The Demon Beast that caught up was a giant ape at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, likely a descendant of that Soul Formation stage giant ape.
Qin Xiao had no time to ponder its family tree. Right now, he could only run for his life, praying that this stubborn beast wouldn't suddenly change its mind.
Yet misfortune loves company. The giant ape glanced at Yun Man disappearing into the distance, then turned its gaze back to Qin Xiao fleeing in a panic, and abruptly changed course to pursue him.
"Damn it! Why are you acting like a heartless scumbag? Chasing whoever is closest-can't you show some persistence and stick to the one you were after before?"
Qin Xiao wanted nothing more than to curse aloud, but he dared not break his stride.
The giant ape gave it no further thought. Since the first human had slipped away, this one close at hand would do just fine.
Although his Body Refinement had reached the Third Layer, allowing him to overwhelm Golden Core stage Demon Beasts, Qin Xiao knew he was nothing more than an ant in the eyes of a peak Nascent Soul stage beast.
Fortunately, his physical body and speed had grown immensely after the breakthrough. While he could not shake the beast off, it could not catch him immediately either.
After fleeing for an unknown length of time, Qin Xiao found his path blocked by a sheer stone wall.
"Sigh, good disciple, you really know how to throw your master into the fire."
Realizing there was no way out, Qin Xiao could not help but mutter a complaint.
The giant ape stopped a short distance away, staring at Qin Xiao with a puzzled expression without launching an attack.
For a moment, Qin Xiao was baffled. What was the meaning of this? Surrounding without attacking? Was it trying to play psychological warfare with him?
Cautiously, Qin Xiao took a step sideways to test the waters, and the giant ape moved in tandem. When he stopped, it stopped too, simply refusing to close in.
"Oh? What kind of game is this playing?"
No matter how Qin Xiao probed, the beast stood its ground, neither attacking nor letting him pass.
"Could there be something unusual about this stone wall?"
Sitting ducks meant certain death; once other Demon Beasts caught up, escape would be impossible. Suspecting a hidden mystery behind the wall, Qin Xiao began searching its surface.
His hands felt along the stone, but no mechanisms or hidden switches revealed themselves. What was the giant ape's objective?
With no alternative presenting itself, Qin Xiao resolved to force the issue. Staying deadlocked here was a slow death, so he took the initiative and charged straight at the beast.
Despite putting his full strength into the charge, a single sweep of the giant ape's palm sent him crashing violently back against the stone wall.
"This is hopeless. I can't beat it, and I can't outrun it."
Struggling to his feet, Qin Xiao felt a bitter wave of despair wash over him.
"Master, your disciple has come to save you!"
Just as despair set in, Yun Man's voice rang out from afar.
Realizing the giant ape had abandoned her pursuit, Yun Man deduced it must have targeted Qin Xiao. Following the trail left in its wake, she had arrived just in time to see him batted away by the beast's paw.
"Why did you come back? Didn't I tell you to run?"
Seeing her return warmed his heart, but Qin Xiao kept his tone stern.
Every soul that escaped was a victory. By coming back, she was only courting mutual destruction.
"Master, escape is impossible. Your disciple reached the entrance leading to the first layer, but it was already blocked by hordes of Demon Beasts. Besides, I could not simply stand by and watch master perish."
Yun Man had indeed attempted to flee alone, but finding the primary route sealed off, she had turned back toward the third layer's entrance, only to cross paths with the giant ape once again.
"It seems that wicked cultivator planned this meticulously, intending to wipe us out entirely. Even the third layer's exit is guarded."
Learning of her plight, Qin Xiao realized his own route was similarly choked off. Escape was truly a dead end.
"Master, what do we do now? Are we really going to die here?"
Panic crept into Yun Man's voice as the grim reality settled over her.
Though her cultivation had reached the early Nascent Soul stage, she was still a young girl in her teens. Despite the heavy burden of vengeance forcing a premature maturity, she naturally sought a pillar of support in times of crisis-and Qin Xiao was that pillar.
Through suspicion, confusion, and eventual trust, despite his often unreliable demeanor, she retained a steadfast belief that her master would find a way.
"Talk of death is nonsense; your master is still breathing. Relax, if anyone falls today, it will be me first. Steady your heart and don't panic."
Noticing her trembling anxiety, Qin Xiao offered immediate reassurance.
Initially, he had viewed Yun Man merely as a vessel-a Heavenly Spirit Root required by the System, taken on purely to fulfill its demands without genuine emotional attachment.
Yet standing at death's door, looking at the frightened young woman before him, his perspective shifted. Stripped of her cultivation halo, she was nothing more than a teenager who should still be attending school in his past life. At such a moment, a master had to step forward.
"Disciple, do you have the confidence to land an injury on this beast?"
Qin Xiao turned to her with a serious question.
"Master, do you have a plan? I can hurt it, but it never gives me an opening!"
Yun Man replied quickly, voicing her limitation.
"Leave that to me. I will draw its fire and create an opening for you to strike from the flank. My recent breakthrough gives me enough resilience to withstand it for a brief time. If we don't combine our strength now, we won't have another chance."
It was the only strategy available.
Though the previous strike had landed hard, the Heart-Protecting Turtle Shell and his Body Refinement Third Layer had absorbed the worst of the impact. As long as it wasn't a full-force fatal blow, he could endure it.
"Master, are you certain? This is a peak Nascent Soul stage beast! If all else fails, let me hold it off while you escape."
Still hesitant, Yun Man fought an internal battle, wishing to sacrifice herself so he might live.
"Escape my foot! Cooperation gives us the advantage. Since my offensive means are limited, I'll take the frontline while you deliver the damage. Master and disciple working together will get the job done."
Having finalized the deployment, Qin Xiao knew hesitation meant death. Without another route, they had to fight.
"Very well... master, be careful."
Trusting in his resolute tone, Yun Man prepared herself.
With her compliance secured, Qin Xiao dropped into a stance and surged forward once more.
The outcome mirrored the first attempt; a sweeping palm batted him instantly backward.
"Disciple, do not misunderstand-your master was merely testing its strength. Minor setbacks!"
Dusting himself off, Qin Xiao offered an awkward smile to the bewildered girl.
This time, he refrained from a reckless charge, quietly analyzing the situation. While his movement speed matched the beast's, its reflexes were vastly superior, making a direct approach impossible.
"Ah, slowness has its own advantages. Time to let you experience my proprietary stop-short technique."
Formulating his counter-strategy, Qin Xiao launched himself forward a third time.
Instead of colliding with the incoming blow, he abruptly checked his momentum right as the giant ape's palm descended, letting the massive limb sweep past empty air.
Before the beast could recover, Qin Xiao closed the distance to its face and threw a punch straight at its head.
Caught completely off guard by the sudden stop, the giant ape jerked its head aside. Qin Xiao's fist sailed past harmlessly, causing his airborne body to lose balance and begin tumbling downward.
Reacting on instinct, the giant ape swung its other hand to crush him, but because Qin Xiao had already dropped out of reach, the blow missed entirely-striking the beast heavily across its own face.
"What kind of technique is this? It actually worked?"
Yun Man stared in utter astonishment at the bizarre spectacle unfolding before her.