slowly raised its head, its blood-red eyes fixed intently on the Black Water Profound Serpent, emitting a low roar from its throat.

The two fierce beasts were actually facing off!

Jiang Donghua stood with his arms crossed, a trace of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"It seems there's something good here that both these fellows are targeting?"

His gaze swept over the pool, and he suddenly noticed a faint, ethereal blue light flickering dimly in the deepest part of the water.

Heavenly material and earthly treasure?

Jiang Donghua's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly calmed down.

"Heh, when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits."

He sneered, his figure quietly melting into the shadows of the trees, patiently waiting for the best moment to strike.

Since he had arrived, none of them should think about escaping!