12: Chapter 12 Hunting Ferocious Beasts

The grand competition was still a month away, so there was no rush, but the most troublesome issue right now was that his resources were completely cut off.

After the last few pieces of dry rations were finished, the worry on his mother's face deepened.

Ye Tian looked at the empty rice vat, then grabbed the hunting fork and rope from the corner.

"Mother, I'm going into the mountains for a bit."

His mother opened her mouth to speak, but in the end, she only said, "Come back early."

At the outskirts of the Black Cloud Mountains, Ye Tian didn't head towards the Yin Wind Ravine anymore.

That place was too conspicuous. People from the Black Cloud Stronghold had died there, so they were likely on high alert.

He turned toward another relatively familiar hunting ground, where there were traces of a Rank One Vicious Beast, the Black-maned Wild Boar.

This kind of Vicious Beast had thick skin and tough flesh, with sharp tusks, but its value was also high; a complete pelt could be exchanged for a lot of food and common medicinal herbs.

Near a muddy depression, he found fresh hoofprints and signs of feeding; a faint, rank odor permeated the air.

Crouching down, he carefully determined the wind direction and silently crept forward against the wind.

Soon, the target appeared.

A Black-maned Wild Boar, as sturdy as a small calf, was lowering its head, using its hideous tusks to dig up tubers from the mud with grunting sounds.

Its fur was glossy, and its mane stood up like steel needles—a sign of adulthood. Its strength was comparable to a Martial Artist at the Peak of Qi Gathering Level 3, and it would be even more difficult to deal with if it went into a frenzy.

Ye Tian held his breath, estimating the distance.

Using a hunting fork against this big fellow was a bit of a stretch; he had to hit a vital spot in one blow.

He slowly drew his short blade, his gaze locking onto the weak point where the boar's neck met its shoulder blade.

Just as he was about to burst forth with power...

A shrill and sharp beastly howl suddenly rang out from the woods behind and to his side!

The sound was filled with pain and fury.

The feeding Black-maned Wild Boar was startled. It jerked its head up, and its small, crimson eyes instantly locked onto the bushes where Ye Tian was hiding!

He had been discovered!

Ye Tian's heart sank. Without hesitation, he lunged out and threw his hunting fork first, aiming straight for the boar's eyes!

The boar reacted extremely quickly, swinging its head sharply. Its hard tusks knocked the hunting fork away with a crisp "clang!"

Immediately, its four hooves dug into the ground as it lowered its head and charged over with a thunderous momentum, making the ground tremble slightly!

Ye Tian rolled to the side to dodge, and the bushes where he had been hiding were smashed to pieces.

The boar turned around, panting heavily, and charged again.

Ye Tian pulled out another spare short blade from his waist, his eyes cold.

He couldn't retreat; he had to end this quickly. That beastly howl from earlier had likely attracted other trouble.

He stopped dodging. Gauging the boar's straight-line trajectory, he exerted force through his feet and actually charged head-on!

At the moment they were about to collide, he suddenly ducked and performed a sliding tackle to the side, his short blade slashing upward fiercely toward the boar's relatively soft underbelly!

Chi-la!

The blade sliced through the thick skin, drawing a trail of blood!

But the wound wasn't deep; instead, it completely enraged the beast!

"Awoo!!" The boar howled in pain and reared up, its two tusks stabbing downward viciously!

Ye Tian rolled on the spot. The tusks grazed past his back, causing a stinging pain.

He took the opportunity to stand up and stabbed his short blade toward the boar's hind leg joint again.

The tip of the blade entered the flesh but was caught by the tough fascia!

The boar felt the pain and kicked out violently with its hind hoof!

Ye Tian was kicked in the chest. His blood and Qi surged as he was sent flying, crashing heavily into the mud.

The boar roared and turned around, its crimson eyes staring fixedly at him. It lowered its head and charged again, determined to crush the insect that had wounded it!

Ye Tian coughed up a mouthful of muddy blood, a fierce look in his eyes.

The strength of Body Refinement Level 2 erupted. Instead of retreating, he advanced. The moment the boar reached him, he leaped to the side, accurately grabbed the stiff mane on its neck with one hand, and used the momentum to flip himself over, actually straddling its back!

The boar was shocked and enraged, bucking and jolting wildly in an attempt to shake off the thing on its back!

Ye Tian clamped his legs tightly around the boar's belly, gripped the mane with his left hand, and avoided the hard spine with the short blade in his right hand, stabbing fiercely into the side of its neck!

Puchi! Puchi! Puchi!

Blood splattered continuously.

In extreme pain, the boar hissed and howled, frantically crashing into the surrounding trees, sending branches and leaves flying as it tried to scrape the person off its back.

Ye Tian was jolted so hard his internal organs felt like they were shifting, but he gritted his teeth and expanded the wound with one stab after another.

Finally, the boar's speed slowed down, and its howls grew weak. It stumbled a few steps, its front hooves gave way, and it crashed to the ground, panting heavily as bloody froth bubbled from its nose and mouth.

Ye Tian leaped off its back and cautiously delivered a final blow, completely finishing it off.

Panting heavily, he felt a dull pain in his chest where he had been kicked.

"The beast is finally dead."

He didn't dare delay and immediately began processing the prey.

He skinned it, carved out the most valuable hind leg meat and tenderloin, and carefully sawed off the tusks.

His movements were as fast as possible; the smell of blood was too strong.

Just as he finished wrapping the pelt and meat in oilcloth and tied them to his body...

Suddenly, from the woods behind and to his side, came the sounds of rapid and dense movement through the brush!

There was more than one!

They were moving extremely fast, heading straight this way!

Ye Tian's expression changed. He grabbed his short blade and, without hesitation, turned and plunged into the depths of the dense forest in the opposite direction!

He had barely run a hundred feet...

...when a deafening roar erupted from behind him, carrying overwhelming fury and bloodlust!

A heart-palpitating aura of malevolence rushed toward him!

He jerked his head back to steal a glance.

He saw three hideous Vicious Beasts, larger than the Black-maned Wild Boar, covered in greenish-black scales with a single horn on their heads, surrounding the boar's carcass. They lowered their heads to sniff and then looked up to let out angry roars!

Their sharp claws and mouths were still stained with fresh bits of flesh; they had clearly just come from a slaughter.

It was the Azure-scaled Leopards!

Top-tier Rank One, pack-dwelling, bloodthirsty, and violent!

They had discovered the boar's carcass, and more importantly, they had discovered the fleeing Ye Tian!

The largest Azure-scaled Leopard among them suddenly looked up, its amber vertical pupils instantly locking onto Ye Tian's back!

It was the first to pounce!

The other two followed closely behind!

They were too fast!

Ye Tian's scalp went numb. He pushed his speed to the limit, weaving through the trees and using the terrain to evade.

But the Azure-scaled Leopards' agility in the forest far exceeded his, and the distance closed rapidly!

As the first Azure-scaled Leopard leaped into the air, its sharp claws swiped toward his heart with a foul wind!

Ye Tian's pupils constricted. In a moment of life and death, he unleashed his internal Qi and Body Refining strength without reservation, throwing himself forward into a roll!

Chi-la!

A chill ran down his back as his clothes and flesh were torn open in several bloody gashes!

A searing pain followed!

He used the momentum of the roll to stand up, pressing his back against a giant tree. Holding his short blade, he stared fixedly at the three approaching Vicious Beasts.

He couldn't escape!

He had to fight!

The three Azure-scaled Leopards approached in a semi-circle, crouching low and letting out threatening whimpers, saliva dripping from their teeth.

The largest one was once again the first to pounce!

Ye Tian's eyes turned sharp. Instead of dodging, the moment the leopard reached him, he suddenly ducked and swung his short blade upward toward its relatively soft underbelly!

At the same time, the muscles in his left arm bulged as he braced it against the swiping claws!

Bang!

The blade entered the flesh, while his left arm shook violently from the impact, bringing a bone-cracking pain!

The leopard's claws left deep, bone-exposing gashes on his arm, and blood flowed profusely!

But that Azure-scaled Leopard was also disemboweled. It howled miserably and crashed to the ground, its internal organs spilling out as it struggled to rise.

The other two Azure-scaled Leopards were enraged by their companion's plight and roared as they pounced together!

Ye Tian's left arm was nearly useless; he couldn't hold out alone!

Just as he was about to be torn to pieces.

He suddenly switched the short blade to his left hand and pulled the final item from his waist with his right.

It was the Poisoned Short Shuttle he had obtained from the man in black!

With all his strength, he threw it at the eye of the slightly smaller Azure-scaled Leopard!

The short shuttle accurately struck the eye socket!

"Awoo!" The leopard screamed shrilly, its attack faltering as it shook its head frantically.

The largest one had already reached him, its bloody maw snapping toward Ye Tian's head!

Ye Tian could even smell the heavy stench from its mouth!

A desperate, ruthless look flashed in his eyes. He clenched his right fist, and the meager Qi and Body Refining strength in his body compressed and condensed in an unprecedented way.

Overlapping Wave Fist!

First Layer of Force!

Boom!

His fist smashed hard onto the leopard's bridge of the nose!

That was one of their relatively weak spots!

Crackle!

The sound of bone cracking was clearly audible!

The Azure-scaled Leopard roared in agony. Its pounce was diverted, and it slammed hard into a nearby tree trunk, causing the branches and leaves to shake violently.

Ye Tian was also sent stumbling back by the counter-force, the skin on his right fist split open and bleeding.

Of the three leopards, one was dead and two were injured, but their ferocity only intensified. They panted as they closed in again, trapping him.

Ye Tian leaned against the tree, panting heavily. His left arm hung limply, and his right fist was dripping blood; he was at the end of his rope.

Just as he was preparing for a final, desperate struggle...

The stone bead held tightly against his chest suddenly gave an unusual, slight throb.

A trace of an extremely faint aura radiated outward from the stone bead.

This aura was hard to detect, but the two injured Azure-scaled Leopards suddenly froze. A trace of instinctive fear and confusion flashed in their amber vertical pupils. They growled uneasily and actually began to retreat slowly.

They stared at Ye Tian, then looked around warily, as if they sensed something even more terrifying.

After a few moments of confrontation, the two leopards finally let out unwilling low growls and quickly retreated into the depths of the forest, disappearing from sight.

Ye Tian leaned against the tree trunk, stunned where he stood, covered in blood and in disbelief.

After a long while, once he was sure the danger had passed, he slumped to the ground as if exhausted.

He instinctively reached into his robe and gripped the warm stone bead.

Was it this?

That aura just now...

He looked in the direction the leopards had disappeared, then looked down at the blood-stained stone bead, his brow furrowing deeply.

After resting for a moment, he tore off a piece of his garment to roughly bandage his heavily injured left arm and right fist. He picked up his dropped short blade and didn't dare stay any longer, enduring the sharp pain as he quickly left that bloody place.

It wasn't until he saw the silhouette of the Ye Family Settlement in the distance that he slowed his pace.

This time, the harvest was bountiful, but the price was heavy—he had nearly lost his life.