Shun Long hadn't expected for the magic beasts to immediately react as soon as he took the 'Heaven swallowing vine' from the central mountain. 

'' How many magic beasts are there? What about that '4 winged ice bird'?'' 

''Master, it's coming as well. The middle rank 4 magic beast inside that lake, as well as the early rank 4 beast from the mountain next to the lake is also coming''

Shun Long was stuck in an impossible position. Without little Black, there was no way that he could escape before the rank 4 magic beasts arrived here. Every escape path was blocked as well. 

Stuck in this desperate situation, Shun Long tried his hardest to think for a way out when he suddenly remembered the layout of the central mountain.

Looking around him he asked little Black

''Little Black, are you certain that the magic beasts below rank 5 can't use their soul to sense?''

''Master I am certain but... we don't have any more time to leave! The '4 winged ice bird' has almost arrived at the foot of the mountain. Even if we leave now it's too late.''

Shun Long then said

''I won't be able to see anything so you have to guide me through this if we want to avoid all the magic beasts here''

Little Black didn't understand what Shun Long was saying.

His words made no sense, until he saw Shun Long looking around, before he entered in one of the caves that were inside the mountain's heart. 

''This central mountain is full of caves, big and small. If I can navigate my way through them, with little Black's help we can certainly leave.''

At the same time as Shun Long entered the cave, the middle rank 4 magic beast, the '4 winged ice bird had already reached the foot of the mountain as it was flying towards the huge entrance in the middle at breakneck speed. To these magic beasts living inside the Demonic Mountain region, nothing mattered as much as the 'Heaven swallowing vine'. 

In the distance, more than a dozen rank 3 magic beasts could be seen leaving the forest as they all headed towards the central mountain. At the same time, a ferocious beast that resembled a crocodile could be seen running on all fours, as it emerged from the big lake while it too headed towards the mountain. 

From the smaller mountain on the left side of the lake, a 3m(10ft) tall spider was madly rushing towards them as well... but that was just the start.

Hundreds of beasts from all over the central region were now also rushing towards the central mountain.

Screechhh

The '4 winged ice bird' issued a loud cry as soon as it reached the heart of the mountain. Not only was the 'silver winged roc' missing, but their most important 'Heaven swallowing vine' had disappeared along with it. 

As Shun Long had expected, the beasts that had just arrived at the foot of the mountain didn't head towards the mountain's heart, but instead entered from the many empty caves at the base, madly searching for the 'Heaven swallowing vine'.

Little Black who was relaying the situation to Shun Long, was also calculating the routes to avoid the magic beasts inside

''Master, there are many beasts coming from our left side. Enter the second entrance from our right, and then directly the first entrance from the left.''

...Although little Black had his soul sense and could still guide Shun Long, there were just too many beasts inside the mountain at this point. Although the central mountain was huge, there was almost one beast in every entrance by now.

''Master, we are in trouble! There is a middle rank 3 magic beast coming straight ahead of us and there is no way to avoid it from the other caves''

Shun Long was now very close to the foot of the mountain, but in the end, it seemed that they couldn't avoid every magic beast inside. 

Facing this situation, Shun Long's heart had turned cold. Could it be that there was no other choice than for them to fight here?

Little Black's voice was then heard inside Shun Long's head

''Master, I can leave the 'Stone of Time' and kill it with my 'Darkness fire' but...''

Shun Long shook his head as he replied

''We will definitely be discovered then... I know. I also know the burden that it would place on you if you fought in your current condition.'' 

Stuck under this situation of extreme pressure, Shun Long tried his best to stay as calm as possible before he said

''There is no other choice. We will either pull this off or we are doomed this time.

Little Black, you have to tell me the exact moment when this magic beast enters a 40m distance from us, and then again when it enters within a 20m distance from us.''

Little Black wasn't sure what Shun Long was trying to do but he agreed to his request regardless as he said

''Master, right now it is 600 meters away from us. 500m.. 400.. 200.. 100''

The magic beast was closing the distance between them extremely quickly.

As this beast was approaching closer and closer, Shun Long tightly clenched his fists as he emptied his mind from all other thoughts.

''80 meters.. 60... Master! It is 40m away from us!''

As soon as little Black's voice sounded in his head, Shun Long punched the air in front of him and a spatial tear was forcibly opened.

As soon as he created the space tear, Shun Long heard little Black's voice in his head again saying

''Master, it's within 20 meters!'' 

Shun Long instantly entered the space tear, while at the same time, the magic beast had just arrived in front of where he was just standing.

His body had appeared 20 meters behind the beast, as he heard it while it was running deeper inside the mountain.

The absolute darkness inside the cave had saved him from being noticed by this magic beast, and approximately an incense stick of time's later, he had finally arrived back at the foot of the mountain.

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