The Tiansheng Mountain Range!
Under the blazing sun, a thick fog rose from the mountains. Deep in a forest, Xue Fangsheng led Zhang Yong and the others through the ancient trees.
'A few more trips like this, and even if we don't hunt any Exotic Beasts, I'm confident I can succeed in Qi Gathering. Surpassing Xu Yang will be a piece of cake.'
Zhang Yong felt the aura in his body surge after these last few days, and he couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement.
Following a true Martial Artist into the mountains, they hunted wild animals whenever they were hungry. Not only did they have meat for every meal, but they could eat as much as they wanted.
Although he had much less time to train, the growth of his qi and blood was even faster than cultivating at the Martial Arts Hall.
"Senior Brother Fang, are we going any deeper?" Luo Dehu asked, a hint of retreat in his voice.
They had already been in the Tiansheng Mountain Range for three days. If they went any further, they would enter its core.
Powerful Exotic Beasts lived in the core of the Tiansheng Mountain Range, rumored to be capable of easily killing even a Bone Marrow Cleansing Martial Master.
"If you're scared, Luo Dehu, you can back out. That just means one less person for us to split the money with."
Tang Ruiyang cut in before Xue Fangsheng could speak.
Going deeper was dangerous, but the rewards were also greater. If they managed to get a Rare Level Exotic Beast, they could each get over ten silver. They wouldn't have to worry about money before reaching Qi Gathering.
"Quiet!" Xue Fangsheng growled, cocking his ear to listen.
No one dared to speak again.
After a moment, a smile spread across Xue Fangsheng's face. "I don't hear any birds around here, nor do I see any other animal tracks. An Exotic Beast must be lairing nearby. Find it!"
They had actually found another Exotic Beast!
The seven of them, including Zhang Yong, were overjoyed and immediately scattered in all directions.
"Found tracks!"
A short while later, Tang Ruiyang returned with the good news.
"Once we've got our prey, I'll give you an extra silver."
Xue Fangsheng climbed a tree and mimicked a bird call. In no time, Zhang Yong and the others all returned and followed Tang Ruiyang to another location.
"The tracks are fresh. It should be right around here. It's a leopard. I'll lure it out."
Xue Fangsheng took a pre-prepared slab of meat from the pack on his back and placed it on the ground. Then he pulled out a paper packet and sprinkled the powder inside evenly over the meat.
"Senior Brother Fang, what are you sprinkling on it?" Luo Dehu asked curiously.
The last time they hunted an Exotic Beast, Xue Fangsheng hadn't used this method.
"This is Ten Fragrance Muscle Relaxing Powder. I spent a fortune on it in the black market. A single whiff is enough to knock down a Qi Gathering Martial Artist, and Exotic Beasts find its unique aroma irresistible."
As he spoke, he drew a dagger. "You guys let some blood. If we add human blood to the mix, I guarantee this leopard will be drooling. We'll take it down without breaking a sweat."
Hearing they had to let blood, several of them hesitated. But when Xue Fangsheng said that those who did would get an extra silver, all seven scrambled for the dagger.
As it happened, the first to grab the dagger was Luo Dehu.
He had a ruthless streak. He immediately sliced open his hand, and fresh blood gushed out.
"Three people will be enough. The rest of you, save your strength to carry the Exotic Beast out of the mountains."
Seeing how eager the seven were, Xue Fangsheng immediately pointed to two others to join Luo Dehu in letting blood.
One of them was Tang Ruiyang, and the other was named Yang Dacai.
Tang Ruiyang was secretly pleased, knowing that Xue Fangsheng was looking out for him. With this, he would get a full two extra silver this time.
The three men, now pale-faced, finished letting their blood. The smell of it filled the forest and drifted away on the wind. Then, Xue Fangsheng led the group to hide a good distance away.
"It's here!"
An hour later, a leopard's head peeked out from behind a large boulder.
It looked no different from an ordinary leopard, except for a small, inch-long horn in the center of its forehead.
An unnatural sign heralds a monstrous nature.
All Exotic Beasts possessed some kind of unusual feature.
'We're rich!'
Everyone's heart skipped a beat, their breathing growing ragged.
An Exotic Beast that was once a leopard fetched a high price, usually selling for one silver per pound. From its size, this leopard should be around two hundred pounds.
Even though Zhang Yong and the other six would only get a thirty-percent share, they would still each get seven or eight silver.
After a moment of cautious observation, the leopard Exotic Beast could no longer wait and began to devour the meat, licking the leaves clean of every last drop of blood.
Once it finished eating, it didn't linger. It immediately turned to leave, but after just a few steps, it let out a low growl and collapsed to the ground.
"It worked! Bleed it out, and let's leave at once!"
The covering of fallen leaves over him exploded outward as Xue Fangsheng shot up from the ground, rushing toward the collapsed Exotic Beast.
The Exotic Beast's aura was potent; even something like the Ten Fragrance Muscle Relaxing Powder could only paralyze it temporarily. He had to kill it quickly.
Otherwise, if such a powerful Exotic Beast recovered, he might not get the better of it.
Hiding nearby, Zhang Yong and the others also rose from their hiding spots and rushed toward the Exotic Beast.
When it was time to bleed the Exotic Beast, they could all take the opportunity to drink some. The benefits would be substantial.
BANG!
Xue Fangsheng struck with his Palm. The Exotic Beast's forehead immediately caved in, its brains turned to mush by the Force, and it was left barely breathing.
Then, he lifted it with one hand, wanting to test its weight.
"ROAR—"
Suddenly, a roar echoed, shaking the trees.
Xue Fangsheng looked over in horror. Not far away, a tiger had leaped out from somewhere, its eyes fixed on the leopard in his hand.
A wind stirred from nowhere, sending leaves rustling. Xue Fangsheng's pupils contracted violently. On the tiger's back grew two fist-sized lumps of flesh, covered in dense scales.
This was clearly another tiger that had undergone a monstrous transformation.
"Run!"
An ordinary tiger could fight a Qi Gathering Martial Artist to a standstill, let alone a mutant that had become an Exotic Beast. He feared that even a Bone Marrow Cleansing Martial Master might not be its match. He'd never expected another Exotic Beast to be in the area.
But fortunately, he was prepared. And there happened to be an unlucky soul right where this Exotic Beast had appeared.
Xue Fangsheng turned and fled, running for his life back the way he came.
"Senior Brother Fang, save me!" A terrified scream rang out from behind him, coming from the person closest to the Exotic Beast.
'Save you? Did you really think getting a thirty-percent share would be that easy!'
Xue Fangsheng sneered inwardly. He had brought so many people along not just to have someone let blood, but so that if they encountered an overwhelmingly powerful Exotic Beast, he could run faster than everyone else.
He glanced back and saw that the unlucky soul had already been pounced on by the tiger Exotic Beast. In one bite, it tore the man's head off. The scene was both gory and terrifying.
"Split up! Otherwise, none of you will make it out alive!"
Seeing these peasants actually running toward him, Xue Fangsheng shouted.
"Xue Fangsheng, you'll die a dog's death!" Tang Ruiyang's eyes were practically splitting with rage.
No matter how slow he was, in that moment, he understood why Xue Fangsheng had brought so many of them to hunt Exotic Beasts. They were meant to be food for the beasts.
But he only managed to run a short distance before the tiger Exotic Beast pounced on him.
He tried to fight back, but his punches on the tiger's body were less than a tickle. One of his arms was brutally torn off, and his screams echoed through the forest.
Luo Dehu, who was running for his life, heard it and knew Tang Ruiyang was done for.
He was in a complete panic, fleeing desperately. Any belief about risking his life to become a Martial Artist shattered in that instant. All he wanted was to live.
"AHH—"
Yang Dacai's scream rang out. Zhang Hong was filled with regret. Xue Fangsheng's intentions were so sinister, and he hadn't seen it.
But he was somewhat lucky; the tiger Exotic Beast wasn't chasing in his direction.
He didn't stop until he could run no more. Looking around, he saw that of the eight people in their party, he was the only one left. He had no idea if the others were dead or alive.