“A ghost…”
Shuisheng yelped in fright, immediately hiding behind Master Changmei.
Master Changmei, after all, was the third-ranked expert on the Dragon List. Though he was now gravely injured and nearing death, he still maintained the demeanor of a master when facing danger.
His expression remained calm as he shone his flashlight ahead.
Hiss!
Two meters away stood a monster.
This creature was two meters tall, resembling a gorilla in shape, with thick, long arms covered in dark red fur. Its blood-red eyes glowed like twin ghostly flames, and a heavy aura of menace emanated from its body.
Even Master Changmei, with all his experience, couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath when he saw it clearly.
Hiss—
“What is that thing?” Ye Qiu asked aloud.
“I don’t know,” Master Changmei replied, “I’ve never seen it before, it must be a species unique to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”
“Uncle-Master, what do we do now?” Shuisheng’s voice trembled with fear.
“Little brat, what do you think we should do?” Master Changmei was momentarily at a loss.
“I think it’s best not to provoke it, let’s run,” Ye Qiu suggested.
In the past, Master Changmei would’ve agreed with Ye Qiu’s idea, but things were different now.
“Run?” Master Changmei snorted, “Easy for you to say, I’m badly injured, walking’s hard enough, you think I can run?”
Ye Qiu said, “If you can’t run, what’s that got to do with me?”
“You—” Master Changmei was so mad he wanted to hit someone.
“Just kidding, don’t get mad,” Ye Qiu grinned, then continued, “How about this, I’ll take Shuisheng and run, you stay here.”
“You want me to stay here and get eaten by it?” Master Changmei snapped angrily, “Little brat, do you have any conscience at all?”
Ye Qiu said, “Old man, you’re about to die anyway, why not stay and hold this monster off? If it eats you, let it, your skin’s so thick it’ll take a while, giving me time to escape with Shuisheng.”
“You bastard!”
Master Changmei cursed loudly, “Little brat, stop yapping and come up with a plan.”
“Look at you panicking, it’s just a beast, what’s there to fear?” Ye Qiu didn’t take the monster seriously at all.
Master Changmei grumbled, “If I weren’t injured, I’d kill it with one palm.”
Shuisheng said, “Uncle-Master, a good man doesn’t boast of past glory.”
Master Changmei’s temper flared, and he smacked Shuisheng on the head with a loud “thunk.”
But that sound startled the monster.
“Roar—”
The monster let out a earth-shaking roar at Master Changmei.
Even from two meters away, its breath nearly knocked Master Changmei out with its stench.
“What the hell did you eat, your breath is disgusting!” Master Changmei shouted at the monster.
“Roar—”
The monster roared again, baring its teeth, its eyes gleaming with ferocity.
It was about to attack!
Ye Qiu darted forward, positioning himself in front of Master Changmei.
At that moment, the monster lunged with its gaping maw.
Clang!
The Emperor Sword was unsheathed.
A single slash struck the monster’s chest.
Splat!
Blood sprayed out.
“Ow—” The monster howled in pain, then charged at Ye Qiu again.
Its speed was impressive, an ordinary person would’ve been no match and likely eaten alive.
Unfortunately for it, it was facing Ye Qiu.
Ye Qiu stood still, raising his hand for another strike.
Thud!
The monster froze, blood gushing from its throat, then collapsed dead.
“Overestimating itself!” Ye Qiu sneered.
“It’s dead just like that?” Shuisheng gaped, stunned by Ye Qiu’s skill.
Master Changmei breathed a sigh of relief.
“Let’s go!”
Ye Qiu didn’t even glance at the monster’s corpse, pressing onward.
The trio walked for another half hour.
Suddenly, Ye Qiu stopped.
“Little brat, why’d you stop?” Master Changmei asked.
“More monsters,” Ye Qiu said.
Master Changmei looked up and saw another pair of blood-red eyes ahead, glowing like flames in the darkness, striking and ominous, like a devil’s gaze.
Then came the sound of rapid, dense footsteps.
Master Changmei quickly turned his head and saw more blood-red eyes appearing all around them, no small number.
One, two, three, four…
There were fifty or sixty eyes in total.
That meant at least thirty monsters.
They closed in from all sides, surrounding the three of them.
“Uncle-Master, I’m scared,” Shuisheng clutched Master Changmei’s robe tightly.
“With Ye Qiu here, no need to fear,” Master Changmei said.
“So many monsters, can Dr. Ye handle them alone? After all, two fists can’t fight four hands,” Shuisheng said.
“Don’t worry, the little brat can handle them with ease,” Master Changmei, knowing Ye Qiu’s capabilities, remained calm.
Ye Qiu handed his flashlight to Master Changmei, saying, “You two wait here.”
With that, he vanished.
“What’s Dr. Ye doing?” Before Shuisheng finished speaking, sounds of fighting erupted from the darkness.
Then, the blood-red eyes began to dwindle.
Five minutes later.
Not a single eye remained.
“No way, did Dr. Ye kill all those monsters?” Shuisheng was floored.
“Too slow, too slow,” Master Changmei remarked.
“What’s too slow?” Shuisheng asked, confused.
Master Changmei said, “Just a few dozen monsters, and it took the little brat five minutes to kill them, that’s too slow.”
“That’s slow?” Shuisheng was shocked.
Master Changmei said, “If I weren’t injured, I’d take care of them in two minutes, believe me?”
“I believe you,” Shuisheng said, “Uncle-Master, you’re the third-ranked master on the Dragon List.”
Instantly, Master Changmei’s ego swelled with satisfaction.
“About to die and still showing off, classic you,” Ye Qiu’s voice suddenly sounded nearby.
Master Changmei didn’t blush, instead saying righteously, “I’m just stating facts.”
“Enough talk, let’s move.”
Ye Qiu was genuinely worried that Master Changmei might drop dead before they found Dalong Mountain.
The three pressed on.
After another two hours.
They finally emerged from the forest.
Though still in the canyon, the trees were less dense, and sunlight filtered through.
Ye Qiu checked the time, it was already noon.
“Old man, we’ve been walking so long, can you still hold up? Want to rest and eat something to regain some strength?” Ye Qiu asked with concern.
Master Changmei said, “I’m still holding on, let’s keep going, try to find Dalong Mountain sooner.”
They continued forward.
Forty minutes later, they exited the canyon, and before them loomed a sheer, ten-thousand-foot cliff.
Above the cliff hung an iron chain.
Master Changmei’s body jolted when he saw it, “The Heavenly Ladder!”
