Volume One – The Frontier of the Chen Kingdom, The Rebellious Marquis’s Path to Immortality Chapter 21 – The Innate Realm

Even a lion uses all its strength to hunt a rabbit.

The three of them—Chen Yu, Jing Zhe, and Xue Han—had witnessed the power of the Spotted Leopard firsthand, so none dared to be complacent or careless, lest they bring ruin upon themselves.

As the demon core of the Spotted Leopard shot toward them, Chen Yu was the first to meet it head-on. His longsword struck the demon core, only for the sound of the blade snapping to ring out sharply through the air.

Chen Yu’s expression changed; he leaned back suddenly, narrowly dodging the demon core as it continued its relentless charge.

Jing Zhe and Xue Han were equally alarmed, but the murderous resolve in their eyes remained. They rushed forward, each targeting the Spotted Leopard’s body.

After unleashing its demon core, the Spotted Leopard was even more weakened than before. The demon core, though it had snapped Chen Yu’s sword, had also lost its luster from the blow. With its vitality waning, it had no strength left to fend off Jing Zhe and Xue Han’s attacks.

The two, knowing full well the toughness of the Spotted Leopard’s hide, knew their strength was insufficient to pierce it. Instead, they aimed for the wounds already present on the beast.

With a wet, slicing sound, both swords plunged into the Spotted Leopard’s flesh. Jing Zhe and Xue Han twisted their blades ruthlessly, then retreated as the beast lashed out in retaliation.

They fought with the utmost speed, tangling fiercely with the Spotted Leopard. The creature tried desperately to recall its demon core to bolster itself, but Chen Yu was locked in a spell, keeping the core occupied and offering no opportunity for reprieve.

“Kill!” The three roared, voices low and ferocious. They unleashed every killing stroke, refusing to retreat even in the face of the Spotted Leopard’s savage blows.

Already grievously wounded, the Spotted Leopard could not withstand a prolonged struggle with three adversaries. As its gaze grew hazy, Xue Han and Jing Zhe seized their chance, driving their swords deep and shredding its heart.

With the beast’s death, its demon core fell to the ground, bereft of control.

The battle had lasted less than a quarter of an hour, yet all three were so exhausted they collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. They had skirted the edge of death, and the toll on their strength and spirit was evident.

Chen Yu drew a deep breath. “Quick, take the Spotted Leopard and leave at once. If that Daoist returns, we’ll be in grave danger.”

Jing Zhe and Xue Han nodded in agreement, hoisting the beast’s massive body and departing swiftly. Before leaving, they arranged the corpses of the two middle-aged men and the scene to appear as though the Spotted Leopard had vented its rage, hoping to mislead the Daoist.

Sure enough, not long after, the Daoist returned, unwilling to give up. He could only roar in anger, failing to examine the scene closely—had he done so, he would surely have noticed something amiss. His oversight stemmed from disbelief that anyone could reach the Skybreaker Mountains, causing him to miss a crucial clue.

Chen Yu and his companions dared not linger, fleeing for days and nights. When they finally returned to the waterfall, only then did they feel somewhat safe.

All three lay on the ground, exhausted yet unable to suppress their joy and excitement. Suddenly, laughter burst forth, loud and unrestrained.

They gazed greedily at the Spotted Leopard’s enormous body, sensing the terrifying power within and feeling an irrepressible thrill.

“With the power of this Spotted Leopard, we can surely advance even further,” Jing Zhe said, drooling in anticipation.

“Heh… The body is nothing compared to the true treasure,” Chen Yu declared, producing the demon core, its light now subdued, his eyes shining with excitement.

The three exchanged glances and broke into laughter.

Yet Xue Han quickly raised a dilemma: “What should we do with this demon core? We can’t just eat it, can we?”

Chen Yu and Jing Zhe looked bewildered.

Jing Zhe scratched his head and said foolishly, “Maybe we could boil it in soup?”

“Boil—” Chen Yu and Xue Han scolded him for his nonsense.

Jing Zhe laughed. “Fine, you two decide how we deal with it!”

“I think the demon core is similar to the energy reservoir in our bodies—a concentration of power. Do you think we could refine it using the Nine Breaths Absorption Technique?” Chen Yu offered his idea.

Xue Han pondered, then said, “That sounds more reliable than Jing Zhe’s suggestion. For the three of us, it’s probably the only option.”

“But before that, let’s deal with the Spotted Leopard’s body,” Jing Zhe urged, unable to wait any longer.

“Yes, that’s wise. It’ll boost our strength in case of trouble,” Chen Yu and Xue Han agreed.

For half a month, the three absorbed the power contained in the Spotted Leopard’s flesh. When they finished, they sat cross-legged, a powerful energy surging through their bodies, circulating again and again. On closer inspection, waves of energy radiated from their skin, so intense that every creature within a hundred yards fell silent in fear.

After a whole night, the force gradually settled.

This cultivation had brought marked changes; their bodies brimmed with formidable power.

“Do you feel it?” Jing Zhe asked, trembling with excitement.

“Yes, I feel strength flooding my body,” Chen Yu replied. “Even without using the Nine Breaths Absorption Technique, I can now naturally draw energy from the world.”

Xue Han nodded, exhilarated. “If I’m not mistaken, we’ve reached the legendary Innate Realm among martial artists.”

“Indeed, I believe so too.”

“Even so, I don’t feel much different,” Jing Zhe shrugged. “With the Nine Breaths Absorption Technique, we could already absorb energy like those in the Innate Realm.”

“That may be, but we’re stronger now,” Chen Yu disagreed. “And now, even without actively practicing the technique, we’re cultivating every moment. That’s a true difference.”

“Yes… That’s right!” Xue Han affirmed. “Now that we’ve reached the Innate Realm, we can venture deeper into the Skybreaker Mountains.”

“Haha… That’s true,” Jing Zhe’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Chen Yu continued, “If my guess is correct, those two middle-aged men we encountered before were also at the Innate Realm.”

“Yes, but who was that Daoist? Is it possible that there are immortals among us?” Xue Han asked gravely.

“The methods he used weren’t martial arts techniques, but more like the spell arts our teacher described. I’d wager he’s one of them,” Chen Yu analyzed. “As for his origins—”

“Do you think the Daoist, like our teacher, isn’t from this land at all? Maybe he wandered here by accident?” Jing Zhe speculated.

“That’s not impossible,” Chen Yu and Xue Han agreed.

After a pause, Jing Zhe shamelessly said, “Let’s not worry about the Daoist for now. If we meet him again, we’ll handle it carefully. For now, let’s focus on refining the demon core.”