Chapter Three: The Slaying of the Third-Tier Demon Beast

Deep within the forest, the roars of demonic beasts rose and fell, growing increasingly ferocious as one ventured further in.

This was the Forest of Beasts, known to warriors as the Forest of Death. Unless they were hunting for demonic cores, few dared to set foot inside.

Rustle. As the branches swayed in the wind, a figure darted through the night. Ye Huang reveled in this long-lost sensation. With profound energy coursing through his body, he felt as swift as lightning, his speed far surpassing the raw, brute-force movements he had relied on in the past.

Suddenly, Ye Huang stopped. A flash of killing intent crossed his eyes. Ahead, a demonic beast was tearing into its meal.

It was a first-order beast, a Blood-Shadow Wolf. Usually, they were pack animals, but he had scanned the perimeter and found no others. Such a solitary specimen was rare, and driven by hunger, he could not resist striking.

The Blood-Shadow Wolf ate quietly, unaware that danger was closing in. Just as it lowered its guard and bowed its head, the moment arrived.

Now!

Ye Huang struck with a fierce punch, his fist wreathed in dark, profound energy. The power of a peak ninth-level Spirit Warrior, enough to have shattered Luo Rui’s arm and body entirely just a short while ago.

"Awoo!" A shrill howl pierced the air. The Blood-Shadow Wolf’s abdomen was instantly pierced, leaving a gaping, bloody hole, its heart pulverized within.

Ye Huang felt no surprise. He curled three fingers and reached into the creature’s forehead, extracting a crystal-clear bead—a first-order Blood-Shadow Wolf core, worth roughly ten thousand silver coins.

On the Heavenly Profound Continent, ten thousand silver coins could be exchanged for one gold coin, enough to support a common family for several years. Only warriors held such power; only they could command such dignity.

Ye Huang’s resolve hardened. He would become a supreme warrior and stand at the pinnacle of the continent.

"Fast, accurate, and ruthless. Your temperament is already better than most," the Ancestral Dragon remarked. Its tone remained as lazy and irritating as ever, showing no sign that it was currently trapped within Ye Huang’s dantian.

"Kid, I'm going back to sleep. Try not to get yourself killed," the voice faded, and silence returned.

I’m no fool, Ye Huang thought with a bitter smile. If he truly encountered a situation he couldn't handle, he would be the first to run; survival was paramount.

He wandered aimlessly through the forest, occasionally encountering other first-order beasts, which he dispatched with ease. That was until he saw flickers of fire in the distance.

At the source of the light, two men sat by a campfire, roasting the leg of a demonic beast.

"Since you’re here, brother, why the rush to leave?"

As Ye Huang was about to turn away, the man’s voice stopped him. He scratched his head and walked toward the fire, saying lightly, "We are but strangers passing in the night, I meant no intrusion."

One of the men, nearly two meters tall with a sturdy build and a broad face, laughed heartily and patted Ye Huang’s shoulder. "No matter, no matter! I’m Hao Da, you can call me Big Guy. This is Cao Fei. Little brother, are you here to hunt cores too?"

Ye Huang replied politely, "I’m Ye Huang. Not hunting for cores, just hungry, so I came to satisfy my appetite."

Hao Da’s eyes crinkled with a smile. "Haha, you’re an interesting one, little brother."

"So you’re the loser, Ye Huang." The other man, who carried a sword on his back, broke the atmosphere with a cold, icy remark. His gaze was gloomy, and from the moment he saw Ye Huang, he had been looking at him askance with undisguised contempt.

"Cao Fei, mind your tongue! Little brother, don’t take him to heart. This Forest of Beasts is fraught with danger; there is safety in numbers. Would you like to join our party?" Hao Da asked enthusiastically.

Ignoring Ye Huang entirely, Cao Fei stared straight at Hao Da. "You big oaf, this loser will only drag us down. Do you still want to hunt that third-order demonic core or not?"

"This..." Hao Da was clearly caught in a difficult dilemma.

"No need, I can just..." Ye Huang was about to decline; he didn't want to make things awkward for Hao Da, whose character seemed decent.

Before he could finish, a roar shook the heavens. It sounded as if the beast were upon them before it was even seen. The thunderous impact of its footsteps caused the earth to tremble and crack, forcing all manner of first-order beasts to scatter in terror.

Hao Da hurriedly waved his hand and shouted, "Retreat! The beast has gone berserk!"

***

Heavenly Martial Sect, residence of an inner-core disciple.

"Who? Who killed my brother!" A man knelt on the ground, weeping over a cold corpse. A closer look revealed a striking resemblance between him and the deceased.

"Luo Cheng, I do not know who killed your brother Luo Rui, but his body was found near Ye Huang’s residence. Could it be..." Across from the man, a youth held a fan, dressed in a jade robe and an ornate crown, his every detail exuding status.

Under his exquisite boots, Luo Cheng sobbed uncontrollably. Having lost their parents in childhood, they were each other's only kin. Now that his brother was dead, he felt as if he were losing his mind. He had to find the killer and grind his bones to dust.

The youth unfolded his fan, which depicted a landscape, yet his brow held a trace of mockery.

He squeezed out a few tears. "Although the sect permits private duels, such one-sided slaughter is inhumane. I will certainly seek justice for you. However, if that is not enough..."

The youth twirled his fan, acting as if he were in a difficult position. "You could also submit a request to ascend the Wind-Cloud Platform during the sect competition in half a month. Rest assured, he won't have the power to refuse. Given his strength, you will surely be able to avenge your brother."

On the Wind-Cloud Platform, life and death were decided. Luo Cheng knelt and kowtowed heavily. "Thank you, Brother Song! Thank you! If I can avenge this, I will go through fire and water for you!" His eyes burned with hatred. "Ye Huang, I will peel your skin and extract your tendons to appease my brother’s spirit!"

The youth sneered inwardly. *Luo Rui was a fool, willing to be my blade for fifty thousand silver coins. And his brother Luo Cheng is an even bigger idiot; a few words and he’s hooked, ready to be my dog. A first-level Profound Warrior is barely enough, but it will suffice.*

Looking at the moonlight outside, the youth thought to himself: *Ye Huang, I don’t know what trick you used to escape Luo Rui, but I, Song Changkong, want you dead, and dead you shall be. Who told you to get involved with Liu Xinyue? She actually protects you... Liu Xinyue, sooner or later, you will be mine.*

Under the bright moonlight, the three men in the Forest of Beasts fled at full speed. Ye Huang was fine; his speed was extraordinary, and the beast could not catch him.

Ye Huang had seen it clearly: it was a third-order demonic beast, a Blazing Fire Lion.