Chapter 250: What's so tasty about that thing?
In fact.
Gu Xi had made thorough preparations.
She anticipated all possibilities, such as both Ice Snow Leopards being present, the leopards having moved and needing to find their new lair, or the leopards having detected her presence early on…
But she really didn't expect to overlook the most important possibility.
The Ice Snow Leopards were in childbirth, at an unprecedentedly weak state for a King Beast on the icefield…
As a human far away from the border, she fortuitously discovered their impending childbirth and intended to target their cubs.
How could there be no other people or demon beasts targeting them as well?
For example…
A more powerful demon beast from the danger zone.
A Level 8 Demon Beast, the Baoxue Giant Ape.
The Baoxue Giant Ape, as a demon beast, is incredibly powerful. However, whether among humans or demon beasts, they are notoriously infamous. They love to eat beast brains, particularly the brains of young beasts.
Especially those strong young beasts nurtured within the mother's body, which acquire the purest Spiritual Qi.
This pure Spiritual Qi is the best way to enhance themselves. Without Cultivation Techniques, demon beasts can only cultivate in this manner.
The Baoxue Giant Ape becoming one of the most dangerous and terrifying demon beasts is undoubtedly related to their consumption of large quantities of demon beast cub brains.
So, waiting for the Ice Snow Leopard's childbirth, is not just Gu Xi, but also a more terrifying demon beast…
It has also been waiting for the leopards to give birth, then to eat those cubs, and further strengthen itself.
However, they hide very well, silently observing from the surroundings, never acting, and the Ice Snow Leopards, being much weaker than the Baoxue Giant Ape, have never detected its presence.
In its plan, it should wait until the Ice Snow Leopards give birth, at their weakest moment, and then act, killing these two leopards directly and devouring the brains of the whole family.
Until Gu Xi appeared and disrupted the Baoxue Giant Ape's plan.
"Though I didn't expect a mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, that behind me there would be an even more terrifying demon beast watching my target."
Gu Xi gently stroked the box with her hand, recalling that previous almost tragic battle.
Complex emotions flickered in her eyes.
With a bitter smile, she said, "I dreamed of killing the Ice Snow Leopards to avenge my student, but truly, I didn't expect that I indeed killed that demon beast, yet in this way…"
Li Jingjun asked, "In what way?"
"Nothing."
Gu Xi shook her head, saying, "Li Jingjun, right? I would like to ask you for a favor, is that okay?"
Li Jingjun asked, "What favor?"
"Take these two cubs, and return to the safe zone as quickly as possible to deliver this to Xu Lingjun."
Gu Xi said seriously, "You may not know, but a Baoxue Giant Ape is targeting these two cubs. Their father is buying us time, but he can't hold on for long. If these two cubs fall into the hands of that Giant Ape, their brains will be eaten."
"What?"
Li Jingjun was instantly filled with righteous indignation, exclaiming, "Eat… eat brain matter? What's tasty about such a white, mushy thing? And they're Xu Tongxue's things, such cute little creatures…"
The veteran cat enthusiast mentioned halfway, with anger already brimming in her eyes.
"So I'd like you to take these two cubs back. I know, unquestionably, it will delay you for a long time, possibly preventing you from achieving a good ranking, yet Xiaojun will definitely be grateful…"
"Leave it to me."
Li Jingjun nodded, then promptly asked back, "Wait, if I leave, what about you?"
"I'll stay to buy time. Remember to tell Xiaojun from me to remember his promise, whether or not I can return, Xiaoqing is entrusted to him."
"But the Baoxue Giant Ape is a Level 8 Demon Beast, how can you stop it, especially as you're injured…"
"I must live up to their mother's trust, at least."
Gu Xi bitterly smiled, touching her waist and ribs, with three wounds so deep the bones were visible… The previous battle with the Ice Snow Leopards was extremely brutal, and she indeed sustained serious injuries.
Yet when the Baoxue Giant Ape struck, taking advantage of one person and two beasts, and swiftly gravely injuring the male Ice Snow Leopard with absolute strength.
The two Ice Snow Leopards seemed to know just what fate awaited their children if they fell into the Giant Ape's hands.
The female Ice Snow Leopard was even willing to lay down, allowing her abdomen to be cut open, and letting her cubs be taken away… Clearly, it knew that if her children fell into the hands of this human, at most, they would be enslaved, but survival was not an issue, and if they encountered a good owner, they might even live comfortably.
In any case, far better than ending up in the hands of the Baoxue Giant Ape.
Once, Gu Xi wished to kill that Ice Snow Leopard desperately.
Yet upon witnessing its sacrificial actions for its children, she had to admit she was genuinely touched.
Now the Ice Snow Leopards were dead.
These two young beasts had become more than just her bounty, but a mother's trust given to her, even though she would pass these two cubs to Xu Lingjun, if he did not treat them well, she certainly would hold him accountable.
"Hurry and go."
Gu Xi waved her hand, slowly standing up, saying, "I'm still a human; to be outsmarted by a demon beast, this account I must settle later."
"But…"
Li Jingjun began to speak.
From a distance, a loud bang suddenly sounded.
The ground trembled violently along with it.
A frenzied roaring began to rise…
Both Li Jingjun and Gu Xi's faces changed drastically at the same time.
"Coming so quickly."
Gu Xi's expression was grave, waving her hand saying, "Go quickly, Level 8 Demon Beast is too strong, even our combined efforts offer no luck, I'll buy you time, once you're far away I can also escape."
"Understood!"
Li Jingjun's gaze fell onto the small box.
She picked up the box and bolted into the distance… Yet just a few steps onwards…
A dark shadow suddenly crashed down from above.
Li Jingjun hurriedly retreated, her figure spinning like a top in midair… using the Hui xue technique to deflect the incoming snow.
Uncontrollably losing balance.
Inside, she was secretly shocked, astonished at this demon beast's strength, as the splattered snow was like bullets, making it extremely laborious.
And under that shadow's cover, as she looked up, she saw a giant ape, towering six or seven meters tall, squatting sideways on its haunches, its eyes gleaming as it stared at the special beast box in Li Jingjun's hand.
The giant ape was entirely snow-white, yet crisscrossed with red, grisly scars, though these fearsome wounds, on its huge body, seemed only to add to its ferocity without any hint of weakness exposing.
Its cravings were apparent in its eyes, though of a different species, Li Jingjun could clearly see... its target was the box she held.
"Quick, go!"
Gu Xi leaped to the back of the giant ape, and with a soft yell, pulled out a soft sword from her waist.
Numerous strands of Sword Qi fell like a meteor shower, slashing~ onto the back of the giant ape.
The giant ape didn't dodge.
The Sword Qi slashed, yet only left several shallow scars on its body.
Its defense was astonishing, and Gu Xi's soft sword could barely just break through.
The giant ape, with a vexed low growl, threw a backward punch at Gu Xi… But Gu Xi took advantage by borrowing force from its fist, nearly as big as her body, to leap back high into the air.
Thrusting her sword directly at its eye vitals.
The giant ape appeared disturbed by Gu Xi's persistent~ pestering.
Scooping up a large handful of snow from the ground, it hurled it fiercely at Gu Xi.
As the snow splintered, under the force of its tremendous power, it became a storm of snow, leaving Gu Xi helplessly dodging…
The giant ape, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to reach out toward Li Jingjun.
Level 8 Demon Beast, its strength has surpassed the Dongxuan tier.
Though Gu Xi intended to buy time, against the giant ape, she was practically like a bee being easily swatted away, unable to gain even a moment.
It was only due to Li Jingjun's quick reaction, using that precious brief window…
Employing the Light Body Technique, she unhesitatingly sprinted into the distance.