54: Zhao Tianbao's Dilemma in Killing the Cat Demon

The edge of Black Mountain, a hidden Immortal Cave.

Li Qinghe sat cross-legged, having just finished a cycle of circulation. In his Sea of Consciousness, the silent "Today's Intel" System refreshed on time.

[Today's Intel (Yao Beast Category): Calamity of the Iron-Clawed Lynx]

[Location: Outer reaches of Black Mountain, eastern cliff of Ghost Crying Ravine (approx. five li from the host's Immortal Cave).]

[Target: Adult male Iron-Clawed Lynx (body length seven feet, claws like refined iron).]

[Event: One day ago, this lynx consumed a "Bone-Eroding Grass" growing beside a Yin-Fiend Stone. The Qi and blood in its body are clashing violently with the Yin-Fiend Qi, and it is undergoing a painful transformation. It is expected to complete the transformation in 48 hours (at noon in two days), becoming a Rank One Low Grade Yao Beast, the "Iron-Clawed Ghost Cat."]

[Karma: The transformation process has doubled its ferocity and caused extreme pain, making it highly aggressive towards fresh flesh (especially small animals and lone Mortals). Its speed and claw blades will gain Yin-Fiend empowerment, becoming exceptionally sharp and carrying a weak corrosive toxin. If allowed to complete its transformation, it will become a new threat in the outer reaches of Black Mountain, potentially attacking herb gatherers or patrol teams.]

[Suggestion: Slay it before it completes its transformation! A newborn Iron-Clawed Ghost Cat is extremely fast and stealthy, making it much harder to hunt.]

"Another one like this..." Li Qinghe frowned slightly. Over the past month, he had seen similar intel no less than seven or eight times. The intensification of spiritual recovery, combined with various coincidences (accidental consumption of Spiritual Plants, absorption of Yin-Fiend), had significantly accelerated the transformation speed of the wild beasts in the outer reaches of Black Mountain.

He glanced at the location marked in the intel—the eastern cliff of Ghost Crying Ravine, which wasn't far from him.

"Five li, I might as well take care of it." He muttered to himself. He stood up, stretched his muscles, and felt the water spiritual power in his body improve slightly.

Hanging at his waist was a dusty little beast-hide bag—it was the low-level Storage Pouch that his third brother, Li Qingfeng, had asked Wang Tiezhu to deliver to him a few days ago.

Although the space wasn't large, only a few cubic meters, for him, it was a timely help.

His precious jade bottles, cold iron sword, Talisman Materials, and the collected Yao Beast Materials no longer had to be hidden here and there; he could stuff them all into the pouch and carry them with him, convenient and secure.

He took the cold iron sword out of the Storage Pouch and held it in his hand. A cold sensation came through; after many battles and being soaked in Yao blood, the deep blue cold light of the sword seemed to have become more concentrated.

"Tough luck for you." Li Qinghe muttered quietly. His figure blurred, and like a wisp of light smoke, he glided out of the Immortal Cave, heading towards Ghost Crying Ravine.

Noon in two days? He didn't have the patience to wait.

His movement was like the wind, and he soon arrived near the cliff indicated by the intel.

His keen perception allowed him to quickly lock onto the target—a beast a size larger than an ordinary lynx, growling and rolling irritably among the rock crevices.

Its eyes were blood-red, saliva dripped from the corners of its mouth, and its claws unconsciously scraped the rocks, making a piercing scratching sound, clearly in the painful throes of transformation.

Li Qinghe did not hesitate, nor did he even use a sword technique. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut when dealing with a beast that hadn't even transformed yet?

His figure flashed, and in an instant, he appeared above the lynx, his wrist flicking.

"Chh!"

A moon-white Sword Radiance, as solid as substance and carrying a bone-chilling cold, instantly shot out from the tip of the cold iron sword, accurately piercing its neck!

"Whimper..." The lynx only had time to let out a short, mournful cry before its life force was instantly cut off.

The cold Qi attached to the blade even froze some of the blood near the wound.

Li Qinghe skillfully dug out a "Pseudo-Monster Core" (not fully transformed, with mixed energy) that was still weakly pulsating and contained a trace of cold aura. He then removed its toughest claw blades and put them into the grey low-level Storage Pouch at his waist.

Without even looking at the cat carcass on the ground, he turned and disappeared into the vast night.

Returning to the Immortal Cave, Li Qinghe sat cross-legged to continue refining his spiritual power, while also silently counting the days in his heart.

He was currently unaware of the news coming from further away regarding the northern beast tide and Zhao Tianbao's plea for help.

For now, his world consisted only of the Immortal Cave, moonlight, sword mantras, and the "beast Materials" stirring in the outer reaches of Black Mountain under the guidance of the intel System.

In the direction of New Town, Li Qingfeng slung the cloud-splitting bow embryo behind his back, nodded to Li Dashan and Wang Tiezhu, and rose with the wind, turning into a golden-yellow light as he sped towards the northern Qingshui Town.

On the militia drill grounds on the outskirts of Black Mountain Town, the sounds of shouting and killing shook the sky. Dozens of sturdy men, under Zhang Shitou's shouting, were sweating profusely as they practiced basic hacking, stabbing, and simple combined attack formations.

They knew that only by practicing these well could they protect their families from the claws of Yao Beasts, and have a chance for their children to seek their immortal Destiny at the legendary "Immortal Ascension Assembly" next month!

The beacon fires of the Northern Border of Barren Mountain Domain were rising from multiple directions... Qingshui Town, outer defense line.

The air was thick with the heavy smell of blood, burning, and the rank stench of wild beasts.

Below the city walls, roars, screams, the clashing of weapons, and the sound of collapsing earth and stone mixed together, deafening the ears.

Hundreds of village braves, composed of strong men from various villages and the town's youth, were fighting a bloody battle against the tide of monsters, relying on temporarily reinforced low walls, abatis, and dug trenches.

Leading the charge were a large number of beasts that had lost their reason:

"Crazed boars, blood-eyed hungry wolves, and hyenas with protruding tusks..."

They were driven by more powerful Yao Beasts, crashing against the human defense line like cannon fodder.

The village braves brandished hoes, pitchforks, machetes, and even sharpened wooden sticks, fighting these frenzied beasts; people were constantly being pounced on and torn apart, blood staining the soil red.

And hidden within the beast swarms, a dozen or so Yao Beasts that had already completed their transformation were the true threat! They were like cunning hunters, searching for weak points in the defense line.

There were Iron-Clawed Lynxes with extreme speed and wind-cutting claws, Iron-Backed Mountain Boars with thick hides and immense strength, and Poison-Spitting Toads that could vomit corrosive acid... Every time they struck, they tore a hole in the village braves' line, causing massive casualties.

Beside Zhao Tianbao, only two Spirit Enlightenment Realm handyman Junior Brothers remained, equally exhausted and wounded.

They constantly activated low-rank Talismans—fireballs, ice spikes, and wind blades—blasting those powerful Yao Beasts attempting to break through, buying a moment of respite for the village braves.

Zhao Tianbao stood on the not-very-high earth and stone wall of Qingshui Town, his face ashen, his light red Qingxuan Sect standard-issue dharma robe stained with blood and dust, long since losing its former luster.

He tightly gripped a crimson longsword in his hand, its blade faintly flowing with firelight, emitting a scorching aura.

He practiced a fire-attribute Cultivation Technique and excelled in offense, but at this moment, he felt a deep sense of frustration and inadequacy.