The colossal beast seemed to sense the impending disaster as well, roaring loudly. The arrows hurtling toward it were blown aside by the gust, not only wobbling wildly but instantly coated with a shimmering layer of black ice, falling to the ground before touching the beast's body. As for heavier weapons like spears, though they struck the beast's massive frame, the fierce wind diminished their impact, inflicting only minor surface wounds. Paradoxically, this further roused the creature into a state of even greater fury. Suddenly, as it roared in rage, the intense light from its eyes flashed with blood-red brilliance. A deep, resonant "thud" echoed, and the stiff hairs along its neck stood upright, one by one, creating a most terrifying sight. Han Li, observing this from the roof, was momentarily stunned, still uncertain of the creature's intent, when suddenly the beast lowered its massive head, and the upright hairs instantly transformed into countless streaks of black light, shooting toward the stone wall. The people on the wall, evidently anticipating this maneuver, though visibly tense, raised their various large shields in unison, shouting in unison. The sharp, crackling sounds erupted like a sudden downpour from the shield. Though the black aura penetrated the shield by several inches, most of it was successfully deflected. Still, some defenders, whose defenses were less solid, were struck directly through the body, collapsing instantly and crashing against the stone wall, their fates now uncertain. The others, too preoccupied to attend to these fallen, responded to a single commanding voice with a fresh wave of spears and arrows, yet again, the majority were swept away by the great beast's gusting,阴wind. The creature seemed to have only the hard bristles along its neck capable of launching powerful jets. Though it cried out in pain, it merely struggled desperately, unable to rise, offering no further counterattacks. Yet the purple mist-formed tendrils remained firmly ensnared around its legs, never releasing their grip for a moment. After repeated waves of ranged attacks—five or six in succession—the beast's breath from its mouth gradually diminished, losing its initial strength and power entirely. At this moment, the arrows and spears launched from the stone wall suddenly became more frequent, piercing the great beast densely—so densely that it appeared as though covered in thorns. Yet the creature seemed only slightly wounded, continuing to roar with great vigor, and its massive black staff was constantly swung, crashing into the ground and creating deep craters around it. Han Li, witnessing this, could not help but be slightly astonished by the beast's thick hide, robust flesh, and immense strength. It seemed the villagers had long developed their own strategies for dealing with this creature. Immediately, a group of agile and particularly tall men rushed swiftly up the stone wall. They carried only a few long spears—some three or four zhang in length—clutched beneath their armpits, and no other weapons. As soon as they reached the wall's summit, they raised their spears, made slight gestures, and then hurled them with force directly at the massive body of the beast. The sharp, rushing sounds of the spears flying through the air—"whoosh," "whoosh"—caused Han Li, standing behind, to slightly pale. These individuals possessed remarkably strong internal energies, hurling the massive spears with such ease that they seemed no more than mere weeds, their force as powerful as that of a strong crossbow or sturdy bow. Instantly, blossoms of blood the size of bowls erupted across the giant's entire body, and every spear was driven firmly into its flesh, pinning it alive to the ground—its fierce flame-like aura vanished completely. Cheers erupted from the stone walls, everyone now relieved, and the purple mist coiling around the creature's feet finally dissolved. Some excitedly lowered the wooden doors, drawing their swords and spears to advance and eliminate the beast, while others rushed to assist their wounded comrades. Yet before the doors were fully closed, the once bowed and subdued giant suddenly roared with renewed vigor, then raised one arm and powerfully swung, hurling a massive pole several dozen paces long. The pole soared high into the sky and descended directly toward the village center, creating an astonishing display. Below were a number of women and children who had rushed out joyfully upon seeing the great beast about to perish. As they watched, seven or eight villagers were about to be crushed flat beneath the falling giant log, prompting others to gasp in alarm. At that very moment, a figure darted into action, shooting straight toward the falling log. With a low roar, he raised both arms and struck firmly at the midsection of the massive log. A thunderous crash followed, and the black wood launched sideways, landing in an open space untouched by anyone. The figure landed lightly on the ground, moving with effortless grace. It was the middle-aged man with a pale, stern face. The rescued villagers breathed a collective sigh of relief and immediately gathered around him, expressing their gratitude with continuous thanks. Yet he merely gave a calm, indifferent wave of his hand and returned to his original spot. However, a subtle change passed over Han Li's face. For, after rescuing the villagers, the man had casually glanced at him with a cold, composed gaze. Though he wasn't sure of the man's intentions, it was clear he didn't like him. Han Li furrowed his brow, still trying to grasp the underlying significance, when the wooden gate had already been closed and dozens of young men surged out of the village, finally killing the already severely wounded beast right where it stood. But these men weren't done yet—some of them used a long white blade to cleave through the beast's head. After a thorough, bloodied search, one suddenly raised a single hand, now holding a green crystal about the size of a thumb. The man gasped in excitement, and the onlookers nearby stirred into lively enthusiasm, soon joining in with equal excitement. Han Li watched this scene, blinked a few times, and suddenly felt that the green crystal seemed familiar—almost as if he had seen it before. He lowered his head, thought carefully, and then a sudden inspiration struck him. He remembered now: among the remains of the puppets he had collected in the inner hall of Xutian Hall, each of them seemed to have carried a green crystal similar to this one. Could it be that they were exactly the same? Han Li grew a bit uneasy! Yet after glancing around for a moment, he didn't hesitate—he leapt straight down from the stone pavilion. The stout elder, along with several senior monks, had already returned to the hall. He still had many questions he wanted to ask. Mei Ning, seeing Han Li return, lowered her head and walked in as well. Having witnessed the great beast's battle, she now seemed aware of the dangers at this location, her face showing a touch of concern. When Han Li entered, the elder and the other senior monks had all settled back into their original seats. As Han Li approached, the elder smiled and was about to speak when a tall, sturdy man hurried in, holding a green crystal in his hands. "Senior Elder! This is the crystal from the Yinming Beast found within the head of Zhenjiao. Please have the senior monks examine it." The man placed the crystal on the stone table before the elder with respectful courtesy. "Once again, thank you for your efforts." While the essence of absolute vitality was erupting, Xin Shi and his companions managed to bring back several fish and shrimp. "With everyone getting a few extra portions, it will be a nice way to reward them," the elder said, beaming upon seeing the crystal. "Thank you, all of you elders!" The sturdy man immediately brightened, satisfied with the instructions and stepped out of the hall. Han Li stood by, observing quietly. "The strange beasts you saw just now are the local yin beasts known as Zhengjiao. I'm sure you were quite amazed by them! Though this yin-ming land spans only a hundred li in size, it is home to various yin-ming beasts, as well as immortals and human beings." The elder carefully placed the green crystal into his inner robe before turning to Han Li and speaking seriously. "Are there indeed yin-ming beasts here?" Han Li expressed his surprise. "Of course. Whenever the space here is torn, whether it's a cultivator or a yin-ming beast, no one is spared." The elder offered a slight smile, but paused before continuing. "The yōkai here are likewise unable to employ their supernatural arts. Yet their bodies, forged through countless trials and refinements, are extraordinarily strong—far beyond what our human beings or the yin-midnight beasts can withstand. Fortunately, they typically remain in fixed locations, feeding on the yin-midnight beasts and rarely venture out. Thus, they pose only a moderate threat to us humans. But these yin-midnight beasts are different. Born from the local yin-midnight qi, they are naturally inclined to feed on human blood and flesh. Almost periodically, powerful yin-midnight beasts come to human villages, though most are repelled by the villagers. Occasionally, however, smaller villages are completely overwhelmed and their inhabitants entirely consumed. In contrast, even after we today defeated such a cunning yin-midnight beast, one soon reappears from the site where the yin qi has condensed—renewed, just as if it had never been defeated. These yin-midnight beasts are truly inexhaustible." "From what I hear, there are human villages beyond this one. Are there others?" Han Li remained silent for a moment, then asked slowly. "Of course there are. Though not many—around seven or eight in total—spread throughout the Yinming Realm. Due to the extreme scarcity of food here, only a few patches of land are suitable for growing coarse grains; the rest of the land, burdened by heavy Yin energy, remains barren, unable to support even a single blade of grass. Moreover, most of the Yinming beasts carry potent toxins within their bodies. While these beasts' digestive systems are unaffected, our human bodies are highly susceptible—any exposure will inevitably prove fatal. Aside from a few special species, most Yinming beasts, even after being killed, cannot be consumed by us. Combined with these harsh conditions, human survival is inherently limited. Each individual must become a useful member of society to thrive here; otherwise, they will be expelled from the village and left to perish on their own." As the elder spoke the latter part, his tone grew increasingly cold.