Chapter 237: Go Play Somewhere Else!

"Of course! I bought this formation from the Mages' Guild at great cost. It can trap even a Tongxuan initial stage expert, let alone a mere Poxue stage beast!"

Yun Tao waved his hand dismissively and glanced over coolly: "What, you doubt the power of the Green Wood Trapping Formation?"

"That's not it!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "I just think this formation is set up a bit off; it might not be able to exert its full power..."

"What arrogance! Do you even know what a formation is?"

"Some country bumpkin from who knows where dares to question the formation laid by the prince?"

"He doesn't know his place..."

Before Zhang Xuan could finish, he was interrupted by a chorus of angry voices.

They were Yun Tao's subordinates.

These men had also heard the exchange between the young man and their prince. A kid who didn't even know what a formation was, claiming it was set up wrong...

How thick-faced could he be?

Did he even know what those formation flags were for? Did he know how powerful the formation would be once activated?

Knowing nothing, he spouted nonsense—truly audacious to the extreme.

"Ahem, Teacher Zhang, if you don't understand, it's better not to say anything..."

Hearing the rebukes, Shen Biru's pretty face flushed.

She was also a bit speechless with this Teacher Zhang.

Saying outright that the formation was set up wrong—wasn't that like mocking Prince Yun Tao to his face?

Although this guy was a bit full of himself, he had real skill. Since Zhang Xuan didn't understand formations, he shouldn't speak up. Offending a soon-to-be beast tamer before even reaching the Beast Hall was hardly wise.

Seeing the indignant crowd, Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly.

Indeed, good advice jars the ear. He had wanted to say more, but since they were so hostile, he couldn't be bothered.

"The art of formations is vast and profound. Since you know nothing, don't spout nonsense. Lucky for you I'm magnanimous; otherwise, just that one sentence would have earned you a good thrashing—a quick death would be the lightest punishment!"

Cutting off his men, Yun Tao glanced at Zhang Xuan, snorted, then pointed ahead with confidence and pride: "This Green Wood Trapping Formation gains power from wood. With all the vegetation here and the weeds for cover, it's the perfect spot. Soon you'll see how the formation displays its might and captures the Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard!"

"Fine."

Seeing the man's confident look and eagerness to show off in front of Shen Biru, Zhang Xuan said no more and stood quietly to the side.

Yun Tao nodded in satisfaction and was about to boast further about the formation's power when a roar came from straight ahead.

Then a massive figure charged toward them.

The Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard!

This Poxue stage beast, over four meters long including its tail, had a golden body covered with iron-blue spots. Even from hundreds of meters away, it exuded a powerful pressure.

"It's coming..."

Yun Tao's eyes lit up. No longer bothering with Zhang Xuan, he watched tensely.

The Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard ambled forward a few steps, then spotted the group. Instinctively, it backed up a few steps, ready to flee.

"Quick, light the stuff!"

Seeing its reaction, Yun Tao hurriedly ordered a subordinate.

They had chased it for over ten days to find it; if it escaped, finding it again would be hard.

"Yes!" The subordinate snapped to attention, took out a packet, and lit it with a fire starter.

Immediately, a strong, foul stench spread, making people dizzy and nauseous.

"That should be the dung of a female Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard. When burned, it releases a very strong odor—unpleasant to humans but irresistibly attractive to male leopards."

Shen Biru seemed to know something about beast taming and explained quietly.

Suppressing his dizziness, Zhang Xuan wondered how anyone could like such a stench. He looked ahead and saw that, indeed, under the stimulating smell, the leopard, which had been about to leave, hesitated and then came toward them.

As it drew closer, everyone felt the intense pressure radiating from it.

With its fierce face and streamlined body, though a Poxue stage beast, in a real fight, seven or eight humans of the same level would be no match.

Beasts were naturally fast, plus their huge size and thick hides as shields. Though listed as Poxue stage, they could actually challenge higher levels!

In other words, this Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard could even fight a Tongxuan initial stage expert.

"Prepare to activate the formation!"

Seeing the leopard lured by the smell and approaching the Green Wood Trapping Formation, Yun Tao clenched his fists in excitement.

If he could catch it and tame it, his status as a beast tamer would be assured!

With that status, returning to the kingdom would let him stand out among the princes. Even if he couldn't inherit the throne, he would surely gain favor.

"Huh?"

Before his joy could peak, he saw the big beast stop ten meters from the formation.

Poxue stage beasts had their own intelligence. Clearly, it sensed Yun Tao's ill intent; if not for the burning dung's allure, it would have fled long ago.

"Attack it! Provoke it!"

As befitting a soon-to-be beast tamer, seeing it stop, Yun Tao, though frustrated, gave orders quietly based on his knowledge of beast nature.

"Yes!"

Several subordinates were ready. They nodded, took bows from their backs, nocked arrows, and shot at the leopard.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The true energy of Poxue stage experts, combined with special arrows, flew straight with a whistling sound. Before they arrived, the leopard sensed danger, its fur bristled, and it dodged with a leap.

Despite its size, it was incredibly agile, its speed rivaling Lu Xun's Phantom Nine Palace Steps.

"Keep going!"

Yun Tao shouted.

At the command, the men sped up, arrows raining down.

"Roar!"

With more arrows coming, the leopard roared in fury and charged straight at the group.

Buzz!

It hadn't gone far before stepping into the area where the formation flags were placed. A soft hum sounded, and the Green Wood Trapping Formation activated instantly. The leopard seemed to sink into a swamp or be trapped in an iron cage, charging left and right but unable to advance.

"So this is a formation? Amazing!"

Shen Biru's expression tightened.

She had just witnessed the leopard's power. Such a fierce beast, trapped by a few flags—unable to escape. She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen it.

If she had stumbled in, she surely couldn't have escaped either.

"I must be wary of formation masters when going out in the future," she thought to herself.

The reason formation masters commanded respect among professions was their ability to kill enemies above their level.

Given time to set up a formation, even a stronger opponent could be easily slain.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Unaware of her wariness, Yun Tao laughed, glanced at Zhang Xuan, and said smugly.

Weren't you saying it was set up wrong?

Isn't it trapped now?

Hands behind his back, Yun Tao continued ordering his men: "No rush. Let the formation tire it out a bit more, drain its stamina!"

"Yes!"

The men nodded and surrounded the area.

"Roar!"

Just as Yun Tao and the others planned to wait for the trapped leopard to exhaust itself before capturing it, another furious roar sounded. The leopard madly slammed into the formation.

Crash!

The formation shook, and the previously hidden flags reappeared.

"Your Highness, what now..."

Seeing the flags exposed from the impact, a Poxue stage expert couldn't help looking over.

"Panic not! The Green Wood Formation uses the terrain to absorb surrounding wood energy, enhancing its defense. It can't break through..."

Yun Tao smiled confidently and waved his hand. Before he could continue, the ground rumbled again. Several flags could no longer withstand the battering and flew up with a 'swoosh'.

Whoosh!

With the flags gone, the Green Wood Trapping Formation was instantly broken. The enraged leopard lunged, appearing before Yun Tao in a flash, raising a paw to strike.

"Ah?"

Yun Tao, mid-boast, confident his formation was secure, saw the beast right in front of him. He screamed in terror and nearly collapsed.

"Beast, stop!"

"Your Highness, be careful!"

Several Poxue stage subordinates reacted, rushing over. Weapons drawn, blades and sword qi whistled toward the leopard.

Roar!

Ignoring the attacks, the leopard's thick tail whipped around with a howling wind, striking one man, while its massive paws swiped left and right with full force.

Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!

True to its Poxue stage, Yun Tao's subordinates felt a shock, faces flushed, and stumbled back, spitting blood.

Though formidable together, they were no match for the enraged Poxue stage beast.

"Run!"

Seeing his men fail to hold it off, Yun Tao nearly fainted. He shouted and tried to flee, but the leopard, having driven back the others, turned and charged at Zhang Xuan and Shen Biru.

"It's over..."

He froze.

With so many subordinates unable to stop it, the beauty was only at the Dingli peak, and that ignorant kid was surely weaker. They were doomed.

Just as he thought they were dead for sure, he heard the ignorant kid's helpless voice:

"Are you stupid? They're the ones trying to catch you. What are you coming after me for?"

Hearing this, everyone staggered.

Was this kid brain-damaged?

The beast was enraged, and he talked like that—wasn't that just asking for death?

Just as everyone thought the crazy kid was doomed, his helpless voice rang out again:

"If you don't leave, I'll have to make a move... Forget it, reasoning won't work. Go play somewhere else!"

As the words ended, a 'smack' sounded.

Whoosh!

The massive Golden Body Iron-Spotted Leopard flew backward, slammed into a big tree, foaming at the mouth and twitching uncontrollably.