As Li Shifan moved, his two small swords instantly formed two intersecting, rapidly spinning rings. In just a moment, they created a Sword Qi Shield. He then began to fight the mutated beast one-handed, sword in hand.

As for the little one, Qing Xiaolu, it was completely useless in this fight and had the self-awareness to know it. The moment the combat began, it flew up and hid directly in the shade of the trees.

...

After giving his warning, Zhang Deming paid Li Shifan no more mind. The man was injured, and not lightly, but he wasn’t yet at the point of being severely wounded.

With his strength as a Sword Cultivator, there was no need for Zhang Deming to worry about him for the time being.

Spiritual Power surged from Zhang Deming, and the Jade Vines surrounding the massive tree began to rapidly change.

Having seen the powerful offensive capabilities of the tentacles covered in mouths, Zhang Deming abandoned his attempts to entangle or whip them.

All the Vines grew sharp.

A sky full of Vines instantly shot toward the bizarre leopard body, and at the same time, Zhang Deming pressed both hands to the ground. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Technique: Thorny Earth Spike!"

Spiritual Power surged from the ground in the beast’s location as dozens of Vines erupted, stabbing outward.

The Vines formed a spiked ball, a dense mass of Thorns stabbing at the leopard body from all directions, 360 degrees without a single blind spot.

On the beast’s neck were two Y-shaped tentacles covered in eyes. On one of them, the countless eyes suddenly began to gleam with Spiritual Light.

A transparent, blood-red Shield materialized around its body.

Countless thorny Vines slammed directly into the translucent, pale-red Shield.

Zhang Deming’s eyes narrowed. ’Such power...’

’This bizarre Demon Beast clearly only has the Cultivation of a Tai Chi One Life, yet it possesses the strength of a Three Lives. It must be because of this strange transformation.’

The Thorns struck the pale-red Shield, causing a dense web of ripples to spread across its surface.

But not a single one broke through its defenses. Every last Thorn was blocked.

Zhang Deming’s expression changed. The surrounding Thorns, which had been glinting coldly, rapidly softened and turned back into flexible Vines, wrapping around the creature until it was encased in a Vine Ball.

The Vines began to constrict like pythons. Their surfaces were no longer smooth as jade.

Now, the surface of every Vine glinted with a cold light. As they constricted, countless tiny Thorns continuously grated against the blood-red Shield.

Just then, Zhang Deming’s expression changed abruptly. Light Wings materialized on his back, and with a light tap of his toes, he shot backward.

The six tentacles, covered in gaping mouths, burst from the Vine Ball that had encased the beast. They writhed and expanded rapidly.

The countless mouths tore into the surrounding Jade Vines, which were as tough as metal, sending fragments flying everywhere. In just a few thrashing motions, the Vine Ball was reduced to a pile of severed Vines on the ground.

Eroded by a bizarre, cold aura, the severed Vines withered away, dissolving into motes of Spiritual Light that filled the air before vanishing.

Zhang Deming frowned as he watched the tentacles. ’This thing is too hard to deal with.’

’And my Growth Technique’s Vines seem to be at a slight disadvantage, a bit countered.’

After the beast destroyed the thorny Vines, the swarm of eyes on its two Y-shaped tentacles all fixed on Zhang Deming.

A powerful, chilling intent locked onto him.

Being stared at by that mass of eyes—at least several dozen pairs—made Zhang Deming’s skin crawl.

Spiritual Power flared across the beast’s body, and it instantly vanished from where it stood.

’Damn it! This bizarre Demon Beast inherited the Bloodline abilities it had in life!’

The thought had barely crossed his mind when a tremendous force slammed into his Spiritual Shield.

Zhang Deming was sent flying, crashing through an unknown number of large trees.

Only then did the beast’s grotesque figure appear where Zhang Deming had been standing just a moment before.

It paused for a split second before charging after the airborne Zhang Deming.

After being knocked away, Zhang Deming constantly adjusted his posture in mid-air. He tumbled several times upon landing, plowing a long trench in the ground before he barely managed to stabilize himself.

The moment he stopped, his expression flickered.

’It’s coming again? You really think speed solves everything, don’t you!’

Without rising from his half-kneeling position, Zhang Deming summoned his pair of Light Wings. At the same time, his Heart Spirit stirred, and Spiritual Power surged into the hand he had planted on the ground.

"Technique: Thorny Earth Spike!"

From the crater Zhang Deming himself had created, dozens of thorny Vines erupted from the ground, riddling the surrounding area like a hornet’s nest.

The Light Wings on Zhang Deming’s back vibrated rapidly. Pushing off one of the emerging Earth Spikes with his toes, he shot straight into the sky.

The beast’s figure abruptly appeared right in the middle of the spiked area. Dozens of Thorns slammed into its blood-red Shield, knocking it back into the air as well.

In that brief opening, Zhang Deming gestured, and a ball of light appeared in his hand.

"Rune Summoning: Spirit Nurturing Summoning - Qu Qingxian!"

"Technique: Enhancement Skill!"

He tossed the ball of light from his palm into his own body, and his aura instantly skyrocketed.

The aura of a Peak Tai Chi Cultivator erupted from him.

A serpentine Water Dragon materialized, coiling around Zhang Deming’s body.

Without hesitation, Zhang Deming cast two more buffs.

"Rune Technique: Dragon Horn!"

"Rune Technique: Spirit Water Technique!"

"Rune Technique: Dragon Bead!"

Dragon Horns sprouted from the Water Dragon’s head, a Dragon Bead floated beside it, and its vibrant draconic eyes stared at the bizarre beast.

The grotesque beast had already stabilized itself and was once again charging toward Zhang Deming.

’Heh, you’re not the only one with speed.’

Zhang Deming gestured to the Water Dragon. The Light Wings on his own back vanished, only to reappear on the back of the Water Dragon.

The Water Dragon’s speed suddenly surged, and it shot directly toward the beast.

In the blink of an eye, the two collided. Their speeds were now nearly identical.

The six tentacles lashed out at the Water Dragon. The mouths at their tips were especially ferocious as they attacked.

However, they were all blocked by the Dragon Pearl Shield protecting its body.

The Water Dragon’s Claws and the Water Arrows it spat out only managed to create faint ripples on the enemy’s blood-red Shield.

It seemed the two were about to be locked in a stalemate.

Zhang Deming watched the beast as the Spiritual Power of his Half-Step Yin Yang Cultivation began to surge within him.

"I’ve heard a rumor... it’s said that the dead have a hard time controlling a corpse."

Although his Oratory was only Tier One, empowered by his formidable Cultivation, its effect was not weak.

A strange ripple spread out. The beast paused for a moment before continuing its assault.

’No effect?’

’That’s how Oratory is. If you can’t find the crucial point, you won’t get any significant results. That’s why it’s so difficult to use as a conventional tool.’

’It was also why Zhang Deming hadn’t prioritized Oratory when his Merit was low and his skill slots were limited.’

After a moment of thought, Zhang Deming spoke again. "I’ve heard a rumor... it’s said that a corpse is difficult to control when influenced by an outside force!"