Chapter 22: The Arrival of the Beast

A deafening screech pierced the night sky, drawing everyone's attention. From a distance, a massive black shape soared toward the village, its silhouette blotting out the moonlight. As it drew closer, the villagers gasped in awe and terror at the sight of the creature—a demonic beast resembling a hawk but far larger than any bird they had ever seen. Its wingspan stretched as wide as an elephant, each flap stirring up dark winds that rolled across the land like ominous storm clouds.

The beast's feathers shimmered with an unnatural sheen, absorbing light rather than reflecting it. Its eyes glowed crimson, radiating malice and predatory intent. The aura emanating from the creature was unmistakable—it belonged to the early Foundation Establishment stage, far surpassing anything the villagers could handle individually.

Perched atop its head sat a young man, his presence equally unsettling. Clad in luxurious robes embroidered with intricate patterns, he exuded arrogance and menace. His face was pale, almost translucent, as though he hadn't seen sunlight in years. His features were delicate yet devilish, with sharp cheekbones and lips curled into a cruel smirk. Long, flowing hair framed his feminine visage, giving him an eerie, otherworldly appearance.

As the beast descended, murmurs of fear rippled through the crowd. Beads of sweat trickled down their foreheads, and even seasoned warriors tightened their grips on their weapons. Only the village chief remained outwardly composed, though his expression grew increasingly grim.

Beside him, the Hunting Elder Li Jianhong appeared suddenly, revealing the faintly glowing red mark on his right hand. It pulsed rhythmically, as if alive, casting an eerie glow over his clenched fist.

"They are here," Li Jianhong muttered grimly, his voice low enough for only the chief to hear.

Without hesitation, the village chief turned to the gathered villagers and barked orders. "Prepare for battle! Archers take positions on the rooftops. Warriors, form ranks near the gates. Everyone else, retreat inside!"

A battle horn blared, echoing through the village as the inhabitants scrambled to follow his commands. Chaos erupted momentarily before order was restored, with every villager contributing to the defense effort.

Inside his modest hut, Lin Feng heard the commotion outside but didn't rush out immediately. Instead, he hastily summoned his Medicinal Pellet Martial Soul, using its effects to recover some of the fatigue accumulated from hours of intense training earlier that day.

"What should I do?" he mused quietly, weighing his options. "Should I escape? Now might be the perfect opportunity."

For someone who had recently reincarnated into this world, Lin Feng harbored no deep attachment to the village. Though the villagers—including the chief—had treated him kindly, survival instincts often outweighed sentimentality. If enemies surrounded the village from all sides, attempting to flee now could lead straight into a trap.

"But what if there's another way?" he thought, hesitating. "I'll wait and see how things unfold. There's no point rushing into danger blindly."

With that decision made, Lin Feng steeled himself, preparing to act when the time came. For now, he remained hidden, observing the situation from within the safety of his home.

Outside, the demon beast landed gracefully, sending tremors through the ground beneath its talons. The young man seated atop its head surveyed the village with disdainful amusement, his crimson eyes scanning the trembling villagers below.

Seeing the intruder, the village chief stepped forward, leaping onto the roof of a nearby house to address him directly. Fully releasing his cultivation base, his aura surged like a radiant sun, offering a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness surrounding the beast.

"Excellency," the chief began, his tone measured despite the tension in the air, "who might you be, and what brings you to our humble village?"

The young man sneered, clearly unimpressed by the display of power. Beside him, the demon beast screeched shrilly, recoiling slightly under the pressure of the chief's overwhelming presence.

"Hmph," the youth harrumphed coldly, releasing his own aura. It clashed violently with the chief's, creating ripples in the air that sent weaker cultivators stumbling backward.

"I am Leng Mengli, an outer sect disciple of The Fangbound Dominion ," he declared arrogantly. "Now kneel before me."

His words sparked panic among the villagers.

"What?! A sect?!"

"Aren't they powerful forces from the cities?"

"What does he want with us?"

Whispers spread like wildfire, fear gripping their hearts. Sects were infamous for their ruthlessness, and encountering one so openly was unheard of in such a remote village.

The village chief frowned deeply, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized the young man. "Your Excellency, you are being unreasonable. Weren't you the ones who murdered our men yesterday?"

Leng Mengli chuckled darkly, making no effort to deny the accusation. "And why do you assume it was me?"

"You reek of blood, and your aura is tainted," the chief countered sharply. "Moreover, your beast carries the same markings as the one responsible for marking my comrade."

Leng Mengli smirked, leaning back casually on the beast's head. "Ah, you're smarter than you look, old man. 'The older the tree, the deeper the roots.' But tell me—what makes you think you can oppose me?"

"You…" the chief growled, anger flashing in his eyes.

Before he could respond further, the villagers' outrage boiled over. Unable to contain their fury, several archers fired their arrows infused with spiritual energy. Dozens of projectiles streaked through the air like a wave of light, aimed directly at the beast and its rider.

"Peasants! How dare you!" Leng Mengli snarled, slapping the top of the beast's head. In response, a glowing mark identical to the one on Li Jianhong's arm shone on the creature's forehead. Its aura surged dramatically, growing even more menacing.

With a piercing shriek, the beast unleashed a shockwave from its mouth, knocking the arrows aside effortlessly. It then slapped toward the villagers, claws extended, ready to tear them apart.

"Stop!" Li Jianhong shouted, stepping forward without hesitation. His Grade 5 martial soul materialized above him—a realistic-looking yellow spear that shimmered faintly with ancient runes. This martial soul fused seamlessly with his own spear, imbuing it with additional Qi and strength granting it the properties comparable to a spiritual artifact.

Li Jianhong gripped the enhanced spear tightly, his resolve unwavering. This was personal—he sought revenge not only for the slain villagers but also for the humiliation of bearing the beast's mark.

"Boom!"

With a mighty roar, he charged forward, spear gleaming as he prepared to confront the monstrous foe.

A large explosion erupted as dust and shockwaves burst forth, momentarily obscuring the battlefield. When the debris settled, everyone could see Li Jianhong standing firm, his upper robe tattered but otherwise unharmed. His arm trembled slightly from the recoil of the clash, yet no injuries marred his body. Opposite him, the massive demonic beast had been pushed back several meters into the air, its wings flapping furiously to stabilize itself.

The villagers stared in awe at the spectacle, their hope reignited by the elder's display of strength. However, Leng Mengli merely smirked, unfazed by the outcome.

"What is this mark?" Li Jianhong demanded, his voice laced with anger and determination. He held up his marked hand, the red symbol pulsing ominously.

Leng Mengli chuckled, leaning casually against the head of his beast. "Not bad," he admitted, his tone dripping with condescension. "But let me enlighten you about your unfortunate predicament. This mark comes from one of our sect's secret techniques—a forbidden art that corrupts beasts with our aura, making them obedient to our will."

He paused dramatically, savoring the horrified expressions on the villagers' faces before continuing. "When applied to a beast, the mark allows us to control it completely. And here's the beauty of it—if the marked beast is slain, the mark doesn't disappear. Instead, it transfers to another nearby creature—or even a human."

Li Jianhong's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean…"

"Yes," Leng Mengli interrupted smugly. "If the mark lands on a human, we can't directly control them like we do beasts. But we can track their movements. It's quite useful for hunting down prey or locating hidden villages like yours."

He gestured toward the beast beneath him, its glowing mark shimmering malevolently. "Our library mentions an advanced version of this technique—one that grants control over humans as well. Imagine entire armies bending to your will without question. Unfortunately, I haven't mastered that level yet. Still, what I have now is more than enough to deal with pests like you."

The young man's grin widened as he elaborated further. "We release these marked beasts into the wild, letting them roam freely. They act as scouts, gathering resources and information for our sect. And wouldn't you know it? Thanks to your little stunt previously, this beast found its way here, leading me straight to your village."

His crimson eyes gleamed with malice as he added, "Besides, this place is conveniently far from the reach of other sects. No one would dare interfere if I decided to… clean up loose ends."

The crowd murmured nervously, fear spreading like wildfire. Even the bravest among them couldn't suppress shivers at the thought of being hunted so ruthlessly.

"But why wait until today?" the village chief interjected sharply, his voice cutting through the tension. "Why not attack immediately after marking my comrade?"

Leng Mengli shrugged nonchalantly. "Patience, old man. Yesterday was all about instilling terror—making sure none of you dared to flee. Fear keeps people docile, and predictable. Today, however…" His expression darkened, and his aura surged menacingly. "…today is when I reap the rewards."

He rose to his feet atop the beast, raising a hand adorned with intricate rings. "My ultimate goal is simple—to turn this entire village into a sea of blood. By absorbing the life force of every soul here, I'll push my cultivation to the Golden Core Stage. A small sacrifice for such immense power, don't you think?"

The villagers recoiled in horror, realizing they were nothing more than pawns in his twisted ambitions. Parents clutched their children tightly, while warriors tightened their grips on their weapons, ready to fight to the death.

Li Jianhong gritted his teeth, rage boiling within him. "You won't get away with this!" he roared, tightening his hold on the spear.

"Oh, but I already have," Leng Mengli replied with a cruel laugh. "Now, shall we begin?"