Chapter 170: Mysterious Beast

In the mist-shrouded depths of the mountains, an icy blur swept past.

Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged on Xiao Han's back, his spirit perception spreading outwards. Although the mist here could obscure direction, Zhou Yuan's powerful spirit allowed him to barely perceive his surroundings and guide their path.

“Fly left,” Zhou Yuan commanded.

Xiao Han immediately flapped its wings, veering to the left and darting forward.

“We've already delved deep into these mountains,” Zhou Yuan said, glancing back with cold eyes. “They're still relentlessly pursuing us. They certainly have patience.”

He could sense the persistent, shadow-like presences in the distance behind them, a clear indication that Wu Huang and his group had no intention of giving up easily.

“What now?” Zhen Xu asked in a low voice. “If we go any deeper, we'll encounter Fourth-Grade Origin Beasts.”

Zhou Yuan squinted, gazing into the depths of the mist. Faint golden light seemed to shimmer in and out of view, indicating they were approaching the Golden Pool. Simultaneously, he began to sense powerful Origin Qi fluctuations.

The owners of those Origin Qi fluctuations were likely the guardian beasts of the Golden Pool.

“Go in!” Zhou Yuan declared decisively.

Luluo bit her lip, then patted Xiao Han, which let out a clear cry and surged forward with dramatically increased speed. Within a few minutes, Zhou Yuan and his companions found themselves emerging from the mist.

Beyond the mist lay an ancient forest, where towering ancient trees stood sentinel.

Just as Zhou Yuan's group burst out of the mist, a mighty roar echoed, and a colossal shadow descended from above, carrying immense and terrifying power.

Xiao Han deftly darted away, evading the shadow.

The shadow crashed heavily where Zhou Yuan's group had just been, cracking the ground. As dust billowed, they saw a colossal ape covered in scales, standing ferociously with crimson beast eyes fixed on them.

Powerful Origin Qi fluctuations swirled around the scaled ape, like a raging storm.

A Fourth-Grade Origin Beast!

Feeling its fierce might, the eyes of Zhou Yuan and his two companions narrowed. Facing an Origin Beast of this caliber, they would have to exert all their strength just to contend with it.

No sooner had the scaled ape appeared than the mist rippled again. Following closely, six figures shot out, landing not far from Zhou Yuan's group.

These six figures were, of course, the pursuing Wu Huang, Ye Ming, and their allies.

Seeing more intruders, the scaled ape roared in fury, opening its blood-stained mouth wide. Its massive body leaped into the air, and its enormous fist, generating astonishing wind pressure, slammed towards Wu Huang and his group like a cannonball.

Even before the fist wind landed, the ground beneath had already begun to collapse, forming a fist print.

Wu Huang watched the scaled ape enlarge in his eyes with an indifferent expression. He took a step forward, clenching his fist, and stomped his foot, cracking the ground. His figure appeared directly before the scaled ape, his fist seeming like a rising scorching sun, possessing a brilliant and irresistible might.

Man and beast clashed violently in mid-air, and visible shockwaves of power raged outwards, even causing the air to constantly rupture with explosive sounds.

Amidst the brutal impact, the scaled ape actually let out a wail. Its massive body was sent hurtling backward, crashing onto the ground and making the entire earth tremble.

The scaled ape tore a long trench in the ground, continuously snapping ancient trees as it slid.

In contrast, Wu Huang only retreated a dozen steps before lightly descending, his expression still indifferent.

Among the group from Dongxuan Continent, all four others, besides Ye Ming, cast astonished glances at Wu Huang.

“That guy is insane!” Luluo couldn't help but exclaim.

She had previously needed to exert every ounce of her strength to defeat a Fourth-Grade Origin Beast, yet Wu Huang had openly overpowered one from the front.

Even Zhen Xu's emotionless, pale face showed a hint of solemnity.

Wu Huang looked at Zhou Yuan with emotionless eyes and stated indifferently, “Did you think hiding here would make me wary?”

Zhou Yuan looked at Wu Huang and seemed to smile, but there was a hint of mockery in that smile.

It was at this moment that the scaled ape, which had been sent flying by Wu Huang's punch, rose again, letting out a deafening roar of fury.

The roar echoed far and wide, reverberating through the forest.

Boom! Boom!

Immediately after, in the depths of the forest, violent surges of Origin Qi suddenly erupted. As the forest trembled, four more massive beasts streaked forth, appearing behind the scaled ape.

These four beasts were all enveloped in Origin Qi; they were all, surprisingly, Fourth-Grade Origin Beasts.

Wu Huang's and Ye Ming's expressions finally shifted slightly.

“What a move, to drive tigers to devour wolves,” Ye Ming remarked, glancing at Zhou Yuan.

“Unfortunately, it won't do much good.”

He stared at the five Fourth-Grade Origin Beasts ahead, and black whirlpools slowly spun in his pupils. A strange fluctuation emanated from him.

The scaled ape and the other Fourth-Grade Origin Beasts paused, their massive bodies stiffening. Black whirlpools remarkably appeared in their beast eyes, as if they had fallen into an illusion.

Bloody tears fell from the corners of Ye Ming's eyes, and a hint of exhaustion appeared in his gaze.

“He... he actually controlled all five Fourth-Grade Origin Beasts?” Luluo exclaimed in shock.

Zhou Yuan's eyes also narrowed. “That's an ocular technique powered by spiritual strength,” he explained. “Origin Beasts have powerful physical bodies, but their spirits are weak, so he can coincidentally subdue them.”

“To the Golden Pool!” Zhou Yuan stated gravely.

As soon as he spoke, Xiao Han flapped its wings and shot forward.

“Today, none of you will escape!” Wu Huang's cold voice rang out. His figure transformed into a streak of crimson light, shooting forth with the speed of lightning, hot on their heels.

Behind him, Ye Ming and the others swiftly followed.

Boom! Boom!

The two groups, one pursuing and one fleeing, created a huge commotion deep within the mountain range.

Within a few minutes, they had crossed peak after peak. Suddenly, a brilliant golden light burst forth before them. A colossal mountain stood ahead, its summit a volcanic crater. From within the crater emanated boundless, dazzling golden light, like a shimmering golden pool.

“The Golden Pool!” Luluo stared at the mountaintop, her beautiful eyes gleaming.

Behind them, Wu Huang, Ye Ming, and their group rapidly closed in. Gazing at the dazzling Golden Pool, expressions of desire appeared in their eyes as well.

“It seems this Golden Pool's fortune is destined for us,” Ye Ming said, clapping his hands and smiling. “We have you to thank for leading the way.”

However, just as Ye Ming's laughter faded, a series of beast roars suddenly reverberated through the heavens and earth. Then, both Zhou Yuan's group and Wu Huang's group, including Ye Ming, watched with narrowed eyes as massive beasts appeared on the colossal mountain, their crimson beast eyes locking onto them.

A good dozen Fourth-Grade Origin Beasts!

This lineup made both Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang's groups change their expressions.

However, it wasn't over. As each massive beast appeared, they all prostrated themselves, lowering their heads towards the mountaintop as if in worship.

“It's said that there's a mysterious Origin Beast leader here at the Golden Pool, one that has even subdued numerous Fourth-Grade Origin Beasts,” Zhen Xu said, his expression grim.

Zhou Yuan's brows furrowed tightly. It seemed the rumors were true. They were truly unlucky now, caught between a rock and a hard place.

“If things go south, stir up trouble and retreat quickly,” Zhou Yuan whispered.

Luluo and Zhen Xu both nodded. At this point, even Luluo no longer coveted the Golden Pool.

Behind them, Wu Huang and Ye Ming's expressions also became solemn, as they could vaguely sense an extremely astonishing fluctuation deep within the golden light.

Under their wary gazes, a low, majestic growl emanated from the summit of the colossal mountain. All the Origin Beasts covering the mountain trembled at the sound.

Within the golden light, a colossal shadow seemed to slowly emerge. Finally, the shadow stepped out of the golden light and into everyone's view.

However, the moment that shadow appeared, everyone froze. The creature that emerged was not a colossal beast at all, but rather a small, grey, dog-like creature.

The small beast yawned lazily, its beast eyes haughtily surveying the crowd.

Zhou Yuan and Luluo also stared blankly at the scene before them. Then they couldn't help but rub their eyes vigorously, their expressions becoming incredibly vivid.

“Zhou Yuan… am I seeing things? Doesn't that little beast look like, Tun Tun?” Luluo asked hesitantly.

Zhou Yuan remained silent for a long moment before nodding emphatically.

“You're not mistaken!”

“While we're out here fighting for our lives, this little rascal has made itself king of the mountain!”