This feeling was incredibly strange. Liu Nanfeng transformed into a wisp of light, merging with the sunlight. Then, he traveled at the speed of light. Yet, during this process, the surrounding scenery wasn't simply bypassed.
Instead, it was all taken in. Or rather, everywhere he passed, all sights were captured in his mind, even more clearly and meticulously than if he had seen them with his eyes.
Soon, he left the desert and arrived in a grassland. Countless fierce beasts occupied various areas. Swamps, venomous insects, and savage plants made it even more perilous than the desert.
Liu Nanfeng discovered that even as a beam of light, he was still detected by some powerful fierce beasts. However, whether it was due to his incredible speed or their lack of interest, they coexisted peacefully for a time.
Just as Liu Nanfeng believed he would reach the Heavenly Palace safely like this, an accident finally occurred.
Liu Nanfeng hadn't expected that the seemingly void air also harbored fierce beings, and not just one kind.
There were transparent creatures with bodies like the wind, radiant beings resembling cranes, and clouds like sheep.
They drifted with the wind, traveled with the light, and waited silently for the wind to come amidst the clouds.
It was truly wondrous; they weren't aggressive like other fierce beasts, appearing peaceful and free-spirited.
Of course, not all of them were like this.
For instance, a mass of dark clouds blocked Liu Nanfeng's path. Lightning flickered within it, constantly morphing into various ferocious shapes.
The speeding Liu Nanfeng had barely collided with it when it revealed a ferocious visage, attempting to swallow and absorb him.
Lightning formed its tentacles, lashing at its body. Its ever-changing form continuously conjured gaping mouths, seeking to devour him.
Fortunately, Liu Nanfeng was a ball of light, and for a moment, the entity couldn't harm him. Instead, Liu Nanfeng carved numerous holes within it.
Despite this, the monster seemed to suffer little damage, instantly healing itself. A stalemate ensued. Seeing this, Liu Nanfeng didn't wish to waste any more time on it and immediately utilized his speed to escape.
---
"Your strength is immense, and your weapon is potent, but after you punch, your power disperses too much..."
Zhang Xinwu patiently tutored Zhan Dundun along the way.
Zhan Dundun had known many of these principles before but didn't know how to apply them. Now, with Zhang Xinwu's guidance, it was like clouds parting to reveal the bright moon.
As they were speaking, a peculiar monster resembling a mountain sprite pounced on them from the air.
Zhang Xinwu reacted with incredible speed, vanishing without a trace with a mere sidestep. Dundun was too late to flee and could only throw a punch to meet the enemy.
Previously, when Dundun fought, he was radiant and imposing. Now, as he swung his fist, there was no sound, not even a stir of air.
But when his fist landed on the mountain sprite's chest, it unleashed a deafening roar. A large hole was directly punched through the sprite's chest.
This mountain sprite, over twenty meters tall, was covered in a viscous liquid, both slippery and hard, possessing immense defense. Yet, it couldn't withstand the might of Dundun's punch.
Seeing his punch effective, Dundun was overjoyed.
However, the mountain sprite did not die. The two then engaged in a fierce battle.
"Not bad."
Zhang Xinwu, standing on a treetop in the distance, nodded in approval, but soon shifted his gaze aside.
Not far away, a monster with a serpent's head and a human body was hidden within the vegetation, blending seamlessly. It was intently watching the two fighting.
As the clam ate the oysters, the fisherman reaped the benefits. Clearly, this serpent-headed creature was waiting for them to be mutually weakened.
A cold glint flashed in its eyes. It licked the air in front of it with its forked tongue. Each flick of its tongue released a wave of chilling air, as if freezing the very atmosphere.
Zhang Xinwu leaped from the tree without a sound, his hand reaching silently for the creature's neck.
By the time the serpent-headed creature sensed danger, it was too late. Its neck was directly snapped by Zhang Xinwu's grasp.
Even after a few days, the serpent-headed monster did not die immediately. But before it could move, a surge of force traveled upwards, shattering its head into a pulp. Its body also dissolved into a pool of blood and flesh, scattering on the ground.
Zhang Xinwu let out a disdainful chuckle.
As the saying goes, if you don't cut the grass by the roots, it will grow again in the spring breeze. This world is rich in spiritual energy, and its fierce beasts are all peculiar with incredibly tenacious vitality. Therefore, never believe in the trope of decapitation or heart removal ensuring death. Without being crushed into a pulp, anything is possible, and sometimes, even being crushed into a pulp is not enough.
Zhang Xinwu effortlessly dealt with the peeping fierce beast, while Dundun's fight was nearing its end.
His movements were far less elegant and effortless than Zhang Xinwu's. The mountain sprite's chest had a large hole punched clean through it, half of its head was smashed, and one arm was missing. Finally, it lost all combat capability, lying on the ground, on its last breath.
Dundun himself took a few hits, but being thick-skinned and tough, he suffered no significant injuries.
"Burning these fierce beasts with fire is actually the best way to deal with them."
Zhang Xinwu walked over and spat out a ball of flame, instantly incinerating the barely-alive mountain sprite to ashes.
Zhang Xinwu had previously suffered losses because of this. A fierce beast had been reduced to mince by him, yet it had not died. After he left, it quietly followed him, seeking revenge. Fortunately, he was always vigilant, preventing it from finding an opportunity, and eventually killing it completely.
After resolving the mountain sprite, the two continued on their journey.
"How much longer do we have to walk?" Dundun asked, looking into the distance with a sigh.
Without exaggeration, they had traveled nearly ten thousand li during these days, encountering countless fierce beasts, yet the Heavenly Palace seemed as distant as ever, showing no signs of getting closer.
Zhang Xinwu shook his head, indicating he was also unsure.
"This world is truly vast," he said with a touch of emotion.
A large world meant abundant resources. If countries were to enter this world, it would mean endless resources awaiting development. Of course, the fierce beasts here were also numerous, and ordinary people simply couldn't survive here.
At this moment, Liu Nanfeng, speeding through the sky, suddenly saw a colossal Buddha rising from the ground, blocking his path.
He looked down and saw a handsome monk, clad in simple white robes, with lowered eyes, chanting scriptures.
Opposite him stood a mountain-sized monster covered entirely in human eyes. Eyeballs rolled within, emitting waves of gray light. Wherever it passed, it was like a volley of arrows, piercing trees, rocks, and rivers, leaving behind holes scorched by its passage.
The monk appeared somewhat disheveled, his monastic robe bearing dozens of burnt holes, and a scar marred his handsome cheek.
The giant Buddha in the sky, mirroring the monk's actions, extended a palm and pressed it down from the void.
Silently, the monster was annihilated by a single palm, leaving a massive void that was quickly filled by river water, forming a lake.
The monk, however, collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
Just then, a giant scorpion, over ten meters long, appeared silently behind him.