Zhu Qiuniang's perception was sharp.
The demon beast was still a thousand zhang away from them, but she could already sense the strong aura emanating from the beast.
She was at the ninth level of Qi cultivation, having condensed a hint of true spirit.
She was just a step away from opening her spiritual senses to complete her foundation building.
Relying on her true spirit perception, Zhu Qiuniang knew that the demon beast was coming for her.
Second-tier demon beasts were not inferior in intelligence to humans.
If the demon beast rushed into the courtyard, with its keen perception as a second-tier demon beast, it would immediately detect them, rendering any beast-repelling talismans useless.
Zhu Qiuniang didn't know why the demon beast was targeting her, but she didn't have time to dwell on it.
If this continued, it would endanger Gao Xian and Da Niu as well.
After instructing a few words, Zhu Qiuniang hurriedly left the room with her sword in hand.
Gao Xian quickly followed Zhu Qiuniang out, grabbing her hand. "I'm coming with you!"
Without hesitation, Zhu Qiuniang forcefully shook off Gao Xian's hand. "Don't be reckless. It's coming for me. You following me is of no use, only a burden."
"Take the Frost Sword."
With time pressing, Gao Xian didn't explain to Zhu Qiuniang.
He directly took out the Frost Sword and threw it to her.
Only this top-grade sword could threaten a second-tier demon beast.
Taking the Frost Sword, Zhu Qiuniang nodded. "I'll go."
Without waiting for Gao Xian to speak, Zhu Qiuniang had already used her Wind Riding Technique to leap over the wall.
Da Niu's reaction was much slower than the other two.
It was only at this moment that he ran out. "Brother, Seventh Sister, I, I'm coming with you!"
"You stay and guard the house."
Still worried about Zhu Qiuniang, Gao Xian quickly instructed Da Niu before using his Wind Riding Technique to follow Zhu Qiuniang's direction.
By the time Gao Xian leaped over the wall, Zhu Qiuniang's figure was nowhere to be seen.
This area was the core region of the Feima Sect, with various buildings everywhere.
Gao Xian jumped onto a chimney of a house and looked into the distance.
Under the bright moonlight, the snow on the roofs of the houses was very conspicuous, making the areas where the moonlight couldn't reach even darker.
The strong contrast between light and darkness divided the space into distinct areas, with numerous figures moving around in those areas.
Gao Xian knew that these figures were cultivators fleeing in panic from the demon beast, but Zhu Qiuniang was not among them.
Suddenly, a second-tier demon beast broke into the central area of the Feima Sect, catching many cultivators off guard.
No one dared to stop and confront the demon beast.
Gao Xian also saw the second-tier demon beast standing on a rooftop, its shining red eyes seeming to hesitate.
It didn't seem too interested in the fleeing cultivators but was searching for a specific target.
The moonlight shone on the demon beast, reflecting off its iron-scaled body.
This demon beast looked very much like a tiger, taller than the iron-backed wolf it had killed.
However, its muscular body was noticeably more robust and well-proportioned, with smooth curves despite its large size.
Anyone with a bit of common sense would know that this creature must be incredibly fast and possess great explosive power.
The scales covering its body made its defense exceptionally strong.
Gao Xian didn't know much about demon beasts, but he recognized the creature in front of him: the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger.
This second-tier Iron-scaled Demon Tiger was extremely famous, having killed countless cultivators deep in the Tengshe Mountain.
The area where the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger roamed had become a recognized forbidden zone.
For some unknown reason, this Iron-scaled Demon Tiger had been lured to the Feima Sect.
Leaving the complex environment of the mountainous forest and running into a market full of cultivators was actually very dangerous for the demon beast.
After all, there were too many cultivators here.
If they were to unite and confront it, even as a second-tier demon beast, it wouldn't be able to withstand the combined force.
However, the cultivators were all scattered and no one dared to confront the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger head-on.
Their thoughts were simple: as long as they ran faster than the cultivator next to them, it would be enough.
Gao Xian noticed the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger scanning its surroundings, so he didn't dare to be careless and quickly activated his Shadowless Technique.
A serene water-like light descended, completely enveloping Gao Xian like a huge cloak, causing his shadow on the snow-covered rooftop to disappear.
Gao Xian and Qiuniang had tested it before.
When he wore the Shadowless Technique, Qiuniang couldn't detect him within seven steps.
Within seven steps, although Qiuniang couldn't see him, she could sense something unusual.
The specific circumstances were also influenced by the environment and couldn't be generalized.
With the distance being so far and numerous cultivators running around below, Gao Xian believed that the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger shouldn't be able to see through the Shadowless Technique.
Indeed, when the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger's gaze swept over his position, it didn't show any abnormalities.
In fact, the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger just hesitated for a moment before dashing towards a specific direction.
The Iron-scaled Demon Tiger had strong and powerful limbs, yet its huge body seemed exceptionally agile.
It could easily run on the walls and even stand upright at right angles on the wall surface.
After a few leaps, the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger disappeared without a trace.
Feeling that something was amiss, Gao Xian activated his Scent-sensing Technique.
When casting the spell, the water-like fluctuations on the surface of his body caused by the Shadowless Technique inevitably appeared.
Fortunately, there was no one around to witness this somewhat strange scene.
With the Scent-sensing Technique, Gao Xian could sense thousands of different scents in the air.
Among these countless scents, Gao Xian quickly filtered out the scent of Zhu Qiuniang.
To Gao Xian, Qiuniang's scent was like intermittent streaks of light floating in the darkness, clearly marking Qiuniang's whereabouts.
Gao Xian then locked onto the scent of the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger, which was much stronger.
The scent left by the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger was like a street lamp, clearly indicating the direction.
The traces of Qiuniang's scent and the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger's scent overlapped for the most part.
Through the Scent-sensing Technique, Gao Xian could almost confirm that the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger was indeed targeting Qiuniang.
"I wonder who plotted against Qiuniang. This is troublesome..."
Gao Xian immediately realized that Qiuniang was in big trouble.
In terms of physical strength and magical power, Qiuniang was no match for the Iron-scaled Demon Tiger.
If this chase continued, Qiuniang would have nowhere to escape and would undoubtedly die.
If he went to help, the most likely outcome was that he would die alongside Qiuniang.
When it came to his own life, how could Gao Xian not think twice?
"Qiuniang helped him, and he helped Qiuniang. Killing Zhu Hong'an was a joint effort between them, and Qiuniang also gained a lot of benefits. It's not like he owes Qiuniang anything..."
Gao Xian hesitated, as he was about to face a second-tier demon beast, equivalent to a foundation-building cultivator.
Normally, a foundation-building cultivator could easily crush a Qi cultivation cultivator.
The power difference between the two was immense.
The strength of a second-tier demon beast was even greater than that of an ordinary foundation-building cultivator.
He had to exert all his strength to deal with Yao Qingshuang.
Facing a second-tier demon beast, he had almost no chance at all.
This was no joke; at this moment, loyalty was a matter of life and death!
However, Gao Xian only hesitated for a moment.
Comrades were meant to fight side by side.
Abandoning others at a critical moment, what kind of comrade would that be?
Not to mention risking his life to be a pair of mandarin ducks with Qiuniang, at the very least, he had to try his best!
Gao Xian didn't rush to catch up.
He focused his consciousness on his forehead and opened the Moon and Wind Mirror.
During this time, he had accumulated quite a bit of humane radiance.
Before taking action, he needed to enhance his strength.
His gaze fell on the True Yang Spear and the Shadowless Technique.
With the current humane radiance, he could only elevate one of these spells to the level of Grandmaster Perfection.
How should he choose?
(End of this chapter)