"My friend, you don't trust me?" The man, seeing Yu Ju's doubtful expression, immediately became displeased.
"No, I heard that this human-shaped fierce beast is very powerful, and it's accompanied by a fire phoenix. Are we a match for them?" Yu Ju quickly explained.
"If we attack together, it should be fine, right?"
"I heard she ate many ancient demonic beasts. What's going on with that?"
"Don't even mention it. That human-shaped fierce beast is the most despicable. She hid within the barrier of the Icefire Spring and dragged any approaching ancient demonic beasts into the barrier to be killed, steamed, and cooked. It's utterly detestable. However, since she ate so many ancient demonic beasts, she surely can't absorb such a vast amount of spiritual energy. We'll be the ones to benefit then."
"Can't absorb it?" Yu Ju chuckled. If they were all eaten, Xiao Man could absorb it. How could she not? Her shattered divine personality had not yet fully healed and required a massive amount of spiritual energy for repair. Even absorbing all the spiritual energy in Duan'e Mountain wouldn't be enough for her to mend her divine personality.
"Yes, how could she absorb so much spiritual energy? So, as long as we capture her and devour her, we might be able to reach a higher level."
Yu Ju said nothing more. Reach a higher level, *hmph*. He feared Xiao Man would skin him alive and devour him until not even scraps remained. That woman could eat anything.
Yu Ju and his companions pursued for a day towards the southeast but found no trace of Xiao Man. They immediately suspected they had mistaken their direction. If Xiao Man had truly gone southeast, they wouldn't have failed to catch up to her.
Meanwhile, Xiao Man was hiding in the Tongtian Tower, roasting chicken wings, drinking spiritual wine, and contemplating what to eat next.
"It's time to leave here," Elder Qin said, gnawing on a wing. "Those who are pursuing us should be arriving soon."
"The exit of Duan'e Mountain hasn't opened yet. How can we leave?" Xiao Man inquired. Duan'e Mountain was not a place one could enter or exit as they pleased. Only a select few could tear open its barrier and enter freely. Others needed the right timing to enter, and the same applied to exiting. Sudananovel.com
"If we alert the old monsters within, it won't be easy to leave," Elder Qin said with concern. "Although the exit hasn't opened, there's a teleportation array here that leads to other places. However, where it teleports to isn't a good place either, but it's safer than staying here."
"Where will it teleport to?"
"The Barren Lands," Elder Qin said slowly. "The Barren Lands are where the descendants of fallen gods reside. The people there won't be driven by the one behind all this. If we hide there, it will be safer."
"Will these ancient demonic beasts obey the orders of the one behind all this?"
"Don't forget, although Duan'e Mountain is inhabited by ferocious ancient beasts, it is still governed by rules. To survive, these ancient demonic beasts will inevitably serve the one behind all this. But the Barren Lands are different. The people there will never work for them, and the Barren Lands are a separate space where the rules of heaven and earth don't apply."
"If that's the case, then let's go," Xiao Man said, throwing away the bone in her hand. "Such a place surely isn't unguarded. It won't be easy to leave from here, will it?"
"As far as I know, the one guarding this place is the most ferocious ancient beast in Duan'e Mountain, Taotie."
Xiao Man blinked. "I heard Taotie eats everything, even more without restraint than I do."
"What you eat is at least edible. Taotie eats whether it's edible or not!" Elder Qin's face showed worry. "Moreover, Taotie's combat power is extremely high, unlike the ancient demonic beasts you've eaten. Taotie is a true ancient demonic beast."
"Master, even in my prime, I might not have the upper hand against Taotie," Huo Wu reminded Xiao Man. "You must not be careless."
"Since that's the case, we must make thorough preparations before going."
Near the teleportation array, Taotie was resting, its massive body like a small mountain.
Xiao Man stealthily glanced at it. "Elder Qin, are you sure that's Taotie and not the Five Elements Mountain?"
"What is the Five Elements Mountain?" Elder Qin asked curiously.
"The mountain that suppressed the Great Demon King," Xiao Man replied. "I feel like if he just stepped on me, I'd be flattened. How can I fight this?"
Elder Qin pursed his lips, looking Xiao Man up and down, then at the mountain-like Taotie. "How about we try to put it into the Tongtian Tower?"
"Can it be put in?"
"With your current abilities, if you take a gamble, perhaps it's possible," Elder Qin said uncertainly. After all, it was the ancient demonic beast Taotie, not only extremely destructive but also incredibly resilient. Even if Xiao Man was now at the peak of the God Transformation stage, she might not be its match. But with the Tongtian Tower, maybe it could work.
"Elder Qin, don't get me into trouble," Xiao Man whispered. "If it can't be contained, I'll have to offer a shrine to Taotie's five organs."
"If it can't be contained, we'll just escape. Taotie is strong in both offense and defense, but it has no wings. With the Fire Phoenix's help, escaping shouldn't be a problem." Elder Qin didn't dare to say the rest aloud: provided the pursuers didn't show up to help. If those pursuers caught up, they'd likely all end up in Taotie's stomach.
Xiao Man eyed Elder Qin suspiciously, feeling uncertain. From this distance, they could already feel Taotie's terrifying aura. If they attacked head-on, it seemed unwise. Taotie was gluttonous; perhaps she could use this to her advantage.
"I'll go prepare some things first."
Elder Qin watched Xiao Man slip away, puzzled, and quickly followed. He didn't know what else Xiao Man needed to prepare. To his surprise, Xiao Man went and caught a plump, strong spiritual sheep and started roasting mutton nearby.
"What are you doing?"
"Roasting mutton," Xiao Man said leisurely. "Even if we have to fight, we should eat our fill first."
Elder Qin gave her a thumbs-up. Her mindset was truly remarkable. With Taotie blocking the path ahead and pursuers closing in from behind, she wasn't rushing to leave; she was roasting mutton here, planning to eat her fill before heading off.
"Fine, eating our fill before setting off is better than going on an empty stomach," Elder Qin grumbled. Zhu Qing and Huo Wu gathered around the fire, their mouths watering as they watched Xiao Man roast the meat.
When the roast meat was golden brown on both sides, Xiao Man sprinkled on some seasoning. The roast meat on the fire immediately emitted an enticing aroma. Zhu Qing's saliva was almost dripping onto the ground.
"Look at your drool," Huo Wu said disdainfully. "It's not like you've never eaten it before!"
"This is the first time Master has roasted mutton. It smells so good."
"It is indeed very fragrant," Huo Wu swallowed. "Fortunately, this spiritual sheep is plump and fat, enough for us to eat."
"We can eat it in a little while," Xiao Man said, flipping the roast meat over and brushing on another layer of oil. The already intensely fragrant roast meat became even more mouth-watering.