Four second-order Thunder Apes had locked onto the Qin Family’s early Foundation Establishment cultivator. The man released two Tier 2 talismans in quick succession, creating a brief opening to launch himself into the air. However, one of the apes leaped with terrifying speed, closing the distance in a single bound.

A black horn on the ape’s forehead crackled with energy, and a bolt of lightning struck the fleeing cultivator mid-air.

“Aaaah!”

The man screamed as his body seized up, plummeting from the sky. He crashed heavily onto the ground, only to find several other Thunder Apes already waiting for him, teeth bared.

“Big Brother, save me!” he screamed desperately.

Qin Hu glanced back. The apes had already swarmed his clansman. There was no saving him.

Qin Hu gritted his teeth, turned his head, and accelerated away.

“Big Brother…” The cry was cut short by a sickening crunch.

Meanwhile, the Wang and Li families had discovered another medicinal garden.

This one was even larger than the last. Wang Hao stood at the edge, his heart pounding as he stared at a tree in the distance. It radiated a soft, golden light, and from its branches hung three radiant fruits.

“Is that… the Golden Yuan Fruit?”

Just as he prepared to move, a streak of light shot across the sky, followed by a wave of furious roars that shook the ground.

“Not good! Demonic beasts!” Wang Yanlang exclaimed.

Li Derong looked toward the source of the noise. “Those people are fleeing toward us. They’re leading the beasts right here. We need to leave, now!”

Wang Hao stared at the Golden Yuan Fruits. He clenched his fists, calculating the distance. It would only take a few breaths to fly there. Just a touch would be enough to log it in the System.

But the demonic beasts were already cresting the hill, a tidal wave of fur and fury.

Wang Wenmei and Wang Wenwu grabbed his arms. “Fifth Brother, hurry! If we wait any longer, we’ll be trapped!”

At that moment, Qin Hu, Qi Li, and Ji Xiaotang—the three Foundation Establishment leaders—were fleeing together. They had intentionally led the Thunder Apes in this direction to shake them off. Their Qi Refining clansmen had been sent away with two other escorts, while the slower ones had already been torn to pieces.

The three leaders sensed Wang Hao’s group ahead.

A cold glint flashed in Qi Li’s eyes. “We’re running for our lives while these people are quietly picking herbs? I don’t think so. Let’s share the burden.”

Ji Xiaotang, however, had a different thought. With more Foundation Establishment cultivators, they might be able to form a defensive line and fight back.

Wang Hao knew that going for the fruit was suicide. He might reach the tree, but he would be encircled instantly. His family would stay to save him, and while he might survive, Wang Wenmei and the newly advanced clan members would be slaughtered.

“Let’s go!”

Wang Hao made his decision instantly. He turned and fled in a direction perpendicular to the pursuing horde.

“Chase them! Don’t let them escape!” Qi Li shouted.

Although the three leaders were strong, the sheer volume of beasts would eventually drain them dry. Their only hope was to drag Wang Hao’s group into the mess to split the pressure.

Over ten Foundation Establishment cultivators fled through the ruins, their passage disturbing nest after nest of demonic beasts. The spiritual mountain of the Pill Cauldron Sect descended into chaos.

The original Thunder Apes had long since fallen behind. Demonic beasts were territorial; as the apes crossed boundaries in their blind rage, they were attacked by other resident beasts. To protect their remaining young, the apes eventually gave up the chase. However, the commotion had woken up something far worse.

Ji Xiaotang had initially hoped to join forces, but when she looked back and saw hundreds of second-order beasts—a veritable beast tide—her confidence shattered.

Wang Hao was now being tailed by two second-order top-grade flying beasts.

“Dammit! Everyone, turn around and fight! If we keep running, we’ll die from exhaustion!” Wang Hao stopped mid-air and shouted. He pulled a handful of talismans from his storage bag and hurled them into the approaching mass.

The Wang Family members responded immediately, followed by the Li Family.

Ji Xiaotang and her two companions exchanged glances. They had no choice but to set aside their grievances. If they fled now, the Wang and Li families would likely scatter, leaving them isolated as the smallest group.

Eleven Foundation Establishment cultivators launched a synchronized counterattack. Talismans flared, and magical artifacts wove a net of destruction.

Boom! Rumble!

Explosions blossomed among the horde. Numerous low-order beasts were blasted into bloody mist, their remains immediately devoured by their frenzied kin.

They fought a retreating battle. The ferocity of their defense intimidated many of the pursuers. The beasts here had lived peaceful lives for thousands of years, nourished by abundant spiritual energy and herbs. They had grown accustomed to ease and valued their lives. Facing such lethal resistance, many hesitated.

Only the most enraged or powerful beasts continued the chase.

ROAR…

Suddenly, a roar erupted from the depths of the mountain, carrying a terrifying pressure that seemed to freeze the air itself.

The pursuing beasts skidded to a halt. Fear replaced fury in their eyes, and some of the first-order creatures dropped to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

“A third-order demonic beast?”

Terror washed over the cultivators. They had speculated that a place this rich in resources might harbor a Tier 3 ruler, but confirming it was a different matter entirely.

“Split up! Or we all die!” Qi Li screamed. Without waiting for a consensus, he summoned a streak of light and shot off into the distance.

The Wang Family looked to Wang Hao. Against a horde of Tier 2 beasts, they could unite and fight. But against a Tier 3 monster? Without a grand formation, resistance was futile.

“Split up! Don’t hesitate!” Wang Hao roared. “Surviving is the only priority!”

The group scattered in all directions. Fortunately, the beast horde was momentarily stunned by the roar, giving them a precious head start.

Wang Hao glanced back.

A white giant bear, over thirty feet tall, had emerged from the forest.

It was enraged. With a casual backhand swipe, it reduced a nearby second-order beast to a pulp of flesh and bone. Seeing the humans scattering like ants, the bear roared again.

“Insignificant humans dare trespass on my territory? Today, none of you shall leave!”

The bear spoke in human tongue. Wang Hao wasn’t surprised; a Tier 3 beast possessed intelligence equal to a human and could easily master sound transmission techniques.

“When I catch you, I will rip your heads off!”

The white bear dropped to all fours and charged, knocking trees and lesser beasts aside like toys.

It thrust both paws forward.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Earth spikes shot from the ground like missiles, homing in on the fleeing cultivators.

Wang Hao’s feet flashed with green light as he executed a movement technique, shifting dozens of zhang to the side to dodge the spikes.

Others weren’t as lucky. The Wang Family members lacked high-grade defensive artifacts. Wang Yanlang and Wang Wenmei failed to dodge in time; the earth spikes struck them mid-air.

“Ah!”

They cried out as they were knocked from the sky. Two members of the Li Family suffered the same fate.

Fortunately, the bear had launched the attack from a great distance, weakening the force of the spikes. They were injured but not crippled. Gritting their teeth, they scrambled up from the ground and continued to flee.

Wang Hao breathed a sigh of relief seeing them move.

The bear, surprised that the ants had survived its strike, roared again, a sound wave that hammered against their eardrums.

Wang Hao felt his chest tighten, and the taste of iron filled his mouth. He spat out a mouthful of blood.

The bear ignored the “ants” it had injured and turned its gaze toward the strongest aura: Ji Xiaotang. It slammed its paws down again, sending a forest of earth spikes erupting beneath her.

Ji Xiaotang threw out a blue net artifact, deflecting the majority of the attack, but the impact still sent her flying. She vomited blood, her white robes stained red, her face pale with exhaustion.

The white bear laughed coldly and prepared to finish her off.

Suddenly, a blood-red light flashed around Ji Xiaotang. She activated a secret technique, vanishing from her spot instantly.