Lin Feng and Su Yao stood before a surging river, watching the turbulent current, their brows involuntarily knitting together. Su Yao's delicate brows furrowed slightly. After a moment of thought, she said, "Though the current here is usually swift, it is hardly this raging. It must be due to the recent rainfall in the mountains. If we are to reach the place where the spirit herbs grow, which I know of, we must cross this river."
Lin Feng swept his gaze across the river surface, trying to find a way to cross. Suddenly, he noticed several giant boulders protruding above the water in the middle of the river. Although the intervals between them were wide, with his current movement technique, he might be able to leap across by using them as stepping stones.
"Miss Su, I believe we can use the giant boulders in the river to jump across. Wait here for a moment while I go over first to scout the situation," Lin Feng said, turning to Su Yao.
Worry showed on Su Yao's face, but seeing Lin Feng's resolute expression, she found it hard to stop him and could only urge, "Young Master, please be extremely careful."
Lin Feng nodded and circulated the Tianyuan Chaos Formula. Chaos Power coursed through his entire body, instantly adjusting his physical state to its absolute peak. Seizing the right moment, he leaped fiercely, resembling a streak of black lightning as he flew toward the first giant boulder.
Landing steadily with both feet on the boulder, Lin Feng did not linger for even a second. He exerted force once more and leaped toward the next boulder. However, just as he was about to set foot on the second boulder, a massive strange fish suddenly burst out from the river. The strange fish's entire body was covered in black scales, its eyes were blood red, and it opened its bloody maw to snap at Lin Feng.
A jolt went through Lin Feng's heart. He hurriedly twisted his body in mid-air, dodging the strange fish's attack by a hair's breadth. Yet the strange fish did not give up after missing its first strike; its massive tail lashed fiercely against the water, splashing spray several zhang high while its body charged at Lin Feng once again.
Suspended in mid-air with nothing to leverage, Lin Feng found himself in a critical situation. He swiftly gathered Chaos Power into both palms, and the moment the strange fish drew close, he shoved his palms forward violently, forming a barrier of light transformed from Chaos Power in front of him. The strange fish crashed into the light barrier with a dull thud, and its body was rebounded backward.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Lin Feng successfully landed on the second boulder. Yet the strange fish continued to cruise around the vicinity, glaring at him with a predatory gaze, clearly unwilling to let him go easily.
Lin Feng knew full well that he could not afford to reach a stalemate with the strange fish here; otherwise, once his stamina was exhausted, the consequences would be unthinkable. While remaining vigilant against the strange fish's attacks, he searched for an opening to leap to the next boulder.
Finally, amid the gap when the strange fish launched another attack, Lin Feng caught his chance and leaped with all his might, successfully clearing the remaining distance and landing on the opposite bank.
Su Yao watched all of this anxiously from the far side, and seeing Lin Feng cross safely, she could not help letting out a sigh of relief.
"Miss Su, walk along the riverbank while I follow you from this side to see if we can find a place where the current is slightly slower, so I can pull you across with a rope," Lin Feng shouted aloud.
Su Yao nodded to indicate she understood and proceeded to move forward along the riverbank. Lin Feng closely followed her from the opposite side, not daring to take his eyes off Su Yao for even a second.
Just as they had traveled a short distance, they suddenly heard a low roar echoing from ahead, the sound brimming with menace and fury. A tight feeling gripped Lin Feng's heart. He signaled Su Yao to stop and cautiously approached the direction from which the sound came.
After bypassing a dense patch of woods, Lin Feng saw a Black Panther Exotic Beast baring its teeth at a large tree. Perched on the tree was a Little White Beast, snow-white all over, trembling and appearing thoroughly terrified of the Black Panther Exotic Beast.
The Black Panther Exotic Beast was massive in size, radiating a powerful aura from its entire body, instantly revealing itself to be no ordinary wild beast. Lin Feng surmised that this Black Panther Exotic Beast must be guarding this territory, while that Little White Beast had likely strayed into its domain by mistake.
Just as Lin Feng was pondering how to handle the situation, the Black Panther Exotic Beast seemed to sense his presence. It turned its head to look right at him, a pair of gloomy green eyes revealing vigilance and ferocity.