“It seems demon beasts aren’t as powerful as imagined…” Qin Lu felt a surge of relief, and his entire body relaxed considerably.

Practicing swordsmanship had greatly enhanced his physical constitution, pushing it far beyond that of an ordinary seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivator. Now, facing a mid-First-Tier demon beast felt effortless.

Cao Yunxi and his wife caught up from behind. Looking at the fallen corpse of the [Plum Moon Deer], they were momentarily speechless.

After a long pause, Cao Yunxi slowly spoke.

“Brother Qin’s strength is truly formidable, to actually kill a [Plum Moon Deer] instantly. It seems we needn’t worry too much about facing the [Black Ape Beast].”

“Exactly!” Qi Xiaofeng’s eyes sparkled with delight. “This time, we might even be able to hunt several [Black Ape Beasts]!”

Qin Lu sheathed his sword. “Shall we continue deeper in now?”

“Agreed!” Cao Yunxi responded, but then paused, crouching down. “Wait a moment. While the meat of this [Plum Moon Deer] isn’t worth much, its antlers can still fetch a few Spirit Stones. Let me remove them.”

As he spoke, Cao Yunxi used a magical tool to cut off the antlers and handed them to Qin Lu. “Keep them safe.”

Qin Lu didn’t stand on ceremony and directly stored them in his [Storage Bag].

Subsequently, the three continued to make their way deeper into the forest.

However, their pace slowed; they no longer charged forward as swiftly as before. After all, encountering a mid-First-Tier demon beast meant they were approaching the territory of late-First-Tier beasts.

Since they had come this far, utmost caution was necessary.

Dense branches and leaves blocked out the sunlight, allowing only thin rays to filter through the gaps, creating a lazy, dappled atmosphere. Under different circumstances, sipping tea and chatting leisurely here would have been a pleasant scene.

But now, Qin Lu and the other two were in no such mood. They proceeded cautiously, maintaining a high level of alertness at all times.

Along the way, Cao Yunxi used another directional search talisman and adjusted their course once more.

They traveled for a full two hours before finally stopping before a dense mountain forest, carefully concealing themselves in the undergrowth.

“Judging by the smell, that ahead should be the [Black Ape Beast]’s cave…” Cao Yunxi whispered while lying prone on the ground.

Qin Lu leaned forward to look. He saw a dark cave ahead with dim light inside, making it impossible to see clearly what lay within.

“So what do we do now?”

“Let’s test it first to see if there’s a [Black Ape Beast] inside.” Cao Yunxi reached into his robes and rummaged around.

“Go in directly to check?” Qin Lu asked.

“How could we be so reckless…” Cao Yunxi chuckled, taking out a yellow talisman paper. “This is a [Spirit Exploring Talisman]. It can detect living creatures or objects containing spiritual energy. If there’s a demon beast inside, this talisman will definitely glow.”

“Detect spiritual energy?” Hearing this, Qin Lu quickly reached out to stop Cao Yunxi from activating it. “Brother Cao, wait a moment. I have a technique I can try; perhaps we won’t need to waste this talisman.”

“Oh? What other method does Brother Qin have for detection?” Cao Yunxi asked curiously.

“You’ll know once I take a closer look.”

Qin Lu moved swiftly, leaping out from the small hillside. The [Heavenly Eye Technique] activated instantly, emitting an invisible wave of light from his body.

In an instant, all living creatures within a hundred meters clearly appeared in Qin Lu’s mind as if he had opened an omniscient heavenly eye.

Utilizing the [Heavenly Eye Technique], Qin Lu continuously adjusted his position as he cautiously approached the cave entrance.

Suddenly, delight flashed in his eyes. He quickly stopped and retreated back to where Cao Yunxi and his wife were waiting.

Cao Yunxi looked puzzled. He had only seen Qin Lu approach the cave slightly before turning back without any apparent action. He couldn’t help but ask, “Did Brother Qin forget something?”

Instead of answering the question directly, Qin Lu pointed at the cave. “The [Black Ape Beast] is indeed inside.”

He had sensed a powerful mass of spiritual energy inside the cave very clearly. This aura was exactly like that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator; it had to be the [Black Ape Beast].

Qi Xiaofeng’s face was full of doubt and surprise. “This… is that really true?”

She harbored skepticism in her heart. After all, Qin Lu had clearly done nothing just now; how could he know there was a beast inside?

Seeing their doubtful expressions, Qin Lu offered a brief explanation. “I have a unique secret technique that can detect demon beast auras. Trust me on this; there really is a demon beast inside!”

“Alright!” Cao Yunxi nodded heavily and looked at Qi Xiaofeng seriously. “Since Brother Qin says there is one, then there is one. Let’s get to work!”

“In a moment, after I set up the formation, I’ll throw a Stench Talisman inside to force it out into the trap. Once it’s stuck, all three of us will attack together and try to kill it within the formation!”

Hearing this, Qin Lu nodded repeatedly.

After finalizing their battle plan, the three quickly sprang into action.

Cao Yunxi moved with extreme agility and ample experience. He took out several formation tools and placed them around the cave entrance with light movements, akin to dragonflies skimming water.

In no time at all, a small beast-trapping formation was set up.

Then the three exchanged nods. Cao Yunxi threw an activated Stench Talisman deep into the cave and quickly retreated.

The three stood at the cave entrance in a triangular formation, waiting for their prey like hunters by a tree stump waiting for a rabbit.

Before long, an angry roar echoed from within the cave—extremely deep and loud—followed by chaotic, heavy footsteps growing closer and closer.

“It’s coming!” Cao Yunxi uttered in a low voice.

The three instinctively tightened their grips on their magical tools, their expressions tense.

A tremendous crashing sound erupted from the cave entrance as a black shadow burst out and slammed against the cave wall, shattering the rocks at the entrance into pieces.

It was an ape-like demon beast several times larger than an ordinary monkey—over three meters tall with short brown fur covering its body. Its muscles were knotted and bulging, and its eyes were blood-red, presenting a fierce and menacing appearance.

It was indeed the [Black Ape Beast]!

As soon as it emerged and saw Qin Lu’s trio in the distance, it immediately roared, charging toward the human cultivators!

But it hadn’t run more than a few steps when its figure staggered, crashing heavily to the ground!

It had fallen into the beast-trapping formation!

“Now! Attack!” Cao Yunxi shouted loudly.

Hearing this, Qin Lu hesitated no longer. He immediately leaped up into mid-air, over ten meters above the ground!

With focused intent, both his hands instantly ignited spontaneously. Pale yellow flames enveloped his fists, and then he whipped both hands out like lashes, fiercely throwing two punches!

Two boulder-sized fireballs erupted from his fists—massive in scale—carrying terrifying heat as they plummeted down from above!

Accompanying these two giant fireballs were two faint red flames streaking toward their target! These two attacks were precisely two Blazing Fire Talismans thrown by Cao Yunxi and his wife.

However, compared with Qin Lu’s enormous fireballs, these two small flames were simply worlds apart!

“What on earth is this…”

Seeing those two huge fireballs, the couple’s faces revealed shock! Their bodies stiffened, staring dumbfoundedly at the giant flames descending from the sky!

The fireballs smashed directly onto the immobilized [Black Ape Beast]! The demon beast instantly let out an agonized shriek! But within less than two breaths, the sound rapidly diminished until finally ceasing completely!

Clusters of flames still burned on the ground, continuously scorching its body, but it showed no reaction whatsoever.

Qin Lu landed back on the ground, his face tense as he hurriedly asked, “How is it? Can that demon beast still move?”

Cao Yunxi and his wife stood there stunned, somewhat at a loss for what to do next. They lowered the attack talismans held in their hands, turned their heads toward the already thoroughly charred [Black Ape Beast], and slowly shook their heads.

Seeing this situation, Qin Lu breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good…”

Meanwhile, Cao Yunxi and Qi Xiaofeng silently exchanged glances, both seeing shock reflected within each other’s eyes.

No way…

This late-First-Tier demon beast… was also killed instantly… with one move?!