1962 Beast Rush

Lin Mu paid attention to the beasts, trying to observe them and identify what they were.

Some looked like a mix of wolves and cows, having the upper body of wolf and the legs of a cow. Some looked like a large rooster that had the claws of an eagle as well as a two pronged beak that looked ferocious. Then there was the largest beast among them that had stumpy legs, but a fat and bulky body. Its head was long and looked like that of a hippopotamus, but had the scales of a crocodile.

It was this beast that was making the most sound, as well as breaking all the bamboos. It was like a tank bulldozing through the buildings without stopping.

Lin Mu identified the large beast to be a Basalt Scaled Hippopotamus, whereas the other beasts were a group of Iron Hoof Wolves and Fork Beaked Immortal Jungle Fowl.

This was his first time seeing all these beasts in person, but he had certainly read about them.

The Basalt Scaled Hippopotamus was certainly the most dangerous out of all of them. It was at the Third Tribulation Realm of the Immortal realm, but had defenses that even a fifth Tribulation Stage Immortal realm cutlery might find hard to break. Not to mention, it was almost seven meters tall and ten meters long, making its momentum great. 

If it crashed into a human, it could easily turn them into a mush. 

The Iron Hoof Wolves were much smaller, being two meters tall, and three meters long, but they were no less dangerous when they were in a large group like this. They were excellent hunters and used their sharp teeth to rip into their prey. And even though they had hooves instead of claws like other wolves, it didn't mean they were any less lethal.

The very same hooves could crush bones and metal alike. The Iron Hoof Wolves actually referred to pulverize their prey's bones and then eat them whole, treating the bones as a crunchy treat in the meat.

Then there were the Fork Beaked Immortal Jungle Fowl. It was one of the bird beasts that couldn't fly, but was a perfect fit for the Evergreen Pillars Forest. It was just a meter in size, but could perch on the branches of the Evergreen Pillar Bamboo. 

It would hide above and spear any unsuspecting prey with its two pronged beak.

The Fork Beaked Immortal Jungle Fowl were high in number in the Evergreen Pillars Forest and that was also why Lin Mu was surprised at not seeing any when entering. They were considered the most common beast in the forest and could be found everywhere.

They also had a varying cultivation base, ranging from below the immortal realm, all the way to the Fifth Tribulation Stage of the Immortal realm.

One of the records that Lin Mu had read in the Serene Glass Valley even mentioned a Fork Beaked Immortal Jungle Fowl King, that had evolved further and enhanced its bloodline. It was said to be at the Fifth Tribulation Stage of the Immortal realm too, but was significantly stronger than its other kin at the same cultivation base.

Seeing all these beasts coming towards them, Lin Mu knew they would have to be fierce. 

'Use your speed to outmaneuver them and attack them from the back Little Shrubby. I'll handle those at the front and halt their charge.' Lin Mu planned his offense with Little Shrubby.

'Alright, I'll do that.' Little Shrubby agreed.

The beasts continued to charge, and when they were about a kilometer from them, Lin Mu shouted. "Now!" 

~SHING~

Lin Mu slashed out with Afternoon Pine, sending a sword light arc that cut all the Evergreen Pillar Bamboos in its path.

~ROAR~

Little Shrubby roared as he disappeared in a red blur and appeared behind the incoming beasts.

~SLASH~

~SPLAT~

~HISS~

His searing hot claws tore through the flesh of the beasts like it was cotton and burned them as well. Those that were weaker directly burst into flames, while the stronger ones had to suffer scorching heat that penetrated in their bodies.

The charging beasts had no idea that the ones behind them had already started to turn into corpses. In their eyes, there was only Lin Mu who was their prey. 

~HUMM~

Lin Mu held Afternoon Pine in front of him and infused Sword Intent in it, making the sword tremble with excitement.

Then he pulled his hand back and suddenly stabbed straight!

~SHAHA~

A streak of yellow sword light shot toward the largest target in the center, which was none other than the Basalt Scaled Hippopotamus.

~CRACK~ 

~KACHA~

It hit the beast right in the middle of its head, breaking through its scales and entering its body!

~KUHAAAAAAA~

The Basalt Scaled Hippopotamus cried in pain, but did not die. 

Even if its head had been pierced, it wasn't actually injured that bad.

'No wonder they said they are hard to kill.' Lin Mu thought to himself.

His immortal sense scanned the beast and discovered that the reason why it hadn't died even with its head pierced was the fact that its brain was safe. The brain of the Basalt Scaled Hippopotamus was located lower in its thick skull and was also rather small compared to its size, making it easy to miss.

It was also off center from the middle of its head, making it easy to miss from the top too.

Still, Lin Mu had accomplished his goal of making the beast halt. With its large size, the other beast beside and behind it were also forced to halt, with some of them crashing into its large body.

"Easy pickings," Lin Mu smiled and appeared next to the beasts, swinging Afternoon Pine.

~SHING~SHING~SHING~

The Sword slash caused yellow metal pine trees to sprout from the ground, which pierced through the beasts and cut their flesh with the sharp sword intent.

Little Shrubby continued to wreak havoc from the back, and had killed half of the beasts in less than a minute.