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Before long, several figures dashed out of the woods in the northwest direction.
As they emerged from the forest, Yang Fan was so tense that he dared not even take a breath.
Six creatures had arrived!
Their sizes were nearly identical, standing about one meter tall at the shoulder, with a body length of around one and a half meters and a tail less than one meter long, covered in white fur with black spots interspersed.
From their appearance, they closely resembled Earth’s leopards.
If this were Earth, Yang Fan might have mistaken them for ordinary leopards. However, in the world of Shan Hai Jing, these creatures were likely not your typical leopards.
Hiding in the bushes, Yang Fan slowly moved his arm, using a large leaf to shield his entire arm discreetly, quietly directing his wrist screen towards these beasts.
[Mengji, a common exotic beast, a relatively weak creature in the Beast Realm.]
[Mengji gestates for three years and can give birth to 5-8 cubs. These cubs reach adolescence within ten days, where they naturally attain Rank 1 Exotic Beast status without the need for cultivation. Upon reaching adulthood, they can directly advance to Rank 3. If they comprehend cultivation, they can break through to Rank 3.]
[During adolescence, their size is comparable to that of an adult leopard on Earth, while as adults, they can grow to the size of an adult rhinoceros on Earth.]
[Mengji excels in stealth hunting, boasting remarkable speed, agility, flexibility, and preying mainly on lions and tigers.]
[The following data outlines the Rank 1 to Rank 3 attributes of Mengji. These values serve as reference points; individual specimens may exhibit variations.]
Upon seeing this data set, Yang Fan’s entire demeanor changed.
Mengji’s cub data showed strength eight times that of an adult human, equivalent to an adult tiger!
Without powerful weaponry, what are the chances of success facing a tiger?
What’s even more terrifying is their speed and stamina.
[Rank 1: Strength 800 points, Speed 500 points, Stamina 300 points.]
[Rank 2: Strength 1200 points, Speed 750 points, Stamina 450 points.]
[Rank 3: Strength 1800 points, Speed 1200 points, Stamina 700 points.]
A tiger’s speed is roughly twice that of a human, and even a cheetah is only three to four times faster than a human. However, Mengji’s speed is five times that of a human!
For an average adult male, running a hundred meters takes approximately 12 seconds, equivalent to 8 meters per second. In contrast, a young Mengji can reach 40 meters per second, taking only two to three seconds. In a race, it could let you run eighty meters ahead and catch up before the finish line!
Even the weakest stamina is three times greater than that of a human.
Is this what a Rank 1 Exotic Beast embodies? Mengji can achieve such terrifying statistics just ten days after birth.
No wonder they can hunt lions and tigers. Even a young Mengji outshines lions and tigers in terms of data alone.
The crux of the matter is that Yang Fan’s physique is inferior even to an average person. A young Mengji exhibits twenty times his strength and twelve times his speed!
And this is only during their juvenile stage. If they reach adolescence or adulthood, it’s simply terrifying.
Currently, there is only one question on Yang Fan’s mind.
You call these “relatively weak” exotic beasts?
“The first target of the Realm Exploration is to kill creatures like this? Damn!”
Undoubtedly, the moment Yang Fan makes a move, he won’t stand a chance of survival!
As Mengji approached the bushes, Yang Fan grew increasingly anxious.
Though his sense of smell was keener than most, the scents emanating from these young Mengjis were so similar, highly likely belonging to a litter, making it impossible for him to distinguish between them!
Encountering a young Mengji, their size not much different from his own, Yang Fan considered that the hallucinogenic poison might have a more potent effect!
However, a serious issue had arisen.
If there was only one beast, all the food would belong to it, making Yang Fan’s hallucinogenic poison effective for sure.
Yet, with the sudden appearance of six Mengji cubs, food distribution might become uneven, potentially leaving some without a share.
In such a scenario, even with just one beast, Yang Fan’s situation would be extremely perilous!
“They’re all from the same family, no need to fight. Let them eat together!” Yang Fan silently prayed.
As the six young Mengjis rushed into the scene, they immediately began vying for food!
Witnessing this scene, Yang Fan’s heart sank a little.
The anticipated image of a harmonious family scene did not materialize. In this world of survival of the fittest, such notions were mere illusions.
The quicker ones dashed towards the flesh and bones, baring their teeth at their companions, driving them away, swiftly grabbing the meat and bones. They leaped several meters away, guarding their food with their forelimbs as they began to feast heartily.
In the blink of an eye, the meat and bones on the ground were all snatched clean.
“Oh no, one of them didn’t get any!”
As if on cue, there was indeed a young Mengji, the smallest in size, left without food.
Smallest in size? Yet Yang Fan was certain that in the presence of this creature, he wouldn’t last even three seconds!
The small Mengji attempted to snatch the meat and bones from its companions but was repelled, causing it to retreat repeatedly in fear.
Despite its weak strength, the small Mengji ultimately didn’t dare to snatch forcefully, only able to lower its head in dejection, sniffing around and occasionally licking the bloodstains on the ground.
However, at that moment, the creature started moving towards Yang Fan while sniffing around.
Suddenly, it raised its head, gazing in Yang Fan’s direction.
Witnessing this scene, Yang Fan was nearly petrified with fear.
He was about to end up like the new person, torn apart and devoured by these creatures!
Suddenly, the Mengji leaped and landed less than ten meters away from Yang Fan, leaving him breathless.
At that instant, it lowered its head, picked up a skull from the ground, and joyfully bounced back, heading in the opposite direction.
It was then that Yang Fan realized the creature had discovered the skull.
Luckily, amidst his busy activities, Yang Fan didn’t forget to sprinkle hallucinogenic poison on that skull. Missing that skull would have been a huge problem.
It was a false alarm, but Yang Fan was drenched in sweat, his nerves on edge, and his three souls almost leaving his body.
Nevertheless, it was a narrow escape. All six Mengji had their share of food, gnawing on bones with satisfying crunches.
Yang Fan dared not move a muscle now, watching his kindred being consumed, a mix of horror and nervousness gripping his heart.
He was lying in wait for the stealthy Mengji, any misstep could mean certain death.
Moreover, he needed to remain vigilant of his surroundings.
The one likely responsible for killing the newcomer was probably an adult Mengji. Leaving the food behind was likely to attract its cubs for a meal.
What was truly chilling was how it had neatly divided the corpse into six portions.
It’s unclear if they possess a certain level of intelligence.
Fortunately, during the feeding process of these young Mengji, no adult Mengji appeared.
A few minutes later.
“They’ve eaten their fill, and the effects of the poison should soon take effect.”
At that moment, the Mengji that had first seized the food suddenly stopped enjoying the feast, emitting a mournful cry, then rolling on the ground.
Suddenly, it lifted its head and gazed at its companions, its eyes gradually turning fierce. Without hesitation, it pounced aggressively towards the nearest companion.
The other Mengji also began to exhibit severe discomfort, engaging in biting and tearing at each other.
The hallucinogenic poison may only induce hallucinations in adult exotic beasts, but for young ones, while it might not be lethal, it could cause certain injuries.
These Mengji probably never expected that food approved by their mother would be poisoned!
Experiencing intense pain combined with hallucinogenic effects, they were likely to hallucinate being under attack, prompting them to turn on their companions.
Wide-eyed, Yang Fan nervously watched the scene unfold.
The six Mengji tore into each other, alternating between vicious bites with gaping jaws and sharp claw strikes.
Driven by primal survival instincts, their attacks were swift and deadly. Their terrifying strength, speed, and agility were on full display during the frenzy, giving Yang Fan a firsthand glimpse of their horror.
In addition to their physical prowess, their sharp claws and teeth were incredibly lethal, capable of cutting through flesh and opening up guts with ease!
The melee continued, with the Mengji seeing only enemies in their eyes, relentlessly tearing and scratching. The brutality of the scene far surpassed the earlier food skirmish.
As Yang Fan watched intently, one unfortunate Mengji found itself under simultaneous attack by three companions, resulting in its neck being severed.
After a brief struggle, its head drooped lifelessly.
At that moment, a familiar voice echoed in Yang Fan’s ears.
[You have successfully hunted a Rank 1 Juvenile exotic beast.]
[The first target of ‘trial’ has been accomplished.]