Scared to Tears

Shan Shan said, "Let's go in. If we encounter any demonic beasts below the fifth level of Pill Condensation, we'll take turns attacking them to showcase our skills." 

"If it's between the sixth level of Pill Condensation and the Yuan Ying realm, we'll attack together. But if it's a Yuan Ying demonic beast, we run—no exceptions. However, there shouldn't be any Yuan Ying beasts roaming these outer areas."

The others nodded in agreement.

Ping An also nodded, having gained a rough understanding of Shan Shan and her companions' cultivation levels. He was eager to see what these so-called demonic beasts looked like and get a chance to fight them.

In his mind, demonic beasts were huge, frightening creatures.

But he would have to see for himself.

The six of them ventured into the forest. Shan Shan and her friends seemed very familiar with the area. To save time, they began dashing at incredible speeds.

Ping An circulated his inner energy to his feet and ran alongside them. Surprisingly, he could keep up without falling behind.

Moreover, he didn't feel the slightest fatigue.

According to the system, his spiritual energy was inexhaustible, always remaining at full capacity.

While Shan Shan and the others might eventually expend their spiritual energy, he could presumably fight indefinitely.

For a man, stamina was paramount.

To Ping An's delight, no matter how fast they ran, Black Dog could trail two or three yards behind them.

This sight astonished not only Ping An but also Shan Shan and her friends, who sensed no cultivating aura from the black dog.

They couldn't help but wonder: Was this dog truly a demonic beast?

Pan Hang's face darkened as if he had been slapped twice. Not long ago, he had dismissed the dog as ordinary.

He never expected to be proven wrong so quickly!

After running for a while, Shan Shan suddenly stopped ahead.

A massive creature was sprawled across the path.

Ping An looked over and saw a grey wolf, its body as large as a cow. Blood stained its muzzle, and its sharp fangs and cold gaze exuded an eerie, terrifying aura.

The grey wolf fixed its gaze on the uninvited guests.

Shan Shan observed the wolf and said, "Fifth level of Pill Condensation. Who wants to take it on?"

Before she finished speaking, a blur of motion shot towards the wolf—it was Pan Hang.

He wielded a sword that radiated a chilling, sharp glow. With a haughty expression, he treated the demonic beast like a plaything to be toyed with.

Seeing Pan Hang approach, the grey wolf opened its bloody maw and howled, charging at him with a bloodthirsty gaze.

Demonic beasts varied in intelligence depending on their species. Some weaker ones possessed remarkable intelligence, while stronger ones might only have bloodthirsty instincts.

This grey wolf belonged to the latter category, intent on devouring Ping An and his companions without regard for their numbers.

Pan Hang closed in on the wolf in the blink of an eye. Instead of a head-on clash, he swiftly dodged the wolf's fierce lunge.

His cold sword flashed as he slashed at the wolf's hind legs.

The wolf howled in pain and whirled around to attack again, but Pan Hang's speed and reflexes allowed him to evade every strike while counterattacking.

Within moments, the grey wolf collapsed to the ground with a thunderous impact.

Pan Hang sheathed his sword with a haughty sneer. "Trash," he spat at the wolf's corpse.

Shan Shan and the others smiled approvingly at Pan Hang's display of power, but Ping An frowned slightly.

Although Pan Hang was undoubtedly formidable, Ping An still disliked him—there was something unsettling about the man.

Moreover, Ping An could tell that Pan Hang hadn't used his full strength.

Pan Hang's showboating after defeating the demonic beast and his delay in delivering the finishing blow struck Ping An as rather amusing.

He was tempted to say, "Aren't you worried the wolf might be feigning death and attack while you're gloating?"

If it were him, he would have ensured the beast's demise before celebrating his victory.

After reveling in his triumph, Pan Hang finally checked the wolf's vitals. Confirming its death, he stored the corpse in his inter-spatial ring.

Demonic beast remains could be sold at the Treasure Gathering Hall for around ten or so spirit stones.

As Pan Hang claimed the spoils, a thought occurred to Ping An: "I wonder if demonic beast meat is any good..."

He figured it would be tastier than regular animal meat. The next time he hunted a demonic beast, he would have to preserve some meat and experiment with cooking it.

Liu Shuai, having glanced at Pan Hang's display, paid it no further attention. Instead, he turned his gaze towards Ping An, eager to witness him engage a demonic beast in combat.

Ping An wielding a divine weapon was one thing, but Liu Shuai had also noticed Black Dog's exceptional abilities during their sprint.

This affirmed his belief that the black dog was no ordinary canine and would make a formidable partner for Ping An against demonic beasts.

The more he contemplated, the more excited Liu Shuai became.

The group continued their journey and soon encountered another demonic beast—a leopard.

Smaller than the grey wolf, its size was typical for its species, closely matching Ping An's expectations.

This leopard was relatively weak, only at the second level of Pill Condensation.

"A mere second level of Pill Condensation. Who wants some practice?" Shan Shan asked, looking at Ping An meaningfully.

Ping An understood her implication—he was the only one present at the early stages of Pill Condensation, while the others were at the fifth level, with Shan Shan at the sixth.

Nodding, Ping An took a deep breath and charged forward with his Golden Feather divine weapon, shouting, "Little Black, attack!"

Black Dog followed closely behind.

Strangely, as soon as they advanced a few steps, the leopard turned and fled at a terrifying speed, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

As it fled, the leopard howled menacingly, as if taunting, "Wait for me, I'll be back!"

Shan Shan and her companions were unfazed by this behavior, only remarking on the leopard's remarkable intelligence.

"That demonic beast is quite intelligent, recognizing our numerical advantage and fleeing," Shan Shan explained with a smile.

Da Gui nodded and chuckled, "Indeed, leopard demonic beasts are known for their high intelligence and agility. That one scampered away so swiftly that we couldn't catch up. Its frantic howling likely meant it was calling for reinforcements—telling us not to run, as it would bring more beasts."

Pan Hang merely scoffed, finding the whole affair dull. He had hoped to witness Ping An's true abilities and perhaps an opportunity to mock his inadequacies.

But the leopard's abrupt retreat dashed those expectations.

Liu Shuai's perspective differed from Shan Shan and the others. He had observed the leopard's reaction closely.

Its eyes had widened, and its body had trembled—clear signs of witnessing something terrifying.

Moreover, the speed at which it fled seemed far beyond that of a second-level Pill Condensation beast.

Ping An stared perplexedly at the retreating leopard, disappointed at missing the chance to test his full capabilities.

The system had rated him at the first level of Pill Condensation, but he was uncertain of his exact strength.

With the system granting him unlimited spiritual energy, he might even be capable of punching above his weight and defeating opponents at the Pill Condensation peak!

Black Dog's expression turned strange as he eyed the Golden Feather divine weapon. "I've always sensed a leakage of draconic might, especially when attacking. Now it seems I was correct."

The leopard's frantic retreat and terrified howls were evidence enough.

Upon closer inspection, the path of the fleeing leopard was even marked by a trail of liquid...