C10 Escaped

"No!" Duan Hao exclaimed in refusal.

He had always acquiesced to his junior sister's requests before, but not this time.

I'm going to kill that squirrel!

In his rage, Duan Hao's mind suddenly cleared, and he understood aspects of sword control that had previously eluded him.

Whoosh!

The sound of slicing through the air was heard. Qin Biao instinctively dodged to the side, just as a flying sword, under Duan Hao's command, hurtled toward him.

Wow, a flying sword!

Is this kid for real?

He knows how to do this, yet he didn't use it against the giant ape. Now, against a mere squirrel, he pulls out all the stops?

What's next, will you summon a magical treasure?

While evading, Qin Biao had an epiphany. He could use this opportunity to escape Duan Hao's pursuit.

After leading Duan Hao on a wild chase and depleting much of his mana, Qin Biao reached a cluster of elm trees near a cliff. Surely, Qin Biao wasn't heading to a dead end.

It was fortunate that Yun Siyu hadn't joined Duan Hao in the chase; otherwise, Qin Biao might not have stood a chance of escape, even if Siyu was alone.

Qin Biao stood at the cliff's edge, while Duan Hao, not far off, pointed his flying sword at him. Maintaining control of the flying sword was incredibly draining, and he couldn't keep it up for much longer.

"Little beast, why aren't you running now?" Duan Hao's laugh was tinged with malice.

"Hehehe~" Qin Biao also began to laugh, his chuckle carrying a hint of menace.

Qin Biao's furry paw gestured toward the beehives above his head.

Duan Hao instantly felt a sense of foreboding.

And sure enough, as Qin Biao leaped off the cliff, he flung a stone at the hornets' nests.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Duan Hao wanted to see if Qin Biao had truly leapt off the cliff, but a swarm of hornets obstructed his view.

"Fire!"

Left with no choice, Duan Hao deployed another fireball talisman, creating a fiery barrier around himself before rapidly retreating. Chasing Qin Biao was no longer his concern, for these were not ordinary hornets, but the dreaded killer hornets.

Despite his efforts, Duan Hao was still stung numerous times by the hornets in the areas not protected by the fireballs, quickly developing large welts.

Two flowers bloom, each branch showing its own beauty.

Before we delve into how Duan Hao might escape the murderous hornets, let's see what happened after Qin Biao leaped off the cliff.

Qin Biao's bold jump wasn't due to a lack of fear of death; rather, she had already devised a plan for escape. She had spotted a crooked tree on the cliff face the previous night while harmonizing with nature, which bore an abundance of fruit. Tasting one, she found it surprisingly sweet.

The original path was no longer an option, as it was now completely overrun by the killer hornets.

The route Qin Biao now faced was significantly more perilous than the climb up the cliff! She had to scale across to the other side of the cliff, over a seemingly bottomless abyss. A single misstep could mean certain death.

Qin Biao extended her sharp claws, gripping the rock face as easily as if it were tofu, and used her magical power to adhere her body to the cliff. Gradually, she inched her way toward the other side.

This wasn't the first time Qin Biao had resorted to this method. Over the years of her cultivation, she had faced numerous pursuits and had often escaped using this very technique.

With a snap, a stone plummeted from the cliff beside her, disappearing without a sound into the depths below, highlighting the sheer drop.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Biao pushed past the ache in her arms and persevered in her climb.

Once back on top, Qin Biao, now in a hornet-free zone, couldn't help but exhale in relief.

Although her cultivation was nearly complete, her offensive techniques were still lacking. She couldn't always rely on her claws for defense when facing formidable foes.

Not to mention the great demons, even in today's encounter with Duan Hao, it was a struggle to get close, let alone escape once he was within reach.

Suddenly, Qin Biao turned and caught sight of her large tail...

My tail, could it resemble a mace?

If only my tail could be as sturdy as a magical treasure, then I wouldn't be at such a disadvantage in close-quarters combat.

Currently, Qin Biao had only three modes of attack at his disposal: biting, clawing, and using magic. The latter wasn't an option to display publicly, and the former wasn't a conventional method for combat.

This conviction only reinforced Qin Biao's determination to transform his tail into a magical treasure.

"Hmph, think you can catch me? In your dreams," Qin Biao muttered, brushing off the dirt from his fur before turning to leave.

"White Snow, where are you headed?" Suddenly, Qin Biao heard the voice of Yun Siyu.

Qin Biao froze. Had he been discovered?

He tensed his body, ready to strike with the force of a thunderbolt at the first sign of Yun Siyu's aggression.

But Yun Siyu seemed to harbor no intention of attacking. From a distance, she simply said, "White Snow, I understand your desire for a life unbound by constraints. I won't hold you back if you choose to leave."

Qin Biao felt a surge of emotion. This was the first time he had encountered someone with such a kind heart.

Yun Siyu, having spoken her piece, departed without further ado, offering no resistance to Qin Biao's departure.

In his heart, Qin Biao made a silent vow: "For the grace of your release today, I will repay you a thousandfold in the future!"

And as for Duan Hao... I swear not to rest until I have taken my revenge!

It seemed that... he truly wasn't human at the moment...

Duan Hao, no matter how powerful you become or which powerful sect you take refuge in, I, Qin Biao, will surely take your life!

This setback was the first Qin Biao had faced since he began his cultivation journey, casting a long shadow over his heart.

Duan Hao had become the specter haunting Qin Biao's mind. If left unresolved, it might not pose an issue now, but it would certainly become a problem as his cultivation advanced.

The wheel of fortune turns: what was will be again.

Even though Qin Biao was but a squirrel, he was confident that his cultivation would surpass Duan Hao's in due time.

With these thoughts deeply etched in his mind, Qin Biao departed from the forest.

Thereafter, Qin Biao embarked on a journey, cultivating as he ventured into the great beyond.

He had come to understand the fundamental makeup of this world. Now, all he sought was a stroke of serendipity or a legacy suitable for a Spirit Beast's path of cultivation.

As he journeyed on, he inquired of various creatures that soared and roamed about the land.

By a stroke of luck, he overheard a conversation between two Little Demons. They spoke of a Demon King's cave that was soon to emerge nearby, drawing the attention of numerous cultivators and demons all eager to explore its depths.

Despite his modest level of cultivation, Qin Biao yearned for a chance at an extraordinary adventure.

But how could he possibly gain entry?

Observing the Little Demons, an idea suddenly sparked in Qin Biao's mind.