The Escape Plan

Although Ye Qiang was under immense pressure from the three disciples of the Wuji Sword Sect, who were all more powerful than him, he remained incredibly calm.

Despite his youthful appearance, which gave the impression of naivety and immaturity, Ye Qiang was actually a mature, steady, and sharp-witted individual. He was particularly skilled in psychological tactics.

Unconsciously, Ye Qiang had adapted to the survival rules of this world and had been striving toward his goal, hoping that one day he could achieve his true potential. He dreamed of living freely, wandering the world without worry, doing whatever he pleased, and attracting all the beautiful women in the world.

In a forest at the center of the Black Mountain Range, Ye Qiang and the three disciples of the Wuji Sword Sect found themselves standing in a clearing surrounded by dark, towering trees. The ground was littered with rocks of all sizes.

After locking eyes with Gao Feng, one of the disciples from the Wuji Sword Sect, Ye Qiang, undeterred by Gao Feng's threat, smirked slyly and said, "You want fairness, right?"

"Fine!" he continued. "Then let's see who can run faster."

Without further hesitation, Ye Qiang swiftly turned his body and, with a burst of speed, dashed away. Before the three disciples had time to react, he was already ten steps away, heading toward a dense thicket of bushes.

His speed was like an arrow just released from a bow, flying straight into the thick underbrush.

The three disciples of the Wuji Sword Sect seemed to have anticipated Ye Qiang's move. Almost instantly, they followed, chasing after him at full speed into the dense bushes.

"Slippery Blood Sword Sect brat!" Gao Feng yelled furiously as he chased after Ye Qiang. "You'd better pray I don't catch you!"

"If I get my hands on you, I'll skin you alive!"

Ye Qiang paid no attention to their threats and ran with all his might, feeling an adrenaline rush from the chase.

However, as he ran, Ye Qiang realized this strategy wouldn't work. Even though he was putting in all his effort, he couldn't outrun the three disciples, whose cultivation was a full stage above his own.

For every ten steps Ye Qiang took, they managed to cover thirteen. This disparity made him feel a tinge of concern.

After running desperately through the dense thicket, Ye Qiang arrived at the edge of a desolate valley and stopped, refusing to go any further.

He had heard stories about this place—it was known as the Black Giant Mountain, a place with an extremely high mortality rate. It was said to be home to highly powerful demonic beasts that served as guardians, and it was also the prime location for inner disciples of the Seven Great Sword Sects to complete their sect tasks and search for treasures.

Inner disciples of the Seven Great Sword Sects could reach the Black Giant Mountain instantly using a teleportation array.

The lowest-level demon beasts in the Black Giant Mountain were as powerful as those in the Silver Stage, and they were all highly intelligent, higher-tier creatures. Any cultivator who hadn't reached the Silver Stage would be walking into certain death.

Additionally, the disciples of the Seven Great Sword Sects harbored such intense hatred for each other that they would draw their swords as soon as they encountered one another.

There were also rogue cultivators without sect affiliations, most of whom arrived via the teleportation array from the Holy City. Many of them came in search of rare materials found only in the Black Giant Mountain.

As Ye Qiang saw the distance between him and the three disciples of the Wuji Sword Sect narrowing, he quickly took out the Beast Heart from the Brutal Wolf King, which was still hanging from his waist. He removed the black cloth that was covering the glowing Beast Heart.

At that moment, the dazzling light of the Beast Heart shone brightly in Ye Qiang's hand, and within seconds, tens of thousands of fierce demonic beasts began rushing toward the light.

The sounds of howling wolves and ghostly wails filled the air, as the beasts' roars and growls echoed through the forest. The dust kicked up by their stampede was enough to blanket the entire mountain range.

This was exactly the scene Ye Qiang had been hoping for.

In his mind, Ye Qiang silently thanked the Wuji Sword Sect girl, Meng'er. If she hadn't neglected to search him earlier, he never would have been able to execute this plan to escape in the chaos and leave Gao Feng fuming with rage.

Due to the dense, crisscrossing thicket, Ye Qiang used a zigzag running pattern, making it difficult for the three disciples of the Wuji Sword Sect to catch up. This allowed him to gain a twenty-step lead.

Once the three disciples emerged from the tangled bushes, they found Ye Qiang standing by a massive stone gap at the entrance of a cliff. Inside the gap, the Black Giant Mountain loomed ahead—a desolate area filled with swirling dust and terrifying demonic beasts that looked as if they had emerged from the very depths of hell.

"Hmph, cunning Blood Sword Sect brat!" Gao Feng sneered as he closed the distance between them. "Let's see where you run to now! You dare to trick the Wuji Sword Sect ancestors! Prepare to die!"

At this moment, Ye Qiang had already hidden the shining Beast Heart behind his waist.

This Beast Heart, obtained from the Brutal Wolf King he had killed at just the right moment, was something Ye Qiang valued deeply. He was not about to hand it over before returning to his sect.

Ye Qiang ignored the enraged Gao Feng and instead focused on the distant mountain forest.

As Ye Qiang gazed out, he saw the massive dust storm in the distance, moving rapidly toward him in a well-coordinated fashion.

Meanwhile, Gao Feng, seeing that Ye Qiang had ignored him, became even angrier. His eyes were now filled with murderous intent.

Unable to control his emotions any longer, Gao Feng shouted and raised his sword, ready to strike at Ye Qiang.

Just then, Meng'er, the Wuji Sword Sect girl, and the scar-faced youth suddenly noticed a faint tremor beneath their feet. Turning around, they saw the massive dust storm in the distant forest rapidly approaching them.

The scar-faced youth and Meng'er both realized immediately—those were the demonic beasts!

Meng'er, in a desperate attempt to stop her senior brother from attacking, used her stunningly beautiful body to block his path. With urgency, she pointed at the forest where they had just been and said, "Look over there! There's a huge commotion!"

Hearing his junior sister's warning, Gao Feng snapped out of his rage. He turned and followed her gaze toward the direction she pointed.

As Gao Feng looked in the direction Meng'er indicated, he saw the massive dust storm sweeping across the area, covering the dense thicket from which they had just emerged, and it was rapidly heading toward them.