Chapter 283 - 275: Advancement

The snowstorm was bone-chillingly cold, and the raging wind felt like blades cutting into one’s skin. Yet Xiao Jin seemed oblivious, clutching tightly the lifeless figure in his arms, kissing her cheeks randomly, his lips mixed with tears, salty and wet, murmuring hoarsely over and over, "Tangtang..."

"Don’t scare me."

"You’re just asleep, aren’t you?"

His chest was burning hot like a furnace, trying to pass his warmth to the female, to melt her stiff, cold body.

Gradually, his voice choked with sobs, "...Tangtang, stop sleeping, wake up."

"I... I’ll take you back."

But no matter what he said or how he pleaded, the person in his arms remained unresponsive.

Xiao Jin’s heart felt as if pierced by a thousand knives, blood spurting out, extinguishing hope.

His trembling hand tightly clasped the back of Shen Tang’s head, pressing her firmly against his chest, tears flooding even more, large, hot droplets rolling down his straight nose, landing in her hair.

He momentarily lost all his strength.

Xiao Jin collapsed into the snow, tightly embracing the female in his arms, letting out a painful, shattered howl.

"Ah!"

Xiao Jin had lived a life that wasn’t smooth. He was raised in the slums, frequently beaten to within an inch of his life, yet never made a sound.

On the battlefield, facing life and death countless times, he had shed nearly all his blood and sweat, yet never shed a single tear.

Even when he was exiled to contaminated lands with a final verdict, losing all previous glory, all he thought about was making a comeback—it wasn’t a big deal.

Having lived this long, it was the first time Xiao Jin cried so uncontrollably, heartache unbearable, spasms in pain, suffocating sorrow.

The only thing he felt fortunate for in this life was meeting Shen Tang and having someone he truly wanted to protect. But why did it turn out like this?

If trading his life could awaken her, he would gladly exchange it for hers.

Xiao Jin buried his head in Shen Tang’s damp hair, holding her despairingly.

He didn’t know how long he held her until frost and snow covered them again, and his stiff body regained feeling, shaking off the clinging snow.

Xiao Jin cradled Shen Tang, rising from the snow, moving forward.

The sound of chaotic footsteps came from behind.

Thousands of pursuers approached, surrounding the pair.

Among them were two or three deserters, who had seen Xiao Jin’s figure hanging on the city gate, and now seeing him alive again, they looked shocked as if they’d seen a ghost, "Wasn’t this panther’s limbs chopped off and was he dead? How is he still standing here alive?"

"How can a dead person resurrect, stop spouting nonsense at the gate!"

"Take these two fugitives back, there’s a big reward!"

The rebel army at the city gate had been slaughtered completely; these pursuers, summoned from elsewhere, were unaware of what happened.

Zaxxis returned heavily wounded, issuing a warrant that they must capture the pair dead or alive!

The leading rebel commander shouted furiously,

"You two scumbags won’t escape today!"

"Kill them, avenge our brothers!"

Xiao Jin’s stiff fingers twitched slightly, looking up at the incoming pursuers.

His gaze was blood-red, icy and dead, which made all hearts tremble, instinctively retreating.

But this panther was only a Beastman at the peak of Eighth Rank while the leading commander was a Ninth Rank Beastman. There were several Deputy Generals at the Peak of Eighth Rank; killing him would be easy!

"Damn, facing death he’s still putting on this act, scaring whom? Get him!"

The leading commander roared, transforming into a Ninth Rank Lion Beast, leading the charge.

Xiao Jin lowered his head, planting a kiss on Shen Tang’s forehead, laying her beneath a tree, whispering, "Tangtang, I’ll kill them, to accompany your grave..."

As soon as the words fell, his form swelled violently, transforming into his true beast form—a majestic and sleek Black Panther enveloped with the vibrant power of thunder and lightning, explosive energy surging forth, overturning the charging Beastmen.

He crouched, springing up like lightning, engaging the lion commander fiercely.

The Black Panther’s claws were sharp as blades, mercilessly slicing the lion’s flank, blood sprayed, staining the snow crimson.

"Roar!" The lion let out a painful howl, the black panther seizing the opportunity to pin it down, pressing tightly against its throat.

The Lion Beast, eyes wide with fear, snapped open sharp fangs, biting into the Black Panther’s forepaw.

Yet the Black Panther seemed indifferent to pain, even as flesh was torn away, it relentlessly subdued the lion, crazedly tearing and grappling.

Some Beastmen attempted to sneak over, trying to snatch the female’s body.

But before they reached her, the Black Panther instantly counterattacked, tearing them to pieces.

The Lion Beast narrowly escaped death, crawled up, bloody and wretched.

He looked at the similarly battered Black Panther, eyes blood-red, gritted teeth, yelling, "Together, kill him today. This panther is at the end of its strength, it won’t last long!"

Xiao Jin gasped heavily, the hot breaths melting snowflakes in the air. Muscles tensed to the limit, his wounds didn’t compare to the pain in his heart, only one thought remained—to kill them, for Shen Tang!

Blood red eyes, locked on the fierce rebel army, he let out a resonant, forest-shattering roar, diving back into the bloodbath.

All the while, ensuring the female behind him was protected.

He couldn’t afford to fall again.

He hadn’t protected Shen Tang and couldn’t let them desecrate even her body.

He had to take her back.

In the blood-drenched fight to the last moment, an unprecedented surge of power erupted within Xiao Jin, approaching terrifying levels.

Raging, dominant forces crashed through his body, tearing at his flesh and bones, splintering them, only to quickly mend and shatter again, each wave of explosive pain nearly knocking him out.

"Roar!!!!"

Cold sweat poured with agony, his voice a long howl to the heavens, resonated like an energy wave across the forest, flinging the attacking pursuers meters away, snapping ancient trees in half.

"What terrifying power, what’s happening!"

"He’s... he advanced?!"

The rebel army scrambled from the ground, terror-stricken, gazing at the Black Panther standing in the snow, energies thrown into chaos, swirling snow scattering.

His body was encircled by strands of golden lightning, swiftly changing to purple-gold, explosively growing stronger and terrifying.

The Black Panther’s sleek, robust form expanded, claws and fangs sharper, golden dark lines emerged, like flowing lightning saturating every inch of flesh, a golden mark appeared on his forehead, resplendent eyes like flowing sunlight, emitting an arresting chill!

Suddenly, pressure surged.

He broke through to Ninth Rank!

But more terrifying than ordinary Ninth Rank Beastmen, inducing fear!

Even the Ninth Rank Lion Beast seemed to feel an intrinsic suppression, pupils dilating, losing will to fight, letting out a trembling howl, "Run!"

He turned tail, fleeing.

The other Beastmen were even more frightened, scrambling up from the ground, turning to run desperately.

Xiao Jin couldn’t possibly let them escape; they were sacrifices to accompany Shen Tang’s grave!

His figure flashed like thunder, the powerful force of lightning exploding, sweeping the entire field, deafening thunder clapping, bursting into countless rays.

After the thunder light dissipated.

Thousands of corpses lay scattered.

The field annihilated, no one escaped.