Since they had the power to break free from her illusion array, the Illusion YaoGuai wondered if they could withstand the next formation she was preparing. The thought made her more excited, eager to see how they would react.
"Send Lao Wu (老五: Fifth Brother) to test their strength," she ordered with a sly grin. "Let's see what they're truly capable of, daring to enter Nine Fox Ridge."
"Yes, my Lady," her subordinate responded, bowing respectfully before leaving to carry out the order.
Meanwhile, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai were entirely unaware of the YaoGuai's plans. Their focus was solely on hunting down beasts to enhance their cultivation.
Suddenly, a pack of snarling wolves appeared in their path. However, instead of feeling fear, Zhang Nu and Liu Hai's eyes lit up with excitement as though this was exactly what they had hoped for. Without hesitation, the two exchanged glances and charged headlong into the wolf pack.
The battle commenced in a flurry of attacks. Zhang Nu set his sights on the wolf leader, knowing that taking down the strongest would grant him significant rewards. As for the rest of the pack, Liu Hai took responsibility, using the opportunity to refine his own abilities.
After Zhang Nu defeated the wolf pack leader, his personal stats interface showed a noticeable improvement:
Level: Qi Gathering Stage Three (1280/2500)
Identity: Mysterious Orphan of the Ten Thousand Mountains
- Vitality: 35,000/35,000
- Essence: 35,000/35,000
- Supreme Sacred Body (Talent)
- Black Wind Art (Cultivation Technique)
Although Zhang Nu advanced, the improvement was modest and didn't lead to any significant changes in his power. As expected, defeating the low-level wolf pack leader yielded only a minor boost in his abilities, consistent with what Zhang Nu had expected.
Turning his attention to Liu Hai, Zhang Nu deliberately refrained from intervening in Liu Hai's battle. He understood that stepping in would hinder Liu Hai's own progress. Grateful for this, Liu Hai focused on defeating the wolves himself, determined to improve.
When Liu Hai finally finished off the remaining wolves, Zhang Nu gave him an approving nod. He had anticipated that Liu Hai might call for help but was impressed that Liu Hai managed to handle the situation alone.
"How are you feeling? Have you made any progress?" Zhang Nu asked.
Liu Hai, feeling proud, nodded confidently. He felt that his skills had significantly improved and was now ready to ascend higher into the mountains.
"I've made great strides," Liu Hai replied, "and I can accompany you further in now."
Zhang Nu nodded at Liu Hai's words, and the two continued their ascent. Unbeknownst to them, everything they did was being watched by the Illusion YaoGuai, though she seemed indifferent to it all. To her, the wolves they had just fought were merely the lowest-ranking creatures with only basic cultivation. The real challenges would begin once they reached the second level of the mountain.
Sure enough, once Zhang Nu and Liu Hai stepped onto the second level, they felt an increase in mental pressure. There were creatures here that were far more powerful than the wolves they had encountered below. Zhang Nu, with his stronger cultivation, hardly noticed the pressure, but Liu Hai, having just advanced, was struggling to adapt.
"Zhang Nu, something about this place feels off," Liu Hai remarked, visibly anxious. "I get the sense that something dangerous is lurking here."
Zhang Nu shook his head slightly. He couldn't sense the same danger that Liu Hai felt, perhaps because his own cultivation was much higher.
"You might be right. We should tread carefully from here. Hardly anyone dares climb this high, and only those with real cultivation can make it to this level. The beasts here might have become far more powerful," Zhang Nu agreed.
Liu Hai nodded, adopting a more cautious approach as they continued forward. However, as they took their first steps deeper into the second level, the ground beneath them began to tremble violently. Suddenly, they found themselves facing an unexpected foe---a Hundred-Year Tree YaoGuai.
Reacting quickly, Zhang Nu shoved Liu Hai to the side and rolled away himself, both of them narrowly avoiding the violent tremors. As they regained their footing, they scanned their surroundings cautiously, though there seemed to be no immediate threat visible. Yet the ground continued to quake ominously, as if it intended to crush them under its weight.