Chapter Sixty-Eight: Valley of Ten Thousand Beasts

The Valley of Beasts lay at the fringe of the heart of the Kingdom of Yao, much closer to the central plains than the towering Myriad Mountains. Like those mountains, it consisted of a small range of valleys, but here, spiritual beasts appeared frequently, attracting many cultivators eager to capture them. Whether selling pelts or rare materials, the spoils from such beasts brought considerable wealth. Thus, adventurers often ventured into the Valley of Beasts, hoping to hunt spiritual creatures and turn a profit.

There were also young scions from noble families who came to the valley for training. They cared little for wealth, seeking instead to hone their combat skills or discover ways to break through their cultivation limits.

Bai Xue was such a young woman, here to temper herself in the Valley of Beasts. She had just turned sixteen, yet had already reached the sixth tier of Spiritual Awareness. Two guards at the seventh tier accompanied her, sworn to protect her safety.

It had not been long since the three entered the valley when they encountered two Eight-Legged Spirit Hounds. These hounds, upon seeing humans, launched into a frenzied attack. Bai Xue, wielding her family’s Soul Severing Blade, dispatched them with effortless skill, slaying both beasts in mere moments.

“Miss, your skill is extraordinary!” one servant quickly praised her, his demeanor full of eager flattery.

“These Eight-Legged Spirit Hounds are nothing,” Bai Xue replied, unimpressed. “Their rank among spiritual beasts is far too low to challenge my swordsmanship. We’ll need to find fiercer creatures to truly test my blade.” Her eyes betrayed no concern; instead, she wished to press further into the valley’s depths, hoping to encounter stronger beasts and push her cultivation to new heights.

“Miss, you’ve already killed two spirit beasts. Perhaps we should return,” one of the servants urged, concern etched in his voice. “The Valley of Beasts is perilous. Some beasts here would trouble even us. The deeper we go, the greater the danger.”

They had been hired precisely to safeguard Bai Xue’s life; were anything to happen, the consequences would be unbearable.

Initially, they assumed Bai Xue simply wished to relieve her boredom by hunting a few low-tier beasts. Yet she showed no intention of stopping, having slain two spirit hounds and insisting on venturing deeper to hunt even more formidable creatures. This was no game; some of the valley’s beasts were beyond their capacity to confront. Encountering such monsters would spell real trouble.

“Are you two afraid? Is that it?” Bai Xue snapped, her tone vexed. “Fine. Stay here, then. I’ll explore the valley’s depths alone. But mark my words: you’ll get none of the reward my father promised you.”

“Don’t say that, miss!” the servants pleaded. “All right, we’ll go a bit further with you—but only another mile. Any deeper, no matter the reward, we dare not proceed.”

For the sake of their reward, the two steeled themselves and agreed to Bai Xue’s demand.

“Very well, let’s go,” Bai Xue said, showing neither fear nor hesitation. She strode forward, eager to test herself against a powerful spiritual beast, something capable of truly tempering her skills. If only low-tier creatures awaited her, easily dispatched with a flick of her blade, what meaning was there in that?

Bold and inexperienced, Bai Xue cared little for danger. In fact, she felt the two guards her father sent were almost unnecessary. Though their cultivation surpassed hers, they were timid and their skills barely exceeded her own. What use could such men be?

Yet as Bai Xue basked in her confidence, a colossal figure suddenly appeared before her—a huge, iron-armored monster that struck terror into the heart at first sight.

“This is bad! How can an Ironclad Rhinoceros be here? It should dwell much deeper in the valley. Now we’re in real danger,” cried one servant, his face pale. The two exchanged a glance and, without another word, fled.

Bai Xue had meant to ask them about this beast, but the servants had already vanished, leaving her furious. Yet the sight of the monstrous creature made her alert; clearly, it posed a formidable threat, enough to send her guards fleeing.

Before she could consider her options, the Ironclad Rhinoceros charged at her with astonishing speed, its massive body moving with unexpected swiftness. In the blink of an eye, it was upon her.

Though Bai Xue had prepared herself, she had not anticipated such speed—it shocked her to the core. Thankfully, she still had her treasured blade. She used it to block the attack while darting aside.

If that massive beast struck her directly, she would certainly die on the spot.

By a hair’s breadth, Bai Xue evaded the rhinoceros’s blow, but her blade was knocked from her grasp. The rhinoceros, meanwhile, showed not a scratch; its armored hide was impenetrable.

Her blade, whose edge had sliced through countless foes, could not even mark the Ironclad Rhinoceros. Bai Xue was stunned, despair growing as she faced the beast. Worse yet, the rhinoceros, undeterred by the failed attack, wheeled and charged at her again.

Her blade gone, she had no means of defense. Having barely steadied herself after dodging the first attack, she had no chance to evade the second.

As the Ironclad Rhinoceros bore down on her, Bai Xue could only close her eyes and think, “It seems this is truly the end for me.”

Regret pricked at her heart—her reckless willfulness now seemed so foolish. She was still in the bloom of youth, and yet, was she to die here, crushed beneath the beast’s charge?