Bai Chen unleashed all his skills to avoid being struck by the thunder leopard. He wanted to use a talisman treasure, but unfortunately, Xiao Man had confiscated it. The only thing he could use was a sword!
"How did Xiao Qin subdue the thunder leopard?" Bai Chen's mind raced, trying to find a method to subdue the thunder leopard. However, a high-level thunder leopard was equivalent to a cultivator in the early Golden Core stage, a whole major realm above him. He was no match for it. "Xiao Qin is only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, far inferior to me. If she can do it, I can too!"
"Senior Brother, why are there such frequent sounds from ahead? Could it be that some disciples are under attack?" An Yue looked into the distance.
Liu Hong leaped onto a tree and gazed afar, vaguely seeing lightning. He couldn't help but frown. "Change direction. I see lightning. It's likely the territory of thunder leopards. I wonder which foolish youngster has wandered into the thunder leopards' domain. Truly unafraid of death."
"Shouldn't we go and help?"
"Thunder leopards are extremely fast. Being struck by a thunder leopard's lightning can cause the body to go numb and be unable to move for a short period. With our strength, we are no match for a thunder leopard. It's best to avoid them," Liu Hong explained. Even if they wanted to save someone, they needed the ability. It was important to do what was within one's power.
"Alright, let's avoid them then."
As the group was preparing to leave, they felt the ground behind them shake, as if a colossal creature was approaching their location. Liu Hong steadied himself and looked over, his face instantly turning pale with fear.
"It's a Ground Splitting Bear, heading this way." Ground Splitting Bears have extremely high defensive capabilities. Judging by its size, it's likely a high-level Ground Splitting Bear. Facing a Ground Splitting Bear would be better than dealing with a thunder leopard.
The group quickly sprinted towards the direction of the thunder leopard. Ground Splitting Bears are highly territorial demonic beasts and rarely leave their territories. But now, it was heading in their direction. It was either being chased or chasing someone!
"People ahead, quickly dodge!" A red figure rapidly approached.
Upon seeing this, Liu Hong gritted his teeth and quickly led his companions in another direction. The red-clothed youth flew past like a gust of wind, drawing the relentless pursuit of the Ground Splitting Bear, seemingly oblivious to Liu Hong's group.
Liu Hong's legs went weak with fear, and he knelt on the ground. After a moment, he led his group in the opposite direction. If high-level demonic beasts began to fight, they would be caught in the crossfire if they were too close!
The red-clothed youth sensed the thunder leopard's location and led the Ground Splitting Bear towards the thunder leopard's territory, intending to let them fight each other so he could reap the benefits. However, despite his meticulous planning, he overlooked one person!
Xiao Man sat up and looked in the direction of the tremors. The massive Ground Splitting Bear was heading straight for them, and a red figure, swift as lightning, was also approaching their location.
"Enemy attack," Xiao Man warned Bai Chen.
Bai Chen's clothes were tattered, looking as if he had rummaged through a garbage heap – utterly disheveled. The thunder leopard let out a low growl, pawing the ground.
Roar! The Ground Splitting Bear let out an angry roar and brought down a swath of trees with a single swipe. The red-clothed youth watched, clicking his tongue. "High-level Ground Splitting Bears are truly destructive! I wonder who would win in a fight between a Ground Splitting Bear and a thunder leopard."
While the red-clothed youth was hatching his schemes, a bolt of lightning narrowly missed him. If he hadn't reacted quickly, he would have been struck.
The red-clothed youth stopped, only then realizing that he was cornered by both the thunder leopard and the Ground Splitting Bear. However, he had anticipated this scenario. A wicked smile curled on his lips, and he threw the young Ground Splitting Bear cub towards the thunder leopard. The thunder leopard leaped up, but instead of attacking the cub, it attacked the red-clothed youth.
The red-clothed youth quickly executed a backflip, landing back in his original spot. Meanwhile, the young Ground Splitting Bear had fallen into someone else's hands.
"Again! That's mine!" The red-clothed youth was agitated. It had taken him great effort to steal the cub while the Ground Splitting Bear was out foraging.
Xiao Man gently stroked the cub's head. The cub nuzzled affectionately against Xiao Man's hand. "Yours? Were you born to it, or did you raise it?"
"I stole it! That makes it mine!" The red-clothed youth retorted indignantly. "Give it back quickly."
"So, if you steal something, it becomes yours?" Xiao Man nodded as if understanding. "Now that it's in my hands, it's mine."
The red-clothed youth's lips parted slightly, and after a moment, he exclaimed, "You are truly shameless!"
Being called shameless did not anger Xiao Man. She merely looked at the red-clothed youth with a smile that was not quite a smile.
"You should be more concerned about how to survive the attacks of the Ground Splitting Bear and the thunder leopard," Xiao Man said, hugging the cub and retreating to the side. The Ground Splitting Bear let out an enraged roar, its eyes fixed on Xiao Man hatefully, as if wishing to tear her to shreds.
The red-clothed youth's eyes darted. "She's the one who told me to steal your bear cub. Look, the cub is also in her hands. Go find her."
The Ground Splitting Bear immediately swiped with its claw. The red-clothed youth dodged swiftly. However, the thunder leopard was incredibly fast. Just as he dodged, he was struck, hitting a tree trunk and falling to the ground. Fortunately, he was agile and quickly sprang up, evading the second attack.
Bai Chen hid behind a tree trunk, watching the red-clothed youth, who was being attacked by both the Ground Splitting Bear and the thunder leopard yet still appeared to be handling it with ease. His expression was utterly bewildered. "Where did this pervert crawl out from?"
The red-clothed youth's original plan was to use one against the other. Unexpectedly, not only did he fail to make the Ground Splitting Bear and the thunder leopard fight each other, but the Ground Splitting Bear cub, which he had painstakingly obtained, also fell into someone else's hands.
"Hey, who exactly are you?" the red-clothed youth asked, looking at Xiao Man.
Xiao Man was playfully teasing the cub. The cub lay in Xiao Man's embrace, four paws in the air, thoroughly entertained.
Seeing this, the red-clothed youth's face fell. When he had grabbed the cub, it had struggled desperately, biting and scratching him. Yet, this person made it act so fawningly!
"We're both humans. Why are you close to him and not me?"
"Because you're ugly," Xiao Man retorted without hesitation.
Upon hearing this, the red-clothed youth became indignant. "How am I ugly? I am the most handsome man in the world! How could I be ugly?"
"You... you really are quite shameless." Xiao Man returned his own words to the red-clothed youth. Enraged, the red-clothed youth's face turned red. He leaped up and, with a single punch, sent the Ground Splitting Bear to the ground. A burst of explosive aura emanated from him as he walked towards Xiao Man.
"Apologize to me!"
Xiao Man stood up and tossed the cub to Bai Chen. "Stay back."
"Xiao Qin, can you handle this? This guy seems really strong."
"Whether I can handle it or not, we'll know after a fight." Xiao Man took great pride in her speed and immediately moved to engage. In a blur, the two had exchanged dozens of blows, neither gaining the upper hand!