Chapter 83: Escaped?

After three full hours of battle, the flames on the Fire Wolf’s body had dimmed slightly, and Bai Sheng the Tiger bore traces of burns upon his form—mere superficial wounds.

Panting heavily, Bai Sheng maintained the Wind Tiger Manifestation technique, which taxed him greatly. Now, with some distance from the Fire Wolf, he could not help but gasp for breath.

Compared to Bai Sheng’s exhaustion, the Ancient Fire Ape was clearly faring much better.

“You’ve managed to hold out for this long—impressive. I, Li of the Fire, do not kill nameless men. State your name!” Li shouted aloud from within the body of the Fire Wolf.

Unlike divine techniques, Li’s use of runes consumed far less energy; a fact evident in their current states.

From afar, Yuan Wujie observed and pondered. With Li’s cultivation only at the lesser achievement of the Fire Element among the scattered immortals, there was no reason the Fire Wolf could have endured for so long. The beast possessed the aura of great mastery over the Fire Element. By all rights, Li should have faltered already; something was amiss.

“If not for those runes, how could you be my equal?” Bai Sheng replied, his face pale.

The relentless use of divine techniques had drained his magic beyond what he could endure; even though the monster core within him could replenish his energy swiftly, it could not keep pace with the rate of depletion. Now, he could only try to delay, hoping to recover more.

“If you had them, you could use them—but do you?” Li sneered.

Such specialized runes as those of the Fire Wolf belonged solely to ancient clans. Bai Sheng was merely a creation of Yuan Wujie; how could he possibly possess them? Even his divine techniques had been imparted to him by a voice in a dream, let alone magical treasures.

“You—”

His intent had been merely to buy himself a bit more time, but Li’s words struck him, causing the little magic he had managed to gather to disperse.

“What now, still want to try?”

Li indeed had reason for arrogance. Those ancient races that had survived to this day were not to be taken lightly. Even their offspring sent out for tempering possessed formidable means, rivaling many ordinary monster kings.

“Have you forgotten the monster core within you?” Yuan Wujie sent a message across the void to Bai Sheng.

Yuan Wujie had noticed something peculiar in Li’s control of the Fire Wolf; to command such a powerful beast was not merely a matter of magic—it required the involvement of the spirit. Without the spirit, the control would fail.

Bai Sheng’s Hundred Monster Core was formed from Yuan Wujie’s Ten Thousand Monster Golden Core; similarly, it was capable of spiritual oppression. Though not as potent, it could at least disturb Li’s command over the Fire Wolf.

Mention of the Hundred Monster Core filled Bai Sheng with reluctance, especially with Yuan Wujie present. Whenever he thought of the core within him, it felt like poison planted by Yuan Wujie—one misstep and his life would end. If his cultivation had not depended on the Hundred Monster Core, he would have discarded it long ago, but unfortunately, that was not the case.

Now, he had no choice; otherwise, he would perish at Li’s hands. Bai Sheng cherished his life.

A soul-shaking pressure surged through the Fire Wolf’s massive body, striking Li directly. The spiritual intimidation caused the Fire Wolf to tremble, and Li’s previously composed expression shifted to panic.

“What’s happening?”

Li, being a direct descendant of an ancient race, quickly realized something.

“Where does your lineage come from?”

“Why do you possess such soul-stirring power?”

Li’s grim face changed repeatedly. To cultivate at the level of the soul, one must have a powerful sect behind them. Yet, from the aura just now, Li could not discern Bai Sheng’s origins.

Why had he waited until exhaustion to reveal this?

Among all the sects Li knew, none possessed soul intimidation like Bai Sheng’s.

The Hundred Monster Core in Bai Sheng’s body had effects similar to the Ten Thousand Monster Golden Core, though not as powerful. But against Li, it was more than sufficient.

It stirred desires deep within the soul, leading to corruption. This was the effect Bai Sheng had upon Li, though both were strong, and the Fire Wolf resisted much of the power, so it only disrupted Li’s control over the beast.

But Li’s reliance was the Fire Wolf—if anything went awry in controlling it, vulnerabilities would be exposed.

Li knew that sects which cultivated at the soul level were forbidden by the heavens. Once discovered, even death would not come easily; their last value would be wrung out, and they would die in endless torment.

The more reckless they were, the more terrible the tribulations that followed. When Li was a child, accompanied by his uncle, he had witnessed such a heavenly tribulation within his clan. That sect was said to have been small.

Major sects, however, had ways to withstand heavenly calamities—even if only one survived, that one could restore the sect, perhaps even stronger than before.

Li had never seen such a sect, nor a single disciple from one. He had heard that these sects were so grievous to the heavens that the Patriarch Hongjun himself had intervened; the stronger their heirs, the fewer there were. Thus, one rarely saw soul-level sects in the world. Those that emerged were minor sects, most destroyed by heavenly tribulation or wiped out by righteous sects working together.

Now, Bai Sheng gave Li exactly such a feeling. Li feared not Bai Sheng himself, but the sect behind him.

There were countless legends about ancient races. Now, faced with one, Li could not help but be terrified—he even suspected he had stumbled into the stronghold of such a sect. Otherwise, how could King Yu Rong be only the Second Lord? Perhaps the so-called Great Lord was...

The thought frightened Li so much he shuddered. If it were true, then Five Camphor Mountain was no place for him. He would have to report to his clan immediately.

“Take this!”

Suddenly, Li charged at Bai Sheng with fierce intent, moving at astonishing speed. Bai Sheng mustered his remaining magic to defend.

A deafening sound rang out.

“Hm?”

The anticipated attack did not come; instead, all was calm, not even a ripple disturbed the air.

Bai Sheng lowered his guard and looked toward Li’s direction.

“What’s going on?”

There was no one before him; Li had vanished completely, not even a single monkey hair remained.

In the instant Bai Sheng defended, Li had escaped beyond Five Camphor Mountain. He had no intention of staying to continue the fight.

For Li, Five Camphor Mountain was a place of disaster. Though he might be strong among his peers, here he stood no chance; a single misstep and he would never return.

“Don’t bother looking. He’s already fled,” Yuan Wujie appeared before Bai Sheng, gazing in the direction of Li’s escape.