Chapter 43: Rigged Strength (2)
Chapter 42
If King Rayden had experienced around a threefold boost in physical strength after reaching the peak of Body Refinement, then Li Yu, with his abnormal physique, would have experienced something closer to a sixfold or even eightfold increase.
That was not a small difference at all. So yes, King Rayden was worried about this so-called peaceful spar. Because it would be peaceful by absolutely no means. Instead, it would be very, very destructive.
"I don’t want to fi.." Before he could finish speaking, a punch slammed directly into his face. BOOM! King Rayden was smashed through the cave wall under immense force.
"Sorry, but the spar is already underway." Li Yu said with a grin before exploding forward toward his clone. King Rayden immediately began gathering Verdant Lightning around his body to fight back.
If there was one thing he had learned about the original, it would be this: The original was a madman. Literally speaking. So he had better go all out if he didn’t want to become a punching bag.
With that, King Rayden had no choice but to go all out as well, and the spar got underway.
Despite it being just a casual spar between an original and his clone, the entire part of the forest where they fought was destroyed, and many beasts fled the area in fear for their lives.
Only the constant flashes of green lightning and deafening booms could be seen and heard, and they were quickly followed by the laughter of a crazy man.
The next morning, Li Yuexin woke up feeling quite refreshed. Her wounds had been totally healed, and she had recovered all the spiritual energy that she had lost in battle the other day.
So yeah, she was fully ready to continue. Looking around the cave, she couldn’t see any sign of Li Feng and the other two. They had probably decided to leave her, she thought. It hurt a little, but she couldn’t blame them for it.
And if they were to really die under her watch, then she wouldn’t be able to bear the guilt, so maybe it was all for the best that they had decided to leave anyway.
After getting prepared and strapping her blue sword to her side, she moved out. Her face couldn’t help but twitch ever so slightly because standing there, looking invigorated, were the three people she had assumed would have left her.
Instead, they were waiting for her. Their faces seemed to convey only one thing: Conviction and determination. "Are you ready? If so, let’s head out and bring back my troublesome cousin," Li Feng said with a small smile.
Li Yuexin looked at the trio, a smile creeping onto her lips. Then she nodded. "Alright, let’s go and bring Brother Yu back home." After saying that, the group started running through the forest once more, heading deeper and deeper inward.
They all knew that the deeper they ventured, the more powerful the beasts would become. But their minds were already made up, and whatever trouble they were bound to face, they would face it head-on.
It hadn’t been long since those thoughts flashed through Yuexin’s mind when Li Jie, who was at the very front of the group, suddenly paused.
The group all came to an abrupt stop as they turned their attention toward Li Jie, who was using the Sparrow Eye to see what lay in the distance. Seeing him stop like that and noticing the massive frown on his face, Li Feng spoke.
"What is it? What’s up ahead?" Li Jie slowly shook his head before speaking, his voice tense.
"No... several beasts are rushing our way. It is as if they have sensed us. And they are coming in massive numbers. I can’t tell their exact power levels, but the weakest among them must be at the late stage of Body Refinement."
Hearing that, the group’s expressions turned serious as they all drew their weapons, their faces tense as they prepared for battle. Soon they could hear the rumbling sounds in the distance and couldn’t help but tense up even more.
There were a lot of those beasts. The group tightened their grips on their swords and rapiers as they waited, ready to descend into another gruesome battle. And then the beasts rushed out from the forest in a torrent.
The group prepared to strike at them, but then something strange happened. The beasts started running right past them as if they didn’t even exist. "Wait... what is happening?" Li Feng asked, dazed by the sudden turn of events.
The beasts could clearly see them, but they didn’t even spare them a second glance. Instead, they were running at their top speed. It almost looked as if... "They are scared," Li Yuexin finished Li Feng’s sentence.
She knew the expression of deep fear better than most, and she was certain that all of the beasts were fleeing because they were scared. Terrified, even. Terrified enough to flee like this and in such massive numbers.
Now her curiosity was piqued. Just what kind of powerful beast could make all these beasts run like this? One had to know that among the fleeing beasts were several peak Qi Gathering beasts, and even their expressions were the same. Pure terror.
So whatever could cause this... Li Yuexin wanted to know. Burning with curiosity, Li Yuexin turned and rushed toward the place where the beasts were fleeing from.
Li Xie frowned as he turned toward the other two.
"Eh... do you guys think we should really go toward whatever might be deep in there?" The beast that could cause this much terror in creatures that were mostly fearless meant only one thing. That beast might even be far more powerful than the Three-Spiked Gorilla from yesterday.
So was it really a wise choice to go and face something like that just because of curiosity? Li Feng shrugged. He couldn’t stop Li Yuexin. And he couldn’t abandon her either. So he really had no choice but to follow.
Li Jie followed as well. And after a moment of deep contemplation, Li Xie sighed and followed after them too. Soon, all three of them came to a stop, standing beside Li Yuexin, who already had her sword unsheathed.
Her blue eyes swept across the surroundings as a trace of wariness crept into her gaze. All around them, countless beasts lay dead. From beasts around the early stages of Body Refinement all the way to Peak Stage Qi Gathering Realm beasts, they were all dead, slaughtered by something that seemed even more feral than the beasts themselves.
"Oh..." Li Xie’s mouth fell open in shock as he stared at the horrifying scene before him. What kind of beast orchestrated all of this? His mind reeled in pure disbelief. Then he turned toward Yuexin and spoke. "Sister Yuexin, we should really turn back and leave now."
His tone was small and cautious. If whatever had done this was still lingering nearby, then if they came into contact with it, they might truly lose their lives here. But as if she had completely lost her sense of hearing, Li Yuexin continued walking forward.
Step after step. Her hand gripped her blue sword tightly as she stared ahead. The group could only follow after her. Even Li Xie followed after spending several moments consoling himself that death was not the end.
Who knew? Maybe he would get an afterlife if he died here today. Though honestly, whether the afterlife was real or not, he would really prefer not to die here if he could help it. The group continued moving forward, passing by numerous beast corpses.
Some had been torn apart by massive claw marks. A few had their heads completely blown apart into bloody gore. Others had suffered equally feral and gruesome deaths. The deeper they went, the heavier the atmosphere became.
Soon, however, the group came to an abrupt stop. That was because they could see something in the distance. As they quietly approached, they realized the figure appeared strangely humanoid. The person was dressed in a peculiar dark outfit.
Long black hair cascaded down his back. At that very moment, he was holding a struggling black tiger by the neck. The beast was at the eight stage of Level Two. Yet in the man’s grasp, it looked no different from a struggling toddler.
The figure stepped forward calmly. Then he grabbed the tiger’s head. And without the slightest ceremony... Rip! He tore its head clean off. Blood splattered through the air. Yet not a single drop stained the man’s clothes.
Only a few drops landed upon his black hair. The group’s eyes widened. Who was this person? Not even Li Yuexin believed she could rip apart a beast of the Black Tiger’s caliber with her bare hands. Just who exactly was this human?
"Who are you?!" Li Yuexin shouted. Her voice carried both shock and vigilance. The stranger, still holding the tiger’s severed head, slowly turned around to face them. Immediately, the entire group tensed. Their hands tightened around their weapons.
They were prepared to fight to the death if this mysterious stranger decided to attack them as well. But that didn’t happen. Because the moment they finally saw the stranger’s face... They froze. Every single one of them. Their eyes widened simultaneously.
Li Yuexin’s voice came out short and stifled. Her tone was loud, yet filled with uncertainty. "Brother... Yu?" The severed tiger head slipped from the stranger’s hand. Li Yu looked at the familiar faces standing before him. For a brief moment, surprise flashed through his eyes.
Then a warm smile slowly appeared on his face. Though with his current appearance, the smile didn’t exactly look warm. Still, he did his best. Looking at them, he spoke in a gentle tone. "Wow... It’s really good to see all of you as well."
