15. Kill

But it was precisely because of this that they became stronger and possessed formidable combat power. This was their territory. Anyone who dared set foot on this land would have to pay a terrible price.

Led by the Leopard Demon King, the two of them swiftly made their way through the forest. Most of the trees in this area were centuries old, their sturdiness utterly astonishing—so much so that even the Leopard Demon King's sharp claws could leave no mark upon them.

Yet there was one colossal tree, its bark mottled and crown vast, spreading wide like a giant umbrella and emitting a faint green glow. The shade it cast rendered the surroundings tranquil and mysterious.

A furious roar burst from the Leopard Demon King as it glared at the tree, its eyes cold, as if it wished to tear the tree apart.

“There really is something here.”

“What is it?”

The Leopard Demon King hissed.

“You mean this is a special kind of plant?” Bai Zongnan asked.

The Leopard Demon King nodded.

A thought flashed through Bai Zongnan’s mind. He recalled reading about a certain herb in ancient texts—Dragon Musk.

This was a rare and wondrous plant, one that could be refined into pills to enhance one’s strength, and was the main ingredient in the crafting of Qi-Breaking Pills and Body-Tempering Elixirs.

Both of these pills could increase one’s power by sixty years’ worth of cultivation.

“How could there be Dragon Musk here? Could this be what the Leopard Demon King is guarding?”

But immediately, someone objected. This Leopard Demon King was only at the peak of the Warrior realm, not yet having broken through to the Great Perfection stage—how could it possibly guard Dragon Musk?

Moreover, this was the heart of the forest, a place of extreme peril. Even a true Martial Master would find it difficult to fare well here, let alone a mere peak Warrior.

The Leopard Demon King must have wandered in by mistake.

Suddenly, the Leopard Demon King leaped, soaring down from above.

A sudden splash echoed through the woods.

A massive, jet-black crocodile sprang up, jaws agape.

With a thunderous strike of its claw, the crocodile knocked the Leopard Demon King to the ground, shattering countless ancient trees.

“Vile beast, taste my blade!” Bai Zongnan’s expression changed. The Leopard Demon King had ambushed him earlier—had it not been for his own superior strength, he might have been wounded. Now, seeing the Leopard Demon King struck down by the crocodile, he immediately attacked, slashing his blade at the monstrous reptile.

The blade fell with awe-inspiring force.

But in that instant, the crocodile’s body swelled by several inches, and its tail lashed out, sending Bai Zongnan flying.

He crashed to the ground and scrambled to his feet, battered and disheveled.

What immense power... This crocodile must be at the late stage of the Martial Master level, Bai Zongnan thought, his heart pounding. That strike had almost shattered his waist.

The gigantic crocodile fixed its hostile gaze on Bai Zongnan. Its massive body loomed like a mountain, its presence suffocating.

“I haven’t provoked you—why are you attacking me?” Bai Zongnan frowned and asked.

The crocodile shook its head menacingly, eyes filled with ferocity.

“It must be because of that vine...” Bai Zongnan suddenly understood. The crocodile was attacking him because he had taken the vine.

And it wasn’t just the python-drake; the other demon beasts might be here for the same reason.

This was a carefully laid trap, targeting himself and Mu Sheng.

A chill crept into Bai Zongnan’s heart.

By now, nearly all the demon beasts of Mount Erlong knew of the Dragon Musk hidden here, and they had all gathered in this place.

If he and Mu Sheng had rushed in recklessly, they would likely have been torn to pieces, their bones left unburied.

The crocodile lunged again.

Gaping jaws snapped toward him.

With a cold snort, Bai Zongnan drew his sword and thrust it into the crocodile’s mouth. Blood sprayed as the beast howled in agony and thrashed wildly.

At that moment, the Leopard Demon King charged forward.

Bai Zongnan drew his sword and severed the crocodile’s head. Blood gushed out, splattering the ground with a stench that filled the air.

The Leopard Demon King let out a mournful wail, its eyes bloodshot.

This was the treasure it had been guarding.

Now, its guardian had been decapitated.

Fury overtook it as it rushed at Bai Zongnan.

Bai Zongnan raised his foot and smashed the beast’s leg, halting its advance. He then produced the bottle containing the Dragon Musk and removed the stopper. Instantly, a delicate fragrance wafted in all directions.

The Leopard Demon King froze, its gaze fixed greedily on the golden liquid within the bottle.

The liquid glimmered with a hazy radiance, within which the shadow of a dragon seemed to coil, vivid and illusory, enchanting to behold.

The Leopard Demon King’s breath quickened, and it let out a low, guttural hiss.

It extended its long, scarlet tongue, licking its lips.

This was Dragon Musk.

A mere sip would bring tremendous benefits and allow it to break through its current limits.

Such a treasure was rarely seen.

Who would have expected to find such a priceless herb here—Dragon Musk, worth a fortune beyond measure.

Suddenly, the Leopard Demon King’s form blurred into a streak of black as it pounced at Bai Zongnan, its claws gleaming cold and merciless.

Its speed was astonishing.

It had already reached the level of a Martial Master, equivalent to a consummate innate martial artist, its speed rivaling that of ordinary Martial Grandmasters.

Its attack power was equally terrifying.

“Tricks of a child,” Bai Zongnan sneered, raising his long blade to sweep aside the attack.

Blades clashed, a shower of sparks erupting with a blast of wind.

Bai Zongnan felt his hands tremble violently.

He staggered back seven or eight steps before regaining his footing and looked at the Leopard Demon King in shock.

What terrifying strength! he thought.

He could clearly sense that the Leopard Demon King before him was at the peak of innate cultivation, just half a step from becoming a Martial Grandmaster.

If he did not employ his secret techniques, he might not be able to overcome this opponent.

Could this Leopard Demon King truly be so powerful?

“Were you hiding your true strength just now?” Bai Zongnan’s lips curled into a faint smile, and he sent out a thread of spiritual sense.

He wished to probe the Leopard Demon King’s secrets.

The Leopard Demon King, intelligent and perceptive, understood his intention. It bared its fangs and let out a deep growl, expressing its meaning.

“So that’s it. Though this creature has reached the pinnacle of innate power, it’s not skilled in combat—it relies on speed to prevail. Speed and passion, that’s what defines it,” Bai Zongnan realized.

“In that case, there’s no need for me to fear this Leopard Demon King.”

Seeing the relaxed look on Bai Zongnan’s face, the Leopard Demon King howled in fury and charged again.

Bai Zongnan struck it with a mighty punch, sending a shockwave roaring through the air.

He retreated a few steps, but the Leopard Demon King was blasted several yards away, crashing to the ground.

It struggled to rise, but one of its legs was crippled, and its movements were slow.

It appears this Leopard Demon King has lost its appetite lately, grown thin, and its strength has waned, Bai Zongnan mused.

“If you seek death, I will grant your wish.”