Many beasts, Hui Yue among them, stood in the same spot, and when they all transformed into human forms, their naked bodies were exposed under the soft moonlight. Some showed signs of embarrassment as they hurriedly searched for clothing within their storage stones, while others, such as Yan Xiaobao, remained composed, not rushing even as they pulled out a new set of clothes.
This was Yan Xiaobao’s first time becoming a full-fledged beast, and he was astonished to find that this form was far more comfortable than he had imagined. It felt even more natural than his human form. From having such incredible sensory perception to returning to the muted sensations he was accustomed to, it was indeed a downgrade that Yan Xiaobao found hard to accept.
He let out a deep sigh and turned to look behind him. He saw that roughly half of the army had already crossed the mountainside. As they surveyed their surroundings, all of them were left astounded. For Yan Xiaobao, the vast expanse of fields was nothing remarkable. However, for these beasts, who had known only the small patches of farmland they cultivated within the forest, the sight of boundless open land was a shock. Without forests in sight wherever their eyes roamed, their astonishment was absolute.
No one spoke. Even though no enemy army awaited them, everyone remained vigilant, eyes sharp and alert. They were now in an entirely different world, one completely foreign to them. It was as though they had finally come to understand the gravity of what lay ahead—not some trivial ordeal but a serious war. Xu Yue was fully aware that their current location was where numerous farmers would appear the next day. With little attention paid to the movements around him, he ordered the humans to once again shift their positions and begin their march. They left the harvested ground, seeking a place bereft of any humans who might encounter them.
The entire beast horde began to move, once again traveling at the speed they had maintained while crossing the Divine Domain. Within a few hours, they arrived at a small forest—a refuge where they could hide and avoid being easily spotted by enemy scouts.
Throughout the night, they crossed the mountains and reached this forest. Even now, the beasts continued to arrive. No tents were set up, but many seized the opportunity to nap for a short while, preparing for the imminent battle. Though King-level experts and above rarely needed sleep, even they took this opportunity to rest. They didn’t know when they would have another chance to relax. Now deep within enemy territory, they could not afford to let their guard down, and everyone was constantly ready for combat. Thus, whenever they could rest, they would, for no one knew how long this war might last.
Yan Xiaobao decided to remain in the forest until Wan Qiao returned with the intelligence she had gathered from the enemy’s current whereabouts. While they waited in the woods, the young commander chose to sit down and cultivate. He was about to lead his army against the Royal Army of the Siban Empire. His troops were newly formed, powerful though inexperienced. Yan Xiaobao sighed deeply and summoned every ounce of calmness he had inherited from the monk. The future rested upon what they did, and the next day would be pivotal—it would be their day to face the humans and fight for their freedom. It might well become the day An Hee crushed them. Regardless, many things could happen the next day, but no one could predict what. By the following day, the beasts would have reached the secluded forest where their army was hidden.