Just as a battle seemed inevitable, a voice suddenly called out from within the forest. "Stop!"0

This time, the Jiuli beastfolk who emerged wasn’t clad in armor. Instead, he wore a robe made of multicolored beast pelts, and his fox-like face was marked with intricate painted designs. He carried a bronze staff in his left hand and seemed to be the leader of these warriors.0

"Honored Priest!" the Jiuli warriors greeted in unison. "We found these intruders here!"0

"Do you not see the esteemed iron-eating beast over there?" the Jiuli priest asked, raising a hand to point. Only then did the fierce Jiuli warriors notice the small creature huddled at Tan Qingfeng’s feet.0

It was barely half a person’s height and was likely frightened when the fight started. Now, it curled into a tight ball, covering its eyes with its chubby paws as it tried to hide behind Tan Qingfeng.1

It seemed to believe that if it couldn’t be seen, it wouldn’t be attacked.0

What appeared...0