"What is going on?!"
Lin Li was both surprised and delighted!
Just moments ago, Lin Li had been on the brink of death, losing blood and energy from the leopard demons' attacks. But now, under the influence of that mysterious energy, the claw wounds on his chest were quickly healing and scabbing over. Even his pale lips, drained of blood, were regaining their color.
However.
In this short span of time, Lin Li, who had just broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement, saw that his previously abundant spiritual energy had been mostly depleted by the healing effect of the mysterious energy.
But.
He didn't feel troubled by this at all.
Holding the blood-drinking magic sword and surrounded by numerous leopard demons…
As for spiritual energy, as long as there was blood to drink, he would have an endless supply!
Now that his mysterious healing ability had taken care of his injuries, there was no more need to worry.
When Lin Li looked at the surrounding leopard demons again, there was no trace of fear in his eyes—only excitement!
"Just now, by killing only a dozen or so leopard demons, I went from the initial fourth level to the fifth level."
He gazed at the demons attacking his fellow disciples and felt an overwhelming ambition rise within him: "The powerful Golden Leopard King is being held off by Senior Brother Luo. This is my chance to break through rapidly and forge strong ties with others!"
All his fear had vanished.
This was, after all, the back mountain of Xuantian Sect. After the distress signal was sent, it wouldn't be long before the elders would arrive to rescue them.
Unlike his fellow disciples, who struggled to fend off a couple of leopard demons before their spiritual power was depleted, Lin Li had a mysterious energy to heal his wounds and endless spiritual power, thanks to the magic sword.
Many of Lin Li's fellow disciples, even those who had entered the sect with him, had already expended most of their energy and stamina. Some were now defenseless against the relentless attacks of the leopard demons.
In fact.
Several of Lin Li's senior brothers were already showing signs of exhaustion, gasping for breath as they fought. Two junior brothers had even been killed and devoured by the demons as they tried to flee.
Fear, panic, and despair spread rapidly among them.
"No... Please, no!"
A fellow outer disciple of Xuantian Sect, around the same age as Lin Li, had turned pale with fear. He saw a leopard demon charging straight at him. Though he wanted to fight back, his spiritual energy had been completely drained, leaving him unable to mount any kind of effective attack.
In that moment of despair, he thought for sure that in the next second, the demon would kill him.
He couldn't bear to face the demon's gaping jaws.
In a final, instinctive act of resignation, he closed his eyes, waiting for death to claim him.
But.
The excruciating pain and death he expected never came.
"???"
He opened his eyes in confusion.
Before him stood a fellow disciple, dressed in the same Xuantian Sect outer disciple robes, holding a sword that gleamed with spiritual energy.
The leopard demon that had been about to kill him had already been beheaded!
"You... saved me?"
The disciple looked astonished and relieved, unable to contain his overwhelming joy at surviving.
"It wasn't time for you to die yet. Facing a powerful enemy, how can you close your eyes and give up so easily?"
Although Lin Li was also an outer disciple who had just entered the sect like him, at this moment, his confidence was so great that his words carried the weight of a senior.
Perhaps it was the relief of being saved, or perhaps it was Lin Li's imposing presence.
In the face of his savior, the disciple couldn't muster any argument. He nodded blankly, saying, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for saving my life!"
"Hurry! We're still in danger!"
With the thunderous sounds of Luo Zhiyuan's battle with the Golden Leopard King in the background, Lin Li quickly moved toward other fellow disciples who were also being attacked by the demons. As he rushed off, he left one final remark: "Stay alive. Don't let my effort to save you go to waste!"
The disciple who had just been saved felt a surge of emotion and gratitude.
If it weren't for this fellow disciple, what a terrifying fate would he have faced just moments ago?
Tears welled up in his eyes as a mix of relief and newfound determination took hold. He resolved to follow closely behind Lin Li, determined to make it through.
Though his spiritual energy was nearly depleted, his physical strength still allowed him to run.
He told himself, "I must not waste this Senior Brother's effort in saving me! After this ordeal, I must find out his name and thank him properly!"
…
An outer disciple at the sixth level of Qi Refinement blocked an incoming strike from a leopard demon with his sword.
However, having exhausted his spiritual energy, all he could do was defend. There was no way for him to counterattack effectively.
And worse...
Another leopard demon was sneaking up behind him, its massive jaws preparing to tear into his back.
"Ah!"
The disciple cried out in pain as the demon behind him bit into his flesh, and the one in front prepared to strike again with its claws.
But.
Unable to move and in the grip of the demon's jaws, the disciple had no way to fend off the attack.
The demon biting him began to twist its head, ready to rip a large chunk of flesh from his back.
If it succeeded, his fate was sealed—he wouldn't survive.
Just as he was about to be torn apart...
A sword flashed before his eyes, severing the claw of the leopard demon in front of him!
Hot blood splattered across his face, but he didn't blink.
He stared at the fellow disciple beside him, as if wanting to remember this moment forever.
"He... saved me!"
Without missing a beat, Lin Li turned his attention to the demon biting his fellow disciple's back. With a graceful sword flourish, he struck at the second demon.
The leopard demon, sensing danger, tried to let go and flee, but it was too late!
Swish!
The magic sword sliced clean through the demon's neck.
[Killed a Fourth-Grade Leopard Demon. Gained 500 Evolution Points.]
[Absorbed the blood of a Fourth-Grade Leopard Demon. Gained 5 Energy Points.]
[Absorbed the blood of a Fourth-Grade Leopard Demon. Gained 5 Energy Points.]
The disciple who had been bitten suddenly felt the pressure on his back release...