Hong Yi, who was exhausted from holding off the Thunder Ape King, found his attacks becoming increasingly feeble. Heavily wounded, he knew he couldn’t hold on much longer. Meanwhile, Xu Hu and Li Zhong were still unable to take down their own Thunder Ape. If the stalemate continued, they would surely be the ones to fall.
Just as he sighed in his heart and prepared to lead his men in a retreat, a pained, death-rattle cry from a Thunder Ape suddenly rang out. He froze, looking toward the source of the sound, and witnessed the scene of Xu Chen drawing his longsword.
Xu Chen had ended the battle? He had slain a second-tier intermediate Monster Beast, the Thunder Ape, all by himself? The result left Hong Yi both shocked and overjoyed. He was shocked by Xu Chen’s strength, which far exceeded his expectations, and overjoyed that the deadlock was broken. They had turned the tide. Victory was within reach.
Seeing this, the others also erupted in ecstasy.
"I’m coming to help you!" Xu Chen called out to the battlefield where Xu Hu and Li Zhong were fighting, his voice sharp. He charged in, sword in hand.
Xu Hu and Li Zhong had been pinning the beast down; once Xu Chen arrived, he seized the perfect opening and thrust his sword into the Thunder Ape’s back. A second Thunder Ape lay dead.
"You two, go support the captain," Xu Chen commanded.
Hong Yi was reaching his limit and desperately needed backup. Xu Hu and Li Zhong nodded without a moment’s hesitation and rushed into the fray between Hong Yi and the Thunder Ape King. With their arrival, Hong Yi finally found a moment to catch his breath. The three of them joined forces, barely managing to hold back the Thunder Ape King’s onslaught.
At the same time, Xu Chen, holding his longsword like an avatar of death, moved through the battlefield. Everywhere he went, the remaining Thunder Apes fell to his blade. Soon, only the Thunder Ape King remained in the canyon.
All seven of them surrounded the Thunder Ape King. It was truly a second-tier advanced Monster Beast—fearsome and powerful, with an incredible physique and staggering defensive capabilities. A strike from Xu Hu’s sword left only a negligible scratch. However, no matter how strong its defense was, under the relentless assault of seven people, the Thunder Ape King gradually faltered. Covered in blood, it finally collapsed into a pool of gore with a mournful roar.
As the Thunder Ape King fell, the seven of them breathed a sigh of relief. Without caring for their appearances, they slumped to the ground, panting heavily.
Xu Hu gave Xu Chen a thumbs-up. "If it weren't for you, we would have been in grave danger."
Hong Yi smiled at Xu Chen and said, "Xu Hu is right. Xu Chen, you deserve the greatest credit. You shall have thirty percent of the Thunder Fruits!" He then looked at the others and asked, "Does anyone have any objections?"
"No objections."
"I agree."
"I agree as well."
The others quickly voiced their support for Hong Yi’s proposal.
"Since you all agree, I shall not decline," Xu Chen replied. He did not refuse, as the Thunder Fruits were of great use to him.
At the mention of the Thunder Fruits, everyone looked toward the depths of the canyon. There, extending from a crack in the rock face, grew a small, silver-white tree about a yard tall. Its leaves and branches were completely silver. Nestled among the foliage were round, ripe fruits the size of lychees, shimmering with a faint blue hue within the silver.
Xu Hu’s eyes burned with anticipation. "Captain, the Thunder Apes are dead and the fruits are ripe. Shall we harvest them now?"
Hong Yi nodded. "Delays invite trouble. Harvest the fruits first, then clean up the battlefield."
As he spoke, seven figures immediately darted out to gather the harvest.
"Collect them first, then we’ll distribute them," Hong Yi said while picking.
Soon, all the Thunder Fruits were gathered. Xu Chen had moved quickly, picking 13, which accounted for about a third of the total.
"I picked 8," one said.
"I’m slow; I only got 3," another added.
"I didn't do too bad, I got 6," a third chimed in.
"I picked 13," Xu Chen stated.
The group gathered all the fruits together. "There are 40 Thunder Fruits in total," Hong Yi announced. "Xu Chen, you deserve the most credit for your contribution. You get thirty percent, so here are 12."
Xu Chen accepted the 12 fruits and tucked them into his Storage Ring. Hong Yi proceeded with the rest of the distribution. Since the fruits were divided based on contribution, those who received fewer had nothing to say.
Once the distribution was complete, everyone wore a smile, though Zhao Feng’s smile was slightly stiff. As he was the weakest and had contributed the least, he had only received 2 fruits. The Thunder Fruits were Mystic Grade low-level spirit herbs; logically, 2 fruits were already a generous share, but compared to Xu Chen and Hong Yi, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He looked at Xu Chen and the others with hidden envy, though he masked it well enough that no one noticed.
"Let’s clean up the battlefield," Hong Yi ordered. The group immediately set to work. The corpses of the Thunder Apes were also a significant asset.
***
**Chapter 28: Breakthrough, Instant Kill**
"Ah!"
Just as they were focused on cleaning up, a shrill, piercing scream rang out. Looking up, they saw Wang Shuo being pounced upon by a crimson blood tiger. The sheer force of the beast’s strike tore both of Wang Shuo’s arms off on the spot. Even though he fought back desperately, he couldn't escape his fate.
*Splutch!*
With the sound of teeth tearing through muscle, half of Wang Shuo’s neck was shredded, blood spraying everywhere. He had been completely powerless against the Crimson Blood Tiger.
"A Crimson Blood Tiger!" Hong Yi’s expression changed drastically, his voice trembling.
The Crimson Blood Tiger was a second-tier advanced Monster Beast. While it shared the same rank as the Thunder Ape King, its power far exceeded the latter’s. Even a warrior at the Eighth Layer of Qi Condensation would have to give it a wide berth. In their prime, they were no match for such a beast, let alone now, when they were either wounded or dead. How could they possibly fight?
*Whoosh!*
Another bloody shadow leapt down from the top of the canyon wall.
*Bang!*
Yang Jian couldn't dodge in time and was struck by the tiger. His two-hundred-pound frame was sent flying like a ragdoll for over ten meters, slamming into a large tree. He vomited blood, his vomit mixed with shredded internal organs. That single strike had shattered his organs, leaving him beyond any medical help.
"What? There are two Crimson Blood Tigers!" Xu Chen’s pupils constricted. If there had been only one, he might have been able to put up a fight with his Qingchi Sword and Mystic Grade armor, provided the others assisted him. But now, there were two.
Hong Yi was heartbroken as he watched Wang Shuo and Yang Jian die in quick succession. They had been his brothers, people he spent every day with, and yet they were gone in an instant. But he was rational; he didn't let anger cloud his judgment. He knew the disparity in strength was too great. Staying meant certain death.
"Run! Scatter!" he shouted, turning and fleeing without hesitation.
Xu Hu and the others acted just as quickly. The moment Hong Yi turned to flee, they also moved, each picking a direction and sprinting away frantically.
Xu Chen sighed helplessly. The gap in power was too vast, and the tigers had appeared at the worst possible time. They hadn't come early or late, but had waited until the Thunder Apes were dead. *Wait.* Monster beasts had strong territorial instincts. Had these two tigers entered the territory specifically for the Thunder Fruits? Had they arrived and waited in the shadows to reap the rewards?
Xu Chen shook his head. Thinking about this was a waste of time and energy and would not improve his current predicament. He took a breath and turned to flee as well. Two of the seven were dead; only five remained. They were scattering in different directions, which prevented the entire group from being wiped out. But whoever the tigers targeted had a one-in-ten chance of survival. Xu Chen prayed it wouldn't be him.
But his fears were realized. Behind him, heavy footsteps thundered, and a pungent, gale-like demonic aura swept toward him.
*No way!*
His heart sank. He looked back to see two crimson, blood-soaked shadows exuding brutal energy, sprinting one after the other with ground-shaking force. Trees along their path were snapped in half by their sheer momentum!
"No way, my luck is so bad that both of these beasts are targeting me!" Xu Chen felt like crying.
*Swoosh!*
He channeled his Spiritual Power to the limit, his body enveloped in a glow, and his speed surged. He shot forward like an arrow. But while he was fast, the Crimson Blood Tigers were faster! In no time, the massive figures were less than a hundred meters behind him. Within a minute, they would catch him, and then...
*What do I do? What do I do?*
Xu Chen’s mind raced, searching for a strategy. Nothing. There was nothing. He went through every plan, but none could save him from the tigers' jaws. The strength gap was simply too great. As he desperately thought of a way out, the tigers closed to within twenty meters.
"ROAR!"
With a roar that shook the earth, the leading tiger pounded the ground with all four paws, sending mud flying, and vaulted into the air. Feeling the lethal danger closing in behind him, Xu Chen’s expression tightened.
"Hah!"
He unleashed a sword strike he had been charging for a long time.
*Clang!*
The blade collided with the tiger's claw, sending sparks flying. The terrifying force of the claw crashed down onto the sword like a tidal wave, causing it to vibrate violently.
*Crack!*
A fissure appeared on the blade. It was just an ordinary iron sword, not the Spirit Artifact Qingchi Sword.
*Bang!*
The sword shattered, fragments flying everywhere. A sweet taste rose in Xu Chen's throat, and the residual force sent him flying backward.
"ROAR!"
The other tiger seized the opportunity, leaping up and snapping its massive, blood-dripping maw toward Xu Chen’s head. Xu Chen steeled himself. As he landed, he rolled desperately, narrowly dodging the jaws. While dodging, he snatched his Qingchi Sword from his storage ring, his wrist flicking to turn the blade into a streak of cold light.
*Splutch!*
It pierced precisely into the tiger’s right eye. Blood erupted.
"ROAR—!" The tiger screeled in agony, its cry filled with pain and endless killing intent. It raised a claw and swiped down.
*Bang!*
Xu Chen was swatted away, crashing into a giant tree, and vomited a mouthful of blood.
"Go!"
He didn't have time to breathe. Taking one look at the one-eyed, furious tiger, he channeled his remaining Spiritual Power, surged forward, and continued his flight.
The Crimson Blood Tiger had suffered a massive blow at Xu Chen's hands. Driven by hatred and killing intent, it was even less willing to let him go, and its speed increased to a terrifying degree. Within a few bounds, it caught up.
Xu Chen gritted his teeth. *If I can’t escape, then I’ll stay and fight.*
Just as he prepared to turn and battle both tigers, his eyes lit up. On the steep rock face, there was a crack only wide enough for one person to squeeze through. The edges were smooth, as if it had been carved by human hands rather than formed naturally. With the threat looming, he didn't stop to think. He pushed off the ground with his right foot and launched himself into the crevice.
*Bang!*
The mountain shook as the tiger slammed into the rock face. Rocks tumbled down, blocking the entrance.
Xu Chen watched the tiger repeatedly crashing against the wall and exhaled. The tigers couldn't get in; he was safe for now. But seeing the hatred in the tiger’s single eye, he knew it wouldn't let him go easily.
*First, recover my strength.*
He walked a short distance inside and sat down cross-legged, taking spirit stones from his Storage Ring. As he held them, they crumbled into dust. Half a day later, Xu Chen’s injuries were mostly healed. Outside the cave, things had returned to silence.
Hesitating, Xu Chen walked toward the exit. He had barely stepped out when a foul, fishy stench assaulted him.
*Bang!*
He retreated back into the crevice just as the tiger lunged, missing its target and slamming into the mountain again.
"Damn beast. It didn't leave. It seems it really holds a grudge. It won't leave until it kills me." Xu Chen’s expression was grave. He sat back down and waved his hand, a pile of spirit stones appearing before him. "Do you think I'm easy to bully? Since you won't leave, then stay here forever."
Xu Chen hardened his resolve. He began to draw in power, and the spirit stones turned to powder one by one, streams of pure Spiritual Power flooding his body.
About half a day later, Xu Chen stopped cultivating. The small mountain of spirit stones before him had all turned to dust.
"One hundred thousand spirit stones only boosted me from the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation to the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation?" Xu Chen winced in pain. Had he not struck it rich at the Shui Mansion, he never could have sustained such terrifying consumption.
"Half a day to jump from the Fourth to the Sixth Layer—my strength has surged. The one hundred thousand spirit stones were worth it," he comforted himself, feeling a bit better.
After the breakthrough, he didn't rush out for revenge immediately. Instead, he pulled out his Qingchi Sword and began to practice, strike after strike. Time ticked by. Three days later, Xu Chen finished his training.
"Crimson Blood Tigers, I hope you haven't left!" he sneered, stepping out of the crevice.
*Did they leave?*
He walked out and wasn't attacked. He felt a hint of regret and shook his head. He started off in one direction, but after fifty meters, he stopped. A cold smile curled his lips as he whispered, "I thought you were gone. Turns out you’ve learned to be clever."
"But there’s only one left. I wonder where the other one went."
The moment he finished, a roar echoed through the forest, and a Crimson Blood Tiger lunged out, maw open, aiming to tear him apart. It was the same one he had blinded in the right eye. It seemed it held a deep grudge and would stop at nothing to kill him.
Fifty meters from the crevice, Xu Chen was under attack. Returning to the safety of the crack was clearly impossible—which was the main reason he had mocked the tiger for being "clever."
"Beasts will always be beasts!"
Xu Chen had never planned to turn back. He watched the massive maw grow larger, the stench already hitting his face. He gripped his sword with his right hand.
The next moment, the Qingchi Sword unsheathed. A flash of light.
*Pfft!*
A massive, gruesome tiger head flew high into the air. With the momentum of its charge, the headless body ran a few more steps before slamming into the rock wall with a loud thud. The head rolled a few times, and the carcass collapsed, blood gushing like a fountain.
The meat of a Crimson Blood Tiger was a prime delicacy. Xu Chen walked over and collected both the head and the body, planning to find a skilled chef once he returned to cook a top-tier meal with the tiger and the Black Scaled Python to nourish his body.
He searched the area, but couldn't find a trace of the other tiger. It seemed it really had left.
***
**Chapter 29: The Tragedy of the Chase-Wind Squad**
The Tianyuan Mountain Range, outskirts.
"Time to leave."
He had been in the mountains for half a month. The endless slaughter was a great burden on his body and mind. He needed to step away from the killing, or he would lose himself.
He shook the dead, yellow leaves from his clothes and stood up, his ears suddenly twitching.
*Sound of fighting.*
Xu Chen looked in the direction of the noise and thought for a moment. He wasn't planning on getting involved, but just as he turned to leave, he caught a familiar sound. He channeled his Spiritual Power into his ears, listened closely, and his expression changed.
The next moment, he kicked off the ground and sprinted toward the noise.
In a clearing in the forest, two groups were in a standoff. Or rather, one group had surrounded another.
Zhao Feng looked at the trapped Hong Yi and his two remaining companions, laughing wildly. "Hong Yi, if you don't want to die, you’d better hand over the Thunder Fruits now. Otherwise, you and your two dear brothers will all be buried here."
"Zhao Feng, you’re actually a member of the Zhao family from Liuguang City!"
"I was blind to recruit a wolf-hearted beast like you into the squad!"
"Why didn't the Crimson Blood Tiger kill you instead?"
Hong Yi, Xu Hu, and Li Zhong cursed him at the top of their lungs. They had never imagined that Zhao Feng was a plant from the Zhao family. He had led a group of Zhao family warriors to force them to give up the fruits, and when they refused, he began hunting them down. They had fled all the way here, only to be surrounded by the Zhao family warriors with no escape.
Facing their curses, Zhao Feng laughed, feeling no shame, only pride. He said with a hint of regret, "It’s a pity Wang Shuo and Xu Chen died to the Crimson Blood Tiger. Otherwise, our haul would have doubled."
"You’ve done well, Zhao Feng," said a blue-robed young man behind him.
Zhao Feng turned and fawned over him, "It is my honor to serve you, Young Master."
"Good." The blue-robed youth was quite satisfied with the attitude. "You can keep the Thunder Fruits you have as a reward."
"Thank you, Young Master!" Zhao Feng acted overwhelmed with gratitude.
The youth turned his gaze to Hong Yi and the others. "If you don't want to die, hand over the fruits. Otherwise, this place will be your graveyard."
"In your dreams!" Hong Yi refused without a second thought. They had lost two brothers for those fruits, as well as Xu Chen, whom they had only recently befriended. As far as they were concerned, Xu Chen had already perished.
"Stubborn!" Zhao Feng said coldly.
"Unappreciative!" the blue-robed youth scoffed. "Kill them."
Killing intent flashed in the youth’s eyes. He waved his hand, and the Zhao family warriors drew their blades and surged forward.
Hong Yi and his companions felt a deep, sorrowful despair. It seemed they would fall here today. But even in death, they wouldn't let the Zhao family beasts have the satisfaction.
"Fight them to the death!"
"If we take one, it's a draw; if we take two, it's a win!"
The three of them roared, their eyes reddening as they threw themselves into the fray. Their strength was decent, and they were fighting with a death wish, which produced a shocking display of combat power. But the Zhao family warriors were too numerous.
Soon, Li Zhong was hacked to the ground by four attackers, his body a bloody mess.
"Brother Li!" Xu Hu roared, fighting like a madman, attacking without defense—a suicide strategy.
On the other side, Hong Yi was also fighting in a pool of blood. He was being swarmed by even more enemies, including several Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation warriors. After slaying three of them with his longsword, a blade pierced his chest, and a saber stroke followed, decapitating him.
"Captain!" Xu Hu’s eyes were bloodshot. He was covered in wounds, sustained only by the hatred fueling his fight. But the gap in power was too vast.
*Pfft!*
A steel blade pierced his stomach. He roared, swinging his sword one last time to decapitate his attacker, but then, unable to hold on any longer, he knelt on one knee, supporting himself with his sword.
Han Feng walked up to Xu Hu with a smug look, raising his saber over his head. "Xu Hu, any last words?"
"Pah!" Xu Hu spat out a glob of blood. He was too heavily wounded. Even if Han Feng didn't strike, he wouldn't last long.
"No words? Haha, then die."
Han Feng prepared to swing.
"STOP!"
A thunderous roar echoed through the forest. Han Feng paused and looked toward the newcomer.