Roaaaaaaaar!!!
The Immortal Stage Beast bellowed, sending a shockwave with just its voice alone. The hybrid between the lion and a tiger was trapped with no escape inside a canyon.
Bang!
Xiao Wen deflected the incoming attack with her sword, standing at the front with Wuying.
"We did it! It cannot escape anymore!" Yiren called out excitedly and turned around, smashing her foot on the ground.
Rumble!
A thick wall rose at the exit, locking them up with the beast. Countless roars and scratching resounded immediately from the other side of the wall but Yiren wasn't really bothered, keeping her hands on the wall.
"Go! I will hold them off till the leader is dead!" She called out courageously to which everyone nodded, turning to face the Immortal Stage Beast in front of them.
It was the last group leader in the Hidden Realm, one of the most powerful. They already killed all of the other leaders over the course of last year while leaving most of the underlings alone.
They didn't want to ruin the realm's ecosystem by killing most of the beasts. There will always be a new leader from the survivors but once the whole pack was wiped out, they wouldn't magically appear once again.
Grrrrrrrr…
Five meters tall Immortal Beast glared at them, scratching the ground with its claws while growling, its lush mane burning with flames. It has been chased by them for over a week and it was smart enough to know how powerful they have become.
Too bad, it didn't have a choice but to face them.
"It's already wounded, barely breathing. Just end him," Drakos called out casually from above, standing at the edge of the cliff, overseeing the battle just in case.
If the Immortal Beast tried to run away again, he would just smack it back inside with Bella. They didn't help their group at all in hunting as that would be pointless. Same reason why Xuefeng didn't use his Elemental Bracelet in any of his battles, aiming to improve his battle skills instead.
"You think they are blind or what? They were the ones who wounded him so they obviously know," Bella scolded, pinching him on the cheek. "Just watch. Don't disturb them."
She was sitting on his back, already treating him like her personal pet yet he didn't seem to mind.
"Watch out for his flames!" Xuefeng warned, recognizing the incoming attack.
They were already familiar with its abilities after many battles with it.
"Don't worry! I got it!" Xiao Wen volunteered, her sword and arms already wrapping up with Fire Qi.
Just as the Immortal Beast was about to send its wave of flames, it stopped, no longer gazing at Xiao Wen. Aiming at the walls of the canyon above them, it spat multiple fireballs instead.
"Don't even think about it!"
Xiao Wen extended her hand and exploded the fireballs one by one while the rest of the group rushed forward.
Did it really think they would just sit and watch?
Princess Shan slid on the wall of ice, bombarding one side with ice swords.
Wuying sent multiple blood shackles, piercing through the beast's legs.
And Xuefeng was already above the beast, his Dragon Edge piercing straight down.
Multiply! Multiply! Multiply! Multiply!
Tens of Xuefeng's copies appeared next to him and all collapsed at the beast at the same time.
ROAAAR!!!
A painful cry resounded in the canyon as the beast dropped to the ground with tens of holes inside its body, quickly followed by angry cries of the whole pack. They realized their leader was killed and wanted revenge.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hundreds of beast began smashing against the wall, sending all attacks they could to break through the wall.
"I'm here," Nuwa assured her daughter as she suddenly appeared next to her, reinforcing the wall.
She was the flexible support, appearing on each front whenever she was needed, protecting everyone. If Xuefeng was losing, she would be right there to support him. If someone broke through their defenses, she would be there to face them.
Naturally, they were flexible. Knowing they were safe from the sides, Xuefeng launched his offense and Shan joined them as well, leaving the back-line for Wu and Yi.
"We collect the Spirit Artefact and leave. Get ready," Xuefeng repeated the usual, standing on the beast's back.
Xuefeng couldn't keep the body in Ling's world unless the Spirit already form the artefact.
Just as he expected, the Spirit Artefact had Fire Element attribute, knowing that most abilities the Immortal Beast had been fire-related.
"Wen, it's yours."
Xuefeng didn't hesitate and passed it to Xiao Wen before Ling sucked the giant body into her world. They have been collecting a lot of them over the past year. Some were eaten while the other could be sold, as a great material for crafting.
"Everyone, gather!" Xuefeng called out and the girls grouped up around him.
Only Yiren and Nuwa stayed behind, still holding the wall only to rush towards them.
Crack!
The wall cracked immediately, beasts constantly banging against it, and fell right after. Hundreds of beasts spilled inside like a wave, chasing after the two.
Suddenly, the wind blew from the entrance and wrapped around them, lifting them up in the air.
"Xuefeng!" Yiren called out, reaching out and he caught her into his arms.
"You did well," Xuefeng praised while kissing her on the head.
"Hehe."
Although she became much more mature after years of fights, she still liked to act cute in front of Xuefeng. Some things just didn't change.
"Everyone, it's time to go home," Xuefeng announced in the air and although everyone was reluctant, they nodded, following their plan.
"Mom, dad. We are coming back."
———
"Young Master Xuefeng is back! Young Master Xuefeng is back!"
The moment Liu Mei heard those words coming from a random cultivator on the street, her heart tightened, skipping its beat like never before.
She tried to forget.
She tried to throw away those innocent and immature feelings many times.
She thought she succeeded.
She thought she finally moved on.
Yet it turned out she never forgot him.
He was always in her heart, only slumbering for a little while.
The person who watched the beautiful sunset with her on the top of the building tightened his embrace around her, also hearing the shouts.
"Let's go," Wu Kong whispered into her ear. "You want to see him, right?"
He was much more mature compared to three years ago, his strength known by everyone in the Capital. More calm and stoic, no longer affected by his childish emotions.
Liu Mei was the same. They called her Lady Mei, the Spear God. The two naturally got together as they grew older, always staying with each other while Xuefeng slowly became a memory in their heads.
"But… I have you now…" Liu Mei muttered, turning around to face him.
At some point, she realized who was the one who cared for her the most. He was always by her side. Always protecting her. Xuefeng didn't. She was the one who chased blindly after him, idolizing him from young.
Then why was her heart beating so fast when she heard his name? Why did she still have feelings for him? He was never interested romantically in her. Treating her like little sister this whole time.
Then why?
Why?
"It's okay…" Wu Kong replied calmly while caressing her cheek. "If you don't meet him again, you will regret it. Let's go."
"…" Liu Mei hesitated, suddenly feeling scared.
How will she face him?
"I will always stay by your side and I won't leave you now as well. We will face him together," Wu Kong added and suddenly jumped, flying to the sky with Liu Mei in his arms.
'We will face him together…' Liu Mei repeated in her mind, hugging into Wu Kong's chest.
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