Chapter 62: Chapter 60: Black Cloud Valley

"What? The Black Cloud Demon Bear? Are you insane?"

Lui Yifa subconsciously leaped to his feet, jumping a good ten feet into the air as he stared at Jiang Chen in disbelief.

The Black Cloud Demon Bear!

That was a genuine Tier Two Demon Beast! Although it was only a Tier Two Early-level Demon Beast, its strength was immense, and its thick hide provided astonishing defense. In a real fight, it could even take down a master at the True Martial Realm Second Stage.

More importantly...

The Black Cloud Demon Bear was the overlord of Black Cloud Valley, with hundreds, even thousands, of Demon Beasts under its command.

Among them were plenty of Tier One High-level Demon Beasts.

Even the teams from powerful factions like the Four Great Clans, the Qinghuo Gang, the Red Flame Army, and the City Lord’s Mansion wouldn’t dare to provoke Black Cloud Valley lightly.

Little White rolled his eyes and said irritably, "It’s just one dumb bear. Is there any need to make such a big fuss?"

Jiang Chen clapped Lui Yifa on the shoulder and said, "Afa, have you forgotten what Lui Xun said about you when he left? He thinks we can’t possibly do this, that in the end, you’ll still have to go crawling back to him. Can you really stand that smug look on his face?"

"This..."

Lui Yifa froze. He recalled Lui Xun’s arrogant demeanor as he left and how, with just a few words, Lui Xun had turned him into a public target. He couldn’t help but clench his fists, his eyes filled with determination. "Boss, I’ll follow your lead. So what if it’s the Black Cloud Demon Bear? No matter how strong it is, it’s still just a beast. If we use some tricks, like poison or traps, we might actually have a chance to fight it!"

"Hahaha, you’re overthinking it, kid. We’re not using any crooked tricks this time we go to Black Cloud Valley. We’re just going to charge right in!"

Jiang Chen laughed heartily, taking the lead and disappearing into the night.

With a WHOOSH, Little White leaped up and followed closely behind Jiang Chen.

Lui Yifa stood there, dumbfounded. "Ch-charge... charge right in? To Black Cloud Valley? I... Fuck, they’re crazy, completely crazy. They must be insane..."

...

「Black Cloud Valley.」 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Under the cover of night, the Demon Beasts within Black Cloud Valley were exceptionally active. The creatures here were all vicious and utterly ferocious.

Black Cloud Valley itself was strictly hierarchical. In the very center lived its overlord, the Tier Two Low-level Demon Beast, the Black Cloud Demon Bear. The middle region was home to four Tier One High-level Demon Beasts: the Green-eyed Tiger King, the Fiery Fire Sparrow King, the Tuo Mountain Bull King, and the Black Widow Spider King. Collectively known as the Four Great Beast Kings, each one possessed combat strength comparable to the Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Stage.

At this moment, the Four Great Beast Kings were gathered in the valley. On a flat clearing, several bonfires blazed brightly, illuminating most of the valley!

The Green-eyed Tiger King lay on the ground, its voice a low rumble like thunder. "Those humans are trying to open the Forbidden Land deep in the mountains again. Yesterday, while this King was patrolling the mountains with my underlings, I happened upon a group of humans ganging up on one of our fellow Demon Beasts. In my fury, this King devoured them all!"

"Humans are getting stronger and stronger, and they’re bent on exterminating us Demon Beasts. I wish I could go out and burn them all to ash..." The Fiery Fire Sparrow King, wreathed in flames, spoke in a sharp, piercing voice. The scorching hot air it exhaled from its nostrils instantly incinerated any grass or plants in its path.

The Tuo Mountain Bull King was over sixty meters long and twenty meters tall. It had a hump on its back, as if it were carrying a mountain peak. Its voice was hoarse and deep. "The Great King has already given his orders. We are to stay obediently in Black Cloud Valley and not go out looking for trouble. You’d all do well to behave yourselves!"

"Old Niu, you have the gall to lecture us? Half a month ago, didn’t you just slaughter a human village, get chased by a human True Martial Realm Powerhouse, and nearly lose your life?" the Black Widow Spider King sneered mockingly.

"You damn spider, are you looking to die?" The Tuo Mountain Bull King had a fiery temper and glared at the Black Widow Spider King.

The Black Widow Spider King was not one to back down. It bared its fangs and brandished its claws—its eight legs spread out to cover an area half the size of a basketball court, and its two fangs glinted with a brilliant sheen. "Old Niu, do you really think I’m afraid of you?"

"Why are you two fighting again?" the Fiery Fire Sparrow King said with resignation.

The Green-eyed Tiger King snorted coldly and said flatly, "If you have the guts, then go ahead and fight. Kill each other. Wake the Great King and see which one of you can withstand his fury!"

Upon hearing the Black Cloud Demon Bear’s name, both the Tuo Mountain Bull King and the Black Widow Spider King, who had been on the verge of a fight, shuddered and immediately backed down.

The Green-eyed Tiger King pondered for a moment before speaking. "Although the Great King ordered us not to stir up trouble, this King believes we should still teach those humans a painful lesson. What are your thoughts?"

Just as the Tiger King finished speaking, a Tier One Intermediate Demon Beast, a Snow Wolf, staggered in from outside the valley, yelping urgently. "AWOOO... AWOO AWOOO..."

"What?"

The Four Great Beast Kings all turned to look at the Snow Wolf.

The terrifying pressure from the Beast Kings made the Snow Wolf tremble uncontrollably. It prostrated itself on the ground, whining pitifully.

The ’King’ character marking on the Green-eyed Tiger King’s forehead twitched slightly. It bared a mouthful of menacing white teeth. "Good, very good. To think that before we beasts of Black Cloud Valley have even made a move, these humans would be foolish enough to deliver themselves to our doorstep. Fiery Fire Sparrow King, take a hundred Demon Beasts to the entrance and slay those imbeciles."

"No problem!"

The Fiery Fire Sparrow King immediately flapped its wings, stirring up a fiery whirlwind as it soared into the sky.

「At the entrance to Black Cloud Valley.」

Lui Yifa was still in a state of utter shock. Staring at the Demon Beast corpses scattered across the ground, he gulped hard, his horrified gaze fixed on the young man standing proudly before him, longsword in one hand, the other clasped behind his back. ’B-Boss... is actually this strong?’

He had assumed that when Jiang Chen killed that Martial Arts Ninth Stage expert from the Qinghuo Gang, he had been going all out.

Only now did Lui Yifa realize that what he had witnessed that day was merely the tip of the iceberg of Jiang Chen’s true power.

Little White stood beside Jiang Chen, the white fur all over its body standing on end. The tuft of white fur on its forehead stood up high, tinged with a faint golden light, resembling a small crown.

Little White lifted a pinkish-white paw, licked the blood off it, and said with an excited expression, "Roasted Demon Beast meat is more delicious, but the taste of fresh Demon Beast Essence Blood is still more appetizing!"

"Little White, stop acting like such a glutton!" Jiang Chen glanced at him.

Little White chuckled, shook the blood from its fur, and then its gaze froze. Looking toward Black Cloud Valley, its brows twitched. "Boss, a large group of Demon Beasts is approaching, along with one with an exceptionally powerful aura. The air temperature has clearly risen a lot. If I’m not mistaken, it must be the Fiery Fire Sparrow King, one of the Four Great Beast Kings!"

"The Fiery Fire Sparrow King, is it?"

Jiang Chen nodded. "That beast can fly, which makes it tricky. Little White, I’ll be counting on you to keep that animal busy in a bit!"

"Don’t worry, Boss. With Lord Little White here, that fire-breathing, motley-feathered bird won’t be hopping around for much longer!" Little White nodded and said confidently.

Just then, an anxious voice called out from behind them. "Brother, get out of here, quickly! This is Black Cloud Valley! It’s teeming with Demon Beasts, and the Four Great Beast Kings are incredibly difficult to deal with. Even True Martial Realm masters would find them extremely troublesome. Oh no, it’s the Fiery Fire Sparrow King! Brother, I’ll hold them off! You have to go, run now before it’s too late!"

Jiang Chen, who had been about to hunt down the Fiery Fire Sparrow King, was suddenly pushed aside by the newcomer. He stared, completely baffled, at the figure standing protectively in front of him, wielding a Profound Weapon with a righteous and fearless expression.

’Who the hell is this?’