This was the first time he had devoured a living being that had reached the Dao Pattern Realm, and the effect exceeded his expectations.
Peak of the Fifth Layer of Inscription Realm!
This was Chu Yu's current realm. On Hàorán Peak, he had been delayed in elevating his realm and cultivation base while comprehending the profound artistic conception of the Heavenly and Earthly Vast Qi Art. However, he had managed to grasp a wisp of its profound mystery, making the wasted time well worth it.
Instantly, Chu Yu's figure flashed, and under the astonished gazes of the disciples from the various peaks of Wèncāng Pavilion, he vanished into the mountain forests.
"This brat's strength... how could it possibly be so formidable?!"
"It seems we all underestimated him!"
...
After Chu Yu left, a wave of stunned whispers rippled through the crowd.
Yè Chén and the numerous other Yúncāng Peak disciples wore faces as dark as iron; the words they had spoken just moments ago felt like fierce slaps across their own faces.
This ancient treasured land was vast. A quarter of an hour later, Chu Yu's figure appeared beneath a cliff.
A sturdy, weathered ancient tree grew at the summit of the cliff, bearing translucent fruits that radiated a majestic Dao aura, reaching the level of a grade-five saint medicine.
Even within this ancient treasured land, grade-five saint medicines were a rare sight.
Chu Yu leaped up, treading the cliffside as if walking on flat ground, and surged toward the ancient tree.
"Screech!"
A qingluan let out a sharp cry, suddenly soaring up from behind the cliff. It swooped down, its talons tearing through the void as it grabbed straight for Chu Yu.
This was a living being of the Second Layer of Dao Pattern Realm, even more formidable than the black tiger from before, with Dao patterns solidified into tangible substance upon its talons.
Chu Yu's eyebrows arched. With the Burning Heaven Sword in hand, he slashed down instantly, colliding directly with the qingluan's talons!
Clang!
A crisp, clear sound echoed across the surroundings of the cliff. Blood splashed everywhere as the Burning Heaven Sword swept through the qingluan, cutting it directly in half.
Chu Yu leaped onto the ancient tree and plucked all the fruits—there were a full dozen or more. Each one was crystal white and exuded a rich fragrance. Taking a bite, sweet juice trickled from the corner of his mouth.
A majestic surge of heaven and earth spiritual Qi and Dao aura melted within Chu Yu's body.
The fruits, having reached the level of a grade-five saint medicine, boosted his cultivation far more astonishingly than Chu Yu had imagined.
Immediately afterward, Chu Yu dragged the qingluan's carcass and walked toward a nearby riverbank. After plucking its feathers and washing it clean, he lit a blazing fire and began to roast it.
Before long, the savory aroma of meat drifted through the air.
Living beings that grew in this ancient treasured land had flesh far more tender than those from anywhere else, containing vigorous vitality—truly a rare flesh-and-blood saint medicine.
"It smells so good!"
A young girl walked over, her movements litan and nimble like a swift swallow, her appearance peerless. She smiled until her eyes crinkled into crescent slits, revealing two shallow dimples on her cheeks.
"Did you kill this qingluan?"
"Is there anyone else besides you and me here?" Chu Yu asked expressionlessly, continuing to take huge bites of the roasted meat.
The girl squatted down, opening a pair of watery, wide eyes and staring unblinkingly at Chu Yu. "You're so amazing! And this meat smells delicious too. How did you make it? Can you teach me?"
Chu Yu certainly didn't believe the girl had come to ask him for culinary advice; she was simply gluttonous.
"If you want to eat, help yourself. Stop talking so much nonsense," Chu Yu said.
"Hehe, then I won't be polite!"
The girl smiled, waiting precisely for those words. Tucking up her sleeves, she reached right in with her hands and grabbed a large chunk of roasted meat, eating until her mouth was covered in grease, completely devoid of any maidenly grace.
"Hey, that bird wing is mine!"
Chu Yu looked at the chicken wing clutched in the girl's hands and said with dissatisfaction.
"You've already eaten one, wouldn't it be nice to let me have this? You're a big, strong man, can't you show some chivalry and yield to a lady?"
Chu Yu rolled his eyes and stretched out a hand to grab a bird leg.
"This bird leg was roasted extra crispy, it's mine too!"
The girl grabbed the bird leg a step ahead of him, clutching it protectively as she declared ownership.
"Are you part dog or something? Why are you still guarding your food like that?"
Left with no other choice, Chu Yu had to reach for the other bird leg.
The girl chuckled softly and produced two jars of wine from her storage magical artifact. Upon opening them, the aroma of the wine was rich and the vital essence majestic.
"I won't freeload off you either, I'll share a jar with you!"
Chu Yu stood on no ceremony; since this lass had eaten half of his roasted meat, drinking a jar of her wine was no more than fair.
"What kind of girl carries wine around with her? You aren't a secret drunkard, are you?"
Chu Yu remarked, lifting the wine jar and taking a large gulp.
The wine was deeply mellow, undoubtedly brewed from various fruits that had reached the saint grade. Taking a massive gulp was equivalent to consuming a grade-five saint medicine.
"Who says girls can't partake in worldly pleasures? Eating meat and drinking wine is one of life's greatest joys."
The girl wasn't angry at all. After drinking a few mouthfuls of wine, a flush of crimson rose to her cheeks, making her look even more beautiful and moving.
"What's your name?"
"Chu Yu."
"Chu Yu? What a good name. How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"My name is Mu Baixue, I'm a year older than you, oh! Little brother, you should call me elder sister!" the girl said with a smile.
"Little brother?"
A black line crossed Chu Yu's face. He was utterly unhappy with this form of address—was this lass genuinely clueless, or just pretending to be?
After eating and drinking his fill, Chu Yu sat cross-legged on the ground and began to cultivate.
He circulated the Devouring Heaven and Earth Art, causing the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual Qi and Dao aura to rush toward him like a torrential flood. His realm and cultivation base surged at an astonishing speed, and the aura emanating from his body grew increasingly robust and formidable.
"What an overbearing cultivation technique!"
The girl stared at Chu Yu's cultivation, a strange glint welling up in her eyes.
Swallowing the heaven and earth spiritual Qi and Dao aura like a giant whale—this was simply too startling. She had never witnessed such an overbearing cultivation technique before.
Not long after!
Bang!
A fierce wave of vital energy diffused outward from Chu Yu's body.
Sixth Layer of Inscription Realm!
This was still not the end. Chu Yu's realm and cultivation base continued to climb at an astonishing speed.
Half an hour later, Chu Yu opened his eyes, a sharp flash cutting through them.
"Minor Accomplishment of the Sixth Layer of Inscription Realm!"
This was Chu Yu's current realm!
This ancient treasured land truly was a prime location for rapidly elevating one's strength.
"I'm leaving now. Thanks for the wine."
Chu Yu said. Although he had shared half of the roasted meat with the girl, the wine she brought out was undoubtedly a rare vintage. In terms of value, he was still the one taking advantage.
"Thanks for the treat," the girl said with a smile.
Chu Yu got up and left. He held a rather favorable impression of this young girl; being able to reach the Dao Pattern Realm at the age of eighteen meant her aptitude could be called top-tier, yet she possessed zero airs.
Compared to those extraordinary, aloof young geniuses of high birth, Chu Yu found Mu Baixue much more agreeable.
Appearing in the ancient treasured land at this time, she should also be a disciple of the three ancient academies of the Eastern Wasteland—though whether she belonged to Tianxuán Pavilion or Nángān Pavilion remained unknown.
The three pavilions allotted new disciples seven days of trial time within the ancient treasured land. Chu Yu traveled alone, searching for saint medicines within the ancient treasured land and engaging in fierce battles with various ferocious beasts to temper himself.
Some disciples from Tianxuán Pavilion and Nángān Pavilion, upon seeing Chu Yu fighting fiercely against Dao Pattern Realm ferocious beasts, could not help but exclaim in shock.
"That brat has some nerve, actually daring to travel alone in the ancient treasured land!"
"To be able to go toe-to-toe in combat with Dao Pattern Realm ferocious beasts—what formidable strength!"
"With strength like this, looking across all three pavilions, he definitely counts as a top-tier genius!"
...
Four days later, Chu Yu elevated his realm once more, reaching the Seventh Layer of Inscription Realm.
Beside a spiritual lake, Chu Yu washed away the grime from his body and happened to encounter disciples from Zǐxiá Peak of Wèncāng Pavilion.
"Chu Yu? Why are you here?"
Mù Miàotóng cried out in startled alarm, her eyes wells of incredulity.
"I can't be here?"
Chu Yu said indifferently. He had no particular enmity with Mù Miàotóng, but they couldn't be considered very familiar either.
Mù Miàotóng's delicate face shifted slightly, only then realizing that the tone in which she had just spoken was quite problematic. But she had merely been surprised and held no malicious intent whatsoever.
"Young Master Chu, I didn't mean it that way," Mù Miàotóng hurriedly explained.
"It's fine."
Chu Yu said indifferently, knowing that Mù Miàotóng probably hadn't done it on purpose.
On the faces of several Zǐxiá Peak disciples nearby, a surge of anger instantly welled up.
"Chu Yu, speaking to her like that is far too rude!"
"Hurry up and apologize to Miss Mu!"
...
Several Zǐxiá Peak disciples chided angrily, their faces wearing looks of indignation as they stared intently at Chu Yu.
Mù Miàotóng was not only a genius of the ancient Mù family, but also one of the disciples with the most top-tier aptitude on Zǐxiá Peak. Chu Yu's attitude provoked their wrath.
"Then how should I speak? The people from Yúncāng Peak are used to running amok in Wèncāng Pavilion, why didn't I ever hear you say the people from Yúncāng Peak are rude?" Chu Yu retorted.
Those Zǐxiá Peak disciples were left speechless. Yúncāng Peak was the head of the upper three peaks; how could they ever dare to pick a fight with Yúncāng Peak disciples?
The reason they dared to loudly reprimand Chu Yu was, firstly, because Hàorán Peak was the lowest of the lower three peaks, whereas Zǐxiá Peak was one of the upper three peaks.
Secondly, because Chu Yu was isolated and lacked support—he was the only new disciple on Hàorán Peak.
"What on earth gives you the right to compare yourself to the disciples of Yúncāng Peak? You just got lucky and defeated a few ordinary disciples, don't go thinking you're invincible. Compared to top-tier disciples of Yúncāng Peak like Sū Míng, you aren't even worthy of carrying his shoes!"
A female disciple of Zǐxiá Peak said dismissively, looking at Chu Yu with an expression of supreme contempt.
On Zǐxiá Peak, virtually everyone knew that this female disciple had a crush on Sū Míng from Yúncāng Peak. Ever since arriving at Wèncāng Pavilion, she had confessed her feelings to Sū Míng on multiple occasions.
Sū Míng came from an extraordinary background with astonishing aptitude, styling himself comparable to a Young Supreme. If she could marry into the Sū family, it would be a step straight to the heavens for most women.
Regrettably, her multiple confessions had all ended in failure. Whether in terms of cultivation aptitude or appearance and temperament, she could only be considered mediocre among the many female disciples of Wèncāng Pavilion, so Sū Míng naturally wouldn't look twice at her.
However, this did not prevent the woman from persistently pestering Sū Míng and loudly proclaiming everywhere that Sū Míng was her idol.
Slap!
A crisp sound rang out. Before anyone could even see how Chu Yu moved, that Zǐxiá Peak female disciple was sent flying sideways, vomiting blood with a prominent palm print left across her face.
"You... how dare you hit me?"
That female disciple clutched her cheek, tears streaming down her face.
"If this weren't territory governed by the three pavilions of the Eastern Wasteland, you'd already be dead. You wouldn't even have the qualifications to stand here and talk to me!"
Chu Yu said coldly, a chilling light piercing through his pupils.
Who other people wanted to fawn over was none of Chu Yu's concern, but fawning by stepping on others made such people utterly disgusting.
"You..."
That Zǐxiá Peak female disciple still wanted to say something, but she was frightened by Chu Yu's gaze and ultimately swallowed her words.
"Chu Yu, you are far too impudent! Even if her words were a bit excessive, you had no business resorting to violence!"
Another female disciple shouted. She possessed an outstanding appearance and extraordinary temperament, and was a powerhouse of the Dao Pattern Realm—absolute top-tier genius material among the many new disciples of Zǐxiá Peak.
Chu Yu showed no fear, speaking with arrogant defiance: "I've already struck. What are you going to do about it?"
"In that case, I have no choice but to step up and demand justice for the disciples of Zǐxiá Peak!"
The Zǐxiá Peak female disciple barked. Dao patterns surged around her entire body, purple light soaring into the heavens as a purple phoenix materialized, spreading its wings and crying out with an astonishing momentum.
This was the Purple Phoenix Precious Art, one of the most powerful precious arts of Wèncāng Pavilion. To be able to comprehend the Purple Phoenix Precious Art after merely a month of entering Wèncāng Pavilion, her aptitude was evident.
"It was clearly your Zǐxiá Peak disciple who spoke rudely, and you still have the nerve to talk about demanding justice?!"
Chu Yu sneered dismissively. He was no longer who he used to be; with his realm and cultivation base having reached the Seventh Layer of Inscription Realm, he did not fear new Dao Pattern Realm disciples from Zǐxiá Peak. The Burning Heaven Dao Wheel manifested, and raging fires surged around his body as he similarly unleashed a precious art, materializing a Vermilion Bird that lunged toward his opponent!
Boom!
The two precious arts collided violently, light soaring into the heavens in a blinding blaze.
The purple phoenix shrieked and soared into the high heavens, then swooped down with the momentum of a startling rainbow. The gazes of the numerous Zǐxiá Peak disciples shook with intense excitement!
"With Senior Sister Zhou Yi stepping in, she'll definitely teach that ignorant brat a lesson!"
"Senior Sister must vent this pent-up anger for us and beat him until he cries for his mommy."
...
Many Zǐxiá Peak disciples cheered spiritedly. Zhōu Yí was the most top-tier genius among the new batch of disciples on Zǐxiá Peak.
Chu Yu remained fearless. The Primordial Vermilion Bird spread its wings to meet the attack, and the two ferocious avian beasts engaged in a bloody battle, erupting into blinding sparks of fire.
A mournful cry rang out as the body of the purple phoenix trembled violently, taking the brunt of a heavy blow. The Vermilion Bird seized the opportunity to press the attack, tearing open the purple phoenix's skull with a single talon.
Boom!
A terrifying, earth-shaking blast echoed out. The purple phoenix shattered, transforming into a sky full of purple light fragments that vanished into the world!
"Screech!"
The Primordial Vermilion Bird shrieked, lunging forward to slaughter Zhōu Yí.
Zhōu Yí's face shifted drastically, her heart hammering wildly as she hurriedly invoked her Dao wheel, massing purple Dao patterns for defense.
Bang!
The Primordial Vermilion Bird exploded, and the sheet of purple Dao patterns shattered right along with it. Zhōu Yí's delicate body trembled as she tumbled backward several hundred meters, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.
Her realm and cultivation base were not low, but her physical body was fragile. Once the condensed Dao patterns failed to fully defend against an attack, injuries were inevitable.
The many Zǐxiá Peak disciples watched dumbfounded, utterly unable to believe the reality of Zhōu Yí's defeat.
From the perspective of the Zǐxiá Peak disciples, Zhōu Yí's strength was second only to the absolute top-tier geniuses of Yúncāng Peak; how could she possibly lose at Chu Yu's hands?
"All together now!"
A Zǐxiá Peak disciple shouted in a low voice, and over a dozen powerhouses at the Ninth Layer of Inscription Realm attacked simultaneously, pouring various runes and precious arts down toward Chu Yu.
On Chu Yu's body, the Devouring Dao Wheel manifested, forming a black vortex terrifying as a black hole. Unfurling the Sky-Swallowing Beast precious art, a massive black claw swept down like a small mountain.
"Twin Dao Wheels!"
Cries of shock broke from the lips of the Zǐxiá Peak disciples as everyone widened their eyes in disbelief.
Boom!
The earth shook and mountains trembled, the space violently rippling. All the runes and precious arts dissolved under the black claw, and over a dozen Zǐxiá Peak disciples were sent flying backward together, each turning pale as if struck by a heavy blow.
For a moment, the surrounding atmosphere plunged into a dead silence!
Every Zǐxiá Peak disciple's heart trembled wildly. Chu Yu's strength had actually grown terrifying enough to sweep away the talented disciples of Zǐxiá Peak.
"For the sake of Ān Miàoyī, you'd best not provoke me in the future. Otherwise, the fate you meet won't be as simple as today's!"
Chu Yu said expressionlessly, disdaining to entangle himself any further with the Zǐxiá Peak disciples as he soared away.
The three pavilions of the Eastern Wasteland only allowed new disciples seven days of trial time within the ancient treasured land. Four days had already passed, leaving a mere three days remaining.
Chu Yu had no desire to waste these three days; within this remaining time, he intended to hunt down even more formidable ferocious beasts and search out rare saint medicines.
Gradually, Chu Yu carved out quite a reputation for himself within the ancient treasured land. Even many disciples from Tianxuán Pavilion and Nángān Pavilion caught wind of a strange youth appearing in the ancient treasured land, possessing astonishingly formidable strength and specifically hunting down powerful Dao Pattern Realm living beings for combat.
Traveling alone through the ancient treasured land, it was simply impossible for Chu Yu not to attract attention.
Moreover, the news of Chu Yu utterly defeating Zhōu Yí and sweeping through numerous Zǐxiá Peak talented disciples also reached the ears of the disciples from Yúncāng Peak, Heavenly Sword Peak, Azure Nether Peak, and Misty Wave Peak, causing shock among the disciples of every peak.
Another day passed. Within a forest, Chu Yu engaged in a ferocious, brutal battle with a cyan wolf.
This was a living being whose realm was approaching the Third Layer of Inscription Realm, its entire body engulfed in surging cyan flames with a fire Dao power of astonishing purity. Even a ferocious beast of the Third Layer of Inscription Realm might not necessarily be its match!
Bang, bang, bang...
Man and beast fought fiercely in close combat, producing deep, muffled impacts that startled the surrounding wilderness.
Chu Yu's entire body was raked by the sharp wolf claws, leaving over a dozen bloody gashes, while the cyan wolf was also beaten by Chu Yu until its head bled and its body was covered in wounds.
This battle was brutally intense. He simultaneously invoked the Burning Heaven Dao Wheel, the Devouring Dao Wheel, and the Reincarnation Dao Wheel to barely suppress the cyan wolf's fire-path flames.
The power of life and death invaded the cyan wolf's body, causing its internal life force to constantly drain away.
Bang!
Another loud blast rang out. The cyan wolf was sent flying sideways, howled aloud, and turned tail to flee.
"Quickly follow it! The fire Dao power on this guy's body is out of the ordinary, there must be some secret," the Sky-Swallowing Beast said.
A sharp gleam flashed through Chu Yu's eyes. He had also sensed that the cyan flames on this cyan wolf were extraordinary, having caused him massive trouble during their fight.
He kept pace with the cyan wolf, arriving shortly at a cavern and following it down into a subterranean grotto.
The air in this place was abnormally scorching, the fire Dao power violent and firelight dancing everywhere.
A cluster of cyan flames shaped like a lotus hovered in the center of this cavern.
"That is... Innate Strange Fire!"
Chu Yu started in surprise, a look of shock flashing through his eyes!
Innate Strange Fire was nurtured and born by heaven and earth, endlessly undying. To practitioners cultivating fire Dao power, it could be called an ultimate supreme treasure.
Even powerhouses of the Extreme Dao Realm would turn green with envy at the sight of Innate Strange Fire.
This cluster of strange fire had not formed long ago and was still quite weak, but as time passed, it would grow increasingly formidable.
"Qinglian Strange Fire, merely the lowest-grade Innate Strange Fire," the Sky-Swallowing Beast said dismissively.
Unfazed by the Sky-Swallowing Beast, Chu Yu remained ecstatic. Even a low-grade Innate Strange Fire was an exceedingly rare and precious treasure to him.
That cyan wolf stood guard before the Qinglian Strange Fire; living inside this cavern and absorbing the fire Dao power emitted by the Qinglian Strange Fire was precisely why it had grown so formidable.
"Although you found this Qinglian Strange Fire first, such supreme treasures belong to the strong. I'm afraid I'll just have to be a bit cruel!"
Chu Yu thought to himself, a murderous intent surging in his eyes as he looked toward the cyan wolf.
Right at that moment, from behind a boulder came the sound of whimpering, followed by two newborn cubs walking out unsteadily on wobbly legs.
Chu Yu's brows furrowed slightly. If he killed this mother wolf, those two cubs wouldn't live long either.
"Forget it, I'll spare your life."
Thinking to himself, Chu Yu chased away the mother wolf and the two cubs, then extended a hand and reached straight toward the Qinglian Strange Fire.
"Hisss!"
A sharp, intense burning pain radiated from Chu Yu's fingertips, making him gasp audibly.
Innate Strange Fire was exceptionally overbearing. Even though it had only formed not long ago, for Chu Yu, who had yet to step into the Dao Pattern Realm, attempting to tame it remained remarkably difficult.