Heavenly Beast Forest, Central Region.
After slaying over a hundred sixth-tier demon beasts, Ye Yunfei began to encounter seventh-tier demon beasts!
Seventh-tier demon beasts were roughly equivalent to human warriors at the Mid Stage Earth Realm. However, they were far more troublesome to deal with.
Hunting seventh-tier demon beasts was no joking matter. Ye Yunfei felt the difficulty of combat had increased significantly. It was practically all-out bloodshed!
Several times, Ye Yunfei was injured, ending up covered in blood from head to toe, looking utterly wretched.
However, the amount of Bloodline Essence possessed by seventh-tier demon beasts was almost several times that of sixth-tier ones!
High risk, high reward.
Thus, Ye Yunfei also threw all caution to the wind.
He hunted relentlessly, even walking on the edge of life and death.
Amazingly, he managed to hunt dozens of seventh-tier demon beasts in one go!
However, Ye Yunfei's injuries were also very severe. Especially during his battle with a seventh-tier triple-headed demon bat, a swipe of its claws nearly gouged out his heart!
Nevertheless, after killing this seventh-tier demon bat, Ye Yunfei collected over a dozen bottles of Bloodline Essence. Moreover, he obtained a demon core!
The demon core contained the concentrated essence of a demon beast. Using it for cultivating the Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Body Art would yield even better results than Bloodline Essence!
"I should have collected about half the Bloodline Essence needed. I'll rest for a while first."
Ye Yunfei sat cross-legged in a forest clearing to recuperate.
* * *
At this moment, on a certain mountain path within the Heavenly Beast Forest.
Six middle-aged men cloaked in pitch-black robes appeared, phantoms amidst the trees.
"Just ahead is the central region. The central region is mainly home to demon beasts above fourth-tier strength, and there are even eighth and ninth-tier demon beasts. That kid is merely at the Body Tempering Sixth Level. How could he possibly dare to enter?" one of the men said.
"However, that kid has indeed entered the central region. I can sense his aura. Hmph, nothing strange about it. He's just a reckless youngster who knew no fear of the heavens or earth and doesn't even know how to write the word 'death.' Let's go find that kid," another black-robed man snorted.
"I'm afraid that before we even find him, that kid will have been eaten by the demon beasts," yet another man sneered.
"Regardless, we took the money; we have to do the job. Let's go."
The six black-robed men vanished into the central region of the Heavenly Beast Forest like six phantoms, tracking Ye Yunfei's trail.
* * *
Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei was recuperating in a forest clearing.
"ROAR!"
Suddenly, a beast's roar like thunder echoed from the distance, shaking the entire forest.
"Seventh-tier demon beast!"
Ye Yunfei's spirits lifted. He rose and activated his movement technique, charging toward the source of the roar.
* * *
At that moment, in a mountain col ahead, six young people were locked in fierce combat with a seventh-tier demon leopard!
A beautiful girl of seventeen or eighteen faced the demon leopard head-on, bearing the brunt of its attacks. She had an oval face, large eyes, and skin fairer than frost or snow—a typical beauty.
Furthermore, the aura she radiated was actually at the Mid Stage Earth Realm!
Additionally, five other young people attacked from the sides. A robust youth wielding a heavy hammer was at the Body Tempering Ninth Level. A red-clothed maiden, about fifteen years old, had arched eyebrows and eyes filled with innocent, nimble, and mischievous expressions; she was at Body Tempering Eighth Level. A youth in black holding a long spear had a steady gaze and was at Body Tempering Ninth Level. A short but stout, dark-skinned youth holding dual blades was also at Body Tempering Ninth Level. Lastly, there was a handsome young man dressed in a purple brocade robe, emanating an aura of the Early Stage Earth Realm!
ROAR…
The seventh-tier demon leopard was enveloped in a foul-smelling, crimson aura of killing intent, clearly having gone through countless battles. Its deep red beast-pupils radiated brutal murderous intent.
From a distance, concealed behind a towering tree, Ye Yunfei observed the battle.
"This Senior Sister Wu must have only recently broken through to Mid Stage Earth Realm. She's definitely not a match for this seventh-tier demon leopard. These youngsters truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth, daring to provoke a seventh-tier demon leopard," Ye Yunfei concluded after just a few glances.
That Senior Sister Wu had only recently broken through to Mid Stage Earth Realm. Her foundation was unstable. Whether in terms of strength, speed, or combat awareness, she was far inferior to that leopard.
Theoretically, seventh-tier demon beasts were equivalent to human Mid Stage Earth Realm warriors. But in actual combat, the fighting power of demon beasts was often far superior to that of human warriors!
Sure enough, after a fierce bout of fighting…
"AHH…"
Senior Sister Wu let out a miserable cry. Her sword-wielding right arm was struck by the leopard's tail, and her sword flew from her grip.
ROAR!
The demon leopard leapt into the air, its agile and powerful body pouncing towards Senior Sister Wu. Surging demonic power erupted from its body like powerful gusts of wind.
"Not good! Save Senior Sister Wu!"
The other youths were also shocked. Disregarding their own safety, they charged forward, brandishing their weapons at the leopard's body.
But the leopard's speed was simply too fast. In the blink of an eye, it was already above Senior Sister Wu's head, its thick demonic aura enveloping her.
Senior Sister Wu felt a sense of despair. Having lost her sword, she knew that in such close-quarters combat, she stood no chance. Death could come in an instant.
"Su Yingzhi! You're actually fleeing in the face of battle!"
Suddenly, the red-clothed maiden shouted angrily. It turned out the handsome young man in the purple brocade robe had turned and was running away!
Evidently, he knew that if Senior Sister Wu fell, the others would be no match for the leopard, so he seized the chance to escape.
"The opportunity has come!"
From afar, hidden behind the towering tree, Ye Yunfei had actually been waiting for the best moment to act.
At this point, after its intense battle, the demon leopard was already more than halfway exhausted! Moreover, it also knew that as long as it killed this Mid Stage Earth Realm human woman, the other human youths would be easy prey.
Its ferocious leopard face revealed a look of triumph!
And precisely this moment was when it would be most likely to let its guard down.
SHWIP!
A pitch-black dagger abruptly appeared at the leopard's throat. In that fleeting instant, it stabbed fiercely into the most vulnerable part of its neck.
The moment the dagger appeared, the demon leopard sensed the dreadful danger. Under normal circumstances, it could have dodged. Unfortunately, in the present situation, it was too late!
THWIP!
The icy dagger sank deep into the leopard's throat. The leopard let out a low growl before its massive body crashed heavily to the ground. Despair flickered in its eyes. Then its head lolled to the side, life extinguished.
"What happened?"
Senior Sister Wu and the other youths were dumbfounded, standing rooted in place.
Ye Yunfei emerged from behind his concealing tree and walked to the leopard's corpse. He directly stowed the huge body into his spatial ring—the ring given to him by Xiao Chuchu.
Ye Yunfei didn't want to extract the Bloodline Essence in front of outsiders.
After storing the leopard's corpse, Ye Yunfei turned to leave. He had no intention of paying any attention to the young people.
"Young master, wait! Was it you who just killed this demon leopard?" Senior Sister Wu finally reacted and asked Ye Yunfei.
"No comment. Farewell."
Ye Yunfei was in a hurry to extract that leopard's Bloodline Essence. Besides, his primary motive for killing the leopard was to obtain the essence, not to save anyone.
"You…"
Seeing Ye Yunfei's cold attitude, Senior Sister Wu couldn't help but show a trace of anger on her beautiful face.
"Little Brother, why are you in such a hurry? Surely you also want to go collect that Seven Divinities Flower?" the curious voice of the red-clothed maiden suddenly rang out.
"The Seven Divinities Flower!"
Ye Yunfei's footsteps halted abruptly.
"That's right. A Seven Divinities Flower has been discovered in the central region of the Heavenly Beast Forest. We're here for that flower too; otherwise, we wouldn't have risked entering the central region," the red-clothed maiden said.
"Brother, I'm Tan Meng. By killing that leopard, you've practically saved our lives. Thank you!" The sturdy youth with the heavy hammer stepped forward, clasped his fists, and addressed Ye Yunfei.
This youth had a straightforward personality, which was rather pleasing to see.
"No need for thanks," Ye Yunfei replied, neither denying nor confirming.
"Thank you. Although I don't understand how you, at merely Body Tempering Sixth Level, managed to kill that leopard, I believe it was indeed you who intervened," Senior Sister Wu said, looking at Ye Yunfei with a complicated gaze, tinged with doubt.
She found it hard to believe that someone at Body Tempering Sixth Level could slay a seventh-tier demon leopard. However, aside from Ye Yunfei, there was no one else around. So, she had to believe it was him, though she remained somewhat skeptical.