A single strike left the Kui Wood Wolf severely wounded, greatly diminishing its strength. Moreover, the injury was on its front leg near the chest, which affected its speed.

After that one strike, the golden sword Talisman Treasure dimmed considerably. It looked like it could only be used two or three more times.

Wang Hao couldn’t afford to dwell on the loss. Seizing the opportunity, he took out the Flying Cloud Boat and shouted, “Fellow Daoists, follow me quickly! We must not let this creature escape!”

Everyone leaped onto the flying boat. Wang Hao promptly urged the boat forward in pursuit. As they closed in, he continuously used the Three Transformations of Essence Fire to condense fire dragons to attack the Kui Wood Wolf.

Previously, such methods were utterly beneath the Kui Wood Wolf’s notice; a slight dodge was enough to evade them. But now, it was thrown into a state of utter disarray.

The others also unleashed a barrage of spell attacks. However, the Kui Wood Wolf lived up to its reputation as a third-order monster beast. Even grievously wounded, it showed no fear, employing various means to block everyone’s assaults.

At that moment, Lei Liheng, the one with the highest cultivation base among them, made his move.

He raised his hand and summoned five flying wheels—the very embryonic form of a magic treasure. These five wheels were each different, glowing with red, orange, cyan, blue, and purple light, respectively. They carried a sharp, imposing aura as they flew down from high above toward the Kui Wood Wolf.

The multi-colored flying wheels were already close to being a true magic treasure. The Kui Wood Wolf, already severely injured, found it nearly impossible to dodge. It could only spit out a cyan monster core to defend itself.

Boom!

This exchange represented both sides’ strongest current methods. After a violent surge of spiritual energy erupted with world-shattering force, the explosive shockwave even swept across hundreds of zhang of land.

Neither side came out unscathed from the clash. The multi-colored flying wheels were sent flying away, their light dimming significantly. The power within the Kui Wood Wolf’s monster core also dropped by more than half.

The Kui Wood Wolf had already been heavily wounded before this; its monster core’s power was less than thirty percent of its peak. Otherwise, this single blow could have destroyed Lei Liheng’s embryonic magic treasure.

The Kui Wood Wolf swallowed its core back with a muffled grunt, spitting out a mouthful of blood. It glanced at the group, then turned and fled.

But by then, the beast horde had been mostly cleared out. Several more Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounded it; wanting to escape was already somewhat too late.

If the Kui Wood Wolf were at its peak, no one would dare provoke it. But now was clearly the time to beat a drowning dog. A third-order monster beast was priceless; even getting a share of its materials would be a huge gain.

With one attack after another from everyone present, they encircled the Kui Wood Wolf in a tight ring, intending to slowly grind it down. For a time, flying stones and swirling sand filled the air amidst thunderous clashes; the battle turned the sky dark and earth murky.

“Ah!”

A rogue Foundation Establishment cultivator participating in the siege was caught off guard and struck by the Kui Wood Wolf’s illusory claw. He vomited blood as he was sent flying backward. One of his arms was broken; even if he survived, his future path in cultivation would be severely affected.

“Die!”

Wang Hao’s gaze turned cold as he seized this critical moment. He urged his Ash Calamity Sword forward for a slash.

The Kui Wood Wolf was already on its last legs. Having just desperately struck down the rogue cultivator left it momentarily vulnerable. The sword energy cut through the air with a clang, landing a heavy blow right on the already torn wound on its chest.

The wound instantly deepened and widened further as blood gushed out. The Kui Wood Wolf staggered two steps.

“Die, you fiend.”

As excruciating pain washed over it and it still sought to flee for its life, how could everyone give it that chance? They all unleashed their trump card attacks one after another. With an expression of unwillingness, the Kui Wood Wolf was slowly exhausted to death by their combined efforts.

It had been too confident. It never imagined that it, a dignified third-order being, would die at the hands of a group of second-order ants. But ultimately, greed had clouded its judgment; it had expended too much Spiritual Power and found itself surrounded by enemies. No matter how astonishing its strength was, two fists could not defeat four hands.

“Hahahaha! I told you I’d make you pay!” Lei Liheng descended from the sky with wild laughter, landing on top of the Kui Wood Wolf’s massive corpse.

Seeing Wang Hao also approach to inspect the situation, he said, “Young Friend Wang, we owe much thanks for your help this time. Unless I’m mistaken, what you wielded was a Talisman Treasure?”

Wang Hao truly didn’t want to speak with him, but other eyes were watching too. He could only force a smile. “Some time ago, upon receiving Fellow Daoists’ call for aid, my Wang Family prepared this very method specifically to deal with third-order monster beasts!”

Noticing Wang Hao’s displeased expression, Lei Liheng hurriedly added, “Young Friend Wang! My earlier words were all meant to boost morale! Of course, there was also an intention to distract the Kui Wood Wolf—all for the greater good! I harbored no ill intent toward you! Here and now, I apologize to you; I hope you won’t take offense!”

Your sister! I almost got killed because of you! And you say no ill intent? Wang Hao felt genuinely aggrieved inside.

But Lei Liheng’s words weren’t wrong—he had acted for the greater good. If Wang Hao made an issue of it now, he’d seem petty himself. So he had no choice but to indicate he didn’t mind at all and uttered some insincere words praising Lei Liheng instead.

After everyone exchanged mutual flattery for a while, Li Yaozu finally spoke up. “Fellow Daoists have all sustained significant injuries; I think we should return first to rest and recuperate. Tomorrow, when we’re refreshed, we can come back and divide up our spoils.”

His face was ashen pale; originally injured by backlash while maintaining the great formation earlier, then fighting another intense battle afterward—though he hadn’t participated in besieging that final beast—dealing with other second-order monsters wasn’t easy either, so now he looked somewhat dazed mentally speaking.

Actually, most people present shared similar states, so naturally, everyone agreed.

As for pursuing the remaining beast horde? Unnecessary. Plus, nobody would bother doing so anyway. These were just minor nuisances left behind. Even if those remnant monsters stayed within the Green Bull Market area, eventually rogue cultivators would clean them up.

They needed to leave some soup for the rogue cultivators to drink, after all. Once rogue cultivators obtained materials, they’d prioritize selling them back anyway, then use earned Spirit Stones to buy pills, magic tools, etc. Ultimately, the five great families always came out winners!

That very night after returning, Wang Longyou went to find people from the Li Family, undoubtedly planning matters regarding the monster core—something Wang Hao could guess even without being notified.

This beast tide incident… the other three families vaguely showed signs of uniting, clearly seeing the rising strength of the Wang and Li families, meaning to band together to oppose them. None wanted the Green Bull Market area to produce a dominant hegemon family.

The next day, after resting and recuperating, the gathered Foundation Establishment cultivators held a meeting.

“Everyone, let us first divide up these few treasures.”

The great victory obviously put everyone in a good mood. Before the meeting began, Lei Liheng spoke, looking pleased at everyone.

This battle slew numerous first-order monsters, over a hundred second-order ones, plus one third-order monster.

Individually slain ones belonged to the slayer, but there were also those killed by the formation and jointly slain ones. The number needing distribution reached over fifty.

The biggest harvest everyone obtained was the third-order monster core, extremely precious and worth at least a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. The entire third-order monster corpse was only worth a little over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones, so the core accounted for nearly half the value.

If distributed according to overall contribution, the Lei, Zhao, and Cheng families undoubtedly contributed more since they practically mobilized their entire families, whereas the Wang and Li families joined later, each only sending a dozen or so people.

But according to individual contribution, Wang Hao wasn’t inferior to anyone.

Yet everyone wanted the monster core.

Lei Liheng spoke first. “Everyone, not boasting, but my Lei Family contributed most to this battle. Not only did we provide many magic tools to rogue cultivators, but also I personally pinned down the Kui Wood Wolf, enabling its kill. Therefore, this monster core should belong to my Lei Family. Other second-order monster materials can be appropriately ceded to others!”

Before the Wang Family could voice anything, Li Yaozu snorted coldly. “Fellow Daoist Lei, those words aren’t right. Your Lei Family provided magic tools, my Li Family also provided many talismans, and the Wang Family provided many pills. If not for Young Friend Wang’s Talisman Treasure, could you have kept that third-order Kui Wood Wolf?”

“Hmph, then how do you propose dividing? Surely not giving it to your Li Family? You only contributed one Foundation Establishment cultivator yet want the monster core?” Lei Liheng said with an unfriendly expression.