It was already afternoon when the group of disciples from the Ascending Dragon Sect arrived at the place for the trap.
Bao Zhang positioned a map he had received from one of the village hunters.
"The beast stays here during the day, it usually only comes out at night, unless it's hungry." He pointed to a cave about a kilometer from where they were standing.
Right after that, he took a small sealed package out of his pocket.
"This is incense for attracting spirit beasts. As soon as I light it on fire, the beast will come running to us. At that point, we need to be well hidden and attack it before it sees us." Bao Zhang explained, his eyes scanning everyone present.
"Fighting it in the dark is suicide, so we should start as soon as possible. Does anyone have any doubts about my plan?"
Qingyi, who was listening carefully, just shook his head negatively, as did the other three.
"Good," Bao Zhang laughed, taking another four sealed packages out of his pocket.
"The ones I gave you before were to ward off beasts. These hide you from the beasts. It's not perfect, but it isolates your scent enough for it to focus only on the incense of attraction."
Qingyi took the packet, feeling a faint aura of wind spirit Qi spreading through his fingers.
"I'll attack first and hold off the beast. The rest of you, just hide behind the trees and attack as soon as I give the signal. Its skin is tough, so put all your strength into it," Bao Zhang instructed and the group split up.
Bao Zhang himself was a fist fighter, so he carried no weapons. Jun Hao used a large axe and Chu Yang wielded a sword, as did Qingyi. Lei Feng was the only one who didn't use a melee weapon, carrying a wooden bow on his back and daggers at his waist.
Qingyi hid behind a tree, holding the thundercloud sword tightly. His eyes focused on Bao Zhang, standing in the middle of a clearing between the other four disciples.
Bao Zhang exhaled heavily, closed his eyes for a brief moment and then lit incense to call beasts before running, also hiding.
Long, torturous minutes passed as the smell of incense spread through the air. They heard nothing and felt nothing.
"Ugh... is that thing really going to come?" Jun Hao grunted, receiving looks full of disapproval.
"Shut the fuck up before I close it with an arrow!" Lei Feng pointed the bow at the impatient fat man, who finally quietened down.
Bao Zhang just sighed. Why did that idiot have to be like that? And worst of all, it was he who would have to break the news to Jun Hao's family after the fool had killed himself.
At that moment, everyone there felt a chill. Even the courageous Jun Hao shrank into a corner.
In the distance, a howl echoed. It was clearly miles away, but it was as if it was right over their necks.
"It's coming," Qingyi muttered, feeling pulses of Qi being sent in her direction. The beast seemed to be studying the area.
"Stay low and wait for my signal," Bao Zhang whispered, his voice low enough for only them to hear.
The next moment, heavy footsteps echoed and the trees shook. With a thud, a four-legged creature landed on the ground.
It was tall, easily over three meters, its fur as black as night and its eyes a deep blue. Two silver horns rose above its imposing head.
Its snout sniffed the air, snow-white teeth showing as it let out a soft growl and approached the incense, sniffing the ground.
Arriving in front of the incense, it took a long sniff before taking an exploratory lick.
The next moment, its eyes widened. An irritated growl escaped as it shook its head, trying to get that bitter taste out of its mouth.
"Now!" Bao Zhang roared. His feet sank into the ground as he advanced, his fists glowing golden before crashing down on the giant horned wolf's forehead with a loud thud.
The beast staggered, its paws almost collapsing before it recovered, opening its mouth in a furious snarl.
A howl of pain escaped from the wolf as two arrows covered in Lei Feng's wind qi hit its back. From the right, Jun Hao's great axe crashed into its side, while Chu Yang's sword slashed towards its legs.
Qingyi was last, attacking from the left. The thundercloud sword shone brightly as he threw himself forward with lightning steps. The tree he had been leaning on cracked, splitting in half as lightning streaked down its trunk.
Qingyi hit the wolf with a thud, his blade covered in lightning sword Qi tearing into the beast's ribs. Of everyone there, he was the only one able to get past its protections and draw blood.
"Fall back now!" Bao Zhang's thunderous voice woke everyone up.
Qingyi turned his body, pushing his feet against the beast's side, using the lightning steps to move away.
The wolf shuddered and stumbled with the impact, a miserable, pained howl escaping its lips as its bloodthirsty eyes fell on Qingyi, all its murderous intent focused on him.
The next moment, a powerful aura surrounded the beast, its horns glowing as the air around it shuddered.
"It's going to attack!" Lei Feng warned. The beast staggered towards Qingyi, but changed its steps, focusing on the sluggish Jun Hao.
With a hate-filled growl, it advanced. The fat man raised his axe, trying to protect himself, but it wasn't enough.
The beast's claws passed through the wood of his axe like toothpicks, tearing through his robes and the fatty flesh of his belly. His guts burst out in an explosion of blood as he collapsed to the ground.
"No!" Bao Zhang roared, grabbing the wolf's head and preventing it from finishing Jun Hao off. His eyes focused on Qingyi as he used all his Foundation Realm power to hold the beast in place.
"Now!" He shouted, and Qingyi acted in the same instant, using lightning steps. His sword tore through the air in a powerful thrust towards the creature's eyes.