Their eyes widened when they heard this.
A demonic beast that had broken through the 13th-striped core was equivalent to a cultivator who had reached the 13th level of Qi Condensation.
Among their sect, cultivators capable of reaching the 13th level of Qi Condensation were as rare as dragon horns and phoenix feathers. Not even they possessed such talent.
"Snort! It must've been one of the herbs they ate." Lin Feng Qiang scoffed bitterly. He had only managed to break through the tenth level of Qi Condensation due to sheer luck—and now, even that luck seemed to mock him.
Being left behind by the others already fueled his resentment. But now, even a demonic beast—one that had nearly killed him—was more fortunate than he was.
He couldn't wait to tear it apart, eat its flesh, and drink its blood.
"Something's wrong..." Liu Yu Han said, frowning deeply.
"What is it?" they all asked, turning toward her. What could be more wrong than the situation they were already in?
She spoke slowly and deliberately, emphasizing each word:
"If that beast really broke through the 13th core, then how did Ling Hui escape? Even if it hadn't broken through, escaping such a beast should've been impossible."
When the others heard this, their pupils suddenly shrank.
"Unless... it was a trap." Her brows furrowed even more as she uttered the last line.
Yes—even with a Yellow Tier, medium-grade spiritual sword, escaping such a beast should've been unthinkable.
"But that's impossible! Even if it has reached the middle of the Innate Realm, there's no way a demonic beast could think that deeply," Zhao Yu Xuan quickly refuted.
Although demonic beasts may develop intelligence and be capable of independent thought, it was simply impossible for them to scheme to such an extent.
Suddenly—
"Lord!" Ling Hui staggered into view, his body bloodied and broken. Dropping to his knees, he cried out, "Lord! Please punish me! We... we couldn't delay the Darkshade Demonic Beast!"
His head hung low, his body trembling.
"Hmph, trash! You couldn't even accomplish the simplest task I gave you!" Lin Feng Qiang growled, unable to contain his rage and frustration.
He kicked Ling Hui square in the chest.
Ling Hui flew backward, crashing into the dirt, his injuries tearing open anew. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he rolled over, groaning in pain.
It was a brutal scene to witness..
"He's not to blame. It's just that these demonic beasts are too cunning," Zhao Yu Xuan spoke up with a frown. She couldn't bear to watch the brutality any longer.
Suddenly—
"Hahaha…!"
A chilling, mocking laughter rang out through the clearing, startling everyone.
They all turned sharply toward the two demonic beasts, and strange expressions formed on their faces.
The Darkshade Panther opened its mouth—and what they heard was beyond their imagination.
Laughter.
Yes, it laughed.
It was shocking enough that these beasts had broken through the 13th-striped core and seemed capable of scheming. But now, they were laughing like humans.
"You guys are really stupid…" the Darkshade Panther said, its voice slightly distorted, but laced with obvious mockery.
Everyone's expressions turned grim.
"Who are you…?" Zhao Yu Xuan asked, stepping forward. Her brows furrowed tighter than ever.
"You don't need to know who I am. All you need to know is that you've already fallen into my trap."
This time, it was the Light Refractive Snake that spoke, its voice calm and smooth—unnervingly so.
"You must be a Demonic Beast Tamer!" Zhao Yu Xuan suddenly cut in, her eyes narrowing.
The others turned toward her in surprise.
Seeing their puzzled expressions, she quickly explained.
"I found a record once, in the Willow Leaf Sect's archives. It mentioned Demonic Beast Tamers—those who didn't just tame spirit beasts, but used unethical methods to tame demonic beasts as well."
The others stared at her in disbelief. This was something none of them had ever heard before.
"It also said that spirit beasts, once tamed by such individuals, would become corrupted—bloodthirsty—and eventually fall to the dark side." Her gaze landed firmly on the Light Refractive Snake.
The others followed her gaze, their expressions now tinged with suspicion.
They had wondered how a spirit beast like the Light Refractive Snake could work side-by-side with a demonic beast like the Darkshade Panther. Now it made sense.
Although killing was common in the cultivation world, and alliances or betrayals were daily affairs, this still sent a ripple of unease through them.
Spirit beasts were fundamentally different from demonic beasts.
Demonic beasts were bloodthirsty by nature, often seeking to devour other lifeforms to grow stronger. Spirit beasts, on the other hand, were noble, proud, and cultivated in harmony with the world's natural order.
That line… had been crossed. Spirit beasts were different..
They are the darlings of cultivators who wish to have a beast companion. Born with a pure or balanced nature, they are often not hostile, and can become guardians, allies, or even lifelong partners.
To cultivators who revere spirit beasts, demonic beast tamers are a scourge that must be eradicated at all costs.
Although not all spirit beasts are born with affinities for light, life, or other "noble" elements—some even possess affinities with darkness—they are still considered spirit beasts, so long as their nature remains in harmony with the world.
Demonic beasts, on the other hand, seek only to devour. They are inherently bloodthirsty, driven by instinct and desire for power. Spirit beasts, by contrast, are not innately violent.
You could understand why they were so shocked.
"I didn't expect a little girl like you to know that much," the Darkshade Panther said, surprise flickering in its eyes.
"I'm guessing you planned all of this for a reason?" Ming Yi Han asked, her brows deeply furrowed.
"Of course I did," the Darkshade Panther replied. "Although we Demonic Beast Tamers can control demonic beasts, we're still consumed by that same bloodthirst."
It paused, then added with a dark chuckle, "Oh, don't get me wrong. We are evil by nature. But this uncontrollable bloodlust that eats away at our minds—that's not something any of us enjoy."
"If it persists too long, we might lose control completely, turning into nothing more than mindless, bloodthirsty maniacs. Just imagine... not being able to control yourself, and suddenly you're killing and devouring without reason or restraint."
The beast's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me, would any of you really want that?"
"So then, why set a trap for us here?" Zhao Yu Xuan asked, her eyes narrowing.
"There's something you don't know," the Darkshade Panther replied. "The reason we Demonic Beast Tamers tame spirit beasts is to transfer some of our bloodthirsty nature into them."
It paused for a moment, then continued, its voice steady and grim.
"After countless attempts, I eventually discovered a method to purge a portion of that bloodthirst. Although it's not very effective, it's still something."
"And that is to use fresh human blood!" the Darkshade Panther declared, each word deliberate, as if savoring the truth.
"Especially the blood of cultivators—rich with Qi and brimming with vitality. Not only does it help suppress the madness building inside me, it also serves as a powerful fuel source to increase my cultivation realm. Two benefits... from a single kill."
Its obsidian eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as it slowly licked its fangs and lips—a gesture disturbingly human, something no ordinary demonic beast should ever do.
"That's why I carefully select my prey. The more talented the cultivator, the more potent their blood. I don't just kill randomly—every choice is calculated. Their deaths cleanse me... and empower me."
When they heard his confession—how he had carefully orchestrated everything to lure them in—they were stunned.
It was as if the ground beneath their feet had shifted. They had walked right into his trap, thinking they were the hunters, only to discover they were the prey all along.
Their expressions darkened
"Aren't you afraid of what might happen to you if our sects find out?" Lin Feng Qiang couldn't help but retort, his voice sharp with barely contained fury.
The Darkshade Panther turned its gaze toward him slowly, a cold glint flashing in its eyes. It looked at Lin Feng Qiang as if observing a fool.
"Of course not. Why would I be afraid?" it replied coolly. "I've already erased every possible trail that could link back to me. Do you really think I would dare set this kind of trap if I hadn't planned everything down to the smallest detail?"
Its voice was calm, almost indifferent, but there was a chilling confidence behind every word.
"And besides... I'm not even in this cave."
The realization hit them like a hammer. Eyes widened. Some unconsciously took a step back.
"Demonic Beast Tamers don't need to be physically near their beasts to control them—as long as the distance isn't too far. And as you can see…" It swept its cold gaze across the group. "We can even communicate through the beasts we've tamed. That's something unique to our kind."
A long pause followed. No one spoke.
Then, the beast laughed.
"Hahaha...!" The Darkshade Panther threw back its head and let out a loud, echoing laugh that bounced off the stone walls, sending shivers down their spines.
"Admit it," it said, a smug tone creeping into its voice. "You admire the brilliance behind it all, don't you?" It licked its fangs again, clearly proud of itself.
"Don't worry. It'll all be over soon. You should be honored to contribute to something greater than yourselves—me."
Its voice dripped with arrogance, the kind that came from knowing it held the upper hand.
But just as the group was recovering from that wave of dread...
"There's something I'd like to know…"
A quiet voice suddenly echoed from the shadows.