424 - 430

Chapter 424: A Discovery

Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem

Swaying flames brightened the mountain cave. Crell was sitting beside the bonfire and teaching Zhang Tie how to control animals. Zhang Tie looked very concentrated, at least from his look.

"Wild beasts are as same as humans; they also have moods and thoughts. Even tiny insects have moods and thoughts. If you want to learn how to control animals, you have to ignore their bodies and attempt to exchange with them from inside!" Crell explained it to Zhang Tie patiently.

After learning the "Great Wild Sutra", Zhang Tie became more curious about how other sects control wild animals. Actually, he did not want to learn them but to disguise the "Great Wild Sutra" with them. Therefore, Zhang Tie was very interested in Crell's words.

"I don't understand. Why do we have to ignore the bodies of those wild animals?"

"Because human's consciousness is the most mysterious domain in the universe. When you focus on the bodies of the wild animals, you are actually indicating yourself that their bodies are different from yours. Namely, you think they are different from you. If so, you will stop yourself from communicating with them. Because you take the different bodies as the obstacle of the communication, your thoughts could not reach their minds!"

"It sounds reasonable and a bit fantastic." After thinking it for a short while, Zhang Tie continued, "Do all the other animal controllers communicate with wild beasts like how you did?"

"No, this is only the secret skill of school of patron. Those inferior animal controllers control wild beasts through mandatory training and drugs; better ones could hypnotize animals; some could use magics; some are proficient in animal languages; a few senior animal controllers are excel at controlling wild beasts through blood and soul contracts. In Eastern Continent, it's said that there are more mysterious and powerful animal controlling skills!" When talking about Eastern Continent, Crell slightly narrowed his eyes with a desiring look, "I was told that the most powerful animal controllers on Eastern Continent could even inject their souls in fierce beasts, enabling those beasts to be their incarnations!"

Hearing the last sentence, Zhang Tie's heart pounded at once. He knew what Crell was talking about. Zhang Tie really had not imagined that the "Great Wild Sect" was so well-known. With a shocking look, Zhang Tie sighed with emotions, "What powerful animal controllers! Those animal controllers who could take wild beasts as their incarnations must belong to the same unrivaled sect!"

"The sect was very powerful; however, it perished!"

"Perished, how come?"

"They perished rightly because of the greatness of their animal controlling skill. As a wise old eastern saying went, 'As long as you have a priceless treasure, even if you are not guilty, you will be guilty in the eyes of others due to their greed!' Crell explained."

After thinking for a short while, Zhang Tie finally understood what Crell meant. This was exactly what Zhang Tie was concerned about.

"Is there anyone else who had mastered the animal controlling skill of that sect?" Zhang Tie asked.

"As that sect has perished for a long time, all those who could master the core animal controlling skill of that sect have died!"

"What a pity!" thinking of that skeleton in the mountain cave, Zhang Tie sighed with his true mood. "Destiny is interesting! Even if one had mastered such a powerful animal controlling skill, he had to be alert every time. He had to stay with a swarm of demon rats and finally died alone in a serene mountain cave in the wild."

"Perhaps this was the god's will!" Crell also let out a sigh.

In the following hours, Crell started to teach Zhang Tie about the animal controlling skill of wild patron. According to Crell, these contents were not the most profound ones, which could only be imparted after Zhang Tie has become an official clergy of the school of patron. However, if Zhang Tie had the potential to master these contents and practiced hard, he could easily command 3-5 wild beasts or find 1 or 2 powerful wild beasts as his pets.

The animal controlling skill imparted by Crell to Zhang Tie was a strange spiritual connection with wild beasts which developed on the basis of some secret prayers of Gaia, the mother of land which the school of patron believed. Zhang Tie's "heart of mother nature" was the medium and bridge of this connection. Crell considered this connection as the inner communication with wild beasts. However, in Zhang Tie's opinion, the animal controlling skill of wild patrons was more like a cooperation with wild beasts on the equal footing; instead of simply driving them away. The secret prayers of Gaia, the mother of land were certain cooperation contracts between the two parties.

By comparison, the animal controlling skills in Chinese "Great Wild Sutra" were completely filled with a domineering sense. Communication and prayers were nothing but bullsh*t for the "Great Wild Sutra". In this Sutra, people was the center of the universe, the most honorable controller in the universe and the incarnation of the universe and the universal laws. All the living beings, insects, fishes, birds or beasts had to follow the orders of humans. It was completely their great honor to satisfy humans' will.

"How come they control wild beasts in different ways?" Zhang Tie thought about this question for a while and finally realized that he could not get the answer based on his current intelligence and comprehension. However, now that this phenomenon existed, it was reasonable and allowed by the universal laws. After matching the school of patron and the Great Wild Sect on their animal controlling skills, Zhang Tie felt that the secret skill in the 'Great Wild Sect' was more suitable to him.

Although having the all-spirits pagoda, Zhang Tie didn't know what was the heart of mother nature at all. Additionally, to be honest, Zhang Tie was still doubting whether the consciousness, the mother of land, that surpassed everything truly existed. In this case, Zhang Tie was really afraid that his secret was revealed by Crell.

Zhang Tie didn't remember the secret prayers of Gaia that Crell taught him until midnight.

...

On the next early morning, Zhang Tie was awakened by his biological clock while Crell was still sleeping. Unless emergencies, a wild patron would not wake up until the first ray of sunlight cast onto the ground. As was regulated by the doctrine of the school of patron, everything had to be in line with natural laws.

After waking up, Zhang Tie cleansed himself up at the riverside outside the mountain cave. After that, he sat on a stone outside the mountain cave and started to recite the secret prayers of Gaia, the mother of land that he had learned yesterday. Actually, he was injecting his spiritual energy into the body of the all-spirits pagoda according to the secret laws and illusionary regulations recorded in the "Great Wild Sutra".

As Zhang Tie constantly injected his spiritual energy into the all-spirits pagoda, the 5 walls of the first storey gradually radiated colorful brilliance; meanwhile, a shiny jujube-seed shaped octahedron gradually came into being in the core of the first storey.

In the "Great Wild Sutra", this octahedron was called the Great Wild Seal. It was the main carrier of the 5 animal controlling skills in the "Great Wild Sutra". If one wanted to apply different secret skills, one had to "print" different secret seals on the void Great Wild Seal. The function of this Great Wild Seal changed with different secret seals.

Based on Zhang Tie's current situation, he could only entered the 1st storey of the all-spirits pagoda, which could only hold 3 Great Wild Seals at most. The 3 seals on the 1st storey could only work on LV 0 animals such as common wild wolves.

When he was able to enter the 2nd storey, he would have 5 more seals; meanwhile, the upper limit of the animals that the Great Wild Seals could work on rose to LV 1. Senior Great Wild Seals could work on inferior animals; however, inferior animals could not work on senior animals.

Each level higher he reached, one more storey he would activate. As a result, he would have more Great Wild Seals and work on more senior animals. The interesting thing was that the number of Great Wild Seals in each storey of the all-spirits pagoda formed a Fibonacci sequence with 3 as the first number on the 1st storey. Zhang Tie praised how magical the creator was.

"Can I control LV 20 animals when I reach the highest storey?" Zhang Tie was startled by this question for quite a while. Even now, Zhang Tie had not seen any animal above LV 10, not to mention LV 20 animals. Zhang Tie even doubted about their existence like how he doubted Gaia, not to mention how to control them. However, according to the footnote in the "Great Wild Sutra", since the beginning of the "Great Wild Sutra", few people in the Great Wild Sect could reach the 16th storey. If they could, they must have been seniors of Great Wild Sect, not to mention to reach the 21th storey.

After succeeding the foundation, Zhang Tie could directly inject his spiritual energy into the 1st storey of the all-spirits pagoda, which indicated that he had reached LV 1 of the Great Wild Sutra. If he wanted to enter the 2nd storey of the all-spirits pagoda, he had to recite the Great Wild true words for 50 times. Meanwhile, the number of Great Wild Seals also increased in the form of Fibonacci Sequence. The higher level he reached, the more times he needed to recite the Great Wild true words.

After learning the "Great Wild Sutra", Zhang Tie understood that there was no free lunch in the world. Even for holding a secret knowledge, without efforts, he could not be able to master it.

The only thing that made Zhang Tie reassured was that besides the first foundation that required 7 days of constant chant of the Great Wild true words, he didn't have to recite them constantly in the future. After the first foundation, he only needed to visualize and recite the true words according to the regulations of the "Great Wild Sutra" when he was free. When the accumulative number of chant times reached the corresponding standards, it would open the corresponding storey for Zhang Tie.

Besides, Zhang Tie understood that everything in the world was finite. Nothing was limitless. All the disciples of the Great Wild Sect could apply the 5 secret skills for finite times. The total number of the Great Wild Seals in all the storeys that you could activate was also the summation of the times that you could apply the 5 secret skills in your life. If you used up all the Great Wild Seals, you would not be able to apply the secret skills.

Given this point, Zhang Tie felt that the number of Great Wild Seals was similar to the number of bolts, which could not be collected after being shot out. Once you used them up, you would have nothing more unless you could enter a higher storey.

Because of this reason, how to use those Great Wild Seals after forming them in the storeys became a common problem.

The 5 sections "Summon", "Amulet", "Increase", "Drive" and "Incarnation" had their special functions respectively. They could respond to different situations and help you reach your targets. It depended on you as which seal to use and how. If you waste one of them, you will have to regret.

As how to use the first Great Wild Seal, Zhang Tie really had considered seriously about it for a long time.

The secret skill in the section "Summon" was a bit sophisticated. Besides Great Wild Seal, it also required other conditions; additionally, Zhang Tie didn't know what kind of animal he needed to summon on Grey Hill and what he used that animal for? As it was rational to waste a Great Wild Seal for an unknown reason, Zhang Tie directly passed the Great Wild Seal in the Section "Summon".

Almost due to the same reason, Zhang Tie also passed the Great Wild seals in Sections "Amulet" and "Increase", leaving the Sections "Drive" and "Incarnation".

As Cloud Crane warned that the soul-based animal controlling skill in the Section "Incarnation" consumed a lot of Qi, blood and the essence of soul and spiritual energy of the user, even Zhang Tie wanted to try this top secret skill of the Great Wild Sect very much, he still finally gave up this whim after thinking for a while.

Then, he could only try the seal in the Section "Drive".

"Perhaps I can find a pet for myself." thinking of this, Zhang Tie formed some strange green patterns on the octahedron-shaped Great Wild Seal on the 1st storey. Those fantastic patterns were carved on the 8 sides of the Great Wild Seal like grains. At this moment, the Great Wild Seal became a shiny green item as it was floating quietly in the air on the 1st storey.

...

After forming the 1st Great Wild Seal, Zhang Tie finally saw the first ray of sunlight casting on the ground. At this moment, Crell walked out of the mountain cave. Watching Zhang Tie practicing the animal controlling skill that he had taught Zhang Tie hardly, Crell nodded inside.

Realizing that Crell had walked out, Zhang Tie stopped pretending. Actually, he was just doing this to leave a hard-practicing impression on Crell. With this impression, Crell would not be too startled about what Zhang Tie did in the next days. With this cover, Zhang Tie could gradually make improvements in the "Great Wild Sutra" in case of being suspected.

Zhang Tie opened his eyes as he saw Crell standing in front of him. Crell was staring at west with a solemn look.

"What's up?"

"I feel a powerful brutal Qi. It's destroying the tranquility on this land. It is very similar to the Qi waves that powerful animal controllers cause when they apply the animal controlling skills!"

"He's over there?" Zhang Tie's heart slightly pounded, "Are you sure about the concrete position?"

"No, I am not!" Crell waved his head, "As a wild patron who believes in Gaia, I could only sense the general direction of that Qi. I'm only sure that he's in the west!"

Hearing Crell's explanation, Zhang Tie also looked towards the boundless hill in the west...

The first ray of sunlight in the east had not reached the land in the west yet. As a result, the west hill was still covered by the thin darkness like a monster, which was forcefully resisting the arrival of sunshine...

"We are closer to him. He won't escape this time!" Zhang Tie jumped off the stones, rushed into the mountain cave before running out with his 2 short javelins.

When Zhang Tie ran out of the mountain cave, the huge black eagle who was resting on a huge tree not far from the mountain cave instantly flapped its wings and flew towards west in advance.

"Like before, keep 10 km away from each other. If I find him, I will call you!" Zhang Tie patted the bone whistle over his neck as Crell nodded.

That bone whistle was a gift from Crell. Although Zhang Tie could not hear any sound by his ears when he blew it, he could use it to call Crell. Only Crell could hear it as it was a infrasonic whistle made by him. If Crell wanted to call Zhang Tie, he could have his black eagle lead Zhang Tie.

In the past days, they moved separately in the daytime head by head; in the evening, they gathered and talked about the plan for the next day.

In this way, they could have a greater chance in finding their target.

Zhang Tie ran towards the west hill ahead of Crell as fast as a wild wolf...

Chapter 425: The Culprit

Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem

Zhang Tie flashed across the ranges of the Grey Hill like wind. He didn't feel fatigued at all. After eating 9 seven-strength fruits of demon rats, Zhang Tie found that his explosiveness and resistance had greatly increased. As a result, he could now run almost for a day at a cruising speed of 30 km/h and still maintain a powerful fighting strength.

At this speed, Zhang Tie had run over 60 km on the undulant hill in 2 hours since he left Crell.

The huge black eagle had long disappeared in the air. It could reach a very great height like Crell's eye in the sky. Crell said that he could sense whatever the huge eagle could see through his spiritual energy, which really made Zhang Tie admirable.

With that huge eagle, Zhang Tie and Crell greatly improved their working efficiency on Grey Hill. As they've agreed to transfer message through that huge eagle, the moment Zhang Tie raised his head and watched the flying trace of the huge eagle in the air, little did he know what Crell was going to express.

The wind blowing over the Grey Hill brought some strange sound, hearing which, Zhang Tie slightly changed his moving direction. After running another 2 km, Zhang Tie encountered the first huge pack of iron-teeth hyenas today.

60-70 iron-teeth hyenas were surrounding a team of people on a hillside while over 10 dead iron-teeth hyenas were lying on the ground sparsely. Some people were covered with blood stains; some were heavily wounded. After losing their consciousness, they had to be carried by others.

Those cunning iron-teeth hyenas were circling around those people. Seeing people moving back or standing still, those iron-teeth hyenas followed up instantly. Seeing people moving forward, those iron-teeth hyenas moved back immediately. In this course, as long as anyone became careless, some iron-teeth hyenas would instantly charge towards him and gave him a fierce bite.

In the wild, nobody could survive the "wheel war" of a huge pack of iron-teeth hyenas.

Zhang Tie didn't know how long those iron-teeth hyenas had chased after these people. At the sight of these people, Zhang Tie knew that they might be too exhausted. Many people could barely wave their weapons.

Facing this situation, Zhang Tie instantly rushed forward with 2 short javelins like seeing a feast.

The moment Zhang Tie appeared, he had seen some exterior iron-teeth hyenas pouncing towards him.

Zhang Tie only used one action with his short javelins——poke!

In a split second, 2 shadows of short javelins flashed by the air, causing an air-breaking shrill sound, "Hugh". In only 2 minutes, the 7-8 iron-teeth hyenas had already fallen down the ground with bloody holes on each of their bodies. Each hole passed through the heart. What a sharp counterattack!

Seeing what Zhang Tie had done, those people being surrounded finally became spirited as they knew that a powerhouse, their savior, had arrived.

"Brothers, hold on, someone has arrived to save us!" A head-like guy raised his arm and screamed loudly as he poked his long sword into an iron-teeth hyena's body.

Zhang Tie moved so fast that he moved close to those people in a wink. However, he didn't dash into the circle right away; instead, he just slaughtered those iron-teeth hyenas outside the circle.

Iron-teeth Hyenas were surrounding those people while Zhang Tie was surrounding around those iron-teeth hyenas.

In a blink of eye, over 10 iron-teeth hyenas had fallen down the ground as their hearts were poked through by Zhang Tie with his sharp, short javelins.

Iron-teeth hyenas were smart. Realizing that Zhang Tie's fighting strength was irresistible, they escaped in all directions at once. Zhang Tie chased after them for a few steps and killed some more before stopping and walking towards those people.

In a couple of minutes, Zhang Tie had made another iron-teeth hyena half-ripe. Therefore, he felt pretty good. Actually, Zhang Tie had slowed his speed just now. Considering the benefit of the seven-strength fruit of the king demon rat and that there were only 3 seven-strength fruits of iron-teeth fruits available, Zhang Tie wanted to wait for the seven-strength fruit of the king iron-teeth hyena. If possible, a seven-strength fruit of the king iron-teeth hyena was more beneficial than some seven-strength fruits of common iron-teeth hyenas.

This was also one reason for him to stay with Crell. If he wanted to find the king iron-teeth hyena, he had to depend on fortune; however, if he stayed with a wild patron, he would have a greater chance to meet a king iron-teeth hyena.

The wild patron wanted to find the culprit of the animal tide who could control so many iron-teeth hyenas; according to the knowledge about animal controller that Zhang Tie had learned from the "Great Wild Sutra", if there was a king among the iron-teeth hyenas, that king iron-teeth hyena was probably staying with that animal controller.

After realizing that he could solve many problems if he stayed with Crell, Zhang Tie became utilitarian. Of course, although he was utilitarian, his deeds were also useful to counter the culprits. As for those culprits who aroused troubles everywhere at the arrival of the 3rd holy war, Zhang Tie always hated them deeply, not to mention that those culprits might be related to demons.

Therefore, strictly, although Zhang Tie was selfish to stay with Crell, he was also doing this for the world to a certain degree. Zhang Tie had not felt how great he was; after all, based on his status and his relationship with grandma Teresa, he was not qualified to be a devoted follower of the Patron School of Gaia. He was half a devoted follower at most.

Being covered with the blood of the hearts of iron-teeth hyenas, Zhang Tie walked towards those people who were attacked just now. Watching the blood dripping off Zhang Tie's short javelins, those people became awful and nervous.

There were 12-13 people in total. Based on Zhang Tie's fighting strength, he could easily kill them all. As it was in the wild, they had to be meticulous about Zhang Tie.

"Hoy!" Before Zhang Tie moved closer, one of them had shouted towards Zhang Tie.

Hearing this strange name, Zhang Tie became slightly stunned. He then glanced over those people carefully. This time, he found some familiar, fatigued looks although being covered with dust and blood stains. What a coincidence! They were low-level soldiers of Adelais Business Group.

Hearing this sound, some became perplexed; some changed their faces greatly. They were not watching Zhang Tie with amazing, surprising or shocking looks; instead, they looked fearsome. Although they had slightly loosened their grips, they instantly became nervous once again as they held fast their weapons like how they were facing those iron-teeth hyenas.

Seeing their response, Zhang Tie understood it right away. His public status as a criminal might have been exposed by Dawson or that barber in Eschyle City soon after he left Adelais Business Group. But Zhang Tie didn't care about that.

In order to ease off their tension, Zhang Tie stood still 10 steps away from them. He inserted his short javelins into the ground and held them by hands.

"I think we should call you Peter Hamplester!" When the others were in a panic, a 60 years old man with a wound on his leg walked out of the crowd in clothes which were remarkably different from that of other soldiers. He took off his luggage from his back and intended to give it to Zhang Tie by 2 hands, "Thanks for your help, you've saved our lives. Here's our compensation. There are more than 700 gold coins inside and some previous herbal medicines which are worth about 2000 gold coins! Our Adelais Business Group always appreciate our helpers! Of course, we will not forgive our enemies!"

Zhang Tie responded with a smile. What an interesting old man! Given from his neutral attitude, Zhang Tie knew that he was an influential figure in Adelais Business Group, "What's your name? What's your position in Adelais Business Group?"

"I'm Marney, the charger of Adelais Business Group's herbal medicine collection center on Grey Hill!"

"When I was in Eschyle City, I truly killed a person. But he was a lackey from Demon Snake Island. As I've bred enmity with people from Demon Snake Island, I have been traced by them the moment I disembarked. That b*stard wanted to kill me; therefore, I killed him. Thanks to your business group, I exited the Eschyle City in case of many troubles. We're squared up!" Zhang Tie smiled, "Put away your luggage. I'm neither a honorable person nor a bandit!"

Hearing Zhang Tie's words, although they didn't know whether Zhang Tie was telling the truth, they became relaxed evidently. They knew that if Peter was going to kill them, none of them could survive the next sunrise, even if Adelais Business Group would revenge for their death. Given Peter's fighting strength, they knew that he was at least LV 8 or LV 9. By contrast, they were only LV 2-LV 5. Additionally, they were too fatigued and covered with wounds. Zhang Tie could easily kill them all like slaughtering animals.

Marney let out a sigh evidently as he carried his luggage once again, "For that you are wanted, we cannot help you; but we can relate your words to the police station in Eschyle City!"

"Thanks!" Zhang Tie shrugged. As long as he left Eschyle City, he would not care about that he was wanted or not, "Why are you here? Adelais Business Group should not dispatch the director of their herbal medicine collection center on Grey Hill to pick up herbal medicines here!"

"We escaped from our base on the lakeside of Huyrto Lake!" Marney sighed.

"You escaped from the Maple Leaf Castle on the lake side off Huyrto Lake?" Zhang Tie blinked his eyes with a surprising look, "Can you tell me why?"

"It's the animal tide, a powerful animal tide!" Marney's face turned pale once again while the others also looked panic, "At the beginning, we had over 40 people; but now, we are only left with these!"

"You mean iron-teeth hyenas could destroy your base?" Zhang Tie asked out of curiosity.

Marney let out a long sigh...

...

In the next few minutes, Zhang Tie figured out what happened.

Huyrto Lake was in deep Grey Hill. In order to collect the precious herbal medicines and other specialties on Grey Hill, some chambers of commerce and business groups in Eschyle City founded Maple Leaf Castle there as their common material warehouse and personnel transfer center.

The Maple Leaf Castle was safe in the previous animal tides. However, the Maple Leaf Castle was broke in by the animals this time.

Marney and Adelais Business Group didn't know why. When they were sleeping soundly several hours before dawn, their Maple Leaf Castle had been covered by iron-teeth hyenas. They were awakened by those people's shrill cries in the base. Being flurried, they fought those wild beasts right away.

Because there were too many iron-teeth hyenas, the Maple Leaf Castle was lost. Therefore, they chose to break out. As a result, over half of the 40-odd people had been killed on the way here. If not Zhang Tie, they might also be eaten soon by those iron-teeth hyenas.

"Aren't there any senior fighters in Maple Leaf Castle? With a couple of senior fighters, even a wooden camp could not be broken by those iron-teeth hyenas!" Zhang Tie replied.

"In order to deal with the animal tide on Grey Hill, Eschyle City has dispatched a small team of bear-killing fighters to sweep those iron-teeth hyenas on the Grey Hill. Each chamber of commerce had dispatched some fighters above LV 6 in the base. However, when the animal tide broke out, these people had disappeared. Even those who could fight with their weapons, they became very flurried. In a wink, they had been covered by those iron-teeth hyenas!"

Hearing this reply, Zhang Tie narrowed his eyes at once, "Where's the Maple Leaf Castle?"

"It's 50 km away. There's a lake over there, which is easily identified!" Marney said as he pointed at northwest.

"You'd better leave here as fast as possible. Walk towards east from here. As I've cleaned the iron-teeth hyenas on my way here, there is only few left. As to whether you can return to Eschyle City, it depends on you!" After saying this, Zhang Tie drew his short javelins out of the ground and dashed towards northwest. In a wink, he had been 100 m away.

Seeing Zhang Tie disappearing, the remaining people of Adelais Business Group exchanged glances with each other and hurriedly escaped towards east.

After running dozens of minutes, Zhang Tie saw some columns of heavy smoke in the far. The huge eagle was hovering above there, which looked like a black spot in the far...

Zhang Tie also noticed Crell who was leaping between twigs like a leopard at a very amazing speed. Needless to say Zhang Tie also rushed over there.

...

10 minutes later, Zhang Tie and Crell almost arrived at Maple Leaf Castle at the same time.

The Maple Leaf Castle was a camp circled by 3-m high wooden barriers. All the rooms inside were made of wood. They found the ground of the castle was covered with incomplete human bodies and many times more dead iron-teeth hyenas. Besides, those rooms were burning ferociously.

Nobody was alive in Maple Leaf Castle. Numerous iron-teeth hyenas were still wandering across the castle, tearing apart those dead human bodies and eating them. At the sight of Zhang Tie and Crell, many iron-teeth hyenas slowly surrounded them.

"In the name of Gaia, the mother of land, please drive away all the wild beasts on the wildness!" Crell roared as his hair moved slightly; meanwhile, a 30-cm long deadwood-like eccentric walking stick slid into his hand from his sleeve. He inserted that small walking stick into the ground at once. In a split second, the great pack of iron-teeth hyenas which were going to surround them with red eyes shrieked miserably like flurried rabbits and escaped with lowering tails. As a result, all the iron-teeth hyenas inside the base were driven away.

Crell's deed really broadened Zhang Tie's vision. This method was very similar to that of the Section "Amulet" in the "Great Wild Sutra". If Zhang Tie wanted to drive away these LV 1 iron-teeth hyenas, he should at least enter the 2nd storey of the "Great Wild Sutra". As Zhang Tie didn't reach this level, he could not compare which secret animal controlling skill was sharper. Zhang Tie thought that the "Great Wild Sutra" would take him less time; however the effective range of the Section "Amulet" on the 2nd storey was not as large as that of Crell.

Seeing so many iron-teeth hyenas, Zhang Tie really wanted to slaughter them all.

They then went inside the Maple Leaf Castle.

Soon after they entered, Zhang Tie had seen a broken defense. He walked over there and took a careful look. After that, he made a conclusion, the defense was broke in by people forcefully.

Crell also noticed that as his eyes turned gloomy, "I smell the odor of that animal controller!"

Chapter 426: Prodding the Culprit

Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem

Although Zhang Tie had not sensed the existence of the animal controller like Crell but he sensed the weirdness in the Maple Leaf Castle.

Iron-teeth hyenas were only LV 1 living beings. They could never break in a wild base which was guarded by powerhouses above LV 6 no matter how many there were. According to Marney, someone was behind this attack.

Zhang Tie looked around and found the whole Maple Leaf Castle was like a slaughterhouse. It was smokey and covered with dead bodies. With a casual glance, Zhang Tie had found more than 200 victims. Those human bodies were heavily gnawed by iron-teeth hyenas whose faces could not even be identified. If someone came to make the investigation, they could never reach any conclusion from the scene.

All the dead bodies were incomplete which destroyed the evidence of artificial factors. Even a LV 6 fighter could barely survive the attack of thousands of iron-teeth hyenas.

After a couple of days, this event would be a puzzle in this animal tide before gradually fading away from others' memories.

Zhang Tie and Crell circled around the Maple Leaf Castle meticulously and didn't find any evidence.

They finally came to the open center of the base where airships could take off and touch down. This was the last safe place for those people in the base. Finally, nobody survived here after a bloody battle with those iron-teeth hyenas, making this place the most ferocious one.

Humans' fresh blood mixed with that of iron-teeth hyenas on that place, forming numerous dark-red blood ponds which looked like puddles on the ground after heavy rains. Zhang Tie had to dodge away from the fresh blood in each step.

Arriving at this place, Crell closed his eyes once again. After a short while, he opened his eyes and glanced at Zhang Tie, "That person must be in the neighborhood. He must be close to many iron-teeth hyenas. However, I cannot lock his precise position!"

Zhang Tie looked around and found that a lot of iron-teeth hyenas were still wandering among the grasses and woods within 1 square kilometers. Crell just drove those iron-teeth hyenas out of Maple Leaf Castle. He didn't force them far away. If that person was hiding in this area, he could be barely identified even if he was very close to Zhang Tie and Crell.

"How can we force him out?" Zhang Tie asked.

"It's very difficult. That person is a powerhouse. Unless he wants to show himself up, we could hardly force him out. I know that he's observing us!" Crell frowned his forehead.

"Can he hear our words?" Zhang Tie rolled his eyes before asking.

"He could if we talk louder!"

"Now that he's seen us, why don't he escape?"

"What do you mean?" Crell stared at Zhang Tie.

"I mean only when he's very confident that he could not escape at the sight of us. However, confident ones are always proud and have strong self-esteem, especially those who always hide in the darkness. As they could not do anything in the public, they care more about their self-respect! If we want to force such a person out, we might not have to use great secret skills!"

When Zhang Tie explained, he was thinking about those rules which were taught by Donder. Usually, the darker the working environment was, the more they care about their faces and honors. Take those intelligence agents of countries as an example, in their circle, they cared about their faces and honors more than armies. "Eye for eye" was almost their motto. Sometimes, they might spend dozens of years in doing a very boring thing in commoners' eyes. Conversely, those politicians who always showed themselves up under spotlights on high platforms didn't have their moral bottom-lines at all. Although they were always at the most honorable and remarkable positions, they had the least sense of honor. Donder said this was a funny psychological phenomenon.

"If not use great secret skills, how can we force him out?" Crell asked out of curiosity.

"Someone told me that the greatest secret skill in the world was language. We can reach people's heart directly by language. We can turn language into sharp blades and lightning bolts. Nothing else could have such a great strength!" Zhang Tie revealed a confident smile. Seeing a high wooden platform with a pulley crane on the empty land, Zhang Tie walked onto it.

Crell faintly narrowed his eyes as he didn't understand what Zhang Tie was going to do.

After arriving at the high platform, Zhang Tie took a deep breath. He then recalled the obscene smile of Donder and thought what harsh and vicious words would Donder say if he was here; after that, he recalled how those vixens swore 3 hours for a copper coin or a green leaf in the vegetable market of Blackhot City. After warming up, he entered the right state right now.

"You b*stard in the darkness, you slow-witted idiot..." the moment Zhang Tie shouted, Crell was startled at once. Crell thought that Zhang Tie would have some special performance; however, it was really out of his imagination that Zhang Tie started by swearing.

"...Get out, you b*stard. This father is swearing you; this father knows that you could hear me. Do you feel that you're senior by hiding in the darkness to manipulate a pack of iron-teeth hyenas to attack others. Do you have a sense of achievement by doing that? F*ck you. Even iron-teeth hyenas dare to take a walk outside, you the motherf*cker cannot even match an iron-teeth hyena. You cannot even match iron-teeth hyena's sh*t. Even their sh*t dare to expose themselves under the sunshine, you young worm in the sh*t of iron-teeth hyena!"

"I know b*stards like you who lack love in the youth and calcium in growth are always self-abased. I really wonder whether you chose to be an animal controller because you found that you lack confidence. Whether do you have a bit superiority feeling only by staying with beasts? In order to satisfy your humble vanity. If so, I'm really shameful about you for your mom. If I was your father, I would have shot you on the wall; instead of shooting you in the close-stool..."

Zhang Tie became more and more excited. He directly inserted the 2 short javelins onto the wooden poles on his side and supported his waist with his hands. Even Crell became dumbfounded about that.

"I know you can see me. I'm swearing you. So what? Dare you come out and bit off my ass..." Zhang Tie raised his butt and forcefully patted it by hands like how the rogues at the bottom of the society provoked, "Dare you show your head, this father will fart you away. Have you seen the uncle on my side? He could foist your head into your asshole. Do you know whom this uncle is? You coward worm. Listen, this uncle is Crell, the famous wild patron of school of patron. He's called wild shield in the school of patron and the killer of all the animal controllers. How about that? Are you scared? Crell can drown you b*stard with only one mouth of saliva. Crell can casually teach an idiot a couple of days, then you will be scared away like a rat. You must have been scared to be idiot by Crell's talent, ha...ha..."

Watching Zhang Tie's exaggeratedly laughing look and the nicknames such as "wild shield" and "the killer of all the animal controllers" that Zhang Tie fabricated, standing on one side, Crell faintly swept off his cold sweat as he felt shameful about that.

"If you are afraid of that and insist on hiding there, it's okay. However, in order to avoid this father from being disgusted about your obscene look, you'd better dodge far away and kowtow towards this father loudly for 3 times. As this father has a sharp 6th sense, as long as I sense your piety, I will not find you trouble anymore. Piss away after kowtowing. No need to show up yourself. As Crell ate some of my roasted wild potatoes these days, he owes me; therefore, for the potatoes' sake, I will let Crell save your life. As long as you roll out of the Ice and Snow Wildness, he will not chase after you anymore. For the sake of your poor childhood, I will keep you alive. From then on, you need to praise me. I count 3,2 and 1, you kowtow 3 times and piss off, 3...2...1, well, Crell, I've sensed his sincerity. Let's go. I've already wasted my time several days on Grey Hill for such a trivial figure. I have to go to Haidela Glacier Crack to see the star of god. I don't want to waste time here anymore. If this d**chebag is not docile, you can pat him to death like how you treat a fly. Then we're squared away!"

After saying this, Zhang Tie's heart raced while Crell changed his look at the same time...

In a split second, Zhang Tie had charged down from that platform like a demon rat being burned by hot water. When Zhang Tie was still in the air, he had heard the cracking sound of the high wooden platform. The broken wood dregs flew everywhere, breaking Zhang Tie's coat.

After that, Zhang Tie heard a air-breaking sound.

Sonic boom!

After landing on the ground, Zhang Tie looked at a hillside in the north at the same time with Crell. A figure with full killing intent was slowly standing up from a low bush over 600 m away while glaring at Zhang Tie with his bloody eyes.

Chapter 427: The Collision

Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem

That person and Zhang Tie glared at each other. Precisely, Zhang Tie was glaring at an iron-teeth hyena on that man's side who was taller and ferocious than common iron-teeth hyenas.

Being different from common iron-teeth hyenas, that iron-teeth hyena on that man's side was black all over. Its fur was like black silks and satin. Since that iron-teeth hyena appeared on that man's side, all the other iron-teeth hyenas within dozens of meters had ran away . Some were even quivering all over.

That black iron-teeth hyena then raised his head and roared. In a split second, all the other iron-teeth hyenas in the surroundings became restless.

Crell's face turned gloomy at once.

"Is that the king iron-teeth hyena?" Zhang Tie asked Crell in a low voice.

"Yes!" Crell nodded as he warned Zhang Tie, "This man is very powerful, take care!"

"I know!" Zhang Tie smiled as he gazed at that special iron-teeth hyena with his narrowing eyes.

At this moment, Zhang Tie really appreciated Donder. When he worked as an apprentice in Donder's grocery store, he really learnt a lot from Donder. Those knowledge could always have a special effect at the critical moment, such as helping Zhang Tie to identify that b*stard of Zhen Clan in Dragon Cave.

However, the reality was always out of one's imagination. Soon after Zhang Tie became excited about his plan, his dream had been killed ruthlessly.

"You both have to die today!" Although being hundreds of meters away, that man's icy and sharp voice still drifted into the ears of Zhang Tie and Crell, "I'd like to see how powerful the wild patron's animal controlling skill is..."

After saying this, that man had already broken the head of that king iron-teeth hyena by his hand like poking into a piece of bean curd.

Almost at the same time, all the iron-teeth hyenas over the hill started to wail as they rushed towards that man like mad dogs...

Even Zhang Tie almost started to wail. "F*ck!" Zhang Tie had never imagined that b*stard would kill that king iron-teeth hyena in front of him.

"D**chebag! Do you know how much have you made me lose? This father made so many efforts for that seven-strength fruit of king iron-teeth hyena!"

In a wink, that king iron-teeth hyena deflated like a balloon. Meanwhile, its satin-like fur turned dark and became a piece of rag.

It seemed that the king iron-teeth hyena not only lost his life, but also his vitality.

That man drew his hand out of its head. At this moment, a vital ball-sized fresh bloody item was rotating in his hand. That man instantly threw the bloody ball into the air. When Zhang Tie was still puzzled about that, he saw that bloody ball exploding in the air and flowing towards all directions in the form of blood drops. They fell on the heads of those iron-teeth hyenas. Before those blood drops fell down, those iron-teeth hyenas had already jumped in the air and caught them.

Although Zhang Tie didn't know the effect of this skill, given the amazing scene, he knew it was great.

Right then, thousands of iron-teeth hyenas started to roar in the wild. In a few breaths, the eyes of those iron-teeth hyenas being sprayed by the blood or having engulfed the blood drops turned red; meanwhile, they exposed their buckteeth. Flowing out mucilage from their mouth corners, they turned around and stared at Zhang Tie and Crell who were standing in the Maple Leaf Castle...

At this moment, Zhang Tie felt that Crell and him were like 2 performers on the arena of a super large theater. Those iron-teeth hyenas who were staring at him and Crell were audience.

There were really too many iron-teeth hyenas. Even Zhang Tie felt goosebumps all over this time. Although dozens of iron-teeth hyenas was a dish for him, hundreds of iron-teeth hyenas was a feast; thousands of iron-teeth hyenas became tricky...

"Dark Blood Sacrifice!" seeing this, even Crell changed his face. He turned over his head and told Zhang Tie, "I will deal with that man, you pay attention to those iron-teeth hyenas. Attention! Those iron-teeth hyenas have improved their fighting strength greatly. They might be close to LV 2 now. It's very difficult to deal with them!"

"Will they break your protective circle that you've released just now?"

"They will, they are totally different from before!"

After replying to Zhang Tie, Crell rapidly drew some patterns on his body with that short, wooden walking stick. Meanwhile, he read sutras. In a wink, Zhang Tie felt that the thing being similar to battle Qi over Crell brightening up. In the brilliance, a hazy figure of a sacred female was embracing Crell.

When the brilliance disappeared, Crell seemed being different than before.

"What's this?"

"It's the land mother's guardianship. With its bliss, those iron-teeth hyenas will not attack me anymore!"

"That's great. I want one too!" Zhang Tie became so excited as he finally let out a deep sigh inside.

Hearing Zhang Tie's words, Crell glanced at Zhang Tie with a calm look, "I'm sorry, I could only apply this skill on myself!"

Zhang Tie...

Hearing Crell's reply, Zhang Tie glanced over the thousands of iron-teeth hyenas with greatly increasing strength who wanted to tear him into pieces, Zhang Tie rapidly took out that pair of dark tore gloves from the leather bag at his waist and grabbed the two short javelins before heading for a relatively complete architectural complex in the Maple Leaf Castle.

At this moment, those iron-teeth hyenas had been rushing towards him from all directions like wild ox's. In a wink, the front ones had already jumped over the wooden defense of the Maple Leaf Castle. Some iron-teeth hyenas showed a great potential in jumping ability. After jumping over the defense, they caught the exterior wall with their sharp claws. They then thrust against the wall and jumped over it, even faster than cats. Closely after that, they rushed into the base...

When the iron-teeth hyenas rushed over, Crell also dashed towards that man like a leopard.

That man remained still on the hillside in the far.

When the iron-teeth hyenas were close to Crell, they crashed onto land mother's guardianship like how grey sea waves crashed on rocks. As a result, they all changed their directions when they were several meters away from Crell. They didn't attack Crell or prevent Crell from dashing towards that man. At the sight of this scene, that man in the far slightly changed his face like how Crell changed his look at the sight of the dark blood sacrifice. That man knew that he was facing a powerful enemy.

The collisions broke out almost at the same time, one in Maple Leaf Castle, the other on the hillside. They were over 500 m away from each other.

The moment Crell collided with that man, he had swiftly moved together with that man at a speed which was barely caught by human eyes. In a wink, consecutive loud explosions sounded on that hillside...

If possible, Zhang Tie also wanted to rush towards that man; however, if he left Maple Leaf Castle, he had to face at least two times more iron-teeth hyenas at the same time. In that case, even a LV 10 would be killed under so many iron-teeth hyenas' endless attack, not to mention Zhang Tie.

Of course, Zhang Tie didn't want to be killed by those iron-teeth hyenas. He knew it was not worthwhile to be that risky.

Soon, the fastest iron-teeth hyenas had already came in front of Zhang Tie. Without any hesitation, they pounced at Zhang Tie at the same time.

After fighting iron-teeth hyenas for a few days, Zhang Tie immediately realized that these hyenas were moving at least 30% faster than those he met before. Besides, these hyenas were ferocious and more fearless.

"Damn it! That b*stard killed your boss, why do you come for me?" Zhang Tie swore loudly as he launched a counterattack.

Zhang Tie poked his short javelins and penetrated through some iron-teeth hyenas' hearts at once, sending them flying back in the air. Zhang Tie felt that these iron-teeth hyenas' collision forces were at least 50% greater than that he met before.

Thankfully, wearing the dark tore gloves, Zhang Tie felt that he could wave and stab short spears faster than before. Therefore, Zhang Tie slightly became reassured.

The following iron-teeth hyenas charged at Zhang Tie from all directions. Even Zhang Tie was standing against a cabin, he was still attacked by the iron-teeth hyenas from the window behind or from the roof of the cabin.

At this moment, Zhang Tie really felt being surrounded by thousands of dare-to-die corps members. He could only run back and forth between those cabins. Sometimes, he directly jumped onto the roofs of the cabins to counterattack those iron-teeth hyenas.

Chapter 428: Being Shocked Three Times

Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem

Zhang Tie didn't know how many iron-teeth hyenas had he killed.

All the iron-teeth hyenas were very crazy. Additionally, their fighting strength had been greatly increased. Although a few LV 2 living beings could not pose any threat to Zhang Tie, but this time too many iron-teeth hyenas were surrounding him. Zhang Tie felt that he could not kill them all.

Each second, at least 3 iron-teeth hyenas were attacking him. Not until those dead iron-teeth hyenas piled up in front of him did Zhang Tie change his place. If not, those iron-teeth hyenas would step on their partners' dead bodies and charge at Zhang Tie; in that case, it would be more tricky.

Zhang Tie didn't know how the battle was going between Crell and that culprit. Being hundreds of meters away, Zhang Tie could only hear the consecutive loud explosions and collisions of their battle Qi's.

Sparing a half second, Zhang Tie peered at where they were fighting, which really shocked him.

On that hillside, Zhang Tie saw two high battle-Qi totems colliding with each other. One battle Qi was green, the other was black. Each of them were over 20 m in height. The two totems were rolling and biting in the shape of two huge crocodiles. Compared to the totem of a fighter below LV 9, a LV 10 strong fighter's battle-Qi totem was not only a simple light and shadow effect formed by the battle Qi; instead, it was more like a spiritual creature which reflected the releaser's will and thought.

This was Zhang Tie's first time to see the real battle fire made by LV 10 powerhouses, which really shocked him.

The battle-Qi totem of LV 10 powerhouses was demon crocodile, a powerful living being in the deep earth. Zhang Tie heard about it before; however, he had not seen demon crocodiles. This time, he finally knew how demon crocodiles looked. The largest difference between demon crocodile and common crocodile was that demon crocodile had a row of erecting sharp-sword like dorsal fins from spine to tail.

With a glance, Zhang Tie had already known the real fighting strength of Crell and that person.

Their fighting strength surpassed that of both Dawson and that b*stard of Zhen Clan who chased after Zhang Tie in Dragon Cave.

Zhang Tie knew that Dawson and that Zhen b*stard was respectively 1 star and 2 stars of LV 10 fighter. However, Zhang Tie estimated that Crell almost reached 4 stars or 5 stars.

Starting from LV 10, each level higher would require lighting more surging points. Therefore, from LV 10, each level higher was further divided into more ranks. According to the Fibonacci Sequence, one needed to light another 34 surging points before rising from LV 10 to LV 11 which required to light 89 surging points in total. This was as difficult as rising from LV 1 to LV 9. 34 was a number of Fibonacci Sequence——1,5,8,13,21,34; therefore, LV 10 was further divided into 5 ranks. Even fighting master, great fighting master, fighting general, fighting demon and fighting spirit were also divided into 5 stars respectively.'

Zhang Tie learned this from Crell. Commoners didn't know about it at all. Similarly, in Blackhot City, even teachers didn't know what was going on above LV 10; in Hidden Dragon Palace, only those above LV 8 were qualified to inquire about this.

Previously, when in Hidden Dragon Palace, Zhang Tie didn't know why this knowledge about LV 10 was forbidden to know as it was not a secret knowledge. Now, he understood it.

Zhang Tie estimated that the main reason was that Hidden Dragon Palace was afraid of those young men getting disappointed when they knew this knowledge. For many people, if they knew that what they did before LV 9 in the past 10-20 years was as difficult as improving one level higher in the future, they would be heavily struck. Not each young people could bear such a great stress on the way of cultivation.

...

In a ceaselessly fierce fight with iron-teeth hyenas, even a bit negligence or a slow movement or a smaller strength would leave a chance for an iron-teeth hyena to move closer. As a result, the person would be in a miserable situation as those iron-teeth hyenas would charge at him like a surging tide at once, leaving him no time to regret.

Thankfully, Zhang Tie had great physique and spiritual energy. After more than 10 minutes of fight, Zhang Tie still responded precisely and fiercely like machines. One blow, one iron-teeth hyena; sparing no chance for those iron-teeth hyenas to counterattack at all.

After losing the desire for the seven-strength fruit of king iron-teeth hyena, Zhang Tie launched a counterattack immediately.

Zhang Tie kept running with those buildings and the special terrain as his cover. He estimated that he had killed at least 300 iron-teeth hyenas. When he moved behind a cabin's wall and caught sight of a bloody, steel shield in the shape of diamond, Zhang Tie's eyes gleamed.

After stabbing 2 more iron-teeth hyenas and sending them flying back in the air with his short javelins, Zhang Tie rushed in front of that shield. After waving his short javelins to kill another 2 iron-teeth hyenas in a wink, Zhang Tie threw out his left short javelin which penetrated through 4 iron-teeth hyenas in front of him; meanwhile, he raised that shield of 70-80 kgs with his foot and grabbed it in his left hand at once.

Given its look, that shield was suitable to tall fighters. Holding it, Zhang Tie looked short. However, he was very happy. After holding the shield, he burst out laughter's as he dragged it and drew a curve in the air, blocking away a group of iron-teeth hyenas and sending them flying back in the air at the same time.

Zhang Tie had a talent of using shield. When in Hidden Dragon Palace, he passed his shield defense class firstly. Plus his terrifying strength, holding that shield, Zhang Tie felt having one powerful helper on his side immediately.

Waving the shield several times, Zhang Tie broke the heads and bones of those iron-teeth hyenas and sent them flying back in the air. A shield in hand, Zhang Tie was like a steel tortoise. Although those iron-teeth hyenas were fierce, they could not break in Zhang Tie's defense line.

Hearing the boom-sound of the battle Qi's in the far, Zhang Tie shouted loudly. Thrusting his feet against the ground, he started to rush towards a great, dense pack of iron-teeth hyenas with his shield. Like an armored vehicle entering on the sidewalk at the highest speed, Zhang Tie knocked down all the iron-teeth hyenas in front of him like how a fairy strewed flowers.

The iron-teeth hyenas were as thick as 100 m. However, with the shield, Zhang Tie still opened a bloody path from those iron-teeth hyenas like a chisel.

Thousands of iron-teeth hyenas chased after Zhang Tie in a flurried way.

Zhang Tie rushed towards that place where Crell was fighting that guy.

Although it was 500-600 m away, it only took Zhang Tie a few seconds to break in the fight circle of 200 m.

Now, Zhang Tie could see that guy clearly. Both that guy and Crell had not imagined that Zhang Tie could break out the siege of so many iron-teeth hyenas.

When two well-matched powerhouses fought each other, the result always lay in a few key seconds.

At the sight of Zhang Tie, that guy was slightly shocked. That guy realized that if the opponent had one helper, he would be in danger.

Therefore, when that guy was about 200 away from Zhang Tie, he did the same thing as Zhang Tie——Sonic boom!

Zhang Tie threw out his right short javelin. After dodging away from Crell's battle-Qi boom, that guy threw out an iron-snake shaped secret weapon from his waist.

Facing a LV 10 powerhouse who was much greater than Dawson in this distance, Zhang Tie was not sure whether his short javelin could work or not. However, he was sure that Crell would take advantage of this chance to attack that guy.

The 2 sonic booms arrived in front of the opponent at the same time...

That guy barely dodged away from Zhang Tie's javelin...

At the same time, Zhang Tie's shield was broken into pieces...

Thankfully, Crell moved closer to that guy by this chance...

Zhang Tie just used that shield to attract the opponent's attention. When the shield was broken into pieces, Zhang Tie rushed out from the shield safe and sound...

Realizing that he didn't strike Zhang Tie, that guy became shocked once again. In a flurried way, he was boomed by Crell and was sent flying back in the direction where Zhang Tie rushed towards him, sprouting a mouthful of fresh blood.

Although it was still 200 m away, Zhang Tie had arrived there as short as a few winks.

Although that guy was not injured, he still launched a battle-Qi boom towards Zhang Tie in the air, intending to kill Zhang Tie first.

Facing the black battle-Qi boom, Zhang Tie shouted loudly as he caught it with Heavens-shocking Punch, a fierce gesture in iron-blood fist. After that, he sped up towards that man in a split second once again...

That guy was shocked for the 3rd time. Pitifully, he cannot dodge away this time as he was in the air. When Zhang Tie passed him in the air, he released a sword Qi from his waist 5 m away, which flashed by that guy's neck...

Chapter 429: The Sacred Beast's Bone

Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem

As for fight between powerhouses, a trivial mistake would always cause a severe outcome...

Since Zhang Tie rushed out of the Maple Leaf Castle, he had caused that guy miss his attacks 4 times in an extremely short period.

Firstly, Zhang Tie used his shield to attract the opponent's sonic boom; it was out of that guy's imagination that Zhang Tie could hide himself behind the shield and make his sonic boom ineffective. He had not imagined that Zhang Tie's javelin could threaten his life.

Secondly, it was out of that guy's imagination that Zhang Tie would dare to catch his battle-Qi boom by hand and break in...

Thirdly, he was shocked that Zhang Tie had already activated his rapid moving skill when rushing towards him. Although Zhang Tie looked exhausted, benefited from the rapid moving skill, Zhang Tie could increase his moving speed by 2 times.

Fourthly, although Zhang Tie had no weapons but a pair of dark tore gloves, he had one more sharper weapon. The lethal radius of that weapon was completely out of his expectation. The moment the sharp sword blades were released from 5 m away, they had already reached him, sparing him no chance to escape.

Therefore, he had to die!

Before he died, he turned around and stared at Zhang Tie with a resentful look.

Zhang Tie was also spitting blood. However, that guy was spurting blood 2 m away from his neck. After that, he fell down on the ground forever.

Not until then did the army of iron-teeth hyenas break in 100 m away from the fight. The moment that guy fell down, the crazy iron-teeth hyenas stopped their attack.

The glows in the eyes of those iron-teeth hyenas gradually disappeared. After that, those iron-teeth hyenas exchanged glances with each other. Then, an iron-teeth hyena wailed, hearing which, all the iron-teeth hyenas escaped away while lowering their tails.

The whole hillside soon recovered its tranquility. If not the black smokes and bloody scene in the Maple Leaf Castle, people would not believe that a fierce fight had happened here.

At first, iron-teeth hyenas attacked humans; then, humans counterattacked iron-teeth hyenas. Besides fresh blood and corpses, nothing was left.

After coughing out blood 3 times, Zhang Tie felt a bit better. He finally believed that even wearing the pair of dark tore gloves, he could barely stand a LV 10 strong fighter's battle-Qi boom. If that guy had not missed his judgment several times in an extremely short period, Zhang Tie would not have killed him so easily.

At least, Zhang Tie was not confident to kill this guy when facing him alone. If he encountered this guy alone today, Zhang Tie estimated that he would definitely have used his rapid moving skill to escape instead of taking this guy by storm.

After wiping the blood stains off his mouth corners while kneeling down the ground with one knee, Zhang Tie slowly stood up. The moment he stood up, he caught Crell's amazed look.

"Peter, you are amazing!" What you performed was really surprising. This was my first time to see a fighter below LV 9 to catch a 4-star strong fighter's battle-Qi boom!"

"That guy was a 4-star strong fighter?" Zhang Tie nodded inside like he had already known that.

"This pair of gloves is a rune equipment. It could protect me from being injured by the battle-Qi booms of powerhouses below great fighter master!" Saying this, Zhang Tie patted his hands with a smile. He tried to briefly introduce it, "I have to appreciate Demon Snake Island for this gift!"

"Even though the glove is a rune equipment, how did you move so fast just now? If it was me, I couldn't even respond to it in such a short distance!" Crell continued with a curious look. Realizing that Zhang Tie was going to explain, Crell hurriedly waved his hand, "No need to explain to me. Each one has his secret. Actually, I feel that you're not a pioneer; instead, an elite of a big clan. You are here to cultivate yourself."

Zhang Tie was slightly stunned, "How do you know that?"

"Besides elites of big clans, I've not seen anybody else in any country of Blackson Human Corridor who could reach such a high level of iron-blood fist at such a young age . Don't tell me that you were not using iron-blood fist movements when you killed iron-teeth hyenas with your short javelins. Additionally, I know that you were using Heavens-Shocking Punch to break that guy's battle Qi. Wasn't that sword movement the extension of sword palm?" Saying that, Crell imitated Zhang Tie's movement sharply, causing a wuthering sound. It really looked like iron-blood fist, "Although the secret knowledge of iron-blood fist is the top secret knowledge that could be easily obtained, it's most difficult to practice it. When I was young, I also practiced iron-blood fist. However, as I could not form iron-blood battle Qi, I finally gave it up!"

Hearing Crell's explanation, Zhang Tie rolled his eyes and laughed, "The country must be Norman Empire. Haha, Crell takes me as an elite of a big clan in Norman Empire who cultivates himself in the wild!"

"It's reasonable for him to think this way. Blackhot City has just been annexed by Norman Empire. I know grandma Teresa in Blackhot City and has a special talent in iron-blood fist that could not be matched by commoners. After concluding these conditions, he could easily speculate my background. Certainly, only some elites of big clans on Waii Sub-Continent could meet such conditions. Otherwise, based on my high level of iron-blood fist, I can enjoy whatever I want in Norman Empire, food or respect, instead of being a pioneer who has to live poor in the wild. Am I sick?"

Crell had a sharp judgment. Pitifully, he was not completely right unless he changed big clan into Huaiyuan Palace. However, it was not possible for him to hit that.

Now that Crell thought so, Zhang Tie didn't make any explanation.

They then came to the side of that dead guy and started to collect their booty.

That guy was lying on the ground, face down. His blood had sprayed all over. The moment Zhang Tie wanted to turn over that guy's body, he was hurriedly stopped by Crell, "Hold on, each powerful animal controller has many evil tactics, especially those above LV 9. Even they are dead, their bodies could still not be easily touched!"

Hearing Crell's words, Zhang Tie didn't move; instead, he watched how would Crell do.

Zhang Tie and Crell then stood 10 steps away. At this moment, Crell waved his hand to release his green battle Qi towards that guy.

As it was not in fight, Zhang Tie felt that Crell didn't use too much strength.

When the battle Qi struck that body, it turned it over from the ground.

Soon after that body was turned over, a black thing had bounced up from that corpse's chest and flashed towards Zhang Tie.

Although having long prepared for that, Zhang Tie was still startled by it's high speed. At the same time, Zhang Tie shot out his silver carp sword and cut that thing into 3 sections in the air from about 2 m away.

Not until that thing fell down on the ground did Zhang Tie realize that it was a weird black snake. It had a pair of terrifying blue eyes. On both sides of that weird snake were 2 thin wing-like flesh films by which it could fly. Although having been cut into 3 sections, it still didn't die right away; instead, it struggled and spat out its tongue while twisting its head on the ground towards Zhang Tie.

"F*ck, what's this?" seeing its blood spraying over the grass on his side, withering the grass right away, Zhang Tie realized that it had a severe toxicity. This thing looked terrifying and disgusting. If Zhang Tie really turned over the dead body by hands, he probably had been bitten by this thing.

"It's black wing snake!" answering Zhang Tie, Crell punched onto the ground, smashing the remains of the snake, "It's one of the most poisonous living beings. It has no antidote. Once being bitten by it, you would die in 5 seconds!"

Hearing this, Zhang Tie took a deep breath.

With this experience, Zhang Tie started to move closer to the dead body carefully.

"Is there something else on his body?" Zhang Tie asked Crell.

"No, otherwise, it had jumped out of there!"

...

Zhang Tie moved closer and glanced at that guy on the ground carefully. As he had lost a lot of blood, his skin had turned off-white. Plus the insidious and gloomy face, the rising hooknose and the dark robe, Zhang Tie almost mistook him as a dark magician in fairy tales. Although magicians didn't exist in this age, what this dead body applied just now could not even be matched by magics.

This dead body was soon cleaned by Zhang Tie and Crell.

After searching out those items from that guy, Zhang Tie and Crell gathered them into a small pile on the ground. After that, they started to share their booty. Previously, Zhang Tie thought that Crell would feel reluctant to do this; amazingly, Crell did this so adroitly that he looked like a guest performer of some special profession.

"This is a special throwing weapon. It's made of a special plant's root. This plant's root was ordinarily similar to that of common wood; however, after being injected with battle Qi, this root would turn as firm as iron and have a great penetrability; additionally, it would have some features of that battle Qi. It's a very rare throwing weapon. Your throwing skill looks good, it seems that this item is suitable to you!" Crell explained as he threw the 3 snake-shaped items from that guy's waist to Zhang Tie.

After glancing at them, Zhang Tie put them away at once. Just now, Zhang Tie was almost injured by that guy's two sonic booms. That guy's battle Qi easily exploded. After being filled with that guy's battle Qi, the moment this item hit something, it would explode. Although not being as fierce and powerful as bombs, its lethality could not be ignored in a small range. When it exploded, it was similar to the explosion of mini domestic steam boilers.

After leaving them to Zhang Tie, Crell took 2 vials which had a weird odor. He said the drugs in the vials could help him control animals. Zhang Tie agreed with his choice.

Besides, that guy had a purse, a small box and a finger ring.

There were only a few gold notes and some gold coins, over 400 gold coins in total. At the sight of this, Crell waved his hand immediately, "One person, one half".

"Do you wild patrons need money?" Zhang Tie asked out of curiosity after he put over 200 gold coins into his pocket. Although it was not a great amount of money, it was a part of the booty from a powerful enemy. Therefore, Crell felt pretty comfortable to have them.

Crell trembled his eyebrows as he replied with a serious tone, "Do you think that I have my clothes out of air? Even in the wild, we always need to exchange others' items with money." There's a proverb in Eastern Continent, "With gold coins, even demons would like to pull the millstone for grounding grains. It is a truth!"

Zhang Tie smirked as he knew that proverb.

What were left were that finger ring and that small wooden box. After glancing at that finger ring for a short while, Crell threw it to Zhang Tie, "Take a look!"

Zhang Tie knew that such a powerful guy always had precious ornaments. Zhang Tie took it as he injected some spiritual energy into the finger ring.

"Finger Ring of Eagle's Eye——this item has the rune effect of eagle's eye. After injecting some spiritual energy into it, you can activate its rune effect one time per natural day; each time would last for 2 hours."

Zhang Tie had not seen a rune equipment with fixed effect before. As this rune equipment was not marked with the rune manufacturer's name, its background could not be identified. However, after staying in Huaiyuan Palace for a period, Zhang Tie knew the world about rune manufacturers more or less. He knew that all the rune equipment with fixed special rune effects were top goods. Such equipment were even rarely seen in auction houses. They were basically customized.

Zhang Tie then glanced at Crell.

"You might know about its value. We have 2 items left, a finger ring of eagle's eye, a small box. Now that he takes this box with him, it indicates that the item inside is special. It might value more or less than that finger ring. As you killed him, for the sake of fairness, you can choose one, leaving the rest one to me!"

Having not imagined that Crell was that serious, Zhang Tie burst out laughter's as he opened that box.

It was an animal's bone in the box, yes, a bone. However, it was as transparent as crystal. No matter from which angle, it looked as profound as a cat's eye.

At the sight of that bone, Crell's eyes had gleamed. Zhang Tie noticed that Crell's hand slightly shook. Before seeing that finger ring of eagle's eye, Crell looked very calm; however, at the sight of this crystal-like bone, Crell became disgraceful at once. He instantly understood the value of this crystal-like bone.

Crell took a deep breath as he glanced at that bone once again. He then reached his hand out to take that ring. Seeing his movement, Zhang Tie burst out laughter's. He then took up the box along with the bone and put them onto Crell's hand. After that, he put on the finger ring himself.

Crell shook all over as he stared at Zhang Tie, "You..."

"I opened it to let you make the choice first. Now that you like the item in this box, I will take the ring!" Zhang Tie casually said.

"Do you know what's this? You will regret!" Crell fixed his eyes on Zhang Tie as his hands had started to quiver due to excitement.

"I don't care. I only know that this item is more useful to you than me. So what even if it is worth millions of gold coins? Aren't we comrades- in-arms?" Zhang Tie shrugged. Zhang Tie also knew that the item in the box might be very expensive; however, as long as he took one person as his real friend, he would never make his friend suffer a loss.

"This is sacred beast's bone, the supreme treasure of animal controllers. When you have it, you will have no obstacle on the way of cultivating animal controlling skills. Additionally, it has other marvelous effects. It might be worth more than millions of gold coins. Actually, nobody would like to sell it in the auction house, unless he's insane. Have you made your decision?"

"I would not auction my roasted potatoes, unless I'm insane; but I gave my roasted potatoes to you!"

After gazing at Zhang Tie for a short while, Crell laughed suddenly, "Do you know that you made a mistake today?"

"What mistake?" Zhang Tie became stunned.

"You should not call me uncle. I'm not that old. Actually, I'm only 27!"

Staring at Crell's whiskers, Zhang Tie asked with a dubious look, "27? Are you kidding me? Are you sure it's not 47? You...You look really old."

"If you also stay in the wild for 10 years in which period you are not allowed to shave your beard before promoting to great fighting master, I'm sure that you will be as same as me in a decade!" Crell said with a blank face.

"F*ck, being not allowed to shave beard. What a motherf*cking rule!"

"This is the rule of school of patron. As a wild patron, if you don't see a lion asking to shave his hair, you're also not allowed to shave your beard, either!"

Hearing this, Zhang Tie almost showed the white of his eyes; however, Crell continued.

"Additionally, I want to apologize to you; because I also lied to you just now!"

"When did you lie to me?" Zhang Tie was dumbfounded once again.

"When those iron-teeth hyenas were rushing over, actually, I could also apply the land mother's guardianship on you. If I did that to you, you would not have been attacked by those iron-teeth hyenas anymore! However, as you made me unhappy, I wanted to punish you for what you've done to me." Saying this, Crell's swarthy face faintly blushed.

"I made you unhappy? But why?"

"Because you called me Uncle. I'm not that old!" Crell looked serious once again as he erected 3 fingers with a solemn look, "You called me Uncle 3 times!"

Recalling thousands of iron-teeth hyenas drooling towards him with red eyes, Zhang Tie twitched his mouth corners. After that, he sprung up from the ground and swore Crell loudly while pointing at Crell's nose.

"F*ck! Do you know that If I was negligent or didn't have enough strength, I would have been torn into parts by those iron-teeth hyenas. Do you know how it feels when you face a regiment of dare-to-death corps? You b*stard! How can you set me up for that bullsh*t reason?"

"Actually, you were looking well. Those iron-teeth hyenas couldn't even hurt you at all!"

"B*stard. Give me my sacred beast's bone. This father prefers to feed dogs with it, instead of giving it to you!"

At this moment, Crell looked very gloomy. Facing Zhang Tie's fury, he slowly put that odd-looking sacred beast's bone into his coat, "I'm sorry, this sacred beast's bone belongs to me now. If you want it back, you have to find a dog which could be able to gnaw it!"

After glaring at each other for a few seconds, they burst out laughters at the same time...

Chapter 430: The Hiding Effect

Translator: WQL Editor: Aleem

The Maple Leaf Castle was still smoking. Zhang Tie and Crell then carried that animal controller's body back to a suspending platform of the heliport in the middle of that base. After that, they tied that body onto a wood pile.

"Is this useful?" Seeing Crell writing a line of blood words on one side of the dead body, Zhang Tie asked in a casual way.

"As Eschyle City is not too far away from here. If something happened in this base, Both the chambers of commerce and urban administrators of Eschyle City would dispatch people here for an investigation. We'd better give them some warning by this chance!" While explaining to Zhang Tie, Crell left the symbol of school of patron below the line of words. For school of patron, violating nature laws by driving animal tide artificially is very hateful; the school of patron doubted that this animal tide was related to demons.

Since the airlines above Waii Sub-Continent suffered from many raptors' attacks last year, the school of patron had already dispatched people to investigate this event. The result was targeting at a mysterious animal controlling group. In the past year, after many parties' concerted efforts, some animal controllers of that mysterious group were killed, some escaped and disappeared, some arouse troubles in other places. However, not a single alive one was caught. Therefore, nobody knew about the reason. Whereas, given what bad behaviors these people had done, it was undoubted that they were demons' lackeys and b*stards.

When Zhang Tie heard the words "Three-Eye Association" from Crell, Zhang Tie sighed with full moods. These demons' lackeys really have a deep root in the continent. They almost existed everywhere, including Huaiyuan Prefecture, Heavens Cold City and Ice and Snow Wildness. When the 3rd holy war between human race and demons was going to break out, these people started to move more frequently.

Actually, Zhang Tie didn't care about their backgrounds. If they were demons' lackeys, they deserved to be killed. What Zhang Tie concerned most was his personal fighting strength, especially after this fight. As the world was becoming more chaotic, one's fighting strength would always determine whether he could survive or not.

Take this fight as an example. If that guy was not LV 10, but LV 11, a powerful great fighting master who was excel at sonic booms, Zhang Tie would have been killed by the first sonic boom. Similarly, if Zhang Tie was a bit more powerful, he would not have to fight that guy in such a close distance. As long as he threw out his javelin, he would have ended up the fight. Sometimes, life or death was just a matter of one's fighting strength.

Considering it, Zhang Tie felt that he was a bit lucky today.

"Where are you going then?" Zhang Tie asked Crell.

"There are demon-rat tides in some northern regions of Ice and Snow Wildness. I'm heading for north, what about you?"

Having eaten 9 seven-strength fruits of demon rats, Zhang Tie would not obtain any more seven-strength fruits of demon rats no matter how many he killed. Hearing Crell's reply, Zhang Tie considered it for a short while before replying, "I'm going to the south of Ice and Snow Wildness. I want to try my fortune!"

"Going for relics and star of god?" Crell smiled.

Zhang Tie also responded with a smile. He didn't explain it. "Now that Crell thought I was an elite of a big clan in Norman Empire, I don't have to explain. Haidela Glacier Crack is indeed in the south of Ice and Snow Wildness. It must be very boisterous over there. However, according to my knowledge, besides relics of human civilizations and the pieces of star of god, there's another attractive thing in the wildness where the Haidela Glacier Crack is located——Wild Huge Wolf."

"I was told that tide of Wild Huge Wolves was breaking out in some southern places of Ice and Snow Wildness. Why not take a look over there?"

"I've been there before. The tide of Wild Huge Wolves was not driven by humans. For such an animal tide, we wild patrons would not intervene them as the mother nature has its own way to deal with it!"

Zhang Tie shrugged. It seemed that they had to separate from here, "Take care of yourself. In front of powerhouses, don't feel shameful to escape!"

"Haha, it's not that dangerous. No matter what, Ice and Snow Wildness is the territory of bear tribes, which had the heaviest awareness of territory. Those powerful figures and priests in those bear tribes would not stand outsiders making troubles in their territory. If someone was behind the demon-rat tide, that guy might have been killed by powerhouses on the way towards north!" Crell answered.

"But why nobody care about the animal tide on Grey Hill?" Zhang Tie became dubious. Honestly, he didn't know too much about Iron and Snow Wildness. Previously, he only learned its knowledge from some books. When he arrived at this place, he put all of his efforts on seven-strength fruits, sparing not time and spiritual energy to learn about other things here.

Crell responded with a smile, "This place is close to Eschyle City, the territory of iron bear tribe. I was told that many powerful figures and priests of iron bear tribe pilgrimaged to Erqida Mountain several days ago. They've not returned yet. Additionally, in the eyes of the rulers of iron bear tribe, the iron-teeth hyenas over the Grey Hill only caused a bit loss to some chambers of commerce and some wild villages, which was not enough to arouse their attention. At this moment, they might pay more attention to the relic and piece of star of god in Haidela Glacier Crack. Even something happened here, in those guys' eyes, it was nothing but some animal controllers aroused some small troubles in Ice and Snow Wildness! Even those chambers of commerce themselves could solve this problem."

Zhang Tie knew that Crell was telling the truth. This was the difference between big figures and small figures. Even the biggest problem in the eyes of big figures was a piece of cake. Similarly, a couple of gold coins in the eyes of poor guys was definitely not as valuable as that in the eyes of nouveau-rich.

Zhang Tie and Crell were both straightforward. After making their own decisions, they directly separated like getting off the same carriage of a train.

Zhang Tie saw Crell off. When Crell walked 10 steps away, he turned around, "I forgot to tell you. If you really find a dog which could gnaw the saint beast's bone one day and want to get that bone back, you can come for me. You can visit any church of school of patron which has a priest and tell him that you want to see me; that priest would ask you about my emblem in the school of patron. You tell him that my emblem is locust."

Zhang Tie nodded as he recalled something, "Oh, what's the saint beast's bone? You've not mentioned that before!"

"Ha...ha...you will know it when you are an official animal controller!" Crell made a joke.

"Perhaps when I see you next time, my animal controlling skill has surpassed you. I feel that I'm talented in learning this skill. Only after practicing those secret prayers over one night, I feel that I've been able to control a low-level pet!" Zhang Tie said like it was true.

"It's impossible. When I saw you for the first time, I already knew that you've not used animal controlling skill or had any pet before. It's already late to learn animal controlling skill at your age. Therefore, you can hardly reach the supreme level of animal controlling skill!"

"Maybe I'm the exception!"

"Unless you're the baby nephew of Gaia, the mother of land or the the incarnation of legendary beast god!" Crell burst out laughing; meanwhile, he waved towards Zhang Tie and left, leaving Zhang Tie alone.

Standing on the hillside, Zhang Tie saw Crell and that huge black eagle in the sky disappearing in the far. Then, he revealed a smile as he slightly waved his head and muttered, "You missed a possibility!"

Zhang Tie turned around. After identifying the direction, he ran towards southwest.

...

Zhang Tie knew that after he and Crell left, someone from Eschyle would definitely come here for an investigation. However, Zhang Tie had not imagined that they could respond so fast. Only 2 hours after he left, they had arrived here from Eschyle City.

They were not common bear-killing fighters or powerhouses dispatched by those chambers of commerce and business firms from Eschyle City; instead, they were 2 terrifying wild reward hunters with strong killing intents.

After circling around Maple Leaf Castle for one time, they returned to the place below the suspending platform where Zhang Tie and Crell tied that animal controller on. Reading the line of words left by Crell, the 2 reward hunters frowned.

"Is school of patron involved with that guy?" The massive guy said firstly, "I've not imagined that someone is behind this animal tide. We have to report this to Eschyle City right now!"

"Don't worry, the airship of the Chamber of Commerce of Eschyle City will arrive here soon. They will bring this message back. They are just some clowns, humph..." the other reward hunter uttered an icy voice from behind a grim mask. Given the voice, it's a female. Raising her face, she stood still while facing the sunshine calmly, seemingly identifying something.

"I feel that the 2 people were separated from here. The man of school of patron moved north while the b*stard called Peter moved southwest. Our task is to bring that Peter's head back and get the 5000 gold coins. With 5000 gold coins, our tribe could afford many items. We will not tide over this winter easily. We've not met such a good trade for a long time!"

"O' Laura, don't you feel it strange? Given the message from Kurgan or the description of those people who escaped from Maple Leaf Castle, that Peter seems not being that bad. Perhaps, something is wrong with the arrest order issued by the police station in Eschyle City?"

"There're two kinds of men in total. one that deserves to die, the other that is going to die. How do you know that Peter was not disguising himself in front of them. Haven't you met such crafty people before...", a sneer drifted from behind the metal mask, "Perhaps there's some problem with the arrest order issued by the police station in Eschyle City, but there's no problem on the bodies of the previous 2 wild reward hunters which were torn apart. They were here for Peter after receiving the arrest order. Weren't they dead because of that b*stard? If not because of this, why does the police station dispatch us here? The majesty of Eschyle City and bear tribes could not be weakened because of him. Even if Peter was not a murderer, the 2 wild reward hunters were killed because of him. Based on this point, he deserves to die!"

"However, we could not maintain the majesty of bear tribes by killing innocent people!" That strapping man warned.

"Setton, if you want to apply for altering the arrest order in Eschyle City and investigate the death cause of the 2 previous wild reward hunters, go back freely. I can deal with it myself! Unless you put a new arrest order in front of me, I swear to bring that man's head back!" after saying this icily, the female directly rushed towards southwest without even glancing at Setton. Her moving speed could almost match that of Zhang Tie.

After glancing at that disappearing background with a concerned look, Setton let out a sigh before finally following up.

...

Zhang Tie ran so fast. At dusk, Zhang Tie had already arrived 400 km away from the Maple Leaf Castle and found a mountain cave in the wild, even though the the path was always tortuous. After that, Zhang Tie entered Castle of Black Iron that he had not entered for a few days.

...

At the sight of the 7 seven-strength fruits of iron-teeth hyenas hanging over the small tree, Zhang Tie realized that it might be his wisest decision to leave Huaiyuan Palace this time.

Besides the 7 seven-strength fruits of iron-teeth hyenas, there were 2 more fruits on the small tree, which made Zhang Tie smirk, one was fruit of brilliance, the other was fruit of judgment that he had been long expecting for...

——Fruit of Judgment. Fruit of Judgment has become ripe. It contains a god's rune effect——"Hiding". Usage: After picking it, paste it on your forehead; activate it with your spiritual energy. Notice: The fruit cannot be taken out of the Castle of Black Iron. After twelve hours of having been picked off the tree, its energy and vitality will gradually decline.

——Warrior, the one who waves his blades towards the darkness, the sun will not always hang over the sky. Because it knows that it's necessary to give the stage of the sky to stars so as to hide itself on the other side of the world. After that, it will be able to expect for the arrival of the next dawn after darkness.