Immortality and cultivation begin at age forty, starting with Foundation Establishment.

Forty miles away, the main peak of the suspended Demon Mountain suddenly collapsed, and huge rocks fell like stars, crashing into the black-gold crack below.

From the cracks in the mountain, a thick, black mist surged out, like a giant beast breaking free of its cage, churning and swirling, instantly swallowing half the sky.

The last rays of the setting sun disappeared completely, leaving behind only oppressive dark clouds.

The black mist carried a malevolent aura and a strong, fishy stench. Any Qi Refining cultivator who inhaled even a small amount felt as if their soul had fallen into an ice cave, rendering them completely immobile.

Deep within the black mist, a pair of golden eyes suddenly lit up, filled with pure bloodlust.

A massive canine beast emerged from a crack formed by black and gold mist.

A third-tier demonic beast is comparable to a Golden Core cultivator!

Don't even think about how to fight back, just run!

Chen An pulled Yu Peiyao up and immediately used the Blood Escape Technique to escape. Ye Hongyi also used her spell to run away at about the same time.

Third-tier demonic beasts have an overwhelming advantage over cultivators at the Golden Core stage.

Fortunately, Chen An was cautious enough and stayed far enough away from the Demon Mountain, otherwise he would definitely have been targeted by the Golden Core demon beast.

Once targeted by a third-tier demonic beast, escaping becomes much more difficult. This overwhelming, catastrophic defeat would definitely kill Chen An.

Even a Golden Core cultivator has a hard time fighting a third-tier demonic beast, let alone a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Just like Foundation Establishment cultivators need to form a team and develop a plan before hunting second-tier demonic beasts.

Even a Golden Core cultivator needs to be well-prepared to deal with a third-tier demonic beast.

During their escape, the image of Demon Mountain continued to flash on the communication jade.

Its massive body had black fur with a golden sheen running through it, and its mane stood on end like burning black-gold flames, trembling slightly with each breath.

"Awoo!"

With a deafening roar, the communication jade stone near Black Mountain shattered instantly, leaving only the communication jade stone ten miles away to continue functioning.

The scene Chen An saw became increasingly blurry, and the malevolent energy spreading from the direction of Demon Mountain grew stronger.

No deliberate killing is needed; the aura emanating from the surroundings alone is enough to kill all Qi Refining cultivators.

The expedition to explore the Demon Mountain involved a total of 1,500 people.

The first of the three hundred exploration team members to lose their lives.

The second exploration team, like the vanguard team, also began to have members tainted by the black aura.

The rest of the people were fleeing for their lives.

Some cultivators tried to escape on the flying boat, but they were suppressed and killed by the aura released by the third-tier demonic beast.

Even some Qi-refining cultivators who could control swords were suppressed by the aura of third-tier demonic beasts.

For Qi Refining cultivators, the only escape method they could use was the most primitive way of fleeing on their own two legs.

Their movement speed was too slow, and only a few Qi Refining disciples used secret techniques to speed up their movement and escape the area of ​​black energy.

As for the Foundation Establishment cultivators who remained ten miles away to guard the area, they were already dead.

Just as Chen An had thought, Foundation Establishment cultivators would be targeted immediately and would die immediately as well. As for how they died, Chen An didn't know, as the communication jade tablet in his hand couldn't see all areas.

Chen An had looked through countless monster illustrations, but he couldn't recognize what kind of monster emerged from the black mist.

But that doesn't matter anymore. With such a strong baleful aura, this dog-beast, no matter what kind of demon beast it was before, has now mutated into a mindless baleful beast.

Monsters are inherently weak in intelligence, and those that have been tainted by evil energy to this extent have completely lost their intelligence.

Even cultivators at the Golden Core stage would find it difficult to control a third-tier demonic beast that lacks intelligence.

During his escape, Chen An reported the news of the third-tier demonic beast to Chen Ying.

Several Song family cultivators received the news and tried to stop Chen Ying, but it was too late.

Chen Ying was eager to show off and challenge strong opponents, so a third-tier demonic beast was a suitable opponent for her.

As for whether she would fail? Chen Ying hadn't considered it. She had a Heavenly Spiritual Root and was a genius in everyone's eyes. She was sure she could win.

In the small courtyard with its blue-tiled roof, the Foundation Establishment elders of the Song family were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, unable to find a solution at all.

"What to do, what to do?"

"It's all your fault. We should have just let Aunt Chen go when she wanted to attack the stronghold, but we had to stop her. Now look what's happened. Aunt Chen received the news and ran off without even consulting us."

"Should we activate the soul-binding restriction to force our martial uncle to stay?"

"Are you crazy? The soul restriction is just a safety net to prevent Uncle Chen from betraying the Song family. If we really activate the soul restriction, it will be disrespectful to Uncle Chen. At that time, both the family and Uncle Chen will hate us to death."

"But what if we get injured by a demonic beast? That's a third-tier demonic beast, and it's been tainted by this world. What if, what if Uncle Chen dies? Our entire branch might be buried with him."

"Nonsense! Uncle Chen has a Heavenly Spiritual Root and a top-grade magic treasure bestowed by the Grand Elder. Even a mid-stage third-order demon beast might not be a match for Uncle Chen."

"What if, what if..."

"We can't wait, we have to go. If something happens to Uncle Chen, we'll all die."

"We can't catch up with Uncle Chen. He's deployed warships. By the time we arrive, the battle will probably be over."

"After we're done fighting, we're going too. If Uncle Chen dies, we'll be buried with him!"

"Alright, damn it, a third-tier demonic beast. Who doesn't have a third-tier treasure? You guys shouldn't hold back. If we get there and Uncle Chen is still alive, even if we all die, we absolutely cannot let anything happen to Uncle Chen."

"That son of a bitch of a demon, he's really making things difficult for everyone. What's with all this third-tier demonic beasts on the border battlefield?"

The four quickly discussed their plan, then cursed and drove their flying boat away.

Chen An, Yu Peiyao, and Ye Hongyi fled three hundred miles and escaped the danger zone.

I only found out after examining the jade pendant.

The third-tier demonic beast has already wiped out all living beings near Demon Mountain.

Both Foundation Establishment cultivators assigned to the sect are dead.

In addition, 1,500 Qi Refining disciples also died.

Even the vice-captain, Zhu Zizai, died at the hands of a third-tier demonic beast.

At this moment, the third-tier demonic beast unleashed a barrage of destruction upon the Demon Mountain that had once imprisoned it, releasing a variety of powerful techniques.

In the open field, Chen An breathed a sigh of relief and released Yu Peiyao's hand.

"They survived."

Despite the protection of spiritual energy, Yu Peiyao's arm was still pulled painfully. The sudden stop caused her to stumble and fall against a withered old locust tree, the rough bark tearing her clothes.

Yu Peiyao gasped for breath, her chest filled with the long-lost fresh air.

"That's a third-tier demonic beast!"

Chen An popped a few pills into his mouth and mumbled, "Yes, all the third-tier demonic beasts are dead, including Zhu Zizai."

Yu Peiyao's body trembled, and she almost fell to the ground. Just an hour ago, she had argued with Chen An, saying that Chen An was a coward. But the facts in front of her told her that Chen An was right.

If they had known there were such terrifying monsters in the Black Mountain, they would never have sent 1,500 people there.

One hundred people are enough to explore.

But there are no "what ifs." Yu Peiyao's hand trembled slightly. She brushed past death, but luckily, she didn't die.