Although camping overnight was not safe, it was still better than running around in the dark.
Just as Ning Beichen and his group had chosen a spot to set up camp, the chameleon silently followed them to the vicinity of the campsite and waited for an opportunity to hunt.
The hunting party had set up many traps around the camp, but Ning Beichen found them useless, unable to deter the local creatures.
Thus, Yang Qianrou and the others witnessed a strange sight: Ning Beichen walked back and forth around the campsite, occasionally moving a stone, some wood, or even flowers, and specifically ordered everyone not to damage or move anything he had placed.
Ning Beichen did not explain to them that he was setting up a formation, as his sixth sense told him that tonight would likely be restless.
Night soon fell. Ning Beichen told everyone to go to sleep, not even asking them to keep watch, as he intended to personally deal with whatever was lurking in the shadows.
As night descended, the surroundings became pitch black. There was no moon in this world. At night, only campfires and other tools could be used for illumination. Once the campfire was extinguished, one couldn't see their hand in front of their face.
Therefore, it became very dangerous in this world at night, and even experienced hunters rarely dared to hunt alone in the wilderness.
Ning Beichen sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes slightly closed, not patrolling the perimeter of the camp.
This was because he had already set up a formation around the camp. As soon as anything entered, it would trigger the formation and be trapped.
Although Ning Beichen was not a formation master, he possessed a unique insight that allowed him to see what others could not, such as formations.
Having deciphered so many formations in his previous world, he would have learned how to set them up even if he were a pig.
While he had never displayed his formation skills, his proficiency was no less than that of so-called formation masters.
However, Yang Qianrou and the others did not understand formations and were unaware that Ning Beichen had set one up. Although Ning Beichen had told them not to worry and that they didn't need to keep watch, few could truly sleep soundly without a care in the world.
"Yang Qianrou, do you think Boss really doesn't need our help?" Cao Shuo whispered to Yang Qianrou.
Although Yang Qianrou was close to Ning Beichen, she did not fully understand his thoughts and could only shake her head at Cao Shuo.
However, out of confidence in Ning Beichen, Yang Qianrou still reassured everyone, telling them not to worry.
As the night grew deeper, the chameleon began to creep closer to the camp. It had no idea that Ning Beichen had set up a formation, planning to turn all these sleeping humans into its prey under the cover of night.
Humans could enhance their cultivation and physique by consuming beast meat, and vice versa. Beasts that ate humans with cultivation could also strengthen themselves.
Moreover, in this mountain range, beasts were the rulers, and humans were merely prey.
It was like a beast appearing in a human city; would humans let it go?
Thus, the reverse was also true.
It was important to remember that in this world, humans were not at the top of the food chain.
If one were to study the history of this world, they would discover that a dark history existed where beasts raised humans as food.
The chameleon silently entered the camp's perimeter.
But for some reason?
It felt a sense of unease!
However, no matter how the chameleon observed, it found no clue and could only assume it was overthinking things. Thus, it boldly continued to creep towards the camp.
With a soft click, Ning Beichen, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes, feeling a surge of excitement.
"It's finally here!"
As the chameleon crawled inside, it suddenly found that the scene before its eyes had changed. The original camp had vanished, and in its place appeared a female chameleon.
Moreover, this female chameleon was making extremely alluring gestures, which excited the chameleon and made it crawl towards the female.
However, it was unaware that in reality, it was foolishly crawling towards Ning Beichen, its gaze exceptionally lewd.
"So, it was you, you creature."
Seeing the chameleon that appeared, Ning Beichen knew it was the one that had devoured two of his subordinates. Fierce light flashed in his eyes, and he swiftly slashed with his bronze ancient sword.
Trapped in the formation and appearing dazed, the chameleon suddenly felt danger and instinctively dodged to the side.
But it was too late. And the attacker was Ning Beichen; how could it possibly evade him?
However, its slight shift in movement saved it from being instantly killed by the bronze ancient sword, a narrow escape.
But it was futile. For Ning Beichen, this chameleon was already trapped by his formation, a fish on his chopping board, and he would not let it live.
With a flash of sword light, the chameleon's head was severed by Ning Beichen, sending it to its demise without mercy.
Since it had devoured two of his subordinates, Ning Beichen could not possibly let it live.
With its head severed, the chameleon's body, out of reflex, continued to change color and shimmer in and out of visibility, a truly miraculous sight.
But no matter how miraculous, it was now a lifeless thing, and after a while, its body became still.
Hearing the commotion, Yang Qianrou and the others rushed over. By the time they arrived, the chameleon was already a corpse.
Ning Beichen explained to them, and only then did they realize that this chameleon was the culprit who had attacked two of them earlier.
This immediately ignited the fury of Yang Qianrou and the others. They took out their anger on the chameleon's corpse, avenging their fallen comrades.
If the chameleon hadn't been unpalatable and poisonous, Yang Qianrou and the others might have even eaten its corpse.
"Alright, everyone, go back to rest."
Ning Beichen said no more, as he sensed that the crisis of the night had not yet passed. He went to repair the formation that the chameleon had disrupted, intending to wait for more prey.
Indeed, after about another hour, Ning Beichen detected that the formation had been triggered again and immediately opened his eyes.
This time, a lion appeared, yet it was not a lion, for this creature resembling a lion had three heads.
This lion-like creature was named Bimou, one of the more formidable beasts in this mountain range.
Bimou possessed extraordinary power from birth, not only being immensely strong but also having wings that allowed it to fly for short periods.
It could easily tear apart ten or eight of the previous type of chameleon in one go without breaking a sweat.