Upon examining the map earlier, Zhong Peng was taken aback by what he saw.
It appeared that he had been transported not to the outermost part of the Thousand Beast Valley as expected but to the very edge of its innermost reaches.
This discovery filled him with both surprise and trepidation, for he knew that this part of the valley was far more dangerous and unpredictable than any other.
With a sense of unease, he realized that he would have to be extra careful and vigilant if he hoped to make it out of the valley alive.
As Zhong Peng ran for his life, he could sense the qi beast rapidly closing in on him.
Despite his best efforts, the beast was gaining ground with every passing moment, and he could feel his heart pounding with fear and terror.
The sheer speed and ferocity of the beast were almost too much for him to bear, and he was scared out of his wits as he fled for his life.
Outside the Thousand Beast Valley, the onlookers who were eagerly watching the hunting stage unfold were taken aback by Zhong Peng's dire situation.
He seemed to be the unluckiest person in the entire valley, having been transported to the most perilous spot between the innermost and outermost parts of the valley.
This was a particularly dangerous place for someone of his cultivation level, and everyone watching knew that he was in grave danger.
Zhong Peng, who has been engaged in prolonged physical activity, is beginning to feel weary.
Despite this, the qi beast continues to pursue him relentlessly.
Zhong Peng knows he must take immediate action to save his life. If not he would have to activate his spatial token, which he will have to crush, leading to his self-elimination.
As Zhong Peng runs, his mind races with thoughts, processing the information about his current situation. He desperately tries to figure out a way to escape from his dire predicament.
As Zhong Peng ran, he spotted a cave in the distance. The cave appeared to be large enough for him to pass through, but not big enough for the large qi beast that was chasing after him.
A sudden plan hatched in his mind, and he changed his direction, running towards the cave.
As Zhong Peng approached the cave, he got a closer look at it. It didn't look like a natural formation, but rather something that was man-made or perhaps even beast-made.
Despite not knowing who or what had dug the cave, Zhong Peng didn't hesitate and ran into it.
Once Zhong Peng entered the cave, the large qi beast suddenly came to a halt and refused to approach any closer.
It kept a safe distance from the cave and lay down a few meters away, refusing to leave but also not daring to come any closer.
As the qi beast lay down outside the cave, Zhong Peng took a closer look at it.
The beast had the body of a snake but the head of a tiger, and it emanated a strong aura that was at least at the middle nirvana tribulation level.
It was then that Zhong Peng remembered what Xiao Se had said earlier about people encountering a serpent-like qi beast with a middle nirvana tribulation cultivation level.
Shivers ran down Zhong Peng's spine as he gazed upon the gigantic, menacing serpent-like qi beast lying just outside the cave. Another question arose in his mind, "What could be inside this cave that is so terrifying and powerful that even the qi beast outside is too scared to approach it?"
Zhong Peng found himself caught in a difficult predicament, torn between a fearsome qi beast and an unknown entity that even the mighty qi beast trembled before.
He was at a loss as to what course of action to take, for the correct choice was far from clear.
Zhong Peng was faced with three options, each with its own set of challenges.
The first was to venture outside and confront the qi beast head-on, or continue to flee in the hope that either the beast would eventually give up or he would find a means to defeat it.
However, he was well aware that his current level of cultivation was simply not sufficient to take on such a formidable foe.
Furthermore, it was highly unlikely that the qi beast would relent in its pursuit, rendering this choice unfeasible.
The second option available to Zhong Peng was to crush the spatial token and escape from the perilous Thousand Beast Valley.
However, this would result in his disqualification from the contest and he would not be able to advance to the next stage.
This would be a severe setback for him, as it would also mean that his chances of joining a big sect would be dashed at this early stage.
Zhong Peng was not willing to accept such a fate, so this option was also not a viable choice for him.
The third option was the most audacious of them all.
Zhong Peng would need to overcome his deep-seated fear and venture deeper into the cave, without any knowledge of what awaited him on the other side. The very notion of it was enough to send shivers down his spine.