"Yilin, be careful. Don't go forward later. This is the leopard that injured me last night," Ning Beichen transmitted telepathically to Liu Yilin behind him, lest she rush forward to fight without knowing what was happening.
Liu Yilin's expression changed. She nodded slightly at Ning Beichen. Since she couldn't transmit telepathically yet, she could only respond to Ning Beichen in this manner.
However, her face was filled with worry. The fact that this leopard could injure Ning Beichen meant it was extremely powerful, so much so that even Ning Beichen couldn't defeat it.
With a clang, the bronze ancient sword appeared in Ning Beichen's hand.
He dared not be careless. He had to go all out from the start, otherwise, he might not be a match for this leopard.
Moreover, Liu Yilin was behind him. If he didn't fight with all his might, he feared the leopard would vent its anger on Liu Yilin, and with her current abilities, she wouldn't be able to withstand even a single blow from the leopard.
The leopard also went all out as soon as they met, with no intention of probing. After all, they had already fought last night and were well aware of each other's strength.
Therefore, as soon as the leopard appeared, its body immediately expanded, turning into a colossal behemoth. It opened its maw, forming a sky-devouring abyss, and bit down towards Ning Beichen.
"Beast, you're courting death!"
Ning Beichen roared.
Veins bulged on his arms. He fiercely swung the bronze ancient sword, and half of his internal energy vanished like flowing water, surging out of the bronze ancient sword and transforming into countless sword rains, charging towards the leopard's maw.
A series of clattering sounds ensued.
The leopard's mouth was instantly riddled with holes, spewing out a large amount of blood rain, and it let out a piteous cry.
However, even so, the leopard's mouth continued to descend. The immense impact force bit out a large hole several meters wide in the area where Ning Beichen was.
Liu Yilin, standing behind, had never witnessed such a terrifying scene. She was so scared that her face turned ashen, and she kept backing away.
Although Ning Beichen had told her he was injured fighting a leopard, she had thought it was just a leopard like those seen in zoos. She had never expected or heard of a leopard that could grow its body to such a size.
This was no longer a leopard from the zoo; it was clearly a demon leopard from ancient myths!
"Beast, I'll annihilate you today."
Ning Beichen wiped away the blood, looked at the leopard, which was no longer able to move, and pointed the bronze ancient sword at it again, preparing to press his advantage and finish it off with another move, "A Sword Astonishes the Wind and Rain."
Just as Ning Beichen was about to make his move, a graceful figure suddenly appeared in front of the leopard.
"Who dares to harm my Ada?"
The woman was wearing an ancient sackcloth, her hair disheveled, and her feet bare. However, her skin was as smooth and lustrous as white jade and emerald.
Ning Beichen's pupils constricted. He sensed that he was locked onto by her gaze and dared not move. He merely rested his hand on the bronze ancient sword, not daring to attack.
When the arrogant leopard saw the woman, it instantly transformed into a docile dog, whimpering incessantly at her. Ning Beichen couldn't tell if it was acting cute or complaining about Ning Beichen, which made him feel very nervous.
This was because he couldn't discern the cultivation level of this sackcloth-clad woman at all. However, his sixth sense was constantly warning him of her terrifying power.
"Did you injure my Ada?"
The sackcloth-clad woman gently patted the leopard and unleashed an extremely terrifying aura towards Ning Beichen.
"It… it was a misunderstanding, miss. Your leopard attacked me, so I had to fight back."
Ning Beichen explained tactfully. The truth was indeed that the leopard had attacked him first, releasing its malice, which led Ning Beichen to retaliate, including his previous actions.
"Lies!"
After saying this, the woman struck Ning Beichen with a palm from a distance.
With a bang!
Ning Beichen felt as if he had been hit by a heavy blow and was sent flying more than ten meters away. He spat out a mouthful of blood upon landing, feeling as though his body was cracking apart.
"Beichen!"
Liu Yilin, behind him, watched with wide, bloodshot eyes. She charged at the woman without regard for her own safety. In her mind, there was no thought of life or death, only the desire to avenge Ning Beichen.
However, she suffered the same fate as Ning Beichen. The woman struck her with a palm from a distance, sending her flying. She landed without a sound.
This time, it was Ning Beichen's turn to be enraged, his eyes bleeding. He hadn't expected this woman to attack so viciously without rhyme or reason. A sky-piercing rage surged from him.
A powerful killing intent emanated from Ning Beichen. He got up from the ground, with only the thought of killing this woman in his mind, like a wolf weeping blood.
"You deserve to die!"
Ning Beichen gritted his teeth and said, looking at the woman.
The sackcloth-clad woman looked at Ning Beichen with the eyes of an ant, showing no regard for him at all.
No matter how powerful an ant is, it's still just an ant. Was she afraid of an angry ant?
Just as she was about to deliver another palm strike to kill this "ant," Ning Beichen suddenly unleashed a terrifying aura that made her heart pound.
"Wait a moment."
The sackcloth-clad woman quickly said to Ning Beichen.
"I'll wait for your mother!"
At this moment, Ning Beichen, driven by Liu Yilin's injury, had lost all his composure. He only wanted this woman dead, regardless of whether she was human or ghost, demon or devil.
All his internal energy surged into the bronze ancient sword, not a single drop left. It even caused Ning Beichen's meridians to swell and ache intensely. The excessive exertion made him feel as if he were being sliced alive.
However, Ning Beichen paid no mind to it now. This was his full-powered strike, and there was no turning back. If this sword couldn't kill the woman, then he would have to accompany Liu Yilin to the underworld.
"Kill!"
"Kill, kill, kill!"
Ning Beichen's roars echoed through the valley. The immense killing intent was unbridled. The sword rain descended from the heavens, falling upon the sackcloth-clad woman.
Rumbling sounds filled the air as the valley's surroundings were ruthlessly ravaged by the sword rain.
The sackcloth-clad woman's expression changed drastically. She looked panicked and utterly disbelieving.
"You… how can you know the Fades-to-Mortal Sword Technique!"
However, Ning Beichen's response was the endless sword rain.
The sackcloth-clad woman quickly waved her arm, conjuring a large blue barrier in front of her.
The sword rain struck the barrier, creating terrifying collisions. After a short while, blood seeped from the corner of the sackcloth-clad woman's mouth.
A while later, the blue barrier was pierced by the sword rain. The sword rain fell upon the sackcloth-clad woman, who now displayed a look of fear.
However, by this time, the sword rain's power had greatly diminished. It only left countless wounds on the sackcloth-clad woman's body, failing to kill her, though her injuries were not light.
Ning Beichen was also not doing well.
His strength was completely depleted. The only reason he was still standing was sheer willpower; in reality, his meridians ached so much that he wanted to cry out for his mother, but he couldn't let this woman see his weakness.