The next morning, as sunlight streamed through the cave entrance, he finally had the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider shed its various packages. Then, Liu Chen sat steadily on the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider's back and slowly moved towards the village.
The Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider's massive body was too conspicuous. Its jet-black carapace contrasted sharply with the surrounding pristine white snow, making it seem like a giant beast emerging from the darkness. Such a terrifying Gu worm made the villagers in this settlement afraid to show themselves, forcing them to hide in their homes, trembling with fear.
However, as Liu Chen and the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider gradually approached the village, an elderly Gu Master emerged from it. This Gu Master was very old, his back hunched when he walked, but he still braced himself and stood before Liu Chen, respectfully bowing to him, saying, "This old one greets this Lord. May I ask what commands this Lord has for our small village? Anything within our capabilities, we will not refuse."
"No need for formalities. I am merely passing through and intend to resupply some food here," Liu Chen said to the elder with a gentle and friendly smile.
Just as Liu Chen was about to continue conversing with the elderly Gu Master, a sudden, thunderous roar, like a meteorite falling, shook everyone.
"Boom!"
The colossal sound seemed to rip apart the entire world, as shattered stones, dirt, and wooden fragments rained down in all directions.
"Ah!"
The elderly Gu Master had no time to react, only managing a painful shriek. A sharp splinter of wood was deeply embedded in his back, and blood instantly stained his clothes.
Even Liu Chen, facing such an abrupt attack, could only instantly activate the defense of his White Jade Gu. A shimmering white light membrane, like an indestructible shield, swiftly enveloped his entire body, protecting him tightly.
And those fragments, like bullets, when they struck the light membrane, no matter how violently they impacted, the light membrane steadily withstood their force without the slightest damage.
The Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider, with its robust carapace, didn't even suffer a scratch from these fragments.
"Lord..." The elderly Gu Master looked at Liu Chen in terror. He didn't know what had happened, his heart filled with fear and confusion. He even began to suspect if Liu Chen was a Demonic Path Gu Master, intending to attack this village.
"It wasn't me!" Liu Chen quickly waved his hand, explaining, a look of astonishment on his face. He, too, was greatly surprised by this sudden turn of events, completely unaware of what was going on.
Liu Chen's gaze swiftly turned towards the direction of the sound, only to see a fierce blizzard had erupted there at some unknown point. The strong wind howled, the heavy snow raged, and the entire world was enveloped by a white curtain of snow.
"Roar ~"
Just then, a deafening leopard's roar pierced the sky, echoing through the clouds. The roar was full of wildness and majesty, making people feel awe.
"Ah ~"
"Help ~"
"Village Chief ~"
Screams rose and fell throughout the village. The houses built by the villagers swayed precariously under the blizzard's onslaught, as fragile as if made of paper. At the center of the blizzard, a bull-sized azure leopard roared menacingly, its body wrapped in an azure whirlwind, and the terrifying blizzard was swept up by the whirlwind from its body.
"Exotic Beast Wind Leopard!" Liu Chen stood in the distance and immediately recognized the leopard's origin. The memories of Flower Wine Ascetic's life instantly flashed through his mind; he was naturally well-versed in all kinds of intelligence about Southern Border.
This exotic beast Wind Leopard is an extremely rare and powerful existence. It is naturally capable of attracting various Wind Dao Gu worms, a capability that makes it thrive in combat. Even a juvenile Wind Leopard possesses the battle strength of a King of Beasts, and once it matures, its battle strength will advance by leaps and bounds, potentially even becoming a Beast Emperor.
Not only that, but an adult Wind Leopard is extremely fast, coming and going like the wind, and its attacks are incredibly swift and fierce; even a typical Rank Five Gu Master would find it troublesome.
However, fortunately, judging by the size of this Wind Leopard, it should not yet be an adult. Even so, Liu Chen estimated that its battle strength was absolutely not to be underestimated, at least at the level of an ordinary Rank Four Gu Master.
Even so, the power of the exotic beast Wind Leopard was far beyond what he, a Second Rank low-level Gu Master, could contend with. Even if he had the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider, with its Rank Five battle strength, as an aid, the situation remained grim.
His current Red Iron Primeval Essence was too thin to provide enough energy for the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider to fight the Wind Leopard with full strength.
"Escape! I must leave here as quickly as possible!" Liu Chen secretly mused.
He knew that there was a close connection between himself and the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider, and he himself was precisely the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider's fatal weakness. Furthermore, engaging in battle with this suddenly appearing Wind Leopard would be of no benefit to him, and might even put him in an extremely dangerous situation.
Therefore, Liu Chen unhesitatingly decided to have the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider dig a tunnel directly to quickly escape this dangerous place.
As for the innocent villagers, Liu Chen was currently unable to protect himself, let alone care for their safety.
"Roar!"
However, just as Liu Chen was about to escape, the Wind Leopard, as if intensely provoked by something, suddenly abandoned the villagers who were close at hand and easily obtainable, and instead, like a bolt of lightning, lunged directly at Liu Chen.
The enormous whirlwind formed by the Wind Leopard's charge was like a ferocious giant beast, baring its fangs and claws, its Aura terrifying and bone-chilling.
"Damn beast!" Liu Chen cursed inwardly as he saw the scene before him. He knew very well that in his current state, escaping the pursuit of this exotic beast Wind Leopard was almost impossible.
However, Liu Chen did not sit idly by. He quickly made a decision, ordering his mount Gu—the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider—to confront the Wind Leopard. Although the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider was not as fast as the Wind Leopard, its Rank Five strength was not to be underestimated and should be able to contend with the Wind Leopard.
Just as Liu Chen was about to command the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider to attack, something unexpected happened. The Wind Leopard, at the very instant it was about to collide with the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider, suddenly stopped in its tracks without any warning.
The storm enveloping the Wind Leopard's body did not cease, but continued to sweep towards the Thousand Li Earth Wolf Spider like a fierce torrent. At the same time, the Wind Leopard's main body, like an arrow shot from a bow, lunged directly at Liu Chen.