The roar echoed across the entire clan grounds, deep and piercing. It wasn't just loud, it carried pain, like the creature behind it was suffering.
"What's that sound, Wei?" Longwei asked, his brow furrowed.
"I'm not sure… but it doesn't sound human. More like an animal."
"Animal?"
"Yeah… something like a tiger, a lion, or…" Wei's voice lowered, "…a beast."
Longwei's expression hardened. "A beast? What would a beast want with us?"
Wei shook his head. "Let's go and find out."
The two brothers rose into the air, flying out of the clan grounds. They weren't the only ones, every member had gathered outside, except for Mu and Lu who remained inside.
Wei landed beside Yubo. "Where is that thing?" he asked sharply.
Yubo shifted nervously. "Umm… Mr. Wei, we don't actually know. But the sound, it's coming from the forest over there. The one that separates the clans."
Wei narrowed his eyes. "I see."
"Are you going there, Mr. Wei?"
"Yeah. I have to handle it before it decides to attack us."
"Then I'll come with you."
"No." Wei's voice was firm. "You're still young, and not strong enough for this fight. Stay here and guard the clan."
Yubo's shoulders slumped, his face pale with disappointment. He nodded quietly.
Wei turned to the gathered members, his tone commanding.
"Listen carefully! Whatever that thing is, it could be a threat to us all. So we'll strike first before it does. I'll take Longwei, Tianyang, and Chen Rui. The rest of you, stay behind and protect the clan."
The four of them flew toward the forest, cutting through the night with graceful determination.
As they hovered above the treetops, a flicker of movement below caught their eyes. Three figures stood in the shadows, dressed in long clan robes.
"Wei, aren't those from the Long Clan?" Tianyang asked, his tone edged with suspicion.
Wei nodded slightly. "Hmm… stay vigilant."
Longwei's gaze sharpened. "He's right. We're not the only ones drawn here."
Before they could descend, another roar shook the skies. A wave of force burst from the forest, slamming into them and hurling their bodies against the trees.
"Damn! What kind of creature carries energy this strong?" Tianyang groaned as he pushed himself up.
They staggered to their feet, weapons drawn, and pressed deeper into the forest. Every step carried tension, every breath filled with the beast's cries as they followed the sound.
The beast took a single step, and the ground trembled as though the earth itself wanted to shift.
Wei and his group weren't the only ones present. Teams from other clans had also gathered, each sent to investigate the disturbance.
"Longwei," Rui spoke up, his tone uncertain, "if this really is a beast, how did it end up in this forest? Aren't they usually found in the northern side of Qianshi? Why would one appear in the east?"
Longwei turned to him, his gaze sharp, almost mocking.
"Why ask me something like that? I just returned to Qianshi. Shouldn't you be asking the people who actually live here?"
Before Rui could reply, a body came hurtling through the air and slammed into a tree with a sickening crack. The impact shook the branches, scattering leaves to the ground. Wei and the others froze, their eyes narrowing.
Then, out of nowhere, a rock-like spike shot forward, piercing straight through Rui's skull. His body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"HUH!" Wei's voice broke in shock.
Another spike immediately followed, this one streaking toward Longwei with frightening speed.
Longwei pressed his index fingers together, releasing a surge of force. In an instant, a spiraling blue shield spun into existence, three layers forming one after the other, each larger than the last.
The bone spike slammed against it with crushing momentum. The impact drove Longwei back a step, his feet digging into the ground. The third layer cracked and shattered in an instant, the second trembling as deep lines spread across its surface. The pressure behind the strike was overwhelming.
Wei's sword flashed into his grip. Flames roared to life along its edge as he brought it down in a clean arc, cleaving the spike apart before it could pierce through to his brother.
"Longwei, are you alright?" Wei's voice carried his shock.
Longwei only gave a tight nod, his eyes locked on Rui's lifeless body. His fists clenched, veins bulging with anger.
"Where did that come from?" he demanded, his voice low with fury as he strode forward. The others fell in behind him.
"Longwei, calm down," Tianyang urged. "Whatever that thing is, it won't be easy to deal with. We need support."
But Longwei didn't slow. His steps stayed firm, carrying him toward the unearthly roar echoing deeper in the forest.
When they broke through the trees, the scene froze them. A massive creature loomed before them, a lizard-like monster, its body covered in jagged rock-like scales, its back crowned with sharp protruding stone spikes. With each move, the ground shook.
Clansmen were hurled through the air, crashing into trees with sickening thuds. Cries of pain rang out all around.
Longwei's gaze sharpened on the beast. His expression darkened as recognition flickered in his eyes.
"That's… a Xuanlei Rock Lizard," he muttered under his breath. "An ancient beast… legendary rank."
His body suddenly crackled with green lightning, surging across his frame with a roar of power. At his side, Wei stepped forward as well, his own aura bursting into blue thunder that lit up the forest around them.