Chapter Forty-Seven: No Way Forward, No Way Back

"An existence rivaling the power of the five clans and four sects of humanity?" Ye Zihan exclaimed in astonishment. "Does that mean there are eighth-rank beasts here?"

"Of course," Yan Chen replied, his expression turning grave. After a moment's pause, he continued, "We humans have the Seven-Star Soul Refining Source and the Eight-Trigram Soul-Forging Fire. As for beasts, they grow four limbs at the seventh rank, and at the eighth, they assume human form. Any beast that reaches the eighth rank can transform into the likeness of a human."

Ye Zihan nodded; he had heard these things before from Master Red Flame and Blue Rain. He spoke with a hint of unwillingness, "Are we just going to give up like this?"

Yan Chen could only sigh helplessly. "If Ye Xiang ventured into the deepest part, he won't find much good there. It's a miracle if he doesn't get torn apart by those beasts."

"But I can't rest unless I see him die with my own eyes!" Ye Zihan's gaze grew icy. Remembering Master Red Flame and Blue Rain, his heart trembled, and he made a decision. "I want to keep pursuing him."

"No, that's courting death!"

"As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. To truly strengthen ourselves, we must repeatedly face mortal danger and overcome it with our own power."

"Though that's true, our current strength isn't enough to gain anything here," Yan Chen replied, worry etched across his face.

Ye Zihan fell silent, agreeing deeply with Yan Chen's words. To enter the deepest reaches, one must have the capital to do so; without it, venturing forth is nothing but suicide.

Yan Chen pondered for a while, seeing his companion's restless gaze. Clearly, unless Ye Xiang was dead, Ye Zihan would not let it go. At last, Yan Chen said, "Let's advance a few thousand more miles, go a bit deeper. With our current strength, we can't even protect ourselves, much less improve. If Ye Xiang really dares to enter the deepest region, there's no way he'll come out alive."

Ye Zihan nodded. Though he desperately wanted to grow stronger and slay Ye Xiang, he had not been blinded by these desires; he knew to act with caution and within his limits.

The two slowed their pace, warily watching the surrounding Pearl Bamboo Sea. Here, the color and shape of the bamboo changed, evidence they were moving deeper in.

From the vibrant green of the outermost bamboo, it had now become a dark, inky green, growing ever dimmer. The air around them was tens of degrees colder than outside; even though the sun poured down generously overhead, it was futile, offering no warmth.

Meanwhile, Ye Xiang had fled in panic, losing all sense of direction. Seeing the inky green bamboo around him, he realized he had run deeper into the forest and his face turned pale with fright.

He looked around, not daring to make a move, fearing every step might provoke the guardian beasts of this bamboo sea.

The outer green bamboo forest was guarded by the second-rank Scarlet Flame Snake, while the inky green bamboo sea here was watched over by the fourth-rank Black Bamboo Snake. Its venom was a hundred times more potent than the Scarlet Flame Snake's; its speed even greater. Luckily, the Black Bamboo Snake wasn't fond of living in groups; otherwise, seeing one would mean there were at least a hundred nearby.

Ye Xiang was shocked, stepping lightly and tense as he moved toward the edge. With his late-stage Three Talents cultivation, encountering a Black Bamboo Snake would mean certain death. He regretted his earlier escape, only to end up in such extreme danger.

"It's all Ye Zihan's fault. If not for him, I'd have completed my mission and earned the thousand taels silver reward." He gritted his teeth, hatred for Ye Zihan surging to the extreme. He could hardly believe that the one he once trampled underfoot, a talentless waste, was now both a Flame Shadow Dancer and a Wood Summoner.

Something miraculous must have happened to him in the past four years, surely some encounter in the Beast Mountain Range. That fiery red dagger he carried was proof enough.

Ye Xiang pondered as he walked, recalling the recent fight and feeling a sense of suffocation. His perfect set-up had been dismantled with ease, leaving him deeply frustrated.

"He's ahead!"

Suddenly, a voice rang out, and Ye Xiang was startled, spinning around and fleeing without a second thought.

He had believed Ye Zihan and Yan Chen would never follow him deeper, unless they wanted to die. Yet now, they were barely a few thousand meters away—he could curse his luck.

"If I get out of this hell, I'll make sure you die with no burial!"

With death ahead and pursuers behind, Ye Xiang's rage was palpable. Yet he could only flee, powerless to retaliate.

"Ye Xiang, stop right there!" Yan Chen's voice grew closer; he and his companion each used a movement technique, quickly closing the distance.

Ye Xiang was a Wood Summoner, his own strength not great; how could he outrun Ye Zihan and Yan Chen, both Flame Shadow Warriors? The gap between them was shrinking, soon less than a kilometer.

"Ye Zihan, are you truly so ruthless? Would you kill your own blood brother?" Ye Xiang shouted, shamelessly loud.

Ye Zihan laughed coldly, mocking him, "You call us brothers? You betrayed me back then, tried to have me executed. You showed no kinship then. Now you talk of brotherhood?"

Ye Xiang's skin was thick as ever. "We were children then; it was all childish foolishness."

"And what about before? Your vows to kill me?"

"That was just an act for Zhang Chu and Xiang Kuang, nothing more."

Yan Chen, unable to listen any longer, cursed, "I've seen shamelessness, but you take the prize. Truly, you're unmatched in the world. That phrase suits you perfectly."

The three fell silent, the gap between them narrowing. Just then, a giant snake surged out ahead—their noise had attracted the guardian, the Black Bamboo Snake!

Its body resembled bamboo, segment after segment, all inky green—hence its name. This snake was nearly ten meters long, dozens of times larger than the Scarlet Flame Snake, whose average length was only one meter. Its two fangs alone rivaled the head of a Scarlet Flame Snake!

As the Black Bamboo Snake appeared, all three faces paled. Ye Xiang was especially terrified; with the snake ahead and pursuers behind, he froze, legs numb.

He bit his tongue, the pain driving away his fear, then spun and ran toward Ye Zihan and Yan Chen, snarling, "Fine! If I'm going to die, let's die together!"

Yan Chen cried out in alarm, dragging Ye Zihan and fleeing.

The Black Bamboo Snake was a formidable foe. Its bamboo-like body was impossibly tough, its fangs sprayed venom. Rumor had it that its eyes could mesmerize, and in the instant one's attention slipped, it would strike and kill.

So when it appeared, none dared look directly at it. If they had, they'd have seen—not one, but two Black Bamboo Snakes!

Even if Ye Zihan and Yan Chen teamed up, with Ye Xiang as well, they were no match for the Black Bamboo Snake. Beasts were often stronger than humans of the same rank.

"Ye Xiang, let's settle our grudge today!" Ye Zihan said coldly, forming seals with his hands to summon two Flame Wolves. He had tamed dozens of these third-rank beasts; the Beast Mountain Range was a treasure trove for him.

The two Flame Wolves appeared, their green eyes locking onto Ye Xiang as he ran, baring their fangs and growling.

Ye Xiang saw the Flame Wolves and nearly wanted to die. "Ye Zihan, are you truly so cruel? Will you disregard our bloodline?"

Ye Zihan ignored him, running without a backward glance.

"Ye Zihan, we're cousins—blood relatives! If I die, you won't live long either. My father won't forgive you!"

Ye Zihan's mind flashed to the current head of the Ye family, the very man who, four years ago, sent him to the Beast Mountain Range to die. He bore that 'great favor' in mind, and killing his son now was merely paying the interest on that debt—there would be more to come.

"Ah...Ye Zi..." Ye Xiang hadn't finished his last word when the Flame Wolves bit down on him. The two Black Bamboo Snakes surged forward, biting him and the Flame Wolves together.

These snakes, nearly ten meters long and tremendously thick, swallowed Ye Xiang and the wolves whole, then hissed in a chilling manner and rushed at Ye Zihan and Yan Chen.

"There are two Black Bamboo Snakes?!" Yan Chen glanced back and saw—not one, but two. Cold sweat broke out; these were two mid-fourth-rank Black Bamboo Snakes.

They were only at the Three Talents realm, completely unable to cross ranks to fight, especially against beasts stronger than humans.

"This is bad, look ahead!" Ye Zihan suddenly cried, halting. The path led to the Scarlet Flame Snake's green bamboo territory, but at least a thousand Scarlet Flame Snakes blocked the way, all flicking their tongues and hissing, sending chills down one's spine.

A single Scarlet Flame Snake was nothing, but thousands—tens of thousands—were terrifying. More snakes were rushing in from afar, the bamboo-leaf-strewn ground rustling ominously!

Scarlet Flame Snakes bred rapidly; in one season, thousands could be born. A green bamboo forest might hold over a hundred thousand!

Behind them, the two Black Bamboo Snakes were already closing in, their tongues as large as a Scarlet Flame Snake, hissing even louder. Their twin snake eyes stared at the pair, bodies raised high and poised to strike.