"That's a huge Demon Beast! What is that thing? Everyone, be careful!" Ye Tian was the first to react.
Ye Feifei, Xiao Yaoyao, and Lin Ling rushed to Ye Tian's side, their faces filled with terror as they stared at the enormous Demon Beast in the distance.
"I think it's a Demon Elephant. See those two massive tusks? It must be incredibly powerfulâprobably a Tier Four Demon Beast! I thought Demon Elephants were extinct. Why would one show up here?" Xiao Yaoyao said.
"Yaoyao, how do you know it's a Demon Elephant? It looks a little like an elephant, but there are some major differences," Ye Tian asked.
The Demon Elephant stood over five meters tall. Its two massive tusks were similar to an elephant's, but the biggest difference was its trunkâit was short, like that of other Demon Beasts, not long and prehensile.
Furthermore, its body wasn't covered in hide but in dark brown Scale Armor, giving it a bizarre, mismatched appearance.
"I read about it in an old bestiary. The academy has a few books on strange and obscure creatures.
"The Demon Elephant's Attack Power is immense. Its greatest trait is its raw strength. Its ivory is incredibly sharpâit can shatter a tree thick enough for three people to link arms around with a single strike!" Xiao Yaoyao explained.
"Then what should we do? It's so powerful! I think we should run! There's no way we can beat it!" Ye Feifei said.
"She's right. It's already charging at us. If we don't go now, it'll be too late. Ye Tian, you and Ye Feifei go first. Xiao Yaoyao and I will hold it off," Lin Ling said.
Ye Tian felt a complex emotion stir within him. He knew Lin Ling was saying this to protect him, a display of her love. 'But how can I, a grown man, let my women protect me?'
"You all go first. I'll handle the rear guard. The Demon Elephant might be powerful, but I'm not impressed. I can kill it. Trust me!"
"No! Your Power Realm is too low right now. You can't possibly kill it. We might not be able to kill it either, but we can definitely hold it off long enough for you to escape safely," Lin Ling said urgently.
Ye Tian glanced at the three women and roared, "All of you, get out of here, now! I'm your man, so you listen to me! I said I'll be fine, so I'll be fine! Are you disobeying me because you don't take me seriously?!"
He truly had roared those words, a clear sign of his fury. Of course, half of it was an act. He would never dare take such a tone with the three of themânot unless he wanted a beating.
The three women exchanged a look, unsure of what to do. Lin Ling and Xiao Yaoyao knew that undermining him like this would deeply wound Ye Tian's pride, and to a man, pride could be more important than life itself.
Just then, the Demon Elephant closed in, now less than five meters away. Its massive tusks shone with a cold light. A single charge would be enough to grievously injure them all.
"Let's move back and let Ye Tian try. Maybe he really can kill it. You know how he's always full of surprises," Xiao Yaoyao said, making the final decision.
The three women quickly darted to the side, leaving Ye Tian to face the colossal Demon Elephant alone. A single feeling rose in his heart: he had found a worthy opponent, and he was thrilled.
The Black Glaze Sword appeared in his hand. He glanced at the Demon Elephant and said, "A Tier Four Demon Beast should possess Spiritual Wisdom. Can you speak?"
Ye Tian remembered that the Golden Bull Demon he'd encountered before could talk. He was certain this Demon Elephant could as well, and perhaps he could learn something useful from it.
"Insignificant human, you dare to speak to me? You vastly overestimate your own strength! Today, I will kill and devour all of you. I've heard human flesh is the most delicious!" the Demon Elephant boomed at Ye Tian.
Hearing the Demon Elephant actually speak, Ye Tian felt a surge of excitement. 'Clearly this big oaf doesn't take me seriously,' he thought. 'If it thinks it can eat me, it's dreaming.'
"You'll find out soon enough if we're delicious. But first, there's something I want to know. If you answer me, I might just let you live. Otherwise, it won't be you eating usâit'll be us taking your Magic Crystal," Ye Tian retorted, showing no sign of weakness.
As he spoke, he was rapidly circulating the Dragon Spiritual Power within him, preparing to launch a surprise attack at any moment. Ye Tian had already chosen his target: the Demon Elephant's eyes.
"You dare underestimate me?! Then I'll show you the might of a Demon Elephant!" The beast seemed enraged by Ye Tian's words and let out a furious roar.
Its massive body charged toward Ye Tian, but he was ready. He had already launched his attack the moment the Demon Elephant began its charge.
The Black Glaze Sword shot from his hand, flying straight at the Demon Elephant, while Ye Tian himself blurred into an afterimage and dodged to the side.
When the three women saw this, their hearts leaped into their throats. It looked like he was running for his life, even abandoning his Weapon! They were all terrified for his safety.
"Get back! Its speed is incredible, be careful you don't get hurt!" Ye Tian shouted.
The moment Ye Tian's words faded, the Demon Elephant let out an earth-shattering roar. It was a cry of pure agony, the sound of an animal in pain.
As it turned out, Ye Tian had aimed the Black Glaze Sword at the Demon Elephant's eye. The blade was exceptionally sharp, and Ye Tian had been preparing the strike for some time. The Demon Elephant, on the other hand, had never expected such an attack.
A premeditated attack against an unsuspecting foe was bound to succeed. The Black Glaze Sword had pierced straight through its eye, leaving only the hilt visible. The Demon Elephant was now blind in one eye.
Blood gushed out around the Black Glaze Sword, and the Demon Elephant thrashed and stomped in agonyânot a dance of joy, but a display of excruciating pain.
With a single thought, Ye Tian commanded the Black Glaze Sword to pull free from the Demon Elephant's eye and fly back into his hand. This display of Flying Sword control left the three women stunned.
Xiao Yaoyao and Lin Ling, in particular, stared at Ye Tian in disbelief. Controlling a Flying Sword required immense Spiritual Power, yet Ye Tian had not only done it, but had also grievously wounded the Demon Elephant.
Now they understood why he'd sent his sword flying at the Demon Elephant. It had all been part of his plan.
Ye Tian, however, knew his actions had surely enraged the Demon Elephant. Its next attack would be one of pure frenzy.
'Kick 'em while they're down.' With the Black Glaze Sword back in his hand, Ye Tian wasted no time. He immediately unleashed the Fifth Form of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.
A sky full of Sword Qi instantly hammered into the Demon Elephant. Ye Tian had expected the attack to wound it, but he was left dumbfounded when it struck. The beast's Defense Power was just as terrifying as its offense; the barrage of Sword Qi had only left a few shallow scratches on its Scale Armor.