Repairing the bamboo mat was a huge project, and the two culprits definitely couldn't get away. However, since they were injured, they couldn't be sent out. So Yaohua had to go out to find bamboo by herself.
"The bamboo grows on a cliff. I'd better go with you," Bailu said after bandaging his wound. He stood up and staggered a half-step.
"Forget it. I'll go by myself," Yaohua replied.
He was still being so stubborn even in this state! Yaohua didn't want to come back supporting an invalid.
Bailu tried to climb over the wall but found he really couldn't. A look of regret flashed across his face.
Yaohua comforted him a few words before shouldering her tools and heading out.
Following the direction Bailu had told her, Yaohua indeed saw a large expanse of lush bamboo.
She walked down the path, drew out her machete, and struck hard at a thick bamboo.
The bamboo trembled a few times, and several lumps of snow fell, landing right on Yaohua's head.
Just as she brushed off the snow on her head, a rhythmic sound of footsteps came from not far away.
The footsteps were heavy and powerful. It seemed that a big creature was coming, and judging from the sound, it seemed to be heading in her direction.
Yaohua looked around and quickly found a hidden place to hide.
Suddenly, a pair of small black ears emerged from the snow not far away, followed by a round head and black eyes...
Yaohua almost instantly recognized the identity of this spiritual beast!
She never expected to find an iron-eating beast in this place!
This was the cutest spiritual beast in the Three Realms and was the dream of every immortal.
The iron-eating beasts had been extinct in the Three Realms for several years. This one here was probably the last precious one. She wondered how many more there were.
As the iron-eating beast walked closer, Yaohua couldn't help curling her fingers.
She really wanted to touch its ears!
However, although the iron-eating beast looked harmless, it actually had high combat power. If it bit her, all her bones would be broken!
Thinking of the possible outcome, Yaohua shivered and hid herself further behind the rock.
If only she could use her spiritual power! Watching such a top-notch spiritual beast pass by right in front of her was really torture for her.
"Host, it is recommended that you hold your breath," the system suddenly warned just as the iron-eating beast was about to pass by her.
Yaohua subconsciously did as it said.
The next moment, the iron-eating beast suddenly pounced with one paw and smashed the rock beside her into pieces.
Fortunately, these rocks were piled up separately and didn't affect Yaohua.
But even so, Yaohua was already extremely frightened.
"This is the territory of the iron-eating beast," the system explained in the midst of Yaohua's pounding heartbeat. Just as it finished speaking, the iron-eating beast turned its huge body.
Its beady eyes looked around as if it was searching for something.
Yaohua froze, not daring to breathe.
Why was this the territory of the iron-eating beast? Bailu clearly said that this bamboo forest was ownerless. The villagers deliberately maintained the vitality of this bamboo forest for long-term sustainable development, which was why the bamboo forest was so lush.
"The system didn't detect the presence of the iron-eating beast before. This one should have just appeared here recently," the system said.
Just then, the iron-eating beast lowered its head and followed the scent to the mark Yaohua had left with her machete.
"Host, it is recommended that you find an opportunity to leave here," the system said seriously. "Otherwise, a violent battle will break out soon."
Yaohua nodded and stared intently at the movements of the iron-eating beast.
The iron-eating beast, which had looked so cute just now, now seemed a bit ferocious.
This must be her illusion! Yaohua raised her hand and pinched her own face.
At this moment, the iron-eating beast lowered its head and dug hard on the ground with both paws.
Although Yaohua was curious about what it was doing, she immediately gave up the idea when she thought of the possible price.
She crouched down and, under the cover of another rock, quickly ran towards a place.
The slight sound alerted the iron-eating beast. It rushed over with its clumsy body like lightning.
Yaohua stopped abruptly and just managed to avoid it.
The iron-eating beast stared straight at her with its wet eyes. Now it was squatting in front of Yaohua, with its paws naturally placed in front of it. There was a look of confusion on its simple and honest face.
A cold sweat broke out on Yaohua's forehead.
Her mind was racing, thinking about what to do.
"System, can I use the Spiritual Gathering Talisman on the ice field?"
"Only snow demons can use spiritual power on the ice field. Even if you have the Spiritual Gathering Talisman, it won't have any effect."
Yaohua's eyes looked a bit dejected.
"Good people have their own blessings, host. I will pray for you in my heart," the system said.
Even so, the system still reminded her, "The iron-eating beast is fond of bamboo leaves. It just ran over from somewhere else. It must be hungry."
"Then why did you say this was its territory just now!"
"The iron-eating beast is domineering. This bamboo forest is so lush. Once it sees it, it will consider it its own."
This spiritual beast, which looked so simple and honest, was actually so domineering? Yaohua was even more surprised.
Seeing the surprise in the iron-eating beast's eyes fade and its gaze fall on the machete on her waist, Yaohua subconsciously pressed on it.
In the blink of an eye, the iron-eating beast suddenly opened its big mouth and bit at her.
Yaohua leaped into the air, grabbed forward with both arms, and immediately used the bamboo to slow down her momentum.
She casually grabbed a handful of bamboo leaves and suddenly threw them hard when the iron-eating beast waved its paw.
As a martial cultivator, if she wanted to catch up with her master's footsteps, she needed to cultivate both internally and externally.
She always felt that going hunting with Fairy Ziying was more useful than weaving bamboo mats in the yard.
It was a pity that Fairy Ziying never allowed it.
The iron-eating beast's attack suddenly slowed down. Yaohua saw it bite the bamboo leaves and branches in one mouthful and chew them slowly, as if savoring the most delicious thing in the world.
The iron-eating beast ate bamboo leaves, so bamboo leaves were indeed extremely delicious to it.
It seemed that the system's idea was very useful.
Yaohua chopped off some tender bamboo quickly and threw them all at the iron-eating beast.
The iron-eating beast, indulged in the delicious food, was gentle and content, and actually ignored Yaohua.
Yaohua felt her machete and took the opportunity to slip away.
It was a pity that she couldn't cut any bamboo today, so she couldn't make bamboo strips or repair the bamboo mat.
When she returned to the village, the first thing Yaohua did was to tell the villagers the news that an iron-eating beast had appeared in the bamboo forest.
"There hasn't been a spiritual beast in the village for many years. How could an iron-eating beast come here?"
"Don't be afraid. Now Fairy Ziying is leading the villagers to hunt. A mere iron-eating beast is nothing to worry about."
The villagers didn't take Yaohua's words to heart at all. Yaohua was a bit worried for a moment.
But Fairy Ziying wasn't here. How could she make the villagers wake up?
When she returned to the yard, Bailu saw her frowning and her back empty. He mistakenly thought she was sad because she couldn't find the bamboo forest.
"Yaohua, I'll go with you tomorrow."