58- The dangerous situation... 4

Unbeknownst to Zhong Peng, he had become the focal point of the onlookers as he meticulously delved further into the cavern.

The walls of the cave were inexplicably sleek as if a force had polished them, lending weight to Zhong Peng's suspicion that the cavern was not a natural occurrence but rather had been excavated by either a human or a powerful qi beast.

As Zhong Peng ventured further into the cave, he noticed that it was eerily silent.

Not even the faintest sound could be heard echoing within the cavernous walls.

This curious lack of noise troubled Zhong Peng greatly, and he couldn't help but wonder what manner of qi beast lay hidden in the depths of the cave.

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In another part of the Thousand Beast Valley.

A fierce battle was taking place between a female figure and a beast. The beast resembled a monkey with its agile movements and quick reflexes.

As the female figure conjured many icicles and sent them toward the monkey-like beast, it retaliated by using its iron-like fist to reflect the attack. This beast was known as the Steel Clawed Monkey, notorious for its brutal nature and strong physical strength.

Its steel claw was a formidable weapon, giving it an advantage in both attacking and defending.

The battle was intense, the female figure engaging in the intense battle was, of course, Duan Xue.

It was evident that Duan Xue was stronger than the Steel Clawed Monkey, despite the beast's reputation for its brutal nature and strong physical strength.

As the battle waged on, Duan Xue's superior skills and power proved too much for the Steel Clawed Monkey to handle.

In the end, Duan Xue emerged victorious, killing off the beast and establishing her dominance in the conflict.

Duan Xue strode over to the qi beast and, leaning down, drew out a sharp dagger from her waist. With skillful precision, she deftly carved out the qi core from the lifeless beast.

After extracting the qi core from the steel-clawed monkey, she retrieved her map and verified her current whereabouts.

She had been abruptly transported to the very lair of the steel-clawed monkeys, and upon arrival, she immediately engaged in a fierce battle with the creatures.

In the heat of the moment, she had not had the opportunity to consult her map and assess her position.

However, she eventually emerged victorious, having slain every last steel-clawed monkey in the den. The final adversary she faced was none other than the Steel-Clawed Monkey King.

She deftly deposited the Qi core of the Steel-Clawed Monkey King into her Spatial Ring and murmured to herself, "Hmmm, not long to the designated location. I hope others arrive as soon as possible." She sighed, adding, "I require a lot of Qi beast cores if I am to surpass Zheng Junjie in rank."

After having confirmed the designated meeting location, she proceeded to stride toward the direction as indicated on the map with an air of purpose and determination.

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In another part of the thousand beast valley.

Zheng Junjie could be seen, unlike his counterparts, he did not appear to be in a rush to commence the hunt. Rather, he was preoccupied with meticulously scrutinizing his map, as if he was on a quest to pinpoint a specific location. His unwavering gaze was fixated on the map, indicating his intense concentration and determination.

After a prolonged period of scrutinizing his map, Zheng Junjie eventually lifted his head, his gaze was distant and unfocused as he fixated on the space in front of him, lost in profound contemplation.

It was as though he was attempting to unravel a complex puzzle.

After some time had passed, he finally lifted his eyes, and a faint smile crept across his lips.

Zheng Junjie, not departing the location forthwith, instead espied a rock nearby and took to sitting upon it in the lotus position.

It was as though he sought to recuperate all of his depleted qi energy, seeming to prepare himself for a momentous battle in the days to come.

Numerous contestants who passed by the area, observing a solitary figure seemingly unguarded, endeavored to approach and assail him unawares, to purloin his qi beast core.

Yet, upon drawing near and discerning that the individual was none other than Zheng Junjie, they promptly beat a hasty retreat with tails tucked between their legs.

After a considerable time had elapsed, Zheng Junjie finally rose from the lotus position, and now, with his face bereft of any emotions, he rose to his feet and began striding purposefully in a certain direction.

***************

Back at the cave

With great velocity, Zhong Peng's figure could be seen receding, his garments now perforated with a handful of apertures. In his wake, a horde of chiropteran entities pursued him, numbering in the hundreds. Each of these creatures bore the semblance of a bat, with dimensions no less than that of a grown adult's fist. Their claws and teeth were razor-sharp, and the mere sight of these bat-like creatures was akin to a vision from the realm of nightmares.