Within My Sect, All Realms Unite-Chapter 8: The Beast Forest

The ship plummeted from the sky and crashed into the earth with a deafening roar. For a moment, it seemed as if it would shatter into splinters, but the defensive formation flared at the last second, absorbing most of the impact. The hull cracked and all but it held.

When the dust settled, Lin Xiao Tian was the first to step out one by one, the disciples followed, bruised but alive.

Without hesitation, Lin Xiao Tian flicked his sleeve. A stream of spiritual fire surged forth and engulfed the wrecked vessel along with the corpses of the bandits still inside.

Flames roared, reducing wood and flesh alike to ash. He would not leave behind traces, nor give scavengers anything to feast upon.

Only after the fire died down did he take out the map he studied it carefully and as he did it his expression darkened.

"This damned thing..." he muttered under his breath. The terrain before them matched nothing on the chart. Either they had veered wildly off course during the crash or the bandits had given them a deliberately misleading route.

For a brief moment, even he felt a flicker of unease he silently prayed they had not strayed into the territory of some Core Formation beast.

Clapping his hands once, his voice regained its usual calm authority. "Form up. Defensive pattern. We move."

The disciples immediately arranged themselves in proper formation, nerves taut but disciplined. Together, they began advancing through the forest.

The trees were ancient, their canopies thick enough to swallow most of the light. Spiritual energy in the air was dense too dense for an ordinary forest.

Before long, several Qi Transformation beasts emerged from the undergrowth. Lin Xiao Tian did not interfere. Instead, he allowed the disciples to engage, correcting their mistakes with sharp instructions while they fought. It was dangerous but controlled.

They secured a decent harvest of beast cores and materials Fortunate and yet unfortunate.

The spoils from the bandits had enriched them considerably. But now they were stranded in unknown territory, without a clear direction or plan. Wealth meant little if they stumbled into something far beyond their strength.

Then a disciple who had been scouting ahead sprinted back, breathing heavily but eyes blazing with excitement. "Master!"

Lin Xiao Tian turned. "One kilometer straight ahead, there’s a strange rocky valley. The entrance is guarded by a Foundation Establishment fox beast." He swallowed. "Judging from its behavior it’s definitely protecting something."

Hearing the report, Lin Xiao Tian’s eyes flashed. A Foundation Establishment beast? If they worked together, it was manageable even easy. "It seems good" he murmured.

Without wasting time, he led the group toward the rocky valley soon, they saw it.

A massive fox lay before the narrow entrance, five smooth silver tails fanned out behind it like flowing silk. Its fur shimmered faintly under the filtered sunlight, elegant and regal yet the pressure it emitted was unmistakably that of the Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment.

It was no ordinary beast. the moment they stepped within range, the fox’s golden pupils snapped open.

A low growl escaped from its throat they had been discovered. Lin Xiao Tian stepped forward calmly, hands behind his back then he gave a subtle signal. "Ciao, Yun go Test it."

The two disciples immediately moved out they spread apart, taking flanking positions. Spiritual energy surged through their meridians as they prepared their attacks.

This fox was not cannon fodder like the captain’s lackeys. The instant they entered striking distance It vanished.

A silver blur tore through the air its speed was terrifying Ciao barely managed to block with his spear before being forced back several meters. Yun pivoted and slashed, sword qi carving through empty air as the fox reappeared behind him.

Its claws struck like falling blades, heavy and explosive Speed, Strength, Combat instinct it truly was a tier five beast.

But it never strayed far from the valley entrance. Each time it lunged, it would quickly retreat, positioning itself back before the rocky opening.

It was guarding and protecting something Yun noticed it first.

He activated the basic circulation of the Heaven-Tier Art he had recently initiated. His meridians trembled as refined spiritual energy surged through him his sword qi sharpened, turning pale blue and razor thin.

Supported by their high-grade weapons, the two gradually forced the fox back.

Ciao pinned its movement with sweeping spear arcs, while Yun’s precise sword strikes cut into its flank, drawing streaks of blood across silver fur.

Slowly they began cornering it the disciples watching felt their confidence rise just as jubilance was running high suddenly.

The fox’s eyes suddenly turned cold a silent ripple spread from its body a psychic wave burst outward.

Ciao and Yun stiffened mid-motion. Their minds were struck as if hammered by invisible force. The world blurred and they froze.

The fox’s claws split apart, dark energy condensing along their edges as it leapt forward to tear them in half.

Lin Xiao Tian’s expression changed for the first time. "Soul attack?!"

His eyes narrowed sharply. "Damn beast how can it use spiritual suppression at Foundation Establishment?"

This was no simple beast if not for the Sect Master’s robe shielding his spiritual sea, even Lin Xiao Tian would have been frozen in place.

The moment the psychic suppression brushed against him, the defensive formation within his robe flared faintly, dispersing the invasive force.

Without hesitation, he moved and shot forward like a released arrow before the fox’s claws could descend upon Ciao and Yun, Lin Xiao Tian’s palm struck out spiritual power exploded.

Crack—!

Both claws burst apart mid-air blood sprayed across the rocky ground. The pained howl of the beast snapped Ciao and Yun out of their mental paralysis.

"Retreat!" Lin Xiao Tian barked but he did not retreat his fingers merged into a sword seal. Spiritual energy condensed.

A blade of pure sword qi formed in his grasp compressed, refined, lethal he swung it and the world seemed to pause.

Then the sword qi flashed the fox’s head separated cleanly from its body for a split second, its golden eyes remained open filled with hatred, unwillingness and something else.

warning before the severed head could hit the ground a heart-rending roar tore through the forest.

The sound was not merely loud it carried pressure a terrifying spiritual suppression descended like a collapsing mountain trees bent and the earth trembled.

Everyone except Lin Xiao Tian was slammed to the ground his heart went cold as cold sweat erupted across his back.

In the distance a colossal figure was charging toward them Seven tails Each one thicker than ancient tree trunks.

Its aura far surpassed Foundation Establishment this was not something they could fight. There was no time to think.

Lin Xiao Tian grabbed the nearest disciple and threw him toward the valley entrance. "Inside! Now!"

He swept the others forward with a surge of spiritual force and finally leapt in himself. The entrance was quite narrow.

Just as he crossed the threshold BOOM!

The seven-tailed behemoth arrived its massive paw shattered the earth where they had stood moments before.

The entire valley trembled as it roared in fury golden eyes blazing as it stared at the entrance., Yet it did not step inside.

It paced outside the narrow passage, roaring again and again but it did not dare break in.

Lin Xiao Tian slowly steadied his breathing his gaze darkening "so that’s how it is"

Whatever lay within this valley either that seven-tailed monster feared it or cherished it.