Chapter 3517: Overwhelming Defeat

The world blurred.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Sonic booms detonated behind them as Little Shrubby accelerated past the speed of sound, carrying the boar beastkin like a ragdoll. Trees vanished into streaks of green and brown. The forest itself seemed to recoil.

An entire minute later, Little Shrubby skidded to a halt and gently dropped the boar beastkin onto the ground.

THUD

The man collapsed, unconscious, his body finally giving out.

Silence fell.

The surrounding beastkin stared, fear and awe flickering across many faces.

They had just witnessed overwhelming speed.

Overwhelming dominance.

Little Shrubby padded back toward Lin Mu, shaking his head. "Did I overdo it?"

Lin Mu shook his head slightly. "No. That was sufficient."

The beastkin ring parted instinctively as they approached.

The rules had been followed.

And the challenge... had been answered.

For several long seconds after the boar kin collapsed, no one spoke.

The forest, which had been alive with sound only moments ago, seemed to hold its breath along with the beastkin.

Then movement resumed.

Several of the surrounding beastkin rushed forward, their earlier hostility replaced by concern. Two boarkin knelt beside Orgal, checking his breathing and pressing their hands against his chest and shoulders, while others scanned his body for signs of life.

"He’s alive," one of them said quickly, relief clear in his voice.

A deerkin stepped forward next.

He was tall and lean, his frame graceful rather than bulky, with long limbs and a narrow torso. Large branching antlers extended from his head, faintly glowing with a soft golden hue. His fingers ended in tough, hoof like tips rather than nails, and faint runic patterns were visible along his forearms.

"He has broken bones," the deerkin said calmly after a brief inspection. "Cracks along the ribs. Fractured shoulder. Internal bleeding."

Lin Mu watched closely as the deerkin knelt beside Orgal and placed both hands over the boarkin’s chest. Immortal Qi flowed out from him, but it was not aggressive or heavy. Instead, it was gentle, warm, and oddly soothing.

A faint yellow light bloomed beneath the deerkin’s palms, spreading across Orgal’s body like a thin veil.

Lin Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

This was not a crude restorative technique.

It was a proper healing skill.

He could clearly see the effect. The broken ribs began to knit together, hairline fractures sealing as if guided by invisible hands. The damaged muscles twitched and relaxed, regaining elasticity. Even the scorched patches of fur slowly darkened and stabilized.

The healing speed was impressive.

Lin Mu could tell that part of this was due to Orgal’s own bloodline. Boarkin were known for their monstrous vitality and resilience. But the skill itself was undoubtedly high level, far beyond what he had expected from a backwater world like this.

Five minutes passed.

The yellow light gradually dimmed, and the deerkin withdrew his hands with a controlled exhale.

"He will live," the deerkin said. "A week of rest, perhaps two, and he will be able to move again. His pride will take longer to recover."

That earned a few awkward snorts from the nearby beastkin.

Still, the shock in their eyes remained.

They stared at Little Shrubby, then at Lin Mu, then at Cattaleya, as if trying to reassess everything they thought they knew.

An apekin finally stepped forward.

He was broad shouldered and thick limbed, with long arms that nearly reached his knees. His fur was dark brown, shot through with streaks of silver, and his eyes were sharp and intelligent. Unlike the boarkin, he wore more clothing, layered leather wraps and metal plates strapped across his torso and forearms.

"The challenge’s outcome is decided," the apekin said, his voice deep but controlled. "The beast has won."

He paused, then added, "Orgal has been defeated."

Meng Bai blinked. "Orgal?"

The apekin nodded. "Orgal is the War Chief of the Boarkin. An elder of our sect."

Meng Bai inhaled sharply.

"An elder?

He glanced at Little Shrubby, then at Lin Mu, suddenly realizing that what he had just witnessed was not merely a scuffle with some territorial beastkin, but the defeat of a high ranking figure.

Lin Mu’s expression did not change, but he noted it internally.

That explained the initial confidence.

And the weight behind the challenge.

Lin Mu stepped forward slightly and inclined his head. "We did not intend to cause offense. As I said before, this was a misunderstanding."

The apekin studied him carefully. "Intent does not matter much in our lands. Strength does."

Lin Mu nodded. "Then allow us to pass. We have no enmity with the Dark Bear King Sect. Our destination is the Three Union City."

At the mention of the name, a few beastkin exchanged glances.

The apekin frowned. "Permission to pass through our territory cannot be granted lightly."

He gestured toward Orgal, still unconscious on the forest floor. "Normally, Orgal being an elder would decide such matters. With him incapacitated, it is not within my authority."

Daoist Chu let out a quiet sigh behind Lin Mu. "If only he had remained conscious."

Cattaleya laughed openly, stretching her shoulders. "That would have ruined the fun."

Several beastkin stiffened at her laughter, their gazes instinctively drawn to her towering figure. Standing at nearly two meters tall, her dense muscles and overwhelming presence made her look more like a beastkin than many of them.

The apekin hesitated, then said, "There is only one option. You must come with us to the sect."

"And if the elders refuse?" Lin Mu asked calmly.

"Then you will take another route," the apekin replied. "One that does not pass through our lands."

Lin Mu exhaled slowly. He did not like delays, and the alternate routes were far longer and riskier.

Before he could respond, Cattaleya slapped her hands together.

"Sounds good," she said cheerfully. "I want to see your sect anyway."

She grinned, sharp and feral. "You people solve problems with fists. I like that."

The beastkin stared at her, unsure whether to be offended or impressed.

One of the leopardkin, sleek and spotted, muttered under his breath, "She’s scarier than the beast."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.