Under the night sky, the wind howled as the monster flew rapidly.

Without counting its wings, its body was over three meters long, powerful and robust, emanating a strong stench of blood from who knows how many people it had consumed the night before.

Wang Xuan confirmed that this monster possessed immense strength, one that ordinary masters could hardly handle.

Initially, he planned to tear off Zhao Qinghan's protective gear and inner armor, allowing them to fall together, but he hadn't expected the creature to ascend so quickly.

Now, he hesitated, fearing they might both die from the fall.

The monster flapped its wings, breaking through the mist above the forest and charging into the unknown.

Zhao Qinghan's face was pale; earlier, she had felt despair, but upon seeing Wang Xuan leap without hesitation to save her, her expression softened with gratitude.

Not long before, in that critical moment, she had felt abandoned by the world. Even the masters from the New Technique field she had invited were retreating, none daring to approach. She had been left silent, knowing that if the masters wouldn't save her, the others had no chance.

Even Zheng Rui, who had subtly pursued her, was hiding. The quasi-master from the Old Technique field who had come with her had also stopped, leaving her to sigh in defeat.

She hadn't expected Wang Xuan, whom she hadn't seen in a while, to suddenly appear and catch her ankle mid-air.

At that moment, tears nearly filled her eyes as she felt she was being reintegrated into the world.

Wang Xuan discarded his alloy knife and clutched Zhao Qinghan's legs, quickly climbing her soft body to grasp one of the monster's hind legs.

Zhao Qinghan looked down at the earth receding further away, the mountains shrinking, and softly said, "You shouldn't have chased after me; you might lose your life."

The wind was strong, carrying her words away, forcing her to raise her voice.

"Don't be afraid, it's fine!" Wang Xuan replied, wanting to deliver a blow to the monster, sending it plummeting to the ground.

Yet, he was afraid of miscalculating and turning both of them into pulp.

"Hold on tight to me. If this monster loosens its grip, you'll fall from a great height!" Wang Xuan shouted.

Zhao Qinghan complied, opening her arms and quickly wrapping them around him.

Before long, the monster indeed loosened its grip, wanting to swat away the pesky human clinging to it.

Wang Xuan drew his dagger and struck at the massive claw reaching for him.

The monster's claw gleamed sharply, but it was no match for the dagger, which sliced through it effortlessly, startling the beast and causing it to shudder.

Wang Xuan took advantage and struck at the monster's hind leg, letting it bleed but careful not to hit any vital spots, fearing it might collapse from exhaustion.

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"Where is it trying to take us?" Zhao Qinghan asked, her voice trembling as they overlooked the ground from such a height; she had a fear of heights, knowing a misstep could spell disaster.

"Probably to its nest. Don't worry; think of it as a night-time adventure in the Secret Realm," Wang Xuan said, gripping the monster's leg with one hand and studying how to strike with the other.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

He quickly severed the sharp claws from the monster's hind legs, effectively trimming its nails to prevent it from thrashing around and injuring them.

Unfortunately, the front claws were too far away for him to reach, and he also feared that leaping over might inadvertently fling Zhao Qinghan off.

"Roar…"

The monster let out a deep growl; it was the first sound it had made, its eyes cold and filled with rage at being "groomed" for free.

"Why are you shouting? Being tended to by Master Wang, you can brag about it for a lifetime!" Wang Xuan jabbed the dagger into its leg again, letting blood flow.

"However, you won't have a lifetime to brag; tonight, I'll be the one to chop you up!" Wang Xuan thought about how to weaken it gradually so it would descend on its own.

But the creature was tenacious; after being stung by the dagger, it struggled violently, even trying to flip them off a couple of times in mid-air.

Wang Xuan dared not push too hard; he could only wait for it to land on its own.

Meanwhile, he reminded Zhao Qinghan to hold on tight, telling her to inform him if she ran out of strength.

Zhao Qinghan nodded, saying, "I'm somewhat skilled; I won't tire out quickly."

This was an experience she had never had before, riding atop a monster with Wang Xuan, traversing the misty expanse of the night sky.

Her attention diverted, she no longer felt as anxious, furrowing her brow and asking, "What's that hard thing on you?"

Wang Xuan was momentarily speechless, replying, "At a time like this, what are you thinking? Do you really think I'm that kind of person?"

Zhao Qinghan's feelings of gratitude had to be temporarily set aside as she couldn't help but glare at him.

"What are you thinking about?" she raised her voice, looking up at him, her face glowing pale and beautiful in the moonlight, a slight blush emerging as her hair flew in the wind.

"Steel plates for protection!" Wang Xuan suddenly understood and replied.

Zhao Qinghan hugged his waist, gently tapping twice, confirming that he indeed had steel plates in his clothing, producing a metallic sound, at least two or three inches thick.

Wang Xuan not only wore protective gear but had also inserted steel plates—being cautious in the Secret Realm was essential!

Under the moonlit night, the monster carried them across the sky, startling many nocturnal birds.

Wang Xuan spoke, "This monster is clearly ten times stronger than its kin. It has undergone a significant transformation, probably having consumed some extraordinary creature. Its nest might even be near some extraordinary herbs."

Zhao Qinghan's expression grew worried; this fierce beast was powerful enough to reach the master level. Once they landed, it could easily tear them apart.

She began to suspect that the monster was taking them to feed its young.

"If this beast lands, we'll scatter and run. This time, don't worry about me; if one of us can survive, it's worth it. Don't think about turning back to save me!"

Zhao Qinghan sighed softly. Although Wang Xuan was impressive and courageous, facing a master-level monster, he was simply no match.

The main issue was that she wasn't aware of the Inner Landscape and Heavenly Herb pathways in the Old Technique field, so she couldn't accurately gauge Wang Xuan's strength.

Wang Xuan replied, "The dagger in my hand comes from a renowned master; it's incredibly sharp. Just before we land, I'll strike its vital spots. If we get a chance, we can fight our way to safety; we won't die."

Zhao Qinghan had indeed noticed the dagger in his hand earlier; it struck her as peculiar. Now, after looking at it again, she couldn't help but ask, "It resembles the legendary Yuchang sword, doesn't it?"

Wang Xuan replied calmly, "It's a replica made by a master from the Old Earth, and it's definitely sharper than the real Yuchang sword, considering it's crafted from a special alloy, not bronze."

In the distance, a beastly roar echoed, and another master-level monster was closing in fast.

One male and one female, the two ferocious beasts were about to converge.

Wang Xuan sighed, "Tonight is destined for battle. A night tour of the Secret Realm, decorated with the blood of ferocious beasts—this could be considered a crimson romance."

He estimated that his master-level strength would have to be revealed soon.