Chapter 14

The Turtle Spirit had lived in this vast forest for over a hundred years, and there was no place it did not know. Although the strange monster was deeply hidden, it could not escape the old turtle's notice.

However, the Turtle Spirit was somewhat worried. In its view, the monster was too powerful, and the master was no match for it. Wasn't going to find the forest monster just courting death?

Xiaohai didn't care about these things. The major breakthrough of the Dragon Spirit Pearl was at its final stage. If the forest monster was truly that powerful, it would provide tremendous help. Besides, the biggest difference between humans and animals was curiosity. Once curiosity was piqued, it was impossible to control, and one would not rest until the truth was uncovered.

What kind of allure did a super monster with a pouch, a creature that could devour tigers, have for humans?

Despite the Turtle Spirit's repeated persuasion, Xiaohai had made up his mind. The old turtle had no choice but to show the way: "Master, my speed is too slow, and I can't help you even if I go. If... if that monster is too fierce, please don't tangle with it."

Wasn't that just stating the obvious? When facing a monster, if you couldn't defeat it, could you really run away? But the old turtle meant well.

Xiaoqi was clearly more fearful than before entering the forest. This was an animal's instinct; they could sense danger more acutely than humans.

"Xiaoqi, if you're afraid, you can stay here."

As soon as Xiaohai spoke, Xiaoqi replied, "If I die, I die. If you happen to defeat the forest monster, I can't bear to miss out on the benefits."

Xiaohai found it both amusing and touching.

Xiaosen couldn't muster the courage to face the legendary, terrifying monster. He felt ashamed in front of Xiaohai, but Xiaohai didn't blame him. Fear was also an animal's instinct.

A pack of wolves was indeed terrifying, but they would not dare to approach a fire. This was the instinctive fear.

As Xiaohai and Xiaoqi gradually disappeared, Xiaosen raised his head and howled incessantly to the sky. After a while, a dozen of his companions gathered around him.

"A human has come," Xiaosen informed his companions.

"Eat it, eat it."

"I've never eaten human flesh. My great-grandfather said it tastes especially good."

"Human blood is highly nourishing. My great-great-grandmother said that drinking human blood can extend one's life by ten years."

A chaotic din arose, and each wolf was excited, as if they were demons seeing Tang僧's flesh.

Xiaosen looked at them coldly: "That human is going to kill the forest monster."

Suddenly, the previously chaotic wolf pack fell silent.

The forest monster—everyone in the forest knew about the forest monster. Who dared to face it? Was that human crazy?

"What a pity. If the forest monster eats the human, it will become even more powerful," one wolf said, unwilling to let go. "Why don't we wait until the forest monster is full and then look for some bones?"

This suggestion excited the wolves again. Yes, eating a human bone would be highly beneficial for wolves.

Xiaosen, who had once been enlightened, though briefly, now had a level of thinking far beyond his companions. He found their excitement laughable: "What if that human defeats the forest monster? Won't we no longer have to live in fear?"

The wolf pack fell silent again, but they looked at Xiaosen as if he were a monster.

Defeat the forest monster? Crazy, Xiaosen must be crazy. Did humans carry poison that would drive wolves mad and burn their brains?

Xiaosen ignored his companions' disdainful or sympathetic gazes. Although he knew deep down that the human had little chance of survival, he still harbored a faint hope...

...

The forest became increasingly eerie and terrifying. Sometimes, the terrifying howls of unknown creatures would echo around; other times, the forest would be so silent that it seemed everything was asleep in the grip of death. The trees cast ghostly shadows under the moonlight, and the chilling cries could make one feel as if they had entered the underworld.

Xiaoqi clung tightly to Xiaohai, not daring to leave his side. This dog, which had shown no fear even in the face of fierce Tosa fighting dogs, now seemed as timid as a child.

Xiaohai also felt the danger intensifying as they went deeper. The Dragon Spirit Pearl seemed to have suddenly lost its connection with him, lying dormant in his body.

Could the Dragon Spirit Pearl be afraid too? Impossible!

Once the Dragon Spirit Pearl matured, it would make him the king of all beasts. The forest monster, no matter how powerful, was still just a beast. Could it be like the Nemean Lion in ancient Greek legend, which humans could not kill?

"Look!" Xiaoqi suddenly stopped.

Ahead was the skeleton of an unknown animal. It looked enormous in life, but now it lay alone, a mere skeleton.

Xiaohai approached and examined it closely, noticing clear bite marks on some of the bones. There was no doubt that this was the work of the forest monster, given how close they were to its lair.

This animal had once been formidable, but now it was just a skeleton. Xiaohai could easily imagine its despair and helplessness when it encountered the forest monster, only able to watch as the monster killed it.

Even so, the carrion-eating crows and hyenas were unwilling to give up the scraps left by the forest monster, fighting over them.

Xiaohai could almost see the forest monster, after a full meal, looking at the crows and hyenas with disdain, thinking that it was the true master of the forest, and all creatures depended on its mercy to survive.

Gradually, more animal skeletons appeared, all of them large. There was even a bear's skeleton. This proved that the forest monster only hunted large animals. Small forest creatures were not on its radar unless they challenged its authority.

A flock of startled crows took flight, and the strong smell of blood reached Xiaohai's nose, making him frown.

Ahead was a tiger—a real tiger, but now it was a dead one. Most of its flesh had been eaten, leaving only white bones. The crows had been feasting on the remains.

Around the dead tiger were a few hyenas, not the African kind, but the striped hyenas that lived in the forest. They were more agile and ferocious than their African counterparts and could consume over 15 kilograms of food in one meal, bones and all.

Interrupted by the sudden arrival of a human, the hyenas were unhappy but wary of the aura Xiaohai emitted, only growling in their throats.

Xiaohai ignored the hyenas, glancing at the dead tiger. From the remaining flesh, it seemed the tiger had died less than a day ago.

The forest monster's lair was here!

At that moment, the hyenas suddenly sensed something and let out terrified cries, fleeing into the depths of the forest.

Even the crows in the sky scattered in fear.