I Am Your Natural Enemy

The Wudang Sect Leader glanced over and sighed inwardly. Such incredible speed. I was still too slow to act.

Wen Yan, pulling Pei Tugou who was eager to finish off the Wudang Sect Leader as well, reasoned with him fervently, dissuading him with a few words. Then, he stepped forward and bowed.

”Fuyu Wen Yan, I greet you, Senior. My sudden visit is truly due to compelling circumstances. I shall send a formal invitation another day and call to offer my apologies. I ask for your understanding, Senior.”

The Wudang Sect Leader looked at Wen Yan, not feeling particularly angry. He was just relieved that ever since he brought this evil demon back to the mountain, he had never slacked off, diligently teaching scriptures and providing moral guidance year after year. Otherwise, if word got out that the Wudang Sect Leader was personally protecting a man-eating Ferocious Beast, he would rather smash his own head against the stone steps of the Mountain Sect; even that might not be enough to wash away such a stain on his reputation. Now, looking at Wen Yan, and then at the Great Killer Star—who could actually be restrained by Wen Yan despite clearly having lost some of his reason—he felt a touch of envy. Fuyu Mountain had been on a downward slope for many years. Yet now, it seemed the saying ’after extreme adversity comes prosperity’ held true; their rebound was just a bit too strong.

”The Hermit was considerate enough to inform us in advance, thereby saving Wudang’s face. I am endlessly grateful; what need is there for apologies?”

The Wudang Sect Leader bowed slightly, performing a return salute.

Wen Yan stood his ground, accepted this salute, and then returned one of his own. Indeed, he had been considerate of Wudang’s reputation. That was why he had an elder from Fuyu Mountain speak with the Wudang Sect Leader in advance. Otherwise, given Pei Tugou’s imposing aura and the speed at which he struck, they might very well have ended up fighting Wudang immediately upon arrival.

After a brief conversation with the Wudang Sect Leader, Wen Yan departed with his people.

「In Binhai Commandery, a place five hundred li from Fuyu Mountain.」

Gan Tang descended from the sky, plunging straight into a mountain.

A few seconds later, a roar erupted. A ferocious, baleful energy soared into the sky as an Exotic Beast—shaped like a sheep but with the head of a tiger—burst out from the collapsing mountainside.

The next moment, the giant beast’s body suddenly sank, its entire head burying itself in the earth.

THUD! THUD! THUD! Muffled impacts echoed continuously as shockwaves rippled outward from the giant beast.

Standing atop the giant beast’s forehead, Gan Tang, wearing silvery-white silk gloves, rained down punch after punch. Each punch landing stirred visible ripples in the air, which spread outward. Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the giant beast’s hard skull. Its massive body was hammered, punch by punch, driven downwards as if sinking into quicksand.

”You hid rather deeply, didn’t you? After dissipating and lying dormant, you still dared to hide within five hundred li of Fuyu Mountain. Did you think Fuyu Mountain only has the living left?”

Gan Tang hammered down another punch. Her power penetrated its bones, coursing through the giant beast’s entire body, accompanied by a series of sharp CRACKS as its joints shattered. The beast couldn’t utter a sound; it was beaten so badly it couldn’t even open its mouth.

Gan Tang’s eyes glinted with a murderous light as she stood, one foot on the giant beast’s head.

Back when she was still active, Glutton had already faded into obscurity, as those were no longer considered chaotic times. Later, after she fell into a deep slumber, she hadn’t experienced Glutton’s subsequent resurgence and the havoc it wreaked. Having heard the reasons this time, she had emerged directly from the Zombie Cave.

As Wen Yan and his group emerged from a nearby Desolate Tomb, they could hear distant, muffled THUDS. Touching the ground, they could even feel a faint vibration.

After cresting two mountain peaks, they spotted a large, crack-covered crater ahead. A giant beast was stuck at the bottom, with Gan Tang standing on its head, landing punch after punch.

The giant beast’s skull was deeply caved in; it was unclear if it was dead or alive... Wen Yan took a look.

”Glutton (Bone Beast) (1/5)”

”Formed from the hardest bones, this is the most crucial component for preserving its life force.

It appears under the guise of a Bone Demon, feasting on rocks and iron ore, but in reality, at midnight, it consumes human bones.”

”So-called ’hard bones’ have simply never encountered a hundred-thousand-ton hydraulic press.”

”Temporary Ability:

1: Slaughtering Dragon Platform

2: Three Thousand Technique”

Wen Yan hadn’t even gotten a clear look at the last one he encountered. He had only vaguely made out something resembling a lion before Pei Tugou took it down in the blink of an eye. This one, aside from the Slaughtering Dragon Platform, also possessed a different Temporary Ability.

He examined it carefully.

”Three Thousand Technique (Requires Calamity Protector Water Official Talisman progress of 25% or more).

Can summon Weak Water in suitable locations.

The dissolving power increases with concentration.”

Wen Yan looked again at the giant beast’s skull. It really is tough. Aunt Gan has hammered out a huge pit here, yet this thing’s skull still hasn’t shattered.

”Aunt Gan!” Wen Yan waved and called out.

Gan Tang delivered one final punch, making the ground tremble slightly. Only then did she raise her head and look toward Wen Yan. In an instant, she seemed to revert to her poised, noble lady-like demeanor, stepping through the air to land before Wen Yan.

”It’s been a while. You’re looking more and more spirited. Good job.”

”Compared to you, Aunt Gan, I still have a long way to go...” Wen Yan replied, looking like the epitome of a well-behaved child.

Gan Tang glanced at the people Wen Yan had brought with him. Her gaze then fell upon the Bamboo Forest Demon, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she said nothing.

The Bamboo Forest Demon, calm and composed, bowed. He looked towards the Bone Demon at the bottom of the pit and sighed, ”Why even bother...”

He had originally planned to intervene personally and help resolve these matters, but now it seemed unnecessary. Times had changed. After a cycle of The Last Dharma and a subsequent revival, the old relics from the past might recover relatively quickly, but that was the extent of it. Having experienced losing their fangs, being divided, and then lying dormant, even if they returned to their peak state, they were still a far cry from the Glutton of old. The dazzling figures of this new era were destined to have little connection with creatures like this, which, even at the end of the old era, were merely Ferocious Beasts. Perhaps it was better for them to be dead.