Chapter 250: One Side Plays

"Of course! I bought this formation from the Formation Master Guild at a great cost. It can trap even an expert at the initial stage of the Tongxuan realm, let alone a small Aperture Acupoint realm savage beast!"Yun Tao waved his hand dismissively and looked over, his expression unconcerned, "What, do you doubt the power of the Azure Wood Trapping Formation?"

"No, not at all!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "I just feel that this formation's setup is a bit off; it might not be able to unleash its full power..."

"What arrogance! Do you even know what a formation is?""Some bumpkin who appeared out of nowhere dares to question the formation set up by His Royal Highness Prince Yun Tao?""You don't know your place..."Zhang Xuan's words were cut short by a chorus of angry voices.It was Yun Tao's subordinates.They had all overheard the conversation between this young man and their prince. A mere youngster who didn't even know what a formation was, claiming the setup was wrong...How could he be so presumptuous?Did he know what purpose these formation flags served once placed? Did he know how powerful this formation would be once activated?Knowing nothing, he spoke so carelessly—it was utterly audacious.

"Ahem, Teacher Zhang, if you don't understand, perhaps it's better not to speak..."Hearing the rebukes from the crowd, Shen Bi Ru's pretty face flushed.She was somewhat speechless with this Teacher Zhang.Directly saying the setup was wrong—wasn't that equivalent to mocking Prince Yun Tao to his face?Although the prince was a bit arrogant, his abilities were genuine. Since Zhang Xuan didn't understand formations, it was unwise to say too much and offend someone who was about to become a beast tamer before heading to the Beast Hall.

Seeing everyone's indignation, Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly.Indeed, honest advice often grates on the ear. He had originally intended to say more, but given their attitude, he couldn't be bothered with further wasted words.

"The path of formations is as vast as the open sea. Since you know nothing about it, don't speak carelessly. Fortunately, I am magnanimous; otherwise, just for that one remark, I could teach you a good lesson—even beating you to death would be a light punishment!"Interrupting his subordinates, Yun Tao glanced at Zhang Xuan, snorted, and then pointed forward with confidence and pride. "This Azure Wood Trapping Formation, when reliant on wood, gains immense power. This place is full of vegetation and concealed by weeds, making it ideal for deployment. In a moment, I'll show you how the formation displays its might and captures the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard!"

"Alright then!"Seeing the other party's confident expression, clearly intending to show off in front of Shen Bi Ru, Zhang Xuan said no more and stood quietly to the side.

Yun Tao nodded in satisfaction. Just as he was about to continue boasting about the formation's power, he heard a roar from straight ahead.Immediately afterward, a massive figure darted forward.It was a Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard!This savage beast, at the Aperture Acupoint realm, was over four meters long including its tail. Its golden-yellow body was covered in bluish-black spots. Even from hundreds of meters away, it exuded a powerful sense of oppression.

"It's here..."Yun Tao's eyes lit up. He no longer bothered with Zhang Xuan, anxiously looking forward.The Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard casually took a few steps forward, then, spotting the group, instinctively retreated a few steps, preparing to leave.

"Quick, light the substance!"Seeing the beast's movement, Yun Tao hurriedly instructed a subordinate.They had spent over ten days tracking it down; if it escaped now, finding it again would be difficult.

"Yes, sir!" The subordinate reacted, took out a packet of something, and immediately lit it with a tinderbox.Instantly, a strong, pungent stench emanated, making people dizzy and nauseous.

"This should be the feces of a female Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard. Burning it releases an incredibly strong odor that is repulsive to humans but has an irresistible attraction for male Iron-Spotted Leopards."Shen Bi Ru seemed knowledgeable about beast taming, offering a quiet explanation.

Suppressing his dizziness, Zhang Xuan truly wondered how this creature could be attracted to something so foul. He couldn't help but look forward. Sure enough, under the stimulating scent, the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard, which had initially intended to leave, hesitated for a moment and then began walking towards them.

As the beast drew closer, everyone began to feel the intense pressure emanating from it.With its ferocious face and streamlined body, even though it was an Aperture Acupoint realm savage beast, in a real fight, seven or eight humans of the same cultivation level would likely be no match for it.Savage beasts are naturally incredibly fast, and with their massive size and hide acting as a shield, while seemingly only at the Aperture Acupoint realm, they can actually challenge opponents of higher realms!In other words, the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard before them could even contend with an expert at the initial stage of the Tongxuan realm.

"Prepare to activate the formation!"Seeing the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard drawn by the scent and approaching, getting closer and closer to the Azure Wood Trapping Formation, Yun Tao excitedly clenched his fists.As long as he captured this beast and managed to tame it, his status as a beast tamer would be solidified!Returning to the kingdom with such a title would undoubtedly allow him to stand out among the other princes. Even if he couldn't inherit the throne, he would certainly receive double the favor.

"Hmm?"His excitement was short-lived. The large beast stopped about ten meters from the formation.Savage beasts that reached the Aperture Acupoint realm possessed their own intelligence. It had clearly sensed Yun Tao and his group's malicious intent. If not for the alluring scent of the burning feces, it would probably have fled far away long ago.

"Attack it and try to enrage it!"As expected of someone about to become a beast tamer, Yun Tao, though frustrated by its stop, quickly whispered instructions based on his understanding of savage beasts' attributes.

"Yes, sir!"Several subordinates, already prepared, nodded in unison. They took out their bows and arrows from their backs, nocked the arrows, and shot at the Iron-Spotted Leopard.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!The true qi of Aperture Acupoint realm experts, combined with special arrows, whistled through the air as they flew straight. Before they even reached it, the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard sensed the threat. Its fur bristled, and it leaped, dodging the attack.Though large, its body was exceptionally agile, and its speed could probably rival Lu Xun's Phantom Nine Palaces Steps.

"Keep going!"Yun Tao shouted loudly.Hearing the command, everyone increased their speed, and arrows rained down.

"Roar!"Seeing more and more arrows, the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard let out an angry roar. It seemed thoroughly enraged. With a massive bellow, it charged straight toward the group.

It hadn't taken more than a few steps before it stepped into the area where the formation flags had been placed. A faint hum sounded, and the Azure Wood Trapping Formation instantly activated. The Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard immediately seemed to sink into a swamp or be enveloped by an iron cage, thrashing left and right but unable to move forward.

"This is a formation? How powerful!"Shen Bi Ru's expression tightened.She had just witnessed firsthand the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard's might. To see such a formidable savage beast, caught within something arranged by a few formation flags, utterly trapped and unable to escape—it was unbelievable unless witnessed directly.If she had stumbled into it unintentionally, she would certainly have found it difficult to escape as well."It seems in the future, when I go out, I must be wary of Formation Masters!" she secretly cautioned herself.The primary reason Formation Masters were respected among many professions was their ability to kill enemies beyond their own cultivation level.Given enough time to set up a formation in advance, even an opponent with superior strength could be easily slain.

"Let's see where you'll run this time!"Unaware of the apprehension growing in Shen Bi Ru's heart, Yun Tao chuckled, glancing at Zhang Xuan with an air of triumph.Didn't you say the setup was off?Didn't it trap it instantly?With his hands clasped behind his back, Yun Tao looked at his subordinates and continued to instruct, "Everyone, no need to rush. Let the formation trap this fellow for a while longer to thoroughly exhaust its stamina!"

"Yes, sir!"The subordinates nodded, surrounding the area.

"Roar!"Just as Yun Tao and his group were planning to wait for the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard to be exhausted by the trapping formation before recovering it in one swift move, they heard another furious roar. The beast furiously slammed itself against the formation.

Crash!The formation trembled, and the previously concealed formation flags reappeared.

"Your Royal Highness, what should we do...?"Seeing the formation flags reappear after being hit, an Aperture Acupoint realm expert couldn't help but look over.

"What's there to panic about? Don't worry! The Azure Wood Formation, leveraging the terrain, can autonomously absorb the surrounding wood-attributed energy to increase its defense. It won't be able to break through it..."Yun Tao smiled confidently and waved his hand. Just as he was about to say more, the ground rumbled again, and several formation flags, unable to withstand the impact, flew out with a "whoosh!"

With the formation flags flying out, the Azure Wood Trapping Formation was instantly broken. The enraged Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard's massive body swayed, and it was already in front of Yun Tao, raising a paw to strike.

"Ah?"Yun Tao, who had been boasting and was confident his Azure Wood Trapping Formation would be fine, saw the beast suddenly right in front of him. He shrieked in fright, nearly collapsing to the ground.

"Insolent beast!""Your Highness, be careful!"Several Aperture Acupoint realm subordinates reacted at this moment. They lunged forward simultaneously, their various weapons unsheathed. Instantly, saber energy and sword energy whistled as they struck towards the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard.

Ignoring these attacks, the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard suddenly coiled its thick tail, whipping it with a whistling sound straight towards one of them. At the same moment, its massive paws swept horizontally, full of power.

Crack, crack, crack, crack!As expected of an Aperture Acupoint realm savage beast, Yun Tao's subordinates felt their entire bodies jolt. Their faces flushed, and they uniformly retreated, a sweet taste in their throats as they spewed blood.Though their combined efforts were formidable, they were still outmatched by a maddened Aperture Acupoint realm savage beast.

"Run!"Seeing that even his combined subordinates couldn't hold it back, Yun Tao was so terrified he nearly fainted. He cried out, and just as he was about to flee, he saw the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard, which had repelled his men, turn its massive body and charge towards Zhang Xuan and Shen Bi Ru.

"It's over..."His body stiffened.So many of his subordinates couldn't stop it; this beauty was only at the peak of the Dingli realm, and that ignorant boy was certainly even weaker. They were likely doomed.

Just as he thought the two were certainly doomed, he heard the ignorant boy's voice, full of exasperation."Are you stupid? They're the ones trying to catch you. Why are you coming after me?"

Hearing this, everyone's bodies swayed.Was this kid out of his mind?Now that it was enraged, speaking like that—what was he doing if not courting death?

Just as everyone thought the seemingly deranged fellow was surely doomed, they heard his exasperated voice again."If you don't leave, I'll have to act... Never mind, it seems reasoning won't work with you. Go play somewhere else!"The voice ended, followed by a resounding "smack."The Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard's massive figure was instantly sent flying backward, slamming headfirst into a large tree, frothing at the mouth, and convulsing uncontrollably.