As the darkness descends upon the land, the random howling of a beast can be heard everywhere. In this dark and gloomy time, three shadows can be seen flas.h.i.+ng from tree to tree. The figures of the shadows blend perfectly through the forest as most beasts could not even detect their presence. The three are clearly women wearing some weird contraptions on their bodies. The contraption seems to support their lower body, and arms. Then on their head is a headgear which makes them looks like mechanical beings.

"Captain, this is Qilin, I have my sight on the beasts over." A voice suddenly enters the communication piece on the group's headgear.

"Copy that Qilin, We are about to approach your location now ETA 2 minutes." A young woman replied who is in the front as she seems to be their leader.

"Captain Phoenix, are you sure that these new weapons that elder Wan Bing made for us will work?" One of the young women asked as she looks at the leader.

"Serpent don't you trust the young master? He already gave this design to the crafters, and I trust the workmans.h.i.+p of Elder Wan Bing." The leader of the group replied.

"Yeah, I agree with Phoenix because I've seen the test. Remember a few days ago I told you to wake up earlier but you just stayed in bed, so you missed it. It was really awesome, but the weapon exploded when elder Wan Bing set to the max setting." the other young woman said as she recalled what had happened a few days ago.

"Then it is a failure?" the young woman code-named Serpent asked with doubt.

"No, it's not. Elder Wan Bing said that the weapon did explode because the materials used are not strong enough… but if you can see what happened to the target, you'll say that even cultivators in gold core realm would not live once they are hit with this thing."

"That's enough Vermilion bird, just remember that if your life is not in danger don't set the weapon to its max setting." the young woman code-named Phoenix reminded.

The two young women just nodded and silence between the three pervade as they flew from tree to tree.

Not long after that, they were able to reach the location when Qilin was hiding. The beast in that place could not detect her as she is using the camouflage function of the suit, coupled with her being a mere mortal which made it easier for her to hide. But the three shadows could quickly find her just by following their locators.

"Qilin, report the situation?" the leader Phoenix immediately asked after they got down to her side.

"Well, I found the level 3 Fire bear near that ridge and it was fighting against a level 3 Fiery Python… but right now that's not the issue, as we have a huge problem." Qilin reported.

"Oh, my heavens! Are you talking about that level 4 beast?" Serpent suddenly interjected as she pointed at a monstrous beast who is slowly standing up as if it was awoken by something, it then shook the dust covering its huge body.

The four women are now looking at that monstrous beast with fear and trepidation clearly shown on their faces. Although they have already gone under rigorous training with the guidance of s.h.i.+n Jiao, they still feel scared as their basic instinct are telling them that they are no match for that huge beast.

Before this, they are just weak normal mortals being bullied by those powerful cultivators. Although the 4 girls are scared right now however s.h.i.+n Jiao's words and their training suddenly come to their minds.

"Fear is just a figment of your imagination. In this world, you will lose if you let it overcome you. Think of your family, your loved ones and your friends. If you let your fear control you then you will surely lose them."

These words actually serve are the driving factor for the young women, as they already treated the people in the community as their family and now they are fighting to improve their strength to become their protectors.

"We can't back down no matter what kind of beast we face, now is the time to show the true strength of our Shadow Squad," Phoenix said to the rest of her teammates as her words gained nods from the three girls.

"We'll go by teams. Vermillion Bird, you'll lead the Beta team. I and Serpent will attack the level 4 beast, while each of you will take on a level 3 beast. Remember to not set the new weapon to the max setting. We will all meet at the rendezvous point at location B3 on your maps in case anything happens. Good luck! Now move out!" Phoenix instructed while the rest of the girls nods.

Four shadows immediately dashed out of that location and suddenly vanished within the forest.

Meanwhile, in a not too far place, a group of cultivators numbering up to 50 or something is slowly advancing towards the location where the three beasts are.

Among these cultivators stood a middle-stage gold core realm expert wearing a white face mask and a red cultivator's robe with two long swords behind his back.

"Are you sure that this is where you saw those two-level 3 beasts?" the masked red-robed cultivator asked the guide of the group.

"Yes, yes, senior. This lowly junior saw that those two have been fighting in this area for many days now." A cultivator in the core-forming realm suddenly replied courteously.

"Good! Everyone! Take out your weapons! We will hunt those two beasts now. I only need the Fire Bear; the rest of you can have the Fiery Python." The masked red-robed cultivator said as he suddenly flew up and dashed towards the location where the 2 beasts may have been fighting.

Not long after, the masked red-robed cultivator's face suddenly turned pale. As right in front of him from the ground appears a huge beast. As the powerful aura of the beast extended its dominance, it sweeps towards the whole area. Because of this, the rest of the cultivators following the masked red-robed man almost pee in their pants. The imposing aura of a level 4 beast king, made everyone suddenly feel suffocated and panic-stricken. Even those two beasts that are fighting not too far from this place also stopped.

"It's… It's a level 4 beast king! That's… That's a Golden back Spiky Wild Boar! I think we have crossed its territory… we are so dead. I'm out of here!" One of the cultivators shouted as he immediately took out his flying sword.

But before he could board his flying sword a powerful aura suddenly suppressed him, causing him to tumble and fell to the ground and cough a mouth full of blood.

"This is crazy! We don't have a choice but to fight against that beast! Everyone attack!" the masked red-robed cultivator shouted as he immediately waves his twin sword.

The twin sword is his family heirloom, which is pa.s.sed down to the generations of their clans. Now, these artifacts were named, which name was given by their old ancestor before his ascendance to the deity realms. They are called the Yin and Yang twin swords. No one knew in their family how to use the full power of the swords because no matter how hard they try only the Yang sword would function properly. Many of the cultivators tried the Yin sword and most of them are women, but still, it would not work.

So every future clan leader would always carry the twin swords, but would always only use the Yang sword in battle just like in the time of their ancestors of old.

The 50 plus cultivators madly rushed towards the level 4 beast king. As they throw all kinds of attacks towards the gargantuan beast.

Boom!!! Boom!!!

The many artifacts flying directly towards the Golden Back Spiky Wild boar exploded all over its huge body. Each explosion would create dust clouds as debris of trees and rocks would scatter everywhere. After giving it their all, every cultivator is panting which indicates that they have used a huge amount of their spiritual Qi. Everyone immediately took out their pills to replenish their expended spiritual Qi. Some started to talk to each other on how they used their skill to kill the beast king.

"Did we kill it!"

"It wasn't that strong, I guess we just panic for nothing."

"You're right, I gave at least 90% of my spiritual Qi in that attack of mine. I don't think it can survive that."

Upon hearing the cultivators around him, the masked red-robed man just shook his head.

"These people are really ignorant of how strong a beast king is. It can't be helped, if worst comes to shove, I'll just send them away to prevent further loss of lives." He thought but before he could act.

Roar! Roar!

After hearing the roar of the beast king, everyone was suddenly dumbfounded. Then they saw the Golden Back Spiky Wild boar suddenly stood up by its hind legs. Then its front legs slowly transformed into human-like arms with bulging muscles. Those big and strong arms slowly grab two spikes from its back and held them one on each hand.

"You… humans… dare… to… intrude… my… land! All… will… die!" the beast king shouted.

The level 4 beast king actually didn't mind the two beasts that are fighting near its territory. It also didn't put in its eyes the four mortal women. But when this many cultivators stepped on the boundary of its territory, it began to feel angry. It is aware of how greedy and unreasonable cultivators are. And because of that many of the beast kings in this forest are either afraid of them or angry at them.

"d.a.m.n this! We need to escape now!" everyone shouted as they panic and quickly scatter.

How can the level 4 beast king let these intruders be? So without a word it quickly sends powerful wind blades towards the escaping cultivators, cutting many in half. In just a few seconds everything turned quiet as many cultivators body parts are scattered all over the place.

Seeing that they didn't have any chance of escape anymore, every cultivator began to go wild in their attacks. A rain of artifacts bombarded the beast king who just stood there motionless. Then everyone discovers that there is actually a thin layer of protection covering the Golden back Spiky Wild boar.

"Captain! What's this situation? How do we proceed? Over." Vermillion bird's voice suddenly sounded on the radio.

"Be on standby, we will wait for the right moment," Phoenix replied.

"Roger that."

The four young women just stayed in their hiding places and waited for the result of the battle. They didn't care what happened to those cultivators. Actually, when they saw those cultivators being killed they feel schadenfreude because they know that these cultivators won't even treat them as humans so why would they care.

After a while, as the smoke on the battlefield slowly died down. They saw that there is a lone cultivator left floating in the air with his red robe stained in blood and already in tatters. He is the only one left as all of his companions are killed by the beast king.

"You… are… strong… human… but… you… will… still… die…" the beast king said in a deep voice which reverberates through the surroundings.

Because of this pressure, the masked man suddenly used his remaining spiritual Qi to s.h.i.+eld himself. And because of that all of a sudden the cultivator fell to the ground like a kite with its string cut. Upon seeing this situation where it didn't even attack and use even half of its cultivation, the beast king laughed. It didn't expect that the human would fall by itself out of exhaustion. Even the two beasts also acted like they are laughing at the sight.

Unknown to the three beasts, four mortal women is actually already in their positions with the crosshair of their rifles already locked on to them. s.h.i.+n Jiao has taught these women on the art of hiding one's killing intent until the last minute, this skill is very effective in long-distance a.s.sa.s.sinations which would make the enemy not aware of one's presence, until their death.

"Everyone, now! Fire at will! Fire at will!" Phoenix said grabbing the opportunity that all the 3 beasts are distracted.

The 3 girls are waiting for this order as they didn't think twice and just pulled the trigger. Four silvery flashes suddenly appear as four Qi enhanced bullet travels and hit each beast in the head.

With just one shot the level 3 Fire Bear and Fiery Python immediately fell lifeless on the ground, with their brain matters scattered all over the place. But the most horrifying thing is that the level 4 beast king is still standing.

Blood slowly slid down its huge snout as it gushed out from one of its eyes. Although it was. .h.i.t on the head yet it's still alive.

From this situation, it's clear that only one bullet was able to penetrate and hit its eye. The other bullet may have been the one to break the force s.h.i.+eld.

GRAAYAAAHHH!!!

ROAAARRR!!!

The Golden Back Spiky Wild boar began to run amok in the area as the pain it felt is unimaginable. Plus its pride was hurt as it didn't expect that two of the four mortal women it deems an ant are the ones who are able to break its golden force s.h.i.+eld and heavily damage its eye.

"Reload and fire again! Bravo team we need back up!" Phoenix shouted in the intercom.

"Roger that we're coming!" replied vermilion bird and Qilin as they quickly rushed towards the location of Phoenix and Serpent.

The beast king is now enraged as it quickly threw out waves after waves of wind blade in the direction of Phoenix and Serpent. The two quickly jump out in separate direction as if they already had a plan in mind.

They won't casually use the sniper rifle as the enemy is already aware of it, so they need to strategize their approach.

"You three activate cloaking and find a location quickly, I will buy you time," Phoenix ordered as she took out a sword hilt from her back.

She then jumps down and faced the level, 4 beast king. On one of her hand right now is a sword hilt imbued with natural energy. She remembers that when her master gave it to her, he said that out of all the members in the group she is the only one who can wield this artifact. She didn't know why but after giving her the weapon, he also gave her a small handwritten note. It's a kind of instruction and hand signal on how to absorb a unique kind of energy.

And that energy he called it 'mana'.