《Apex War God》
Chapter 1: A Youth and A Dog
Chapter 1: A Youth and A Dog
Smoke Signal Mountain Prison, the Xia Dynastysrgest prison,y in the deste southern zone neighboring the barbarians territory. A range of hundreds of mountain ridges formed the areas boundaries. Trees and wild foliage covered these ridges, which were dotted with precipitous cliffs and home to ferocious, wandering beasts. This was clearly no ordinary prison.
All of the prisoners locked up in Smoke Signal Mountain Prison hadmitted serious offenses or were captives of other races. None had any hope of release or escape.
The Smoke Signal Mountain Prison also produced a valuable stone called Scarlet Steel Rock. Prisoners of the lowest rank were tasked with mining the Scarlet Steel Rock and surrendering the results to management. The stone would then be sent to the dynastys forges.
Meanwhile, a topless youth kept his head down, silent as he mined in a corner of the prison.
His body still bore fresh, bleeding wounds.
He appeared disheveled with rumpled, dirty hair and shackles dragging at his hands and feet. However, he was taller and stronger than others his age, and he had a pleasant, sharp face. While he wasnt particrly handsome, he was certainly extraordinary. His unyielding gaze was especially striking, boundless energy brightening his eyes. Even under inhumane persecution, he stood with his back straight as if nothing could keep him down.
Unfortunately, even a resilient body would fail after such prolonged punishment. He tripped on a stone and nearly fell.
Almost instantly, a ruthless whip snaked out to strike the young man.
Crack! Crack!
Another might have screamed from theshing, but this youth only gritted his teeth, soundless. Even so, the sweat dripping down his face and the seeping blood betrayed his pain.
ying dead, brat? If you dont take your work seriously, I may have to cripple you. Youll never see the next sunrise! the prison guard snarled. He then proceeded to kick the youth several times without mercy.
Milord, look at his frail body. He only arrived a few days ago and hasnt adjusted to the prison yet. Lash me instead. Ill take the punishment for his mistake! a strange boy volunteered.
This boy looked more mature, though his hair had clumped in aical way like some birds nest. His eyes were bright, even though he looked frail. He was nearly the injured youths opposite.
Skinny Monkey, dont get cocky just because you can handle a beating. Some things you should keep your nose out of, or youll lose even the chance to spell the word death before you meet your end! the guard hissed disdainfully. He then turned back to the neer. Get back to work! Dont me me for your suffering if you fail to meet your quota.
Finished with the boys, the guard turned and walked away.
The youth called Skinny Monkey set down a stone he held, approaching the other boy. Concerned, he asked, Brother, are you alright?
The neer lifted his head, revealing a resolute expression. With a sh of pearly-white teeth, he grinned. I wont die, but thanks for your concern.
Did you offend someone important? To think theyre giving you such a hard time. They must be torturing you more than anyone else here! They even treated me, Old Sun, better than this when I first arrived! Skinny Monkeys original name was Sun Dou, so there wasnt anything unusual about referring to himself as Old Sun.
Perhaps they are envious of how handsome this viscount is. Well see how difficult their lives be once I turn things around! Thement came off somewhat narcissistic, but the injured boy looked determined.
Skinny Monkey rolled his eyes, thinking, Youre not hideous, but youre a prisoner now. Thinking you can turn things around. What a joke!
Who knew that this young man, who had only been thrown into this prison three days ago, had once been a hereditary viscount of the Xia Dynasty.
In the Xia Dynasty, only children of counts gained hereditary titles of nobility. A counts n would be both rich and powerful, so how did this young viscount end up here?
In truth, the boy had rejected a proposed marriage to the royal n. As a result, he had been thrown in prison, his parents had been censured and demoted, and his brother had lost his title as a top schr. Inadvertently, he had set in motion a tragic chain of events.
How can I let myself die in this damned ce with my parents, my brother, and my unfulfilled promise on the line? I will free myself from this identity and this prison! I have to im justice for the Yang n! the young man, Yang Wu, howled between gritted teeth, overwhelmed with frustration.
He refused to give up hope. Even if heaven demanded his death and future, he would break through the darkness and see the light again.
Thud!
Yang Wu sent a stone flying with a kick.
I knew that brat was faking it! The guard sneered, watching from nearby.
Another guard beside the first grumbled, The superiors are really a pain. If they wanted him dead, theyd just need to find an excuse to execute him. Why put it off? Isnt it annoying?
They want him to suffer a life worse than death. We just have to follow orders. In any case, he cant do anything, the first guard replied.
Yang Wu went back to mining, dragging his heavy feet as he did so. He kept himself standing through sheer determination, earning Skinny Monkeys respect, who watched his newfoundpanion.
If this guy survives, he might be a worthy friend! Skinny Monkey thought.
Just then, Yang Wu felt his crowbar connect with something more solid than the surrounding rock. Startled, he noticed a hazy wisp escaping the crack he had just created, which vanished a moment before he heard a soft bark.
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Puzzled, Yang Wu nudged aside the shattered stone by his feet, revealing a small ck dog in the mud. The dog stared up at him with alert eyes, exposing sharp canines. It was covered in sleek, glossy fur, with drooping ears and stubby legs. Its white paws appeared soft as clouds, and when it stood, it wobbled like a newborn puppy. It was quite cute.
Yang Wu had not eaten for three days, and the small dog looked as enticing as barbequed meat. Wiping the drool from his mouth, he snatched up the dog, muttering to himself, Ill finally have a full stomach.
Woof! Woof. The little ck dog seemed to understand the young man, giving him a pitiful look and whine. It was almost as if it pleaded with Yang Wu.
Sighing, he began to hesitate. I havent eaten for three days, little fellow. Ill die here if I dont eat. Please, sacrifice yourself for my future. Let me have a nice meal.
Terrified, the ck dog wiggled and held up its front paws. After a few yelps, the pup revealed a small item almost from out of nowhere, presenting it to the boy.
He didnt think much of it at first, yet when he took a closer look, he discovered that the item was a strange peach pit.
The pit was smooth as jade, covered in odd interlocking stripes. It bore a thousand holes, from which escaped a mysterious mist.
Curious, Yang Wu held the pit in his palm. It felt warm, like a piece of peak-quality jade. He was reluctant to let it go.
Bark! Bark! Whinewhine! The pup protested, ring possessively at the boy. It acted insistent about offering the pit as the sacrifice, rather than itself.
Yang Wu found this little ck dog cute and intelligent, and after a moment, he realized he couldnt bear to eat the animal. Alright. Since youre so smart and cute, I wont eat you. However, I will keep this peach pit as a sign of respect for your elder.
Setting the small dog down, Yang Wu tucked the pit away, keeping it close.
The young man then returned to his task, hoping hed be luckier today. Hed need to mine enough Scarlet Steel Rock to exchange for food.
Despite his exhaustion, having overdrawn his energy reserves, Yang Wu felt something warm near his abdomen. A restoring stream of energy flowed into him.
Yang Wu didnt think much of it at first, but after working for a while longer, he connected the feeling to the peach pit he carried at his waist.
Before he could consider the idea further, he struck an average-sized chunk of Scarlet Steel Rock near where he had unearthed the little ck dog.
I finally found enough for a meal! Yang Wu eximed, as excited as if he had unburied treasure.
As he reached for the stone, however, another''s hand appeared and snatched it away.
How lucky! I just got here and managed to find a piece of Scarlet Steel Rock! Not bad, not bad! the thief cockily congratted himself.
A vicious light instantly shed in Yang Wus eyes.
------ A new novel! This is a side project, and I''m still working on managing my schedule. For now, we are going to move ahead with a slow-release system for a while.
Chapter 2: Be My Subordinate
Chapter 2: Be My Subordinate
Yang Wu had been starving for three days. If this kept up, he would die. After finally finding a chunk of Scarlet Steel Rock to trade for food, someone had just stolen it! How could he contain his anger?
Looking up, the boy saw arge, ugly woman before him. Two men trailed behind her, all wearing prison rags and shackles around their ankles. They were obviously other prisoners.
Drop that rock, you fat bitch! Yang Wu growled. He did not think much of her due to her appearance.
Watch your mouth, brat! This is Elder Sister Wang, cellblock 68s belle. Talk out of line again, and Ill rip your jaw off! a skinny man shouted from behind the woman.
Why waste your time on him? We should just teach the brat a quick lesson, show him whos in charge of block 68! the skinny mans shortpanion said.
The woman examined the new prisoner, lust shing in her eyes when she realized how young and handsome Yang Wu was. With a wave, she told herckeys to stand down, Zhu Gan, Shi Dan, theres no rush. Let me speak with this little brother first. She moved forward, extending a hand to touch Yang Wus face. He quickly dodged, assuming she intended to hit him.
[TL Note: Zhu Gan means bamboo pole. This is likely the name of the skinny man. Shi Dan means stone egg, who is probably the short man. Im unsure if these are their real names, but I could not find any further details when searching their names in the raws. They may both be nicknames, but I chose to use the pinyin instead of tranting them. I also assumed that the first word of the name is their family name. Zhu and Shi are both legit family names.]
Fat bitch, give the stone back, or Ill take it by force.
Oh! Getting the stone back is easy if you want it. Come serve me tonight. If your performance is satisfactory, Ill send someone each day to give you Scarlet Steel Rock. What do you say? Wang Yan, therge woman, propositioned, gesturing to the boy by touching her thumb and middle finger, keeping the rest of her fingers extended.
[TL Note: This hand gesture ismon in traditional dances and is meant to be a flirtatious move. Here is what onemon variation looks like: /pins/342312639/. Some variations have the thumb touching a lower part of the middle finger instead of the tip.]
Yang Wu instantly felt like he was about to retch. He had seen many ugly women before, but none had been asrge or hideous as this. He found the idea of serving her unbearable.
He would rather die than humiliate himself by serving as this womans ything.
Yang Wu did not bother responding. Rather, his handshed out, trying to snatch back the stone.
Wang Yan may have been fat, but she was quick. She dodged the young mans attempt, grabbing his wrist and yanking him into her embrace with one smooth motion. She squeezed the young mans face between her voluptuous bosom while Yang Wu struggled to breathe.
The two prisoners behind Wang Yan gulped, jealous of the boys current predicament.
Even as strong as Yang Wu was, he had not had any food for days and was weak. He did not have the energy to fight back, which allowed the woman to maneuver him easily.
In that moment, he wished for death. He was a bona fide viscount! Even the servant girls he had known in the past were several times more beautiful than this woman, yet she humiliated him in such a way! He was utterly disgusted.
The ex-viscount continued to struggle while Wang Yan held him firmly in ce. Just submit, young man. Ill treat you well. No one dares to refuse me in block 68. Enjoy your new life with me or give up on iming any Scarlet Steel Rock.
Yang Wu refused to suffer this embarrassment, and he struggled as hard as he could, but therger woman was extraordinarily strong. He could not find the leverage to pry himself free. Finally, the little dog, who had been ignored, growled before leaping up, iming the stone in its mouth and fleeing.
Hey, where did that disgusting mongrele from? Kill it! Wang Yan had a phobia of small furry animals, and the beast had startled her into releasing the boy as she ordered her minions to eliminate the dog.
The little ck dog proved to be quite nimble, easily evading the two inmates. During the chase, it even stopped to growl and wiggle its tiny butt. The pup wagged its short tail and taunted the two men as they ran, shouting, after it.
Stand still, you little rascal! Ill roast you when I get my hands on you! the skinny inmate yelled.
Its pretty small, but it has enough meat for a meal! the stout prisoner added.
The ck dog didnt seem to find the two men threatening. It led them in circles around the piles of rock, leaping away every time they got close. Its agility was impressive.
Meanwhile, freed from therge womans grasp, Yang Wu kneeled on the ground, vomiting into the dirt. With his stomach empty, he only managed to dry heave. It was as miserable as it looked.
Wang Yan stopped harassing the boy, patting him on the back and saying in a coquettish tone, Think about what I said, little fellow. Otherwise, you can forget about iming any Scarlet Steel Rock. Even if you do, I wont let you trade it in for food.
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With that said, she nced back toward the little ck dog. Seeing her subordinates fail to catch the creature, she spat and walked away, swaying her ample hips.
Yang Wu continued to vomit. By the time he caught his breath, the woman was already gone.
I cant believe a woman humiliated me, a viscount. How disgusting! Yang Wu grunted, dismayed. His fist mmed into the ground, opening fresh wounds across his knuckles.
Yang Wu had been imprisoned because of a woman, and now, such a disgusting woman had humiliated him. His suffering was a cmity of passion.
Why be like this, brother? That woman is a little ugly, but her bosom is big enough. Id love to bury my head in her chest, even if it meant a beating. You, on the other hand, got to bury your face for a single piece of Scarlet Steel Rock. Im jealous. Skinny Monkeys voice rang out from nearby.
Yang Wu tilted his head as he asked, You would ept such a grotesque woman?
She is a little big, but she is voluptuous. And, well, her looks dont matter much once we blow themps out at night. Skinny Monkeys expression was vulgar.
The idea only made Yang Wu dry heave again.
Dont be like that! After a few months in this hell, youll treat any woman like a phoenix! The other boy sighed.
Yang Wu swore. I intend to leave this ce as soon as possible!
Yeah, I said the same thing in the first few months, too. Thousands of people in block 68 have. Skinny Monkey wasnt unsympathetic.
Disappointed, Yang Wu knew his new friend wasnt lying. After all, hed have to turn in a hundred thousand chunks of Scarlet Steel Rock to earn his freedom, and once he left Smoke Signal Mountain Prison, hed be sent to the battlefield to kill a hundred barbarians to redeem himself.
If Yang Wu had still possessed his martial prowess, he would have had a chance of sess. However, his cultivation had been crippled prior to his imprisonment. Now, he could not even deal with a single woman. How was he supposed to mine enough Steel Scarlet Rock and y the empires enemies?
The young man was ovee with rage and despair.
Nearby, the two inmates gave up chasing after the little ck dog, abandoning the task to rush after Wang Yan.
With its pursuers gone, the pup returned to Yang Wu, dropping the piece of Scarlet Steel Rock at his feet. Tail wagging and tongue lolling, it looked like it was trying to im credit for the find.
For some reason, the adorable sight banished the shadow looming over Yang Wus heart. Head lowered, he picked up the stone before scooping the dog into his arms and giving it a gentle pat on the head. Sooty, why dont you stay with me for a while? As long as I have something to eat, Ill make sure you do, too.
[TL Note: The Chinese raws named the dog as Little ck or Xiao Hei. I renamed the dog with a generic name based on its color instead.]
Woof, woof! The little dog barked softly before licking Yang Wus hand. It seemed like a sufficient reply.
What a fascinating pup! Skinny Monkey eximed, praising the dog.
------
Soon, the sun began to set.
The inmates congregated to exchange the Scarlet Steel Rock they had collected for food. The more they turned in, the more food they earned. Those who failed to mine any went hungry, and some particrly unlucky prisoners, who hadnt collected any stones for several days, began to starve. Everyone ignored their cries; no one cared. Prisoners died of starvation every day, and no one batted an eye.
Yang Wu and Skinny Monkey followed the rest, individually turning in the meager Scarlet Steel Rock they had found.
Their food was simple: a cracked bowl of gruel and two moldy buns.
Yang Wu began to lose his appetite at the sight, but his stomach had been growling for the past three days. At this point, hed choke anything down.
Just as he was about to wolf down his dinner, his food was kicked out of his hand. The bowl shattered on the ground.
Crash!
------ I''m sure some of you are wondering what the release rate of this novel would be and whether it would affect EIF''s release rate.
Honestly, I''m still figuring out the workload for this novel and am not sure how fast I can go with this. I have no intention of changing EIF''s release rates, so this novel is definitely going at a slower pace. I will try to output at least 2-3 chapters every week for now until I figure everything out.
Chapter 3: The Peach Pit Transforms into a Dantian
Chapter 3: The Peach Pit Transforms into a Dantian
Losing this meal would leave Yang Wu hungry for a fourth day in a row.
He had finally earned a meal to silence his grumbling stomach, yet someone had kicked the little food he had obtained from his hand. Naturally, he was furious!
Zhu Gan, the culprit, continued to stomp the remains into the dirt. Looking down on the neer, he growled a cold warning, Dont forget what Elder Sister Wang told you, brat. If you don''t obey, you starve.
Go to hell! Without a second thought, Yang Wuunched to his feet and swung a fist toward Zhu Gans face.
s, the young mancked the strength to deal the damage he intended, and his opponent wasnt an average prisoner. The thin man grabbed Yang Wus wrist, and with a smooth twist, broke it.
Argh!
Yang Wu screamed in pain as he broke out in a cold sweat.
What a piece of trash. If Elder Sister Wang didnt find you so attractive, Id beat you badly enough to vomit blood, Zhu Gan hissed as hended a fierce kick to Yang Wus gut, sending him flying.
Yang Wuy limp in the dirt for a long moment.
Listen carefully, brat. If you dont go crawling into her bed tonight, youll be dead by tomorrow. With that said, Zhu Gan turned and left.
The other inmates watched, envious. Everyone knew Wang Yan was the head honcho in block 68. Whoever earned her favor would enjoy the little luxuries avable in the prison, yet this boy didnt seem to appreciate the opportunity.
Regardless of his fury, which he had no way to vent, Yang Wucked the strength to climb to his feet.
Skinny Monkey, however, wasnt as cold-hearted, and he helped his new friend up. He then broke his own bun in half, offering the second piece to Yang Wu, Come, brother. Take half of mine and eat.
Yang Wus bloodshot eyes began to calm, revealing mixed feelings. Theyll make you pay for helping me, you know.
Its no big deal. I may seem scrawny, but Im pretty tough. Im not afraid! Skinny Monkey dered, pounding a fist on his chest.
Yang Wu extended a hand to ept the shared meal, shing a sincere smile for a brief moment. From now on, Ill consider us brothers, he announced, shoving the bun into his mouth as if afraid Zhu Gan would return.
Once Skinny Monkey finished his food, he walked over to pick up the bun Zhu Gan had trampled. Brushing the dirt from its crust, he waved it at Yang Wu. You want more?
Yang Wu shook his head, unable to ept the soiled food. With a shrug, Skinny Monkey took arge bite.
If we cant manage to survive, how are we going to get out of this hellhole? the thin boy muttered to himself.
His words struck a chord in Yang Wu. Thats right. If I cant survive, how will I escape?
Yang Wu immediately took half of the dirty bun and shoved it into his mouth, finally understanding what survival meant here.
Once the boys had finished their meals, they returned to their respective dens without another word.
Prisoners werent given rooms in this mountain prison. They all had to carve out a ce for themselves, somewhere they could burrow in against the nights cold wind. Without any protection, freezing to death was a real possibility.
Yang Wus condition improved significantly after some food. More importantly, the peach pit he carried seemed to radiate a magical energy that restored his stamina over time.
When he returned to his own den, he retrieved the pit, ncing at the little dog curled up against his side.
Is this some kind of treasure, Sooty? Somehow, I have a feeling that this is no ordinary peach pit.
The little dog blinked and nodded as if confirming the thought.
Tell me, then. If I eat it, will it help my injuries heal? he asked.
The pup nodded again, its eyes bright and understanding.
If this were truly a magical item, youd have swallowed it long ago. How can I trust Id survive? the young manmented, stuffing the pit back into his belt.
[TL Note: Some ancient Chinese clothing ispletely made of cloth, including the belt. Such belts were wide and tied tight enough that one could hold small items securely. A money pouch, for example. Here is an example: /uploads/images/%img%/%book%.]
Yang Wu had recovered a fair deal of his strength after eating, but with his cultivation crippled, gathering energy proved impossible. He couldnt help the ache he felt over the ordeal.
If I cant restore my qi, Ill be dead sooner orter. Dont tell me Im fated for such a life, Yang Wu muttered indignantly. The poor Yang n has been loyal and devoted in our service for generations, yet the imperial family abandoned us so easily. If I manage to escape one day, I swear to rise up against the court and restore my familys honor!
The pup at his side listened intently, brilliance shing in its gaze while the boy drifted to sleep.
Once Yang Wu had fully passed out, the little ck dog pounced on hisp and carefully pulled the peach pit free. The puppy then slipped the pit between the young mans open lips.
Anyone who witnessed this scene would have been astounded; just imagine a little dog kissing a grown man.
If Yang Wu had known, he wouldve been humiliated. Even a dog was willing to take advantage of him, stealing his first kiss! Hed be devastated!
After feeding the boy the peach pit, the dog gently pawed at his face. Yang Wu fidgeted in his sleep, feeling the tickle, and his mouth opened wider, allowing the pit to roll down his throat.
The peach pit was about the size of an egg. Anyone would choke if they tried to swallow it without warning, and Yang Wu was no exception.
Before he was startled awake, however, the pit lit with a soft glow and flowed smoothly down his throat like warm water. Fortunately, Yang Wu was exhausted and didnt fully wake. Dazed, he rolled over and returned to his slumber.
With the pit in his stomach, a celestial symphony began to y within him like hundreds of blooming flowers. Immortal Energy flooded his twelve major meridians, limbs, bones, and organs like a vibrant life force filling his battered body.
Before Yang Wu had been imprisoned, expert cultivators had scattered the Profound Energy within him and shattered his dantian. He could no longer absorb natural Profound Energy or practice martial arts. Now, this peach pit took the ce of his broken dantian, connecting to his twelve major meridians and forming an endless cycle of Profound Energy, reestablishing his ability to absorb it.
[TL Note: There is a difference between Immortal Energy and Profound Energy; it is not an error. The novel will exin the differenceter on.]
Cultivators absorbed energy to cultivate, refining this energy as it flowed through their meridians. They could easily release the energy as formidable forces, granting them the abilities to split mountains and scale seas. There was nothing they could not do. Crippling a cultivator in such a way was as good as sentencing one to death. If Yang Wu hadnt held on to his worries and determination to live, he wouldve given up long ago.
By rebuilding his dantian, Yang Wu could cultivate again. The pup and this peach pit had given him a new lease on life.
Energy pulsed from the thousands of tiny holes in the peach pits shell. This energy flowed along the twelve major meridians, nourishing both major and minor. Some hidden injuries healed instantly; even his scars began to vanish. The meridians erged and toughened, while the acupoints regained their vitality. Blood rushed to his internal organs, explosively improving his life force.
The transformation was akin to receiving healthy bone marrow and a new bloodline, forcibly altering Yang Wus body for the better. It also significantly increased his lifespan. Absorbing the strange peach pit had been a heaven-defying opportunity.
[TL Note: In such novels, ones heritage contributes greatly to ones talents and potential. This is often manifested in blood. The changing of marrows and bloodline would be like swapping ones ancestors for more powerful ones, allowing one to gain some of those abilities.].
Yang Wu remained in a deep sleep, unaware of the changes to his body. He was only aware of the fantastic dream he enjoyed, leaving him drooling.
In his dream, he entered a celestial pce, home to various spiritual beasts that flew along multicolored rivers. Fairy maidens carried bamboo baskets, jade vases, or colorful sashes as they rode the clouds to a warm, misty pool. They were all alluring in their own rights, beautiful and charismatic in their own ways.
As they frolicked in the pool, they began to undress, removing one piece of clothing at a time. Their perfect figures shone like jade statues as their ivory skin shimmered in the sun. They were naturally seductive.
It was a rare scene ofsciviousness, one which any man could hardly resist.
Yang Wu watched like a shameless voyeur, and he struggled to stop the blood flowing from his nose.
Interestingly, the maidens didnt shun him upon his discovery. One even sashayed up to him to give him a kiss.
The youth was mesmerized. He stared with a silly smile on his face, unaware this was simply a dream.
If he had known the kiss was not, in fact, from a fairy, but from the little ck dog he had rescued, he might have regretted that smile.
The fairy took hold of Yang Wus hand and flew into the air.
Not only did these maidens allow him to bathe with them, but they also teased him from time to time, making the virgin boy blush.
Of course, these fairy maidens were pure and didnt attempt to seduce the boy. Rather, they shared the peaches from their grand banquet. Once he devoured one of the peaches, he found he could float alongside these fairies. As they flew, the fairies taught him immortal spells to ride the clouds and move the oceans, astounding Yang Wu.
Do these formidable spells really exist in this world?
Sooty watched the immortal light move through Yang Wus body with indifference until thetter smiled lewdly. The pup then gave him a disdainful look.
As Yang Wus body finished absorbing the energy, a beam of light shot forth from the pups be, striking the boy in the same ce. Mysterious chanting, as loud as the morning gong, reverberated in Yang Wus mind:
Nine is a heavenly number; the universe is infinite. When primordial chaos first split, yin and yang interacted. As time passed, it created the heavens and earth. Refine the essence to energy; gather the energy into a river. Reach the highest heaven; peek into its mysteries and be immortal.
With his energy gone and tired from helping his savior, the small, ck pup soon passed out.
------ I still have not decided on the release rate yet as the rate of churning out chapters has not stabilized yet. However, I will put out at least 2 chapters a week for now. Also, do check out our weekly streams where we casually y games and chat about Chinese culture.
Chapter 4: Sweeping Melodious Energy
Chapter 4: Sweeping Melodious Energy
The eastern sky gradually brightened as the early morning sun revealed itself.
Yang Wu stretched as he woke, immediately feeling a difference in his body. There was no sign of pain from his broken wrist or other wounds.
Astonished, the young man examined his body, trying to get his bearings and figure out what had changed. He flung his previously injured arm without even a twinge. He also felt a surge of power as if he had regained his lost cultivation.
Wha-whats going on? Yang Wu was dumbfounded.
Last night, he had enjoyed a fantastic dream, in which he bathed and dined with a group of fairy maidens in a celestial spring. They had taken him to the sky, engaging in strange, sexual cultivation as they flew through the clouds. But hadnt that just been a dream?
And as he woke, he realized that his body felt as good as new as though he hadnt truly woken from the nights dream.
Am I really awake? He pped his cheek, and it stung, proof that he was.
Curious, he sat with his legs crossed to attempt to circte the energy absorptionbat art unique to the Yang n. As he began, four wordsSupreme Nine Profound Artshed through his mind. A series of mysterious incantations then overcame him, leaving him with no choice but to follow the technique, absorbing thetent Profound Energy around him.
Quickly, Yang Wu felt weak pulses of energy flow from his twelve meridians to his dantian. The sensation was warm, and he felt nourishing power radiate from his core. It was amazing!
This viscount has been blessed with heavens fortune! the young man joyously eximed. Its too good to be true! A simple dream has restored my body!
Yang Wu crawled out from his den and stretched his limbs. He only tried to contain his excitement after confirming that all injuries hadpletely healed.
My dantian has recovered, but I still dont have enough Profound Energy. I cant even wield a normal weapon. This is a far cry from my previous cultivation progress. I have to recultivate my energy as soon as possible. The only way to avoid others abuse is to prove my strength, the young man secretly dered.
He continued to consider the matter. The Supreme Nine Profound Art is more mysterious and extraordinary than the Yang nsbat art. However, the incantation indicated that I need to gather nine types of rare Profound Essences to evolve the art into the Ultimate Profound Art. For now, Im stuck at the beginning. Should I continue with this profound art or rely on the Yang nsbat art?
The young man could already sense how unusually powerful the Supreme Nine Profound Art was after cultivating the technique through a minor cycle. His current conundrum was the result.
He was collecting his thoughts when he heard a guard shouting at other prisoners not far from him. Without further ado, he fetched the crowbar from his den and rushed to the quarry.
Before he left, he addressed the little ck dog lying prone on the ground, Just wait, Sooty! If I can dig up twenty-five kilograms of Scarlet Steel Rock today, Ill trade it for a big bowl of meat and share half with you."
Yang Wu took his mining seriously while he wondered at his unbelievable luck. During the day, he also discovered that the peach pit he had secured in his belt was gone.
Thats right. The peach pitthat must be it! Last night, I dreamed that I enjoyed a grand banquet of immortality peaches with the fairy maidens. The banquet might not have been real, but the peach pit I had on me was. Now its missing, and Ive been healed. The pit has to have something to do with it! the youth asserted to himself.
But how did I swallow the pit?
He was sure that he had not swallowed it while sleepwalking, and finding its way into his stomach on its own was impossible. In that case, only one possibility remained: someone had fed him the peach pit.
Still, the situation did not make sense. Who, in this punishing ce, would do such a thing?
Giving it some more thought, Yang Wu considered Sooty. The pup had given him the peach pit, in the first ce, and had slept next to him through the night. This all had to have something to do with that little ck dog.
The youth recalled seeing hazy wisps when he had dug the dog out of the rubble yesterday, and mixed emotions shed across his face. Sooty has nearly human-like intelligence; it must have an unusual background!
He did not dwell on this matter long, though. Cherishing the opportunity and regaining his power as soon as possible were far more important.
He mined with all his strength. Scattered energy flowed through his twelve major meridians, increasing his strength considerably while he worked. He kept digging, and his strength felt inexhaustible, which only fed his excitement.
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Half a day passed, and the strength in his arms only grew. Prying free a decent-sized rock, he sent it flying. The energy in his meridians stirred restlessly as his dantian absorbed it, instantly and significantly elevating his strength.
Suddenly, his twelve major meridians experienced a sensation called Sweeping Melodious Energy. As the energy flowed through them, it emitted a soft ringing, which sang with a rhythm until eventually returning to his peach pit dantian. It then formed an enchanting, pure-white mist of Profound Energy.
This was a sign of reaching the Inferior Grade Foot Soldier Realm.
The Foot Soldier Realm was the lowest of the cultivation realms. However, each realm was further divided into the Inferior, Medial, Superior, and Consummate Grades, respectively. A cultivator needed to progress through each grade before reaching the next realm.
The first experience of Sweeping Melodious Energy was a sign of reaching the Inferior Grade Foot Soldier Realm, which then granted a cultivator between one and four stones of strength.
This was the first time Yang Wu had experienced Sweeping Melodious Energy since the destruction of his dantian. He now possessed a single stone of strength. When he gained the next, his meridians would resonate with that mysterious sound again, as they would with every stone he gained.
Yang Wu had reached the Consummate Grade before his cultivation had been crippled, ranking at the top of the Foot Soldier Realm with neen stones of strength. One step away from the Warrior Realm, he had been considered a genius for his age, which was how he had caught a princesss attention. Unfortunately, he had already found a sweetheart, thus refusing the imperial offer of marriage. His cmity of passion had brought disaster to his n.
[TL Note: The ancient Chinese has different terms for different kinds of princesses, like a princess daughter of the empress or that of a concubine. Their terms/titles show their differences in status. The term used here is sort of a lesser princess. Depending on the dynasty, this term/title can mean different things. However, in this particr case, this princess is the emperors niece, the daughter of the emperors younger brother. While not the emperors descendant, she holds the imperial familys name, making her a princess of sorts.]
I hadnt expected to recover to the Foot Soldier Realm so soon. It looks like Ill have to mine harder and build my strength. I need to reach my previous grade as quickly as possible to protect myself in this forsaken ce. If I can do more and reach the Warrior Realm, I should be able to escape this hell and identity. Yang Wus newly restored cultivation helped rebuild his confidence.
On a whim, a prison guard chose that moment to cause him trouble. After severalshes from his whip, the guard sted, You better start digging! Dont you dare ck off!
These guards needed no excuse to use their whips. Theyd even target prisoners for ridiculous reasons, such as how unpleasant one was to look at. They were especially eager to target Yang Wu, whom they had been instructed to single out.
The youth turned his head to re at the guard. The sharp, authoritative look was intimidating enough that the guard took a step back.
He was a noble viscount by birth and ustomed to luxury and an entourage. His superior air had been ingrained in him since birth. No one could me the guard for that moment of fear.
But that only irritated the guard further. He raised his whip tosh the young man a few more times. It was not until he had left an eye-catching bruise on Yang Wus perfectly healed body that he finally stopped.
Youd better beat me to death, or Ill ensure you suffer a fate ten times worse! Yang Wu retorted through clenched teeth.
Hmph, dont think I wouldnt dare. If not for the order to make your life worse than death, someone wouldve buried you by now. Dont act so proud. Youre nothing but a lowly prisoner here! the guard responded with a sneer.
The older man kicked Yang Wu again before wandering off, satisfied after venting his anger.
Skinny Monkey chose that time to appear out of nowhere. Bro, you really need to watch what you say. Youll suffer less that way.
They want me, a viscount, to submit. I refuse to let them have their way. Just wait and see. Ill be strong enough to get out of here soon, Yang Wu dered to his friend, standing proud, his back straight.
Looking at the young man before him, Skinny Monkey believed his im, although he wasnt sure why. Dont forget about me when the timees, my good brother.
Dont worry. If I make it out, Ill give you a helping hand! Yang Wus reply was serious, and after a pause, he continued, How about we make you the boss of cellblock 68?
Dont scare me like that, bro! Im timid. Skinny Monkey refused with a shudder.
If you dont, you might never find fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, even with a lifetime of mining. Just follow my lead. The only reason other prisoners have climbed the ranks is their reliance on brute strength. If we prove ourselves stronger than them, theyll have to obey us. Yang Wu exined his reasoning, glowing with confidence.
But...Im not all that strong. Skinny Monkey muttered the cowardly reply, looking down at his scrawny fists.
Show some backbone! The youth rolled his eyes. After a moment, he whispered, Come here. Ill teach you an energy absorption method. Whether or not you make it out of here will depend on how much talent you have for cultivation.
Skinny Monkeys pupils constricted before he inched closer, listening carefully to what hispanion had to say. As he closed the distance, he realized that Yang Wus arm, which had been broken only yesterday, was as good as new. He could not help but wonder, Does Yang Wu really have some sort of secret?
Yang Wu then shared the details of a General ssbat art called the Whirling Combat Art.
This technique had not been developed by the Yang n, but only the members of the Yang n were allowed to learn it. The art form was second only to the ns exclusivebat art, ranking as a Medial Grade General ss technique worth tens of thousands of gold.
The viscount shared the technique with Skinny Monkey only because he already saw the young man as a sworn brother.
Of course, he was ambitious as well, hoping Skinny Monkey would grow alongside him and be a suitable ally.
Skinny Monkey had gotten along with Yang Wu since the moment they had met, and he was immensely grateful for the chance to learn this newbat art. This solidified the foundation of the twos brotherhood.
The Whirling Combat Arts incantation was not long, and Yang Wu only taught Skinny Monkey half of it. Though he was growing fond of his new friend, they had not known each other long. He would wait and decide whether or not he would share the rest of the incantation down the road.
After listening to the incantation two or three times, Skinny Monkey had it memorized. Excited, he said, You truly are my benefactor, brother! He even felt as if he should kneel before Yang Wu.
The young man had note from a wealthy family and had been sent to this prison after being unjustly framed, yet he had dreamed of bing a cultivator ever since he was a boy. But how could some mountain peasant like him ever gain ess tobat arts and techniques? Even ordinary arts and techniques cost thousands of gold. No poor vige chap could afford such things.
Yang Wu grasped hispanions arm, preventing the young man from kneeling. With all seriousness, he said, Lets work hard on our cultivation and get out of here. A better world awaits us.
Alright, lets cultivate and get out of here together! This moment with his new brother rekindled hope within Skinny Monkey.
------ Currently still 2 chapters a week. Sorry for the slow pace. Just have to figure out how to speed up.
Chapter 5: Service, My Ass!
Chapter 5: Service, My Ass!
Unobscured, the sun beat down on the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison.
The prison was a wastnd of rock and stone. With the sun bearing down, most could not handle the heat.
Yang Wu and Skinny Monkey worked hard as they mined, sweat pouring down their backs like rain.
Most Scarlet Steel Rock was buried, requiring one to dig through the rubble to find it. Mining wasnt an easy task and required quite a bit of strength.
Since he had begun circting the Supreme Nine Profound Art, Yang Wu felt energized as if he possessed inexhaustible strength. When he would begin to tire, a new wave of energy would build within him. His dantian was warm, and energy flowed through his twelve major meridians freely.
For any prisoner, mining Scarlet Steel Rock was a torturous task. Between the demandedbor and exposure to the elements, exhaustion became a closepanion. However, Yang Wu saw this as an opportunity to temper his body and cultivate.
His every movement was rhythmic. This not only tempered his arms, but also his core and lower body. He coordinated every aspect to make the most of his newfound strength, increasing his endurance.
As the sun began to set, he discovered a massive chunk of Scarlet Steel Rock weighing more than one hundred kilograms. His muscles bulged, the veins visible, as he directed his Profound Energy through his arms. Determined, he snarled, Come free!
The boulder began to wiggle under the force but wasnt quite free yet.
With a deep breath, Yang Wu adjusted his rhythm, circting the Supreme Nine Profound Art madly. He struck at the stone around the boulder again.
A second failure!
A third!
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After the ninth attempt, he was drenched with sweat but refused to give up, visibly stubborn. He nted his feet, and although his arms felt as if they weighed five hundred kilograms, he drove his energy again. Frustrated and determined, he shouted again, his voice reverberating with energy, I saide free, damn it!
Crack!
The boulder rolled forward in a shower of debris and a cloud of dust.
Yang Wu thought he could use this chance to manifest the Sweeping Melodious Energy again, reaching two stones of strength, but the attempt failed. Fortunately, he discovered a significantlyrge chunk of Scarlet Steel Rock in the process.
With a little more digging, Yang Wu freed the boulder, hefting it in his hands. Overjoyed, he said, This is way more than twenty-five kilograms! Itll definitely be enough for a meaty meal!
Elsewhere, Skinny Monkey practiced the Whirling Combat Art Yang Wu had taught him. He spent his time familiarizing himself with his dantian, meridians, and acupoints, sensing the Profound Energy within him that granted far more physical strength. Motivated, he felt the pulsing heat within his dantian that apanied the gathering energy. He knew it would not be long before he advanced to the Foot Soldier Realm.
Skinny Monkey had also gotten lucky while mining, finding a ten-kilogram chunk of Scarlet Steel Rock. He, too, had earned enough for the days meal.
Pleased with themselves, the two boys walked together to trade in their bounty. However, the inmate who had bullied Yang Wu the day before stood in their way once again.
This time, Zhu Gan wasnt alone. Three ferocious-looking inmates apanied him, ring daggers at the two young men.
You didnt visit Elder Sister Wangst night, Zhu Gan announced. I guess yesterdays lesson wasnt enough. The older inmate stared coldly down at Yang Wu, his arms crossed across his chest.
Before Yang Wu could reply, Skinny Monkey offered the Scarlet Steel Rock he had found with a ttering smile. This is all of the Scarlet Steel Rock I mined today. Theres no need for my brother to hand his over, right?
Zhu Gan snatched the stone from Skinny Monkeys hand, weighing it. Hah! How selfless of you! The man then gave Yang Wu a yful look. Just hand it over obediently, ande with me to see Sister Wang. If you refuse again, Ill break your other wrist.
Reminded, Zhu Gan gave the youth a confused look. I know I broke the brats wrist, so how did he mine that chunk of Scarlet Steel Rock? The brat must have gotten lucky.
Indignant, Yang Wu snarled, Youre nothing but a worthless bully!
Youre right, but so what, trash? Zhu Gan walked over and patted the younger man on the cheek gently, showing utter disregard for Yang Wus growing anger.
Yang Wu did not try to avoid Zhu Gans humiliating gesture. Instead, his fury seemingly vanished, reced by a charming smile. Yeah, I am trash. Please, take my Scarlet Steel Rock.
No ones emotions shift so quickly.
Well, well. If you had been this smart, to begin with, you wouldnt have suffered. Come with me and service Sister Wang, Zhu Ganmanded with a cocky grin, patting the youths cheek again. Youre so skinny, though. I wonder if you can handle her.
The older inmate assumed Yang Wu was a crippled cultivator and didnt pay him much mind. Besides, the boy was in over his head, wasnt he?
Patient, Yang Wu waited until Zhu Gan let down his guard. Service, my ass! he snarled,nding a solid kick to Zhu Gans most sensitive area.
He had never expected the youth to be bold enough to strike and had no time to defend himself. Caught off guard, the kick connected with the very root of a mans being. Despite being a Foot Soldier, not even Zhu Gan could endure such a powerful blow to his most vulnerable weakness. Even those watching the exchange, including Zhu Gans threepanions, felt their blood run cold as their hands shot down to protect their own roots.
Y-you attacked Zhu Gan! one of the threeckeys shouted, shocked. Lets take this brat down, boys! Elder Sister Wang will take it out on us if we let this slide!
Unfortunately, Zhu Ganspanion was too slow, and Yang Wu struck again. With his crowbar in hand, he swung at the prisoners head.
A dull thud rang out, and the inmate grunted. The blow tore open his scalp, and blood poured down his face. I-Im bleeding! the man eximed, panicking. His eyes then rolled back, and he passed out on the spot.
He hadnt passed out from the pain but simply from the sight of his own blood.
Of course, Yang Wu didnt have time to focus on that inmate. With a flourish, he spun the crowbar, treating it as an extension of his arm. He struck both other prisoners, neither of whom had reacted yet. The two had no time to defend themselves, and they, too, passed out from blows to the head, resulting in more spilled blood.
Yang Wu had taken care of all threeckeys in an instant, and Zhu Gan was still crumpled on the ground. Meanwhile, Skinny Monkey stood by, utterly speechless.
Has Brother Yang been hiding his strength this whole time? He wondered. Zhu Gan beat him so badly yesterday, yet he took out multiple opponents with just a few hits today! He wondered if his eyes were ying tricks on him.
After considering thebat art Yang Wu had taught him yesterday, however, Skinny Monkey realized there was nothing unusual about the other youths strength.
With the crowbar across his shoulders, Yang Wu approached his bully, who still fought to breathe. With a wicked grin, the younger man mocked, When I started fighting, you were squatting in this jail. I already have my hands full with the trouble Im in. How can I just let a bunch of dogs like you make things harder on me? Remember todays lesson. If you cannot ept this, tell that fat bitch toe and find me.
Di-didnt I break your hand? How are you using it as if its fine? Zhu Gan stuttered, staring up at the boy while still clutching his crotch.
Naturally, this viscount is immortal and indestructible. How could an insignificant, wretched tramp like you possibly imagine such a thing? Yang Wu snorted, letting the crowbar in his hand drop on Zhu Gans head, leaving a bloody gash. Ignoring the wounded men, he turned to his friend. Lets go, Skinny Monkey.
Skinny Monkey gulped and turned to follow, but after two steps, he stopped. Emboldened, he strode back and reimed his chunk of Scarlet Steel Rock before giving Zhu Gan a swift kick for his trouble. Thats what you get for trying to bully us!
Both young men traded in their stones for significant amounts of food. Yang Wu had enough to trade for a bowl of meat, as well as his steamed buns and porridge. The meat had gone a little bad, but it was better than nothing.
He shared the meat with Skinny Monkey, eating both buns and the porridge. After eating most of his remaining meat, he saved the rest for Sooty. He felt obligated to reward the pup. After all, it had brought him good luck.
However, once Yang Wu returned to his den and offered the meat, the little dog gave it a disdainful look after a single sniff. Apparently, the pup didnt want any.
I specifically saved this for you, you know! Eat it, Sooty, Yang Wu insisted, annoyed at the dogs reaction.
Woof, woof. With two soft barks, a wag of its tail, and a shake of its head, the pup refused.
You really dont want it? the youth asked. Ill eat it if you dont. Dont me me if you starve to death.
After waiting a moment, Yang Wu gave up with a huff. Fine, then. Ill eat it, then. I need to replenish my energy, anyway.
------
Far from Yang Wus den stood a stone hut, Elder Sister Wang Yans current residence.
Wang Yan was one of the minor bosses among the cellblock 86s inmates, a subordinate of Little Ugly Girl, one of the seven big shots in the prison. For a Medial Grade Foot Soldier, forcefully iming a residence unlike the other prisoners wasnt unusual.
The woman was ratherrge and grotesque, but she loved strong, handsome young men like Yang Wu. She looked forward to his arrival.
Unfortunately for her, the only thing to arrive was news that Zhu Gan and hispanions had been efficiently beaten.
That youth must be quite skilled to beat Zhu Gan so badly. He is worthy of my high opinion of him, Wang Yan muttered appreciatively, picking her nose. Shi Dan, she barked at the man she had pinned down earlier. I dont care what you have to do; you will bring Yang Wu to me tomorrow. I cant wait for that young man to take care of my needs.
But, Sister Wang, dont I satisfy you? the round man whined softly, clearly resentful.
Youre little friend is no bigger than a toothpick! Arent you embarrassed to even ask that? Wang Yan rolled her eyes.
Youre so harsh, Sister Wang! the manined. Ill catch that brat, and well see who stands taller! Crushed, Shi Dan ran from the stone hut, hiding his face behind his hands.
Wang Yan watched the pathetkey flee, murmuring, Ah, Im so lucky the squad leader asked me to take care of such a handsome catch! Heh.
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Chapter 6: Let Us Work Hard Together
Chapter 6: Let Us Work Hard Together
The clouds glowed with shifting sparkles as the rising sun broke through; dawn had just arrived.
A young man had already emerged from his den in the Smoke Signal Mountain Prisons cellblock 68. He sat with his legs crossed before his small hovel, forming a seal with his hands as he began to absorb energy.
The propitious energy of daybreak only manifested with the rising sun.
[TL Note: The propitious energy of daybreak, or literally tranted as the purple energy from the east, refers to a good omen. However, in cultivation novels, it often refers to an energy that manifests at daybreak, which is pure and rich. As a result, it is also frequently said that daybreak is the best time to cultivate.]
The young man took advantage of the opportunity to cultivate his profound art. Catching a wisp of propitious energy, he swiftly absorbed it into his dantian, which consumed the iing energy as if it had not been fed in days. Warmth rose from his dantian, sweeping through his body, and it wasnt long before he heard two reverberating rings from within his twelve major meridians. Meanwhile, the Profound Energy within his dantian grew considerably denser.
Two Sweeping Melodious Energy events!
This signaled two consecutive breakthroughs, and the youth gained two more stones of strength.
An utterly satisfied smile broke across the young mans face as he muttered to himself, True to legend, the early mornings propitious energy is the best Profound Energy. I finally caught a wisp, and even that was enough to gain two stones of strength. If I keep this up, reestablishing myself as a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier will only be a matter of days.
Coming from a noble n, Yang Wu had heard the legend of the dawns energy from his ns experts many times. Unfortunately, he had never been able to absorb any of this rare energy using his familysbat art. Relying on the Supreme Nine Profound Art, however, he finally saw results.
Still, he was notcent. Even if he recovered to his prior strength, he knew freeing himself this prison would not be easy. He would have to progress past his previous level if he wanted a reasonable chance of getting out for good.
A better life was not his only reason for wanting to leave. He also intended to visit his parents, who had been punished for his refusal, and his younger brother, who had been forced to relinquish his status as a top schr to keep Yang Wu alive.
Father, Mother, and Brother, wait for me. I will not be the reason the Yang n falls! Yang Wu dered, shaking a clenched fist.
Not longter, he took up his crowbar and left to search for Skinny Monkey. Once the two found each other, they got to work.
Skinny Monkey seemed far more energetic than the day before. He could feel his strength grow as he mined Scarlet Steel Rock. Swinging both arms, he pried free more than fifty kilograms of stone, and as he did, he noticed a strange melody reverberate within. Turning to Yang Wu, who wasnt far from him, he cried out, Brother, theres some strange sound ringinginside me.
Yang Wu was astounded for a moment, then gave his friend a thumbs-up. Congrattions. Youre now a Foot Soldier.
Tears instantly began to roll down Skinny Monkeys face. If he had not been in prison, he would have screamed with excitement. Ever since he was a boy, he had dreamed of bing a cultivator. Now that his dream hade true, he could barely contain his joy.
Dont get too excited. We should continue mining and use this opportunity to train. An Inferior Grade Foot Soldier is only a little stronger than your average man. You need to advance to the Medial, Superior, and Consummate Grades. To survive a battlefield, we have to break past the Foot Soldier Realm and be Warriors. Lets work hard! Yang Wu told his sworn brother nonchntly.
Skinny Monkey took a while to regain hisposure and, practically glowing, he agreed.Alright, lets do this!
Good. But the fact that youve broken into the Foot Soldier Realm in only a day proves how much talent you have for cultivation. Its enviable! Yang Wu offered sincere praise.
He had not exaggerated. He had started cultivating at a young age, bing a Foot Soldier at ten. It had taken him another six years to reach the Consummate Grade, and his progress had been fast enough to earn him praise as a genius.
Yet after learning to absorb energy for the first time, Skinny Monkey had made a breakthrough in a single day, proving that he was exceptionally talented.
Motivated, the young man returned to mining, swinging his crowbar like a madman.
His sworn brothers progress blew Yang Wu away. He had thought gaining three stones of strength in such a short time was remarkable, but seeing the speed with which Skinny Monkey had reached the Foot Soldier Realm sparked hispetitive spirit, and he pushed himself to work harder, as well.
Mining was physically punishing for ordinary prisoners, but it actually helped cultivators like them hone their strength, allowing them to grow stronger faster.
In each area he excavated, Yang Wu assumed a horse stance, which not only trained his arms, but his legs as well. He needed to work his upper and lower body in tandem to mobilize the energy within his twelve major meridians smoothly.
The Supreme Nine Profound Art he had received far surpassed the Yang nsbat art, and although he could only practice the introductory techniques, it had proven significantly beneficial.
While he worked, the meager energy in the young mans dantian continued to fluctuate. After some time, the wisp of propitious energy he had gathered that morning finally transformed into Profound Energy, and he sensed another strange ring from within his twelve meridians.
Three consecutive rings in a day, leaving him with a total of four stones of strength, meant the young man was now close to the Medial Grade Foot Soldier Realm.
Yang Wu did not feel worn out as the day passed. On the contrary, he felt radiant. However, he found his hunger grew faster than normal as he needed to replenish the energy he used.
The young man was surprised he had acquired four stones of strength in the span of two days. With a single hand, he could now lift a boulder weighing more than fifty kilograms effortlessly.
On the other hand, Skinny Monkey did not have another breakthrough that day, but he did spend his time familiarizing himself with the Whirling Combat Art. Growing remarkably stronger, he believed it was just a matter of time before he gained another stone.
The two youths mined a few different areas of the quarry, each gathering a significant amount of Scarlet Steel Rock, enough to guarantee their dinner for the day.
s, these two were drifters, without protection. Naturally, other prisoners were bound to cause them trouble.
The Smoke Signal Mountain Prison was home to seven great gang leaders, all of whom had scattered their underlings throughout the cellblocks. Besides Wang Yan, who collected Scarlet Steel Rock on behalf of Little Ugly Girl, one of the seven big shots, block 68 was home to Centipede, a man who served another gang leaderck Ape.
Anyone who wanted to leave the prison and free themselves of the prisoner status had to surrender fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, after all. It was not an easy task.
The seven great gang leaders had proven themselves to be the strongest of the prisons residents. To secure their release as quickly as possible, they had gathered others under their wings to collect Scarlet Steel Rock on their behalf.
As the day came to a close, Yang Wu and Skinny Monkey were introduced to Centipede, ck Apesckey.
Hey, you two! Leave half of your Scarlet Steel Rock with us and join the ck Ape Gang. Well take care of you, one of the prisoners, known as Hedgehog, called out, leading four others to surround the two young men.
Hedgehog was one of Centipedesckeys and had the strength of an Inferior Grade Foot Soldier.
Skinny Monkey whispered into Yang Wus ear, exining, ck Ape and Little Ugly Girl, Wang Yans superior, are two of the prisons big shots.
Yang Wu nodded in understanding. After a quick nce elsewhere, his mouth curved in a fawning smile. Half of our load wouldnt be nearly enough. Why dont you take all of it?
Hearing that, a wide grin graced Hedgehogs face. Haha! Excellent! I see you know the rules well. Im sure you have a bright future ahead of you.
True to his word, Yang Wu presented his bounty to the gangs representatives, baffling hispanion. Skinny Monkey had never expected the young man to submit so readily. As it came time for Skinny Monkey to present his share, another group arrived on the scene.
Are you looking for trouble, Hedgehog? How dare you collect Scarlet Steel Rock from this rascal?! Hasnt anyone told you that Elder Sister Wang has her eye on him? Shi Dan, another of Wang Yans minions, loudly used the man, thrusting a finger at the spiky-haired prisoner.
Shooting Shi Dan a sidelong re, Hedgehog replied, dripping with disdain, Centipedes envoy is interested, as well. Besides, hes already given us his Scarlet Steel Rock as a token of his allegiance. So, hes under our care now. Little Ugly Girls gang had better back off, or well make you.
Naturally, Shi Dan would not tolerate this. He was under orders to bring the youth back to his mistress. If he failed, he would pay for it.
Hesing with me. Just try and stop me! he shouted before turning to the prisoners at his back. Get this guy to Elder Sister Wang. Beat down anyone who gets in your way!
Shi Dan, your actions are an open deration of war on ck Ape! Hedgehog snarled, holding his crowbar across his chest.
So be it! Ill ruin you here and now.
Alright, and lets see how you fare once I castrate your sorry ass!
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Chapter 7: Sealing Pearl
Chapter 7: Sealing Pearl
Shi Dan and Hedgehog fought fiercely. They had equal numbers behind them, and their personal strengths were on the same level. Determining a victor without witnessing actualbat would be difficult.
Both Shi Dan and Hedgehog were Inferior Grade Foot Soldiers, but their subordinates were ordinary inmates. It was not a pretty fight.
Beside Yang Wu, Skinny Monkey whispered, We should get out of here, brother.
Go? But we have minions to perform for us. Watch carefully. If you think they fight well, cheer them on. Yang Wu dismissed his friends concerns with a wave of his hand.
Cheer them on? Why? Those guys came here to cause trouble, Skinny Monkey nervously protested, pulling on his friends arm.
Yang Wu pulled his arm and Skinny Monkey back. Youre a cultivator now. What do you have to fear? Watch closely. Could you take them in a fight?
Hearing hispanions confidence, Skinny Monkey calmed down. He watched the battle carefully, then replied, Except for Shi Dan and Hedgehog, I should be stronger than any of them in a one-on-one fight.
There we go. Inferior Grade Foot Soldiers have one to four stones of strength. Right now, you have one stone, which makes you stronger than an ordinary person. If you had four, youd be powerful enough to kill those guys with one punch, Yang Wu exined. He paused before continuing, To be a sessful cultivator, you needbat techniques, in addition to energy absorption methods, to disy your full strength. These guys fighting methods are messy and disorganized. Theyre only effective as a mob.
Yang Wu had not kept his voice down, and both Shi Dan and Hedgehog had heard him. They had not been taking the fight too seriously, simply trying to scare the other away, but the young mans disrespecttreating them like lowly entertainersmade them pause.
Are you trying to piss us off, brat? Hedgehog snarled, staring at Yang Wu.
It seems hes deliberately trying to mock. Why dont we crush him now and worry about the consequencester? Shi Dan suggested.
Hedgehog hesitated before agreeing. Alright, lets teach him a lesson. Cant let him get too cocky.
Oh, werent you two enjoying your battle? Why dont you continue? It wasnt great to watch, but it was better than nothing, Yang Wu quipped.
He really is mocking us! Shi Dan was so furious that smoke nearly drifted from his ears.
It looks like well have to work together if we want to vent our frustration, Hedgehogmented coldly.
Unconcerned, Yang Wu turned to Skinny Monkey. Watch me put these guys in their ce. He then gestured to the two inmates, waving them on. Come at me together. I have to hurry; its time to eat.
You little bastard! You only defeated Zhu Gan due to pure luck! Do you really think so highly of yourself? Shi Dan scolded him before taking a shot.
Such a sharp tongue; guess Ill have to shut you up! Hedgehog shouted, swinging to p the young man in the mouth.
As far as the two men were concerned, this youth was, at best, as strong as a fresh Foot Soldier. They could easily take him!
Of course, the moment they advanced, Yang Wu was already moving.
Today, I will use you as practice, lest you continue to believe this viscount is only useful as a victim.
Yang Wu began to take on the superior air of a viscount. Sensing the change and intimidated, both Hedgehog and Shi Dan hesitated. With a graceful step forward and the crowbar in hand, Yang Wu drew a beautiful arc with his weapon, quickly striking both opponents.
Rainstorm Spear Arts first move, Dark Clouds Covering the Sky!
Yang Wu was the son of a noble n and had already been a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier. He had trained severalbat techniques during that time, as well. The Rainstorm Spear Art were a set of Warrior ss spear techniques, which included five moves in all. Dark Clouds Covering the Sky was the first, though its power was not to be underestimated.
Yang Wu lifted his crowbar, and the ghostly image of a spear oveyed the weapon. Tension crackled like a prelude to a storm. Dark clouds drifted in to cover the sky in a horrifying show of power.
Neither Hedgehog nor Shi Dan knew anybat techniques. Seeing Yang Wus stance, their first instinct was terror. They managed to parry two attacks, but the impact from their weapons colliding with the young mans was overwhelming.
Ahhhh!
The Smoke Signal Mountain Prison gave its inmates crowbars specifically forged with Scarlet Steel Rock. These tools needed to be durable and dense, or they wouldntst long in the quarry. They also happened to make excellent weapons.
By this point, Yang Wu had regained four stones of strength, and he used his full power in this fight. Even a Medial Grade Foot Soldier might struggle to defend themselves against the young mans blows, much less Hedgehog and Shi Dan, who were both Inferior Grade cultivators with three stones.
Failing against Yang Wus attacks, one of the men cradled his hands, while the other clutched his feet and rolled to the ground, screaming.
Yang Wu hadmand of the battle with two simple strikes, but he refused to give either of these men a chance to retaliate. The crowbar continued to fall on their prone forms, making them cry out for mercy.
Please stop! Spare me!
I surrender! Please! My hand is broken! one of the men sobbed.
Some passing prisoners paused, shocked, when they saw the scene.
Hedgehog and Shi Dan represented two separate factions within the prison. To see some unknown newbie beat them so severely was surprising, to say the least.
Who is that young man? Hes so ferocious.
Doesnt he realize those guys are from two different gangs? How brave!
Haha! Its nice to see those guys take a beating for a change! Kick their asses!
He might be enjoying himself now, but hell pay the price tomorrow.
------
Yang Wu did not beat the men to death. After all, he was still a neer, and the guards were watching. He would be in for a tough time if he killed them.
Naturally, theckeys Hedgehog and Shi Dan had brought with them wanted to protect the two, and that was when Skinny Monkey finally decided to join in.
You small fries will have to get past me, first! Skinny Monkey informed them, waving his crowbar toward the minions.
He was driven by loyalty and blood. Although his fight was not graceful, he was strong, and he knocked two of the inmates down with two or three hits. But he was outnumbered. A little overwhelmed, he started to falter. Just as the other men were about to pounce on Skinny Monkey, Yang Wu realized what was happening. Dont you hurt my brother! he growled.
Yang Wu carried his crowbar into the crowd of sheep like a wolf, his hand moving like lightning. He repeatedly struck critical areas on the inmates bodies again and again. He severely injured them before they had a chance to defend themselves and left them screaming. They had lost any ability to fight back.
Concerned, Yang Wu reached out to his sworn brother. Are you alright, Skinny Monkey?
Skinny Monkey touched the blood oozing from his forehead and smiled. Its alright. Their weak hits cant hurt me.
Well, lets go. The guards areing! Yang Wu wanted to say more, but noticing several prison guards in the distance, he pulled Skinny Monkey into a run.
Fortunately, the guards did not chase after them, and the two young men were relieved to trade their daily haul in for food.
Both Yang Wu and Skinny Monkey were starving. They had consumed a lot of energy and needed to eat to replenish it. They wolfed down their dinners with no regard for how the food tasted.
Yang Wu, however, saved one of his steamed buns. He intended to take it back to his den and see if Sooty would eat it.
Why hadnt the little dog eaten the meat I offeredst night? Is it a vegetarian? Yang Wu wondered.
Although the thought seemed impossible, he saved the bun for the pup anyway. However, if Sooty refused to eat it, he would not let the food go to waste.
Halfway back to his den, a dark shadow crossed Yang Wus path, startling him. At first, he thought it was an ambush, but before he could strike, the shadow fell to the ground.
Upon closer inspection, Yang Wu realized the shadow was an old, disheveled prisoner. The old man was breathing hard as hey, wheezing as his lungs tried to give up hisst breath.
Giveme a bite. II dont want to be a hungry ghost. Please, the inmate begged weakly.
[TL Note: The term hungry ghost refers to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungry_ghosttext=Hungry%20ghost%20is%20a%20concept,needs%20in%20an%20animalistic%20way.There is even a Hungry Ghost Festival that runs for one month in Southeast Asia. There is a link rting to that: /singapore/things-to-do/the-guide-to-hungry-ghost-festival-in-singapore.]
After a moment of hesitation, Yang Wu shook his head. Im sorry, uncle. I dont have anything to spare.
People starved to death every day in this prison. Yang Wu had almost sumbed, yet no one had offered a single bite. This old prisoner was certainly dying, but Yang Wu could not afford to be kind, regardless of the pity he felt.
All of these prisoners had been found guilty of some crime. Although some had surely been wronged, as he had, he had no reason to be a good man. He had to look after himself first.
I-Ill trade you my family heirloom! I havent eaten for several days. Please. Im dying. As the old man insisted, he reached up and plucked out one of his eyes.
Yang Wu was stunned.
But the young man soon realized the old inmate was not bleeding. The man had not plucked out a real eye, but a fake one!
Yang Wu took a serious look at the fake eye, and his own eyes began to shine. Without hesitation, he epted the offer. Alright! I ept your trade!
He immediately handed his steamed bun to the old man, taking the fake eye in exchange.
Sadly, the man did not even have the strength to take a bite. His eyes rolled back, and the old, starved prisoner died.
With a sigh, Yang Wu dragged the mans body to an empty den and proceeded to bury him.
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Once he had finished, Yang Wu quickly returned to his own den. There, he examined the bead that had served as a false eye. Flush with anticipation, he muttered to himself, It seems my luck has changed. I must be heaven-blessed to find a Sealing Pearl here.
Yang Wu cradled the ck bead in his palm. It did not look special, and any ordinary person would not give it a second thought. However, he had seen a simr bead in the Yang ns treasure house. His father had called it a Sealing Pearl. The little bead had hidden lines across its surface, which sealed within a precious inheritance.
Usually, such an inheritance would be abat art, technique, or some other secret.
Essentially, this little bead was a precious relic some powerful individual had left behind. Otherwise, no one would have bothered to seal the secret within and pass it down through their family.
I wonder what this Sealing Pearl contains, Yang Wu thought. Just as he tried to open it, however, Sooty rushed into the den.
Yang Wu did not think anything odd about the little dogs sudden entrance, but when he saw what Sooty held in its mouth, his eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
------
Chapter 8: Consuming Blood Ginseng
Chapter 8: Consuming Blood Ginseng
Blood ginseng!
Unlike ordinary ginseng, this was an extremely rare medicinal material. Its body was crystalline and crimson, giving off a strong ginseng odor. Whoever caught a whiff would be ovee with the desire to im the root.
With the ability to boost ones vitality and longevity, blood ginsengs medicinal properties were more powerful than average ginseng. The material could also strengthen a cultivators bone and muscle. Of course, any sacred tonic made with it would be expensive.
Once, a long time ago, Yang Wu had seen a few of these roots in the Yangs treasure vault. His father had promised to gift him one once he reached the Warrior Realm.
Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Sooty to walk in with a blood ginseng root clenched between its teeth. Furthermore, half of the root was gone, leaving only a small amount of ginseng. His heart clenched at the sight.
The ck pup walked up to him, tail wagging as if proud of what it had found.
He stooped down and carefully took the blood ginseng root,menting, Sooty, oh, Sooty. Youve wasted a treasure!
Though the root was small, Yang Wu considered it exceptionally valuable due to its rarity.
Sootys tongue lolled, and when the little dog noticed the sealing pearl in Yang Wus other hand, a spark shed in its eyes. Woof, woof! It barked softly.
It was about to snatch the bead from the young mans hand, but Yang Wu reacted quickly, pulling the hand back. Dont mess around, Sooty. You cant eat this, he scolded the pup nervously.
Barking, the little dog jumped twice, attempting to snatch the bead away, but each attempt was easily dodged. I can give you anything but this. This bead may y a role in my ns; you cant eat it.
The dog rolled its eyes and finally retreated to a corner, no longer interested. Circling its spot and stretchingzily, it went to sleep.
Yang Wu dismissed the pup as he returned to his careful examination of the sealing pearl in his right hand. With a nce at the small blood ginseng root in his left, a gratified smile spread across his face. Heaven has certainly lent me a hand. With these two items, I wont need to be concerned with how soon Ill reach my previous cultivation status.
Without further ado, Yang Wu stored the sealing pearl and took a small bite out of the blood ginseng. He did not dare bite off toorge a chunk, knowing it might be too potent for his body. If he could not metabolize the ginseng properly, he would waste this chance and potentially harm himself in the process.
The taste was bittersweet as he chewed, and as wisps of medicinal energy began to flow through his system, he felt his temperature rise. His dantian clenched with what felt like hunger pangs. Responding quickly, he circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art to aid his digestion.
Relying on the profound art, Yang Wu directed the blood ginsengs medicinal energy toward his dantian, which felt as if it hadnt received any kind of sustenance for several days and greedily consumed the new energy. The results were instantaneous, and a pure energy manifested within his dantian.
The pure energy rushed through his twelve major meridians like a gushing river, roaring as its waves surged. The sound of crashing water was music to his ears.
This was the sign he had been waiting for, the sign that he had be a Medial Grade Foot Soldier.
This new, pure energy also improved Yang Wus blood cirction, considerably boosting his vitality. In the process, it reinforced his meridians, organs, and bones.
Of course, the young man could not see any of this happening within him. He only felt a soothingfort as if he had submerged himself in a hot spring.
Not longter, he heard another melodious ringing reverberate from within. The sound came as fast and as furious as water through rapids as Profound Energy rotated between his dantian and his meridians, rippling through his system. This Profound Energy wasrgely different from the energy most cultivators experienced; it was denser and more pristine. Yang Wus unusual peach pit dantian might be behind this fortuitous oddity; average Medial Grade Foot Soldiers hardly had such a solid foundation to work with.
This time, the melody within Yang Wu sang three times, indicating that he had gained another three stones of strength, reaching seven in total. Now, he was only three stones away from the Superior Grade.
This all happened within the same hour, and by the time it was over, he had refined all of the energy from the small nibble of blood ginseng he had consumed.
The blood ginseng had provided more than enough medicinal energy for a Warrior. The fact that Yang Wu had absorbed it so quickly was more proof that the Supreme Nine Profound Art was exceptional. Other profound arts might fail to absorb the medicinal energy as quickly.
When Yang Wu opened his eyes, the exhausted dark circles under them were gone. He looked alert and vibrant.
He realized his hearing had grown much sharper, as well. He could only attribute the improvement to the blood ginseng and his most recent achievement of breaking through to the next cultivation grade.
He stretched for a moment, sighing, Sofortable!
The young man had so much excess energy that he did not think twice before emerging from his den. He wanted to spend some of his free time practicing hisbat techniques.
As he straightened outside, he realized his manhood was particrly robust. The sight made him blush, and he muttered under his breath, This viscount is quite spirited tonight!
Sadly, there were few women in this forsaken ce, and even if there were, he wouldnt relieve his tensions with them. A man had to maintain his virginity for sixteen years before he could present his body to the woman he loved, and Yang Wu was a man of principles.
The most promiscuous he had been before his prison sentence had been harmless flirting with his pretty maids. Other than stroking their petite hands, patting perky bums, and asionally stealing a sly glimpse of their voluptuous bosoms, he did not vite propriety.
The young man took a moment to survey his surroundings; the other prisoners had already crawled into their hovels to rest, and the guards had finished their rounds. Under the moonless, pitch-dark sky, he could not even see his hand in front of his face. He knew no one would discover him if he trained in the dark shadows. Hence, he slid into the horse stance and wielded his crowbar as he practiced the Rainstorm Spear Art.
The Rainstorm Spear Art was a Superior Grade Warrior ssbat technique, which consisted of five moves.
Before Yang Wus imprisonment, he had trained with the five moves until he had reached the Proficient stage.
A cultivators skill withbat techniques fell into one of four stages: Established, Proficient, Aplished, and Perfection.
In the Established stage, cultivators were familiar with thebat techniques various moves and may perform them gracefully, yet they were far from unleashing the moves true might. Cultivators who were Proficient, however, were considered to have a solid understanding of the moves, able to exhibit a fraction of their might. Cultivators at the Aplished stage had a thorough grasp of the moves and could use them flexibly, chaining multiple moves together. The final stage, Perfection, was reached only when cultivators could use thebat techniques moves without inhibition, massively increasing their prowess in battle.
Most cultivators easily reached the Established and Proficient stages, and those who became Aplished with a technique were usually quick learners and motivated to practice longer and harder. Only practitioners with extraordinaryprehension and the ability to derive elusive information could reach the Perfection stage. Abat techniques moves would vary in strength depending on how much of the move a cultivator understood.
Yang Wu had practiced the Rainstorm Spear Art for several years, yet he had only be Proficient. The fact that he was now Aplished with the first two moves was incredible.
Using the crowbar as he would a spear, Yang Wu brandished his weapon.
Dark Clouds Covering the Sky.
Arrows of Savage Rain.
Rolling Thunder Shifting Winds.
Torrential Downpour.
Promised Rainbow.
------ A small shift in posting dates. For now, I''ll be posting on Tuesdays and Fridays, 1145 am GMT +8
I am looking to increase release rates in the future, but things are moving a little slow at the moment.
Chapter 9: The Head of Cellblock 68
Chapter 9: The Head of Cellblock 68
On a night so dark one could not see their outstretched hand, only distant howls shook the mountain prison.
Yang Wu repeatedly trained with the Rainstorm Spear Art, attempting to infuse every part of his body with the blood ginsengs energy. Finally, after arduous hours, he used up all of the raging energy within.
Throughout his time in the prison, he had also regained seven stones of strength, his condition improving drastically.
Cultivating the Rainstorm Spear Art again has led to new revtions. I can sense that Im nearly Aplished with thest three moves, Yang Wu excitedly muttered to himself.
He wiped the sweat from his brow with a gloomy look. The longer I stay in this forsaken ce, the dirtier I be. They dont even give us any water to wash up. This handsome face and hunky body are going to waste!
Rather than returning to his den after his training, he went in search of Skinny Monkey.
Thetter was not asleep at this early hour, but busy training in the Whirling Combat Art. With some food in his belly, Skinny Monkey had plenty of energy to cultivate, and it wasnt long until he heard the strange melody ring from within his body, signifying he had gained another stone of strength. His growth speed was incredible!
The Whirling Combat Art was only a Medial Grade General ss art, hardly anyone in the Xia Dynasty could use it to grow so strong so quickly.
This was proof that Skinny Monkey had the perfect physique for cultivation.
Startled by someones arrival, Skinny Monkey called out, Brother Yang, is that you?
Yeah, Im here. Come out for a moment, Yang Wu answered.
Without any hesitation, thenky man slipped out of his den. Whats wrong? he asked.
Ive decided to make you the head of block 68! Yang Wu announced.
Skinny Monkey shuddered. Youyoure kidding, right? I did hear my body ring again, and Ive grown a little stronger, butif I dere myself the cellblocks boss, the rest of the inmates will beat me to a pulp.
At that, Yang Wu raised an eyebrow. His voice lowered, he asked, Did you hear it a second time?
Skinny Monkey nodded earnestly. Yes, it rang again just before you got here. I feel quite a bit stronger now.
Yang Wu patted his friends shoulder with a heartyugh. Good! This is great news! I hadnt expected you to be a genius cultivator. You managed to trigger the Sweeping Melodious Energy twice in one day! Now, you have two stones of strength. If you continue to train at this speed, youll be a Warrior in no time. If you manage to find a skilled teacher, I wouldnt be surprised if you be a peak expert down the road.
Ive onlye this far because of you, Brother Yang! Although he was ted, Skinny Monkey did not let his sess go to his head. He was very aware that he would not have had a chance to cultivate if not for Yang Wus Whirling Combat Art.
This is the fruit of yourbor. I only gave you an opportunity. Yang Wu waved a hand and, after a pause, continued, You should grab your crowbar and follow me.
Skinny Monkey followed his friends instructions without another word.
Where are we going? he asked as they walked.
Were going tounch a surprise attack against that fat bitch!
Are you serious? You really want to sacrifice yourself to satisfy that woman? You should leave this to me! She might break my frail body, but Ill still give it my best!
What are you going on about? One look at that bitch is enough to make me puke. Why would I give myself to her? You and I are going to take her down. As the saying goes: to catch the thieves, we need to catch the ringleader. Taking her out is the only way we can establish our positions in block 68, Yang Wu solemnly exined.
Yang Wu was not a mindless brute. Generations of the Yang n had been generals for a reason. His father, in particr, had been a well-known general and equally aplished schr. Skilled in bothbat and strategy, the young man took after his father. Thus, he was well versed on the importance of a preemptive strike.
If Wang Yan decided to take Yang Wu seriously and lead herrge camp against them, the two young men might not survive.
Skinny Monkey was no fool, either, and he quickly grasped hisrades intentions. His grip tightened on the crowbar as determination shed in his gaze. It was at that moment that he decided he would follow Yang Wu into the abyss and back.
Meanwhile, Yang Wu was utterly confident. He had just broken through to the Medial Grade Foot Soldier Realm, wielding seven stones of strength. He figured it would be enough to take the grotesque woman out.
Unaware in her stone hut, Wang Yan fumed. She had sent her men to fetch the young man two days in a row and to no avail. Not only had they been beaten, but the squad leader had also reprimanded her for the failure. She knew she would be in even more trouble if she failed to humiliate Yang Wu soon.
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Yang Wus a rather good catch; I should have gone after him myself. It looks like I will have to get involved directly tomorrow. The thought of enjoying such a strong, young body is too much to bear! Wang Yan said to herself, drooling as she clenched her thick thighs.
Suddenly, she heard a soft rustling nearby, and she sensed someone approaching.
Who dares encroach on my territory in the middle of the night? Alert, the woman dragged herself up to investigate.
Suddenly, the young man she had been dreaming of appeared before her. Wiping away a string of drool, she asked, So, youre finally willing toe to me? I knew you liked me!
Yang Wu vomited a little in his mouth but held it in. Coldly, he demanded, Submit to me, and Ill spare your life.
Oh,e! Subdue me, then! You can get rough with me. I dont mind! Wang Yan tugged down her shirt, revealing a plump shoulder as she attempted to seduce Yang Wu.
Abruptly overwhelmed by nausea, Yang Wu turned and emptied his stomach.
Such a visual assault was too much to handle.
Fat bitch! Yang Wu snarled, though he did not engage further. Rather, he lifted his crowbar and charged.
Unfortunately, the woman was one step ahead. She tucked and rolled, sending her round body tumbling into him with such force that she was able to catch Yang Wu in her embrace. Strangling the young man, she pressed her e-ridden face to his, cooing, Little darling, Ill take good care of you.
The attack was too much for Yang Wu. Not only was this woman impressively fat, but she had a powerful body odor as well. Against her overpowering brawn, his newly acquired strength was useless.
Let my brother go! Take me, if you dare, Skinny Monkey yelled, scurrying through the doorway.
You are courting death by meddling in my affairs, Skinny Monkey, Wang Yan warned him with a displeased re.
This woman was well-known for her thunderous roar, which was loud enough to shake the stone den, and with it turned against him, Skinny Monkey instantly lost his valor, shuddering in fear.
Moreover, the nearby prison guards would hear her outcry. Sooner orter, her men would arrive to help her.
Yang Wu had little faith that his friend could rescue him. Forcing his rising nausea down, he struggled free of the cage of flesh Wang Yan had be. As he did, he poured his strength into his arms, elbowing Wan Yan squarely in the jaw. Go to hell, you fat bitch!
She had not expected the youth to be so strong. He had been a scrawny thing only two days ago, helpless against her. Yet, not only had he just caught her off guard, but he had also dislocated her jaw, leaving her yelping in pain.
Yang Wu wasted no time as he got the upper hand. Flipping around, heunched a flurry of strikes, going all out to beat this offensive creature beyond recognition.
Recalling his humiliation two days ago, he held nothing back.
Wang Yan had never taken Yang Wu seriously, leaving her defenses weakened against the ferocious attack. When she failed to duck fast enough, Yang Wus fist caught the edge of her eye socket. She roared in pain, You have no idea whats good for you! I will ughter you!
With eight stones of strength, Wang Yan was quite powerful as a Medial Grade Foot Soldier. The fact that she was one of block 68s gang leaders attested to her abilities.
Superior Grade Soldier ss technique, Mountain Splitting Palm!
This palm strike had enough power behind it to split mountains. Although Wang Yan did not personally possess the strength to do so, smashing ordinary stone was easy enough. Against an average Foot Soldier, it was certainly enough to send them to the grave.
Of course, Yang Wu was not afraid. He had seven stones of strength, and this was the perfect chance to test his skills against hers. Concentrating all of his power, his fist shot out in a devastating punch.
Thud!
Yang Wus fist made a dull thud as it crashed into Wang Yans palm. Supposedly, the overweight woman was stronger than him, yet the impact knocked her back several steps, while he remained firmly in ce.
I have eight stones of strength and I know I had you pinned a few days ago! How are you stronger than me now?! Wang Yan bellowed, shocked.
Damn woman, theres a lot you dont know! How dare you try to take advantage of me, a viscount?! If I dont teach you a lesson now, my reputation will be ruined. Regaining hisposure, Yang Wu attacked with his crowbar.
Despite their strengths, he was the more powerful fighter, but he did not want to waste more time on this woman. He knew he had to finish her off before reinforcements arrived.
Dark Clouds Covering the Sky!
Wang Yan already had her hand on her own crowbar and swiftly blocked his move. However, Yang Wus strike was strategic, and it knocked the crowbar out of her hand, leaving her limbs numb.
This is the power of a Superior Grade Foot Soldier, Wang Yan thought, scared stiff. She decided it would be best to make a swift exit, knowing she would have the advantage once her men arrived.
s, Yang Wu refused to give her that chance. He then executed Arrows of Savage Rain, the Rainstorm Spear Arts second move.
Unlike the first move, a horizontal sweep, Arrows of Savage Rain consisted of rapid thrusts. The technique imitated raining projectiles, and he struck the poor woman like a torrential storm, easily sliding past her paltry defenses.
Ah, ah!
Wang Yan cried out in agony as the strikes stabbed into her, leaving bloody holes that were too painful to look at.
Yang Wu was not gentle. After knocking the womans crowbar out of reach, he continued his attack until she passed out.
Even as she lost consciousness, Wang Yan was still trying to figure out how this young man had be so powerful practically overnight.
------ A small shift in posting dates. For now, I''ll be posting on Tuesdays and Fridays, 1145 am GMT +8
I am looking to increase release rates in the future, but things are moving a little slow at the moment.
Chapter 10: Defeating Centipede with Wits
Chapter 10: Defeating Centipede with Wits
Themotion woke the prisoners stationed near Wang Yans hut. One by one, ten-odd inmates rushed to the scene to investigate. They all belonged to Little Ugly Girls gang and were all Foot Soldiers.
With his crowbar in hand, Yang Wu emerged from the stone hut. Seeing the inmates, he snarled, I have crippled Wang Yan. Submit, and ept my brother as your new leader. Do this, and Ill let the matter rest. Refuse, and you will all suffer the consequences.
How insolent! How dare you challenge the Ugly Girl Gang, injuring Elder Sister Wang?! Get him! one of the prisoners, a Medial Grade Foot Soldier, shot back.
The man then led several of hisrades in a charge, surrounding Yang Wu.
Brother Yang, let me fight with you! Skinny Monkey yelled, lifting his crowbar and stepping forward.
Stand back! For now, I want you to watch. Yang Wu held up a hand to stop his friend before diving into the group of enemies.
Doing as he was told, Skinny Monkey witnessed an astonishing event.
Yang Wu fought like a vicious wolf in a pack of sheep as he brandished his weapon. None of the inmates were strong enough to counter his attacks, and after a single hit, each fell to the ground, screaming.
Ahh, aaah!
The young man was ruthless, his strikes both fast and furious. Unopposed, he advanced.
Not even the prisoner with six stones of strength could stand against Yang Wu. Before the inmate could even process Yang Wus techniques, the young man pped him hard enough to send him flying through the air.
This was the difference between those withbat techniques and those without.
Yang Wu had once been a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier, often sparring with his ns guards. He had a wealth ofbat experience, which most cultivatorscked.
Within seconds, Wang Yans reinforcements had beenid t. Only Yang Wu stood tall, radiating an imposing air.
In the future, I will be an unrivaled force, just like Brother Yang! Skinny Monkey excitedly promised himself, clutching his crowbar.
Anyone else not convinced? Yang Wu asked, his tone frigid, as he scrutinized the prisoners.
Naturally, none of them spoke up. The young mans prowess had left them all shaken.
Excellent. From now on, my brother, Skinny Monkey, is your boss, Yang Wu informed the inmates. Your first task is to throw that fat bitch as far from here as possible. Collect the Scarlet Steel Rock from the hut, count it all, and leave it here! he barked.
Fortunately, Wang Yans stone hut held at least five hundred kilograms of Scarlet Steel Rock, a lucrative reward.
Understood! the defeated inmates respectfully replied.
Lets go, Skinny Monkey. We have more work to do, Yang Wu called to his friend, who was still dazed.
Huh? Where are we going? Skinny Monkey asked.
Subduing that fat bitch wont be enough to be the next leader of the cellblock. We also have to tackle Centipede, who works for ck Ape. Once thats done, no one will dare oppose us! An ambitious light shed in Yang Wus eyes.
He knew that word of tonights battle would spread by the next day. Thus, he might as well get rid of both issues once and for all.
As the saying went: the soldier who strikes first and unannounced wins.
But Ive heard that Centipede is very cautious. Hell have men standing guard outside his hut throughout the night. If we go there now, Im afraid we might lose, Skinny Monkey whined nervously.
Skinny Monkey had been imprisoned longer than his sworn brother, and as such, he was far more familiar with the cellblock and its inhabitants.
Its not a big deal. We might not have the numbers, but we can take him out with our wits! Yang Wus eyes sparkled with a calcting light.
Skinny Monkey did not dare to question the decision, following Yang Wu without another word.
------
Centipede was the head of the ck Ape Gang in cellblock 68. He was also a Medial Grade Foot Soldier and only a step away from Superior Grade. Although he was more powerful than Wang Yan, he had never challenged her out of fear of her boss, Little Ugly Girl, who held more authority than his own boss. He knew better than to ruffle that scary womans feathers.
Like Wang Yan, Centipede resided in a stone hut. Unlike her, he was a rather good-looking, middle-aged man. However, a long scar down his face marred his features.
The husband of a woman Centipede had vited had given him the scar, slicing open his face. After killing the woman, her husband, and a couple of others, Centipede had been sentenced and imprisoned.
He was considered an evil bastard through and through, but there were so many evil people in the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison that his im to the throne fell on deaf ears. In the end, he had submitted to ck Ape, collecting Scarlet Steel Rock and representing the man in block 68.
Centipede was also a careful man. He had dug two small dens near his stone hut for his two right-hand men. These guards would alert him if they noticed any strange movement approaching the abode, granting Centipede peace of mind.
Hedgehog was one of Centipedes followers, but he wasnt his bosss confidant. Naturally, Centipede was upset that one of his men had been injured, but it hadnt been enough to make the man lose his cool. That being said, Centipede did keep a mental tally and swore hed avenge the insult. However, he had more important tasks at the moment.
His current task was to attend to the frail youngdy lying in his hut.
The girl, dressed as a prisoner, looked to be around sixteen. Her disheveled hair obscured her pretty, petite face, hiding her from others eyes. She had also tightly bound her form, making it hard to tell that she was, in fact, a young woman.
Stop hiding, Xiaoman. I know youre dressed as a man. Once I tear your clothes off, Ill be able to prove it! Centipede said, gazing at the withdrawn girl in the corner with a lewd expression.
Xiaoman was new to the mountain prison, and until now, no one had suspected her gender. She had painted her face with a thickyer of soot, only improving her disguise as a man.
s, no matter how well she had concealed her identity, an experienced bastard like Centipede had seen through her disguise.
Once he had realized the truth, Centipede had sent his men to deliver the girl to hisir.
I-Ireally am a man! Please, let me go, Xiaoman begged her captor tenderly.
Xiaomans situation was truly pitiable. She hade from a poor family and been purchased by a rich n to serve as a maid. The young master of the household had taken a liking to her, demanding she serve him as his personal handmaiden. He had been an ugly fellow, but she had been resigned to her fate. He was, after all, a man with a fortune. Before he managed to take advantage of his position, however, the household had been raided and confiscated in the night. Rumor had it that the n had harbored a felon the imperial court sought. And the poor girl had been sent to prison as coteral damage.
Still, she had been wise enough to disguise her gender. She had dressed as a manservant before she had been caught. Hearing that female servants were often sent to serve the military as whores, she knew she had to protect herself.
She had escaped notice at first, but after a few days in the prison, someone had exposed her identity, leaving her bitter.
It seems like you wont admit it. Alright, then, I shall reveal the truth myself. Centipede approached the girl with a slimyugh, staring at her hard as if he could already see her soft, smooth skin under all of the clothing.
The girl broke into tears. She would rather die than let this evil man sully her body.
Suddenly, one of Centipedes guards shouted from outside the den, Who dares approach sote at night? You must have a death wish!
The instant he heard the yelling, Centipede stopped what he was doing. Brows furrowed, he decided the interruption wasnt worth his concern and continued to pull away Xiaomans clothing.
Ahh, aaahhh!
Two horrified screams tore through the night, alerting Centipede that the situation was more serious than he had originally assumed.
The girl was abruptly unimportant. Scooping up his crowbar, Centipede shouted to his guards, Meng Da, Meng Er, whats happening out there?!
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When he received no reply, he began to worry.
Who the hell is being a nuisance?! Centipede demanded. It wasnt his style to hide in his hut during moments like this, and as such, he ventured out of his safety zone.
Centipede was no fool and proceeded with caution. He paid careful attention to his surroundings as he emerged, wanting to avoid an ambush.
True enough, as he neared the door, arge rock flew toward him.
His reaction speed was quick, and he ducked to one side, avoiding the projectile. He then heard someone call out to him. Centipede,e meet your maker! A momentter, a crowbar swung around the corner, aimed for his head.
Centipede lifted his weapon and blocked the attack before the crowbarnded. The blow was enough to tell him that his attacker only had average strength at best.
Where did this scoundrele from? Hes courting death by messing with one of ck Apes envoys! Centipede thought to himself as he turned to pursue his attacker.
This evil man only served as ck Apes minion due to his status as a Foot Soldier and nine stones of strength. He had also trained with an Inferior Grade Warrior ssbat technique, making his strikes quite powerful.
The inmate assaulting Centipede crumpled under the counterattack, losing their crowbar in the process. Blood sttered across the ground.
How is he so strong?! the invader shouted, turning to flee without further ado. Gloating silently, Centipede gave chase.
Do you really think Ill just let youe and go in my territory so freely?! That Ill let you go without consequences?! Centipede asked.
Just before he caught up with his attacker, a strong gust of wind sted Centipede in the side. It was so sudden that his attacker could not have been responsible.
Despite his reaction speed, Centipede couldnt avoid the attack in time and suffered a critical blow from a crowbar to his shoulder. Hissing, he retreated a few meters away andshed out. Despicable! How dare youunch such an ambush?!
Calling the kettle ck, arent you? Were all just prisoners here, Yang Wu said with a faint smile, appearing out of the shadows.
After defeating Wang Yan, Yang Wu and Skinny Monkey had encroached on Centipedes territory. However, they had not merely relied on brute force for their assault. First, Yang Wu took out the guards; then he lured his target into an ambush. He had sent Skinny Monkey in as bait, ensuring that Centipede would assume his foe was weak and lower his defenses.
This cunning strategy focused on leaving a false impression, fooling ones enemy into defeat.
As for being despicable, Yang Wu did not argue against it. As he said, they were all inmates, without honor to protect. Relying on valor to take out ones enemies was little more than pulling down ones pants to fart. There was simply no point.
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Chapter 11: Taking in the Maid Xiaoman
Chapter 11: Taking in the Maid Xiaoman
Who are you?! Dont you realize that I represent ck Ape?! Centipede demanded, shouting at Yang Wu as he clutched his bleeding shoulder.
This viscount has been for you, Centipede. Now, you have two choices: submit to my brother, Skinny Monkey, and obey him as your boss, or I will destroy you here and now! The young man was frank, not wanting to waste his time on this criminal.
And how is he worthy of giving me orders?! Centipedes reply was disdainful. He then shouted to his men in the area, Brothers of the ck Ape Gang,e and end our enemy!
Centipede was not stupid; he knew he would need help in this fight. Thus, he called for it immediately.
I guess youve chosen to die, Yang Wu said coldly, already moving to attack.
Dark Clouds Covering the Sky...!
Yang Wus crowbar seemed to cast an imposing shadow over Centipede.
Naturally, Centipede would not just stand there and wait to die. In response, he waved his own crowbar as if it were a sword.
Medial Grade Soldier ss technique, Wave Chasing Swords second move, Song of the Waves...!
Yang Wu knew Warrior ssbat techniques, while Centipede only had Soldier ssbat techniques to rely on. However, although the younger man was more powerful, thetter was stronger. Even injured, he could stop Yang Wus attacks.
In truth, Centipede did not want to continue this fight. He would simply drag it out until reinforcements arrived; then, if luck favored him, they would end this disruption in one fell swoop.
Whoever this punk is, I will kill him once I recover, Centipede swore to himself.
Suddenly, prisoners began to swarm the scene from all directions. There were over twenty of them, far more than Wang Yan had at her camp.
I should take this opportunity to make an example of this guy, Yang Wu muttered to himself. He did not have much time. Shifting his stance, he used the Rainstorm Spear Arts third move, Rolling Thunder Shifting Winds.
This particr move was the most powerful of the Rainstorm Spear Art. As Yang Wu waved his weapon, thunder crashed in the distance and the wind roared past, frightening Centipede.
The crowbar struck the older man, sweeping across his neck. The impact was enough to toss Centipede several meters away as his blood spilled into the night, the dark liquid glistening in the moonlight.
The prisoners who had rushed to Centipedes aid slid to a stop. No one dared to take even a half step farther.
Xiaoman, who had quietly escaped the stone hut, saw the scene as well, and excitement lit her face.
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Centipede was now dead.
Yang Wu had not killed the man on purpose; he had lost control of his power for a moment. He had not expected Centipede to be so weak, and he stared at the body, helpless.
Centipedes men were stunned. Their boss had nearly been a Superior Grade Foot Soldier. If he had just made a breakthrough, he could have ruled over cellblock 68, but now, some upstart had ughtered him. The young man responsible had to be at least as strong as a Superior Grade Foot Soldier.
Yang Wu nced at the inmates around him and asked, Are you ready to surrender?
Someone spoke up. Were from the ck Ape Gang! If you want our surrender, youll have to fight all of us, and our boss is a real Warrior! Youd better consider your next move carefully!
The man who had spoken had only one eye and was a Medial Grade Foot Soldier with seven stones of strength. Although Centipedes death had been shocking, his allies stood around him, giving him some confidence.
Is the ck Ape Gang really that great? Before long, your boss will be attending to this viscount! Yang Wu informed the men.
Just you wait. Youll pay for killing ck Apes representative, the one-eyed man shot back.
He then led hisrades away, attempting to end the conflict with Yang Wu.
Did I say you could go? the young man asked softly.
Do you truly intend to face so many of us at once? the one-eyed man asked nervously.
Skinny Monkey, let''s get some training in! Yang Wu waved to his brother before charging toward the one-eyed inmate.
Lets! Skinny Monkey shouted, his blood rushing to his head as he followed Yang Wu intobat.
There are so many of us! You wont win! Kill this punk and avenge Centipede! the one-eyed man shouted, waving to the men around him.
But while hisrades rushed into battle, he stole away, retreating.
Yang Wu let the man go, wielding his crowbar like a spear as he beat the other inmates into submission.
Meanwhile, Skinny Monkey struck down two enemy inmates, dodging and weaving through the throng. He did not know anybat techniques, but he was quite agile.
Unfortunately, he failed to dodge a third attack, taking a crowbar to the back, but it only fueled his bloodlust. He spun, growling, You think you can kill me, you bastards?!
Working together, Yang Wu and Skinny Monkey took down more than half of the twenty-some prisoners while the other half escaped. Yang Wu was responsible for most of the victories, of course, but doing so had used a lot of energy, and one of the inmates had injured his arm.
Skinny Monkey sported a few blooming bruises in ces but did not show any pain. When the fight ended, he shed a wide grin at his sworn brother.
Have we convinced you now? Yang Wu asked the fallen prisoners again, sounding indifferent.
Witnessing the young mans noble air, the inmates were too intimidated to refuse. They allmented, Were convinced. Well follow you.
Well, Skinny Monkey will be your boss; his words carry as much weight as my own. Obey his orders, the young cultivator stressed, gesturing to Skinny Monkey.
Dont joke, Brother Yang! You should be the boss, Skinny Monkey interjected, insistent.
Yang Wu just waved a hand. How could a viscount care about bing a mere boss in this mountain prison? I will restore my honor and reim my title. I dont want to leave toorge of a mess behind.
Awestruck, Skinny Monkey finally realized Yang Wus extraordinary ambition. He said nothing more.
Taking a moment, Yang Wu circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art, his dantian pumping energy with astonishing speed. The energy condensed as it flowed through his twelve major meridians before cycling to his dantian and back. Between each cycle, he felt his strength recover.
Overjoyed, the young man reveled in the mystery of the Supreme Nine Profound Art. He then waved to Skinny Monkey and approached Centipedes stone hut.
Before he got there, however, a girl appeared and bowed before him. Pitifully, she begged, You saved my life. Thank you. Please, allow this humble girl to serve you.
Yang Wu was stunned. At first nce, he had not realized she was a girl; she looked like a dark-skinned boy nearly the same age as himself.
Youre a little ugly, he told her, but I guess youll have to do. From now on, youll stay by my side.
Since birth, Yang Wu had been pampered, well-dressed, well-fed, and surrounded by beautiful maidservants. Even after his fall and imprisonment, his high standards had not changed. He still desired followers and attendants, which was why he insisted on setting Skinny Monkey up to rule over cellblock 68. He wanted everything under his control.
Hearing his eptance, the girl wept with joy. In this terrible mountain prison, she craved a protector. Although the boy was a little disheveled, he was absolutely dashingpared to the other inmates. He shone like a pearl radiating its light into the darkness, warming her with his very presence.
Meanwhile, Skinny Monkey inspected Centipedes old home, finding nearly a ton of Scarlet Steel Rock, as he had in Wang Yans hut. The bounty was nothing to scoff at.
Yang Wu was ecstatic. With the Scarlet Steel Rock they had won thus far, umting the necessary five tons was no longer just a dream.
Skinny Monkey, at dawn, I want you to tell the inmates weve defeated to bring their tribute here. If they refuse, they can share Centipedes fate, Yang Wu instructed.
Yes, Brother Yang, Skinny Monkey respectfully replied.
Yang Wu noticed the change and patted his friend on the shoulder. You dont have to be so formal. Were sworn brothers. Just call me Yang Wu. Anyone that treats me well can expect the same in return. Anyone who wrongs me will pay tenfold.
With that said, he broke a small chunk off the blood ginseng and handed it to Skinny Monkey. This is blood ginseng, and this small amount will be enough to help you gain another stone or two of strength. Itll also help heal your injuries. Take it now, Yang Wu insisted. Recover and grow stronger for now. Later, Ill teach you somebat techniques. When you get into fights, you wont have to suffer so much.
Skinny Monkey was extremely grateful. He took the precious root and seriously swore, You will be my big brother from here on. Anyone who means you harm will have to go through me first!
Yang Wu patted the other mans shoulder again, smiling with satisfaction, but not saying more. He was quite pleased with his new friend and truly thought of the young man as his brother.
Skinny Monkey left with the blood ginseng, finding a ce to sit and refine the medicinal energy. This gave Yang Wu time to learn more about the mysterious girl.
My name is Xiaoman. I was a maidservant at the Hua Residence in Lido. The Hua Residence had everything confiscated for crimes that theymitted. I disguised myself as a man and was sentenced to five years in the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison, the girl exined.
Xiaomans voice was gentle and moving; Yang Wu found it pleasing to the ear. He also examined the girl closely. From his experience, he could tell Xiaoman was not the ugly duckling she appeared to be, but a beautiful, young swan. The ck charcoal on her face hid her natural beauty.
Unfortunately, youre too t, Yang Wu muttered regretfully, ncing down at Xiaomans chest.
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He had thought he had kept his voice down, but Xiaoman proved to have exceptional hearing. Her face burned with anger. This humble servantIbound them up. If you really need to see everything, I will give you my body.
In such a harsh ce, Xiaoman had finally found a good-looking protector. At the very least, giving herself to this young man was better than letting those old lechs paw at her.
Yang Wu blushed and coughed drily. Well, I understood your situation. Youll be my personal maid, taking care of my daily needs. After a pause, he added, Your life could be in danger at any time. If youre unsure, you can leave now.
Xiaoman blinked, determination hardening her gaze. This humble servants life is not worth anything. My death will be nothing to mourn.
Yang Wu shed the girl a satisfied look. Well, rest here for now. If this viscount survives, Ill take you with me when I leave this mountain prison.
Xiaoman thanked him again before she retreated to a corner to sleep.
Yang Wu nced between the girl and Skinny Monkey before he stepped outside and sat with his legs crossed.
The Supreme Nine Profound Art was unusually powerful, and evolving it would require cultivating Profound Essence. For now, however, it was only as powerful as an ordinary profound art, albeit far more mysterious.
While he circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art, he was surprised by how quickly he restored the energy he had spent that night. He felt as if the very pores in his skin were absorbing thetent energy around him, cycling it through his flesh.
This feeling made Yang Wu ecstatic. He felt arge amount of Profound Energy gather within him, and his dantian felt like a bottomless pit, wildly absorbing it. The energy thundered as it rushed through his twelve major meridians, creating a wonderful rhythm.
Quiet now, the night finally passed, and the early sun gradually rose.
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Chapter 12: Bloody Aura Surging into the Sky
Chapter 12: Bloody Aura Surging into the Sky
With the sun rising in the east, the morning propitious energy descended.
Propitious energy mingled with the first rays of sunlight each day, and the power it contained was both rich and pure. Only skilled cultivators could capture and absorb it.
Once again, Yang Wu relied on the Supreme Nine Profound Art to secure a wisp of the dawns propitious energy. Again, his dantian rapidly consumed it, sending it through to nourish his twelve major meridians and body, which seemed to shine with a sacred brilliance.
Skinny Monkey and Xiaoman, who had just emerged from the stone hut, saw this and thought with awe, Heavens son has descended to the mortal realm!
After some time, Yang Wu heard the repetitive melodious ringing from his body as the majestic energy flowed through him, leaving him feeling rxed.
Hearing the sound, Skinny Monkey eximed, I took the blood ginseng and gained two stones of strength overnight, yet Big Brother has just gained four stones! His growth speed is amazing! I guess he really is destined for greatness. He may be in trouble here, but this is temporary.
Skinny Monkey could not help but recall a young blind man he had once met. The blind man had told him that he would find disaster, but it would be a blessing in disguise, leading to a benefactor who would lift him to astounding heights.
He had to wonder if Yang Wu were the benefactor that blind man had spoken of.
As Xiaoman watched, she realized the young man was even more impressive than she had first thought. Perhaps, one day, her new master would free her of this ce.
Yang Wu stood, his joints popping. In a matter of seconds, he had grown a bit taller.
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He clenched his fists and grinned. Did I gain four stones of strength in one night? This is awesome!
He had broken through to the Medial Grade Foot Soldier Realm and reached the Superior Grade in one step. Now, he was not far from his grade prior to his imprisonment.
This had all happened within three days, and it felt like a dream.
However, he did not give the matter much thought. Yang Wu was still a prisoner, not in control of his own life. He needed to grow even stronger!
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Cellblock 68 had undergone massive changes that night. Both Wang Yan and Centipede had been overthrown, and Wang Yans hideous face had been beaten beyond recognition. Centipede had not been so lucky. He had died, and many of his Foot Soldier minions had been injured. Both events drastically altered the cellblocks status quo.
The culprits currently upied Centipedes old hut. Skinny Monkey now proimed himself the blocks new boss and had recruited more than a dozen Inferior Grade Foot Soldiers. All of these new recruits were willing supporters, and they imed Scarlet Steel Rock from the hands of other inmates.
Meanwhile, Yang Wu lived behind the scenes and stayed quiet. He wanted to avoid the public eye and the guards attention. Doing so would only lead to his suffering.
Obviously, the guards knew about the situation, but they did not care. Survival was apetition among the inmates, so they turned a blind eye. These prisoners deaths would not cause them any issues. As far as they were concerned, the inmates were as worthless as grass.
Unfortunately, one of the prison guards disagreed with the rest. He had called Wang Yan before him to exin the situation, and she told him of the nights events, her face injured and covered in tears and snot.
I thought Yang Wu had been crippled before he had been sent here? How can he still have anybat prowess?! the man demanded, shouting.
This man was no ordinary prison guard, but one of the squad leaders, Xu Ziyang. He also had orders to take special care of Yang Wu.
Its true! How could he have beaten me so badly if it werent? And I heard that he killed Centipede! Its all that brats work! Milord, please avenge us! Wang Yan cried.
Xu Ziyang considered the situation for a moment, then said, I got it. You can go now. Hell die soon enough.
Killing Yang Wu would not be difficult for Xu Ziyang, but he had orders to ensure the young man suffered a fate worse than death. So, the squad leader had Yang Wu whipped before giving him to Wang Yan and letting her have her way with him. Yet, even after such severe treatment, the troublemaker still had so much energy. Yang Wu had even beaten Wang Yan, crippling her. Xu Ziyang felt something was off with this new prisoner, and he knew it would be best to rip the problem out by the roots.
But before he could deal with Yang Wu, something unexpected happened in cellblock 8.
Someone had dug a deep pit, unwittingly releasing a terrifying and bloody aura that had consumed and killed several inmates in the area. The disturbance alerted the prisons warden and two of his deputies, and the warden immediately summoned all the nearby squad leaders.
Thousands of people surrounded the area in cellblock 8, including warden Wan Tianlong and deputies Zhao Changdao and Lie Feng, as well as many prison guards.
Wan Tianlong wore a horned helmet, sturdy brown armor, rode a bull spirit and wielded a halberd. He struck an imposing figure. Intimidated, most people avoided looking directly into his eagle-like eyes.
[TL Note: An animal spirit is an animal with spiritual powers. Different from regr animals, they have gained human-like intelligence and can cultivate. The spirit here is referring to spirituality rather than ethereal beings like ghosts. It is not just animals that can be such beings. Mountains and rivers can also gain intelligence and spirituality,ing to life and cultivating. In such cases, you get mountain spirits, for example; basically elemental or nature spirits.]
Deputy warden Zhao Changdao was not a tall man, but he looked quite strong. He carried a massive saber that was longer than most people were tall and looked majestic atop his war tiger.
Meanwhile, deputy warden Lie Feng strode in on a gray wolf with an azure longsword hanging from his waist. His expression was hostile, encouraging many prisoners to keep their distance.
These three men were the main authority figures in the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison,manding dozens of guard captains, squad leaders, and countless guards.
A bloody aura has filled the area. Im afraid that some evil being waits in the pit. It might even be a living creature! Wan Tianlongmented softly, watching the violent energy pour out of the pit relentlessly.
Warden, we have uncovered many artifacts over the years, some with unusual origins. Could this location contain some significant secret? Zhao Changdao asked.
This is an ominous ce. Hundreds of inmates died during the prisons construction, Lie Feng pointed out with a frown.
It does not matter. Since this is happening in our prison, we must investigate. Send someone in to see whats going on. The warden ordered one of his squad leaders to take a hundred guards into the pit.
All the guards were armored Warrior Realm cultivators, radiating vibrant auras and wielding glittering weapons. They worked together to resist the bloody aura filling the night.
At first, they held off the hideous aura, but as they approached the pit, it began to affect their bodies. One by one, they began to scream, unable to resist.
As they cried out, intense energy exploded from the pit, swallowing the hundred guards.
Wan Tianlongs eagle-sharp eyes began to twitch, and he held out a hand, demanding, My bow!
Obediently, an old man next to him handed the warden a war bow and several arrows. Wan Tianlong immediately pulled his bow taut, using ten cauldrons of force, and fired an arrow. The arrows feathers trailed a faint, green light as it sliced through the air and into the bloody aura.
[TL Note: Cauldrons of force is likely the next unit of measurement after stones. The conversion is not known yet.]
Boom!
The shot was quite powerful, striking with a dull sound. The attack seemed to affect the bloody aura, but it soon recovered. Unfortunately, the hundred prison guards disappeared into the pit, and a strong bloody stench filled the air.
What was that?! Zhao Changdao eximed.
It acts like a blood wolf, yet it moves like a consuming energy. This is the same method a King uses to consume energy and manifest a form! Lie Feng said, still frowning.
[TL Note: A cultivator of the Earthen Sea Realm is known as a King, as the realm is also known as the King Realm, which is exinedter in the story. The Earthen Sea Realm follows the General Realm, which follows the Warrior Realm.]
Clear out cellblock 8 and close it off immediately! We cant let any information leak. Kill anyone who vites the order. Wan Tianlongs eyes glowed with excitement as he barked themand.
He had the vague sense that some secrety hidden under block 8. Perhaps some long-ago King had stored his power here. If he could im the secret, he might make a breakthrough and reach the King Realm himself.
Both Zhao Changdao and Li Feng realized what the warden intended, and they hoped they would get a slice of the pie.
However, events might not progress as they wished.
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Chapter 13: Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art
Chapter 13: Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art
Dozens of mountain peaks separated Smoke Signal Mountain Prisons cellblocks 68 and 8. Even so, the prisoners in block 68 could feel the bloody aura.
Many were spared the guards usual torment as most of the guards had been temporarily called away.
Yang Wu was not aware of themotion. He used his time to teach Skinny Monkey the Rainstorm Spear Art, ensuring his brother had a technique he could rely on.
By this point, Skinny Monkey had four stones of strength, only one step away from reaching Medial Grade. Once he crossed that threshold, establishing his authority within block 86 would not be difficult. The only challenge would be the bosses Little Ugly Girl and ck Ape, who might show up to avenge their fallen minions.
Fortunately, movement between cellblocks was prohibited for the moment, due to the grave incident in block 8. This gave the two young men the perfect opportunity to cultivate and train.
Now that they were not worried about their Scarlet Steel Rock collection, they could focus solely on cultivation.
Havinge to trust Skinny Monkey and acknowledge the young mans cultivation talent, Yang Wu imparted the rest of the Whirling Combat Arts incantations, as well as the Rainstorm Spear Art.
With guidance from his sworn brother, Skinny Monkey quickly mastered the Rainstorm Spear Arts first two moves. However, he was only able to follow the form; he had a long way to go before hed be Established.
Yang Wu left Skinny Money to train alone, isting himself within the stone hut as he continued to try to remove the seal on his sealing pearl.
Even after trying a few more methods to release the seal, he still failed to uncover the pearls secret. Of course, this was the treasure of some long-ago expert; a mere Foot Soldier hardly had the means to break the seal
Sealing pearls are precious items Kings create. I may have it in my grasp, but I still cant open it! Yang Wu fretted as Sooty surreptitiously appeared next to him, growling softly at the pearl.
You want this? he asked.
The pup shook its head and growled again as if it were trying to say something Yang Wu could not understand.
What do you want? He was puzzled.
Sooty circled him twice and then pointed a front paw at the sealing pearl, then at the ground. The young man seemed to get the hint. You want me to drop the pearl?
The pup nodded, wagging its tail.
He hesitated for a while but, in the end, decided to trust the dog. After all, Sooty had already brought him so much good fortune.
Yang Wu set the sealing pearl down, and the ck pup walked over to it before spewing me at the item. The me was small, yet it radiated so much heat that Yang Wu had to back away a few steps. So, Sooty is a dog that spits fire; is it a sapient spirit? he wondered silently, staring with wide-eyed disbelief.
Animal spirits fell into two categories. Sapient spirits were intelligent by nature and matured by absorbing the worlds essence. Feral spirits evolved from wild beasts, possessing only animal intelligence and clinging to their primal instincts. This group matured as it devoured and killed.
Yang Wu had, in fact, long suspected Sooty was a sapient spirit due to its intelligent reactions. Now that he witnessed the puppys ability to spit fire, he was certain.
Not only did sapient spirits have higher intelligence, but they also possessed some special spirit arts. By the looks of things, Sootys me was only one of the spirit arts it knew.
The fire dissipated almost immediately. Its tongue lolling, Sooty panted harshly, evidence of how much energy its ability required. Fortunately, the effort had not been in vain as the seal around the pearl finally broke.
Crack! Crack!
Cracks began to appear across the pearls surface, and a tiny ray of light escaped.
Woof woof! Sooty barked at Yang Wu several times, urging the young man to take action.
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Yang Wu immediately returned his attention to the pearl. He then bit his finger, then massaged it until it released a drop of blood, which he let fall on the pearl.
His father had told him about Sealing Pearls long ago. Once the seal broke, he would have to feed it a drop of blood immediately to receive the inheritance within.
As his blood hit the cracked pearl, it split apart, and a beam of blue light shot toward Yang Wus be.
Realizing the light contained the memory of the inheritance, Yang Wu didnt resist.
Suddenly, the young man fell into a trance. In his mind, Yang Wu saw a bizarre scene. He stood before a vast ocean, a gigantic sea turtle coasting through the water. The turtle looked ferocious with a snake-like head and dragon horns. Its shell also contained an eight-trigram diagram. The beast was majestic to watch as its limbs skimmed the seas surface, casting monstrous waves that shook the heavens and earth like a tsunami.
Before long, however, the sea turtle transformed into an old, hunchbacked man. He waved his arms in a strange, endless dance. Though the movements seemed tock power, he began to umte power, affecting the world around him. Strong winds swirled, and massive waves crashed, stirring up a violent storm. At times, a dragons roar even filled the air. As time passed, the storm grew as if preparing to destroy the massive ocean once and for all.
Awestruck, Yang Wu stared, stunned and a little afraid as he took in the earth-shattering power.
As a viscount, he had witnessed many experts in Royal City, yet those individuals were nothing before this old man, the transformed turtle. The being before him could ughter wave after wave of those experts, disying a rare level of prowess.
This was a formidable spiritual power and one unique to turtle spirits, not humans. Fortunately, the fact that Yang Wu could receive this inheritance proved he could also practice it. Still, he would need to observe and study this scene before he could fully grasp this power.
For a long time, Yang Wu was caught up in the trance, unable to pull himself out.
The scene was too shocking, beyond his wildest dreams. He endured the burden it left on his mind, forcing himself to watch the scene from start to end. Finally, the mental demand became too much, and he copsed.
This startled Xiaoman, who stood watch from a distance. Worried, she rushed toward him and helped him up. She asked, Young Master, are you alright?
Though she still donned her boyish disguise, her face covered in soot, her eyes sparkled with a sweet charm. It was the only evidence of her true gender.
Yang Wu sat up, shaking his head, which pounded with a vicious headache. Struggling to think past it, he murmured to Xiaoman, You can leave me for now. Dont let anyone disturb me.
The young woman nodded and stepped out of the stone hut, ncing back with a worried look.
Alone now, Yang Wu reyed the scene in his mind, memorizing it before he fainted from exhaustion.
He did not wake until the next day.
Big Brother, youve finallye around! I was so worried! Skinny Monkey said from next to Yang Wu.
Yang Wu struggled to stand, while Xiaoman stood awkwardly to the side, tugging on a corner of her shirt. Muttering, she apologized, Young Master, Im sorry. I-I couldnt stop him.
The young man waved a hand, Its fine. Sorry, I made you both worry.
Are you sure youre alright? You were unconscious for a full day and night. You scared me, Skinny Monkey said sincerely.
Yang Wu offered a reassuring smile. Im okay. Really. You two can go. Let me get some rest.
Not daring to question him further, the pair did as they were asked.
It was only then that Yang Wu had the chance to reflect on the inheritance he had just received. After forcing himself to watch the scene over and over, he came to know this spiritual power as the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art.
With a single palm strike, he could overturn oceans and rivers. With a single punch, he could overwhelm both heaven and earth!
The technique was terrifying, an absolutely horrific force.
Fully utilizing such spiritual power would require an extraordinary expert, and Yang Wu was well aware that he was not yet strong enough. Hed consider anyone an exceptional talent if they could even train in the art.
The beauty of this particr art was its potential as a foundation, even for a cultivator at their weakest. As one grew stronger, they would begin to disy the techniques full splendor. This meant that Yang Wus timing was perfect. He could now study the arts form, then its essence, before hed finally prove its principles and reach perfection.
I guess I will need to practice the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance first if I want to train with the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art. One must first stand on the water and transform into the dragon turtle before they can wield this spiritual power, he thought to himself.
As he stood, Yang Wu visualized the dragon turtle suppressing the water around it. Taking up the same stance, he circted energy with the Supreme Nine Profound Art. This stance was unlike his usual horse stance. First, he bnced himself on his tiptoes, hunching his back like a turtle. He then swung his arms forward as if paddling through the water. The odd stance, so dissimr to a horse stance, was a little awkward at first.
The young man tried to move as the old man had. The awkward form was ufortable at first, but as he circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art several times, warmth began to radiate from the soles of his feet. Soon enough, Profound Energy flowed from his dantian, through his twelve meridians, and to his feet. Finally, the soles of his feet began to feel wet.
As he concentrated, he felt as if he were standing in a puddle, but when he looked down, the ground was dry and the wet sensation vanished.
Was that my imagination? He asked himself. But that did not deter him from practicing the stance. Again, he began to feel water under his feet. This time, however, he didnt look down, concentrating on holding the stance, and gradually, he entered another trance.
Before he realized it, a puddle of water had manifested on the stone huts dirt floor.
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Chapter 14: Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance
Chapter 14: Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance
Yang Wu did not know how long he had stood alone in the stone hut. He felt as if he had been bathing in a hot spring. Warm andfortable, he didnt want to wake from his trance.
The energy rushing through his twelve major meridians was turbulent as if it were breathing. Energy continued to flow in and out of the thousand holes in the peach-pit dantian, absorbing the moisture little by little. A foggy aura drifted around Yang Wu, wisps of energy flowing through his meridians before settling in the Yongquan acupoints in his feet.
[TL Note: The Yongquan acupoints can be literally tranted as Gushing Spring Acupoints. However, the name has already been established in traditional Chinese medicine.]
Only Warriors were capable of opening their acupoints, yet Yang Wu found he had the ability. Had using the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance helped him skip ahead to the Warrior Realm?
Obviously, that was not the case. Yang Wu had not yet progressed far enough through the Foot Soldier Realm. He had only opened these acupoints now due to cultivating the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance and Supreme Nine Profound Art. To use this stance, one had to sense the waters power by opening their Yongquan acupoints.
Without the Supreme Nine Profound Art, Yang Wu would have only been able to imitate the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance. Without the cultivation technique, opening those acupoints would have been impossible. Thebination was the only reason he had seeded.
As his acupoints opened, Yang Wu felt power surge to his feet, significantly boosting both his speed and strength.
Once a cultivator reached the Warrior Realm, opening all of ones acupuncture points was necessary. This allowed a cultivator full ess to theirbat body, allowing them to explore its potential and improve further.
As Yang Wu woke, the energy flowing through his twelve major meridians roared like a river, chiming thrice with the mysterious ring.
Gaining another three stones of strength, he now stood at fourteen, one step away from bing a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier.
It all felt like a dream. Even though the Foot Soldier Realm was the weakest of the cultivation realms, it had taken him years to reach that point before his imprisonment.
Of course, he had not consumed any rare medicine during those years, only obediently following his fathers instructions and consolidating his foundations. After his nibble of the blood ginseng, he wasnt surprised to gain a few stones at once, but he had just gained three by simply practicing a stance. It seemed ridiculous.
Its amazing that I canbine the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression stance with the Supreme Nine Profound Art! Yang Wu said, awed by his sess. He stared down at his soaked feet and the puddle around him, wondering, for a moment, if it were an illusion.
Had he not just been practicing a stance? Where did the watere from?
Even a fool would recognize how extraordinary this inheritance was.
This Sealing Pearl must have an astounding history! Yang Wu eximed.
The seal locking the pearls secrets within was incredible, yet Sootys fire breath had broken it, providing even more evidence of how outstanding the little pup was.
It seems that keeping Sooty around is a good idea, Yang Wu mused, ncing to a shadowed corner of the room.
He knew hed regret losing such a powerful sapient spirit.
Yang Wu did not deliberately try to pander to the pup. His spirits were too high, and he wanted to pit his new strength against another. So, he called in Skinny Monkey and Xiaoman.
As the two came in, they immediately noticed the water stains at Yang Wus feet and his wet, discolored trousers.
Is something wrong? Yang Wu asked, puzzled at their odd expressions.
ncing at Xiaoman, Skinny Monkey whispered to Yang Wu, Brother, have you been too engrossed with your cultivation? Youum, wet your pants!
Unable to look at him any longer, Xiaoman turned her face away from Yang Wu. She was ashamed. He was already a young man, yet he had peed in his pants.
Yang Wu stepped forward and thumped Skinny Monkey on the head. Awkward, he smiled and scolded, Youre the one who wet yourself. The water came from my cultivation, soaking my lower body.
Is that really the truth? Skinny Monkey asked incredulously.
Not even Xiaoman believed Yang Wus im. She could not see any water in the stone hut, and how could cultivation get you wet?
Yang Wu was toozy to exin it and wasnt sure how, anyway. Rather, he changed the topic, asking, How are you doing as the boss?
Skinny Monkey felt put on the spot. We have a few thorns in our side who are trying to step up and take over.
Oh? Who is so bold? Yang Wu asked.
A guy named Bei Zi has been targeting our people, Skinny Monkey exined gloomily.
Thus far, they had gained over twenty inmates, all of whom were Foot Soldiers. They had even had a Medial Grade Foot Soldier whom Yang Wu had previously defeated, but the man was not nearly strong enough to defeat Bei Zi. And since Skinny Monkey had not reached that point as a cultivator himself, he doubted he would be enough to take down this upstart.
Yang Wu considered the situation before he spoke. Well, youve been cultivating alongside me for the past two days. Lets spar and hone yourbat techniques. Then, you will challenge Bei Zi.
Brother, Im not strong enough! Ive heard hes just as powerful as Centipede was! Skinny Monkey argued.
I killed Centipede, and a mere Bei Zi scares you? How do you expect to rule over the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison in the future? Yang Wu red at his friend, clearly disappointed.
Skinny Monkey clenched his fists. Big Brother, youre right. I shouldnt act so timidly. Im not afraid of death, so why should I be afraid of Bei Zi? Im justafraid Ill embarrass my brother.
Both victory and defeat are routine for cultivators. This is nothing! Yang Wu admonished.
Yang Wu then led Skinny Monkey outside for their sparring session, using the exercise to refine Skinny Monkeys skill with hisbat techniques. Xiaoman wanted to leave, but Yang Wu insisted that she stay and watch.
Obediently, Xiaoman shrank in a corner. Seeing her distress, Sooty approached and gave her hand an affectionate lick. Adorably, the pup wagged its tail, making the girl smile. She scooped up the ck dog, hugging it close, and stroked his fur, itspanionship improving her mood.
However, she didnt notice the somewhat strange look in Sootys intelligent eyes.
Meanwhile, Skinny Monkey showed his substantial talent for cultivation. After less than a day of sparring and practicing with Yang Wu, he brought the Rainstorm Spear Arts first move, Dark Clouds Covering the Sky to the Established stage. Yang Wu watched in admiration, thinking, He really has a natural gift for cultivation!
If Skinny Monkey had been born to a wealthy family, he wouldve been brilliant to watch! Yang Wu mused proudly.
The two young men did not need to go out that evening, their followers bringing their daily meal to them.
Naturally, the inmates brought Xiaomans food too, as Yang Wu would not forget about her.
As they ate, Yang Wu noticed something odd in Xiaomans hand. After a closer look, he stared at her, stunned, and asked, Xiaoman, where did you Where did you find that lingzhi?
Lingzhi was on par with medicinal ginseng. The mushroom chunk in Xiaomans hand was notrge and much younger than the blood ginseng Yang Wu had, but it was enough to provide significant medicinal benefits to any ordinary person who ate it. Eating the lingzhi would even help a Foot Soldier grow significantly stronger.
A little frightened, Xiaoman answered, I The little dog gave it to me.
Afraid she had made Yang Wu angry, she thrust the mushroom at him. She may not understand it, but she had heard of lingzhi and knew it was worth thousands of gold, on top of being a potent herb.
Woof, woof! Sooty wiggled in Xiaomans arms, barking several times. It tugged at the girls sleeve, indicating that she did not need to hand the mushroom over.
It seems you have some kind of private stash, Sooty. Why arent you sharing it with me? Yang Wu said, looking the pup in the eye.
The little dog felt like a medical storehouse. He did not know where the pup got the peach pit, blood ginseng, and lingzhi from, but Sooty might have even more ess to potent herbs. The idea was rather important at the moment.
Sooty responded a few times, rolling its eyes. It then snuggled against Xiaomans chest and ignored Yang Wu.
She stroked the little dogs fur again, speaking softly, Sooty, if you still have herbs, you should give them to the young master. Even if you dont, we should give him the lingzhi. It would be wasted on me, anyway.
What a considerate girl this is, Yang Wu thought to himself.
Aoww, woof Sooty whined inint.
Xiaoman tried to hand Yang Wu the lingzhi again, but he waved her off. Keep it. Youre as thin as a bean sprout. The supplements will help you develop.
Although the lingzhi was valuable medicine, he didnt need to fight a servant for the opportunity. Doing so would only mar his status as a viscount.
Moreover, he had found a faster way to improve. He could, perhaps, make great progress without relying on external sources.
Noticing Yang Wus refusal, Sooty settled down.
Yang Wu did not understand why the pup was so close to Xiaoman, but he could not help butugh, scolding, You little pervert!
In response, the pup jumped and bit Yang Wu.
Oy, Sooty! Are you trying to kill your master? I am your master, you know! Yang Wuined.
Let go, or Ill have to force you.
Forget it. Since you gave me the blood ginseng, Ill let it slide. You can stay with Xiaoman. Dont follow me.
Having grown up as a pampered viscount, Yang Wu had never experienced a dog bite before. It made him quite sad.
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The next day, it was Skinny Monkeys turn to be miserable. Again, he trained with Yang Wu, and again, he tasted defeat. This forced his progress, and he reached a total of five stones of strength, reaching the Medial Grade Foot Soldier Realm in one fell swoop.
Well, it''s time to take care of this Bei Zi guy, Yang Wu announced.
Ill beat him so badly, Ill scatter his teeth across the ground! Skinny Monkey roared, confidently waving his crowbar.
He was determined to make Bei Zi suffer as he had over the past two days of training.
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Chapter 15: The Young Master is So Cool!
Chapter 15: The Young Master is So Cool!
Cellblock 68 was the lowest-leveled area in the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison and home to thousands of inmates. Most were ordinary people, and though many were Foot Soldiers, most of those inmates had only reached the Inferior Grade. Medial Grade Foot Soldiers were strong enough to rule as gang bosses in the area.
How else could Wang Yan and Centipede have acquired so much power, representing two of the prisons big shots?
The other cellblocks contained stronger prisoners with hasher offenses. Block 68s inmates were nothing inparison.
Meanwhile, Yang Wu and Skinny Monkey led ten-odd prisoners in search of Bei Zi.
It did not take long to find the man. A in-looking man in his thirties, Bei Zi loungedzily on a rock, a stalk of hay hanging from his lips. Clearly, this man did not fear the guards.
When he saw the approaching crowd, including Yang Wu and Skinny Monkey, he raised his eyes and continued chewing the straw. He did not seem to pay them any mind.
Bei Zi, block 68 belongs to the Wuhou Gang from now on. You will kneel and pay your respects, Skinny Monkey shouted, pointing at the man with his crowbar.
Skinny Monkey had wanted to name the gang Wu Monkey. He wanted the gangs name associated with Yang Wu, which was why he used Wu. Since he was the boss, at least on the surface, he had wanted to use Monkey from his nickname, as well. However, when he told Yang Wu, thetter reced Monkey with hou.
The word for monkey and hou sounded the same, but Wuhou and Wu Monkey had twopletely different meanings. Yang Wu wanted to be conferred a marquis (hou), so he changed it to this character.
[TL Note: The Wu is Yang Wu means martial. The hou in Wuhou means marquis. So the literal trantion of Wuhou would be martial marquis or Marquis Wu. If you used the character for monkey, it would be martial monkey or fighting monkey.]
What is the Wuhou Gang? Bei Zi asked disdainfully, cleaning an ear with a finger.
It looks like the soft approach wont work with you. Guess well have to use force. Ill take you down! Skinny Monkey yelled, running toward Bei Zi with his crowbar in hand.
To prisoners, the end justified the means. Thus, Skinny Monkey did not wait for Bei Zi to defend himself. Jumping ones enemy here was fair y, and Skinny Monkey had to prove himself in battle. He could not always rely on Yang Wu.
The young cultivator struck without mercy, sending the strength of five stones hurling toward Bei Zi.
But the man did not seem to care about the iing attack; his guard had already been up for a while. He easily leaped out of the way, and snatching up his crowbar, Bei Zi swung at his opponent. Who do you think you are, trying to conquer block 68?
Far stronger than Skinny Monkey, Bei Zimanded eight stones of strength, fighting like the Medial Grade Foot Soldier he was. With one swing, he almost knocked Skinny Monkeys weapon out of the younger mans hands.
Fortunately, Skinny Monkeys willpower was incredible, and he could take a beating. With gritted teeth, he continued to parry the attacks. He would not admit defeat!
ng, ng!
The crowbars crossed, scattering sparks.
Skinny Monkey was at a disadvantage, and Bei Zinded several ncing blows, leaving vicious scratches. It was apparent that Skinny Monkey would soon lose this fight.
Young master, Skinny Monkey! Hes in trouble! Xiaoman cried, tugging at Yang Wus sleeve.
Its alright, he assured her. If he cant get through this, he will have a hard time keeping control of this area, Yang Wu said softly.
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Indeed, the dozen inmates who hade with them did not respect Skinny Monkey. Rather, they expressed their faint awe for Yang Wu, fully aware that he was the Wuhou Gangs true leader.
Many prisoners, all of whom followed Bei Zi, had arrived on the scene by now and surrounded the fight to watch. As the man stood on the brink of victory, they all cheered.
You trash! How dare you bring your insolence before me? I dont know how you managed to defeat Wang Yan and Centipede! Bei Zi caught an opening in Skinny Monkeys defense and kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him sliding back.
The older man did not hesitate, darting toward his opponent for a finishing blow.
But Skinny Monkey rolled to his feet, ignoring his injuries. He seemed to calm down a little as he recalled his training over the past two days. Yang Wus attacks were far more difficult to parry than Bei Zis, yet he could barely cope with one or two hits. How was this man beating him so quickly? He refused to ept such an oue!
I cant dishonor my big brother. I wont lose! Skinny Monkeys eyes burned with an almost demonic passion, practically glowing and striking fear in the audience. The look even shocked Bei Zi, who was about to pounce, though it did not stop his advance. He wanted nothing more than his opponents death.
Suddenly, Skinny Monkey could calcte Bei Zis attack trajectory. He kicked off the ground, throwing himself backward like a nimble monkey while waving his crowbar, which cast a shadowy light over the older man.
Dark Clouds Covering the Sky!
Skinny Monkey had practiced this move hundreds of times over the past few days, reaching the Established stage. Although he was not yet Proficient, he disyed an inexplicable understanding of the technique.
This was a substantially powerful Superior Grade Warrior ssbat technique, and it caught Bei Zi by surprise. The man had not expected Skinny Monkey to know any techniques, and he certainly had not thought the younger fighter would notice the openings in his defense. Thus, he had no time to protect himself, and he cried out as Skinny Monkeynded a merciless blow.
Ahhh!
Bei Zi was significantly stronger than Skinny Monkey, but the youths full-powered strike was nothing to sneeze at. Blood flew from his shoulder as the flesh ripped, exposing bone, and he screamed in pain like a dying pig.
His eyes still glowing, Skinny Monkey did not slow his assault. He refused to give Bei Zi any chance to turn the fight back around.
The inmates watching the fight began to shout, Lets jump them together! We cant let Boss Bei get in trouble!
The prisoners began to rush toward the fight, but one man was faster than the rest even as he carried with him a heavy chain. He headed straight for Skinny Monkey, but the movement warned the young man of his approach.
Yang Wus training over the past few days had significantly improved Skinny Monkeys reaction time. Backing off from Bei Zi, Skinny Monkey raised his crowbar to meet his new enemy.
ng!
The crowbar flew from Skinny Monkeys hands as blood burst from his mouth. He stumbled back a few steps before copsing to the ground.
The man who had struck Skinny Monkey did not pursue the young man, but stopped andughed. Haha! You are so weak, not even worth a second strike! If Wang Yan and Centipede hadnt had such powerful backers, I wouldve reced them long ago!
The rest of the prisoners backed away, respectfully referring to the new fighter as Boss Fei.
Fei Leng was a one-armed Superior Grade Foot Soldier and resident of the prison for the past three months. Normally, someone of his caliber would have been sent to an area with more serious offenders, but he had been ced in block 68 due to his disability.
Fei Lengs support was precisely the reason Bei Zi had be a small-time gang leader.
Fei Leng was not too prominent a figure in block 68. Due to his missing arm and knowing his limits, he had no desire to fight for the right to rule over the area. Moreover, of the prisons seven big shots, the weakest had reached the Warrior Realm. He, on the other hand, was just a wounded man who did not want to cause trouble.
At least, that had been the case until Skinny Monkey had defeated Centipede and Wang Yan, trying to unite the cellblock under one power. Since both Bei Zi and Fei Leng refused, this had happened.
Now that Fei Leng had shown up and defeated Skinny Monkey with a single blow, the prisoners that followed him cried out.
Boss Fei is so powerful! He knocked that guy out with one hit!
Kill him, Boss Fei! You are block 68s true boss!
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Fei Leng nced at the young man on the ground, then at Yang Wu and the others. Smiling, he asked, Did you hear that? From now on, I, Fei Leng, rule this cellblock. Bring me all of the Scarlet Steel Rock youve collected, or youll share his fate.
Without warning, the man darted toward his fallen opponent, intending to make an example of Skinny Monkey.
But Skinny Monkey was stubborn. Fearlessly, he got to his feet and prepared to face the attack head-on. However, someone slid between him and Fei Leng, addressing the one-armed man, Disabled one, I urge you to stand by my brothers side.
Hearing the words disabled one, Fei Leng red at the man before him. He snarled, Do you have any idea what I do to people who call me that, you little bastard? I kill them! Kneel, obey, and beg forgiveness for your mistake! I might be willing to give you a painless death. Refuse, and Ill tear you limb from limb!
[TL Note: The Chinese believe that one requires their corpse to be intact and together for their souls to reincarnate. Otherwise, they would be doomed to wander the world as ghosts.]
Threatening a viscount is a capital crime! Yang Wu snarled condescendingly.
Viscount? If youre a viscount, then Im an count! Fei Leng spat. He paused before adding, Ill give you three breaths to kneel before me.
I say the same. Kneel, surrender, and Ill spare you some of the suffering for your offense, Yang Wu insisted.
Then you shall die! Fei Leng did not waste his breath arguing as he aimed his crowbar for Yang Wus skull.
Fei Leng already put twelve stones of strength behind his swing, though hemanded fourteen at full power.
The other inmates were well aware of how powerful the man was, and they sneered as they waited for the blow to crack open Yang Wus skull.
However, what happened next shocked them all.
Before the crowbar connected, Yang Wus weapon sliced through the air, reaching its target first. The sh of movement radiated a ck glow as the crowbar smashed into the older mans head.
Ahh!
Fei Leng screamed, blood flowing down his face. The man would have died if Yang Wu had put more force behind the attack.
On your knees! Yang Wus feet moved like the wind, kicking Fei Lengs feet out from under him and dropping him to his knees with a thud.
Meanwhile, Xiaomans eyes sparkled as she watched Yang Wu. She could only think, My young master is so cool!
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Chapter 16: Woe from Wolf Spirits
Chapter 16: Woe from Wolf Spirits
Do you submit? Yang Wu demanded, holding his crowbar steady above Fei Lengs head.
Without bothering to wipe the blood from his face, the older man responded instantly, Yes! I submit!
He knew that if a No escaped his lips, the young man would truly crack open his head, ending him for good.
Fei Leng had not expected such a swift defeat, though he could sense that the young man before him was as powerful as a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier. If Yang Wu had been any weaker, he might have had a chance, but as it was, fighting back would be a detrimental mistake. Silently, he cursed to himself, How crappy is my luck to meet a foe like this?
Having witnessed Yang Wus ruthless attacks, the surrounding inmates did not dare act rashly. That young man had mercilessly beaten Boss Fei, whom they had all worshiped, and it robbed them of their courage.
Very good. You will all obey Skinny Monkey from now on. His word is as good as mine; do you hear me? Yang Wus tone was frigid as he gestured to Skinny Monkey behind him.
Yes, I understand! the disabled man hurriedly replied.
You, over there, who goes by Bei Zi, do you have any objections? The young man cast his gaze over Bei Zi, who nursed his injured hand.
Fear shed in the mans eyes as he stammered, N-no objections here!
Excellent. From here on out, you all belong to the Wuhou Gang. Bear in mind, I will end anyone who dares to cause trouble from within! Yang Wus gaze was as sharp as a de as he announced his terms.
Without much suspense, Fei Long and Bei Zi had submitted to Yang Wu, now under the Wuhou Gangs wings.
Yang Wu was only a step away from reaching the Consummate Grade, having already be a Superior Grade Foot Soldier. Furthermore, with hisbat techniques and experience, defeating Fei Leng had been a breeze. On top of that, all of his sensessight, hearing, smell, etc.had grown sharper than the average persons since he had begun cultivating the Supreme Nine Profound Art.
With these changes, Yang Wu had slowlye to realize that he could be a supreme expert among his generation as long as he continued to cultivate the art. Of course, he would need to collect nine Profound Essence Energies and reach the Aplished stage.
Currently, however, he was still weak, still at the introductory stage. His imprisonment only made finding those energies even more difficult.
While Skinny Monkey and Yang Wu finished bringing block 68 under theirmand, word of Centipedes death reached ck Ape in cellblock 1, an area reserved for first-ss felons and death-row inmates, all of whom were outstandingly powerful. Unfortunately for the gang leader, he was restricted to his section and could not venture to block 68 to teach these neers a lesson.
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Meanwhile, in block 8, the bloody aura had finally withdrawn. After transporting the blocks inmates to another area, thousands of guards had surrounded the block, and once again, the warden and his deputies explored the pit in hopes of discovering its secret.
Although the deep pit no longer radiated the dangerous aura, the average man still could not get close. Wan Tianlong had dispatched five captains and fifty squad leaders, along with another five hundred guards to investigate further, yet most had ended up dead. Only one captain had managed to escape alive but gravely injured. That man returned with shocking news. His team had found a bloody ritual array covered in ominous items as sacrificial offerings. Furthermore, an earthly spirit spring surrounded an altar, emitting an astounding level of Profound Energy.
Setting aside the items on the altar, the spirit spring was enough temptation to encourage Wan Tianlong and his men.
Not only could an earthly spirit spring reinforce ones bones, but it could also cleanse the marrow, expand the meridians, alter ones physique, and bolster ones strength. It was an incredibly rare type of spirit spring and ultimately priceless.
Surely, a bloody altar within an earthly spirit spring must harbor some precious secrets! Wan Tianlong, Zhao Changdao, and Lie Feng all thought, unabashed desire shing in their eyes.
Warden, we need to secure the location quickly! Zhao Changdao urged.
"I agree," Lie Feng echoed. "This is our territory, but if the Barbarian Suppression Army stationed nearby catch wind of this, they''lle to im it. Dealing with them will be a pain."
As the warden considered the potential issues, the blood-curdling howls of wolves interrupted his thoughts.
Owwoo! Owwoo!
The Smoke Signal Mountain Prison (Wolf Smoke Mountain Prison) earned its name from the wolves who reigned over the region. The Xia Dynasty might have imed the area for its prison, but in truth, humans only upied a fraction of thend. Ferocious wolf spirits ran rampant across thend beyond the prison, and not even Generals like Wan Tianlong dared to venture too deep into the mountains.
[TL Note: The word for Smoke Signal Mountain Prison can be literally tranted as Wolf Smoke Mountain Prison. The usage of this name made use of the double meaning of the word for wolf smoke, which also means smoke signal. Since it was at the borders or near the barbarians territory, it was likely also used as an rm system for attacks by the barbarians. Smoke signals made for a quick and effective way of sending a message across far distances.]
Bad news, Warden. Arge pack of wolf spirits is attacking the prison. A soldier, tasked with patrolling the prisons outskirts on horseback, galloped into block 8 to deliver the report, startling the three men.
Soldiers, follow me! We will stop these wolf spirits! The wardens voice boomed as he gave the order.
By the time Wan Tianlong and his men reached the prisons edge, a few thousand wolf spirits were already pressing close to block 8. Although small-scale strikes from the wolf spirits were not umon as they came looking for wayward prisoners to snack on, such arge assault was quite rare.
Every one of the approaching wolf spirits was majestic and powerful. They struck a noble, proud image as they mercilessly ran down nearby humans, howling to the sky every now and then. Their coats shone in a variety of colorscrimson, azure, amberand their eyes glittered with a horrific hunger.
As the wolf spirits thundered by, prisoners, scared out of their wits, ran for their lives.
What?! Therere so many of them! Dont eat me! I dont want to die!
Damn wolf spirits, get lost! Ill fight you all till myst breath!
Ahh! My arm! It ate my arm!
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With the heavy shackles around the inmates ankles, they could not escape. Many suffered grievous wounds, and some were even swallowed alive. It was a terrible scene to behold.
The prisoners had no hope. A Consummate Grade Wolf General, a wolf spirit on par with the warden, led the pack in its brutal attack.
Unlike the rest of the beasts, the Wolf General did not charge into battle. Rather, it stood in the middle of the battlefield, one long howl after another escaping its throat. It almost seemed like it was giving orders to the thousands of wolf spirits swarming toward cellblock 8.
Huge and striking, the Wolf Generals coat glistened like the zing sun. Saliva dripped from its exposed fangs, and its howls sounded like calls for blood. Not only did the creature retain its primitive ferocity, but cunning intelligence also showed in its gaze.
Wan Tianlong and his men reached the scene fast enough, and the warden wasted no time. He leapt into the air, with his bow in hand, and fired an arrow straight at the Wolf General.
Zzzsh!
Still in the air, the warden instinctively settled five arrows on his bow, each arrowhead shining, and sent them all flying toward the beast in a deadly arc.
In response, the Wolf General opened its maw and spewed an iridescent, multicolored energy that sted the projectiles into pieces.
Unfortunately, two of the four wolves nking it could not avoid the arrows in time. They wailed in pain when the arrows bit into their flesh, falling into growing pools of blood.
Why is the wolf pack attacking? The warden demanded, aghast, as hended back atop his bull spirit.
Slightly slower than Wan Tianlong, arge number of guard captains, squad leaders, and guards emerged from the surrounding blocks tounch a formidable counterattack.
The Wolf General howled again, long and low, calling most of its pack to its side. The creature then spoke in the human tongue. Are you this mountain prisons warden? it asked. I am Lang Cha, alpha of the surrounding area. I smell that a King-level treasure has been unearthed. Surrender it to us and save your people from disaster.
Its voice was hoarse and jarring, yet any animal spirit that couldmunicate in thisnguage was no average being.
It would be best if you retreated, Lang Cha. We bear no grudge against your pack, and no King-level treasure has been found. You cannot me us for our ruthlessness if you insist on continuing this battle! the warden solemnly warned the Wolf General. Frowning, he thought to himself, This wolf demon must be quite powerful to detect the secrets beneath block 8. It looks like were in for a tough fight.
This is our territory, and everything within it belongs to our pack! If you refuse to hand it over, we will devour you all! Lang Cha shed its vicious fangs, snarling.
How dare a mere Wolf General like you threaten us! Ill take your head! Zhao Changdaombasted, pointing his saber at the wolf.
My wolves, ravage the humans! The Wolf General lost thest of its patience and, with a bellow,manded its pack to attack.
Instantly, several thousand wolf spirits pounced.
y these wolves, men! Left with no choice, the warden barked the order.
Wan Tianlong barrelled headlong into the pack atop his bull spirit. He released a seemingly endless stream of arrows from his bow, dropping a wolf spirit with each.
The warden had earned the nickname Unrivaled Archer for a reason.
Elsewhere, Zhao Changdao locked eyes with the Wolf General and charged on his old tiger. Blood dripped from his saber as he swung, fully disying the prowess of a General Realm cultivator.
Lie Feng had the responsibility of clearing out the scattered wolf spirits and preventing the beasts from causing even more panic within the prison.
Fortunately, there was no shortage of experts among the captains, including Wan Tianlongs own daughter, who gave a spectacr performance. She rode a snow leopard into battle, wielding a cobalt-blue spear. One by one, the wolf spirits fell, their blood blooming like flowers as she thrust her spear into her enemies.
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Wan Lanxin was only twenty-two, yet she was stunning. Her armor was a simr blue to her weapon, and she wore a crown-like helmet, a flowery belt around her waist, and boots with a swirling cloud design on her feet. Within the prison, she was a dazzling, spirited flower.
Her glorious style was enough to make the guards swoon. Even the tortured prisoners could not help but pause to admire her valiance, despite the risk to their lives.
The young woman rode deep into the fray, hunting the wolves who broke away from the pack. Noticing five of the beasts veer off, she gave chase, shouting, Evil beasts! I wont let you cause any more harm!
These five wolf spirits ran straight for cellblock 68.
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Chapter 17: Acupoints of the Feet Opened
Chapter 17: Acupoints of the Feet Opened
Yang Wu and Skinny Monkey had managed to shock every inmate in block 68. Fifty or sixty Foot Soldier prisoners from different areas arrived to pledge their loyalty to the two young men. Once these prisoners had a promise of protection from the two sworn brothers, they left to recruit more minions as well as a portion of the neers Scarlet Steel Rock bounty.
Unlike Wang Yan and Centipede, who had demanded arge portion of the prisoners hard-earned bounty, Skinny Monkey empathized with his followers. That being the case, he only asked for one-third of the Scarlet Steel Rock they collected each day. He also gave prisoners three days to collect their share if they failed to offer enough on a particr day. The blocks inmates very much appreciated his understanding and generosity.
Yang Wu, on the other hand, did not bother himself with such trivial issues, preferring to spend his time cultivating. In fact, he holed himself up in the stone hut after his victory over Bei Zi and Fei Leng, spending three days cultivating in the horse stance.
The Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance was a powerful variation of the horse stance, one which allowed the cultivator to absorb water-attributed Profound Energy. Afterbining the stance with the Supreme Nine Profound Art, he was able to ess the very essence of the technique.
After he held the stance for the past three days, the energy rushing through his twelve meridians began to vibrate with a warning chime. He could feel himself on the verge of experiencing another instance of the Sweeping Melodious Energy, though he had already experienced it fourteen times. He had reached the peak of the Superior Grade Foot Soldier Realm and knew he was only one stone away from bing a Consumate Grade Foot Soldier. However, he suppressed the vibration this time, redirecting the water-attributed Profound Energy toward his two Yongquan acupoints, forcing them open.
The energy swirled around the two acupoints as it gathered, transferring strength to Yang Wus legs while stimting his Yang-attributed energy at the top of his head. This process, which was highly beneficial to a cultivators physique, vigorously increased his vitality.
The Yongquan points were major acupoints in the human body connected to the kidney meridian. With strong kidneys, one would have strong Yang-attributed energy.
The energy sparked in the pair of Yongquan acupoints, circting between his dantian and major meridians. As the energy roared through his body, it burst through the other acupoints in his feet. Soon, Yang Wus Dadun, Taichong, Taibai, and other acupoints in the areaa total of sixteenopened. At each, a pool of energy spun counterclockwise as it drained into the acupoints.
Within his peach-pit dantian, the water-attributed Profound Energy was as pure white as fresh milk and as dense as celestial mist, drifting and rising in spirals.
If an expert saw what was happening inside Yang Wu, they would be shocked. Typically, a cultivator had to reach the Warrior Realm before they could begin the process of opening their acupoints.
The young man had not even reached Consummate Grade, yet he had opened several points. Sixteen, in fact! Such sess was unheard-of!
Naturally, clearing so many acupoints at once was supposed to be impossible, unless one was born with a particrly suited physique. Obviously, Yang Wu was not so blessed. His sess could only be attributed to his cultivation.
As for the energy within his unique dantian, not even General Realm experts could necessarily cultivate such pure Profound Energy.
Most of the energy a cultivator absorbed was natural, impure Profound Energy. The impurities within reduced the amount of strength a cultivator could exert by twenty to thirty percent. A cultivator would need to form a sea of impure Profound Energya characteristic of reaching the King Realmbefore they could purify it.
In other words, a cultivator could forget about essing such pure energy until they became a King.
Yang Wu was still only a Foot Soldier, yet he had cultivated such incredibly pure energy. He was one of a kind.
The Supreme Nine Profound Art was not the only contributing factor; the peach pit that now served as Yang Wus dantian also had a part to y. The pits countless pores allowed him to absorb every wisp of Profound Energy, pulling it into his dantian. As the pit filtered the energy, it transformed, bing some of the purest Profound Energy in the world.
This was his blessing, the key factor that had altered his fate.
In three short days and with the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, the young man had attracted a spring of energy that cleansed his body. Although he still wore the uniform of a prisoner, the filth had been removed, revealing a suave appearance and noble air that he could no longer conceal.
And now, he could sense the waters power as he began to practice the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art.
With his eyes closed, he stood on the tips of his toes, hunching forward like a dragon turtle with a wavelike momentum. He opened his left hand, keeping his palm rigid, and curled his right into a fist. Rocking like the seas powerful waves, he resembled a mighty dragon.
Absorbed in his recollection of the old turtle mans movements, he imitated what he had observed with his eyes still closed. At first, the movement was stiff and awkward, but after an hour or so, he started to feel the flow. Two hourster, he could execute the moves as if they were second nature.
For the rest of the day, his palm strikes seemed to cause gusts of wind, while his punches appeared to ripple the air. Finally, he showed some semnce of power.
Coming back to his senses, he looked pleased. Eyes gleaming, he said to himself, Just as I thought. I have to master the Water Suppression Stance before I can cultivate the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art. Even as just a Foot Soldier, I can already imitate such a powerful move. Once Im stronger, Ill have ess to ten or twenty percent of its power, and by then, Ill even be able to suppress opponents more powerful than I am.
Grrrr, rumble!
Yang Wus stomach began to growl, interrupting his thoughts. It sounds like my stomach is starting to protest theck of food over the past few days, he thought,ughing to himself.
Leaving the stone hut, he found Xiaoman waiting for him. She had not dared to venture far in case her new master needed her.
The young woman had spent the past few days ying with Sooty, so she had not been bored. However, every now and then, the pup had disappeared for several hours, always returning with some fruit and strange herbs. Xiaoman had eaten one or two of the fruits but saved the rest for Yang Wu.
The pup was not happy and often whimpered at her as if urging her to eat more. Every time, however, she petted the dog tenderly, exining, Im sure the Young Master will be hungry after cultivating for so long. This food will help satisfy that hunger.
In truth, Xiaoman was unaware of how valuable those rare fruits and herbs were. They might not be top-grade spiritual fruits or herbs, but they were more than enough to strengthen the body and enhance an average persons constitution.
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Every time Xiaoman ate one of Sootys gifts, she felt a warm,fortable sensation in her lower abdomen. The food was far superior to the daily rations prisoners usually earned, and she felt a little spoiled.
[TL Note: The dantian is said to be located in the lower abdomen, about two to three fingers width below the navel. The warm,fortable sensation in Xiaomans lower abdomen might be a prelude to the development of her dantian.]
Excited to see him finally emerge, Xiaoman ran up and greeted Yang Wu. Young Master, you must be hungry. Come and try the fruits Sooty brought.
The moment he saw the fruits and herbs in her hands, his eyes lit up with excitement, and he cried out in delight, Wild snow pear, fire cherry, and a sorrel leaf?!
Yang Wu had read all sorts of ancient texts since his youth. Naturally, he needed to familiarize himself with various wild herbs and fruits. Spotting these would ensure he did not miss an opportunity to be a stronger cultivator and warrior. Hence, he recognized the types of fruit and herbs with one nce.
Wild snow pears grew from a tree that liked to cling to the edge of cliffs. Since the tree would receive constant rainfall and absorb natural spiritual energy throughout the year, the fruit it bore was particrly sweet. These pears had natural cooling and strengthening effects on the body.
[TL Note: One key feature of traditional Chinese medicine is the bnce of energy and the elements. Aside from the five elements, there exists a concept of duality, like Yin and Yang, light and dark, and in this case, hot and cold. The Chinese believe that all food has an attribute of heating or cooling, and eating too much of one type results in an imbnce, causing illness.]
In contrast, the fire cherry introduced a gentle heat. Consuming these also improved ones strength and physique, but they also raised ones spirit and boosted libido.
The sorrel leaf cleared the meridians and dantian, which held the most benefit for those embracing the path of cultivation.
These fruits and herbs might not be overly difficult to find, but in a forsaken ce like the mountain prison, they were nonexistent. Sooty had proven itself to be extraordinarily capable to acquire these so easily.
Woof woof! The pup grumbled, clearly unhappy. It had delivered these gifts to Xiaoman, not Yang Wu.
The young man did not reach out to ept the offered bounty. Rather, he offered the pup a ttering smile. Surely, you wont leave me out, Sooty? Dont I get a share?
The little ck dog merely rolled its eyes and settled against Xiaomans chest. Rxed, it closed its eyes and ignored Yang Wu.
You mustnt value lust over your friends, you know. Dont forget that I was the one who dug you out of the rocks, Sooty, he pointed out, frustrated.
Xiaomans chest is rather t, but nevertheless, that spot is a sensitive area on ady. How can a dog im it like this?!
Unable to watch further, Yang Wu turned away. Xiaoman was his handmaid, after all. If anyone got to lie on her, it should be him.
Yang Wu had noticed Xiaomans beauty. Not even the soot on her face and her disguise could hide her natural charm. And besides, he reckoned her chest would continue to develop.
Still ignoring Yang Wu, the little dog pawed at Xiaomans shirt, and the movement caused a soft blush to color her fair skin.
Stop moving, Sooty! she said, lightly swatting the pup on the head. She then returned her attention to Yang Wu. Young Master, please ept these fruits.
The young man patted her on the head. Sooty gave you those, so you should keep them. He then continued, Xiaoman, Id like to teach you a profound art. That way, these fruits and herbs medicinal effects wont go to waste. It will also help you be an outstanding cultivator.
Yang Wu was not stupid. He could guess what Sooty intended by giving these items to Xiaoman The dog wanted the young woman to follow the path of cultivation; it would not have given her such precious medicinal items otherwise. All of the fruits and herbs specifically targeted certain aspects important to cultivators.
This only further convinced him that Sooty was an especially intelligent sapient spirit.
Cancan I really do that? Xiaoman asked in a trembling voice.
Cultivators were well-respected the world over, and this respect was not gender-specific. However, like Skinny Monkey, she hade from humble beginnings. She had never even considered cultivation. Hence, she was a little bbergasted by Yang Wus offer.
Just as the young man was about to reply, Sooty leaped from Xiaomans arms, growling and bearing its teeth at something in the distance.
Neither of the inmates had ever seen the pup act so ferociously, and it shocked them.
Suddenly, they both heard wolf howls fill the air.
Awwooooo!
Wolf spirits had burst into block 68.
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Chapter 18: This Viscount Will Slay Wolves Today
Chapter 18: This Viscount Will y Wolves Today
Without warning, three majestic wolf spirits burst in. The guards had not been able to stop them in time and had received fatal bites to the neck for their efforts.
The rest of the guards were too scared to approach the beasts.
The wolf spirits are attacking! Theyre eating us! Help!
Run! They areing!
That wolf spirit is huge! Smash it with rocks!
Its just three; we have them outnumbered! Gather the men, and well attack as one!
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This block held the weakest prisoners; hardly any of them had the courage to stand up to these vicious wolves. These monsters could easily tear the guards apart, let alone the frail, helpless inmates.
Frenzied, many inmates tried to escape. Some of them were not fast enough, falling under the wolf spirits fangs. Agonized screams filled the air as the wolves crunched on the skulls and tore them limb from limb.
Fortunately, only three wolf spirits had ventured to block 68. More of the creatures had invaded the rest of the cellblocks, leaving more casualties and rivers of blood.
Xiaoman, take Sooty with you and hide in the stone hut, Yang Wu ordered, frowning.
He then darted into the hut to fetch his crowbar, calling out to Skinny Monkey, who came running, Gather our men, and do not split up the team!
Big Brother, are we going to face them head-on? Skinny Monkey asked.
Dont worry. There are only three of them. I want you to have everyone hurl rocks at the wolves. If we keep it up, we can even kill a Wolf General! Yang Wu shouted his reply.
His words reassured his men. One by one, they began to pick up stones and hurl them at the darting wolf spirits.
With so many prisoners fighting back, stones rained down on the wolves, stopping them in their tracks
One of the three wolf spirits had already reached the Spirit Warrior Realm. It nimbly avoided the flying stones, wounding six or seven inmates as it barreled toward Yang Wu and his men. The wolf spirit seemed to recognize that group as the main force and realized it would have to deal with them first.
[TL Note: The Spirit Warrior Realm seems to be an animal spirit equivalent of the Warrior Realm. Im not sure if there is any significance in the different nomenture, so Im tranting it as is for now. Do also note that Wolf General refers to a wolf spirit in the General Realm, possibly Spirit General Realm in the case of animal spirits, not a generic general of wolf spirits takingmand.]
Seeing how ferocious the beast was, the inmates were too intimidated to take aim. None of the rocks they had thrown thus far had hit it.
As he watched the wolf in action, Yang Wu thought to himself, Based on its swift reflexes, that must be a Warrior wolf spirit. If I dont get rid of it first, the men will be in danger. I will not let the Wuhou Gang crumble! Ill just have to confront that monster personally.
All of you, back away! Ill take care of it! With a loud cry, the young man lunged forward with his crowbar.
He moved with such surety and speed that not even the shackles around his ankles slowed him down. This was one of the benefits of forcing open his Yongquan acupoints.
Let me help you, Big Brother! Skinny Monkey refused to let his sworn brother fight the Warrior wolf alone, and he followed Yang Wu into battle.
Skinny Monkey had not been idle for the three days Yang Wu had isted himself. He had raised his strength to seven stones and cultivated until he became Established with the Rainstorm Spear Arts first two moves. The results of his efforts had greatly boosted his confidence.
Meanwhile, Fei Leng ordered the rest of the men, Get your stones ready, everyone! Throw them at the wolves whenever you get a chance!
The guards worked together to deal with the remaining two wolves. Unfortunately, most of the usual guards had been dispatched to block 8, and the rest of the crew did not have enough men to help with the Warrior wolf spirit.
However, these guards might have had another reason for not helping with that fight. Some of them simply did not want to, hoping the formidable creature would take down Yang Wu.
Yang Wu circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art, energy gushing through his twelve major meridians; it sounded both like a rushing river and startled birds. As energy flooded through him, some pooled at his feet in swirling vortexes, pushing his body to its limits. As he reached the wolf spirit, the wolf pounced, and the two began to tear each other down.
Rolling Thunder Shifting Winds...!
Yang Wu held nothing back. He knew that if he did not severely injure the beast, it would kill him. While others would have run away, sumbing to a fear of death he did not have, he relished the battle, wanting to test how much he had grown over the past three days.
The crowbar moved like a spear as thunder roared and the wind howled. The might Yang Wu disyed was no less than that of a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier.
By now, Yang Wu was Aplished with Rolling Thunder Shifting Winds, and the move was more powerful than ever.
The young man wanted to knock the beast down with one blow, but s, the Warrior wolf spirit was too nimble. The leaping wolf arched his back in midair and dodged the blow. At the same time, it reached out and wed the young mans clothes and flesh. Fresh blood began to flow down his chest.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Yang Wu spun his crowbar,nding a heavy blow
Just as he thought he had managed to injure the wolf spirit, however, Yang Wus crowbar bounced off, almost slipping from his grip.
The wolf spirit ignored the attack. Jaws spread, it spun and pounced.
Dont you dare hurt my brother! Skinny Monkey interjected as he attacked.
With how little sess Yang Wu had, Skinny Monkey did not stand much of a chance. Yet, the young mans intervention was enough to distract the wolf spirit, who abandoned its attack against Yang Wu in favor of facing the new threat.
Unable to block the attack, the wolf spirit knocked Skinny Monkey to the ground, diving for his jugr with glistening teeth.
Im finished! the young man cried out and squeezed his eyes shut as he waited for his final moments.
Get lost! Yang Wu snarled. He charged toward the wolf as it was about to swallow his friend.
Thud, thud!!
Yang Wu was furious. He would not allow anything to harm his closestpanion. Wildly, he smashed the spirit wolf with his crowbar until it turned its attention back to him. Equally enraged, the beast knocked the weapon out of Yang Wus hand and threw itself toward him.
The wolf spirit was too fast. Yang Wu felt ribs crack as the beast crashed into him. Overwhelmed with suffocating pain, he staggered back two or three meters and coughed up fresh blood.
Realizing Yang Wu was the greater threat, the wolf was determined to finish him off first.
Skinny Monkey, on the other hand, had yet to recover from the shock of his near-death experience. Seeing the wolf about to pounce, however, he shouted a warning, Big Brother, be careful!
At this critical moment, Yang Wu relied on the Supreme Nine Profound Art to circte the energy within him with astounding speed. The energy roared from his dantian and through his major meridians before reaching his wounds and easing his pain.
Before the young man realized what was happening within him, the wolf spirit came for him again. He leapt out of the way as gracefully as if his feet had wings.
The wolf spirit struck nothing but air. Huffing in anger, it turned andunched an even faster attack.
The more dangerous it is, the more I need to stay calm! Yang Wu recalled his fathers teachings and forced himself to calm down as he continued to dodge.
His reflexes seemed beyond that of a Foot Soldier. He might even be faster than a Warrior.
Because he had opened the acupoints in his feet, the young man knew he could do this.
Unfortunately, the wolf spirits strikes were too powerful to defend against. Yang Wu managed to avoid most of the beasts strikes, but it did manage to inflict a few more shes with its vicious ws. Blood flowed steadily, only making the fight an even more chilling scene.
Prepare to die, wolf spirit! Skinny Monkey lifted a massive stone and hurled it toward the Warrior wolf. Emboldened, the rest of the inmates joined in the assault.
While Yang Wu took the chance to catch his breath, he remembered the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art. Tossing his crowbar away, he arched his body and stood on his toes, taking on the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance andbining it with the Supreme Nine Profound Art. The thousands of tiny holes in his peach-pit dantian simultaneously opened, and the energy at his feet began to spin faster. He felt his twelve major meridians tremble as energy passed like flying arrows buzzing with power. This was known as the Screeching Arrow Whistle, a phenomenon that signified he had amassed his fifteenth stone of strength and be a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier.
Come; fight me! Yang Wus fighting spirit soared as a warcry escaped his lips, and he charged toward the wolf spirit once again.
The beast revealed its full savagery as it ran to meet him, baring white fangs and howling its fury. In the blink of an eye, it was on him.
With a glimmer in his eyes, Yang Wu managed to catch the wolf spirits fleeting movements. Before it got to him, he had extended his left palm, his right fist swinging around tond a punch. After he struck the wolf spirits nose with his palm, his fist smashed it between the eyes, his hands seeming to sh with light. The blows flung the beast away but not before it left a few more painful, bloody gashes down the young mans chest.
Both opponents bounced apart from the impact, but blood leaked from the wolfs weakest points: its nose and eyes.
A primal instinct woke inside of Yang Wu. He disregarded his wounds and ripped off his clothes, revealing his bloodstained body. He then shouted at the creature, This viscount will y a wolf today!
His steps were steady, resembling the movement of a dragon turtle.
In response, the wolf spirit fought with even more fervor. It growled again, throwing itself toward Yang Wus vulnerable throat.
The young man continued tounch palm strikes and punches, but the Warrior wolf was tough. It endured the assault as it continued to snap and w.
One man and one wolf exchanged blows. In such an intense battle, there was no room for anyone to step in and help.
Yang Wu had only managed to grasp the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Arts form, preventing him from exhibiting its true might. However, it was enough, and his prowess in battle was incredible to behold.
But the wolf spirit was smart and agile, avoiding most of Yang Wus attacks while inflicting multiple wounds. The beast was a Medial Grade Spirit Warrior, possessing astonishing strength. The young man was no match for the wolf spirit.
If Yang Wu had not opened the acupoints in his feet, he would not have had the speed to survive a fight with the Warrior wolf spirit.
Finally, the other two wolves had been subdued, and a few of the guards wanted to help with the fight against thest beast. However, their leader, Xu Ziyang, stopped them. That prisoner is a decent enough fighter. Let him handle the wolf alone.
The guards realized what Xu Ziyang intended with thatment, and they all nodded silently.
You have no one to me if a wolf eats you, do you, Viscount Yang? Xu Ziyang snickered under his breath.
As Yang Wu began to fall in the vicious battle, Xiaoman emerged from the stone hut, joining Skinny Monkey and the others as they watched, helpless. I hope Master doesnte to any harm, she said, looking worried.
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By her side, Sooty looked toward the fight, releasing an echoing growl. Grrraaooo!
The sound, fierce and tyrannical, startled Xiaoman. It was nothing like the pups usual bark.
When the wolf spirit heard the growl, it froze with terror, the whites of its eyes showing clearly.
This is it! Yang Wu saw his chance. He gathered water-attributed energy to his feet as he slid into the dragon turtle stance. The energy from his dantian merged with the water-attributed energy instantly, and he attacked, aiming for the wolfs head.
Thud thud thud!
A flurry of punches and palm strikes, shing with a blue light that was reminiscent of surging waves, crashed into the wolf. Under the overwhelming force, the wolf spirits head exploded.
At the same time, an arrow sliced through the air, striking the wolf in the rear. The attacks knocked the beast into the air as blood sprayed in all directions.
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Chapter 19: If You’ve Got a Problem, Come at Me!
Chapter 19: If You¡¯ve Got a Problem, Come at Me!
The arrow threw the wolf spirit into the air, disying a power ordinary people were not capable of.
Turning their gazes toward the arrows origin, everyone watched as a valiant woman rode into the block atop a massive leopard. She carried a war bow in her grip, while a spear was strapped to her back.
Although she was young and stunning, she also burned with a heroic spirit. All of the guards, and even the inmates, were smitten with her.
Regaining hisposure, Xu Ziyang led his guards toward the woman, saluting her. Greetings, Captain Wan.
This woman was none other than Wan Lanxin, who had rushed over from cellblock 8 after watching the three spirit wolves break away from the pack. Before reaching block 8 and shooting the Warrior wolf spirit, she had in two more along the way.
Skip the formalities. I want the area sorted out immediately, and dont you dare let any inmates escape, Wan Lanxin ordered.
Skinny Monkey and the others crowded around Yang Wu, only calming down once they knew his life was not in danger. Seeing that he was fine, they were even more impressed by his performance in the battle against the wolf spirit.
Big Brother, that heroic woman killed the wolf spirit. We should go and offer her our thanks! Skinny Monkey suggested, fascination shing in his eyes as he gazed at Wan Lanxin.
The woman was so beautiful that she could entrance anyone with her beauty, even outside of the prison. Moreover, finding such beauty here was nearly impossible, and before her rarity, most mens behavior degenerated.
Yang Wu froze when he saw the woman hispanion pointed to. A thought crossed his mind for a moment, but he quickly regained his senses and smiled. Indeed, she is a gant woman!
Lower your voice, Big Brother. The guards will punish you if they think youve profaned their goddess! Skinny Monkey whispered a warning.
I know my limits. Yang Wu nodded slightly.
He lowered his head, hiding his face behind his disheveled hair. He used his appearance to suggest that he was seriously injured.
Nearby, a guard barked, Get back to mining, you bastards! Anyone who tries to escape will find a merciless end!
Although many prisoners were still in shock, they trudged back to their tasks. This kind of hardship was beyond what an ordinary person could endure.
To curry favor with Wan Lanxin, Xu Ziyang carried the in Warrior wolf spirit, presenting it to her. Captain Wan, youve truly inherited the wardens divine archery skills. Killing such a powerful wolf spirit with one shot is remarkable! Youre an inspiration to us all.
The captain had no time to waste. As she turned her leopard to leave, she nced down at the beast. Raising her gaze, she told him, Bring me the inmate who was fighting this wolf.
Right away, Captain Wan! Xu Ziyang jogged toward Yang Wu as the inmates began to wander off. Brat, get over here!
Someone with authority had instructed Xu Ziyang to take good care of Yang Wu. With no reason to hold back, he kicked the inmate as everyone watched.
The young man had not been facing Xu Ziyang at the time, and although he was alive, he was badly injured and had almostpletely depleted the energy in his dantian. Thus, the kick had caught him off guard, and it sent him tumbling to the ground.
Bastard! Skinny Monkey instantly went berserk. As far as he was concerned, that was his elder brother. Watching Yang Wu treated in such a way had pushed him too far, and Skinny Monkey could no longer contain his anger. Furious, he swung his crowbar at Xu Ziyang.
Xu Ziyang was not the run-of-the-mill prison guard. A Warrior, his reactions were lightning-fast, and the man easily avoided the attack. He even managed tond a blow in response, striking Skinny Monkey in the gut and making him spit blood.
This is an act of defiance toward your superiors! How dare a lowly inmate attack me, a squad leader?! I''ll make you beg for death! Xu Ziyangs fuse was already short, and the attack only served to enrage the man, driving him to beat Skinny Monkey mercilessly.
With how little strength Skinny Monkey had, he was defenseless. It did not take the squad leader long to beat him to a pulp, although he never cried out.
Let him go! If youve got a problem,e at me! Yang Wu pushed himself up from the ground, ring at Xu Ziyang with red eyes.
Several guards had already surrounded their leader, and the tails of their whips flew at Yang Wu for his insolence.
Damned lowlife! Kneel and apologize to the squad leader!
Beat him to death! Do you think that youre strong enough to ignore this prisons rules?!
Yang Wu did not resist. He stood stock still, allowing the whips tond. As he took his beating, his eyes held unyielding defiance, and he muttered, There wille a day when this viscount reims his former glory. When that dayes, I will repay this humiliation tenfold.
By the time Skinny Monkey had been beaten half to death, Xu Ziyang was satisfied. He then approached Yang Wu with a sneer. You think you''re still a viscount? You''re just a prisoner. If I ordered it, youd have no choice but to eat shit, yet here you are, brazenly defying me! Do you doubt that I could have you executed on the spot?
The man pped Yang Wu in the face, contempt clear on his own.
This time, Yang Wu dodged the blow. ring back, he hissed, If you think you can, then try to take my life, you bastard!
Yang Wu engraved the image of Xu Ziyangs face on his memory. This man had targeted him again and again since his imprisonment. Once he regained his freedom, he would definitely repay the favor.
The young man was fully aware that the squad leader was a mere puppet and that his true enemy was among the imperial family.
Unfortunately, before he had had the chance to avenge himself, this vile creature had intervened, making his life miserable and forcing him to face mortal danger. The situation was unbearable.
You still have the audacity to speak against me? Ill make you wish you were dead! Xu Ziyang spat, swinging to hit the young man again.
Suddenly, Wan Lanxins voice reached the men. What are you dawdling for? I told you to bring him to me!
Xu Ziyang knew better than to disobey the captain. He instantly pulled back his hand, shouting at Yang Wu, Follow me! Captain Wan wants to see you.
The other inmates helped Yang Wu up, supporting him. He was not particrly fond of the idea of meeting Wan Lanxin, but the situation was beyond his control. Thus, he lowered his head and stumbled over to her.
Xiaoman watched from nearby, growing anxious. She scooped up Sooty, saying worriedly, Please be alright, Young Master.
After so many struggles, she had found someone to protect her. She would not find another if she lost him, and this young master had already found a special ce in her heart.
Sooty had been watching the situation as well. It seemed more impatient than usual and had been pawing at the ground, its ws leaving furrows in the dirt. The little pup was still radiating an intense, ferocious aura, which was not something an ordinary puppy could manage. To top it off, the look on its furry face indicated that the ck dog might be a vicious beast if something were to happen to Yang Wu.
Yang Wu arrived before the captain, who still sat atop her leopard. He straightened his back, though his head was still lowered. He intentionally let his hair fall to cover his face, making it hard to see his features clearly.
What are you waiting for? Kneel before Captain Wan! Xu Ziyang snarled, kicking the back of Yang Wus knees.
The man was taking advantage of the opportunity to torture the inmate.
Yang Wu''s knees buckled, but he did not fall fully to his knees. He slid into the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance and began to absorb the surrounding water-attributed Profound Energy, slowly healing his injuries. Xu Ziyang might be a Warrior, but Yang Wu would not yield so easily.
On your knees! the squad leader shouted again, frowning as he prepared tond another kick.
How audacious! Wan Lanxin said suddenly, kicking toward Xu Ziyang. The movementunched a sh of blue light that struck the squad leader square in the face. With a bang, the man spun twice, and several of his front teeth flew from his mouth.
Xu Ziyang was stunned.
The attack even shocked the watching crowd.
Whats going on?
Did Wan Lanxin hit him by mistake?
Cap Captain Wan! Xu Ziyang clutched his cheek, looking bitter. He opened his mouth to say something, but Wan Lanxin ignored himpletely.
Looking down at the prisoner before her, she addressed Yang Wu, Raise your head.
The young man kept his head down. Voice hoarse, he replied, Im afraid my dirty face would be an affront to the captains gaze, so I think Id better keep it down.
Are you deaf? I said raise your head! the captain shouted, annoyed.
But Yang Wu clenched his fists and continued, Captain Wan is a person of prestige. Why bother with a prisoner like me?
Done wasting her breath on the inmate, Wan Lanxin slid out of her saddle. She grabbed Yang Wus chin and lifted his head. The young mans hair fell to the sides, exposing his upset, yet handsome, face.
Softly, he asked, Sister Lanxin, didnt you already know? Must you trample on thest of my dignity? Do you want to see me die that badly? Will it finally make you happy?
Wan Lanxin''s pupils constricted, and her delicate hands trembled. Stunned, she cried out, Brother Wu, why are you here?!
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Chapter 20: Big Sister Lanxin
Chapter 20: Big Sister Lanxin
Neither Yang Wu nor Wan Lanxin had ever imagined a reunion here.
The two had been born into nobility and had been ymates at a young age, forming a close bond. Wan Lanxin had taken on the role of gang leader, dragging him along as she yed with the other children. They had caused trouble wherever they went. Later, Wan Lanxin and her father had left Royal City, effectively ending allmunication.
Wan Lanxin had been the most talented cultivator among their old ymates. If she had not missed Mount Emeis recruitment, which happened once every three years, she would have joined the nations most powerful sect.
Despite walking away from such a fine opportunity, the girl had followed her father into the military, then to the prison. She had never stopped cultivating, bing an Inferior Grade General at a young age. She had earned one merit after another, and due to her performance, she became an exception to the rule, earning her rank as a captain and management of a cellblock on her own.
Of course, working and living in the prison for the past years had cut her off from the happenings in Royal City. She did not know about the misfortune that had befallen the Yang n, nor had she been made aware of Yang Wus imprisonment. Seeing his face now had caught her off guard.
Naturally, Yang Wu had not expected to see her here, either, and tried to hide his face in shame.
As a viscount, he was arrogant and proud. He had a hard time lowering his head, but he did so before the woman he had yed with as a child. She was one of the few people he had worshiped since his youth, and she had been his first crush.
He had not had the courage to do anything about it, though. A couple of his friends had talked about doing the things Yang Wu only fantasized about, but she had beaten them ck and blue for their trouble. With such a harsh lesson so deeply engraved on his memory, he had not dared act on his feelings.
Besides, he had enjoyed far better treatment than his childhood friends. He had walked hand-in-hand with Wan Lanxin when she had dragged him along for a stroll. Yang Wu even remembered the few times she had encouraged him to venture into a brothel, joking that she wanted to take his virginity.
That kind of thing had happened numerous times, but he had been too shy to ept. Thus, she had teased him for being a little virgin. Helpless, he had always replied with old virgin, earning his own merciless beating.
The rtionship these two had had in the past was undeniable. They had even addressed each other as siblings and had been the best of friends.
Now, however, one of them was a captain and responsible for arge number of men, bing a formidable force at such a young age. Unfortunately, the other had been imprisoned, despite his status as a hereditary viscount. Yang Wus social status had been stripped, and now, he was even less than amoner. The gap between them had changed drastically.
Yang Wus expression twisted into aplicatedbination of emotions. His tone indifferent, he replied, It is me. Im just a lowly prisoner now. Dont worry, Big Sister Lanxin. But it would mean the world to me if you still remembered our past, and maybe, you could stop these people from making my life any more difficult.
As distracted as she was, Wan Lanxin might have let the squad leaders behavior pass, but now that Yang Wu had mentioned it, she erupted, enraged as she locked eyes with the trembling Xu Ziyang. With a loud crack, she gave the man a brutal p.
Xu Ziyang was dumbfounded. He lost several more teeth, and his cheeks began to swell immediately, making him look somewhat like a fat pig. The other guards backed away, shuddering and afraid. Not one of them dared to utter a word.
The inmates, on the other hand, were overjoyed by the disy. They all despised Xu Ziyang butcked the strength to stand up to him. Seeing him suffer was a balm on their hearts.
Suddenly, the crowd spun when they heard several wolves howling in the distance.
Wan Lanxin was about to say something to Yang Wu only a moment before, but when she heard the howls, her brow furrowed. Turning, she snapped at the guards, Keep an eye on my younger brother. If anything happens to him, youll have to answer to me!
After a pause, she spoke to Yang Wu. Stay here for now. Ill be back to find you once Ive dealt with these wolf spirits.
With that, she hopped back into her saddle. She nced back at the young man, deep emotions swimming in her gaze before she rushed off to cellblock 8.
Delight shone in Yang Wus own eyes as he watched her ride off. It looks like Big Sister Lanxing hadnt forgotten about me after all.
The event had changed the way both the guards and other inmates looked at Yang Wu.
The jailers knew who Wan Lanxing was, of course. She was the wardens daughter and their very own princess. Even if they mustered every ounce of courage they had, they would never disobey the young woman.
On the other hand, the inmates felt nothing but envy and respect for Yang Wu. Even in this miserable ce, he had support from such a prominent figure. It was not likely that he would be stuck in this prison for long.
As fast as it hade, the wolf spirits cmity was quelled.
While his daughter had been distracted, Wan Tianlong had mobilized a contingent of three thousand bowmen armed with Scarlet Steel crossbows. One after another, the invading wolf spirits had fallen under the rain of bolts.
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After suffering a strike from Wan Tianlongs sword, Lang Cha had been no match for the warden. Its wounds left it no choice but to retreat with the packs survivors. Despite the loss, the General wolf spirit only parted after snarling a final threat, dering he would return with a true Wolf King and deal with Wan Tianlong.
Three to four thousand wolf spirits had died, with less than a thousand escaping the fray.
The mountain prison had suffered significant losses as well. During the battle, more than a thousand guards and three thousand prisoners had perished. Maimed bodies and torn limbs littered the ground, painting a terrifying scene.
Wan Tianlong ordered his men to return to their posts and keep their eyes open in case the wolf spiritsunched another attack. He also led Zhao Changdao and Lie Feng back into block 8 in preparation to excavate the buried secret. He would use it to bolster his strength.
Along the way, his daughter interrupted, pulling him to the side. She asked, What happened to Uncle Yangs family? Why didnt you tell me?
Bewildered, Wan Tianlong replied, Which Uncle Yang?
Uncle Yang Zhennan! Wan Lanxin demanded.
So, you saw the brat? the older man asked, frowning.
Wan Lanxin nodded. I did! Hes in terrible shape!
The wardens answer was disdainful. Worse than terrible. The Yang n is finished. Dont bother with him and let nature take its course. He refused a life of glory and wealth, and as punishment for his obstinacy, his entire n was annihted. How stupid! He then turned away from his daughter, leading a thousand men to the deep pit waiting within cellblock 8.
Unsatisfied with her fathers exnation, Wan Lanxing grumbled, If you dont want to tell me, then Ill ask him myself. I cant believe Yang Wu is capable of such an unforgivable mistake! Determined, she mounted her leopard and returned to block 68.
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Back in block 68, Yang Wu instructed Xiaoman to tend to Skinny Monkeys wounds in the stone hut.
Xu Ziyang had beaten the young man so badly that he suffered internal bleeding. If he had not already begun cultivating, the wounds would have been enough to kill him.
Yang Wu even offered another nibble of the blood ginseng, in addition to the juice from a wild snow pear he had received from Xiaoman. He refused to let Skinny Monkey die on his behalf.
Worried, Xiaoman asked, Is Big Brother Monkey going to be alright, Young Master?
Nothing will happen to him! Yang Wus answer was firm. He recalled Xu Ziyangs face as he worked, silently swearing to himself, You will die, regardless of who might try to protect you.
Xu Ziyang had made it onto Yang Wus kill list. The young man rarely felt such hate for another, with the exception of the individual responsible for his ns destruction.
While Skinny Monkey rested, Yang Wu approached Sooty, whoy in front of the hut. He squatted down, asking seriously, Sooty, if the ginseng and the pear arent enough, will you save him? Please?
The pup blinked up at him, its green eyes serene and intelligent. Wagging its tail, it stood and barked twice in response.
Ill take that as a yes. Yang Wu sighed in relief. He then returned to the hut, sitting and crossing his legs as he began to treat his own injuries.
He was covered in wounds, and blood stained the majority of his body. He looked so frightening that Xiaomans heart ached when she looked at him.
She twisted a torn scrap of cloth in her hands before carefully bandaging his wounds. Unable to stop the tears from streaming down her face, she cried, Y-young Masteryou are seriously injured, too.
Yang Wus smile was faint as he replied, This is nothing. Everything will be alright soon.
He focused on circting the Supreme Nine Profound Art, sending Profound Energy to flow from his dantian to his meridians and back, nourishing every part of his body and relieving the pain. Even the bone-deepcerations began to knit. Such an extraordinary recovery speed would make one nearly indestructible!
Yang Wu had experienced something like this before. After swallowing the mysterious peach pit, his crippled dantian and broken hand had recovered instantly. Granted, he had been unconscious at the time, so it had not felt real. This felt different, though. He could feel the Profound Energy flow through his body with a natural healing effect.
Xiaoman was shocked as she watched her masters wounds close. Youyour injuries, Young Master!
Are they reopening? he asked, unable to look himself.
N-no! Youyoure growing new flesh! Theyre healing so quickly! she stuttered, covering her mouth with her hands
Hah! This young master really is indestructible! Yang Wu eximed, bursting withughter. Who in the world can harm me now?!
Youre just as shameless as always, Little Brother Wu. A delicate voice interrupted from just outside the hut.
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Chapter 21: This Is Not Appropriate
Chapter 21: This Is Not Appropriate
Wan Lanxing had returned, and she made an unforgettable sight in full armor atop her leopard. Soon, she pulled her mount to a stop, hopped off, and approached the stone hut.
Seeing this, the guards silentlyined, I cant believe the captain is lowering herself just to see that pest! Lucky bastard!
Xiaoman had only seen Wan Lanxin from a distance earlier. Seeing the woman close up, she was suddenly insecure and lowered her soot-covered face.
Bare-chested, Yang Wu stood, looking Wan Lanxin in the eyes. His expression grewplex as he spoke to her. Why are you here, Big Sister Lanxin? This ce is an insult to your presence.
How is it an insult?! I have other reasons to be ashamed, anyway. My little brother had been imprisoned, and I didnt even know. You have suffered in vain. It is I, your big sister, who let you down, Wan Lanxin exined, feeling guilty. She strode forward, taking Yang Wu by the hand. I will get you out of here.
This was not the first time she had taken his hand, but this time, the gesture moved him.
Rather than following her, he pulled his hand free. I have a brother here who is seriously injured. I have to stay and protect him. After a pause, he continued. Im also considered a dangerous prisoner. Pledging to free me will only cause you trouble.
Have you ever known me to be a coward? Besides, my father controls this prison. Who would dare speak out against him? Theyd have to be tired of this life! As she spoke, Wan Lanxin raised her voice, frightening the guards outside.
She then ventured to Skinny Monkeys side, examining his wounds. Retrieving a small pill, she said, This is a healing pill. Giving it to him should save his life.
Yang Wu epted the pill before handing it to Xiaoman. Watch over Skinny Monkey. Ill be back soon, he told her.
She took the pill, assuring him, Dont worry, Young Master. Ill take good care of him.
Satisfied, Yang Wu followed Wan Lanxin out of the stone hut.
Climb on! the captain insisted.
Yang Wu nced at the mighty leopard. Its intense gaze was frightening, and the long fangs hanging from its maw could kill a man in one bite. He swallowed hard. Um, Big Sister Lanxin, IId better walk. Walking seems safer.
Hey, what happened to your immense courage? Now you wont even ride my Xiaohua?! How disappointing! she teased,ughing. She then reached for Yang Wu, grabbing him by the shoulder and pulling him atop the leopard whether he liked it or not. Pinning him between her arms, she rode off.
The leopard was as fast as the wind. Wan Lanxin settled Yang Wu in front of her on the saddle, and he could feel the great beast purr under him. It was frightening.
Wan Lanxing held on to him tightly, and herughter sounded like silver bells in his ear. You grew up, Little Brother Wu, but your courage has waned. You used to be so small, yet you were braver. You even dared to climb on Xiaohong and ride with me.
Yang Wu recalled Xiaohong, the fiery colt with a roan coat, quite well. It had been Wan Lanxins first mount. At the time, she had teased him, promising, If you can climb on Xiaohong, Ill let you ride with me.
The thought of riding with her and wrapping his arms around her thin waist had emboldened him. The thirteen-year-old Yang Wu had grabbed the saddle to pull himself up, but the horse responded by throwing him, leaving him battered and bruised.
He had tried to mount the horse thirteen times, failing all and breaking several bones in the process. Finally, Wan Lanxin had helped him up and held him as they rode, just as she did now.
It was a memory he would never forget.
Now, it felt as if he had traveled back in time. Once again, he rode with Wan Lanxin. She was still his sexy, glorious big sister, but this time, he was no longer a child.
No, she has changed, he thought. She had grown even more ravishing. Her temperament is outstanding, and her chest has grown, too. Thest fact made him forget his panic over the leopards speed. Her care and concern gave him a sense of security he had not felt in a very long time.
Yang Wu calmed down, leaning into Wan Lanxins embrace. Lazily, he said, It is good to see you, Big Sister Lanxin. Even if I die today, I can rest in peace.
Save these sweet words for your Younger Sister Yuyue. She snorted.
Even as she said that, a charming blush climbed to her cheeks.
I dont know if Ill ever see her again, Yang Wu replied, ovee with emotion upon hearing the name Yuyue.
That statement worried Wan Lanxin, and she hoped the young man had not lost himself to despair over his imprisonment. So, she encouraged him, With your big sister here, I guarantee youll taste freedom again.
Yang Wu smiled but did not answer. He doubted she could keep that promise.
He leaned back, enjoying her warm, fragrant embrace. It helped ease his mood, and soon, he gradually passed out.
These past days had been too tiring. He had gone through one battle after another. With how rxed he currently was, it was hard to stay awake.
Wan Lanxin looked down at the sleeping young man. She noticed his unique masculinity, the hard edges and corners. She sighed, thinking, I intended to return to Royal City in three months to see you. I never expected to find you here.
Yang Wu did not know how long he slept, but he awoke warm in a womans bedroom.
Rubbing his eyes, he noticed a woman sitting in the room with him. Her hair fell like a waterfall, and her eyes were bright. Her fair skin was white as snow and stretched over solid muscle. She had a thin waist, and her long legs were stretched before her, half exposed. The light in the room only entuated her beauty, and the longer he stared, the more beautiful she became.
Big Sister Lanxin! Yang Wu cried out.
Looking up, Wan Lanxin noticed him getting up. She then stood and approached him. Are you awake?
Big Sister, why am I in your room?! Imjust a prisoner. This is bad luck! he insisted shyly.
[TL Note: A person who went to prison is seen as unlucky. When prisoners finish their sentence and return home, they normally hold a simple ritual to wash away the bad luck before they enter their house. There are various rituals like stepping over a basin of fire, burning ones clothes, having a haircut, taking a thorough shower, and many more.]
It did not take Yang Wu long to realize someone had changed his clothes. He was also now clean andfortable. The realization only intensified his gratitude toward Wan Lanxin.
However, he was still a criminal, and he had offended someone of great importance. He did not want to cause her trouble, and he said as much.
Wan Lanxin rolled her eyes. I havent seen you for three years, and you are already being so formal with me. Indeed, you have grown. Dont you wish to acknowledge your big sister anymore?
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What are you saying, Big Sister Lanxin? We grew up together. How could I refuse you? You knew me so well that you could even guess how many worms were in my stomach, Yang Wu said, smiling bitterly. But I am a prisoner now, and you are a captain in the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison. There is a difference between our statuses.
Im responsible for bringing you here, so why worry? Now, tell me what happened, Wan Lanxin demanded. After a pause, she said, Forget it. Youve been asleep for two days and nights. Eat something, and well talk after you bathe. We have plenty of time.
Yang Wu was not an overly fussy person. Naturally, he wanted to ept Wan Lanxins help to earn his freedom, but he did not want her hurt in the process.
ncing over, he saw food had been prepared for him, and his stomach growled in protest. Alright, Ill eat! Not caring about his image, Yang Wu wolfed down the food before him.
Resting her cheek in her hand, Wan Lanxin watched, unblinking, as he ate, pity shing in her eyes.
She remembered the young boy who had fallen off her horse thirteen times just to ride with her. She remembered the young man who had led a dozen guards to toss a rude man into the river as fish food because he teased her. She even remembered hurting herself in the ice and snow when something went wrong with her cultivation. His small frame had carried her over five kilometers to find help. By the time they had, he was frozen and sick, almost near death.
The past had not changed; their friendship was stronger than metal.
Once Yang Wu had eaten his fill, a servant fetched a wooden bath, cing it behind a screen.
Shyly, he asked, Big Sister Lanxinis it really okay to bathe here, in your room?
If you keepining, I might eat you up, little virgin! Wan Lanxin purred, overbearing.
Okay! Taking a bath now! Yang Wu replied, shrinking into himself. Undressing and slipping into the tub, he whispered to himself, I wonder who could subdue an old virgin like Big Sister.
Suddenly, he heard the rustle of movement and noticed a rich fragrance. Wan Lanxin then appeared before him, and he trembled in fear. He shrank into the water, stammering, S-sister Lanxin! Whatwhat are you doing?!
I want to sleep with you! the young woman abruptly dered.
Yang Wu nearly fainted from the shock. His hands shot down to cover his crotch, and he blushed. Big Sister, dont do this! I! This is not appropriate! If you insist, I! But please, be gentle. Ive heard it hurts the first time.
Embarrassed, Yang Wu almostpletely submerged himself in the warm water. He was really weak against her.
Tutt! You, a little virgin? Im not interested. Keep babbling, and I might cut it off! Wan Lanxin dismissed the young man. She turned away before Yang Wu noticed that she was blushing like a drunk.
I may be a virgin, but how am I little? How ridiculous. He looked down at his robust lower body, unconvinced.
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Chapter 22: Greatly Ominous Place
Chapter 22: Greatly Ominous ce
After bathing and dressing, Yang Wu looked young, sprightly, and elegant once more. Though his skin had darkened under the harsh sun, it shone like smooth bronze. With his slender, well-proportioned build, his noble air gained an unruly edge.
Wan Lanxin gazed at him appreciatively, silently praising, Atst, the little virgin boy has grown up.
Lets talk about you now. What happened to the Yang n? With Uncle Yangs status as a count, causing trouble for your n shouldnt have been easy. Thedy got straight to the point.
Yang Zhennan had been more than just a count; he had also been a schr general. He had held an official fourth-ss position, and his father had been a third-ss official. The family had served the empire for generations. Aside from the imperial n itself, who could possibly take such a prominent family down?
[TL Note: The importance and paygrade of ancient imperial court officials were determined by their grades since Emperor Qianlong (17361796) of the Qing dynasty. The lower the grade number, the more authority that official had. The imperial court had two kinds of official posts, civil and military. Civil officials had a total of neen grades, from upper-first grade, lower-first grade, upper-second grade, and so forth until lower-ninth grade, and ungraded. Military officials had twenty grades; they had the same structure as civil officials with one additional grade above upper-first grade: transcendent grade. Being a schr general, Yang Zhennan was likely considered both a civil official and a military official. An upper-fourth grade civil official would be something like a deputy minister of justice or one of the major deputy ministers. A lower-fourth grade civil official would likely be a chancellor for one of the academies. As for the upper-fourth military officials, a deputymander of a division or brigade is one of the possible positions and likely the position Yang Zhennan held.]
Indignant, Yang Wu snarled, It was that bitch, Tang Jiaoyan!
Are you talking about that arrogant young princess? Wan Lanxin hesitantly asked.
The man nodded slightly and proceeded to give a brief ount of the events.
Tang Jiaoyan was Archduke Tang Fu-ans daughter. The archduke was the Emperors biological younger brother and considered part of the imperial n. Born a lower princess, Tang Jiaoyan was only one level below an imperial princess, the Emperors daughters. Given her high status, she was, by nature, willful and arrogant. As she was close in age to Yang Wu, she had taken a liking to the handsome young man. Thus, she had approached her father, asking him to speak on her behalf to arrange a marriage between the two. Of course, Yang Wu had not been interested. Although she was pretty, her character left much to be desired. Furthermore, he had already found a sweetheart, so he promptly rejected the proposal.
His refusal had infuriated the princess, and somehow, news of the failed proposal had leaked to the public, embarrassing the archduke. Not only had the princess be aughingstock, but her father had lost respect as well. His temper hit the roof at the public embarrassment, while his daughter could only shed tears as othersughed.
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Still, Archduke Fu-an had needed more than just the embarrassment to take his revenge out on the Yang n. At most, he would have been able to make their lives a little more inconvenient.
However, Tang Jiaoyan had refused to swallow her pride. She had found some people to set Yang Wu up, convincing the public that he had been caught while trying to rape her. Her father seized the opportunity to cause amotion and raid the Yang n. He attacked before submitting a formal report, and once his goal had been aplished, the Yang n had lost any standing to file aint. Since the matter affected the imperial ns reputation, Yang Wu had been facing execution, but his brother, Yang Wen, had offered to sacrifice the title he had earned as a top schr in exchange for Yang Wu and his familys survival. If his brother had not made the sacrifice, Yang Wu would never have been sent to the mountain prison.
After listening to Yang Wus side of the events, Wan Lanxin was so furious that her delicate fingers, clenched in tight fists, had gone white. That bitch! She deserves death! she roared.
Resigned, Yang Wu shrugged it off. You dont have to get so angry about it, big sister. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, so it was my fault for stepping on her toes and disrespecting her. It was only right that I be punished, but she had no excuse for implicating my n. The man ended his speech with a venomous tone.
Usually, youre pretty smart. So, how were you dumb enough to walk into her trap? the woman retorted with a facepalm.
The young man clenched his fists as he replied, At the time, I reckoned I owed her an exnation and hoped to mend the rtionship between our ns. I might not have been interested in her, but I still needed to consider my ns position. I hadnt expected the bitch toce my drink with sedatives.
Regardless, we need to find a way to remedy the situation, Wan Lanxin mused.
Yang Wu waved a hand and said, Were talking about the archdukes n, an offshoot of the imperial bloodline. Dont waste your time on this, big sister. If you really want to help, tell your men to leave me alone. Ive got the feeling that they were ordered to make my life here hell and wont give up until Im dead.
They wouldnt dare! Wan Lanxin shouted. I may not be of any help elsewhere, but here, I call the shots. Youll stay here from now on. Well see who dares toy a hand on you.
He had to admit that Wan Lanxin was a faithful friend. Most would keep their distance once they learned he had offended the archduke.
Yang Wu was touched. The so-called band of brothers he had grown up with, who had used to wine and dine with him, had never visited him in prison. Indeed, critical times revealed a persons true heart.
Still, he could not me them. The imperial n was involved in the situation. With such high stakes, there was nothing wrong with protecting oneself first. He might have done the same in their shoes.
Disregarding his injuries, Wan Lanxin instructed her men to bring a few bottles of alcohol. The two old friends continued to chat as they drank.
After a swig of alcohol, Wan Lanxin changed the topic. I saw the carcass, the wolf spirit from two days ago. You killed it before I managed tond my attack.
What about it? the young man retorted.
That was a Warrior Realm wolf spirit. Given your strength, you should have been assigned to one of the first ten blocks, yet you were sent to block 68. Its interesting. She pondered.
Well, would you believe me if I told you that they shattered my dantian before throwing me in here? Yang Wu asked with a bitter smile.
Really? The young woman could not stop the trace of anger in her tone as she looked at him, brow lifted.
Thereafter, Yang Wu shared his woes with her. Like a caring elder sister, she showered him with concern. She was an excellent listener, readily echoing hisints, clearly indignant over the injustices he had faced.
That night, they both got thoroughly drunk.
Wan Lanxin could have easily forced the alcohol out of her system, but she did not. Rather, she clung to the equally intoxicated Yang Wu as she tumbled into bed.
Who knew how the two ended up wrapped in each others arms. Even the shining moon seemed ashamed, hiding behind the clouds. Slowly, the insects stopped singing, and the world around them fell into silence.
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Wan Tianlong, Zhao Changdao, and Lie Feng had ventured deep into the pit in block 8. By now, they had lost half of their troops. The bloody aura was too much for the men to withstand; it eroded their minds, robbed them of their rationality, and turned them against one another.
Although the warden and his deputies had not been as affected as their followers, due to their strict determination, even they knew they could not fight the aura indefinitely.
Wan Tianlong revealed an evil-warding bead, and driving his energy, he managed to iste most of the bloody aura from his troops. Ultimately, this spared the remaining men from their impending doom.
Finally, the bloody altar was in sight, and they could see the earthly spirit spring around it. Piles of horrific animal spirit carcasses littered the ground. Wolf spirits, bear spirits, tiger spiritseven human bodiesy among the piles. The mounds of decaying flesh radiated a baleful aura. It was a grisly scene.
This is bad. This is a sacrificial ritual array. Lets get out of here! the warden eximed, startled.
Wan Tianlong was the strongest fighter in the prison. If such a scene robbed him of hisposure, what hope did the rest have? His entire team turned, eager to follow the order, but it was toote.
Suddenly, the bloody aura manifested as multiple wolves, bears, and tigers, pouncing on the group without any hesitation.
As manifestations of the aura, these beings mainly attacked the mind, making them impossible to defend against.
Ahhhh! Aaahhhhh!
Some clutched their heads as they cried out in pain. Not even the evil-warding bead could shield them.
Everyone, get out of my way! Lie Feng roared like thunder as he threw gusts of wind with his palms, attempting to disperse the bloody aura as it came.
Meanwhile, Zhao Changdao vehemently swung his long saber. Ambitious, his gazended on the bloody altar, and in a sh, he lunged toward it. Ignoring the manifestations around him, he focused his energy on his weapon, which began to glow with an azure light in the form of an immortal azure wolf. When the light reached its peak, he shed at the altar in a swift, graceful move.
No! Dismayed, Wan Tianlong cried out the warning.
Unfortunately, he was toote. His deputy had already released the light from his saber.
Just as the azure light reached the altar, a bloody hand rose from the pit, capturing and crushing the light in its fist. With astonishing speed, it then shot toward Zhao Changdao. rmed, the man shoved himself backward, but he was not fast enough.
The massive hand snatched the deputy, squeezing until the man was reduced to a river of blood. He had not even had a chance to cry out onest time before his untimely demise.
The mans spurting blood, exploding like fireworks across the wall before disappearing into the blood pool, was too gruesome to watch.
D-DeputyZhao is dead. Thisthis is terrifying.
We need to escape. These enemies are too powerful for us.
What the hell is that thing?! Run! Or well be next!
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Many of the guards were scared out of their wits, and they began to flee in a frenzy.
Damn it! How can there be a Blood King here? The secret this ce contains must be huge. Wan Tianlong thought to himself.
He pushed the evil-warding bead to its limits, covering himself and disregarding his men. Then, he dashed toward the blood spirit, as Zhao Changdao had, dodging the attacks from the numerous manifestations and showing no regard for his mens deaths.
However, the altars next defense had been triggered, and now, the ominous being on the altar awoke. Crimson beams of light, sharp as daggers, and more feral beasts poured forth, flying toward Wan Tianlong. With no way to defend against the assault, he barrelled forward.
Lie Feng did not dare move in farther, and he cried out to his leader, Come back, Warden! That is a Blood King! You cant win this!
Head back and look after the prison, Lie Feng. If I dont return within seven days, temporarily take over my position! the warden ordered as if expressing his final wishes. He then added, Look after my daughter for me.
As thest word left his lips, a dense burst of Profound Energy seemed to erupt from within him. Layered barriers engulfed him in dazzling light, and when he swung his de, sword images flew from his longsword toward the bloody altar.
As a Consummate Grade General, Wan Tianlong lived up to his reputation as the strongest man in the prison. His attacks easily subdued the massive, bloody hand.
Still, the warden did not dare lower his guard. Gathering energy, he prepared to destroy the blood altar in one attack.
The bloody aura continued to pour from the altar, and two new hands reached out, grabbing the warden. They then dragged him into the altar, and all three vanished.
ncing back, Lie Feng watched the warden disappear. He hid a cold grin, overjoyed. Finally, this mountain prison is mine! Hahaha!
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Chapter 23: This Feels like Flying
Chapter 23: This Feels like Flying
Pine trees stood straight and proud, surrounded by luscious flora and fauna in a particr courtyard within the mountain prison. The trees gave it a secluded feel, making it a serene escape from the rest of the prison. Surrounded by spiritual energy and the song of spirit birds, it was an ideal ce to nurse ones health.
Yang Wu woke in a room connected to this courtyard, and as he did, he was assaulted by an excruciating headache.
Sitting up, he realized he was still in Wan Lanxins bedroom. Under the reek of alcohol, he caught a whiff of a womans sweet, tender fragrance. When he looked down, he noticed he was no longer wearing the clothes he had on the night before. He also noticed w marks on his skin. Recalling how they had downed one bottle of liquor after another, he jumped out of bed. Did Big Sister Lanxin take advantage of me?
He examined the clothing he wore. His pants were still tight around his hips, indicating that his virginity may still be intact. Yang Wu pped his cheeks a couple of times, trying to remember, but nothing of the nights events came to him.
Crap. Im done for this time. Regardless of what actually happened, its undeniable that Ive ruined Big Sisters reputation. What should I do? Yang Wu muttered to himself, frustrated, before sitting with crossed legs to force the remaining alcohol out of his system.
As he circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art, he quickly purged thest of the alcohol. The numerous pores in his peach-pit dantian absorbed and released energy, the surrounding energy appearing like a celestial realm. As it gushed through his twelve major meridians, the pure Profound Energy nourished his muscles and organs, and it spun in whirlpools when it reached the acupoints in his feet.
After an hour of meditation, Yang Wu got to his feet and dressed. He examined his feet, now free of shackles, and reveled in how light and carefree he felt. Since he had time, he decided to stay in the room and take up the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance. He already knew that the stance worked in perfect harmony with the Supreme Nine Profound Art, and bybining the two, he could circte his power faster and stronger than ever before.
Not long after taking up the stance, he felt water at his feet. His dantian greedily soaked up the water-attributed Profound Energy, puffing wisps of mist through its pores. The energy flowed easily to his twelve major meridians, and they began to chime.
The sound was more intense than it had been in the past, sounding like the sharp whistle of thousands of arrows flying through the air. He could now consolidate his fifteen stones of strength, stabilizing his cultivation, which had only reached the Consummate Grade Foot Soldier Realm after his fight with the wolf spirit.
Most others needed far more time to advance from one stone to the next, but Yang Wu had be an exception. Now, increasing his strength only required maintaining and cultivating a stance for a while. Comparing oneself to others was only frustrating, of course, yet the wonder ofbining the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance was incredible.
As the young man delighted in his growing strength, the door suddenly swung open. It startled him so much that he lost sync with his breath. Fortunately, the energy rushing through his body was not overly powerful, and the peach-pit dantian was able to react, containing the chaotic energy and preventing a painful rebound.
Interruptions during cultivation were frightfully damaging. However, although Yang Wu was frustrated, he let go of the emotion when he saw his beloved Big Sister Lanxin. Big Sister! he called out.
Already in herbat attire, Wan Lanxin gave him a saddened look. She said, Something has happened to my father. You have to stay here until I return. Ive already arranged for someone to see to your daily needs.
She turned to leave without another word, but the young man reached out and stopped her. Big Sister Lanxin, what happened?
She hesitated. A massive bloody pit was unearthed in block 8. My father led some men to investigate, but now, hes trapped inside. No one knows if hes still alive, so Im going to save him.
To trap a powerful man like Uncle Wan, this pit must be extremely dangerous. Are you strong enough to save him? Yang Wu asked.
It doesnt matter! I have to save my father! Wan Lanxins reply was firm, and she shook off his hand before striding off.
Yang Wu quickly caught up with her. Big Sister Lanxin, let mee with you.
The woman spun on him. No, you stay here!
She then summoned her leopard and took off as soon as her butt hit the saddle.
Although Yang Wu ran after her, he was not fast enough. He could only stand by as she left his sight.
Big Sister Lanxin! he cried after her.
She did not turn back, however, already out of the courtyard on her beast. Worried, Yang Wu pondered over the situation for a while before making his mind up to join her.
Without the shackles to weigh him down, he was quite fast on foot, but not nearly as swift as the leopard.
Of course, he was not one to give up so easily. Circting the Supreme Nine Profound Art, he focused his strength into his legs. With the energy flooding toward the acupoints in his feet, he gained a burst of speed within seconds.
He ran as swiftly as only Warriors could.
Its not enough! Yang Wu snarled, pushing himself harder, yet the distance between him and the snow leopard only grew. His anxiety building, he recalled the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art and the old man who waded through water unhindered and with incredible speed. To him, the old man had almost seemed to be flying over the waters surface.
Yang Wu directed all of the energy within him toward his legs and feet. Using the Supreme Nine Profound Art to urge along the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, he felt a powerful suction with every step as if his feet were drawing water from the ground. He felt as if he were floating along ayer of water as he flew forward.
The young man, however, was in no mood to enjoy the fascinating feeling. He only knew he had to catch up with her. As he ran, he kept shouting, Big Sister Lanxin, wait for me!
The prison guards in the area had not seen Yang Wu before, but they assumed, based on the way he addressed her, he was familiar with their young miss. With that assumption in mind, none dared to stop him. They only watched as he darted by.
Wan Lanxin was too distressed to pay him any attention. Besides, even a Superior Grade Warrior might struggle to keep up with her leopard. Yang Wu was merely a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier, so she doubted he would catch up on foot.
When she heard him calling after her, she thought it was only her imagination. Have I gone crazy? Why cant I get him out of my mind even at a time like this?
Big Sister Lanxin!
Big Sister Lanxin!
------
Yang Wus calls were loud enough that many people heard him clearly, and hearing someone address Wan Lanxin as Sister Lanxin was astounding. Considered the prettiest officer in the prison, on top of being the wardens daughter, everyone referred to her as Captain Wan or First Young Miss.
Who dares speak to the young miss so casually? I didnt know the warden had a son.
Perhaps hes the wardens nephew or something? Ive heard that the warden entered the strange pit yesterday. Could something terrible have happened to him?
How could that be possible? The warden is such a powerful man. What should we do if something has happened?
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Themotion finally caught Wan Lanxins attention, and she nced over her shoulder. She immediately noticed Yang Wu chasing after her with astonishing speed.
Whoa, Xiaohua! she urged, slowing her beast to a stop.
Looking back again, she watched the young man run desperately toward her, emotion swimming in her gaze. His actions were touching, reminding her of days gone by when a skinny boy had carried her on his back as he sought help in the cold wilderness.
Meanwhile, Yang Wu felt as if he were flying. The rough stone of the mountain felt no different from running across t, solidnd. Rather, he felt like a dragon turtle riding the waves with easy grace.
s, as he reached his target, that grace seemed to abandon him as he tried to stop, and he almost collided with the snow leopards rear. Whatever gant image he had a moment ago was dashed. Panting awkwardly, he said between gulps of air, II finally caught up with you.
Without any hesitation, he leapt on the leopards back. Clutching Wan Lanxins petite waist, he told her, Big Sister Lanxin, we can go now.
She froze but said nothing as she urged her mount forward.
Despite her anxiety, the woman warned him, When we reach block 8, you must follow my instructions to the letter.
Dont worry. Ill do whatever you say, he responded easily.
Soon, they reached cellblock 8. Currently, arge number of guards had the area cordoned off, chasing off any prisoners who approached.
The moment she appeared, someone ran forward to greet Wan Lanxin. The man appeared to be in his early thirties and seemed quite dignified in his armor as he sat atop a golden-maned war lion.
The man was Lie Fengs eldest son, Lie Ziying, a General and the leader of cellblock 8. He was the first to discover the bloody pit. He was also Wan Lanxins suitor and had long regarded the woman as his.
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Since his father had informed him that the warden was not likely to make it out of the pit alive, he saw this as an opportunity to get closer to her. Without Wan Tianlong and Zhao Changdao around, his father had be the top authority within the prison. If the woman could no longer lean on her father, he would have the best chance of taking advantage of her.
However, he did not expect the young, male stranger whose arms were wrapped around his beloveds waist. Seeing this, he was instantly infuriated. ring at Yang Wu, he roared, Who the hell are you? What audacity! Get your hands off Lanxin this instant!
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Chapter 24: Venturing into the Bloody Pit
Chapter 24: Venturing into the Bloody Pit
Lie Ziying, what do you think youre doing? Already in a foul mood, Wan Lanxin lost her temperpletely when she heard the way Lie Ziyingshed out at Yang Wu.
Who is he? How can you be so casual with him? Lie Ziying demanded.
"What I do with others is none of your business. Get lost! Im going into the bloody pit after my father. The woman brushed Lie Ziying off. She was not overly fond of him in the first ce, considering him condescending.
The mans expression sank at her sharp retort. Taking a deep breath, he replied, Its not safe yet. You cant just recklessly barge in.
Im not asking for your opinion. Let me through, or Ill make you regret getting in my way, Wan Lanxin growled, taking up her spear and pointing it at Lie Ziying.
Lanxin, you know I only have your best interests in mind. Do you not see my sincerity? he pleaded with her.
Just as she opened her mouth to reply, Yang Wu interjected. Big Sister, let me speak with this uncle.
Lie Ziying was not pleased with being referred to as uncle. His only constion was the implication that the rtionship between these two was one of siblings. It was the only thing that stopped him from erupting with rage.
Realizing that Yang Wu, who was quite street-smart, might be able to convince the man, Wan Lanxin did not interfere.
Uncle, I am Big Sister Lanxins younger god-brother. Ive heard that my uncle is in grave danger, so Im asking you to allow us through. I see that youre fond of my big sister, which is all the more reason not to stop us. Doing so would just repulse her. In fact, shouldnt you help her save her father? Yang Wu earnestly tried to persuade the man.
Born to a wealthy family, Yang Wu had encountered all kinds of men and women. He could see this mans lust for Wan Lanxin. Hmph, he should take a good look at himself. Doesnt he realize that hes aiming for the moon? Yang Wu silently despised Lie Ziying.
The young mans announcement relieved Lie Ziying of his suspicions. He knew Wan Lanxin well enough to know that she would not allow any man near her unless they were rted in some special way. Lie Ziying had no reason to doubt Yang Wus im, and although he had no idea where this younger god-brother hade from, he realized Yang Wu had a point.
Id like to let you both through, but right now, it''s too dangerous to get near the pit. Not even Warden Wan and Deputy Warden Zhao escaped unharmed, so itd be pointless for the two of you to enter. Youd just risk your lives for nothing, Lie Ziying slowly exined.
Are you saying that something has happened to my Uncle Wan? Yang Wu asked.
ncing at the young man, Lie Ziying said, Im afraid the recent events dont bode well
Before he could finish, Wan Lanxin cut him off. Get lost! she snapped.
It was thest thing she wanted to hear. The poor man did not even realize that Yang Wu had set a trap for him, and it only made the woman dislike him more.
Wan Lanxin charged toward the man, her spear pointed, and Lie Ziying directed his beast to leap out of the way. The woman continued and sped past him before he had the chance to exin.
The guards around knew her, though, and quickly gave chase. Thest thing they wanted was to see here to harm.
Watching her go, Lie Ziying cursed the woman under his breath, What insolence! Just wait; Ill set you straight once youre mine.
Without further ado, he hurried after her on his golden-maned lion.
Soon, Wan Lanxin and Yang Wu reached the entrance of the bloody pit. The leopard slowed its pace as they approached, whining with anxiety.
This was the first time Yang Wu had encountered this bloody pit. He caught whiffs of the pits stench as the bloody aura lingered in the air. It seemed to seep into him, making him feel deeply ufortable.
Is this the damned ce that attracted the wolf spirits? Yang Wu deliberated as he sized up the pit.
Wan Lanxin had briefly mentioned the wolf spirits attack the night before, so he was well aware of how gravely dangerous this pit was.
Weve blocked this area off, for the time being, Young Miss. You cant pass! A squadron leader respectfully tried to stop her.
However, she had no patience left for the guard. Get lost! With her spear in her hand, she attacked, emitting an overwhelming aura. The squadron leader was so ovee with terror that he tumbled off his mount.
She had not aimed to kill him, though. Leading her leopard forward, she stopped before the entrance and addressed Yang Wu, Get down, and wait for me outside.
No! Iming with you. Yang Wu shook his head.
Get down. Now! Wan Lanxin growled, frowning.
The young man simply clutched her petite waist and refused again, No matter what you say, Im not getting off!
Behind them, Lie Ziying finally caught up. Seeing the two in such an intimate embrace, he struggled to rein in his jealousy. Wan Lanxins so-called younger god-brother had the privilege of touching her, while he was constantly denied.
Yang Wu just happened to nce over his shoulder, noticing the man behind them. Uncle, do you want toe with us?
Lie Ziying shuddered at the thought. That ce is tootoo dangerous. You two should stay out of it.
He was well aware of the danger and evil that ce contained, having received a warning from his father not to get close. Both Wan Tianlong and Zhao Changdao had lost their lives in there, so what chance did he, a cultivator new to the General Realm, have?
He might be interested in Wan Lanxin but was not willing toy his life down for her.
I didnt expect Uncle to be so timid! Yang Wu snickered. Turning to Wan Lanxin, hemented, Lets go, Big Sister. We shouldnt waste any more time.
Shooting Lie Ziying a disdainful look before ignoring him altogether, she directed her leopard into the pit with Yang Wu at her back.
As Wan Tianlongs daughter, she had a few treasures of her own. She retrieved a jade umbre, using it to cover both herself and Yang Wu, effectively keeping the bloody aura at bay.
The umbres frame was carefully carved jade, while its panels were crafted of ice silk. The beautiful object was a specially forged General ss piece of equipment. It could ward off evil and stabilize ones will. It could even be used for self-defense.
Little Brother Wu, when are you going to stop being so obstinate? This ce is treacherous. Its too dangerous to follow me, Wan Lanxin grumbled, looking back at Yang Wu with a sigh.
Youre closer to me than a biological sister, Big Sister Lanxin. How could I let you face this alone? Your business is my business. Just concentrate on saving your father. Dont worry about me. I can look after myself, the young man reassured her, thumping his chest with a fist.
She did not want to waste more time arguing. Besides, she knew him well. Trying to force him to change his mind once he had decided something would be fruitless. Thus, she advanced, her jade umbre radiating wisps of ethereal energy as it resisted the pits aura.
As they delved deeper, they noticed eerie stones to their right and left, and their senses were assaulted by the smell of blood. They passed one pile of remains after another, the pits ominous aura enveloping them. This ce was petrifying.
Yang Wu had never seen such a horrific ce, and fear began to creep in as he tightened his grip on Wan Lanxins hand.
Stay alert, and circte your energy. Stay calm and focused, and ignore the corpses. Wan Lanxin tried tofort him, sensing his nervousness.
Yang Wu understood what she meant and began to focus. He circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art, and Profound Energy started to gush through him. As he did, he sensed an indistinct force beckoning him. This elerated his energy cirction like a deep thirst.
What is happening here? he wondered.
The feeling only intensified as they ventured deeper.
Pressure mounted as the bloody aura grew denser and stronger. Wan Lanxin concentrated all her strength into powering the jade umbre, and it began to radiate light as it fought the bloody aura.
We need to hurry. The longer we take, the more danger well be in, she warned him.
Yang Wu nodded his agreement, and the two rushed forward.
As they ran, apparitions of wolves, lions, and humans condensed from the aura, pouncing with bloodthirsty fangs and ws, trying to tear apart the two invaders minds.
With a dismissive snort, Wan Lanxin waved her umbre,unching shes of jadelike rainbow energy and dispelling the apparitions.
But after such a long struggle, something was bound to go wrong. One bloody apparition swerved around them, attacking Yang Wu from behind. He reacted fast enough to dodge the blow, but he struggled to disperse the apparition with the Profound Energy of a Foot Soldier. It only gave his enemy the chance to attack his mind.
This bloody aura could corrode ones mind, causing overwhelming anxiety and hallucinations. When it attacked physically, it would rot the flesh it touched, ultimately making a meal of its target.
Yang Wu struggled to breathe, his chest painful, as the apparition attacked. Losing control, he screamed in pain.
Ahhhh!
He clutched his head, feeling like it was about to explode, and rolled to the ground in agony. More bloody apparitions surged forward, leaving him in a precarious position.
Wan Lanxin had her hands full attempting to fend off the rest of the apparitions. When she heard him cry out, however, she lost her cool. Knocking enemies out of the way, she tried to rush back and help him. Little Brother Wu, hang on!
These bloody apparitions were vicious, and she had a hard time keeping up in the fight even with her jade umbre. Saving Yang Wu under such an assault was a tall order, but she could not just watch him die.
Wan Lanxin threw the umbre toward Yang Wu. The jade frame shone with light, and streams of evil-warding energy began to surround the young man.
The bloody aura that clung to him began to ease, giving him a chance to breathe. His body automatically returned to circting the Supreme Nine Profound Art, and his energy swallowed the invading apparitions, pulling them into the many pores in his peach pit dantian. Within seconds, he regained his wits, and the rotting flesh on his body began to recover with astonishing speed.
The peach-pit dantian quickly purified the bloody aura, expelling clear, pure energy in return. As the energy circted through his twelve major meridians, he experienced another Screeching Arrow Whistle.
This was the sixteenth time he experienced such rings, signifying sixteen stones of strength.
Who would have imagined he could purify this bloody aura while increasing his own strength at the same time?
Before Yang Wu could enjoy the sweet intoxication of increased strength, he heard Wan Lanxins tormented cry.
Ahhhhhhhhh!
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Chapter 25: Refining the Bloody Aura
Chapter 25: Refining the Bloody Aura
Wan Lanxin covered Yang Wu with her jade umbre, although doing so left her vulnerable and having to face the bloody shadows alone. Fortunately, she could rely on her Profound Energy armor, a General Realm ability, to guard her against a few iing strikes.
She wanted to rush past these bloody shadows and reach the blood altar, but as she approached, the shadows grew more savage, and her armor could no longer withstand their attacks. Some of the bloody aura reached her, and both her mind and flesh suffered excruciating pain.
She tried to expel the bloody energy, but it was like a maggot. Once it got in, it was very difficult to remove. This energy corroded her mind and body simultaneously.
Wan Lanxin''s agonized cries startled Yang Wu, awake now after reaching a new level of strength. Noticing the jade umbre, he realized Wan Lanxin had risked her life to save his. The gesture touched him deeply, and he wrapped a hand around the handle of the umbre before rushing to her side.
Unfazed by the continued onught, he circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art, drawing any bloody aura that reached him into his dantian. The peach-pit dantian rapidly refined the energy, purifying and using it to strengthen him.
This environment had be an optimal location for his cultivation.
Yang Wu dashed forward, sweeping the jade umbre toward the shadows preying on Wan Lanxin. As he covered her with it, she felt an immediate sense of relief.
The womans expression betrayed her anguish. She fought with all her might, which was harder than usual, thanks to the bloody auras tenacity.
Hold on, Big Sister Lanxin! Yang Wu was at a loss; his only option was to pull her to a safe ce where she could catch her breath.
Under the shelter of the jade umbre, Wan Lanxins situation improved dramatically, but the bloody aura within her still needed to be expelled. She retrieved a pill from her cloth belt, popped it into her mouth, and settled down with crossed legs to force the aura out.
[TL Note: Ancient Chinese clothes that are typically worn in Chinese historical dramas or settings like this novel tend to have ces to store small items in various ces. Common ces would be their sleeves, tunics, or belts. While some versions might have pockets in these ces, that is not always the case. For belts, items could just be held there by the pressure from the tightness of the belt, for sleeves it could be the result of a small opening with wide sleeves, resulting in a sort of pouch where things do not fall out easily. Another reason for storing items in such ces was that the traditional Chinese clothing mostly did not have pockets like our modern clothes.]
Stay here, Big Sister. Ill go in ahead and see if I can save Uncle Wan, Yang Wu told her softly.
No! Dont. The bloody aura is far too much for you. Struggling, Wan Lanxin urged him to stay.
Dont worry. It cant harm me. Just take care of yourself and dont do anything reckless! He patted the back of her hand before running toward the bloody altar.
Unable to stop him, she watched as Yang Wus high-spirited figure darted ahead unobstructed. Astonishment shed in her gorgeous eyes, and her red lips parted as she muttered, Why isnt the bloody aura affecting Little Brother Wu?
The aura had bombarded him moments ago, yet he was now safe and sound. It left her stunned.
The bloody aura condensed into shadows, roaring and attacking without mercy, but Yang Wu ignored them. He had never circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art as smoothly as he did now. The countless pores in his peach-pit dantian absorbed everyst trace of the aura that infiltrated his body, churning out a great deal of pure energy in return. Wave after wave of this energy surged through his twelve major meridians, granting the young man an incredible strength boost.
As he neared the bloody altar, he felt the intense density of the bloody aura. Pushing through it, he heard another odd chime from his body. His strength soared to seventeen stones, only two away from reaching the peak of the Consummate Grade Foot Soldier Realm.
Pure energy flooded from Yang Wus dantian, and he diverted it to the opened acupoints in his feet. With sixteen of those acupoints open, he used the Yongquan points connection to his kidneys, increasing his vitality.
Mounds of old, white bones, from both animal spirits and humans, formed the sacrificial altar. As he examined the pile, he noticed that these bones were the source of the bloody aura.
Unusuallyposed, Yang Wu felt the energy within him circte even faster as if begging him to reach out to the bloody altar. It seemed almost as if it were attracted to something.
He walked closer, unprotected. With the limited strength of a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier, could someone like him truly venture deep into the bloody altar?
This altar was little more than a pile of corpses, and around it, someone had set up a bloody ritual array, which had already built up a thick aura. The earthly spirit spring surrounded the whole disy, and it seemed to nurture some kind of odd creature.
Suddenly, a bloody hand materialized before Yang Wu, engulfing him instantly.
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Seeing this, Wan Lanxin shouted from the edge of the room, Run, Little Brother!
She raised her jade umbre instinctively, moving to rush toward him. Unfortunately, fatigue overwhelmed her, leaving her weak.
The hand wasprised of that same bloody aura, yet it was far more substantial than the shadows they had faced thus far. Worse, it was frighteningly powerful.
Yang Wu had no means of resisting and was captured as a result. Its grip was suffocating as if he might explode under its might.
Little Brother Wu! Wan Lanxin cried out.
With unimaginable speed, the Supreme Nine Profound Art circted energy through his body, and the peach-pit dantian drank in astonishing amounts of the energy. As his body absorbed the bloody hands energy, its power began to fade, its grip on Yang Wu loosening.
Scram! Yang Wu snarled, and after struggling a little, he broke free.
Who knew how envious thete Zhao Changdao would have been if he had seen this?
A Consummate Grade Foot Soldier had aplished something even a Superior Grade General failed to do.
When he escaped unharmed, Wan Lanxins thundering heart began to calm. The expression on her face exposed the depth of her worry for him.
Free now and moving closer to the altar, Yang Wu noticed a long saber sticking out of the ground. Cold light flickered across the smooth de with exceptional brilliance. He drew the saber without a second thought, the metal ringing against the stones in the dirt. What an amazing saber!
This was the Tiger Fang Saber, Zhao Changdao''s weapon. It had been crafted from the fangs of a Tiger General andbined with a variety of high-quality materials. The weapon was still quite sharp and could inflict deadly wounds.
However, he did not have time to stop and admire the de as two more bloody hands reached for him.
Surprised, Yang Wu failed to defend himself from the attack. The two hands pped him into a pile of bones and bodies, the impact making him vomit blood. He felt as if the blow was enough to tear him limb from limb.
If he had not already secured a level of immunity to the bloody aura, the strikes would have done just that, smashing him into a pulp.
Silently, Yang Wu cursed, Damn it! Someone has to be controlling this bloody aura. Why else would it attack without reason? I must absorb all of it before it can be used again!
Yang Wu focused, opening his peach-pit dantianpletely and absorbing as much of the bloody aura as he could.
Every one of the thousands of pores in his dantian opened to consume the bloody aura, as did the pores in his skin. There was too much of the aura to absorb quickly, and he contained the excess within his body. It attacked every part of him as he worked, forcing a pained cry from his throat.
Aghhhhhh!
He appeared to transform into the bloody form of a man, his body covered in the aura. His own blood began to flow, making him look even more gruesome.
The bloody aura attacked his limbs, bones, internal organs, and meridians, inflicting severe pain. Even his mind endured some kind of torture. If he failed to withstand this pressure, his life would soon be over.
In the distance, Wan Lanxin watched in distress. She burst into tears, saying, Its all my fault! I should not have let you follow me!
She moved towards Yang Wu, using her umbre for support.
Despite his limited consciousness, Yang Wu was aware of Wan Lanxins motions. Strained, he begged her, BigSisterplease, stay there. Im trying to refine the energy. Pleasedont distract me.
Hearing the request, she stumbled to a halt. Then, you must hang on! I refused to live this life alone! If you die, I die!
Her words were loud, strong, and determined.
Yang Wu could not respond. He had to focus everything on circting the Supreme Nine Profound Art and purifying the bloody aura. The peach-pit dantian continued to expel pure energy, and it flowed to his injuries, healing him and allowing him to carry on.
Meanwhile, blood began to pool at the altar. Within the pooly two figures, and despite the bloody aura that nketed them, their circumstances were diametrically opposed.
One of them was chained down by the power of the ritual array. What looked like crimson chains pinned him at his vital spots. He was little more than skin and bones now.
The other figure sat cross-legged with the evil-warding bead secure between his brows. It guarded his mind, allowing him to maintain some rity of thought. However, the bloody aura had already corroded so much of his life force away that he could easily die any moment.
If Wan Lanxin saw this, she would instantly recognize the second person. It was none other than her father, Wan Tianlong, and his very life hung in the bnce!
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Checked by: DragonInWhite
Chapter 26: Drinking the Earthly Spirit Spring
Chapter 26: Drinking the Earthly Spirit Spring
Outside the bloody pit, arge group of guard captains had assembled to discuss Wan Lanxins situation.
Some insisted they enter the pit to assist her immediately, while others were opposed. Zhang Xiong, captain of cellblock 1 and apple of Wan Tianlongs eye, led the first group, while the opposition followed none other than Lie Ziying. With both sides adamantly fighting for their ns, they were engaged in a fierce dispute.
Zhang Xiong was a big, boorish man with stubble. One look was enough to see he had enormous physical power. He rode a bull spirit and wielded a trident. In full battle dress, he was surrounded by a capable, murderous air. Out of the way! he screamed at Lie Ziying. I will hold you personally responsible if anything happens to the first young miss!
Lie Ziying returned Zhang Xiong''s re, showing no sign of weakness. Stop being reckless! Im more concerned for her wellbeing than you, but that pit and its bloody aura have already imed the wardens and a deputy wardens lives. No one will stop you from going in alone, but I cannot permit you to take a team with you.
And you insist that you have feelings for the young miss? Youre nothing but a coward! Its no surprise that she thinks so little of you! Zhang Xiong responded sarcastically. After a pause, he continued, Not even Deputy Warden Lie Feng could stop me if he were here.
Zhang Xiong led at least ten mounted men, all of whom were preparing to charge into the bloody pit. Lie Ziying and his men stood in formation, ready to fight the mounted group if necessary.
Therger captain was the fourth-strongest fighter in the prison, which had earned him his ce as captain of block 1. He also had no hesitation in battle, which was evident as he thrust his trident toward Lie Ziying, the weapon emitting a brilliant light and enveloped in a sharp energy.
Although Lie Ziying was no weakling himself, he could notpete with Zhang Xiongs strength. Frightened, he dodged the ferocious, iing attack.
Lie Ziyingsrades rushed to his side, but the force of Zhang Xiongs thrust knocked the weapons from their hands. None could keep up with the robust warriors speed. If Zhang Xiong wanted a massacre, they would certainly fall.
Fortunately, that was not his goal this day. But as Zhang Xiong turned to lead his men into the pit, a figure shed before him. It leapt into the air, swinging its sword at the captain in an anger-driven attack.
Reacting quickly, Zhang Xiong raised his trident to parry the blow.
ng!
Sparks flew and the sound of the strike echoed as the weapons collided.
The strength behind the figures attack was nearly enough to knock Zhang Xiong from his bull, evidence of this adversary''s power.
How dare you disobey my orders, Zhang Xiong? Lie Feng demanded with a cold snort, ring sullenly at therge man as hended.
Deputy Warden, I am simply concerned for the young misss safety, Zhang Xiong insisted, frowning.
Dont tell me youre as impulsive as that child, Lanxin? Youre currently responsible for guarding cellblock 1, an area that contains hardened felons. If they manage to escape, you will be held ountable! Lie Feng reminded the captain, his tone frosty.
Are you saying that youre just going to sit back and watch as she puts her life at risk? You may be okay with that, but Im not! Zhang Xiong barked.
Then you may go in alone. I strictly forbid you from causing anyone elses death! Lie Feng said.
Very well. I''ll go by myself! After some hesitation, Zhang Xiong turned to his men. I want you guys to return. Ill save the first young miss! With that, he turned and entered the bloody pit.
As Lie Feng watched the captain rush off, he sneered, thinking, Do you really believe youre as capable as Wan Tianlong and Zhao Changdao? How naive.
Father, isnt this against protocol? Lie Ziying asked after stepping forward.
Leave him be. He is doing this out of loyalty, and we should not discourage that. Keep a close eye on this site, all of you. Ive already dispatched an eagle to the imperial court with a report. It wont be long before they send someone here to take charge. We can only hope this is the end of these strange events, Lie Feng informed his son and the others.
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Once inside the pit, the bloody shadows descended on Zhang Xiong, just as they had attacked the others who entered their domain. Luckily, he had prepared, holding a spirit cleansing pill in his mouth to prevent the evil from influencing his mind.
Therge man moved swiftly, reaching Wan Lanxin without dy. His tension faded the moment he saw her safe, and he cried out, First Young Miss,e with me. We should not linger here.
When Wan Lanxin realized who the man was, her lips parted, and she whispered, Uncle Zhang! Im sorry, but I cant leave yet.
This ce is extremely dangerous. I saw Deputy Warden Zhaos ughter with my own eyes. Why stay here? Let me examine the bloody altar. Ill see if the warden is still alive, Zhang Xiong said.
Wan Lanxin reached out, stopping him. Dont go, Uncle Zhang. Little Brother Wu should be able to handle this himself.
Im not sure who Little Brother Wu is, Zhang Xiong inquired, confused. He nced up, his gaze drifting to the nearby altar where he spotted a young man, seated, who was absorbing massive amounts of the bloody aura. Even so, the young man seemed unharmed. Stunned, he asked, Can that young man really pull this off?
Please sit here with me for a moment, Uncle Zhang. If he cant, no one can, Wan Lanxin calmly insisted.
As it turned out, Yang Wu did not even need the jade umbres protection to endure the vicious aura. If he could not cleanse this ce, who could?
Zhang Xiong sat next to Wan Lanxin, epting what he saw, and patiently waited for the young man toplete his task.
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Sitting before the altar, Yang Wu absorbed enormous amounts of the bloody aura. His peach-pit dantian continuously refined the energy, generating a powerful force that treated his injuries. As a result, the pure energy gradually tempered Yang Wus muscles, organs, meridians, and bones, making his body far tougher than it had ever been.
Despite the fact that he had sat there for a day and night, the bloody aura still seemed unending. Fortunately, the bloody hands had stopped interfering, making Yang Wu wonder what had changed.
He had reached a stalemate with the bloody aura. It had already corroded his skin terribly, and he knew this could not go on for much longer. Rising to his feet, Yang Wu approached the altar.
Hes really done it! Wan Lanxin eximed.
She had kept a close eye on him throughout their excursion, afraid something terrible would happen to him.
Zhang Xiong, who stood next to her, was dumbfounded. As far as he could tell, this young man had not relied on any spiritual treasure to beat the aura back. Rather, he had limated to it. It was simply unbelievable!
Even Generals were powerless against the bloody aura, yet this young man, who had seeded where they had failed, had not yet reached the General Realm.
Yang Wu kept silent. As he approached, he felt waves of restless energy emanating from the earthly spirit spring. He began to wonder what was happening when Zhang Xiongs voice reached him. Young man, that is earthly spirit essence. Drink it. It will be extremely helpful.
An earthly spirit spring was a natural phenomenon that had various physical benefits. Its energy could cleanse ones marrow, widen meridians, enhance physique, boost strength, and heal injuries. The effects were astonishing, though they were difficult toe by.
Yang Wu had read about spirit springs in the past and was aware of their benefits. Thus, he did not hesitate, taking a deep drink from the earthly spirit spring. Finding such a spring was nearly impossible unless one was fated to discover one. Naturally, Yang Wu would not pass on such a golden opportunity.
The springs sweet vor filled his senses before wisps of energy flowed into his stomach. A pleasant,forting sensation arose, awakening the peach-pit dantians appetite.
As the energy made its way toward his dantian, Yang Wu began circting the Supreme Nine Profound Art. The pores of the peach pit drew every drop of the spring waters energy into his dantian.
Ethereal mist, shing with multicolored light, spewed from the peach pits pores even as the pit drank in the earthly spirit essence. If Yang Wu could see what was happening with him, hed see the space within his dantian increase rapidly, surrounded by the divine-looking mist.
When he had first acquired his peach-pit dantian, the space within had been norger than his thumb. It had quickly grown to the size of a fist, yet now, it rapidly expanded to the size of a human head. It had grown to contain ten times, maybe a hundred times, more energy than previously.
The dantian was a cultivators foundation. The size of a persons dantian at birth would determine how much they could aplish as a cultivator. Those born with tiny dantians were destined to follow more restricted paths, and their abilities would be limited. On the other hand, some were born with enormous dantians; they would be able to absorb significantly more energy than others. As a result, they could aplish incredible feats.
Whenparing cultivators of the same realm but different dantian sizes, a single nce could determine which martial artist had more prowess and endurance.
Despite Yang Wus cultivation talent, he was still a long way fromparing to a genius like Wan Lanxin. But things had changed. Since acquiring the peach-pit dantian, his destiny had changed. Now that he had absorbed the earthly spirit essence, he had unlocked the peach pits wonders, making him even more remarkable.
His capacity for Profound Energy grew with the expansion of his dantian. His meridians vibrated, and he heard one whistling arrow after another. In that instant, he had reached neen stones of strength, the maximum for a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier. He was now one step away from the Warrior Realm.
This young man is just a Foot Soldier? Zhang Xiong had sharp hearing, and he recognized the strange sounds chiming from Yang Wus body. He was utterly stunned.
Comprehending how a puny Foot Soldier had survived within such dense and intense bloody aura was beyond him.
In contrast, Wan Lanxin celebrated her little brothers sess. Silently, she promised herself, When this is all over, Ill help Little Brother Wu regain his freedom!
However, the two captains expressions suddenly changed as another bloody hand materialized over the bloody altar.
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Chapter 27: Charging to the Bloody Altar
Chapter 27: Charging to the Bloody Altar
The bloody hand coalesced from the condensed bloody aura had already taken on physical form. This was no ordinary apparition. If it were, it would not have been able to crush Zhao Changdaos saber with such little effort or capture Wan Tianlong.
The man had the evil-warding bead, but Wan Tianlong also wore King-ss armor, albeit damaged. These were the only reasons he had not be another of the bloody specters casualties.
Yang Wu was focused on his growing strength and recovering injuries, which meant the bloody hands appearance could not havee at a better time.
Run, Little Brother! The bloody hand has returned! Without a second thought, Wan Lanxin screamed a warning.
Zhang Xiongs grip tightened on his trident, fully prepared to drag Wan Lanxin out of danger at a moments notice.
However, Yang Wu did something odd. He stood on tiptoe, arching his back. He looked like some kind of steady sea turtle. He stretched out one hand, open and fingers stiff, while clenching his other into a fist. Through its numerous pores, the peach-pit dantian emitted forceful streams of energy, his body circting the earthly spirit springs essence through his twelve major meridians. The flood of energy forced open more acupoints in his body, exploding from him.
Crack!
With the impact, an unknown meridian burst open, enhancing the majesty and power of the surging energy. The power multiplied until it was ten times greater or more.
Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art...!
The young man had long ago imprinted this amazing, peculiar art on his mind. He had worked hard to master it. With the help of the Supreme Nine Profound Art, he hadprehended the Dargon Turtle Water Suppression Stances essence, despite only being a Foot Soldier. Now, after encountering the earthly spirit spring, his peach-pit dantian had expanded greatly, allowing him to absorb and circte even more Profound Energy. Yang Wus strength had increased exponentially as a result. Thus, he could now execute this astounding attack.
His palm-fist art resembled a dragon turtle bursting forth from the ocean with a roaring ssh and surrounded by tumultuous waves.
Boom!
The manifested bloody hand collided with Yang Wus form and exploded with a dull sound. Although his turtle form crumbled, he sessfully dispersed the bloody aura. He fell into the earthly spirit spring, and blood began to pool around him, staining the spirit water red.
Wan Lanxin picked up her spear and made to charge to his side when Zhang Xiong stopped her. Lets go, Young Miss! therger man barked, holding her back.
Although he looked like a reckless warrior, the opposite was true. This caution was what had earned him his ce as Wan Tianlongs most trusted confidant. There was no way he would allow the wardens daughter to sacrifice her life.
Uncle Zhang, I have to save him! the young woman argued, utterly resolved.
When the two captains looked up, however, they saw a figure darting out of the earthly spirit spring, speeding toward the bloody altar.
Bring it on! This viscount is invincible! Yang Wu howled.
Although the young mans blow had reduced the impact, the bloody hands overwhelming power had inflicted substantial wounds. Fortunately, his peach-pit dantian had absorbed quite a bit of the spirit springs essence, and the energy it had returned to his body had incredible restorative effects. He recovered rapidly, granting him the strength to return to his feet.
It felt like Immortal Energy surging through him, rapidly repairing his wounded muscles and organs. Calling him undying at this moment would not be a stretch.
After the bloody auras relentless attacks within his body, the newly opened minor meridian was more active than the rest. This allowed him to circte all of the power within him, connecting to and opening more than ten new acupoints. He now had thirty-eight open acupoints, including the sixteen in his feet he had opened previously. Energy spiraled at each, sparkling with exceptional light.
Typically, only Warriors could open their acupoints, as it was a characteristic of reaching that realm. Of course, there was more to reaching the Warrior Realm. Once opened, a cultivators energy could circte through the acupoints like a whirlwind.
Although he had yet to be a Warrior, Yang Wu had aplished two of these characteristics. He had yet to advance only because his twelve meridians had not rung twenty times in total and resonated.
Meridians and acupoints were the foundations of cultivation. They actualized a cultivators infinite potential, connecting to their internal organs. When meridians and acupoints vibrations synchronized, the physical body underwent qualitative changes.
Yang Wu had not achieved this synchronization yet, though he had opened one minor meridian, hence his incredible strength, which was no less than a true Warriors. Now, reaching one cauldron of force would not be difficult.
One cauldron of force was the equivalent of one hundred stones. Inferior Grade Warriors typically could only wield fifty stones of force. With a hundred stones, he was now as strong as a Medial Grade Warrior.
With a minor meridian open, his senses grew sharper by leaps and bounds. Jumping over the bone piles, he hopped onto the bloody altar. The terrifying aura immediately surrounded him, attempting to corrode his flesh as it had so many others.
But with his newfound immunity to the corrosion, the bloody aura became no more than a supplementary source of energy for Yang Wus dantian.
The young man did not have time to refine the energy, however, as his gaze fell on two human figures buried under the bloody aura.
One had not moved from his cross-legged position. At this point, he was nothing but skin and bone; Yang Wu could even vaguely see a crystalline skeleton under the flesh. Strips of crimson energy crisscrossed around his body, securing him to the ground. There were no signs of life left in the figure as if he had been dead for some time.
The other figure, in a suit of armor,y copsed on the ground. He had an evil-warding bead between his brows, but it had dimmed. This mans life force had reached its limit under the bloody auras relentless assault. He was none other than Wan Tianlong.
Uncle Wan! Having seen the older man several years ago, he recognized Wan Lanxins father immediately. When he tried to reach the warden, however, he found he could not move.
Whats happening?! Yang Wu shouted.
An intense force pressed down on him as if a great mountain had rested on his shoulders. He struggled against it, even activating the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression stance, but could not break free.
Frantic, the young man circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art. He hopedbining the two would be enough for him to free himself.
Held captive on the bloody altar, Yang Wu sensed a distant beckoning, hope sparking within him.
Could the bloody altar contain Profound Essence? he wondered to himself. He could sense something calling to him, and the only thing he could think of that would do such a thing was Profound Essence.
Even now, the young man had no idea how he had learned the Supreme Nine Profound Art, but he did know that he needed nine different Profound Essences to reach the Aplished stage with the art. Each Profound Essence was an incredibly rare, natural energy.
He still practiced the Supreme Nine Profound Arts foundations, which, at most, were on par with a Warrior-ss profound art. Although that was an extraordinary profound art, he might end up stuck in the Warrior Realm, unable to progress, if he could not secure one of these Profound Essences to advance.
One could say that profound arts determined a cultivators future.
Yang Wu continued to circte the Supreme Nine Profound Art, absorbing more of the bloody aura surrounding him. His first goal was to counteract the stifling pressure holding him in ce, but he also wanted to confirm his suspicion.
True enough, a wisp of energy, unlike the aura filling the pit, slowly drifted from beneath the bloody altar, seeping into his body. The power did not immediately boost his cultivation but increased the speed of his Supreme Nine Profound Art cirction.
Suddenly, the skin-d skeleton, chained by the bloody aura, opened its eyes, ring sharply at Yang Wu. Its piercing gaze seemed to try to tear the young man apart, causing unbearable pain and interrupting his profound art cirction.
Areare you human or a ghost? Yang Wu asked, astonished and unable to meet the skeletons gaze.
Rascal, get me out of here, and Ill bestow upon you an opportunity of a lifetime! the skeleton hissed, its voice hoarse and unpleasant as if it had not spoken in decades.
How can I help you when I can barely survive myself? Yang Wu replied with a bitterugh.
He was now convinced that this figure was still alive and was quite curious to learn how powerful the beings cultivation was for him to survive in such a hostile environment.
But as he finished his sentence, he discovered he had regained movement in his limbs.
In here, you live or die by my will, just like that fellow, who will die soon, the skeleton uttered coolly.
Yang Wu now realized the shackling pressure bearing down on him was this skeletons doing. But he was not angry. After all, if the skeleton was correct, his very survivaly in his enemys hands. He did not doubt that.
How can I save you? Yang Wu finally asked.
Destroy the bloody ritual array, and Ill be able to free myself! exined the skeleton.
Sadly, Im not that strong. How do I destroy the ritual array?
The fact that you no longer fear the bloody aura indicates that you have the ability to destroy it.
Then tell me! How do I do it?!
Move one hundred ten centimeters to the south, and extract the animal spirit core at the node. Then, move one hundred ten centimeters to the north of the ritual array, and extract the superior-grade profound spirit stones.
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This blood aura formation was exceptional, and it must have been set by a powerful ritualist.
Yang Wu could not tell how long the being had been held captive, but he must have been meticulous in establishing each array nodes location with his senses. Now, the skeleton hoped to use him to break free from the imprisonment by sharing each crucial point.
However, Yang Wu felt a headache after listening to the beings instructions. There were eighty-one locations in total, and he already struggled to locate the cardinal directions. He was at a loss.
But he did not act rashly. Recognizing that this skin-d skeleton was no friend and ready to kill, a n began to form with a twinkle in his eye. I can help you break this ritual array, but I require three conditions. Yang Wu knew this skeleton would not spare their lives once it was free.
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Chapter 28: Breaking into the Warrior Realm
Chapter 28: Breaking into the Warrior Realm
Now, Yang Wu had made the skin-d skeleton angry.
He sensed the powerful pressure bear down on him again, bowing him over. He looked like he might snap in half.
How dare you try to bargain with me? hissed the creature, his sharp re boring into the young man.
Yang Wu stood his ground. In here, my survival depends on you. If I dont demand a few conditions, youll kill me the moment I save you. If thats the case, you might as well kill me now. See if anyone will help you destroy the ritual array then.
He had caught the enemy by his Achilles heel. No one but a King could endure this endless bloody aura, yet if a King approached the altar, this skeleton would not stand a chance with his current strength. The situation was a paradox.
I cant believe that I, a King, am reduced to bargaining with an insignificant Foot Soldier. How repulsive! the skin-d skeleton grumbled, indignant. After a pause, he let out a baleful howl, Damn you, Evil Boy King. How dare you imprisoned me here for two hundred years! Ill kill you once Im free!
Of course, Yang Wu had no idea what the skeleton was talking about, but the pressure he faced was bing too much to bear. Simultaneously, he circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art and slid into the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, attracting a massive amount of water from the earthly spirit spring through the soles of his feet. Suddenly, his twelve major meridians and minor meridian, as well as the thirty open acupoints, resonated.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
It sounded like whistling arrows flew through his meridians while cyclones spun at his acupoints. Soon, the soundsbined, creating something he had never heard. The vibration grew even more intense as if his body were undergoing an incredible transformation.
As the meridians and acupoints rang, Yang Wus body sucked in arge amount of the bloody aura. A stream of the unique energy from below the altar also began to merge with the Supreme Nine Profound Art, hastening its cirction. This heightened the peach-pit dantians ability to absorb the energy, and as a result, he absorbed a small portion of the concentrated bloody aura from the altar as well.
The scene astonished the skin-d skeleton.
This young man has a technique to consume the bloody aura? Dont tell me hes an inheritor from the Blood Fiend Sect? The skin-d skeletons knowledge was expansive, and he easily understood Yang Wus situation at a nce. It only emboldened his hopes of escape.
The world had a number of techniques, but finding one that could consume and refine this aura would be difficult, barring a few extremely rare evil arts. The Blood Fiend Sect was a nation-nurturing faction but not one of the Xia Dynasty. It was also located rtively far away. It was one of the six sects, equally as famous as Mount Emei, located on the Xia Dynastys border.
Yang Wu was hardly aware of the Blood Fiend Sect, though. The Supreme Nine Profound Art and his peach-pit dantian were the only reasons he withstood the bloody aura around him. If not for these gifts, it would have killed him by now.
At this moment, he felt as if he stood at the top of the world.
He had not expected to step into the Warrior Realm, which he had never previously reached, in his current predicament. The energy raging within him felt truly majestic. His newly opened minor meridian functioned as a link between his twelve major meridians and his acupoints, elerating the circting Profound Energy within and multiplying his manifested power.
It felt as if this Profound Energy could burst out of him whenever he willed it, allowing him to shield his body in energy. It was another characteristic of a Warrior.
The skeleton withdrew the pressure, unhappy that he had only assisted this young mans breakthrough into the Warrior Realm. The man before him would likely have needed some more time to fine-tune his cultivation before taking this critical step if left unaided.
After a while, Yang Wu looked up, locked eyes with the skeleton, and smiled. Thank you for your help, Senior! he said respectfully, offering a cupped-fist salute.
He knew the skeleton was no friend and would kill him if possible, but he was too pleased with histest achievement to care.
Hmph, even after that breakthrough, youre still only a Warrior. Ending you would be as easy as ughtering a chicken for dinner! the skin-d skeletonmented with a snort, annoyed.
Youre not wrong, but no one would help set you free if I died, Yang Wu confidently reminded the being. Without waiting for a reply, he continued, My three conditions arent too demanding, actually. First, you must promise not to kill me after I set you free. Second, you have to offer me your protection for a time, and third, set Uncle Wan free. You dont think these conditions will be too hard to meet, do you?
Are you trying to rip me off? I can agree to the first and third conditions, but the second is impossible! the skeleton hissed in answer.
Why not? Yang Wu was not inclined to give up.
Youre not worthy! the skin-d skeleton mocked.
Hurt, the young man silently wailed, Im a prim and proper viscount! In what way am I unworthy?
Of course, he did not say that aloud. He would not dare risk his life further byining to his enemy.
Then, we shall die together! After all, Im just a prisoner here. My death is no big loss! Yang Wu tried to put up a brave front.
The skeletons re sharpened, and he refused to waste more time on this young man. Opening his mouth, he proposed, I will agree to your first and third terms. However, rather than meeting your second condition, Ill teach you a King ss technique.
Weve got a deal! Yang Wu agreed without a second thought.
He had hoped to secure a free bodyguard to protect himself, allowing him to cultivate in peace. Unfortunately, he could not force the skeletons hand.
But acquiring a King ss technique was not a bad bargain.
Truthfully, King ss techniques were few and far between in the empire. Only powerful factions that supported nations like Mount Emei possessed such rare treasures. Sadly, no average man was allowed entrance to a celestial ce like Mount Emei.
Besides, no matter how he looked at it, this skeleton was a formidable force, one that could easily take down a top cultivator like Wan Tianlong. Yang Wu had no reason to doubt his enemys status as a King or its ability to gift a King ss technique.
Why arent you destroying the ritual array since weve now reached an agreement? the skin-d skeletonined.
Yang Wu exined, You need to release Uncle Wan first, or hell die here, voiding our agreement.
The skeleton said nothing, only snorted as he sent some energy into the dying man, shoving him away from the bloody altar.
As the poor man tumbled away, Yang Wu shouted instructions, Big Sister Lanxin, get Uncle Wan out of here! I still have something I need to take care of. Do not let anyone close to this ce. Their lives will be in danger. Keep this in mind, please!
From beyond the bloody altar, Wan Lanxin and Zhang Xiong heard the shout and spotted Wan Tianlong falling from the altar. The two of them rushed forward to catch him.
Dad!
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Warden!
The two captains shouted simultaneously.
Seeing the warden alive, relief shed across their faces. The woman immediately retrieved a healing pill and fed it to her father.
Uncle Zhang, get my father to the infirmary now! Wan Lanxin barked at Zhang Xiong.
Come with us, Young Miss. Your little brother told us to leave together.
No, Im going to wait for him! The woman was resolved to stay.
ThenIm so sorry! Zhang Xiong abruptly reached out, striking the unsuspecting woman in the nape and knocking her out cold. He carried both her and her father out of the pit. Before leaving, he yelled back to Yang Wu, Hang in there, young man! If anything happens to you, Ill burn paper money in your honor.
[TL Note: The Chinese burn paper money, also known as hell notes, to the dead and deities as an offering. The paper money is just paper, and modern ones have some designs printed on them. The Chinese believe that the paper money would turn into real hell money for the person they are offering it to. There is a folklore that exins why this culture developed. There was a couple who earned a living by selling paper. However, business was not very good, so the wife came up with an idea. She told her husband to y dead. Then, she set a grand funeral and burned the paper that they made, tomemorate her dead husbands upation, attracting a lot of attention. Then, her husband came back to life, iming that the king of hell let him return because his family sent him enough money to pay for all his sins. When questioned where the money came from, he said that it was the paper his wife burned, that they turned into money in hell.]
This man was indeed one of action. Without further dy, he dragged the father-daughter pair out of the dangerous pit.
Inside the bloody altar, Yang Wu got to work, breaking down the ritual array.
The art of forming ritual arrays was considered a rare skill, which not many couldprehend. This cumbersome and mysterious art form not only required a lot of effort and patience to learn, but more importantly, it demanded outstanding talent. Without that, great achievements in this field would be nearly unreachable for a cultivator within a single lifetime.
Having never encountered a ritual array, Yang Wu did not understand the intricacies of this underground ritual array. He could only rely on the skeletons instructions. At each specified location, he used the Tiger Fang Saber to break the nodes, slowly unraveling the ritual array.
However, the skin-d skeleton did not warn him about the nodes defensive energy. Once a node was disturbed, this defensive energyunched a counterattack. As Yang Wu dug about sixty-six centimeters into the first node, the saber struck the defensive energy, throwing him back.
Pfft!
The weapon fell his hand, and fresh blood spurted from between his lips. The impact was like an experts punch, sending him flying over two meters away. His bones felt as if they were about to snap.
Useless bump! the skeleton chided.
Lying pathetically on the ground, Yang Wu moaned, Youre wee to break the ritual array yourself, Senior.
I will, then! the other man responded before the bloody aura coalesced and curled around Yang Wus body.
The aura began to control his movements, forcing him to take up the saber again and sh at the node.
No! Yang Wu screamed, at the skeletons mercy. With no power to resist, he was thrown, again and again, helpless against the defensive energy.
Smash!
Seemingly possessed by the King, the strength he used to wield the saber multiplied drastically. After a heavy strike, the node exploded, and the saber left a deep sh where it had hit. The impactcerated Yang Wus arms, blood flowing freely. He felt as if he had been maimed.
Argh!
The pain cut through the poor man as he wailed in agony. But that did not deter the skeleton. Controlling Yang Wus body, the creature walked him to the next ritual array node and struck hard.
The young man had be a mere puppet, suffering at anothers hands!
------ Hope you guys are enjoying the series so far. At the moment, we are struggling a little to get things on track, but once we do so, we will be increasing the release pace.
Chapter 29: The Nascent Profound Essence
Chapter 29: The Nascent Profound Essence
Zhang Xiong had saved Wan Tianlong and Wan Lanxin from the bloody pit, stunning all the guard captains and squad leaders.
Many had watched the bloody hand capture their warden with their own eyes, so they had assumed his death was assured. That bloody aura was too horrific for any but a King expert to resist, and since Wan Tianlong had not reached the King Realm, assuming he could not have survived wasmon sense.
Assuming his position as the mountain prisons new warden was secure, Lie Feng had already begun to take control. Thus, Wan Tianlongs survival was extremely upsetting.
However, Lie Fengcked the resolve to kill the old warden in full view. He could not afford the consequences of such a belligerent crime.
When he had learned that Wan Lanxins so-called younger god-brother was responsible, he ordered an immediate investigation into the young man. It puzzled him how such an outstanding cultivator had appeared out of nowhere.
Suddenly, the bloody pit was rocked by massive explosions, and the ground beneath their feet began to sink. Frightened, the guards retreated. Those who did not get away in time fell, screaming, into the pit.
The bloody pit is expanding again. Its releasing so much bloody aura!
Everyone, retreat! Dont fall into the pit!
My lord, what should we do? If this continues, the quakes will reduce cellblock 8 to rubble.
This evil is beyond us! We must call for reinforcements from the imperial court!
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Yang Wu was oblivious to everything happening on the surface. The ordeal of ying the skin-d skeletons puppet had left him so devastated that his body felt as if it was a hairs breadth from shattering into pieces.
He had broken forty-nine of the eighty-one nodes, and the collective bursts of energy had shattered nearly every bone in his arms. He was badly mutted, his internal organs were disced and bleeding profusely. Blood gushed from every orifice in his face. It was a terrible sight as hey there, approaching hisst breath.
Yang Wu could no longer hold the saber, but with enough of the nodes broken to free him, the skeleton stopped controlling the young mans body.
The skin-d skeletons aura was powerfully evil, pulling everything toward him. His bloody aura instantly obliterated the guards who had fallen into the pit, bolstering the skeletal creature with their vitality. Gaining some strength, heughed wildly and shouted, Today is the day this King regains his freedom!
Struggling with his restored strength, the skin-d skeleton snapped the bloody ritual arrays chains, one by one.
Bang! Bang!
As the chains broke, the bloody altar began to crumble.
The nodes energy had left Yang Wu on deaths door, and as the altar crumbled, he fell with it. Having forgotten about the three promised conditions, the skin-d skeleton paid the young man no mind.
However, the ritual array had not brokenpletely, and the skeleton had yet to regain his full strength. He had snapped seventy-two bloody chains, yet no matter how he struggled, he could not free himself of the nine that remained.
Break, damn it! The skin-d skeleton exhausted all of his strength, causing an earthquake that cracked the ground in all directions. Rocks shattered as they fell, and still, the nine bloody chains held fast.
These nine chains were the core of the skeletons binding, restraining him so tightly that the bones of his emaciated body were exposed.
The creature roared in protest, Once I escape, I will hunt down and y that Evil Boy King, even if I must scour the ends of the earth!
The ground around the bloody altar cracked in the quake. Yang Wu fell through into a new area, one whichcked the bloody aura. Here, a rather peculiar treasure grew.
This strange treasure was a pure-white lotus with a pleasant fragrance, yet upon closer inspection, its petals were oddly shaped. The flower had a total of one hundred eight petals, each decorated with clear dewdrops. The most peculiar thing about the flower, however, was the essence, shaped like a babys face, nestled in the flowers pistil.
The baby-faced essence energy looked as if it was smiling in one moment, crying in the next, and then annoyed. The face constantly shifted between expressions.
With his scant remaining consciousness, Yang Wu caught a glimpse of the baby''s face and breathlessly eximed, The Nascent Profound Essence!
The Nascent Profound Essence was precisely the first type of Profound Essence that he needed to advance his Supreme Nine Profound Art to cultivate to a higher realm.
When he had obtained the Supreme Nine Profound Art, the appearance of the nine Profound Essences he needed had shed in his mind, enabling him to recognize them on sight.
Now, he finally understood the pull he had felt after entering the bloody pit. As it turned out, a Nascent Profound Essence had been born here.
Like a newborn baby emerging from the womb, the Nascent Profound Essence was extremely yin in nature andpatible with the human body.
[TL Note: Yin and yang are aspects of a duality that the Chinese believe in. They interact with each other in various ways like opposing,plementing, and many more. ording to the Chinese beliefs, everything contains the yin and yang aspects, just how much gets manifested. An extremely yin nature is one where there is an absence of yang, something quite unusual. Here is a Wikipedia entry on yin and yang: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang.]
How extraordinary it was that this wonderful treasure before him possessed Nascent Profound Essence!
Fixing his eyes on the treasure, he noticed a clutter of young, white bones beneath the flower. Most of the skeletons were iplete and dposed, but he guessed that hundredsno, thousandsof babies had died here.
The presence of these bones sobered Yang Wu, and he was ovee with a rush of rage. All he could think was: How heartbreaking!
Each and every skeleton below the lotus flower had belonged to a baby. Who had they provoked at birth that they had been left here to die? If this was not heart-wrenching, Yang Wu did not know what was.
The Supreme Nine Profound Art frantically circted, the energy pulling on the peculiar treasures Nascent Profound Essence.
The pull was instinctive. Still iplete, the Supreme Nine Profound Art required nine different Profound Essences, and although this Nascent Profound Essence was only one of them, its power was indispensable.
The treasure became aware of the devouring force and began to sway, attempting to regain control of the Profound Essence in its core. It had taken so many years to condense this energy, and it would not give it up so easily.
Unfortunately, the treasure was merely a nt, and the Supreme Nine Profound Arts demand overcame its efforts.
Yang Wus body absorbed the Nascent Profound Essence, and it engulfed him. Wisps of pure Profound Essence seeped into his pores.
The Supreme Nine Profound Art immediately began to merge with the Nascent Profound Essence, and Yang Wus body underwent new transformations.
Condensed from the life force of countless babies, the Nascent Profound Essence supplemented all of Yang Wus natural defects, perfecting his form. Layer byyer, his skin peeled away, revealing new wless, tender skin. The energy within his internal organs soared, restoring and bolstering them with unimaginable vigor. His bones hardened, growing denser. His twelve major meridians, his recently opened minor meridian, and his acupoints erged and strengthened, allowing for a more powerful flow of energy.
If his major meridians had previously been brooks, they were now surging rivers. If his acupoints had been fireflies light, they now twinkled like starlight. He had undergone a true metamorphosis.
Following suit, the peach-pit dantian in his core expanded, releasing wisps of energy from its thousands of pores.
Yang Wu was euphoric. His injuries healed quickly, and he grew stronger by the second. More acupoints burst open for a total of forty-seven. In unison, the energy within his acupoints and meridians rang as it whirled. In one fell swoop, he had be a Medial Grade Warrior.
Yang Wu had crossed two major milestones during his trip into the bloody pit. Such an improvement would have taken him years of cultivation.
He did not know how much time had passed before his senses returned, but when he awoke, his Mental Energy felt as if it, too, had reached a new level. His awareness had reached an exceptional rity as if he could sense everything within two kilometers withoutying eyes on it.
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His Mental Energy felt powerful, increasing his perception range. Nothing could hide from him.
The Profound Energy of the dantian and the Mental Energyplemented each other. The only true way to advance was by strengthening both. Building only ones strength would yield inferior results.
Yang Wu could now sense the skin-d skeleton struggling at the bloody altar. Relieved that nine bloody chains still bound the being, he triumphantly thought to himself, I was naive to believe this guy. Hes clearly up to no good.
For the moment, the young man ignored the skeleton, gazing upon the lotus-like treasure. Its glow had dimmed after losing the Nascent Profound Essence, and all one hundred eight petals began to wither.
Just as Yang Wu had thought it a shame, he discovered a hundred eight seeds within the flowers pistil. As if they contained an abundance of power, the seeds radiated a crystalline light. Without thinking, he collected the seeds and kept them close.
Anything that can grow with the Nascent Profound Essence must be exceptional, Yang Wu muttered to himself.
Finally, he caught sight of the ground underneath the treasure. Trickles from the earthly spirit spring flowed down, the spirit water even purer than that on the surface. He realized this must be the true earthly spirit spring, and the spirit water outside must have been diluted.
This spirit spring is too precious to ignore. I have to collect some of the spirit water. Searching his surroundings, Yang Wu spotted an abandoned jade bottle not far from him. He ran over and picked it up, finding it undamaged. Taking it back, he collected some of the earthly spirit springs essence.
Now, he had to n his escape.
Emerging from this lower level would no longer be an issue. The true challenge would be escaping the skin-d skeletons treacherous grasp.
Considering his options, he discovered the energy from a ritual array shing up from under the baby skeletons. This was the ritual array responsible for the nine remaining chains above. He assumed this was the source of the skin-d skeletons remaining shackles.
Yang Wu dug up the area, finding a huge profound spirit stone, near to cracking, that connected the ritual arrays many lines. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that this was the arrays true central node.
Thinking, the young man became resolute. The bloody ritual array is about to break. It cannot hold that old geezer any longer. Ill have to make another bet on him.
So he yelled, Senior, Ive discovered the ritual arrays central node! I can save you!
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Chapter 30: Seeing the Sun Again
Chapter 30: Seeing the Sun Again
Yang Wu had no choice. He had to face the skin-d skeleton to leave this ce, and the remaining node that kept the being contained was running out of energy.
Hearing Yang Wu''s promised salvation, the skeleton was pleasantly surprised. Really?
Yes. As long as you swear a strict oath not to cause me any more harm, I will set you free! Yang Wu replied.
Boy, who gave you the nerve to make demands? the being snarled.
Senior, you have been trapped here for many years. You might be resentful and craving revenge, but you are still trapped. The prison guards must have notified the imperial court by now, and they will send a King. The way I see it, you can either let that King kill you or remain a prisoner. Think about it. Would you prefer to cooperate and leave here together or wait for your impending doom? Yang Wu was confident and his words, eloquent.
Weighing his options, the skin-d skeleton admitted defeat. Alright, I''ll count on you, boy. Now, break the node and free me!
Only a strict oath will assure me, Senior!
Fine! As long as you help me break free, I will not harm you again. Should I break my word, may lightning strike me dead.
How clich!
What more do you want from me?!
Let me think. How about this? If you break the oath, eighteen generations of your descendants will be cursed to never reincarnate, your little man will never rise again, youll get hemorrhoids, smallpox, and syphilis. That should be enough.
The skeletons already unhappy expression twisted upon hearing Yang Wus oath.
What kind of rubbish was this?
But the being had no choice. As Yang Wu had said, the guards outside the pit must have called for reinforcements. And the imperial court were no fools. The longer he dyed, the harder leaving would be. His only option was to suck it up and swear the oath.
Once the skin-d skeleton swore the strict oath, Yang Wu said, I hope youre a man of honor, not a crook who goes back on his word.
Those words only agitated the skeleton further.
What a shame that he, a dignified King, had to suffer ridicule from a mere Warrior.
Yang Wu snatched up the Tiger Fang Saber that had fallen with him. He then directed the energy within, sending Profound Energy from his peach-pit dantian gushing like a roiling river through his twelve major meridians and the newly opened minor meridian. Turbulent, the energy swirled in his forty-nine acupoints, rushing through his arms like a herd of wild horses. His arms gleamed with brilliance as energy poured into the Tiger Fang Saber. As a result, an energy de approximately two hundred seventy centimeters long overshadowed the weapon, and he shed at the broken profound spirit stone.
Boom!
Typically, Inferior Grade Warriors could only pull their energy to the surface of their skin, enhancing their defensive power. These cultivators were also usually limited to between half of a cauldron and one cauldron of strength and could extend their Profound Energy by about thirty-three centimeters. In contrast, Medial Grade Warriors could wield two to four cauldrons of strength and extend their Profound Energy to one hundred thirty-three centimeters, at most. Superior Grade Warriors usually measured between five and ten cauldrons and could extend their energy by about three hundred thirty centimeters. Finally, a Consummate Grade Warrior possessed more than ten cauldrons and could extend their Profound Energy by more than three hundred thirty centimeters.
Yang Wu had only just reached the Medial Grade Warrior Realm, yet his reach with his Profound Energy was as powerful as a Superior Grade Warriors. It was clear that he was no ordinary Medial Grade Warrior.
Even with his reach, Yang Wu still recoiled from the defensive energys countershock. However, the shock was not as potent as before. It only pushed him back a few steps and left the area between his thumb and index finger a little numb.
Emboldened by the boundless power he felt, he smirked and shed at the spirit stone again.
As the Tiger Fang Saber swung forward, his Profound Energy materialized as a de three hundred thirty-three centimeters long!
One sh, two shes, three shes.
Yang Wu swung eighteen times but still failed to break the profound spirit stone, despite how close it was to cracking.
Of course, he showed no signs of giving up. Rather, he zed with fighting spirit. He finally understood how to control his newfound power.
Sliding into the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, he circted it with the Supreme Nine Profound Art, emitting a formidable aura. The faint shadow of a dragon turtle stretched forth, and Yang Wu swung the Tiger Fang Saber again. The pure-white light shifted into a faint blue, and his energy de extended to five meters. The sight of it was stunning!
Boom!
Sharp and powerful, the de finally broke through the profound spirit stones defensive energy and slid into the stone itself, smashing it to pieces. In that instant, thest of the ritual array lines failed, and the nodes went dark. Rocks began to fall in a shower of destruction.
Above him, the skin-d skeleton broke free and shot into the sky, his powerful aura shattering the falling stones in his way.
Haha! I, Wang Jiuzhong, am finally free! Just you wait, Evil Boy King. Iming for you. As soon as I recover to my peak, I will kill you! I swear on my humanity! The skin-d skeletonughed maniacally.
However, even as he aired his grievances, he began to weaken, staggering and nearly tumbling over.
He had been trapped for too long and lost too much vitality. Replenishing the loss was impossible, even if he absorbed vitality from others. Moreover, he had lost a great deal of strength, the bloody aura having injured his foundations over time. He would need a lot of blood-nourishing food and spiritual herbs to truly recover.
Unwilling to remain and be buried alive, Yang Wu rushed out of the pits underground section as well.
The skin-d skeleton, Wang Jiuzhong, turned to Yang Wu once they were safe. The younger man shrank back, reminding the skeleton, You made a strict oath, Senior. Dont forget that!
Although he was unusually strong for his cultivation level, he was no match for a real King. He would be as effective as an egg smashing against a rock.
Humph! Wang Jiuzhong snorted coldly before ordering, Carry me out!
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Confusion shed across Yang Wus face as he said, Senior, about that powerful technique
Before he could finish, Wang Jiuzhong cut him off. Keep up that nonsense, and believe me, I will kill you.
With zero hesitation, Yang Wu rushed over and threw the skin-d skeleton over his shoulder, running toward the bloody pits entrance.
The ritual array had been broken; the bloody pit, destroyed. Chaos reigned in the prison above.
People stormed toward the blocks exit in retreat. About one thousand five hundred meters of ground had copsed, burying dozens alive while the rest ran for safety.
Wan Lanxin had returned to cellblock 8. It had been two days since Zhang Xiong had knocked her out. As soon as she had woken, she had rushed to the block to watch for any sign of Yang Wus return.
She appeared heroic and valiant in her armor and sat proudly atop her leopard, spear in hand. Her gem-like eyes shone with worry. She wanted nothing more than to rush back into the bloody pit, desperate to learn if Yang Wu was dead or alive.
Lanxin, that younger godbrother of yours might not make it! Lie Ziying said in a soft voice, trying tofort her after appearing out of nowhere.
But as he finished those words, he found the womans spear pointed at his throat.
Lie Ziying was taken aback. He eximed, Lanxin, what are you doing?!
One more inauspicious word from your lips, and I will fight you to the death! Wan Lanxin''s eyes were cold. She was not joking.
It was only then that Lie Ziying realized his mistake, although he saw nothing wrong with his statement. He continued, The ground has copsed, burying the ominous object underground. Ill write my name backward if he makes it out alive!
[TL Note: Names are important and should not be changed casually. Doing so is a form of humiliation.]
Wan Lanxin did not waste another word on the man, thrusting her spear even as she suppressed the urge to stab him.
Lie Ziying dodged quickly, retreating on his mount. Lanxin, I have given you my heart! Does that mean nothing to you?!
You are not worthy! Wan Lanxin dismissed, her tone disdainful.
Okay, okay, Lie Ziying repeated, resentment shing in his eyes. He thought to himself, Dont think that Im unaware that your so-called younger godbrother is the prodigal viscount who was imprisoned after offending the archduke. Well see how youe crawling back to me once the imperial envoy arrives and convicts you of harboring a criminal.
At this point, the ground began to calm, and the sinkhole stopped growing.
Wan Lanxin immediately ordered the guards to start digging. She vowed that she would find Yang Wu, even if all she uncovered was his dead body.
To her surprise, the ground exploded in the distance, a figure emerging from the flying debris, before the guards had even begun to dig.
Little Brother Wu! Wan Lanxins eyes filled with tears the moment she saw the familiar figure.
Even a fool like Lie Ziying recognized the special way the young woman looked at Yang Wu, and he burned with jealousy.
Yang Wu had emerged, carrying Wang Jiuzhong on his back. The two brimmed with joy the moment they saw the sun.
Were finally free! Yang Wu released a sigh of relief.
If he had not broken through to the Warrior Realm, that cave-in would have been his death.
Of course, Wang Jiuzhong had been a great help.
This ordeal in the bloody pit had pushed Yang Wu to the brink of death, and he would never forget that.
Meanwhile, Wang Jiuzhong had been trapped underground for so many years. For him, gazing upon the sun was a great blessing.
Just as Wan Lanxin was about to step forward and greet Yang Wu, Lie Ziying shouted, Guards, arrest that young man!
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Chapter 31: Skinny Monkey and Xiaoman
Chapter 31: Skinny Monkey and Xiaoman
Yang Wus expression froze when he heard Lie Ziyings words; he did not even have time to console Wan Lanxin.
Wan Lanxin came to aplete stop and locked her gaze with Lie Ziyings. Lie Ziying, what exactly are you trying to do?
Sneering, the man snapped back, Im the one who should be asking the questions. He paused for a moment before continuing, Yang Wu, prisoner from cellblock 68, was stripped of his title as a viscount and sentenced to ten years in prison for offending the archduke. Am I mistaken?
Wan Lanxin held her re, but somewhat guiltily, she answered, What of it?
What of it? He should be in block 68, but you decided to protect him, removing his chains and bringing him to block 8. This is no minor offense! Lie Ziying cockily dered. He turned, addressing the guards around him. What are you all still standing around for? Arrest that criminal immediately!
Eighteen prison guards obediently stepped forward and approached Yang Wu.
Id like to see you try! Wan Lanxin shouted. As her voice rang out, the guards froze in their tracks. None of them dared take a step farther.
Lanxin, are you sure you want to continue down this erroneous path? Lie Ziying demanded.
Stop being a busybody! I will take care of this myself. The young womans tone was domineering, and she hurried over to Yang Wu. Come with me, Little Brother Wu.
After a hesitant moment, Yang Wu replied, Captain Wan, you should take me back to my cell. Although you ordered me to save Warden Wan, I am still a criminal, and my crimes outweigh my contributions. I do not wish to tarnish your reputation.
Yang Wus thoughts flew through his head. He already realized that Lie Ziying wanted to use him as a threat, and he refused to let the man have his way.
He altered the way he addressed his big sister, informing everyone present that he hade here solely under Wan Lanxins orders to save her father, not because she wanted to protect him. With a single sentence, he had cleared her name and interfered with Lie Ziyings ns.
Wan Lanxin wanted to say something, but she recognized the signals Yang Wu sent with his gaze. Ultimately, she could only give in, and she said gently, Very well. Ill have someone escort you back to cellblock 68. I am confident that everyone in this prison is grateful for your efforts to save my fathers life. Both contributions and offenses will be credited ordingly.
Thank you, Captain Wan! Yang Wu responded, giving her a cupped-fist salute. He then turned to face Lie Ziying and smiled. Long time, no see, Uncle. Please take care of me, since I am responsible for such major contributions to the prison. Ill take my leave.
Calling forth two of her most trusted guards, she ordered them to escort Yang Wu back to cellblock 68.
No one paid any attention to the skin-d skeleton clinging to Yang Wus back. They simply assumed it was another prisoner, someone who had been stranded in the bloody pit.
Who would have guessed that man was primarily responsible for the pit itself?
Wan Lanxin did not linger, but before she left, she faced Lie Ziying. Her tone indifferent, she reminded him, Dont forget our deal. Youll have to write your name backward!
Helpless, Lie Ziying could only watch as Yang Wu and Wan Lanxin left. His expression twisted into something sinister, and a vicious wrath shed in his eyes. Yang Wu had officially made it onto his kill list.
------
Cellblock 68:
Since Yang Wus crushing victory over Wang Yan, Centipedes untimely demise, and Fei Leng and Bei Zis recruitment, none in cellblock 68 had dared to challenge Skinny Monkeys position as boss.
The young man had been seriously injured during the wolf spirit attack. Fortunately, thanks to the blood ginseng and the healing pills Wan Lanxin had left, he had recovered in just two days. He had an extraordinary physique, and he had once again improved his strength, approaching the Superior Grade Foot Soldier Realm while Yang Wu had been away.
He cultivated diligently, practicing the first two moves of the Rainstorm Spear Arts and getting both to the Established Stage. In one fell swoop, he had grown to ten stones of strength, bing a Superior Grade Foot Soldier.
Not even Fei Leng and Bei Zi could keep up with his growth speed.
Furthermore, a red light had begun to sh in his eyes on asion. It looked like fiery lightning strikes and made looking him directly in the eyes nearly impossible. He had been stunned at first, but as time passed, he realized how unnaturally far he could now see. His vision had be unobstructed; he could see through anything.
Testing this new ability, Skinny Monkey discovered he could even see through walls. This also allowed him to find the exact locations of Scarlet Steel Rock. The revtion was astounding!
However, he also came to realize how erratic this ability was. Sometimes it worked; sometimes it did not. Even after testing and practicing with this ability, he had yet to figure out its secrets, which frightened him a little. He still was unsure of whether this was a blessing or a curse.
Xiaomans development was equally shocking. Sooty asionally gave her a variety of treasures, from spiritual fruits to herbs. However, she only ate a small number of the pups gifts, saving the majority for Yang Wu. Even so, the little she ate resulted in a significant strength increase.
In addition, a new name had appeared within her mind: Eight Barbarian Immortal Art.
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This technique consisted of eight techniques, each tremendously increasing the avable Barbarian Energy. This energy granted its wielder overwhelming strength.
After attempting to practice this art, Xiaoman found that she could easily move stones that weighed fifty kilograms with a gentle flick of her wrist.
She had begun to wonder if she were turning into some kind of monster. She was even concerned she might begin to grow a beard. If she continued to train with this art, would her arms and legs be as thick as a bulls? Would her waist be as thick as a bears or a tigers?
Contemting these questions terrified her, and she decided to stop cultivating.
Every day, however, Sooty stood before her, whining as if upset by herck of effort. As the days passed, he brought fewer and fewer spiritual fruits and herbs. Of course, Xiaoman had no idea and could only wonder why Sooty acted this way.
Fortunately, no one noticed how Skinny Monkey or Xiaoman had changed.
Their situation had begun to improve, although problems were inevitable.
ck Ape, one of the prisons big shots, had known of Centipedes death for some time, but due to the disturbance in block 8, prisoners had been forbidden from moving between cellblocks.
Having waited for the right moment, ck Ape contacted Li Futu, block 45s envoy. He ordered the envoy to dispatch a group to block 68 to take vengeance for Centipedes death.
Normally, prisoners were not allowed to venture from the cellblocks containing stronger inmates to those containing weaker inmates. Allowing such a thing would only cause havoc for the blocks administration. But some rules could be bent if the guards permitted it.
On this day, the guards allowed Li Futu to leave his cellblock after handing over his Scarlet Steel Rock. He only had one day to take care of this issue, so he took eight subordinates with him to cellblock 68.
Despite the small group, each member was a Medial Grade Foot Soldier or stronger. Three were Superior Grade Foot Soldiers, and Li Futu had reached the Consummate Grade Foot Soldier Realm.
The man was confident that he could destroy the entire cellblock with this squad.
Li Futu was a stoic, unassuming gentleman with a crew cut and a powerful build. His gaze, however, held only a venomous ferocity. He did not take his crowbar with him, nor did his followers. Rather, they all entered cellblock 68 barehanded.
The weakest of the cellblocks, block 68 did not contain powerful inmates. Even with the few fights and murders, these inmates could not adversely affect the prison, and a few ordinary guards were enough to deal with any trouble.
But as Li Futu and his men entered the block, the atmosphere became far tenser.
Does this cellblock only have low-grade prisoners? As expected, every person here is trash! someone next to Li Futumented disdainfully. This particr inmate seemed to have different levels of ssification for prisoners.
Right? Based on how weak they look, Id be surprised if they dug up a single chunk of Scarlet Steel Rock per day! another prisonermented.
Cut the crap! Find out who killed Centipede, and finish the job quickly so we can report back to the boss, Li Futu barked.
With that, one of the mans followers attacked a nearby prisoner, interrogating him.
Li Futu and the others uncovered the name Skinny Monkey quite quickly and headed over to deal with him.
Meanwhile, Skinny Monkey was busy desperately digging for Scarlet Steel Rock.
Yang Wu had informed him that digging Scarlet Steel Rock was the most efficient method of tempering his body and that doing so would help him grow stronger more quickly. Since then, Skinny Monkey had not considered the work to be hardbor but a form of cultivation.
He also wanted to collect fifty thousand kilograms before Yang Wu returned. Thus far, he had umted less than two thousand five hundred kilograms, which was a long way from his goal.
When Xiaoman had told him that Yang Wu had been taken by a beautiful prison guard, he knew his sworn brother might not return to block 68. Despite that, he wanted to collect the fifty thousand kilograms on the chance Yang Wu did return. If he managed that, Yang Wu could leave this prison and join the Death Legion, contributing to the war.
Skinny Monkey only had Yang Wus best interest at heart if only because the man was his big brother.
As the young man continued to dig, he heard a disdainful voice from behind him. Trash, are you Skinny Monkey?
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Chapter 32: I Really Did Not Mean To
Chapter 32: I Really Did Not Mean To
Skinny Monkey looked up at the sound of the voice, finding nine inmates he had never seen surrounding him.
And you are? The sight did not particrly bother him. Rather, he weed the strangers with a smile.
A twig like you rules over cellblock 68? Centipede must have been weaker than I thought! Li Futu sneered contemptuously, eyeing the young man before him.
Yeah! How strong can such a skinny guy be? I could crush him with one hand! the prisoner next to Li Futuughed.
Another prisoner chimed in. We have each paid fifty kilograms of Scarlet Steel Rock to get here. Guess that was overkill. This will be a walk in the park.
Every one of these strangers disregarded Skinny Monkey as a threat. They stood by,ughing at him and judging him based on his build.
It was then that Fei Leng, Bei Zi, and their crew of twenty-odd prisoners noticed and gathered around Skinny Monkey. They could see these neers were here to challenge their boss but wanted to be nearby in case a fight broke out.
Li Futu was no fool and noticed the gathering crowd. But instead of fear, his expression held only disdain.
I doubt you gentlemen came here just to makements. Am I right? Skinny Monkey asked, squaring his shoulders.
As block 68s boss and a cultivator with ten stones of strength, his air had changed a little.
Heh, I heard that you killed Centipede? Li Futu got to the point.
So what if I did? Skinny Monkey responded coldly.
It doesnt matter anymore if you did. Clearly, he was a piece of trash. I can only fault him for being so weak that he lost control over cellblock 68. Li Futu did not dwell too deeply on this, sweeping the matter aside. After a pause, he continued, Since youve taken this block as your own, youll obey ck Ape from now on. You will regrly supply Scarlet Steel Rock, and well forget about everything. Disobey, and youll share Centipedes fate.
As Li Futu spoke, a murderous aura filled the air.
The Wuhou Gang members inched closer. Crowbars at the ready, they waited for Skinny Monkeys orders.
But Skinny Monkey only smiled, saying, I''m sorry. Im not interested in bing one of ck Apesckeys.
I gave you a choice, and you still want to do this the hard way. Li Futu frowned.
Whatever you say, Skinny Monkey said, throwing up his hands.
Lets cut the crap, sir. This runt obviously needs a lesson on manners, one of the inmates next to Li Futu said darkly.
And what gives you the right to start a fight with our boss?! the one-armed Fei Leng shouted, standing.
Over thest two days, Skinny Monkey had sparred with Fei Leng when they both had time. He had not been a match for the older man at first, but after a day, the tables had turned. Now, Fei Leng could not hold his own against Skinny Monkey.
Although Skinny Monkey was not as strong as Fei Leng, his incredible perception allowed him to spot openings in the other mans defenses. If he wanted, Skinny Monkey could kill the one-armed man in a single blow. Thus, Fei Leng truly submitted after a few sparring matches.
It seems we have no choice. Dont get cocky just because you outnumber us. To us, youre nothing but lowly livestock. His words light, Li Futu gestured to the inmates he had brought with him to begin.
All of the eight people under hismand were Medial Grade Foot Soldiers who had, through violence, earned their ce in cellblock 45. And all of these ouws were brutal fighters.
Under Fei Lengs and Bei Zis orders, the twenty-odd Wuhou members ran forward to meet these neers in battle.
Naturally, as the boss, Skinny Monkey did not stand by and watch. He charged at Li Futu, unleashing his Rainstorm Spear Art with his first attack. If he could crush their leader, this little expedition party would fall apart.
Unfortunately, Li Futu was a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier with sixteen stones of strength at hismand, making him far more powerful than his foe. Skinny Monkeys attack meant nothing to him.
Li Futu was also skilled in a fist-focused martial art. He dodged the first iing strike, sending a powerful punch to Skinny Monkeys ribs.
Shocked by the hit, Skinny Monkey staggered back a few steps, almost falling to his knees in pain.
How weak! Li Futu hissed, holding his ground.
But Skinny Monkey straightened, adjusting his grip on his crowbar to a thrusting hold. Like raindrops, his crowbar rapidly shot toward Li Futus vital areas, again and again.
Li Futus brows lifted in surprise as he retreated, but his opponent continued the chase, using all his power in his attacks.
One step after another, Li Futu backed away until he felt gravel under his toes. He kicked the debris up and toward Skinny Monkey, forcing the younger man to defend himself from the small stones.
Keeping his range of movement to a minimum, Li Futu punched, his fists shooting out like striking serpents, forcing Skinny Monkey to defend against theplex attacks.
The strikes were too quick for Skinny Monkey, and he took a few hits. The force threw him back through the air.
I''ll give you another chance. Submit to the ck Ape Gang, or die! Li Futu snarled, giving the thinner man a frosty re.
Fuck you! Skinny Monkey cursed, relying on his Rainstorm Spear Art again.
Undeterred, Li Futu attacked again, one handshing out to grip Skinny Monkey by the throat. Squeezing, he swore to choke the life out of the young man with his own bare hands.
At this crucial moment, a red light shed in Skinny Monkeys eyes, the crimson glow making Li Futu jump back in surprise. Seeing the opening, Skinny Monkey swept his crowbar up, mming it into Li Futus abdomen.
As Li Futu retreated in pain, Skinny Monkey pursued, his strikes falling like rain in a thunderstorm.
You dare attack me?! You deserve only death! Bloodlust flooded Li Futus mind, and he tossed aside any idea of mercy. He dodged the attacks, taking an offensive position as his fists flew in a flurry of blows.
Superior Grade Soldier ss technique: Rockcrusher Fist!
He could crush stone with his punches. Crushing a skull would be childs y!
Once that red light began to show in Skinny Monkeys eyes, his perception sharpened to an incredible extent, and Li Futus attacks, although vicious, became futile. Skinny Monkey easily dodged every blow, not taking a single hit.
This only heightened Skinny Monkeys confidence, and feeling triumphant, he thought, This sight is perfect in battle! This is awesome!
While Skinny Monkey and Li Futu reveled in their battle, theirrades suffered a much less enjoyable fate.
Both Fei Leng and Bei Zi were powerfulbatants and could each handle a single opponent, but the otherscked the strength of Medial Grade Foot Soldiers. They were no match for Li Futus followers.
Those eight inmates were ruthless. It was obvious by their stances that they were all seasoned fighters, and they easily knocked down an opponent with each blow.
Of course, with one arm, Fei Leng did not have thebat power he used to. As his fight dragged on, he realized he was at a clear disadvantage against his opponent, who had reached the same cultivation realm. He knew he would lose before they exchanged fifty blows.
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Bei Zi, on the other hand, had lost against a Superior Grade Foot Soldier after only twenty moves. He had taken five or six hits to the abdomen, sustaining damage to his internal organs. Vomiting blood, he rolled to the ground, beaten.
Even as the twenty-odd Wuhou members fell, Skinny Monkey and Li Futu continued to fight.
Guards and prisoners alike watched the battle unfold from a distance. However, none of them interfered. This had nothing to do with them, after all.
In this prison, the guards never interfered with prisoner infighting. This time, they had received strict orders from their superiors to allow Li Futu and his men the freedom to start this conflict. Thus, they turned a blind eye.
The prisoners were victims, regardless. No matter who led them, they all had to turn in their hard-earned Scarlet Steel Rock, a fate they were already numb about.
But to these prisoners, Skinny Monkey and the Wuhou Gang were better masters than Wang Yan or Centipede. The Wuhou Gang only demanded one-third of their daily haul. Their previous bosses demanded half, if not all, of their Scarlet Steel Rock.
This kid is a freak! Guess Ill have to use my trump card, Li Futu thought, realizing he had gained no ground after such a prolonged battle. He was starting to grow impatient.
The longer they fought, the calmer and more collected Skinny Monkey became. He could now easily counter Li Futus attacks. At this rate, Skinny Monkey would not lose.
Ill finish this in one hit! Li Futu growled, gathering his energy. With a battle cry, he took a few steps before attacking with his Rockcrusher Fist.
Li Futu had already exhausted most of his strength. Meanwhile, Skinny Monkeys perception only sharpened further. His eyes burning red like fire, he saw the trajectory Li Futus punches would take and counterattacked with his crowbar.
Li Futu''s strikes were so powerful they bent the crowbar on impact. Now useless, Skinny Monkey threw the weapon aside. But as the next punch flew toward him, Skinny Monkey had an idea. He rolled, reaching out and clutching Li Futu. Skinny Monkey then lifted the man by his feet and threw him on his head.
Taking this opportunity, Skinny Monkey struck with his elbow. If Li Futu had been a little slower in his roll to escape, that blow would have left him severely injured.
Why are you just standing around?! Attack him! Li Futu shouted to his subordinates, scrambling to his feet.
Without any hesitation, the eight inmates swarmed Skinny Monkey.
The young man may have had extraordinary perception, but facing a crowd who were just as, if not more, powerful than himself was a challenge. He managed to injure three inmates, but the others crowbars kepting, beating him down and scattering his blood on the gravel.
Watching from nearby, Xiaoman ran toward Skinny Monkey, shouting, Stop hitting Big Brother Sun! Stop fighting!
Far faster than she had been in the past, it was clear even Xiaoman had grown a lot stronger.
Where did this brate from? Get lost! One of the inmates intercepted Xiaoman, a hand shing to p her across the face.
Reacting instinctively, Xiaoman raised a palm to meet his.
Smack!
Ah!
The sound of the two hands colliding rang out a split second before the man screamed.
For some reason, the inmate who tried to beat Xiaoman clutched his hand, crying out in pain.
II''m sorry! I didn''t mean to! Xiaoman innocently apologized.
You little runt! The prisoner caught his breath and cursed as he kicked at Xiaoman.
She was not familiar with anybat techniques or postures, so all she could do was dodge. However, her opponent was relentless, attacking again with clenched fists. Forced to defend herself, Xiaoman retaliated by pping the man wherever she could. He recoiled as if shocked with electricity, and the bones in his shoulders screamed as if they were about to break. Again, his pained screams filled the air.
You forced me to! II really didnt mean to! Xiaoman was at a loss.
Although she knew she was no weakling, she had no idea that her strikes would hurt so much.
Hostile and frustrated with his previous fight, Li Futu stalked toward her. It turns out they have some brat with hidden talent. Killing you should suffice!
Frightened by Li Futu''s savage re, Xiaoman retreated. Please let Big Brother Sun go! If you dont, the young master will never forgive you.
Your young master is a piece of shit! Every wretch in this prison will submit to me! Li Futu snarled, spitting on the ground.
Well, once this piece of shit beats you into the ground, what will that make you? A cold voice replied from nearby.
------
Chapter 33: ??In That Case, I’m Getting Rid of You!
Chapter 33: ??In That Case, I¡¯m Getting Rid of You!
Yang Wu had returned.
Carrying Wan Jiuzhong across his back, he finally made it back to his stone hut in block 68. Wan Lanxin followed him all the way, of course. She would have stayed in the cellblock, too, if he had not convinced her to return to her own residence.
The woman knew his plight well; someone deliberately moved against him. If she truly wanted the best for him, she could only y her part as the prisons young miss and allow him small privileges when she could. She would also step in to stop the guards abuse if she had the chance.
Wan Lanxin was no fool. Thus, she said her farewells, and when she left, she gave the blocks captain strict orders to leave the young man alone.
Fortunately, he was not an idiot, either, and would not dare disobey the first young misss orders.
She was curious about the skin-d skeleton Yang Wu carried, but once she realized he did not want to exin, she did not press the issue. She trusted that Yang Wu knew what he was doing.
Once Wan Lanxin left, Yang Wu ran off to find Skinny Monkey and Xiaoman, eager to reunite with hispanions. As he approached, he heard shouting and fighting. Rushing over, he found Skinny Monkey on the ground, beaten, and a stranger openly threatening Xiaoman. He was enraged.
He had been all alone when they first threw him into prison, but by a stroke of luck, he had met Skinny Monkey. The man quickly became a trusted, sworn brother. Then, after some difficulty, they managed to save the housemaid-in-disguise. These two had be his followers, and as a viscount, it infuriated him to see them treated this way.
Having not seen her master over thest few days, Xiaoman was pleasantly surprised to spot him. Youre back, Young Master!
To the young womans eyes, Yang Wu was even more handsome than before. Though his prison rags had been nearly shredded in the bloody pit and his body was covered in grime, his exceptional air radiated from him. The very sight of him made the young womans heart race.
The interruption pulled Li Futus attention toward this neer. Narrowing his eyes, he demanded, What did you say just now? Say it again! I dare you!
I just asked what youre supposed to be once this piece of shit beats you into the ground. The past eighteen generations of your family had to kneel in respect at the very sight of me. So, why arent you on your knees, servant?!
Li Futu watched as Yang Wu approached. Even from a distance, he could sense the young mans unusual aura, and it forced him to take a step back. Embarrassed and annoyed, he barked a rebuke. You have a sharp tongue, dont you? Lets hear you talk trash once I knock all of your teeth out!
With a step forward, Li Futu swung a quick punch toward Yang Wus mouth.
That hit contained the strength of a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier, powerful enough to crush stone. Skinny Monkey had taken that hit earlier and still suffered. If Li Futus punchnded, Yang Wu would indeed lose a few teeth.
s, Li Futu was not facing Skinny Monkey this time, but the mans big brother. He did not realize how doomed he was.
Before the fist could find its mark, it collided with Yang Wus palm. Shocked, Li Futu tried to jerk his hand back, yet the young man before him had such a powerful grip, he could not break free.
Fear crept through Li Futu, showing in his expression. But even as he opened his mouth to beg for mercy, a vicious punch mmed into his jaw.
Ah!
A few of his front teeth shattered, blood and spittle flew from his mouth.
The agonized scream was enough to pull the invading inmates attention away from Skinny Monkey. They turned just in time to see their bosss incisors hit the ground. Ruthless and enraged, Yang Wu continued to beat the man, breaking this messengers teeth, one by one. Blood sshed across the ground, instilling panic in the unwee inmates.
This is what happens when you talk trash! Once thest of Li Futus incisors shattered, Yang Wu sneered at the man, kicking him away like a dead rat.
Lets take this guy down, everyone! someone shouted. The people who had followed Li Futu suddenly found their courage and swarmed Yang Wu.
They held their crowbars high, unrelenting in their attacks. They went straight for his vitals, knowing they would only have one chance to defeat this man. If they failed, they would suffer the consequences.
Had this happened a few days earlier, Yang Wu might have struggled to defend himself, but things had changed. Now, their onught felt as sluggish as a tortoise, hardly a threat.
He caught the first iing crowbar with a firm grip. Pulling the attacker into his arms, he used the prisoner as a human shield, blocking several more attacks from hispanions. Tragically, the poor guy was beaten soundly.
Yang Wu then shoved the man away and into two other inmates. He raised a clenched fist at the same time, striking as fast as lightning.
The prisoners he attacked felt their faces explode with pain before they even noticed his fist move. Before they knew it, this young man had knocked out several of their front teeth.
Ahhh!
They all suffered the same, painful fate as Li Futu. Each of them screamed in pain as fresh blood flowed from their gaping mouths.
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Yang Wus strikes were now beyond what Foot Soldiers could handle. If he truly wished it, he could kill them with a single hit.
Xiaoman and Skinny Monkey watched how easily their young master punished these invaders, quite pleased with the show.
Ignoring the pain of his shattered teeth, Li Futu pushed himself off the ground and fled for his life. He knew the man who had beaten him was likely a Warrior, just like his boss. And he also knew such a cultivator was not to be trifled with.
Go back and tell ck Ape that I will make a personal visit to block 7 soon. One by one, Ill knock out his teeth, just like I knocked out yours! Yang Wu yelled to the fleeing man.
Li Futu was so terrified that he stumbled and fell to the ground. Scrambling, he got up quickly and continued to run.
Cellblock 68s inmates, who had watched this all happen from a safe distance, were shocked by the results of this battle. None of them had expected Yang Wu to defeat ck Apes men with just two or three blows. They immediately put him on a pedestal, realizing the Wuhou Gangs true leader was this young man.
Finished, Yang Wu headed for Skinny Monkey, who was nursing his many wounds. How are you holding up?
From his position on the ground, Skinny Monkeyughed. It was just a few dozen hits. Its no big deal. Ill be up and mining Scarlet Steel Rock again in a few days time, Big Brother.
Ill avenge your suffering! Yang Wu promised solemnly, grasping his sworn brothers hand. He stooped down, lifting the injured man on his back, and headed toward the stone hut.
He was unaware that Skinny Monkeys blood had soaked through his clothes, although the fact did not escape the injured brothers notice. Skinny Monkeys eyes began to tear without him realizing it.
Seek not fortune, but share the hardship!
It was easier said than done. How many could truly live that way?
Returning to the hut, Yang Wu untied the jade bottle tied to his belt, and offered a mouthful of the earthly spirit springs water to Skinny Monkey.
The thin man had no way of knowing how precious the spirit water was and took a huge swallow. He immediately felt a powerful force sweep through him, nourishing his body and revitalizing his spirit.
Big Brother, where did you get this water? Its so good, Skinny Monkey asked as he felt his energy return.
Smiling faintly, Yang Wu exined, I got this from an earthly spirit spring. Itll be a big help to your recovery. Circte your profound art to absorb the spirit waters power.
Surprised, Skinny Monkey considered the astounding qualities of this spirit water, and he quickly adjusted to a meditation stance to refine it.
If he had known that mouthful was worth ten thousand gold, he might have had a stroke.
But Yang Wu did not seem to mind. As long as Skinny Monkey had a swift recovery, Yang Wu did not care how much the man drank.
After all, he had acknowledged Skinny Monkey as his sworn brother.
He had never been stingy with those he called friends. Before his life in the prison, for example, he had passed thest of his coin and his jade pendant to a childhood cultivationpanion.
Whowho are you? Xiaomans voice suddenly broke the silence as she cried out in panic.
She had just discovered Wang Jiuzhong in the corner, the skin-d skeletons appearance frightening her.
Why do you have such irrelevant people here? The old man ignored Xiaoman, giving Yang Wu a dissatisfied re instead.
These people arent irrelevant, Senior. One is my brother, and the other is my maid, the young man replied.
Send them away! I dont want to be bothered! Wang Jiuzhong loudly rebuked.
Yang Wu smiled and answered calmly, They wont bother you.
Are you ignoring me? the skeleton growled with a frown.
Oh, I know what to do. An idea sparked in his mind. Yang Wu walked over to Wang Jiuzhong and squatted down to throw the skin-d skeleton over his shoulder.
What do you think youre doing, rascal?! Wang Jiuzhong shouted, struggling.
I thought you didnt want to be disturbed. In that case, Im getting rid of you! Yang Wu turned his head to sh the skeleton a wicked grin.
Wang Jiuzhongs eyes shone with menace. Are you trying to court death?
Senior, I respect you as an expert, so I have tried to be polite and y along. But do not push me too far! Fury shed in Yang Wus gaze. This skin-d skeleton had tortured him inside the blood pit in an attempt to escape the trap that had held him for so long. Although Yang Wu did not expect gratitude from the old cultivator, he would not tolerate this emaciated creature bossing him around.
Wang Jiuzhong was a King, having transcended the General Realm. He was currently the most prominent cultivator throughout the Xia Dynasty. Thus, how dared this young man have the audacity to challenge him of all people?!
Yang Wu, however, had sensed the mans depleted state during the trek back from the bloody pit. Having exhausted his strength, the old man was extremely frail. Yang Wu had no reason to fear the consequences of speaking out against him.
The old man had not expected Yang Wus attitude to change so abruptly, and it really pissed him off. He wanted nothing more than to reach out, sending the young man to his death. But just as Yang Wu had expected, Wang Jiuzhong was even too weak to raise a hand. If he tried to exert any force, it just might im thest of his pitiful life.
Well, arent you just impressive! Wang Jiuzhong was too upset to say anything else.
Just sit here and recuperate, Senior. You can kill me off with a frownter, but please, spare my brother and my maid! After whispering his request, Yang Wu moved to sit beside Skinny Monkey, protecting him.
Suddenly, Sooty appeared out of nowhere to pounce on the jade bottle. At first, Yang Wu was startled to see the pup grasp the bottle between his teeth, but then he softly scolded the ck dog. Sooty, dont mess around. That is the essence of an earthly spirit spring, and its priceless. Dont break the bottle.
Knowing full well that Sooty was an intelligent being, Yang Wu did not try to take the bottle from it. The fact that it had gone straight for the jade bottle proved how sensitive it was to items of a spiritual nature.
Sooty seemed to understand. Wagging its tail, it straightened its back and gnawed at the bottles cork.
Yang Wu felt a twang and nearly winced, thinking to himself, You rascal, I hope you leave some for me.
Meanwhile, some Eagle Knights from the imperial court flew towards the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison.
------ Still working on the next chapter, so there might not be a teaser.
Chapter 34: The Eagle Knights of the Xia Dynasty
Chapter 34: The Eagle Knights of the Xia Dynasty
The Xia Dynastys Eagle Knights were apany of three hundred sixty-five mounted knights known for their speed. They were primarily responsible for scouting, defense, and aerial warfare. Each rider had reached the Warrior Realm at the very least, and the Eagle Knights firstmander was among the top fifty experts in the empire, a King cultivator. He had also earned the title of marquis.
The Xia Dynastys court titles were organized as such: duke, marquis, count, viscount, baron, and finally, the lesser titles. Naturally, only a handful of powerful individuals could earn the grand title of marquis.
This attested to the value the Eagle Knights had to the Xia Dynasty.
Right now, eight stately Eagle Knights glided through the sky over the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison, each man and woman striking an imposing and heroic figure in their armor and helmets, atop their eagle mounts.
The man in the lead was middle-aged, and his eyes gleamed as he surveyed the prison below with obvious disapproval.
This forsaken ce is certainly suitable for felons! he muttered.
The man was Meng Hng. Not only did he havemand of this Eagle Knights squad, but he was also the third inmand of the entire Eagle Knights. His status was third only to the firstmander and the secondmander, who were both Kings, while he only had half a foot in the King Realm.
The moment the squad received the distress signal requesting reinforcements, they had flown straight for the prison. Each was an elite member of the Eagle Knights and confident they could handle any problem the prison faced.
Wind roared as the eight eagles spread their wings!
As the eight riders swooped down, sending dust and debris flying, the enormous eagles wings pping alerted the prisons captains. The deputy warden in charge, Lie Feng, was the first to arrive and greet the honorable visitors. Wee, Commander Meng!
His effacing attitude toward Meng Hng and his cavalry was noticeably different from his manner with his direct supervisor, Wan Tianlong.
Theres no need to stand on ceremony, Deputy Warden Lie. You sent an urgent call for reinforcement, so the emperor sent us to assist with destroying this bloody pit and fighting off the wolf spirits. Take me to the bloody pit now! Meng Hng got straight to the point.
An awkward look shed across Lie Fangs face before he replied, To address Commander Mengs concern, actuallythe bloody pit seems to have been destroyed.
What do you mean? the other man demanded, frowning.
Please follow me, Commander Meng, and Ill exin as we walk. Lie Fang made a respectful gesture, indicating for themander to follow him.
Thetter nodded in faint acknowledgment and followed the deputy warden, leading his seven subordinates toward block 8.
While they walked, Lie Feng summarized the recent events in the bloody pit. When Meng Hng heard that the bloody pit had all but disappeared, his expression sank. The squad had traveled a great distance, all the way from the capital.
Deputy Warden Lie, you sent a dire request for help, iming that Warden Wan and Deputy Warden Zhao had met with disaster. Furthermore, the missive stated that a King-level secret might be hidden within that pit, yet now, youre telling me that Warden Wan has been saved by the skin of his teeth, and the evil pit has been destroyed. Are you trying to y some sort of prank?! Meng Hng red at the deputy warden, clearly dissatisfied as they reached the copsed pit.
Themander had traveled all the way to the mountain for this prized secret said to be buried within the bloody pit, so the report of the pits copse and the missing secret infuriated him. He was just a step away from bing a King, only to have his hopes dashed. Why wouldnt he be angry?
The deputy warden, on the other hand, broke out in a cold sweat, nervous, at a loss before the mans wrath.
As they approached, his eldest son, the captain of cellblock 8, greeted the cavalrymander with a bow. Your Honor, someone walked out of the bloody pit alive when it copsed. We suspect he might be harboring the King-level secret.
Who is it? Bring him to me this instant! Meng Hng demanded, brow cocked.
Lie Ziying looked hesitant. The man is a felon, and he ought to show himself at Your Honors summons, but
Whats the problem? Speak! themander barked, impatient.
He has a unique rtionship with the warden. In fact, it is said that he was responsible for saving the warden when the man was in danger, but I do not know the truth. I sent someone to look into his background, however. He is Yang Wu, son of the former marquis, Yang Zhennan. The young man dishonored the princess, and his entire family was stripped of their titles. Meanwhile, Yang Wu was sentenced to ten years in this prison, Lie Ziying exined.
So, this young man is responsible for the furor in the capital then, Meng Hng muttered before turning to Lie Ziying. Bring him to me immediately. Ill answer for you if Warden Wan stops you.
This was precisely what the guard captain wanted to hear. Understood! Ill bring him to you immediately.
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He had long borne a grudge against Yang Wu, so learning the truth regarding the young man only encouraged his desire to see Yang Wu dead.
A mere prisoner who dared to offend him deserved no less.
Yet, when Lie Feng caught the hint of a sneer on themanders lips, his heart skipped a beat. Somehow, he had a premonition that something would go awry.
Under Meng Hngs orders, Lie Feng sent men to search the bloody pit again for any trace of the King-level treasure. In the meantime, themander left to visit Wan Tianlong. Regardless of how he felt about this ce, it was the mans territory. When it came to rank and authority, there was still a clear distinction between the title of warden and his own asmander.
Wan Tianlong had taken a beating during the bloody auras attack. Had he not been saved in the nick of time, he would have lost his life. He had managed to regain some vitality with the help of the evil-warding bead and the healing pill, but he was still in critical condition and would need a long rest to recover fully.
His daughter had stayed by his side to look after him while Zhang Xiong stood guard over him around the clock, ever the dutiful follower, resolutely refusing to let his master encounter further mishap.
When Meng Hng arrived, he checked on Wan Tianlong and left shortly after saying a few words offort to Wan Lanxin. Then, he proceeded to the ce Lie Fang had prepared for them to wait quietly for Yang Wus arrival.
Wan Lanxin did not know about the conversation between Lie Ziying and Meng Hng; otherwise, she would definitely have prevented the meeting from happening.
------
Inside the stone hut, there were three people in seated meditationYang Wu, Skinny Monkey, and Wang Jiuzhongeach of them giving off different auras.
Yang Wu was vibrant and energetic; much like an old trunk reborn, he was thriving and unstoppable.
Skinny Monkey was heavily wounded. However, after he received the gift of the earthly spirit spring, it had made up for damaged vitality, his injuries healing rapidly. In addition, his strength was returning, so, on the whole, he was well on the road to recovery.
As for Wang Jiuzhong, the man was fully concentrating on meditation. Currently, the man appeared like he had scattered his cultivation. All his energy seemed to have drained from him, like a dying man, with none of that domineering tyranny he disyed inside the bloody pit.
Each sat in their respective corner inside the stone hut while Xiaoman quietly stood guard outside.
Time and again, her gaze would fall upon the meditating Yang Wu, and obvious affection gleamed in her pretty eyes. Young Master is truly handsome!
Right about this time, Lie Ziying arrived on his horse with a group of guards in tow, led by Xu Ziyang, charging toward the stone hut.
Xu Ziyang had been severely reprimanded by Wan Lanxin, getting a few of his teeth knocked loose in the process. Furthermore, he was stripped of his post and nearly fed to the wolves. Thus, it was a great fortune to him that all these had passed. Lie Ziying had called him over, intending to make him a squad leader in block 8. His time had finallye.
The man pointed to the stone hut and said, Captain Lie, thats where Yang Wu is holing up!
How dare he upy a hut to himself when hes just a lowly prisoner?! Tear that house to the ground! Lie Ziyingmanded with a yell.
Under his lead, dozens of prison guards charged toward the hut, ready to destroy it.
When Xiaoman saw them storming over, an extraordinary surge of courage arose, and she quickly blocked the entrance to the house. Spreading her arms wide, she warned, What do you think youre doing? Youre not allowed to disturb our young master.
The girl seemed to have forgotten that she was a prisoner herself and even her young master was the same.
What has the worlde to? How dare a mere prisoner stop us?! Xu Ziyang roared with disapproval and raised his hand to p her.
Just as his palm was about to hit her face, a ck shadow shed by, aimed straight for him. The man could not react in time. His face stung, and he let out a painful yelp.
It turned out to be Sooty. The dog had jumped out of nowhere to scratch Xu Ziyang, leaving raw streaks oozing fresh blood on his face.
The rest of the guards were taken aback. However, when they saw that it was just a ck puppy that had attacked their leader, they started to chase it, one after another.
Woof woof!
The ck pup let out a few growls. With its sharp ws and nimble moves, it pounced on the guards in session, tearing their uniforms and leaving bloody wounds on their bodies in its wake.
One after another, the guards screamed in agony, greatly embarrassing Lie Ziying. He felt humiliated.
What useless bums! Get out of my way! Yelling, he drew his sword and swung it at Sooty.
The sword shed from more than three meters away. The ck puppy might be swift and agile, but it still was not fast enough to avoid the de. The blownded, and the dog bounced off to a great distance away, its survival in question.
Sooty! Xiaoman screamed in dismay.
Over the past few days, the dog had sought out spiritual fruits and herbs and fed her with these, giving her a chance to rest and eat well. The blow the pup suffered earlier was also for her sake, so the girl was heartbroken.
Tear this ce down! Show no mercy to anyone who dares to defy the order! Lie Ziying ordered again in a loud voice.
Just then, Yang Wu emerged from the stone hut. Uncle, why are you making a scene here? he asked, his face sinking.
------ So, sorry about the long hiatus. Many things happened, and we faced a manpower shortage. plus, It was kind of tough for me to make time to check every chapter and so on. I take full me for it.
Anyway, I know I promised to make up for the past backlog, but honestly, the backlog is so big now, it''s very daunting to even think about it. So, I''m sorry about this, but I''m going to have to break my promise to make up for all the backlog. For now, I''m just going to release chapters as and when I can, I''ll try to do more than the initial release rate of 2 per week to make up for that fact. Then, we will set a more routine release rate once things stabilize.
Chapter 35: The King’s Fury
Chapter 35: The King¡¯s Fury
Uncle was an honorific, but somehow, Lie Ziying found it offensive to his ears.
How dare you be so disrespectful to me, the block captain here? Are you tired of living? Lie Ziying sneered as he stared straight at the young man.
Then, he turned to theckeys beside him andmanded, Seize him!
Whoever wants to capture my young master has to get past me first! Xiaoman put herself forward once more, standing in front of Yang Wu.
The young man pulled her aside, saying, Move away, Xiaoman. Your master here doesnt need you to shelter him from danger!
Tsk tsk, its hard to imagine a felon having such a devoted follower. Since you are so attached to each other, then Ill just arrest the two of you together!
Now that Lie Ziyang had the Eagle Knightsmanders backing, he no longer feared Wan Lanxin. He would make sure to pile as much dirt on Yang Wu as possible and send thetter down the road of no return.
The young man stood in front of Xiaoman andmented, Uncle, its sufficient to arrest just me; theres no need to involve the innocent!
Anyone who stands up for you is an aplice! Lie Ziyang retorted haughtily.
Im a childhood friend of Big Sister Lanxin. She has been good to me despite mynding in prison. Uncle, Im afraid Big Sister Lanxin wont be pleased if she hears how youre treating me now, Yang Wu added with a frown.
Hehe! Lets see what she can do this time! the captain answered with a nastyugh.
He waved his hand, signaling his men to arrest Yang Wu and Xiaoman.
Im sorry I got you into trouble, Yang Wu apologized.
A smile spread across Xiaomans pretty face. No, Young Master, Xiaoman here isnt afraid of death as long as I can stay by your side!
Right at that instant, the young mans heart warmed as he stared at the girls sooty face.
A friend in need is a friend indeed!
Just as Lie Ziying was about to take Yang Wu and Xiaoman away, he nced at the stone hut and waved his arm. Demolish the stone hut!
No! the young man immediately objected nervously.
Destroy it! The captain was adamant, though.
Youll regret it! Yang Wu dered, a strange smirk curling the corner of his lips.
The other man mocked, Viscount Yang, it looks like you still have no awareness of your status as a prisoner. You arent qualified to make me regret anything yet!
The guards surrounded the stone hut and started shoving its walls to topple it.
The hut was merely piles of bs, sufficiently stable to weather the storms and rains but hardly enough to withstand the brute force of so many guards.
But just when the guards were about to exert all their strength, a loud voice came booming from the hut. You are seeking death!
The voice was like andmine exploding inside their ears. Their eardrums ruptured and bled. Their minds went nk, and the men fainted all at once.
The golden-maned lion Lie Ziying rode was shocked into trembling and abruptly hunkered on the ground, sending him tumbling off its back.
Without warning, all the guards surrounding the hut were sucked inside by a great force, and in the next moment, a strong, acrid stench wafted into the distance. Broken limbs then flew out of the hut, presenting a horrifying and revolting scene.
Its aK-King! eximed Lie Ziying, scared out of his wits.
It was said that a furious King would leave thousands of corpses in his wake.
If the Warrior Lie Ziying could not sense the power of the being inside the stone hut, then he had wasted his years of cultivation.
Still, he did not expect the person to be a Kingand one far stronger than even the warden.
Uncle, do you still want to destroy the hut? Yang Wu asked again casually.
Besides Skinny Monkey, Wang Jiuzhong was also inside the stone hut. Although the King did not nitpick Yang Wu, that did not mean he would go easy on others.
That King was no kind soul in the first ce.
The captain wasnt a fool, either, and he could guess by now that the skin-d skeleton whom Yang Wu had carried out of the blood pit was the King.
He pulled his lion, urging it to retreat, but the animal was too scared to stand up. Finally, the man gave up and ditched his mount, rushing to escape at the fastest possible and stumbling in the process.
Watching the captain in desperate flight, Yang Wu could only let out a heavy sigh. More trouble again. This viscount does not want to resort to fleeing the prison one day!
He knew that he would not be able to shed his identity as a felon if he ran away from prisonthis was thest thing on his mind.
Meanwhile, Xiaoman, standing beside him, could not stop vomiting. She looked utterly scared.
Patting her back in constion, he said to her, Youd better stay away.
Young Young Master, Im Im not afraid! The young woman tried to put on a brave front.
This may be for the better. You might need to face worse situations in the future, so youd better get used to it now! After saying that, the young man looked at Sooty, which was sashaying its way to him, and asked the puppy with concern, Are you alright, Sooty?
Xiaoman ran over and gently took the dog into her arms. After a thorough check, she was surprised to discover that the little animal was unscathed.
Woof woof! Sooty shook its head and barked. Its fiery re evinced its indignation at receiving that brutal sh from Lie Ziyings sword earlier.
Yang Wu walked over and stroked the dog, making a solemn promise, Ill avenge that injustice one day!
Sooty nodded its head with humanlike understanding, then stuck out its tongue to lick his outstretched palm. Yang Wu beamed, setting all the past woes aside.
For now, he could only hope for the best and prepare for the worst. As long as he was still alive and kicking, he would find a chance to shed his prisoner status.
Disregarding the broken limbs strewn across the ground, Yang Wu walked toward the stone hut, worried that the King might have finished off Skinny Monkey.
Fortunately, his sworn brother was safe and sound inside. However, thetter dared not look directly at Wang Jiuzhong, only managing to spit out with much difficulty, Cannibal!
When the King saw Yang Wu walk in, he stared daggers at him and asked, You still have the courage to enter this ce? Did you really think Id let you go?
The young man bowed and said, Itd be very easy for you to kill me! After a momentary pause, he continued, Senior, the imperial court has sent some experts. Im afraid its not convenient for you to stay here any longer.
With Lie Ziying running away after the fiasco with the King, the young man knew peace would be impossible.
Wang Jiuzhong wiped off blood from the corner of his mouth andmented nonchntly, Im not afraid. If theyd dared to step in, Id have killed them off without hesitation. Do you really think a King like me would cower in their presence like a puppy or a kitten?
A King ought to behave like one. If he were to run away now, wouldnt his reputation be ruined?
Sooty, however, was extremely upset when it heard those words; the puppy snarled and shed its sharp ws at him as if raring to fight the King.
Alright, since Senior isnt going anywhere, then Ill keep youpany! Honestly, Yang Wu was only too happy for the King to stay. Nobody dared to offend a King, and even the imperial household would need to treat one with respect. The young man believed that things might change for the better because of him.
Yang Wu took the jade bottle of earthly spirit essence, which Sooty had finished drinking from, to Wang Jiuzhong.
Thetter raised his eyes to nce at the young man before saying, If the earthly spirit spring were of any use to me, do you think I would have ended up looking like this?
This is the real deal! Yang Wu emphasized.
Wang Jiuzhong no longer held back. Opening his mouth wide, he guzzled the spring water in the jade bottle down to thest drop.
The young man felt a pinch in his heart. He had wanted to leave some for Wan Lanxin and Xiaoman to consume.
This is the real stuff, indeed! the King marveled softly, his face lighting up with pleasant surprise.
Then, please rest first, Senior. I believe well have visitors soon. I beseech you to show mercy! the young man said.
Yang Wu wasnt being magnanimous when he made that request. He was just afraid the King would take too many lives, and he would shoulder the me. If that happened, redemption would be impossible; he would forever be a criminal.
Soon enough, eight eagles bearing humans, high above the sky, swooped toward the stone hut, looking proud and majestic!
In the forest, Lie Ziying trailed behind his father, riding on a horse, with over a hundred prison guards following speedily behind the two of them.
Instantly, the atmosphere inside block 68 turned heavy with tension.
Standing on his eagle, Meng Hng asked the father-son pair, Is the person inside there?
Lie Ziying wiped cold sweat off his face as he stammered, Yeshehes there.
Whatck of guts! How do you expect to rise to greater heights with this kind of behavior? His father snorted with great dissatisfaction.
Father, he is a cannibal! Lie Ziying protested, wanting to cry.
Meng Hng walked up to the stone hut with his seven men. Each one released a thick sheath of metal armor to wrap around the body in preparation for the uing battle.
With a wave of his hand, Lie Feng ordered the troop of five hundred soldiers behind him, Nock arrows! Standing in neat rows, they drew their bows, ready to release their arrows at hismand.
Shoot!
Five hundred arrows shot into the sky in synchronicity. Every arrow flew with sublime momentum and lethality, ready to burst through any obstructing mountain rocks. No mere stone hut could withstand their attack.
Just as the arrows were about to hit the hut, a thunderous voice boomed, Get lost!
The roar shook heaven and earth, and the arrows instantly shattered, shocking everyone.
This development caught everyone by surprise. They did not expect the Scarlet Steel arrows to be so fragile before sound vibration.
Shoot again! Lie Feng ordered, nk-faced.
Another dense barrage of arrows flew, looking like shes of light in the air.
This time around, a terrifying, humongous hand appeared out of nowhere as the arrows rose into the sky. The hand caught all the arrows in midair and waved, sending them flying back.
Oh no! Everyone, hide! Lie Feng yelled at the guards around him as he brandished his saber at the onught of arrows shooting toward his men.
As for his son, he was again thrown off his mount in fright. Wewe mustnt offend thatthat King!
Aaaah!
Argh!
Many guards could not escape in time and were either killed or heavily wounded.
The eight Eagle Knights watched the scene from above with solemn faces. They could tell that a formidable King was inside the hut.
Lets see how aplished this King is! Meng Hng told his team, harboring none of the fear that the presence of a King would normally inspire. He was, indeed, an expert who had been through countless battles.
All seven of them nodded in agreement. Falling into formation with theirmander, they drew their weapons simultaneously andunched an attack on the stone hut.
Right then, something exploded inside the hut.
Bang!
------ I''m going to try to maintain a mon-wed-fri release schedule if I have chapters. But still no guarantees yet.
Chapter 36: The Future Is Ours
Chapter 36: The Future Is Ours
The stone hut was merely a pile of stones, so under the power of the Kings attack, its stones flew toward the eight eagles.
The condescending attitude of Meng Hng and the other Eagle Knights changed. Hemanded his subordinates to smash the stones flying toward them.
They were all Superior Grade Generals, each one extremely capable. They released waves of Profound Energy from their hands and smashed the stones to pieces. However, the Kings attack was so strong that they almost fell off their eagles, flustered. Only Meng Hng appeared rtively unfazed.
Are you trying to kill this King? Wang Jiuzhong drawled as he looked up at Meng Hng and the others while standing below.
Beside him stood Yang Wu, Skinny Monkey, and Xiaoman. As they looked at the mighty Wang Jiuzhong and felt his breath, their expectant faces lit up.
Is this how Kings do it? Yang Wu murmured in his heart. Had I possessed such domineering power, wouldnt I be able to conquer the Xia Dynasty and make the archduke fear me?
Skinny Monkey clenched his fists, thinking to himself, If only I could have such strength one day!
Under the nourishment of the earthly spirit essence, he had made speedy progress. His injuries had almost fully recovered, and he had gained four more stones of strength, only one stone away from reaching the realm of Consummate Grade Foot Soldier.
As for Xiaoman, although she was of humble birth, she understood that if she could fly over walls and cross the sky, she could protect herself better.
Ill cultivate the Eight Immortal Barbarian Art well. I must be stronger than this man, so that I can protect my young master! Xiao Man resolved, earnest and determined.
You want to kill this King? After Wang Jiuzhong drank from the real earthly spirit spring, he had regained a tenth of his strength, and his Kings aura was stronger than when he had been in the bloody altar. He was utterly fearless while facing this battalion and the eight eagles in the sky.
He turned his ruthless gaze toward Meng Hng and his troops and forced the eagle spirits tond a distance away.
Meng Hng jumped off his eagle and saluted Wang Jiuchong with a cupped fist. I am Meng Hng, the thirdmander of the Eagle Knights of the Xia Dynasty. May I inquire this lords name and why you appeared in the mountain prison?
You are not worthy to know this Kings name. Take your people and scram; otherwise, I wont think twice about drinking all your blood! Wang Jiuzhong said with a gruesome grin.
My lord, your tone is a little haughty, dont you think? Although you are a King, you do not look too well in your current state. Meng Hng frowned.
How about you try me and find out? Wang Jiuzhong countered, his voice sinking.
Just then, Lie Feng interjected, You were the one who caused the catastrophe in the bloody pit, werent you?
Are you questioning this King? Wang Jiuchong red at Lie Feng, his sharp gaze like a lethal weapon. Despite being a Superior Grade General, Lie Feng fell off his wolf as if electrocuted.
Meng Hng and his sevenpanions were shocked. Even a fool could tell that the person before them was by no means an ordinary King. He was at least a Medial Grade King. Otherwise, how could he have hurt a General with his aura in his sordid state? This level of strength was extraordinary.
Retreat and give way to this lord! Meng Hng ordered his troops decisively.
After his voice rang out, the troops scurried away, relieved as if granted amnesty.
Lie Ziying was all the more frightened. Completely disregarding his father, he scrambled to escape this dangerous ground.
With a keen eye, Yang Wu spotted Lie Ziying and greeted him. That uncle over there, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Stay and chat with us for a while!
Lie Ziying was so frightened he almost peed his pants. He wished that he had two extra legs to carry him away faster, wanting to leave as quickly as possible.
At this moment, Meng Hngs gaze fell on Yang Wu, and a trace of confusion shed in his eyes. He looked at Wang Jiuzhong again and said, My lord, lets let bygones be bygones and disregard this matter; how about that?
This Kings reputation is worth more than that. Im afraid even the White-Browed Eagle King of the Xia Dynasty would not dare to negotiate with me, Wang Jiuzhong said contemptuously.
Upon hearing the name White-Browed Eagle King, Meng Hng and his sevenpanions shuddered involuntarily in reverence.
As for Lie Feng, the deputy warden, his expression paled as if he had just lost his mother. Inwardly, the mention of this name terrified him.
The White-Browed Eagle King was one of the top ten experts of the Xia Dynasty a hundred years ago, and he was also the grandmander of the previous generation of Eagle Knights. He had already retired to spend his remaining days in peace, but his strength was undoubtedly at the peak of perfection. Even the current emperor addressed him as teacher in reverence, a testimony to how venerable this White-Browed Eagle King was.
Whether this skin-d skeleton-like King before them was telling the truth was secondary. Such bravado and the capacity to make such a bold utterance meant he wasnt someone to toy with. While this King had indeed devoured the lives of many jailers, what were theypared to the authority of a King?
Meng Hng had initially considered taking him on in battle bybining the strengths of the eight Eagle Knights, but now, he had lost his couragepletely.
The current Eagle King of the Eagle Knights, known as Little Eagle King, was an apprentice of the White-browed Eagle King.
Meng Hng turned to Lie Feng and said in haste, Deputy Warden Lie, this matter urred in your prison, so you should take responsibility for honoring this lord. We, the Eagle Knights, dare not overstep our boundaries!
Lie Feng wished he was dead. He had hoped to fish for merits in this situation and earn himself the position of warden. Now, instead of getting what he wanted, he was in deep trouble with a maniacal fiend. He was at a loss, indeed.
Collecting himself, Lie Feng resorted to ttery. My lord, how about we relocate? I will prepare you some good wine and food, as well as some spiritual herbs. That way, my lord will be able to recover faster.
Fine, Ill not make things difficult for you. Wang Jiuzhong epted without hesitation.
In his current state, he was mostcking in nourishment and healing tonics. He could use the treats Lie Feng offered to help himself recover quickly. It was why he had broken out of the stone hut.
He had never considered recovering slowly by staying with Yang Wu in that little hut in the middle of nowhere.
Wang Jiuzhong left with Lie Feng. He paid no attention at all to Yang Wu from the beginning of this whole ordeal, as if the young man did not exist.
Yang Wu sent Wang Jiuzhong away with a smile on his face, unfazed by the disregard in the slightest. He couldnt wait for that nuisance to get out of his sight. After all, he didnt want a ticking time bomb that could blow up at any moment around him.
Naturally, Meng Hng went with Lie Feng, not forgetting to take one final nce at Yang Wu before leaving. Yang Wu noticed Meng Hngs attention and returned it with an expressionless look.
When everyone had dispersed, Skinny Monkey breathed a sigh of relief and said to Yang Wu, Big Brother, is that a King, someone who has broken through the General Realm? I couldnt breathe under all that pressure!
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Yes, thats a Kings aura for you. Moreover, that was only the aura of a beat-up King, and it rendered us breathless. If he had recoveredpletely, Im afraid we would all die if he got angry! Yang Wumented. Then, he shook his fist at the sky and said triumphantly, He is old now, and the future is ours!
Skinny Monkeys eyes lit up. Yes, the future is ours!
Too bad there werent any people around to chide the pair for their insanity, save for corpses. Two lowly prisoners speaking so boldly, what a joke!
But silently, a girl holding a little ck dog believed this joke.
------
Under the orders of Skinny Monkey, the prisoners built a new stone hut.
Yang Wus original intention was to build three stone huts. Opportunistically, he thought to borrow a little bit of Wang Jiuzhongs reputation and firmly believed that no one would dare to gossip about him in the current situation.
However, Skinny Monkey turned down the offer of a stone hut with the excuse that his own den was morefortable. In reality, he did not have the guts to live in one.
As for Xiaoman, she was all the more apprehensive. She only wished to stay in front of the young masters stone hut, content as long as she could see him from time to time.
If another stone hut were built for her, wouldnt that separate her from her young master and shorten the time she could meet him?
Since they were reluctant, Yang Wu did not insist. He sat in his newly built stone hut, nning his next steps.
Right now, he could ride on the coattails of Wan Lanxin and Wang Jiuzhong, but only depending on external forces would not bode well for the long run. At most, it would make his life a little easier in prison. But if he wanted to get rid of his status as a prisoner, he would have to depend on himself.
Instead of meditating, Yang Wu practiced a set of palm techniques.
This set of palm techniques, called Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike, was an Inferior Grade General ssbat technique. One had to be a Warrior to practice it.
Back then, when Yang Wu was about to hit the Warrior Realm, he had memorized this palm technique from his familys martial arts library.
This palm technique had a total of thirty-six variations, and once cultivated to the Aplished stage, it could exert great force like crashing waves.
Now that Yang Wu was a Medial Grade Warrior, it was time to practice this palm technique.
Following the incantations of the palm technique, Yang Wu repeatedly swung his palms, getting a feel for the technique. He familiarized himself with the rhythm, so that he could concentrate his strength on making stunning attacks.
Generally speaking, the higher the level of thebat technique, the more difficult it was to practice. The Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike was a General ssbat technique, and the difficulty was not low. However, Yang Wu grasped the form of this palm technique after practicing for only an hour.
His level ofprehension was extraordinary.
Thisbat technique is rted to water-attributed Profound Energy. Let me trybining it with Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance! Yang Wu calmed himself. After a moment of thought, he took up the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, then used the palm technique.
Suddenly, the energy under his Yongquan acupoints surged, rushing through the minor meridian to two acupoints on his palm. The energy prated the palm acupoints, forming a cyclone, and shot out a blue palm print in one fell swoop.
Boom!
Yang Wu was stunned when he saw a distinct palm punched out on the wall of the stone hut.
At this moment, a figure appeared outside his stone hut. A voice drifted over. My good nephew Yang Wu, you are so well-hidden. I almost believed the rumors that your dantian was crippled!
------
Chapter 37: The World Is a Treacherous Place
Chapter 37: The World Is a Treacherous ce
Night fell.
Outside the stone hut, a person spoke out of the blue, which startled Yang Wu. This was especially so when he had yet to regain his senses after opening the acupoints on his palm and forcing out the remnant energy from the Spiraling Waves Splitting Palm.
Whos there? he eximed in fright.
There werent many who were familiar with him in the prison, even fewer who would address him as good nephew. The speaker seemed to know him well, which led him to think of a particr person he had met this morning. Still, he was not entirely sure.
Just as I expected! the young man eximed inwardly when the man walked into the hut.
The man looked at Yang Wu and teased, Whats the matter? Dont you recognize Uncle Meng anymore?
The young man replied with a somewhat disgusted frown, I wouldnt dare im a connection with Commander Meng!
The visitor was none other than the Eagle Knights third-inmand, Meng Hng.
Not taking the young mans sarcasm to heart, the senior merely replied impassively, It looks like you still me Uncle Meng.
Looking away, Yang Wu said, I dont have the courage for that. Im just a lowly prisoner while youre the thirdmander of the Eagle Knights. My life would be forfeit at yourmand!
Meng Hng mocked himself, I know what youre ming me for. You fault me for not standing up for your family when the Yangs met with trouble, right?
I wouldnt dare! The young man continued to speak without looking at him.
Hahdo you really think I would abandon the brotherhood with your father, my sworn brother? Meng Hng heaved a sigh before continuing solemnly, The disaster was totally unexpected. It was toote by the time I found out about it. I wanted to go to the imperial court to plead for leniency for your family, even at the cost of my position. However, your father told me not to involve myself when I met him. Furthermore, he also hoped I could look after the two of you down the road. I can onlyment the loss of your brothers top schr title and the waste of his talent!
Yang Wu stared at Meng Hng as thetter spoke, trying to determine the truthfulness in the older mans words.
Since my father told you not to get involved, do you have any news about my younger brother now? he asked.
The reason I didnt visit you at the soonest chance was that I was looking after Little Wen all along. Besides, you were on the enemys watchlist, so your uncle here did not dare to stand up for you openly. You can only me your poor fate if you die inside here; the Yang ns only hope is Little Wen, so it is vital to preserve his safety! the senior exined with sincerity. He paused before adding, But after seeing you today, I believe you arent any worse off than your brother. Who knows, the Yang n may have a chance to rise again because of you two.
It was obvious that Meng Hng held Yang Wen in much higher regard than he did the older sibling.
Although Yang Wu was known as a cultivation genius in Royal City, he paled inparison to his younger brother, who was held up as a star schr.
In thisnd, talents for cultivation and schrly pursuit were equally treasured. There was a saying that deemed studying easier than cultivation. In reality, those who became sages through schrly pursuitsmanded more respect and left a legacy.
Yang Wen had long been seen as a sage in the making, due to his ingenuity in this area. Even the emperor of the Xia Dynasty had been prepared to betroth his beloved imperial princess to him. s, his older brother was caught in a shameful fiasco that implicated the whole family. Disregarding the emperors favor, Yang Wen had asked the court to spare his brothers life in exchange for his top schr title. If not for him, Yang Wu would have been executed instead of being consigned to Smoke Signal Mountain Prison.
When Yang Wu thought of his brother, his eyes turned wet with guilt.
Uncle Meng, thank you for looking after my younger brother. As long as you promise to keep him alive, Ill do anything for you! Yang Wu said as he gave the senior a deep bow.
The young man had never bowed to anyone since entering the prison. The very sight of him, a proud man, bowing for the sake of his younger brother showed the depth of their kinship.
The gesture seemed tofort Meng Hng. Giving the young mans back a light pat, he said, You brothers are the same. He, too, asked me to ensure your safety. Now, both of you are begging me to keep the other safe and sound; do you really think I wont look after your family like real kin? Do I look like I take swearing brotherhood with your father as a game?
I misunderstood you, Uncle! Yang Wu said with remorse.
He had known Meng Hng since he was a young boy. At that time, the senior would regrly visit his residence to drink with his father. However, after the man got a few promotions with his fathers rmendation, the visits had be few and far between. When the Yang n met with thetest crisis, he did not see this man standing up for them, either. Hence, he held a grudge against the senior, considering him a self-centered person who put his own interests above all others. Now, the young man realized that he had wronged Meng Hng.
This is a small matter. Coming to Smoke Signal Mountain Prison is a coincidence. Since youre not in any precarious situation here, you can decide: do you want to stay put here to temper yourself, or do you want Uncle Meng to take you away for a fresh start in life? The senior gave the young man two options.
Id better stay here and temper myself. I want to get rid of my prisoner status openly, and Ill surely vindicate myself in theing days. I refuse to admit to what I havent done! Yang Wu immediately replied with certainty.
Little Wu, put aside the desire for vindication. You know very well that the one youre fighting against is powerful, right? Meng Hng warned with a sigh.
Uncle Meng, you need not worry about this matter. I know what I have to do and wont be impulsive, Yang Wu replied calmly.
Alright. Then, tell me more about that King. Now, we have to serve him like a lord. Meng Hng changed the topic.
Oh well, this matter had a strange start. Big Sister Lanxin and I were worried about Uncle Wans safety, so we barged into the bloody pit.
Yang Wu shared his encounter inside the bloody pit with the senior. He kept his story simple, omitting details as necessary, but exined all the key points to the other man without falsification. At the same time, he surreptitiously observed Meng Hngs demeanor, so when he saw the other mans eyes flicker with jealousy, his guard went up instantly.
It seems that Uncle Meng cannot be fully trusted! he cautioned himself inwardly.
After Meng Hng got the full story from the young man, he said, It looks like the King must be a felon, too, or he would not have been trapped under cellblock 8. I have to report this matter to the imperial court immediately. You stay safe here for now, and let the guards know if you need anything. Ill instruct them to take good care of you.
After saying that, he left without waiting for the young man to speak.
As Yang Wu watched him depart, he felt mixed emotions. The world is a treacherous ce! he couldnt helpmenting to himself.
This is indeed a silly, young man. Does he really think he can stay here in peace because his cultivation is intact? How naive! muttered Meng Hng to himself as he mounted his eagle.
Soon, the man disappeared into the dark night.
The night passed quickly, and Yang Wu was able to absorb a wisp of morning propitious energy while seated outside the stone hut. This strand of morning propitious energy was much denser and stronger than before, which meant the energy it contained was of extraordinary quality. The energy did a round inside his dantian before circting to the twelve major and one minor meridians, sharing the pure energy with all the acupoints.
The young man got up to practice the Spiraling Waves Splitting Palm. He had a good grasp of the technique by now. If hebined this technique with the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, he would reach the Established stage for thisbat art.
Just then, a prison guard went up to him and barked, Yang Wu, you have to stay in block 7 from now on.
What is to happen has to happen! the young man sighed to himself before nodding in response to the guard. Got it.
Smoke Signal Mountain Prison had a total of sixty-eight blocks. The higher the cellblock number, the more dangerous the felons held inside the block. The first seven blocks were criminals who were killers, sadists, and perverts. The average prisoner would end up dead or crazy after entering any of these blocks. In other words, block 68 was like heaven whenpared to the hell of these seven blocks.
Xiaoman, who was never far from Yang Wu, walked over to him timidly and said, Ill go to block 7 with Young Master.
Skinny Monkey, who had rushed over from nearby, followed suit. Big Brother, let me go to block 7 with you, too.
The young man smiled at the two of them with gratification. Both of you stay put here and stay out of trouble; thatll be good enough for me.
Young Master, Im your servant. Ill follow you wherever you go, Xiaoman told him with a resolute expression.
Yang Wu caressed her petite face andughed, Haha, dont worry. This young master will take you away soon enough.
When the prison guard saw the young mans intimacy with Xiaoman, he got goosebumps and shuddered. I didnt know this guy here has a liking for men!
If Yang Wu had heard the guards thought, he would have taught thetter a lesson.
Skinny Monkey, be good and stay in block 68 for now. In the meantime, take good care of Xiaoman and umte sufficient Scarlet Steel Rock as soon as possible. Dont worry about me! After giving some instructions to his sworn brother, he followed the guard to block 7.
As Yang Wu disappeared from Xiaomans sight, tears rolled down her face. Young Master, youve got to take good care of yourself! she cried out with that sweet voice of hers.
As for Skinny Monkey, his eyes turned red, and he could only clench his fists tight while muttering, Collecting fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock is no big deal. I can easily break down a hill with a nce. There is no fear of not finding it for Big Brother, is there?
The two of them did not notice a little ck shadow in hot pursuit of the young man.
------
Chapter 38: This Viscount Has Always Convinced People with My Virtues
Chapter 38: This Viscount Has Always Convinced People with My Virtues
Cellblock 7 was deep inside Smoke Signal Mountain, with heaps of strange cliffs and jagged rocks. Hence, the chances of finding Scarlet Steel Rock were much higher.
The prisoners here werent fewer than in block 68; in fact, it housed more felons than thetter. Besides the prisoners from the Xia Dynasty, there were also captives from the barbarian tribes. All of them were at least Consummate Grade Foot Soldiers; the chains on their feet were twice as thick as those used in block 68. These were shackles that a man could not break with pure brute strength.
The ck Ape Gang ruled the prisoners here, and ck Ape, one of the seven big shots, was also assigned to this block.
It wasnt to say that those imprisoned in block 7 were weaker than their counterparts in the blocks ahead of theirs. The prisoners within these few blocks were all on a par, except for blocks 1 and 2.
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One could thus imagine how strong ck Ape was to be hailed as one of the seven big shots in the entire mountain prison.
When Yang Wu reached block 7, he saw many tough and strong felons digging hard. Their speed was considerably faster than that of the prisoners in the block he came from. The rocks were flying at rocket speed as they dug along, a solid testimony to their power and strength.
Several prisoners nced over when the young man arrived on the scene. They all had a frivolous look in their eyes, obviously thinking very little of this fledgling.
This guy here looked so tender. I wonder if he had his ass deflowered? If not, I dont mind having a go to see how it feels.
Old Yellow Head, dont scare the boy off with your gaping teeth. Let me try him before you.
All of you should watch out. This fledgling was brought to our block, so he is probably a wicked fellow as well. Dont get bitten instead!
When someonees to our territory, be it a dragon or a tiger, he has got y along with us, or hell go to hell!
All these prisoners were sexual deviants, and there was no shortage of homosexuals. Their speech was downright filthy.
He is Yang Wu from block 68, the kid who ughtered Centipede and hurt Li Futu. Now, all of you, do remember to take good care of him! After this loud announcement, the guard revealed a sinister smile and then walked away.
Yang Wu furrowed his brows and nced at the guard. He could sense a wave of hostility.
He knew hising to block 7 would not result in anything good, but to be openly set up by the guard was still infuriating.
Is this the work of Meng Hng or Lie Ziying? he wondered to himself as he clenched his fists tight.
Right then, a few prisoners gathered around him with sly smiles on their faces.
The one leading the rest spoke up, revealing a row of yellow teeth. Brat, were you the one who murdered that piteous Little Centipede? Do you know he was one of our ck Ape Gangs men? He might be a minion, but its not your ce to kill him!
Looking at this yellow-toothed prisoner with his gang, Yang Wu persuaded fawningly, Kind brothers, dont believe the gossip you hear. This weak physique of mine wouldnt have the power to murder anyone. Ive been framed; thats all. How about letting me off?
Hehe! We can let you off, but youve got to strip, quick, and let our gang of brothers here ream your butt. After that, you can call us brothers, and of course, we wont make things difficult for you anymore. The yellow-toothed prisoner snickered.
Thats not a bad idea, Old Yellow Head. Its as you said! Another prisoner agreed.
Sorry, but I dont have the habit of running around naked. If everyone here has this interest, why dont you demonstrate on the spot now? I dont mind watching and learning! Yang Wu retorted.
Humph, how dare you y dumb in front of me? The yellow-tooth prisoner snorted and waved to his gang around him. Whoever can strip him bare first will have him for your pleasure. Let him die from the pleasure!
Let me start first. Ive not been at it for a while! A rather scrawny prisoner screamed for dibs and lunged at Yang Wu. The former was nimble like a spirit monkey and was already standing in front of Yang Wu in a sh, extending his arms toward thetters chest.
After that scrawny prisoner spoke, energy surged through Yang Wus body, and he exerted some force with his hands. Two distinctively crisp sounds of bone cracking rang out simultaneously, followed by a miserable cry akin to a pig being ughtered, thoroughly disturbing the peace and quiet.
Yang Wu pried open the arms of this prisoner, picked him up, and brandished him several times before sending him flying. The mannded heavily on the ground, sending loose rocks sttering and kicking up dust.
The yellow-toothed prisoner licked his lips with a sinister air. This fellow indeed lives up to being someone who can deal with Little Centipede. Hes got some tricks up his sleeve! Come, everyone, lets take him down together. Then, we will rip off his shorts and take turns!
I can see that ck Ape is as much of a pervert as you lot. Alright, then, this viscount will knock some sense in all of you today! The young man initiated a fight as he walked up to them.
Right now, his battle hunger was raging within him. He would pound a ce for himself in this block. Now, hed see who dared to bully or humiliate him, scold or hit him, or even try to kill him. He would do the same in returnbully, humiliate, scold, hit, and kill!
The young man felt he had be rather vindictive, but who wouldnt? After all, he was no saint, was he?
Standing tall and proud like a dragon, with his back hunched like a turtle, he took this stance to greet the first two prisonersing to get him. Without a second word, they swung their crowbars straight at his head.
He reacted quickly, catching one of the crowbars without trouble. Throwing the attacker aside, he used the weapon to block the second crowbar. The two crowbars collided, throwing sparks everywhere.
Yang Wu leaned forward with his back as strong as a mountain, sending the other party flying backward and spurting blood. Then, he used a leg like a tail, striking the other attacker in the face and deforming it.
Another three prisoners caught him in a pincer attack. One swung at his head, the second aimed for his belly, while thest tried to restrict his lower limbs action. The trio moved in remarkable unity, determined not to let the young man get away this time.
s, their attack was so wed in Yang Wus eyes that they could hardly touch him.
He just waved the crowbar in his hand, executing Dark Clouds Covering the Sky to strike them hard.
Aaah! Argh!
As Yang Wu bashed up the next few prisoners, the yellow-toothed prisoner shuddered involuntarily. This seemingly harmless young man was tougher than he had reckoned.
Resting his crowbar on his shoulder, Yang Wu smiled and said to the frightened, yellow-toothed prisoner, Theres nothing to be afraid of. Im a viscount who has no interest in low-ss prisoners like you. Bring me to ck Ape, and lets see who is more suitable as the boss of block 7. This viscount has always convinced others with my virtues.
After finishing his sentence, he didnt wait for his yellow-toothed opponent to answer but swung his crowbar straight at thetters face, knocking out all the yellow teeth in one go. An agonized scream followed as fresh blood gushed forth.
These few prisoners were already Superior Grade Foot Soldiers, but none of them was a match for Yang Wu.
As he walked forward with his crowbar in his hand, dozens of prisoners rushed toward him. Some of them were already Inferior Grade Warriors.
Brat, do you really think youre powerful enough to take over the reins? This is the territory of the ck Ape Gang. Even a dragon or a tiger would need to kowtow to us here! a Warrior prisoner roared as he lifted a boulder weighing five hundred kilograms and hurled it at the young man.
A Superior Grade Foot Soldier had ten stones of strength, so lifting a five-hundred-kilogram boulder was no trouble at all. But hurling one far away would require a cultivator at no less than the Warrior Realm.
The boulder rolled and crashed with great ferocity.
This is a good time to test the power of Spiraling Waves Splitting Palm! Yang Wu muttered to himself. With his eyes sparkling, his palm moved quickly to strike the oing rock.
The twelve major meridians, the minor meridian, and the forty-five unblocked acupoints shed all at once. Profound Energy gushed, circting in his body like a raging river before concentrating in both palms to greet the force of the boulder head-on.
Bang!
The boulder disintegrated in an instant!
Right then, even more prisoners swarmed him, some hurling rocks at him, the rest swinging crowbars or stakes.
These prisoners did not fight fair. As long as they could get their opponent on the ground, they would be considered the victor.
I havent had a good fight since reaching the Warrior Realm. Today is a good time to see just how much potential this block 7 holds! Yang Wu clenched the crowbar in his hand and circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art. Whenbining this cultivation technique with the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, he was like a fish in water as he burst out with a torrent of stabs toward his attackers, using the Rainstorm Spear Art.
His body had undergone a baptism after drinking from the earthly spirit spring, so his five senses were unusually sensitive and alert. He saw through all their moves and could thus weave among them with ease, knocking them down with one blow as they yelled and disying extraordinarybat prowess.
One by one, the prisoners were beaten down, but that did not deter the rest. On the contrary, it aroused their fighting spirit; they couldnt wait to tear him apart.
The young man was no invulnerable expert, though. Under siege, he was starting to sustain hits. First, a crowbar battered his back; then, a rock smashed into his shoulder. If not for reaching the point where he could coat his body in a Profound Energy barrier, he would not just be gritting his teeth from the pain.
Rolling Thunder Shifting Winds!
Torrential Downpour!
The more he fought, the more tenacious he became. He was so skillful with the Rainstorm Spear Art by then that the crowbar was bursting out with clumps of Profound Energy. With brutal force, he broke the heads of each and every one of the prisoners in just one exchange!
On top of a distant mountain, a rugged man looking like an invincible iron tower saw this scene all too clearly. Smiling faintly to himself, he muttered, If this fellow can fight all the way to the foot of this mountain, then hes worthy of fighting meck Ape!
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Chapter 39: Bloody Battle of the Prisoners
Chapter 39: Bloody Battle of the Prisoners
Cellblock 7:
Densely popted with prisoners, the rocky terrain in this cellblock was that of dangerously steep mountains, overgrown with weeds.
At the entrance, a young man holding a crowbar was under siege from a group of prisoners. It was a tumultuous scene, indeed.
Finish off this fellow! Do not let him live to see another day in cellblock 7!
If we do not get rid of this menace today, our cellblock will be the joke of the other cellblocks!
Damn, hes too fierce! We cant stop him!
Ah, my hand is br Broken!
The prisoners broke out in an uproar and incessant screams, some in outrage and some in fear, but regardless of their emotions, they could not stop the young man.
Faint Profound Energy emanated from the young man like armor as thin as a cicadas wings, forming a natural defense and blocking the damage from the onught.
Warriors could cover their bodies with Profound Energy, but this young man wore his Profound Energy like a cicada shen indication that he was close to achieving Profound Armor, an ability unique to Consummate Grade Warriors.
This young man did not look a day older than sixteen yet possessed such terrifying power.
In fact, he was only a Medial Grade Warrior.
Like a ferocious tiger, the young man grew fiercer with each strike, streaks of lights bursting from his crowbar as he fought. No one could get within three meters of him, as he was moving with a rampant momentum, sweeping in all directions.
Come on, in the eyes of this viscount, you are nothing more than little farm animals! The blood in Yang Wus body rushed like a raging river, and his battle hunger surged within him. He threw himself into battle, enjoying the feeling of liberation.
You little ugly things, how dare you show such insolence before this viscount? Lie down in defeat!
Hurry up! Call that ck Ape of yours toe and surrender to me, and I may spare his life. If not, your fate will be his fate!
Blood sttered everywhere. Profound Energy swept through the air, creating an extremely domineering aura.
In Yang Wus current tempestuous state, he was truly mightylike a war god.
Now, the thousands of pores of his peach-pit dantian emitted a constant multi-colored glow, and its Profound Energy seemed inexhaustible. While supplying him with energy, it also repaired the injuries he had sustained in battle. The pain from this process only fanned the young mans fighting spirit and bloodthirst.
Aside from the mystery of the peach pit, Yang Wus energy was also supported by the Supreme Nine Profound Art and Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance. With every step he took, water-attributed Profound Energy gushed from underground into the acupoints of his soles and was instantly absorbed by his dantian. This was the source of his endless supply of energy.
Also, the onrush of energy instantly opened several more acupoints in his body. From the initial fifty-one acupoints already opened, he immediately reached fifty-five. The new acupoints were mainly on his arms, which greatly increased his arm strength, and the force that erupted became much more terrifying.
At the same time, this battle honed his proficiency in the Rainstorm Spear Art. He reached the Aplished stage for all the moves in one fell swoop and was one step closer to achieving Perfection.
Nobat technique could reach Aplished or Proficient just by practicing. Only in actualbat could the improvement ofbat techniques be expedited.
Trash, get out of the way! Ill ruin him! A resonant voice boomed in the distance.
At the sound of this voice, the horde of prisoners scurried off to hide. A man of average height and extremely rotund figure rolled over like a ball. With powerful Profound Energy, he hurled the sledgehammer in his hand at Yang Wu.
No prisoner was allowed to arm themself in the prison, but there was an exception to everything. If the guards approved the weapons, then there would be no problem.
This fat mans sledgehammer was a sharp weaponmonly used for mining. Plus, he had earned enough brownie points with the jailers, so he could carry it with him.
The fat man had the strength of a Medial Grade Warrior and was one of ck Apes eight great guardians. Known as Fatty Dong, he was mighty and domineering.
The Mountain Splitting Hammer Technique had a total of eighteen moves, each move more powerful than the one before. Fatty Dong originally had only two cauldrons of strength, but the Mountain Splitting Hammer Technique could increase his force to two and a half cauldrons. If cultivated to Perfection, it could even raise his strength by one cauldron. This was the importance ofbat techniques.
The difference of half a cauldron of strength should not be underestimated. One cauldron of strength was equal to a hundred stones of strength, so half a cauldron of strength was equal to fifty stones of strength. This was enough to crush opponents of the same realm.
Fatty Dongs hammer strikes moved straightforwardly but could defeat all techniques with brute force. Any fancy tactics would be dust under the power of this hammer.
Fatty Dong knew that the young man in front of him was extraordinarily powerful and that not utilizing his full strength in battle would be seeking death.
Yang Wu could have avoided the sudden attack of the sledgehammer by observing its trajectory clearly, but he didnt. Instead, he raised his palm to greet it.
Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike!
After the acupoints in Yang Wus palms opened, the force of the palm strike grew significantly stronger. Light-blue Profound Energy gushed from the Yongquan acupoint to his palm via a minor meridian. His palm met the sledgehammer, and undting spirals of energy flew toward the sledgehammer.
Hehe! I will cripple that hand! Fatty Dong said cockily as if sure that Yang Wus hand would be broken.
His hammer weighed 250 kilograms, and the force he had burst out with was enough to crack mountains and rocks.
This was the power of a Medial Grade Warrior, an existence considered elite on the battlefield.
Boom!
A powerful explosion sounded as the sledgehammer and the palm met. The palm did not break; instead, the hammer rebounded after the hit.
The web between Fatty Dongs thumb and forefinger split open. He wanted to retreat quickly, but it was toote. As if riding the wind and waves, Yang Wu was already closing on him. The young man imprinted his palm on Fatty Dongs chest, which was fuller than a womans.
Thump!
Fatty Dong tasted something metallic in his mouth and vomited blood. His round body hit the rocks like a broken kite crashing, raising arge dust cloud.
The prisoners were all scattered. Only Yang Wu stood head and shoulders above the others in the center, high in spirits.
Some blood had sttered his face, with more on his body. However, most of this blood belonged to others. He emitted a terrifying bloodthirst from head to toe, and no one dared to underestimate the power contained in his seemingly ordinary frame.
Yang Wu nced at the prisoners around him. Some were standing, some lying down; there were around two hundred people altogether. With an utterly fearless expression, he said indifferently, You rabble cane seek your deaths. See if you can rely on numbers to take me on!
Yang Wu was very strong and very wild. These words rippled through the rocks, making the eardrums of many prisoners ache.
Looking at the dozens of people lying on the ground, as well as the disarmed Fatty Dong, they no longer dared to underestimate Yang Wu. They needed someone stronger to put Yang Wu in his ce.
Fatty Dong walked over calmly and picked up his sledgehammer. He looked at Yang Wu and said with a smile, Little Brother, I have to admit that you are strong, even stronger than me, but you are alone, and there are so many of us. It is not difficult for us to fight you, but well let you off the hook since our boss has always cherished talents. As long as you are willing to submit to the ck Ape Gang, I believe our boss can make you one of the guardians. You can walk around cellblock 7 with your head held high, and you wont need to mine the rocks. You can eat and sleep well every day and umte your share of Scarlet Steel Rock. In the future, when the boss leaves this mountain prison to join the army, you can go with him and get rid of your status as a prisoner. What do you think?
Fatty Dongs best quality wasnt his fighting skills but his eloquence. He was the brains of the ck Ape Gang.
Yang Wu smiled brightly and said, That sounds like a good n.
Indeed. If the boss wanted to leave alone, he would have joined the army long ago. He ns to bring a few of us guardians with him, so he needs to umte more Scarlet Steel Rock. Thats why he has been stuck here. As you can see, he is a loyal man. If you seek refuge with him, it will be much better than ving in the mines all day, Fatty Dong said again.
Yang Wu pinched the bridge of his nose in thought and replied, Theres just one thing I dont understand. Why should I seek refuge with him instead of you seeking refuge with me? This viscount is young and promising, and handsome to boot. Compared to your ck Ape boss, I am much more appealing, arent I?
Yang Wus words angered the crowd.
Do you really think you can take over cellblock 7 with your current abilities? Fatty Dong asked with a glum look.
Maybe, maybe not! Yang Wu responded.
Despite his response, he was actually already using the Supreme Nine Profound Art and Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance to absorb water-attributed Profound Energy from underground, replenishing and strengthening himself. It felt as if he could break through multiple acupoints at any time. That feeling of steadily increasing his strength was indeed wonderful.
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Fatty Dong, stop talking nonsense with him! Let me dig out his heart and see how it tastes! Before Fatty Dong could answer, a feminine voice came from behind him.
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Chapter 40: Breaking All Techniques with Brute Force
Chapter 40: Breaking All Techniques with Brute Force
The approaching man was tall andnky, his long, unkempt hair covering most of his face. His angr, reptilian eyes had a wicked gleam that deterred people from looking him in the eyes. Holding a crowbar that was twice as long as the usual, he sauntered over.
This man was one of the eight guardians under ck Ape, ranked fifth among themViper Zhang Ping. Although he was a Medial Grade Warrior, he was already close to the Superior Grade and definitely much stronger and more ruthless than Fatty Dong.
But what made him so dreaded wasnt his strength but his penchant for raw human hearts. He was notorious for swallowing live human hearts; thus, other than a select few inside block 7, everyone else was afraid of him. After all, he might dig out and consume ones heart if one got careless.
Fatty Dong nced at Zhang Ping before saying to Yang Wu, Young man, the chance onlyes once. If you dont agree, this human heart-loving guy beside me wont hold back.
Zhang Ping flicked his tongue andmented, Fatty Dong, youre trying to prevent me from having a good meal, arent you?
Its a pity for a young man like him to die! Fatty Dong shook his head regretfully.
Yang Wu wasnt interested. Right now, he was raring to continue the battle. He had been refining therge volume of bloody aura suppressed inside him. Furthermore, the earthly spirit spring infused into his skin was also being refined. The only way for him to direct these precious energies to his dantian was through fighting, which would elerate his growth in power.
Stop your nonsense. Juste for my heart! Who knows, this viscount might get your heart first. Yang Wu crooked his index finger provocatively.
Hehe! How bold! Ill send you to your death! Zhang Ping cackled sinisterly and dashed toward him in short, stato steps, apanied by a hiss as he crossed the ground. His movement was slick and ethereal, much like a snake, as he drew closer to Yang Wu.
It was a Medial Grade Warrior ArtCoiled Snake Footwork!
This move was Zhang Pings trademark. The chains on his legs did little to slow him; he was right in front of Yang Wu in a blink of an eye and stabbing the long crowbar in his hand toward thetter.
The nickname of Viper suited the opponent, indeed. This thrust was unusually sharp and tricky, his crowbar going straight for Yang Wus throat like a striking snake.
This attack came fast and furious; even a Superior Grade Warrior might not be able to avoid it with apse of attention.
Yang Wus perceptions were iparably sharp, so he could clearly see the trajectory of the shing crowbaring at him. Even though he made his moveter, he knocked the crowbar off its original course. Just when he thought he was out of danger, the other hand of his enemy appeared out of nowhere, reaching for his heart.
Both actions were impably timed and executed, hardly leaving space for defense.
Yang Wu couldnt avoid on time, and his opponent managed to catch him on the desired spot. Luckily, he managed to bring out his Profound Energy and form a film of protection in time to defend against the attack. Otherwise, his heart would have been dug out by Zhang Ping.
Despite that, his enemys fingers still scratched his chest. Had he retreated any slower, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
When Zhang Ping realized that he had failed to dig out the young mans heart, his pupils contracted for a second. Then, he slithered forward once more tounch another attack. This time, he aimed for Yang Wus crotch, a despicable move.
However, Yang Wu anticipated the second wave of attack and retreated speedily. Just then, Zhang Pings crowbar went hurtling for the formers head at an ideal angle. The series of real and seemingly fake moves was timely and precisely executed.
Yang Wu couldnt adapt to the opponents attacks and had to back down several times. He sustained many hits, apparently at a disadvantage.
The many onlooking prisoners cheered in response, boosting Zhang Pings morale.
Guardian Zhang is indeed formidable. Quick, get his heart and eat it!
This kid doesnt know how to cherish his life at such a young age. To think he rejected Guardian Dong who had given him face! What insolence!
Guardian Zhangs skills are on par with the higher-ranked guardians. This guy has done well to hold up for ten moves.
Take him down! Let him see just how powerful the ck Ape gang is!
Meanwhile, watching on the side, the eagle-eyed Fatty Dong felt that Zhang Ping was running out of tricks for some reason.
Hisnky counterpart only knew these few moves at most. If not for the inherent advantage of Coiled Snake Footwork, how could he have the upper hand in a fight? If he could not defeat Yang Wu shortly, he would eventually lose his edge over Yang Wu when Yang Wu figured out the patterns.
True enough, although the young man maintained a defensive posture, he was studying his opponents moves and had a pretty good grasp of the others tactics by now.
Besides, while on the defensive, he had been taking the opportunity to replenish the energy he had lost. In fact, he was bing more enthusiastic as the fight continued. It seemed like several more acupoints could open soon. This was probably due to the Nascent Profound Essence he recently refined.
The Nascent Profound Essence had not only raised the grade of the Supreme Nine Profound Art but also tempered his constitution again. Even a King might not possess as much life force as Yang Wu did now. Only such an intense battle could squeeze out the remnant energy of the Profound Essence, little by little.
The Supreme Nine Profound Art was circting faster and faster inside his body, with the meridians and acupoints humming unceasingly. All his pores were eagerly taking in Profound Energy like they were breathing. The water-attributed Profound Energy at the soles of his feet was the densest. The peach-pit dantian was absorbing the Profound Energy nonstop, and soon, the clouds of energy thinned as they were transformed into Nascent Profound Essence.
Kill! Zhang Ping could not keep up with the pace anymore. Growing impatient, he howled to boost his morale. He threw the crowbar and thrust his ws forward like a snakes fangs.
Arrowing Snake Strike!
This was Zhang Pings trump card; he was ready to tear Yang Wu apart.
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However, Yang Wu had recovered to peak condition. In fact, an excessive surge of energy had him yelling, Fight!
The young mans aura peaked, Profound Energy manifesting rapidly on his body. He stomped his foot hard and instantly cracked the ground and split mountains; dust flew everywhere. After he vented the flourishing energy within him, the many holes in the peach-pit dantian opened up. Powerful energy instantly broke open seventeen acupoints, bringing him to a total of seventy-two open acupoints.
Although this number was far less than the required 108 unblocked acupoints for a Superior Grade Warrior, this was still a considerable feat.
His ferocious cry was like that of a raging bull. The might he showed when crushing the ground was domineering, overwhelming Zhang Pings murderous intent and inspiring timidity in Zhang Ping. Even so, Zhang Ping still followed up with his w attacks after throwing the crowbar.
This time, Yang Wu did not dodge the flying crowbar but whacked it aside. Profound Energy emerged from the hollow of his palm, and the crowbar went spinning far away. Even then, the force of this palm strike was undiminished as it greeted Zhang Pings outstretched arms.
Yang Wu broke all techniques with brute force.
The young man no longer avoided his opponentsbination of feints and attacks. He intended to deal simultaneously with both moves with one move. Be it a follow-through attack or a trump move, he would settle them all with a single palm!
Zhang Ping did not expect Yang Wus aura to suddenly grow so strong. The force from the palm was already enough to give the former a premonition of death. He couldnt duck the attack and had to concentrate all his strength on his arms to resist the deadly palm strike and rip out this palm.
Bang! Bang!
Yang Wu unleashed a series of palm strikes, repeatedly hammering his enemys ws until they broke. Screams of agony resounded as thetters ten fingers spurted blood.
The spectating prisoners gave a start as a chill shot up from their feet to their heads.
Zhang Ping was the fifth guardian, a peak Medial Grade Warrior, just one step away from Superior Grade. Nevertheless, the young man had crippled his ten fingers with a single palm. His ws were as good as gone forever.
Yang Wu did not pursue his opponent. He swept his razor-sharp re over the crowd, prompting all the felons to step back involuntarily, frightened by his intense, intimidating air.
Then, he nced at a nearby mountain peak, where an indomitable, rugged man was standing and watching him. That was ck Ape himself, the leader of the ck Ape Gang. He gave thetter a clear thumbs-up. When the man on the summit saw that, a faint smile appeared on his face. Is he paying me a tribute?
Just as he thought this, Yang Wus big thumb flipped down; without a doubt, the young man was taunting him. The expression on his face froze.
The look on the prisoners faces changed once again. This time, they also showed a deep sense of respect, aside from fear.
Since ck Ape joined the block, he had fought his way to the top. The burly man was tough with his two fists, and even the leaders from the superior blocks imed that fighting head-on with the gori was a lose-lose proposition. None had total confidence in taking him down in one shot; hence, he reigned as one of the big shots in the mountain prison.
In block 7, ck Ape was undoubtedly the head. Everyone bowed to him; even the barbarians were beaten into submission. Now, this young man who looked no more than sixteen had taunted their leader openly. It was hard not to admire him for his courage.
Haha! The younger generation will surpass us in time! If you can make your way to the foot of this mountain, then Ithe leader in this cewill fight you. If you win, then youll be my boss. If you cant make it here, thenthen you can go to hell! ck Ape roared and guffawed at Yang Wu.
Just as hisughter died down, a few prisoners with powerful auras walked over, leading hundreds of men. The disquieting scene was one to be reckoned with, indeed.
When Yang Wu saw the approaching crowd, he felt a chill.
Does this guy want to drown me in bodies? What a shameless tactic! The young man had an urge to run away but finally chose the most stupid way to meet this challenge.
What a rash person! ck Ape said to himself with a faint, disdainful smile, crossing his arms over his chest.
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Chapter 41: Palm Technique Reaching the Established Stage
Chapter 41: Palm Technique Reaching the Established Stage
Fight! Yang Wu yelled in proud defiance, all geared up for a brawl. It seemed that hisbative nature had been thoroughly provoked. He intended to fight to his hearts content.
Currently, the Supreme Nine Profound Art was circting at its maximum. His pores were opening and closing in unison, absorbing the wisps of natural Profound Energy the instant they appeared. The Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance also allowed him to absorb water-attributed Profound Energy through his soles whenever his feet touched the ground. At the same time, the water-attributed Profound Energy seemed to stick to the bottom of his feet; he felt like he was floating on water, able to move nimbly. His physique had never been better, recovering from injuries with astonishing speed. One could even say that he had an immortal body. This was especially so after he absorbed the Nascent Profound Essence, which allowed ordinary wounds to heal in a blink of an eye. Nothing could cause him much harm anymore.
It was amazing that the young man still dared to confront his attackers when they had him cornered. In the eyes of others, he had gone crazy. However, to a true-blue cultivator who pursued the strengthening of their martial path, this was the real test. Carving out a path of blood was how a fighter could exceed his limits and wield greater power.
ughter him! Does he think he can really challenge us, the ck Ape Gang? Fatty Dongmanded the rest of his men.
The guardian had wanted to recruit Yang Wu for his leader but was tly rejected. Furthermore, the young man had also crippled Zhang Pings ten fingers, so no further negotiation was possible. The only thing the fat man could do was finish off the opponent.
Kill him! You all must finish him off! Zhang Ping shouted with frenzied eyes as he cradled his hands.
However, before the prisoners had a chance to surround himpletely, Yang Wu had already seized the initiative.
Before he was brought to block 7, his ankles were chained. Hence, his movement was heavily restricted, much like the rest. However, with the help of Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, he could still move unusually fast.
To him, taking a step on the ground was like riding a wave. Drifting around continuously, he swung his crowbar, shooting out a three-meter-odd clump of light-blue Profound Energy that transformed into a dark cloud to envelop the onrushing prisoners.
When an Inferior Grade Warrior inmate saw this massive cloud of Profound Energy, he took fright, but knowing he couldnt escape it, he met the attack with his crowbar. The two crowbars shed, and sparks flew. The crowbar in the prisoners hand instantly dropped, but the Profound Energy continued unimpeded. His chest caved in, blood sttering all around.
Several men behind him got knocked over, and chaos ensued.
Yang Wu did not linger after that victorious move. Instead, he took the chance to break through the crowd in that direction, stepping on the many fallen prisoners on the ground in the process. As he ran, he continued swinging the crowbar in his hand, left and right, hitting more prisoners. They fell as well. Blood sttered the ground everywhere.
Very few could exchange more than one blow with him. Still, they had him outnumbered, and none were afraid of death. Not giving him a chance to breathe, they relentlessly hurled the crowbars in their hands at him.
Although Yang Wus cicada-shell-like defense had strengthened by leaps and bounds, it was not enough to prevent severe injury. Luckily, he had an extraordinary body; with the peach-pit dantian, he could recover almost instantly.
Just when he threw an ambusher to the ground, a few others assaulted him from the sides, targeting his head. When he raised his crowbar to fend against their attacks, exposing his back, another three or four of them brandishing crowbars swarmed him from behind.
The incessant assault of his enemies almost knocked Yang Wu down, even though he possessed outstanding reactions.
There are too many of them. Ive got to think of another strategy! The young man decided to change tactics. Instead of getting entangled in battle, he would try to break through the siege with the help of his nimble footwork.
The battle energized some inmates, and one even shouted, Beat him to death! He cant hold out much longer.
He has hurt so many of our brothers! We mustnt let him escape alive!
Standing on the summit, ck Ape stared down at the battle and mocked softly to himself, What a brainless kid! Does he really think that he can fight his way here with his little talent? How naive!
He stopped watching after saying that. Yang Wu was as good as dead in his eyes.
But at this time, the young man threw away his crowbar.
This was akin to abandoning his weapon. Did this mean that he was about to surrender?
Honestly, how could Yang Wu admit defeat? The more injuries he suffered, the more his blood boiled with fighting spirit. Perverse belligerence swept through him. He went berserk, wanting to fight and kill to his hearts content.
Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike!
The acupoints on both palms acted like elerators as he shot two huge sts of Profound Energy. The osciting energy swept out like a wave, knocking down seven to eight enemies in one shot.
At the same time, the image of the hunchbacked turtle-man shing against tumultuous ocean waves came to mind again. He seemed to ovep with the old man,prehending the mysteries of the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike.
The Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike was originally a technique rted to water-attributed Profound Energy. Waves were formed by water ripples, and only waves under impact could form earth-shatteringly rapid water spirals. Its principle was simr to the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Arts, except that thetter was more profound, whereas the palm technique was easy to grasp.
Yang Wu sent out wave after wave of the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike. The light-blue Profound Essence it contained intensified. As such, his attacks were more lethal than ever. All the prisoners were badly bashed up, maimed and beaten bloody. Some even copsed and died on the spot, while the rest sustained severe injuries. None could withstand his brutal attacks.
As he pressed on, his palm strikes strengthened. Suddenly, spirals appeared in his palm strikes, thus raising their destructive force to an even higher level.
The palm technique reached the Established stage.
Yang Wu finally achieved the Established stage of the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike. Atst, he fully grasped the form of this General ssbat technique.
This development scared off many prisoners. Although their numbers seemed to be a few hundred, the ones who could fight the young man were only those at the forefront of the battle. These prisoners were more skillful than those behind, but most of them nowy sprawled on the ground, apparently lifeless. The grisly scene was enough to stop the rest in their tracks.
Haha! Why dont you alle and get me? Arent you ready to kill me?! What are you waiting for?! Yang Wu burst into a loud guffaw after saying that.
He wiped away the blood dripping from his forehead and took another step forward. The enemies standing before him backed down unconsciously, a shocking reaction.
All of you are a bunch of trash! Let me tear him apart! An astonishingly loud roar rang out, and a towering giant dashed headlong at the young man.
ncing at the man, Yang Wu wondered aloud with a cocked brow, Is that a barbarian?
Indeed, the brusque man, Shi Gan, was a barbarian captive and one of the eight guardians appointed by ck Ape. He was a Medial Grade Warrior and iparably strongcapable of beating down a Superior Grade Warrior.
Shi Gan was a head taller than the other prisoners, with a thick waist and muscr limbs. His headlong dash was a harrowing sight to behold, as he shook the ground with his every step and left deep footprints in his wake.
Yang Wu stared at this giant running toward him. Thetter did not execute any terrifyingbat techniques as he drew closer to the former; he ran straight at the young man as though to greet him with a bear hug after a long separation.
It would be fine if it were just a simple hug, but there was more to it. A thinyer of Profound Energy on Shi Gans body contained a trace of the Barbarian Energy unique to his race. He could even burst a mountain rock with his embrace.
You came at the right time! Yang Wu let out a yelp of excitement. Standing with his back hunched slightly like a turtle riding a wave, he let the energy circte through his entire body. Before Shi Gan could approach him, he struck out with his palms, thrusting them at Shi Gan like two dragons bursting out of the sea.
Bang! Bang!
Two powerful blowsnded on the giant. An ordinary man would have exploded, but he seemed utterly unaffected as he continued toward Yang Wu and caught hold of him. The young man crumpled under the savage, suffocating pressure. His bones creaked as if about to break.
Youre seeking death! This was not how the giant wanted to kill him; he wanted to turn the young man upside down and smash his head into the ground.
To his surprise, he couldnt flip Yang Wu. Thetter seemed to be nailed to the ground; he couldnt lift him, no matter how much he tried. At this point, Yang Wu retaliated!
Blood and energy raced inside the young mans body. The numerous pores on the peach-pit dantian all opened simultaneously, allowing the energy circting through his meridians and acupoints to skyrocket. He pried open Shi Gans arms mped around him. Then, he repeatedlynded palm strikes on Shi Gans chest.
Each palm strike was like a thunderp or a raging sea wave, powerful enough to split boulders.
Shi Gans physique was indeed amazing. He could stand up to any beating; no ordinary Superior Grade Warrior could harm him with their bare fists. But what Yang Wu did with his palms was beyond a Consummate Grade Warrior. His attacking force spiraled and prated the mans flesh to impact his heart and shatter it.
The gigantic body copsed to the ground,nding heavily on top of several inmates who failed to escape in time. The other prisoners looked aghast.
Shi Gandead!
The ce fell silent.
Shi Gan was a more formidable guardianpared to Zhang Ping. This kind of sudden death was too much of a shock.
A faint smile shed across Yang Wus face. He continued his mad dash toward the mountain where ck Ape resided, roaring, Those in my way will die!
He overcame the obstacles with nimble footwork, much like a turtle swimming in the ocean with total ease. Heunched violent palm strikes, carving out a path of blood to the mountain.
Many of the prisoners no longer posed a threat to him. Although they werent afraid of death, they did not want to end up like Shi Gan. They didnt have a tough body like the burly guardian and knew their deaths would only be quicker.
What a bunch of useless bums! Do I really need to handle this myself? A middle-ageddy, who looked well-maintained, holding a long whip, blocked Yang Wus path.
She was one of the eight guardians under ck Ape, Xu Jiaohua, ranked third in the hierarchy. With her cleavage half-exposed, thedy still looked seductive and attractive enough to excite the men in prison.
nking her were the top guardian, Iron Head, and the number two, Drunken Ghost.
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We have a new novel released this week! Come check it out and show some support. It''s a chat-group-basededy that touches on western fantasy and Chinese cultivation. Set in a world that is simr to modern Earth. It also references several popr games, animes, and light novels. Come check it out! Here''s the link: /novel/is-it-toote-to-leave-the-chat-group
New novel won''t affect the release rate of this novel. This novel is primarily tranted by trainees and used by me to train new people up. My function in this novel is to train and check to maintain consistency and quality.
Chapter 42: One vs. Three
Chapter 42: One vs. Three
Iron Head was a bald man, and his pate glimmered in the sunlight. As the first-ranked guardian, his cultivation had reached the Superior Grade Warrior Realm, only one step away from the Consummate Grade. He had been the boss of cellblock 7 before ck Ape, a testament to his abilities.
Drunken Ghost, a sloppy, middle-aged man, used to be a dipsomaniac, forgetting life and death in drink. Now that he had no alcohol, he was nothing but a sleepyhead with eyes that never seemed to openpletely. However, he had a sharp and palpable ferocity about him.
Xu Jiaohua, Iron Head, and Drunken Ghost were Yang Wusst obstacles. Only by defeating them would he be eligible to approach ck Ape.
Xu Jiaohua was a sexy middle-aged woman who could attract both young and old. She held a pair of sharpened iron crowbars in one hand, essentially ironnces. Pointing the weapons at Yang Wu, with her thighs half exposed, she gave off a certain charm.
Whoever stands in my way will die! Yang Wu burned with battle hunger, and he could not care less that Xu Jiaohua was a woman. He rushed forward inrge strides, pping her with his palms ruthlessly.
He could already feel themon denominator between the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike and the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art. They were both water-attributed Profound Energybat techniques, only thetter was more profound. With it as reference, the former was much easier and faster to understand.
Yang Wu wanted to take the opportunity to reach Proficiency in these palm techniques in one fell swoop.
Huh, do you really think you can walk all over this great me? After Xu Jiaohua snorted coldly, she put away her long whip, reced it with the pair of shortnces polished from crowbars, and stabbed at Yang Wu.
Twin Flowers Emerging from Water!
Xu Jiaohuas attack was extremely precise. Sparks flew from the tips of her doublences, exploding as if they were after Yang Wus eyes.
Right when Xu Jiaohua made her move, Iron Head and Drunken Ghost sprang into action.
This kid was able to kill off so many pieces of trash, meaning he is no weaker than us. We mustnt take him lightly. Lets work together to bring him down! Iron Head shouted sinisterly.
Iron Heads most powerful move was the Iron Head Technique, but he did not use it; instead, he mmed Yang Wu on the back with a fist technique.
Drunken Ghost approached Yang Wu with staggering steps. Concealed in his sleeve was a weapon, which he shot toward the young mans vital organs.
The three attackers arrived together, but each had its own distinct Profound Energy.
All three were Superior Grade Warriors and could project their Profound Energy several meters. They all possessed Warrior Gradebat techniques, so their capabilities were far superior to the other prisoners.
Yang Wu managed to deflect the attacks from Xu Jiaohuas ironnces and Iron Heads fists but not Drunken Ghosts hidden weapon. He got stabbed in the lower abdomen, and ck liquid oozed out.
Haha, son of a bitch, you are dead! Drunken Ghostughed wildly.
Xu Jiaohua and Iron Head stopped attacking, looking delighted by Yang Wus misfortune. They knew that Drunken Ghosts hidden weapon was the most poisonous of them all. In fact, they had attacked simultaneously to create an opportunity for Drunken Ghost to strike. Indeed, the young man before them fell into their trap.
Yang Wu felt his lower abdomen go numb, his movements stiffening. Touching his wound, he pulled out a poison cone, only to find that his blood had turned ck. The situation was not in his favor. However, he did not panic because his flowing energy had stopped the numbing toxin from prating further into his body.
Once his energy had circted through his body in a single cycle, the numbnesspletely disappeared. Even his wounds were healing. He was recovering at a speed that surprised even himself.
It seems that I have achieved not only an immortal body but also a body that is immune to all poisons! Yang Wu secretly rejoiced in his heart.
He didnt know how mystical the peach pit in his body was. It was the peach pit that changed his physique.
Yang Wu did not continue fighting. Instead, he pretended to be in pain, stammering, Its Its poison!
Drunken Ghost came over and proimed triumphantly, Your realization came toote. Just wait. I will smash your skull into pieces and feed your corpse to the brothers. Let this be your punishment for hurting so many pieces of trash today!
At this moment, Yang Wu moved.
His palms were like dragons, mming into Drunken Ghosts lower abdomen with a tremendous force that sent him flying seven or eight meters away and finally crashing on the rocks.
Blood spurted out Drunken Ghosts mouth, and his eyes rolled up. In the end, he breathed hisst, unreconciled with the situation.
Even at his death, he could not understand why his numbing hemotoxin had not worked this time.
Xu Jiaohua and Iron Head were dumbfounded, neither having expected the tables to turn this way.
Yang Wu stood up, patted the dust off his body, and said, If you have any more shitty moves, just use them. This viscount will receive them dly.
At this moment, the sunlight hit the right angle, presenting a slender and straight figure.
Iron Head, dont hold back any longer; otherwise, ck Ape will be unhappy with us! Xu Jiaohua said to Iron Head.
Lets give it all weve got. He must be running out of strength; he wontst much longer! Iron Head responded and finally used his Iron Head Technique.
His bald head flickered, and his aura gathered into a glow!
This Iron Head Technique was extremely domineering. Energy rushed out of the top of his head as he hurtled towards Yang Wu to collide with him.
The surprised Yang Wu dodged the attack. Iron Head failed to hit him, but the rocks behind him exploded.
Seeing that he failed to win in one move, Iron Head repeatedly attacked with the three-odd-meter-long projected Profound Energybined with pale-yellow energy, looking like he was continuously bowing to Yang Wu. His attacks seemed unstoppable.
Golden Head Worshipping Buddha!
This was a Superior Grade Warrior ssbat technique, not much weaker than Inferior Grade General ss.
In each ss ofbat techniques, there were only three grades: Inferior, Medial, and Superior, and the higher the grade, the more powerful it was.
At this time, Xu Jiaohua no longer held back, knowing that if she did not stop Yang Wu, ck Ape might even tear her apart alive. He was a man who did not show mercy to women.
Cross Shred!
Xu Jiaohua was a woman, yet she was devious like a scorpion. Otherwise, she would not have been arrested and imprisoned.
She attacked viciously, and the might of hernce strikes did not pale to that of Iron Heads Iron Head Technique.
Yang Wu was no longer armed with a crowbar, but his palms surged with Profound Energy. Wielding his palms, he defended himself against Iron Head and Xu Jiaohua. His realm was lower than theirs, but his Profound Energy was denser. However, he was in no hurry to defeat them, wanting to take advantage of their attacks to cultivate his Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike technique.
Yang Wu moved swiftly, employing gueri tactics, executing the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike again and again. The energy from his palms started to spiral. With one palm to force Iron Head back and the other to scatter the sparks of thence strikes, he felt much more at ease.
Even with thebined efforts of Iron Head and Xu Jiaohua, they couldnt defeat Yang Wu. They became more and more irritated.
The other prisoners watched anxiously, eximing inwardly, Why isnt that kids strength exhausted?
Yang Wu had been fighting for more than two hours. With such intense exertion, even Consummate Grade Warriors would have been exhausted by now. Shockingly, the battle fanned Yang Wus battle hunger as it went on.
Both Iron Head and Xu Jiaohua appeared to be struggling, yet Yang Wu was still calm and rxed. It was clear which party was stronger.
We cant go on like this. Lets use our ultimate moves! Iron Head called out to Xu Jiaohua.
Xu Jiaohua nodded, and a faint Profound Energy hovered above her voluptuous body. Her ironnces glowed with a special light and bombarded Yang Wu with concentratednce images.
Thence images extended for about three meters, swirling with such rapid ferocity that they scattered the dust on the ground and sent rocks flying.
No longer holding back, Iron Head focused all his strength on his head. Arge pir shot out of his head, amazing and majestic like the figure of Buddha.
As the two powerful moves attacked, the two sets of Profound Energy shone with extremely dazzling light.
Warriors were considered elites on the battlefield, and the two people before Yang Wu were Superior Grade Warriors. Theirbined assault would intimidate even a Consummate Grade Warrior.
All the prisoners watched the scene closely, wanting to see if the young man before them could withstand thebined attacks of the two Superior Grade Warriors.
Yang Wu realized his opponents were giving it all they had, so he no longer held back. He mobilized the energy of his peach-pit dantian, and Nascent Profound Essence erupted from its thousands of pores. Stronger Profound Energy umted on his palms, and an epiphany about his palm technique struck him. His palm strikes were like waves sshing; Profound Energy shot forth from both his palms, extending five meters to collide with thence images and the Buddha figure.
Yang Wus palm technique reached Proficiency.
Bang! Bang!
Yang Wu was much stronger than Xu Jiaohua and Iron Head. Now that his palm technique had reached Proficiency, the force of his palm attacks was stronger, shattering both of his opponents. His palmnded on Xi Jiaohuas chest, ripping her garments and revealing her fair and soft flesh. Unfortunately, it was soon stained red with blood. His other palm struck Iron Heads head, denting his skull by a few centimeters and nearly exploding it.
Just as Yang Wu emerged victorious, a cudgel image suddenly fell from the sky with exquisite timing. The young mans Profound Energy was depleted and had yet to recover. By the time he sensed it, he could only thrust his arms upward to greet the attack.
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rgh!
This cudgel strike was mighty,parable to a mountain pressing down. Yang Wu spewed a mouthful of blood, and his legs sank into the ground.
The opponent did not stop there. One blow after another smashed Yang Wu like a tide, wave after wave, threatening to kill him.
Yang Wu did not have his crowbar in hand, so he could only block the attacks with his arms, focusing his remaining strength there to protect his head.
The opponents attacks were so powerful that they almost broke the young mans arms. He was in incredible pain.
When two-thirds of his body was in the ground, the opponent stopped attacking.
Heh, a little brat like you dares to cause trouble before me, ck Ape. Youre truly reckless! An extremely cocky voice rang by Yang Wus ears.
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Checked by: DragonInWhite
Chapter 43: Sooty Protects Yang Wu
Chapter 43: Sooty Protects Yang Wu
Who could have expected this young manwho had fought hundreds of prisoners and defeated ck Apes guardiansto be trounced by a dirty trick? After he was ambushed and hammered smack into the ground, his arms were broken and beaten to a pulp, obviously abolished.
It would not have been such a big issue if his arms had just suffered a simple dislocation. However, his bones were knocked out of shape, broken or cracked, at the very least. His upper limbs were rendered useless and would need the help of spiritual herbs to restore them.
And this was precisely why ck Ape, the very ambusher, finally relented in his attack without worries. To him, Yang Wu was as good as a fish on the chopping board, helpless and awaiting ughter.
Enduring the excruciating pain, Yang Wu stared at the burly, towering ck Ape and scolded indignantly, How can the leader of the ck Ape Gangy an ambush like this? What a disgrace!
ck Ape was iparably strong. The scar-riddled muscles on his bare chest would prompt one to exim, What a tough guy!
The gang leader had been a Robin Hood who had broken into countless homes andmitted all sorts of crimes. His hands were stained with the blood of a hundred people, or at least eighty, absolutely a ruthless person.
Looking down condescendingly at the young man, he said, Scum, youve got to realize where you are right now. This is a prison, for goodness sake! Everyone here is shamelessly evil, and now, you dare to tell me off for ying dirty? Are you expecting to beuded despite doing dirty deeds? How silly!
Boss, theres no need to waste time on nonsense with him. Twist his head off and let us use it as a urinal! Iron Head yelled while clutching his bloodstained head.
We mustnt let him die so easily! Well break open his skull, pour poison in, and subject him to natures elements so that he suffers a fate worse than death! Xu Jiaohua cursed viciously.
The surrounding prisoners approached boldly this time, following suit with rowdy jeering.
ck Ape crossed his arms over his chest andughed heartily, I can see that all of you here have been nursing grievances. Alright, then. Lets make him drink your piss first, then think of further punishments.
Punishments like this weremon affairs in this ce; there were no kind souls in the prison.
Of course, Yang Wu would not allow himself to be humiliated. He had been working on healing his arms injuries; he had to free himself from this situation.
His peach-pit dantian was different; its capacity for Profound Energy was dozens of timesrger than that of Warriors of the same grade. Moreover, it contained a special type of energyNascent Profound Essence. However, the prolonged battle had depleted his strength. Although he was restoring his energy at the quickest possible speed, returning to his peak state would take time. He was in dire straits, indeed.
Boss, youre right. Let me piss on him first; my piss will satisfy him for sure! one inmate said with a wretched smile.
Another chipped in, No, let me go first. I can piss longer than you, you impotent fellow!
Every prisoner rushed to humiliate Yang Wu, wanting to be the first, which utterly infuriated the young man. He had never suffered from such treatment before, not even in prison. Whoever dares to piss on this viscount will be castrated if I survive! he yelled.
At the moment, he was furiously absorbing Profound Energy through the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance. He needed a considerable amount to replenish his depleted energy and recover the use of both arms to free himself from the soil.
As ck Ape watched Yang Wu struggle, he ordered merrily, Come and piss on his face now!
An inmate had already pulled down his pants, ready to use his mediocre-looking appendage on the young man. Just as he was about to strut his stuff on thetter, a small, ck shadow shot out and bit down on the inmates crotch.
Argh!
The prisoner could not react in time to prevent his appendage from being bitten off, which prompted him to cry out in pain. Its gonegone. Then, he passed out, clutching the spot spurting blood.
The rest of the prisoners who had their pants down drew back in fear. Perhaps some would really be impotenta terrifying thought.
What is that? ck Ape asked with a frown.
All they saw was a little ck dog before Yang Wu, which hade out of nowhere. It spat the bitten body part far, far away and stuck out its tongue with aical expression of utter disgust.
Sooty! Yang Wu eximed with a start at the dogs sudden appearance.
Never in his wildest dreams would he have expected to see Sooty. He was extremely touched.
The ck puppy turned its head to nce at the young man and then responded with two barks as it wagged its short tail. Woof! Woof!
The skinny puppy suddenly appeared magnificent in Yang Wus eyes.
Come on, its just a puppy. Catch it for our barbecueter! ck Ape ordered.
A prisoner rushed over to catch the ck dog, but the animal was too nimble for him. It jumped aside, instantly pounced on the attacker, and chomped down on the inmates arm. The man drew in a sharp breath and tried to fling it off; however, it refused to let go, no matter how hard he tried.
Get lost! The furious prisoner swung a fist at the ck puppy.
The dog reacted fast, releasing the arm just in time to avoid getting hit. As it lunged away from the man, it left a few w marks on his countenance. He screamed in pain, clutching his bloodstained face.
Useless trash! ck Ape reprimanded with furrowed brows.
When the rest of the inmates saw their leader losing his temper, they swarmed over to catch the dog.
Sooty was extremely agile and nimble, dashing back and forth to avoid capture. Not only did it manage to stay safe, but it even reaped some small results, biting a few of the enemies or scratching them to their detriment, agitating them.
The ck puppy was buying time for Yang Wu; he naturally tried his best to restore his energy and recover from his injuries.
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Bybining the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, he could gather the underground water-attributed Profound Energy at the fastest possible speed.
His body was already two-thirds deep into the soil, so he was in intimate contact with the groundwater. He wasted no time in drawing energy from this abundant source of water-attributed Profound Energy through his open pores and the soles of his feet.
The peach-pit dantian absorbed the energy and quickly replenished his depleted energy. His dantian could purify the finest Profound Energy and refine it into Nascent Profound Essence with the aid of the Supreme Nine Profound Art. This Nascent Profound Essence had a persistent healing effect, which nursed his wounded arms. His marrow, flesh, and skin were recovering; the acupoints in his arms even seemed to be opening.
Sooty, wait for me! Yang Wu screamed.
The gang leader could not bear to keep watching and shouted at his followers, How is it that you cant even catch a puppy? All of you are really the most useless among the useless! ncing at Yang Wu with a cocked brow, he strode over to the trapped man, saying, This dog has something to do with you, right? Lets see if itll still make a scene after I twist your head off!
He extended his hand toward Yang Wu to break thetters neck.
Dang! I need just a little longer! the young man cursed inwardly with much frustration.
His arms had already recovered by seventy percent. With a little more time, he could fully recover, break out of the ground, and finish off the gang leader. Unfortunately, his current predicament wouldnt allow him to heal fully before fighting again.
As he struggled to free himself, Sooty zigzagged between the legs of the many inmates to aim for ck Apes attacking hand from behind.
Boss, watch your back! the others shouted to their leader in warning.
ck Ape did not need their reminder, though. He had anticipated the attack and turned around the next moment to give the charging dog a ruthless p.
Sooty was already in midair, unable to dodge; the palm struck the dog squarely. The ck puppy flew a great distance, yelping, Yip! Yip!
The animals scream pierced Yang Wus heart. Heartbroken and distressed, his eyes turning crimson with rage, he roared, Damn you, ck Ape!
In that very instant, he drove the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance at full tilt. Water-attributed Profound Energy cascaded into him while the openings on the peach-pit dantian puffed out mist and clouds nonstop. His meridians and acupoints rang out as Nascent Profound Essence flooded his body, especially his arms, opening many acupoints. His wounds healed immediately, the strength in his arms increasing exponentially. He mmed his arms hard on the ground and thrust his legs downward; then, like a dragon turtle stepping on water, he sprang up with great momentum.
Boom!
The ground exploded, and rocks flew everywhere. Yang Wu leaped into the air like a dragon taking flight, astonishing everyone at the scene.
Who could have thought Yang Wu could still break free of the entrapment? All the inmates backed off like a receding tide. Some even got trampled in themotion. Getting stepped on was painful, but distancing themselves from the jinx was more important.
ck Ape narrowed his eyes in disbelief, obviously not having expected the young man to break free of the ground. Licking his lips, the big man muttered under his breath, So what if you broke out? What can you change?
Yang Wu did not make a mad dash toward ck Ape but ran toward Sooty. None of the inmates dared to stop him; those standing in his path made way for him immediately.
The young man reached the spot where Sooty hadnded to find the pup crawling to its feet groggily. Hugging it in his arms, he asked with utmost concern, Sooty, are you alright?
The dog stuck its tongue out to lick his palm before giving a few soft growls, indicating that it was fine.
Im d youre alright. Stay here. Ill avenge you! Yang Wu reassured the puppy solemnly as he gently stroked its head.
Just as he was about to put the dog down, it jumped up, crawled onto his shoulder deftly, then barked angrily at ck Ape. Woof! Woof!
The dogs practiced movements suggested this wasnt the first time it had jumped on him.
ncing sidelong at the ck puppy, Yang Wu asked with a smile, Sooty, do you want to fight alongside me?
Sooty licked his cheek and barked, Woof! Woof!
He epted its gesture wholeheartedly. Well, as long as you like it, I will bring you to fight side by side with me in the future!
Yang Wu stalked toward ck Ape, exuding an oppressive air. A light-blue cicada shell surrounded him once morea much thicker and more dazzling one than before.
Come and die, ck Ape! Yang Wu roared at his enemy.
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Chapter 44: Beast Transformation
Chapter 44: Beast Transformation
ck Ape was the leader of block 7 and one of the seven bosses of the entire mountain prison. His fighting prowess was exceptional, to say the least; if not, the rest would not have submitted to him.
He practiced an extraordinary General ss technique and had stained his hands with blood. He had reached the Consummate Grade Warrior Realm, with a cudgel as his weapon of choice. In fact, his cudgel was specially approved by the prison guards. It weighed five hundred kilograms, far heavier than what an average foot soldier could manage.
The gang leader evinced no fear in the face of Yang Wus challenge. After all, he had fought and killed his way to his current position since getting thrown into prison, so how could he be afraid of the young mans challenge? He was confident of victory even if thetter looked to be his match.
You can consider joining my gang. Ill let you be the deputy, and everyone hereexcept mewill be at your disposal! ck Ape made a sincere offer to Yang Wu.
The expressions of the rest of the gang, including Xu Jiaohua and Iron Head, changed instantly, but nobody dared to protest. Inside the prison, their leader had the final say.
Yang Wu walked up to him andughed disdainfully, Im not interested even if you made me the boss.
Is there no room for negotiation? ck Ape asked with a frown.
There is! As long as you kneel down in submission, apologize to Sooty, and then bark like a dog, Ill let this matter rest! the young man replied.
Alright! The other man agreed without hesitation.
His words shocked all his followers, prompting Xu Jiaohua to exim, Boss! No, you cant!
ck Ape ignored her protest and made to kneel before his young opponent. Just as his knees were about to touch the ground, his body tilted forward, and a cudgel appeared out of nowhere to sweep across Yang Wus legs.
One had to admit that this gori was extremely unscrupulous.
However, Yang Wu was well prepared this time. He leaped up to dodge the attack, thrusting out both palms with his spiraling energy at the ready, and dashed toward his enemy.
Shrugging off the sneak attacks failure, ck Ape raised his cudgel again, shooting glowing ck beams to block the spiraling energy from Yang Wus palms. At the same time, he swung his cudgel again to send another attack at the young mans waist.
The cudgel released ck serpentine lights, looking violent and fierce.
As Yang Wunded, he bore the brunt of the onught but used the opportunity to m his palm on ck Apes chest. Both parties sustained a hit as a result.
The exchange forced the two back. However, neither was seriously injured.
Yang Wu had an amazing physique. Furthermore, he had the light-blue cicada shell for defense, which also allowed his injuries to recover fast. This was one of the reasons the attack didnt disable him.
On the other hand, ck Ape took pride in his strong body and iron-like bones. He was very confident that nobody in the Warrior Realm could match his body.
Nevertheless, the spiraling energy of Yang Wus palm strike could drill into his body. This meant that the young mansbat could still hurt him to a certain extent.
Well, youve got a trick or two up your sleevesbut not enough to save yourself! The gori was truly aggravated this time. He swung his cudgel again after saying that.
His young opponent responded with equal vigor, There wont be a ck Ape in block 7 after today!
The cudgel shed with the palms again, and their Profound Energies collided. Energy shot out in random directions, piercing thousands of holes in the surrounding rocks and kicking up dust everywhere.
The fact that ck Ape could dominate block 7and became one of the seven big shots of the mountain prisonwas clear proof of hisbat prowess. His Seven Thunderbolt Strikes was an Inferior Grade General ssbat technique, and he had already practiced the first four moves to the Aplished stage. Thetter three were at the Established stage, so when he swung his cudgel, the thunderous sound produced was chilling.
Mountain Crushing the Head!!
Sweeping Cliff!
The gori repeatedly swung the cudgel, continually sending out bursts of ck light that prevented anything and anyone from approaching within three meters.
Having thrown away his crowbar, Yang Wu just attacked barehanded. The spiraling force he shot out from his palms kept ck Apes attack in check. He had more than sufficient power to confront his opponent. Breaking the cudgel lights and ignoring the blows from the swinging cudgel, he forced a path through to m his palms on the enemys heart.
The reckless way the young man fought denied his opponent a chance to avoid the strike. The force of the palm strike on the chest prated ck Apes body, causing ck Apes heart to race. He nearly threw up blood.
Afternding a strike, Yang Wu harried his opponent, wanting to send ck Ape to his death with another deadly blow. Sooty stood fast on his shoulder, barking encouragement without affecting his performance at all.
His palms moved like waves, sending one attack after another. He was at the Proficient stage by now, and the strokes he threw were ever-changing. He already showed a basic understanding of the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strikes essence, bringing out extraordinary strength.
Yang Wu thoroughly suppressed ck Ape; the gori had not expected the young man to be so strong; thetter was alreadyparable to a peak Consummate Grade Warrior. ck Ape knew he would lose if this went on.
Although the gori managed to alleviate half of the force from the next chest strike, he still threw up blood and sustained severe injury.
The scene rmed many of his followers. If their leader was gone, block 7 would undergo aplete power shiftsomething some of them didnt want to happen; of course, there were also those who couldnt wait to see him dead.
Yang Wu remained vignt and was about to follow up with another round of attacks when ck Apes body suddenly started transforming, and he let out a bestial roar, Roar!
He sounded like an enraged apemighty and hostile.
His skin became rough, and his chest hair looked longer and denser than before. On the whole, his appearance was that of an ape. The man had turned into a beast!
Many prisoners had not seen their leader transform before and were taken aback, screaming in horror.
W-Why does our b-boss look like this? Is he a sapient spirit?
How is that possible? He would have eaten us alive if he was.
You dumbass! Our chief cultivates a beast transformation technique, so when he transforms into a beast, hes at his strongest!
I see. Then, his nickname really suits him.
That was right. The man practiced abat art called Ape Transformation Art. Thisbat art wasntplete, though; otherwise, he would have progressed to the General Realm instead of remaining in the Warrior Realm.
At this moment, his physique was incredibly tough, and his appearance was much more ferocious. His strength had almost surpassed a Warriors and was infinitely close to a Generals. This was the most terrifying aspect of the Ape Transformation Art.
Once the cultivator transformed, the side effects would be rather obvious, requiring half a month, or even one month, to recuperate.
But this was the least of ck Apes worries. All he knew was that he had to tear this young man alive. Looking fiendish, he warned, Now that you forced me to do this, it is time for you to die!
ck Ape stepped forward, and the ground and mountains shook. His cudgel was like a mountain sweeping aside everything in his path.
How could Yang Wu not sense his opponent growing stronger? Still, he had to find out how formidable the other party had be. He quickly drew the energy in his dantian to his arms. Blue light shot out his palms like powerful, surging waves.
Bang!
The cudgel met the palm strike head-on, sting Profound Energy all around.
The impact numbed Yang Wus arms. He stumbled back and hit a mountain rock, imprinting a human figure on it before finally stopping.
Woof! Woof! Sooty was also affected, slipping to Yang Wus chest with a yelp.
ck Ape dashed to him without dy and mmed his cudgel downward, bellowing, Meet your death!
The cudgel exuded ck Profound Energy that shot seven meters into the sky. He could easily split a boulder into powder with this lethal bash.
Unable to avoid the strike, the young man threw palm strikes to repulse the attack. Sending out another wave of energy from his hands, he thrust it out with all his might to ensure he could block the iing attack.
Boom!
Another rming explosion resounded. The rocks burst, dust clouds blooming into the sky. The attack beat Yang Wu into the pile of rubble, his palms bleeding. He vomited a mouthful of blood, evidently gravely injured.
His opponent wanted to press the offensive, but this time, Sooty was ready. The dog leaped into the air, aiming its ws at the apes face.
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While Sooty might be tiny, no longer than a forearm, it was incredibly agile and spot-on with its attacks. No matter how fast ck Ape was, he couldnt avoid his face getting scratched.
You damned beast! the man yelled and smashed his cudgel at the dog.
The dogs reaction was too quick for him. It managed to dodge his attacks time and time again. asionally, it would even twist its butt with a yelp or wag its tail, intent on provoking the man with its actions.
The man was not stupid, though, and could see that the puppy was only buying time for its master. Let me get rid of that guy first, and then Ill settle you, you little beast!
ck Ape elerated toward Yang Wu, concentrating the energy flowing from the acupoints on his arms on the cudgel. Another blow came whistling down, the sheer brute force a palpable menace.
Sooty sprang back without dy, desperate to stop ck Ape from killing Yang Wu.
But the man ignored the puppy altogether, intent on smashing the young man even if it meant getting bitten.
Just then, Yang Wu leaped into the air, exuding an unusual aura, his battle hunger at its peak. Profound Energy billowed around him as he positioned his palm and fist in a dragon turtle posture, instantly sending ferocious waves crashing against his enemy.
Die! the young man howled with bloodshot eyes, adrenaline raging inside him. His desperate desire for victory consumed him, thus allowing him to execute an unprecedented blow.
Sessive explosions resounded. Rubble and debris flew in all directions. The dust and Profound Energy formed mushroom clouds, sending the prisoners scrambling for safety.
------
Themotion carried to the prison guards, who had long retreated to the perimeter.
One of the guards turned to his counterparts and asked, Brothers, should we go and investigate? ck Ape seems to have gone too far this time, hasnt he?
One of them replied, You dont have to bother with this. Our superior has already instructed us not to meddle in the affairs of block 7 today.
What is this about?
I was told our superior wanted ck Ape to take care of someone.
Whos worth so much attention from our superiors? This isnt as simple as it seems. With this much of a ruckus, things might have changed. Wed better check it out. If something goes wrong, well be in for it!
Whats the hurry? I already told you it isnt necessary. Ill bear the responsibility if anything goes wrong.
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Chapter 45: The Discontented Lie Ziying
Chapter 45: The Discontented Lie Ziying
Cellblock 7 was deathly silent.
Not a single prisoner dared to speak; they were already hiding far away like locusts.
They had all witnessed the young man batter their bosss body into pieces with his fists in the fierce battle just now. A vast amount of blood sttered the ground; a generation of prison bosses died violent deaths just like that.
Yang Wu remained standing in ce. The little ck dog on his shoulder growled softly as if warning all the prisoners in the area that cellblock 7 would have to listen to them in the future.
Yang Wu looked at ck Apes smashed corpse and sighed, Dont be so arrogant when you get to hell!
After speaking, he went to pick up ck Apes cudgel and walked in one direction.
Xu Jiaohua, whoy in that direction, paled in fright. The severe injuries she received just now prevented her from running off like the other prisoners had. Seeing Yang Wuing over, she did not bother covering up her blood-stained chest as she knelt and wailed, I beg Master to spare this littledys life. This littledy is willing to do whatever to serve Master.
Xu Jiaohua did not forget to tear her tattered blouse a little more, wishing she could expose her voluptuous bosom.
Yang Wu ignored her appearance and said indifferently, Ill let you be cellblock 7s boss for now. Can you handle that?
What? Xu Jiaohua was struck dumb. She suspected she had misheard.
Youll be cellblock 7s boss! Yang Wu repeated calmly.
Idont Why not Young Master do it? Xu Jiaohua stuttered.
Go settle the situation. You will be this viscounts representative in the future. If you cant do it, Ill change to someone who can! Yang Wu said as he waved his hand at Xu Jiaohua.
Following that, he no longer bothered with her and walked toward the mountaintop that ck Ape originally stayed in.
Xu Jiaohua watched that upright figure walk away step by step as she knelt on the ground, holding back tears; it was a long while before she dared to stand up.
Yang Wu ascended the mountain on foot. Only when he reached the summit did he spit out a mouthful of blood and slump down helplessly, his face several shades paler.
He had gone all out with ck Ape just now, using the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art to suppress ck Ape thoroughly. However, ck Ape had evoked a formidable bestial nature and managed to strike him before dying, inflicting fresh severe injuries.
Sooty whimpered, feeling distressed for Yang Wu.
Yang Wu smiled bitterly and told Sooty, Its nothing. Im immortal. Ill be fine in no time.
He sat cross-legged on the summit and focused on recovering from his injuries, disregarding everything else.
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The other cellblocks of the mountain prison:
Wang Jiuzhong received a warm wee from Lie Feng. After consuming a lot of wolf spirit meat, his vitality had recovered quite a bit. Lie Feng had even given him some aged herbs to heal his injuries. Wang Jiuzhong did not refuse anything he was given and even wanted a quiet room to meditate in and recuperate.
Wang Jiuzhong was an experienced man. He knew that Lie Feng did all this not just because of Wang Jiuzhongs strength but also to make Wang Jiuzhong owe him a favor. Unfortunately, he was a heartless person in the first ce. He intended to leave when his injuries healed; not ughtering them was considered giving them face.
Meng Hng and the other Eagle Knights of the Xia Dynasty didnt dare get too close to Wang Jiuzhong. During this time, they sent people back to report the situation to their suprememander and even contacted the general of the Barbarian Suppression Army, hoping that that general could help out a little and prevent this King from turning on them.
As for Wan Lanxin, she took care of Wan Tianlong wholeheartedly. Her authority here depended on her father. If something happened to him, she would only be an ordinary guard captain here, not the first young miss that she was.
Zhang Xiong and several other confidants protected Wan Tianlong. They all firmly believed Wan Tianlong would recover soon.
Wan Lanxin still cared about Yang Wu in her heart. Now that Lie Ziying had exposed Yang Wus identity, she no longer dared to care for Yang Wu brazenly and now hated Lie Ziying to the bone.
Wan Lanxin was practicing with her spear in her courtyard. Her movements were light and elegant, yet her spear appeared domineering and fierce, giving off bursts of shing lights that illuminated the area.
A subordinate came to report as she finished a set of spear techniques.
After Wan Lanxin heard the report, her beautiful eyes were as cold as ice. She snarled, Lie Ziying, if something happens to Little Brother Wu, Ill ughter you!
She donned her armor and picked up her spear, preparing to rush to cellblock 7.
Just then, Zhang Xiong walked over and called out, First Young Miss, the warden called you over.
Wan Lanxin hesitated for a moment, then went to check her fathers condition.
Wan Tianlong sat cross-legged on the bed, considerably healthier than before; his life was obviously out of danger.
Lanxin, you dont need to bother with Yang Wus matter were Wan Tianlongs first words as soon as he saw his daughter enter.
Wan Lanxins pupils constricted. She countered determinedly, Why? He saved your life!
So what if he did? He offended the archduke, the emperors blood-rted younger brother. The Yang n already got all their possessions confiscated. If youre too close to him, then Im afraid I wont be able to keep my position as warden, either, Wan Tianlong said quietly. He paused for a moment before advising, If you really care for him, then you should control your emotions. When Father recovers, I can at least take care of him and make his life in prison smoother. Now that Father is in this state, some people want to seize power, and Yang Wu is just a pawn against me. Once you do something out of line, wefather and daughtercan only resign and return.
Taken aback, Wan Lanxin whispered, Fathers contributions to the mountain prison all these years are clear for all to see. Who would dare cause trouble for Father?
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Putting it nicely, your father is the head of a prison, but putting it harshly, Im nothing but the head of a remote prison. What authority do I have? As long as the imperial court gives an order, Father would have to obey without question. Wan Tianlong revealed a helpless expression, paused for a bit, and then added, Meng Hng is Yang Zhennans sworn brother. He probably rushed over because of Yang Wu. Him showing up is much better than you doing it; even if Lie Feng wants Yang Wus life, he will still have to reconsider carefully.
But Little Brother Wu had been sent to cellblock 7! Wan Lanxin protested, still dissatisfied.
So what? He rescued me from the bloody pit; hes bound to have the strength to protect himself. Maybe one day he can redeem himself with good deeds and get rid of his status as a prisoner; wouldnt that be the best of both worlds for you? Wan Tianlong said.
Wan Lanxin had no idea what to say to that.
She questioned in her heart, Is everything really as Father said?
------
Word of what happened in cellblock 7 spread.
Lie Ziying immediately received the news. As the captain of cellblock 8, neighboring cellblock 7, he kept tabs on cellblock 7 at all times.
Originally, Lie Ziying expected ck Ape to mess with Yang Wu and kill him in the process. Who could have imagined that the young man would kill ck Ape and even injure or kill more than a hundred prisoners? This was definitely one of the vilest events in the prison in recent years.
Lie Ziying wanted to bring people over to execute Yang Wu as soon as he received word, but cellblock 7s captain blocked him. Even when Lie Ziying brought out his fathers name, the cellblock 7 captain didnt care and said that no one was to interfere in this matter by the wardens orders.
Lie Ziying could only leave unreluctantly and turn to Meng Hng toin. After all, Yang Wus assignment to cellblock 7 was under Meng Hngs instructions.
Meng Hngs status was no lower than Wan Tianlongs; in fact, it was even higher. Lie Ziying felt that if Meng Hng intervened, Yang Wu would definitely die a horrible death.
Unfortunately, he again met with a roadblock: Meng Hng refused to meet with him.
Lie Ziying didnt dare to be rash, so he could onlyin to his father.
Lie Feng had thought he would be the warden; however, his dream didnte to fruition. This incident left him quite dissatisfied. He wished he could ughter Wan Tianlong on the spot.
Now, Wang Jiuzhong, a big variable, was here. The deputy warden simply didnt dare to act recklessly. He could only hope that Wan Tianlong would seek revenge on Wang Jiuzhong and get killeda more realistic scenario.
After listening to his sonsint, Lie Feng felt exasperated at his sons ipetence. Ziying, when can you be a little more mature and sensible? Youre already the captain of a cellblock, yet you still want to give a prisoner a hard time? Thats a loss of dignity!
Father, he is not a normal prisoner! Lie Ziying responded, disgruntled.
Of course, Yang Zhennans son is not normal, but he offended the archduke. Only death awaits him. Even if he has upied cellblock 7 and be the prisoners boss, it doesnt matter. Hell have more difficulty surviving when he enters the Death Legion in the future; what is there for you topete with him in? Lie Feng paused a while before adding, Arent you just jealous that he and Wan Lanxin are a little close, so youre fighting for her favor?
ButIf we phrase things right, we can pull down Wan Tianlong! Lie Ziying said desperately.
If he could be pulled down by such a small matter, then he wouldnt be Wan Tianlong!
Are we just going to leave it like this?
You dont need to care about that brat; someone will take care of him. Your top priority is to go serve that lord. If you can get him to take you in as a disciple, even Wan Tianlong will have to show you great respect when he sees you.
Fathers right. Ill go serve that lord now.
------
Meng Hng was not alone in his room; a pretty girl apanied him. She was one of his subordinates, named Yao Ying.
Yao Ying had already removed her armor. Wearing only a thin cotton shirt, she snuggled against Meng Hngs chest, caressing his muscr body without pause. She breathed heavily, her face flushed.
With one look, it was obvious that they had just made love.
Big Brother Meng, you care so much about Yang Wen; why treat Yang Wu like this? Yao Ying asked, blinking her beautiful eyes.
Meng Hng had even shared such a secret with Yao Ying; her position in his heart was clear.
Meng Hng groped Yao Yings ample bosom before smiling and replying, Yang Wen, this kid, was blessed with literary talent from birth. Although hes met with disaster, hes sure to make aeback in the future; he could be the prime minister. Yang Wu was a genius since childhood, but he is far fromparable. The key point is, Yang Wu is Yang Wens weakness. As long as Yang Wu is alive, he will impede Yang Wens growth, so I can only sacrifice Yang Wu to help Yang Wen mature quickly and grow.
So, Big Brother Meng chose the top-schr Yang Wen? I would do the same.
You only need to serve me properly; no need to ask about other things in the future. I wont mistreat you!
------
Checked by: DragonInWhite
Chapter 46: Tactician Xun Rui
Chapter 46: Tactician Xun Rui
Cellblock 7, Smoke Signal Mountain Prison:
A bare-chested young man sat on a rocky mountaintop, allowing the early morning dew to condense on his body.
In the mountains, the temperature was always at the lowest between midnight and early morning. But this naked young man was undaunted by the cold. It was indeed an eye-opener.
The most surprising thing was that a small ck dogy on the young mans shoulder. Like the young man, it was also unafraid of the cold, just obediently lying there, napping.
Who else could this young man be other than Yang Wu?
During yesterdays battle, he expended all his strength and sustained severe injuries. But now, not only were his injuries fully healed, but he had also be stronger. Altogether, 81 acupoints were now open, getting closer to 108 acupoints.
Once the 108 acupoints were open, he would reach the Superior Grade Warrior Realm. Then, he could form a small cycle that would help the Profound Energy circte faster, thereby significantly increasing hisbat prowess.
Upon a closer inspection, not all the dewdrops on Yang Wus body were natural. He had pulled some from his surroundings. When these clear and cold dewdrops fell on him, he thoroughly absorbed them through his pores.
This amazing ability to absorb the energy from water was due to the Supreme Nine Profound Art.
After this paramount profound art got upgraded by the Nascent Profound Essence, it had be even more incredible. Yang Wu could clearly feel how outstanding this profound art was. If he could gather eight other Profound Essences, he would likely be able to achieve even things that surpassed his imagination.
Yang Wu did not think much about it at the moment. His current situation was not very good. The news of his exploits in cellblock 7 would spread. Those who wanted his life would not let him be. He needed to think of how to counter them.
The morning dew dwindled. The chill was starting to dissipate. The sun was rising, and with it came the propitious energy of daybreak.
Yang Wu was like a descended saint, his whole body limned with purple light. When his body directly absorbed this propitious energy, it was as if the peach-pit dantian encountered sweet spring water, guzzling it instantly. Wisps of purple energy also lingered in his thousands of pores, giving his whole body an invisible, indescribably noble air.
This propitious energy was so much more than what he had absorbed before. It saturated his opened acupoints, spinning in them and twinkling like stars, tremendously strengthening his body.
After this battle, Yang Wu was very clear about his unparalleled advantages over other people.
Firstly, his dantian could contain at least tenfoldeven dozens of timesmore Profound Energy than that of his peers. Secondly, when the Profound Energy became Nascent Profound Essence, its destructive power was iparably greater than that of the ordinary Profound Energy. Finally, thebination of the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance allowed him to absorb water-attributed Profound Energy continuously, enabling him to fight for a long time. His recovery ability would make even a King jealous.
These were all his advantages. As long as he could grasp them well, he could be a top Warrior in no time.
The most important thing at the momentaside from improving his survivabilitywas umting enough Scarlet Steel Rock to cast off his prisoner status.
Originally, he had hoped that Wan Lanxin or Meng Hng would help him with this matter. But after yesterdays battle, he no longer dared entertain such an extravagant hope. He realized that relying on himself was more practical.
Then, he heard light footsteps. A seductive woman and a fat man appeared behind him.
Both the woman and the fatty knelt on the ground together and greeted respectfully, Salutations, Young Master!
Yang Wu neither turned his head nor spoke to them. He left them kneeling there for fifteen minutes. Only then did he tell them indifferently, You may get up!
The twos cheeks and backs were sweaty, but they did not dare to harbor any dissatisfaction in their hearts. When they heard the voice, it was like receiving pardon for a great sin, most of the pressure on their hearts easing.
Xu Jiaohua spoke first. Young Master, I cleaned up cellblock 7 together with Fatty Dong. Most of the prisoners have submitted to you. We have beaten to a pulp those few who like to wag their tongue with nonsense.
I dont care about those matters. I only want Scarlet Steel Rock! Yang Wu told them.
Young Master, ck Ape had already umted thirty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, kept in the stone hut on the mountain, only twenty tons short of fifty tons, Xu Jiaohua said.
Fatty Dong added from the side, Not counting the daily quota, we can umte fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock in about two months.
Two months is too long! Yang Wu sighed.
He did not want to stay in this mountain prison a moment longer. He wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Thethe earliest would still take one and a half months! Fatty Dong said, put on the spot.
Is there any other way to speed up the process? Yang Wu asked.
Dong Fatty did not dare to speak anymore.
After a moment of hesitation, Xu Jiaohua replied, There is a way, but
But what? If you have something to say, just say it. Im not as scary as you think.
ck Ape told me previously that there was an agreement between the seven great gang leaders, that they could challenge each other if they could put up enough Scarlet Steel Rock as stakeswinner take all. This way, Young Master can umte Scarlet Steel Rock faster, Xu Jiaohua said truthfully.
There is still such a thing? Tell me more, Yang Wu said with interest.
Xu Jiaohua told Yang Wu everything she knew about the matter.
The agreement among the seven great gang leaders turned out to be a gamble allowing the lower-ranking one to challenge someone with a higher ranking once a month. Each wager could be no less than five tons of Scarlet Steel Rock. The winner would take all the Scarlet Steel Rock staked.
ck Ape ranked seventh. Hisbat prowess was at the bottom, but there was actually little difference between him and the prison gang leaders ranked sixth and fifth. He had not challenged them because he wanted to make better preparations and defeat them at once, to avoid bing a stepping stone for others.
Unfortunately, he got ughtered by Yang Wu before he could challenge anyone.
There were seven days left before the next challenge could be issued. As long as Yang Wu had enough strength, he could challenge the prison boss in cellblock 6.
Is there a limit to this bet? Yang Wu asked.
Theres no limit as long as the other party agrees to it! Xu Jiaohua answered.
Good! Yang Wu replied with a gleam in his eyes. Waving his hand, he told them, You are dismissed. Go tell all the subordinates that I cant be bothered to manage them or care about what they did previously. I just want them to turn in the Scarlet Steel Rock on time.
Yes, Young Master! Xu Jiaohua and Fatty Dong responded submissively.
Fatty Dong left, but Xu Jiaohua did not. She brazenly approached Yang Wu, sticking out her ample bosom, and said coyly with a blushing face, Young Master, if you want, this servant can personally serve you.
She began stripping off her simple prisoner garment, revealing a youthful-looking body that was like a gently swaying flower, offering a distinctive charm.
Xu Jiaohua was not a virtuous person. If not for being somewhat capable, she would have long been reduced to a ything for menlike most of the women in the prisonafter she was sentenced to this ce. When she approached ck Ape intimately, it was for self-protection, a better alternative to being taken by other weaker men.
Yang Wu was not only stronger but also young and handsome. Even a middle-aged woman like herself found him very attractive. If she could get together with him, she imagined it would be way better than being with ck Ape.
Unfortunately, Yang Wu did not even spare her a nce. He simply waved his hand and said, You could be my mother at your age. Please conduct yourself with dignity.
Xu Jiaohua felt like her heart was stabbed by a crowbar. She was so ashamed that she almost fainted.
Too embarrassed for words, she just put on her prisoner garment, covered her face, and made haste down the mountain.
Only after Xu Jiaohua was gone did Yang Wu let out a breath and say, There are very few young men who have strong willpower and a sincere heart like this viscount!
If someone saw the bulge in Yang Wus lower body, they would feel embarrassed on his behalf. He was already aroused to this point, yet he actually imed to have strong willpower? Come off it!
Yang Wu could not be med. He was a vigorous young man who was not even sure of his virginity. Even now, he still did not know what happened the night he slept in the same bed as Wan Lanxin.
Comparing Xu Jiaohua and Wan Lanxin would be likeparing the sky and the ground; there was noparison. This was just a normal physiological reaction.
Just as Yang Wu got up to practice hisbat techniques, he happened to nce at a corner and raised his eyebrows slightly. There was an old prisoner not far from him who had been there for who knew how long.
Yang Wus perception was not weak. He could easily sense peoples approach over a kilometer away, yet he had not sensed this old prisoner who was within ten meters of him. This really surprised him.
That old prisoner was smiling at Yang Wu. His face was full of wrinkles like tree bark, and his smile revealed rows of decaying yellow teeth that evinced years of dental neglect. He held a broken bamboo fan in his hand, fanning himself with it. The sight was quiteical.
It was not these things that felt strange to Yang Wu, though. What he found strange were the broken, bulky chains around the old prisoners ankles. They did not seem like they had been cut off with a sharp tool. Given those jagged edges, the old man had broken them in his struggle to get free.
Sooty, lying on Yang Wus shoulder, opened its eyes and nced at that old prisoner. A faint gleam flickered in its eyes; then, the puppy just closed its eyes and dozed off again.
You are? Yang Wu asked, facing the old prisoner.
Fanning himself with the broken bamboo fan, the old prisoner answered proudly, This humble one is the Wild Tactician, Xun Rui!
Dog Rui? It looks like you have fate with my Sooty! Yang Wu responded, smiling.
No, its Xun from the idiom for all-around talent, not dog like a canine! the old prisoner objected strongly.
[TL Note: The character for Xun looks simr to the character for dog. Furthermore, Xun is a rarely used word in Chinese, so many people might see the character and pronounce it as Gou, which means dog. However, as this part is dialogue, it is strange that this confusion happens, so it is more likely that Yang Wu is aware of thismon error and is messing with the old man.]
[TL Note: The idiom for all-around talent refers to the children of two particr families. When directly tranted, it means the Jias tigers and the Xuns dragons. The children of these ns were remarkably talented, so this idiom took on the meaning of being talented in both civil and military matters, an all-around talent.]
Close enough! Yang Wu retorted. Then, he asked, What brings you here?
There are three things. I dont know which one you want to hear first! Xun Rui replied, drawing out the suspense.
Whats the difference between hearing just one and all three?
They are very different. They also each have their own significance.
Oh. Then, youd better not say it.
Xun Rui shamelessly bragged about himself. No, dont. This tactician knows everything in heaven above and the earth below, astronomy as well as geography. I can also advise on dispatching troops,ying troop formations, and nning strategies. There is nothing Im not skilled at, nothing I cannot do
He was not done talking yet, but Yang Wu had already had enough and interrupted him, Grandpa Xun, are you not ashamed of bragging to the point of being so incredible?
Showing decaying, yellow teeth again, Xun Rui said, Of course not. The things I said are all true.
Then, why were you sent to this mountain prison?
Thisthis was because when I presentedTwenty-Four Volumes on Governing the World and Saving the Nationat court. It was so amazing that some people envied and hated me, so I was sent here.
I seem to have heard that someone presentedTwenty-Four Volumes on An Opinion Piece on the Nations Disastrous Mistakesat court ten years ago and was condemned for spreading falsehood. Were you that person?
Ahem! Ahem! Those useless ministers know nothing!
Chapter 47: The Boy Is Worth Teaching
Chapter 47: The Boy Is Worth Teaching
Wild Tactician Xun Rui. There was nothing wrong with introducing himself with such theatrical ir.
In the past, he didnt look like this, but wiser with a celestial demeanor, sporting a feather fan and silk scarfa sagacious appearance like someone experienced and talented in governance.
The imperial courts Prime Minister Song had appreciated his talent and brought him into his group of advisers to solidify his position in court.
Xun Rui had a lot of opinions on economics and heroically wroteTwenty-Four Volumes on An Opinion Piece on the Nations Disastrous Mistakeson his own initiative. Each volume was full of the injustices of and dissatisfactions with the imperial court of that time. This matter even indirectly med the emperor, causing a great upheaval in the imperial pce. Prime Minister Song was nearly deposed, which scared him out of his wits. In the end, Xun Rui, this most outstanding perpetrator, should have been beheaded, but the emperor kindly gave him a way out, sentencing him to torture and life imprisonment in the mountain prison.
This happened ten years ago. Yang Wu had heard about the twenty-four volumes from his younger brother, the top schr, who was voluble in praise for them. He thought that if the imperial court utilized these twenty-four volumes, its national power would inevitably increase significantly, themon people would live in peace and prosperity, and civil and military arts would flourish.
At that time, his younger brother had evenmented that if he met Xun Rui, he had to take him as a teacher to learn this way of governance from him.
Yang Wu had a close rtionship with his younger brother, Yang Wen; the two were only a year apart. He had heard his younger brother speak ofTwenty-Four Volumes on An Opinion Piece on the Nations Disastrous Mistakesand Xun Rui more than once. It was just that he never imagined Xun Rui would appear before himand with this appearance. It was indeed a surprising twist of fate.
Yang Wu stood up and bowed to Xun Rui, saying extremely respectfully, So, you are Xun Rui, the senior who wroteTwenty-Four Volumes on An Opinion Piece on the Nations Disastrous Mistakes. Yang Wu has been impolite.
This time, Xun Rui was the one who was shocked. You really know an old coot like me?
My younger brother, Yang Wen, is one of your admirers. He once said that if he had been born ten years earlier, he would definitely have taken you as his master! Yang Wu said honestly.
Xun Rui beamed, exposing his yellow teeth, as he gave a thumbs-up and said, Hehe! Your younger brother has discernment. With just these words, Ill ept him as a nominal disciple for the time being. After I have assessed his aptitude, I will consider whether to pass the mantle on to him. This old mans great governance abilities are not something ordinary people can learn.
My younger brother is this years top schrand the only one to get full marks for every subject in the past century! Yang Wu said with pride.
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You little brat can boast better than me! Why not just say that you are a martial arts champion?! Xun Rui dug his ear with a skeptical expression.
Dont be too quick to say that. Wait till I turn eighteen and reach adulthood. Ill definitely be the top martial artist that year; that way, my Yang n would be adept in both pen and sword and renowned all over the Xia Nation! Yang Wu said with a look of yearning.
He had dreamed of being the top martial artist when he was young. He originally also had some talent; it was just that he was nothingpared to real cultivation geniuses. Take Wan Lanxin, for example. When she was his age, she reached the Warrior Realm through her own talent, yet he had previously just been a Consummate Grade Foot Soldier.
Now, everything was different. He had the Supreme Nine Profound Art, the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art, and an immortal body. These all ensured he could rise up. As long as he got rid of his present status, he could easily clinch a martial arts championship in another two years.
Alright, kid, we are all prisoners. Speak more humbly. Xun Rui interrupted Yang Wus daydreaming and asked, Kid, since you know this old mans name, do you still want to listen to those three things?
Effacing himself, Yang Wu replied, Yes, yes, Senior Xun, just say it.
Anyway, the old man before him was the person his younger brother admired. He had to treat him with respect, no matter what. He also wanted to hear what the other party had to say.
Not bad, not bad. First thing, could you get this old man some meat tonight? This old man has not eaten meat for so many days that I have almost forgotten the taste of it, Xun Rui said, slumping on the ground.
Yang Wu almost fainted when he heard those words.Why did I feel this old man was a hidden expert when he cant even get a mouthful of meat now?
The second thing is, can you let me live in ck Apes dwelling for a few days? This old man has been exposed to the elements for many years. Im already half a foot in the grave. I want to sleep properly for a bit! Xun Rui didnt care whether Yang Wu agreed or not; he was just talking to himself.
Yang Wu didnt wait for Xun Rui to mention the third thing, interjecting, I say, Senior Xun, you wanted to talk about these types of things?
Of course, problems of livingeating, drinking, defecating, urinating, and sleepingare big matters in ones life. What would I talk about if not these?! Xun Rui retorted matter-of-factly.
Yang Wu wanted to faint. He waved his hand and said, Ill promise you these things.
I still wanted to talk about the third thing, Xun Rui said anxiously.
Your third thing is a request for a beauty and a bottle of liquor? Wanting to sip wine with a beauty in your arms, facing the moon, then singing and dancing! Yang Wu said for Xun Rui.
Hey, kid, how did you know? Xun Rui revealed a trace of embarrassment.
Old man, you had a wretched look on your face; how could I not know? Yang Wu pped his forehead, paused for a moment, then added, I can find you a girl, but liquor is currently an extravagant hope!
Hehe, kid, you are much more easygoing than ck Ape! Not bad, not bad. This old man isnt one to take more than Im given; your charity will be rewarded in the future! Xun Rui said, smiling.
Yang Wu didnt take Xun Ruis words to heart. He felt that this old man didnt have the demeanor of an expert and strongly suspected his younger brother had overestimated this person.
Yang Wu no longer bothered with Xun Rui. Yesterdays battle had been exhrating, and he had a new realization about the Rainstorm Spear Art. Each move had reached the Aplished stage, able to bring out great might, but he was not satisfied with this. He wanted to practice the Rainstorm Spear Art to Perfection; that way, hisbat prowess could reach a higher level. He raised the crowbar and started to train.
Dark Clouds Covering the Sky.
Arrows of Savage Rain.
Rolling Thunder Shifting Winds.
Yang Wu repeatedly executed the Rainstorm Spear Art, his movements iparably skillful. He showed vast Profound Energy, his power extraordinary.
Xun Rui didnt leave. He just sat nearby and watched as Yang Wu stabbed, thrust, and swept around, his old eyes gleaming with a trace of interest. After quite a while, he couldnt help talking. These fanciful moves are only enough to scare those useless fellows.
Yang Wu seemed not to hear him, continuing to go through the steps. Despite that, Xun Rui interrupted him and once again opened his mouth. A rainstorms might lies in suddenness, rapidness, ferocity. Dont even dream of unleashing the full might of thebat art if you continue to practice feebly like this! What a pity!
Yang Wu couldnt help being affected, his movements bing a little erratic.
Xun Rui seemed addicted to speaking. He added in a deep voice, Jink like a fleeing hare, with the intensity of roaring thunder and the ferocity of stormsbe like a rainstorm
Initially, Yang Wu wanted to ignore Xun Ruis words, but after hearing this, he had an epiphany, suddenly clearlyprehending the true essence of the Rainstorm Spear Art.
Jink like a fleeing hare, with the intensity of roaring thunder After Yang Wu muttered for a while, his bodys form and movements changed drastically, adopting the swift and sudden motion of a cunning hare escaping. He showed an intensity akin to thunder; his crowbar transformed into a lightning-fast spear, its tip shing brightly. His power suddenly increased by more than a level.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The crowbar continuously made a strange noise as Profound Energy flooded the area. Stone, dust, and mud flew around as the martial figure kept elerating until his actions and poses were pretty much blurry afterimages.
Xun Ruis old eyes shed with a trace of appreciation. At some point, a gourd appeared in his hand. He uncapped it, raised his head, and poured a mouthful of liquor, muttering in his heart,The boy is worth teaching!
At this moment, Sooty appeared from somewhere and pounced at the gourd. His actions were lightning fasttoo fast for most people to react in time.
Whether Xun Rui sensed the puppy or just coincidence, he took the gourd into his arms, leaving Sooty to pounce on nothing.
Woof! Woof!
Sooty failed to pounce on the gourd and barked in dissatisfaction. It pawed the ground a few times, its eyes staring unblinkingly at the gourd in his embrace, its tongue lolling, in tant desire.
Xun Rui kept his gourd close as he said to Sooty, You are very intelligent, knowing the wonder of this old mans gourd wine. However, I dont have much in stock; I cant waste it on you!
Sooty did not seem to care about Xun Rui, continuously pouncing at him, determined to snatch the wine gourd.
When Xun Rui saw Sooty charging so ferociously, he scrambled to his feet to dodge, saying, Little ck dog, dont mess around! These old bones cant stand this torture.
Sooty sped up, jumped high, and almost tore Xun Ruis prisoner clothes, but it still came up short.
Woof! Woof!Apparently unresigned, Sooty continued increasing its speed and renewed its assault after barking a few times.
Little fellow, dont think old people are easy to bully. Im capable of anything and everything above the skies and under the ground. If you keep provoking me, Ill roast and eat you! Xun Rui hurriedly warded off the attacks, his actions looking very awkward. Sooty almost caught the gourd a few times, but the old man just barely evaded it; the puppy could not do anything.
Xun Rui didnt have an easy time, either. He hunched over and panted nonstop, apparently exhausted.
Sooty grabbed its chance, springing up on its four limbs with full force, pouncing at Xun Rui to bite him.
This time around, Xun Rui really couldnt dodge. Sooty chomped down on his butt. In agony, he wailed, Little ck dog, quickly let go! No, quickly open your mouth! If you dont, this old man will really get nasty!
Xun Rui continuously shook his butt, swatting behind himself with both hands, but Sooty held on like its life was on the line, inflicting unspeakable pain.
This disturbed Yang Wu, who was practicing the Rainstorm Spear Art. He immediately stopped to scold the puppy. Sooty, what are you doing? Quickly let go of your senior!
Xun Rui piped up, Right, right, little ck dog, quickly let go. Wait! When did I be this little ck dogs senior? Little brat, are you indirectly insulting this old man?!
Yang Wu appeared embarrassed as he said, Ahem, ahem! Senior Xun, I misspoke, misspoke. Sooty, you quickly let go. Senior Xun is our honored guest; you cant be disrespectful to the honored guest.
Indeed, just now, Yang Wu had received a few words of guidance from Xun Rui and vaguely touched the Rainstorm Spear Arts Perfection stage. As long as he practiced diligently a bit more, he should be able to reach it. He couldnt help viewing Xun Rui in a different light, but seeing Xun Rui get bitten by a dog reinforced his initial impression.
Under Yang Wus urging, Sooty finally let go of Xun Rui. Xun Ruis butt bled. He was in such pain that he covered his butt and incessantly scolded Sooty. But when Sooty snarled once more, he quickly shut his mouth.
Regardless of whether Xun Rui was a wise man or an expert, Yang Wu decided to treat this old man well, have Xu Jiaohua serve him, let him stay at ck Apes dwelling, and prepare good food for him. He could not have been more thoughtful.
Anyway, this old man was the person his younger brother admired. He just considered it helping his younger brother establish a friendly connection.
Xu Jiaohua felt bitter in her heart.
She wanted to serve Yang Wu, not this horrible old man with a mouth full of yellow teeth.
It was a pity she didnt have a choice.
Sometimes, this kind of grudging obedience was not necessarily a misfortune but might even be a blessing.
Chapter 48: Ten Thousand Wolves Making an Assault
Chapter 48: Ten Thousand Wolves Making an Assault
The Smoke Signal Mountain Range was famous for its wolves. Since wolf spirits dominated the region, there were countless wolf spirits there. Ordinary wolf spirits popted the periphery, which was why the Xia Dynasty could upy somend to build the mountain prison. Deeper into the mountains, the more powerful wolf spirits ran rampant, and even a King would be leery of venturing inside, fearing death.
Ever since Wan Tianlong repulsed the Consummate Grade Wolf General Lang Cha, Lang Cha bore a grudge. It ordered its subordinates to attack the mountain prison from time to time, resulting in the deaths of several prison guards and prisoners.
In addition to the ordered attacks, Lang Cha headed towards another Wolf Kings territory. It wanted to persuade the Wolf King to attack the mountain prison.
Before a mountain full of goldleaf trees was an area carpeted with brilliant golden leaves. Yellow, dazzling, and beautiful, with the soughing breeze, the ce was refreshing to the soul.
Lang Cha knelt in front of a cave on the mountainside, waiting respectfully. It dared not show the slightest sign of impatience.
In the cave, a pair of golden eyes that shone like the sun darted around. Lang Cha, are you aware of your crime in disturbing this king?
Lang Cha is at fault and asks for my kings forgiveness! Lang Cha said with its head lowered. After a pause, it continued, This insignificant one has an urgent matter that requires my kings attention. I need my king to im justice for the wolves of my n and wipe out those lowly humans.
A dissatisfied voice came from the cave. You do know that our n has an agreement with the humans, dont you? Are you asking me to break this agreement?
This insignificant one dares not. It is just that the humans have gone too far this time! They dug up a Kings treasure, yet when I brought my subordinates to ask for a share of it so that I could dedicate it to my king, they ughtered thousands of my subordinates. Lang Cha is ipetent and asks for my kings punishment! Lang Cha said, kneeling.
Are you sure it was a Kings treasure? The voice from the cave carried a trace of urgency.
There is no mistake. I smelled an earthly spirit spring and sensed a peculiar Profound Energy. Once absorbed, it would raise my kings strength to greater heights! Lang Cha said.
You bastard, why didnt you tell me until now?! the Wolf King in the cave yelped in dissatisfaction and rushed out. Its huge head bit at Lang Cha.
The terrified Lang Cha dared not even twitch.
With one bite, the golden Wolf King caught Lang Cha by the scruff and flung it away fiercely. Lang Cha went flying, missing a piece of flesh from its neck and bleeding nonstop. Its body crashed into and broke several goldleaf trees.
Wolf King Lang Jie was a true Wolf King. It stood over 1.8 meters tall, its fur was golden, it had strong limbs, and it showed a ferocious expression. It was the king of a vast region bordering the mountain range, and Lang Cha was one of its subordinates.
You wanted to monopolize the Kings treasure for yourself, so that you could advance to a King. Do not think that I cannot see through your schemes! Lang Jie said, ring at Lang Cha.
Lang Cha was so frightened that it could not stop trembling and begged for mercy, Pardon me, my king! Please pardon me, my king!
Take me to see whether the Kings treasure is still there. Immediately! If it is not, then you will be my food! Lang Jie growled in anger.
Lang Cha did not even bother tending to its injuries. It sprang to its feet and led Lang Jie to the mountain prison.
Arooo!
Lang Jie raised its head to the sky and howled. The mountains and forests shook, and the birds perched on the trees took wing in fright. Some weak animal spirits hid quickly. The wolf spirits walked out of their dens, all howling response, then bolted towards Lang Jie.
Half an hourter, nearly ten thousand wolf spirits surrounded the mountain prison.
The prison guards and prisoners were shocked at the incessant howling.
Lie Feng was temporarily in charge of the mountain wolf affairs in Wan Tianlongs ce. When he realized that a horde of wolf spirits had rushed over, he was beside himself.
Damn it. The wolf spirits are here again. The bloody pit is no more; what else do they want?! Lie Feng cursed under his breath as he mounted his gray wolf and mustered his subordinates from the various prison blocks. He immediately approached Meng Hng and the others for assistance.
Dutybound to support, Meng Hng and the other Eagle Knights got on their eagles and took to the sky. They went ahead to reconnoiter the wolf spirits.
Their expressions turned heavy as soon as they saw the sheer number of wolf spirits around, and they became especially flustered when they saw the strong, golden-furred Wolf King.
Meng Hng, however, shouted at Lang Jie in an exceptionally calm voice, Your Excellency the wolf king, what do you mean by invading the Xia Dynastys territory?
Meng Hng was not from the mountain prison, but as themander of the Eagle Knights, he was also an official of the imperial court. As long as he was here, he had an obligation to maintain the peace of the mountain prison.
If something happened to the mountain prison during this period, he would have difficulty ounting for himself.
Lang Jie lifted its head with a cold gaze and said in the human tongue, Get those little eagles down right now!Arooo!
Lang Jies aura soared into the sky and swept through the air, prompting Meng Hngs and the others eagles to screech in panic. Their bodies shuddered, and they fell from the sky.
Shriek!
These eight eagle spirits were Spirit Warriors; their strength was by no means insignificant. However, the power of this Spirit King was indomitable, and they were not that high up. After it howled at them, they could not withstand its soaring aura.
Seeing that the eight eagles were about to crash to the ground, Meng Hng and the others jumped off their backs to avoid being thrown to the ground.
At this time, Lie Feng rushed over with thousands of prison guards.
Lie Feng shuddered at the sight of the horde of wolf spirits. He ordered, Ready the crossbows!
Three thousand crossbowmen promptly raised their loaded crossbows, stepped forward one after another, and aimed at the wolf spirits, poised to shoot at Lie Fengsmand.
These crossbowmen were experts at long-range shooting, and their offensive prowess was phenomenal. Ordinary Spirit Warriors were no match for them; even Spirit Generals would find them challenging. They were a keyponent in Wan Tianlongs sess in defeating the wolf spirits previously.
Lang Jie bared its dark fangs and said coldly, Are you humans seeking death?
The other wolf spirits eyes had ferocious gleams as they howled one after another.
Arooo!
Ten thousand wolves howled in chorus, and the terrifying noise made the prison guards tremble, giving rise to a sense of dread.
They could not help their fear. They would have been unfazed had they faced a pack of wolf spirits under the General Realm. However, these wolf spirits were led by a Wolf King, which made all the difference.
Lie Feng got down from his gray wolf, which had gone soft with fear, and mustered his courage to shout at the Wolf King, Wolf king, what exactly do you want? Our Barbarian Suppression Army is nearby. If you really attack our mountain prison, we can retaliate by clearing your dens, you know! You will suffer as well!
Hand over the Kings treasure you uncovered, or we will leave this prison in shambles today! Lang Jie countered menacingly.
There was no Kings treasure in that bloody pit, only a Lord Wang of our human race. He is a King, just like you, and he is resting here as we speak. If you attack us and rm that lord, Im afraid you will pay for it! Lie Feng said.
Oh, really? Then, let this king see how powerful your human Kings are! Lang Jie retorted, then howled for an assault.Arooo!Ten thousand wolves charged out to attack the mountain prison.
Youre going too far! Shoot! This was not Lie Fengs first battle with the wolf spirits. When the wolf spirits attacked, he immediately ordered a counterattack.
A barrage of bolts instantly shot toward the wolf spirits.
In the blink of an eye, many wolf spirits were shot and killed.
The wolves were up against extremely powerful, long-range warriors. If not for this battalion, the Smoke Signal Mountain Prison could never have withstood the attacks of the wolf spirits.
The multitude of wolf spirits did not concentrate in one direction as if waiting to get shot. Some stronger wolf spirits leaped around, evading the arrows, then pounced on the prison guards.
Some prison guards who could not run away got bitten by the wolf spirits and killed on the spot. Blood sttered everywhere.
The humans and wolf spirits renewed hostilities.
The Wolf King sat at the rear of the wolves, waiting to attack. It allowed the wolf spirits on the frontline to charge into battle.
As a Wolf King, it had its pride and would never debase itself by attacking such weak opponents.
Lie Feng could not do the same as Lang Jie. As the wolf spirits attacked, he had no choice but to draw his sword and join the battle. He could not allow the wolf spirits to break through the defense line of the mountain prison. If the prisoners escaped because of this, he would have to shoulder the responsibility.
Naturally, Meng Hng and others did not stand by idly but joined the battalion in fighting the wolf spirits.
As the leader of the eight Eagle Knights, Meng Hng was extremely strong. His abilities bordered on a Kings. As he swung his long sword, shock waves cut through the air one after the other, shing the wolf spirits in half and spilling a lot of blood all over the ground.
Today, I will try to kill a King! Meng Hng muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on Lang Jie.
He desired to be a King. If he did not have the courage to challenge a King, he would be fated to stagnate in his current realm.
His fighting spirit aze, Meng Hng shed toward the Wolf King, killing countless wolves on the way.
As the Eagle Knightss Third Commander, he had experienced many life-and-death battles. Today, he wanted to experience rising from the ashes of battle in order toprehend the domain of Kings.
There was no shortage of powerful Wolf Generals. Their ability to rip apart and kill was extremely powerful, and many prison guards died under their ws.
Humans and animal spirits were very different. Humans had inferior physiques to animal spirits but had superior intellect. They could forge weapons that animal spirits could notpete with. Animal spirits were ferocious by nature and had astonishing physiques. Ordinary weapons had difficulty injuring animal spirits. The strengths and weaknesses of the two were clear.
Judging from the battle situation, the humans had the upper hand. Many wolf spirits had fallen to the prison guards crossbows. The prison guards had also used a second team to kill at a closer range.
However, the wolf spirits outnumbered the prison guards, and once they closed the distance, they were more powerful than the prison guards.
When the ten thousand wolves charged together, they finally broke through the three thousand archers. There were a thousand wolf corpses, and five hundred people got bitten to death. The battle was incredibly intense.
After watching the battle for a while, Lang Jie finally showed signs of impatience. It howled andmenced its attack, running so fast that it was like a beam of golden light, leaving lingering light in its wake. It broke through the battlefield and ran directly toward cellblock 8.
Wherever Lang Jie passed, the attacks of many prison guards were rendered useless. Under the pressure of the powerful wolf spirit, some jailers fell dead on the spot; no one could stop it.
Meng Hng had his sights locked on the Wolf King, and he greeted it for the first time with a shout, Wolf king, IMeng Hngam here to fight you!
------
Chapter 49: Prison Warden Wan Tianlong
Chapter 49: Prison Warden Wan Tianlong
The prisoners in various cellblocks heard the terrifying wolf howls, which got on everyones nerves.
The wolf spirits are invading again. Whats happening?
I heard thousands died from thest attack. It looks like wed better run for our lives; if not, we might be the next victims.
Most of the prison guards have been transferred out. If we dont escape now, then when will we?
Thats right. Remaining only leads to death. At least theres still a chance to survive if we run.
A few prisoners were tempted. They did not want to stay locked up for the rest of their lives, so they decided to escape.
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In a moment, amotion broke out in the mountain prison.
The prison had deployed most of the guards to fight the wolf spirits, and the remaining ones were too weak to put down the riot.
Wan Tianlong, who had been recuperating, was alerted. Despite his grave injuries, he instructed his daughter to help him into his armor.
Father, you have yet to fully recover, Wan Lanxin told him worriedly.
My health is secondary. If I dont contain the situation and the prison turns chaotic, Ill have a hard time answering for it, Wan Tianlong answered with a pale face.
After the armor-d warden mounted the bull spirit, his spirits picked up somewhat. With his weapon in hand, he called to the followers in his courtyard, Join me in battle!
The ten-odd people present were the wardens confidants. They all knelt and responded in unison, Well follow you to the battlefield!
Turning to look at his daughter, Wan Tianlong instructed, Ill leave all the cellblocks under your charge. Do whatever it takes to maintain order; dont be soft-hearted!
Looking at her fathers resolute expression, Wan Lanxin nodded solemnly. Father, rest assured. I wont disappoint you!
The man gave a gratified smile and left for the battlefield with his men.
As a prison warden, even with his grave injuries, he had no excuse not to fight. Otherwise, his appointment as the prison warden would be over.
The woman watched her father depart with clear reverence in her pretty eyes. This was her father, a man who did his duty without flinching. After that, she mounted her leopard with her spear to inspect the prison.
In a room not far away, Wang Jiuzhong continued meditating, unperturbed.
He was a formidable King, unlike others. Under the many years of duress and the loss of much of his blood, his body had sustained heavy damage, and his cultivation had dropped significantly. As a result, his recovery would take some time.
Although he had swallowed a few aged herbs, spiritual herbs, animal spirit meat, and even an inferior-grade profound spirit stone offered by Lie Fang, these only allowed him to recover thirty percent of his former power.
He would need a few more days to recuperate to fifty percent. Only if he obtained a rare sovereign herb might he recover to seventy percent. Returning to his peak form would require a very long convalescence.
Of course, how could he not know that ten thousand wolves had descended upon the mountain prison? However, he chose not to interfere and ignored themotion outside the courtyard.
He had needed human blood in the past to keep his own flowing. However, he did not have to rely on devouring foreign matter to recuperate, especially not now.
Once I have thoroughly restored myself and returned to the sect, Ill seek out and kill that Evil Boy King!the man swore to himself inwardly.
He decided it was time to leave this dangerous ce and prepared to go. He could sense a Spirit King approaching; although he was not afraid, it was inconvenient for him to expend his strength in a war.
The man recalled a certain youth and thought to himself,I wonder, what happened to that interesting brat? I wouldnt mind having him as a disciple. He had street smarts and some talents.Then, he walked toward block 68.
But before he could advance beyond a few steps, Lie Ziying rushed up to him and knelt down. Lord Wang, a Spirit King is attacking. The creature thinks there was a Kings treasure in the bloody pit and is washing my prison in blood.
Wang Jiuzhong ignored the mans plea and continued on his way. To the King, the life and death of others did not concern him.
When Lie Ziying saw that the King was unmoved, he took out a jade box and said, Lord Wang, I have a top-notch spiritual pill here. I wont ask for you to eliminate the Wolf King; all Im asking is for you to ept me as your discipleeven if just a nominal disciple! ILie Ziyingwould have no regrets!
This healing pill was given to him by his father. He hadnt found a chance to present it to Wang Jiuzhong before, but he knew if he didnt do it now, he would never have a chance to once the King left.
Wang Jiuzhong looked over his shoulder and stretched out his arm, easily retrieving the box. When he opened the box and saw the potent healing pill, he was delighted and immediately swallowed it. After that, he turned to Lie Ziying impassively and retorted, Youre too old to be my disciple.
The younger man had a sudden impulse to fight the King to the death when he heard that.How am I old?!
Lie Ziying had yet to turn thirty and was already a recognized cultivator in the General Realm. No matter where he went, he was regarded as an outstanding young man. Now, this person standing before him had actually dismissed him as old; this was as annoying as that guy who had addressed him as uncle.
However, he naturally did not dare to disagree with the King. All he could do was maintain his silence with his head bowed. He would be courting death if he were to antagonize the powerful man.
As Wang Jiuzhong continued on his way, the young mans face turned ashen with regret. His precious pill was given for nothing.
At this time, the Kings voice reached his ears. Well, you can be my nominal disciple, for now, and run some errands for me. If you serve me well, I dont mind imparting you a few moves.
Thank you, Master! Lie Ziying was overjoyed, kowtowing while crying with glee.
To thetter, this was a glimmer of hope and another chance.
------
On the battlefield, Meng Hng faced off with Lang Jie. He reckoned that, with his strength, he could at least hold off the Wolf King even if he could not defeat thetter. s, this was a miscalction. The power of a King should not be underestimated. Before the mans strikes could evennd on the Wolf King, they were effortlessly repulsed, totally ineffectual. On the other hand, Lang Jie simply wed, looking like a golden hammer swinging through the air, and smashed Meng Hngs armor. Blood flowed as the man retreated, gritting his teeth against the pain. Had he been a step slower, the w would no doubt have eviscerated him.
How audacious of you to challenge me, a King, with your meager strength! Youre only good for an appetizer! Lang Jie snorted before pouncing on Meng Hng with its jaws agape, poised to bite his head off.
The terrifying animal spirits auraing at the man rendered him immobile. However, his face evinced no fear. Instead, there was a manic cast to his eyes as he yelled, Ill ride on your Kings aura to climb to the next level, even if this costs me my life!
He managed to improve hisbat prowess several times, the Profound Energy armor he condensed bing stronger and stronger. Slowly, a vague pair of wings formed. Although the effort was insufficient, it was enough to escape Lang Jies clutches and send a stunning chop at thetter with his sword, forcing the wolf spirit to dodge.
The other seven Eagle Knights immediately dashed in to assist their leader. Getting into formation with Meng Hng, they managed to surround Lang Jie.
The eight of them were Superior Grade Generals, at the very least. Working together, they formed a powerful formation that could already take on a King. This allowed Deputy Warden Lie Feng and his group of prison guards to concentrate on fighting the other wolf spirits.
Unfortunately, there were too many animal spirits attacking. Furthermore, they were scattered all over the mountain prison. This assault was much more violent than the previous one. Besieged by so many powerful Wolf Generals, the mountain prison seemed doomed.
Lie Feng had a feeling that Smoke Signal Mountain Prison would be no more after this battle. In fact, he expected to die this time.
I just hope my son gets his wish; then, my death will not be in vain!the man thought to himself.
One could not help feeling sorry for this father.
Just when many guards were at the end of their rope, a loud voice thundered, Kill whoever invades my mountain prison!
The prison warden, Wan Tianlong, had arrived.
Riding his bull spirit, Wan Tianlong shed his way through the wolf pack, ughtering a row of wolf spirits each time. One could not tell that this man was on the brink of death.
When many prison guards saw him, their spirits recovered, and they repeated his war cry in unison, Kill whoever invades my mountain prison!
The warden was their pir of strength; Lie Fangs prestige was in no wayparable.
As thetter watched the armored warden in action, bitterness filled his heart.
Arroo!
Lang Jie howled in anger, leading the rest of the wolves to follow suit. The baying reverberated, terrorizing many.
The wolves scattered, attacking all the humans and devouring them, apparently determined to eradicate the people in the mountain prison.
The prisoners in the cellblocks panicked and started trying to escape. Wan Lanxin led her troop of thirty guards to patrol the entire prison, killing dozens of these prisoners on the spot. Shemanded, Kill without mercy any prisoner who tries to escape!
Even her heavy armor could not conceal her sexy, slender figure. She looked valiant and saucy on her snow leopard, brandishing her spear with one hand.
Some prisoners were stunned by this sweet-looking officer who killed without batting an eyelid, and dared not make any bold moves.
The womans mind, though, was on Yang Wu in block 7, so she continued to that cellblock without stopping.
Along the way, a number of prisoners perished under her spear. She might be ady, but she was a true warrior capable of killing.
Besides those escapees, she also took down the wolf spirits that crossed her path. Herbat prowess was equal to a Medial Grade Generals.
In short order, she killed her way to block 7.
Block 7 was in close proximity to block 8, and the closest to the battlefield. So, it had the most wolf spiritsas many as dozensventuring into this area, devouring many prisoners.
While most prisoners were fleeing in fear, a young man battled eight wolf spirits by himself with a ck puppy perched on his shoulder, thus calming the nerves of many prisoners.
When Wan Lanxin reached block 7, a startling sight greeted her. A bare-chested young man was suppressing a Spirit Warrior wolf under his feet with his hands and using the thick chains binding his legs to smash the wolf. Then, he twisted off the wolfs head, leaving the corpse in two pieces.
The man was covered in blood, but a Profound Energy cicada shell was vaguely visible underneath it. He was like a growing young dragon revealing its might for the first time!
Chapter 50: Killing the Wolf General
Chapter 50: Killing the Wolf General
Being unjustly imprisoned was supposed to be a dead end for the young Yang Wu, ultimately leading to a miserable death. However, the situationsing one after the other in the prison gave him room to breathe, recuperate, and be stronger. When the opportunity came, he would definitely get out of this ce and cast off his prisonerbel.
Yang Wu did not want to divert so much of his attention to the wolf spirits invading cellblock 7, but he could not bear to watch so many prisoners get bitten to death gruesomely. Plus, he wanted to use this opportunity to consolidate his current strength, hence the scene Wan Lanxin witnessed.
Wan Lanxin was not shocked by Yang Wus strength, just happy to know he was doing well.
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After ying the wolf spirit, Yang Wu felt a gaze on him. He turned around to look in Wan Lanxins direction. Seeing the beauty riding on the leopard made his mind wander.
Among his childhood friends, his favorite was Little Snot-Nosed Bug, who always followed him around. Another of his favorites was this big sister, whom he listened to the most. She had the air of a gang leaderstraightforward, enthusiastic, candid, and generous. More importantly, he liked looking at her perfectly matured body, which had a fatal attraction to him as a young kid.
Wan Lanxin was too busy to chat with Yang Wu, as wolf spirits still lingered in the area, causing more casualties. Massacre the wolf spirits! shemanded, raising her spear.
Wan Lanxin spurred her leopard into action, charging toward the nearest wolf spirit and leading her men into battle.
Yang Wu did not want Wan Lanxin to get hurt. Although she was a General, the wolf spirits numbers were increasing, so he needed to relieve some of her pressure. He turned to the surrounding fleeing prisoners and shouted, Whoever helps with killing the wolf spirits will have free food for three days straight on me!
Yang Wu had taken over ck Apes stockpile of Scarlet Steel Rock, which could be exchanged for food. This bounty was a huge incentive for any prisoner.
Most of the prisoners in cellblock 7 were only in the Foot Soldier Realm, but finding Scarlet Steel Rock in this area was no easy task. Theirck of basic provisions was not a problem that martial strength alone could solve.
Xu Jiaohua had barely acquired her position as a puppet leader and certainly did not want to lose it so soon. Naturally, she reinforced his message. Everyone, if you follow what the young master said, we can eat grilled wolf meat tonight.
At the mention of grilled wolf meat, the prisoners eyes gleamed with hunger. They stopped in their tracks and turned around to fight the wolf spirits with their crowbars.
If we kill them all, we will get to eat meat tonight.
Thats right. There are so many of us; why are we afraid? Kill them!
In the blink of an eye, the prisoners separated into a few groups and charged toward the wolf spirits. After all, they had already epted death as their fate; what was there to be afraid of?
The prisoners significantly reduced the load on Wan Lanxin and her men.
Yang Wu did not ck off, either, charging into battle in Wan Lanxins direction. Even if her cultivation was higher than his, he was a man, and a man naturally had to protect women, right?
More and more wolf spirits joined the fight, and a powerful Medial Grade Wolf General appeared. It bit numerous prisoners to death, one after another, even tearing two guards apart alive.
After killing two wolf spirits, Wan Lanxin approached the Wolf General.
Itshed an azure light from its mouth toward Wan Lanxin like a sharp de slicing through the air. The azure light was overbearing, extending ten meters.
Wan Lanxins spear shed with blue light as she wielded it elegantly to parry with three rapid strikes, forcefully breaking the azure light de.
Wan Lanxin was only an Inferior Grade General, so being able to fend off the Wolf Generals attack was already quite a feat.
Wan Lanxins arms trembled.The gap between our grades is truly hard to close. It looks like this will be a desperate struggle!
She gritted her teeth and leaped off the leopards back to plunge from above, executing a Mountain Crushing the Head on the approaching Wolf General.
Wielding her spear, Wan Lanxin charged toward the Wolf General relentlessly. Her leopard did not ease up, either, waiting for the right time to pounce. Given a chance, it would lunge at the Wolf General and pin it down.
On the other hand, Yang Wu was quickly approaching Wan Lanxin. None of the wolf spirits advancing toward him could take more than a single blow, either dying or sustaining severe injuries after a palm strike.
At that moment, he was brimming with unimaginable strength, feeling as if no one below the General Realm could harm him significantly.
Before the wolf spirit behind him could bite his bum, he had already noticed the attack as if he had eyes growing on the back of his head. He executed the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike, unleashing a spiraling force. The Profound Essence drilled into the wolf spirits maw, shattering its teeth and causing its mouth to bleed ferociously.
Oowoowoo!
The wolf spirit crashed to the ground, its body spasming as it howled in pain, clearly rendered hors debat. This was enough to disy the sheer might of Yang Wus palm strike.
Damned chains! Without them, I would be way faster!Yang Wu cursed silently, speeding up his assault. He drew close to Wan Lanxin with much difficulty, only to see that her shoulder had been wed while her spear had fallen to the ground. The situation was dire. Yang Wus heart exploded with rage. Like a lion pouncing on prey, he lunged forward even faster than the leopard, using all his power to catch the Wolf General in a death grip. Exerting his maximum strength through his palms, he roared with rage, You deserve to die for hurting Big Sister Lanxin like this!
Inside Yang Wus peach-pit dantian, mist gushed out from its thousand holes. His twelve major meridians, one minor meridian, and eighty-one acupoints exploded with energy. Nascent Profound Essence converged on his palms, locking the Wolf General in position. Their limbs entangled, the two tumbled to one side.
Yang Wus arm dug into the Wolf Generals body; he wanted to strangle it to a gruesome death.
Nheless, the Wolf General was powerful; after all, it was a Medial Grade Wolf General. Spirit Energy surged from its body to break free from Yang Wu. Its forelimbs iled in the air as it tried to grip the ground to stabilize itself and eat Yang Wu alive. Unfortunately, Yang Wu released it a step before, letting the Wolf General hit a pointed, awl-like rock.
Crash!
The Wolf General rammed into the protruding rock. The awl-like rock shattered, yet the Wolf General did not suffer much injury. It scrambled up from the ground, lunging angrily at Yang Wu to eat the damned human alive with its bleeding maw.
Little Brother Wu, get away! Wan Lanxin shouted in fear as she watched Yang Wu get to his feet. She had retrieved her weapontoote to help him.
As if Yang Wu did not hear her, he firmly nted his feet on the ground, Profound Energy flowing around his body to form a solid cicada armor as his energy peaked. A silhouette seemed to hover over him, eyes set on the rapidly approaching Wolf General. He took up a stance with one hand resembling a dragons fist and the other resembling a turtles flipper. He attacked with abination of the fist and palm at full power. The light-blue energy projected almost seven meters, shing with the Wolf General.
Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art!
This was Yang Wus strongest attack, his final trump card. The power it contained already exceeded that of a Consummate Grade Warrior, reaching the General Realm.
The overbearing force containing Nascent Profound Essence sent the Wolf General flying back, blood spurting from fresh wounds on its body.
Yang Wu failed to kill the Wolf General in one shot. When he wanted to attack again, the Wolf Generals azure energyshed out at him, breaking his cicada armor. Blood spurted.
Wan Lanxin did not have time to worry about Yang Wu. She attacked at full strength, her weapon piercing the wounded Wolf General, opening a bloody hole in its side. The Wolf General growled in pain as her leopard bit it from the other side, the woman and her mount double-teaming the Wolf General.
The Wolf General had a strong vitality, continuing to fight back, knocking Wan Lanxin away and biting several pieces of flesh off the leopard. At this rate, it would swallow alive both Wan Lanxin and her leopard.
On the other hand, Yang Wu immediately stood up again like a persistent cockroach; his wounds healed quickly. He continuously drew water-attributed Profound Energy from the ground and Profound Energy from the surroundings. He had no time to umte energy as he charged forward to execute the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art again, but it was even stronger than before, now vaguely showing the proper form of the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art.
Yang Wu moved so swiftly that water would not ripple if he stepped on it. His arms iled like a dragon turtle swimming; two light-blue energies intertwined and locked on to the Wolf General,shing out with nothing held back.
The Wolf General instinctively sensed the threat. It could no longer spare any attention for the leopard it was nning to devour. It shot energy from its mouth to counter Yang Wus attack, the sh creating concussive sound waves.
Ill kill you! Yang Wu roared, malicecing his voice. His arms moved nonstop as he continuously drew Profound Essence from his peach-pit dantian to power his relentless attacks. Wave after wave of attacks shot out. It was astounding how there seemed to be no limit to his energy.
Yang Wus peach-pit dantian was different from the dantian of a normal cultivator. The amount of energy it could store far surpassed that of others of the same cultivation, possibly even more than a Generals. Apart from that, the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance allowed him to harness the Profound Energy in the surroundings while he fought, enough to sustain him in a drawn-out fight.
Yang Wu nned to keep attacking until he killed the Wolf General. If one strike was not enough, then he would make another, and another, and anotheruntil he exhausted himself.
Simrly, the Wolf General was set on killing Yang Wu. However, despite its greater strength, its power was in decline as its injuries umted; it could not sustain its strength as the fight dragged on as Yang Wu could. The azure energy it released weakened. Eventually, it could only use its body to receive his attacks. Its head rammed Yang Wus abdomen as Yang Wus fist mmed on its eyes.
Yang Wus internal organs ruptured, while the Wolf Generals head shattered.
Covered in blood, he slumped to the ground, utterly drained. Although another wolf spirit was about to pounce on him, he could not even dodge and could only close his eyes and ept his fate.
At that moment, a spear pierced through the wolf spirits neck, pinning it to a rock and killing it!
A refreshing fragrance wafted to Yang Wus nose, and he found himself in a soft and warm embrace.
Chapter 51: The Unexpected Appearance of a Human King
Chapter 51: The Unexpected Appearance of a Human King
Wan Lanxin quickly shoved a medicinal pill into Yang Wus mouth. Worried about his situation, she nagged, Brother Wu, dont be so reckless next time!
At that moment, she could not tell what kind of feelings she had for Yang Wuwas it a sibling-like rtionship or something else?
In any case, she felt like her heart had been torn apart seeing Yang Wu in his current state.
Yang Wu swallowed the pill and circted his profound art to digest it rapidly and activate its medicinal properties. He could heal himself, but with the help of the pill, his wounds healed even faster.
You are my big sister. Obviously, I couldnt just sit and watch when you were in danger. You can help me up; Ill heal in no time! Yang Wu said with a sincere smile.
Stupid little brother! Wan Lanxin chided with watery eyes and helped him sit up. Then, he started regting his breathing and energy as he said, You dont need to worry about me; Im just drained. Go take care of your matters!
Wan Lanxin hesitated. Alright, take care of yourself properly, then. Dont push yourself!
Wan Lanxin was injured herself, but her duties did not allow for a break. She had to clear out the wolf spirits in the area despite her wounds.
Fortunately, the prisoners in cellblock 7 were fired up after Yang Wu promised free food, working together to kill the wolf spirits. Although there were casualties, they managed to kill most of the wolf spirits due to their numerical advantage.
The prisoners help lightened Wan Lanxins load, but there were so many wolf spirits that the task felt endless. Furthermore, more wolf spirits appeared as time passed.
At this point, Yang Wu managed to return to his feet. Furthermore, he had also opened another eight acupoints. He now had a total of eighty-nine acupoints open, and his strength had increased instead of faltering. His physique and the rate at which his strength grew were truly frightening.
When he reached 108 acupoints, he could be a Superior Grade Warrior. Yang Wu wanted to use this asion to temper himself as much as possible and make that breakthrough.
Thanks to the energy in his body and the pill, his wounds were already seventy percent healed. He picked up a crowbar, recalled what Xun Rui told him, and used the wolf spirits as practice targets to further enhance the strength of his Rainstorm Spear Art.
Fast, agile, and fierce, jink like a fleeing hare, with the intensity of roaring thunder and the ferocity of storms! Yang Wu hollered, performing the spear art with increasing speed and ferocity. The might it held grew, gradually being perfected.
Yang Wu became more ferocious as he continued to fight. The crowbar in his hands was like a spear, and numerous wolf spirits died under his hands. The crowbar bent in the process, covered in wolf blood, which demonstrated just how intense the fights were.
Yang Wu could already use the spear art with great facility, finally reaching Perfection, which improved hisbat prowess by a significant margin.
The ability of a cultivator to utilizebat techniques in battle gave them a great advantage over their opponents. The user could not only perform a variety of attacks, making it difficult for the opponent to see through their next move, but also increase their strength, defeating the enemy with ease.
Just when Yang Wu threw away his crowbar and prepared to temper his usage of the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike, he heard a wolf ulting loud enough to startle everyone in the surroundings. The intimidating sound waves frightened everyone, prison guards, prisoners, and wolf spirits alike.
Lang Jie unted its might. Meng Hng and hispanions formation copsed. Two were bitten to death, and three suffered a broken arm or leg. The remaining three were also injured to different extents; no one escaped its wrath.
Meng Hng no longer thought about breaking through to the Earthern Sea Realm. Even if he had a damaged King weapon, he could only run for his life; living was more important.
On the other hand, Wan Tianlong had not fully recovered from his previous injuries; fighting on the battlefield was already a feat for him. How could he resist the Wolf King?
As the wolves were getting the upper hand and a bloodbath was imminent, a Human King appeared. No one could see his face properly, only that his Profound Energy formed wings, making him seem like a roc soaring through the sky as he swooped down on the Wolf King.
The Human Kings Profound Energy was overwhelming, like that of a war god, as he shot out dazzling bursts of light. His strength was equally powerful. When he struck, heaven and earth shook, boulders exploded into shards, and withered trees and weeds were annihted. The wolf spirits felt tremendous pressure, many suddenly exploding and dying on the spot. If Lang Jie had not blocked the attack one step ahead of the Human King, more wolf spirits would have died.
Human King, you dare to ughter my wolves! Do you have a death wish? Lang Jie howled toward the sky.
The sound waves impacted the guards who could not retreat in time, causing them to vomit blood. The powerful Spirit Energy even reduced more than ten heavily wounded guards to puddles of blood and water.
Find the original at bit.ly/3Tfs4P4.
This was clearly Lang Jies revenge for the wolves. The guards paled in fright.
Retreat with your cubs, little wolf! Or else I will purge your kind and grill them to eat! the Human King said in a faintly discernible voice.
The Human King spoke softly, but nobody dared to question his strength. When a General advanced to the Earthern Sea Realm, one would be recognized as a King by heaven, able to manifest wings of Profound Energy and fly. Anyone who could be a King had extraordinarybat power.
Of course, this Human King seemed almost too confident, calling Lang Jie a little wolf in tant provocation.
As expected, Lang Jie was enraged, Spirit Energy extending from its body into wings. Itunched itself into the air and engaged the Human King in a fierce battle.
Ill tear you apart alive! With vicious killing intent, Lang Jie swept its ws downward, forming sharp des slicing the air. As the strong Spirit Energy had the sharpness of the metal attribute, anyone it touched would die immediately.
The Human King pped his wings and jinked as fast as lightning, avoiding Lang Jies attack. At the same time, a fist like a mountain mmed into Lang Jie, its horrific force sending Profound Energy sweeping out in all directions and causing explosions in the sky.
The two Kings fought ferociously in midair. Barely anyone could see the situation clearly, only able to catch the Profound Energy and Spirit Energy shing as they fought.
This battle between the Kings would decide which side was victorious.
It must be that senioring to assist us. What a relief! Lie Feng eximed as he looked to the sky.
He thought that since Wang Jiuzhong was the only King in the entire prison, it had to be him fighting up there.
Wan Tianlong frowned, saying nothing. Inwardly, he was already drafting countermeasures for the situation. If what Lie Feng said was true and this King was the one from the bloody pit, it was not good news for him.
On the other hand, Meng Hng spectated the fight despite his injuries, his eyes burning with desire, wishing he could soon enter their ranks, able to fly and fight in the sky.
In another direction, Wang Jiuzhong was just about to leave with Lie Ziying, but he chose to stay and watch from a hiding ce when he saw that a Human King had appeared.
They are so powerful! Lie Ziying could not help but sigh.
Wang Jiuzhong sneered in dissatisfaction, When I recover to my peak, I can ughter them like cattle!
Lie Ziying immediately began bootlicking. Right, Master is the strongest.
The fight between the Kings soon ended. The Wolf King was no match for the Human King, and the Human King hammered it into cellblock 7.
The prisoners in cellblock 7 panicked.
The Human King gasped, Oh no! Why did I m that beast in that direction?
The Human King swooped down, his wings forming des pointing toward Lang Jie, not giving it another chance to kill.
However, Yang Wu and Wan Lanxin were too near Lang Jie and had no chance to escape before it locked on to them. It growled coldly, This King will eat humans as my revenge!
Dodging the wing attack, the Wolf King leaped toward Wan Lanxin and the nearby prison guards.
Wan Lanxins countenance was as pale as snow while the leopard cowered, prostrate in fear, unable to move. The prison guards fell to the ground, some so petrified that they even wet their pants.
A Wolf King was approaching; who would have the guts to face it head-on?
One young man jumped in front of Wan Lanxin as if he did not care about dying, his stalwart figure unyielding.
If you want to eat my big sister, eat me first! Yang Wu hollered at Lang Jie, his eyes full of determination.
Brother Wu, get out of its way! Wan Lanxin cried hoarsely.
Lang Jie looked at Yang Wu without a sliver of pity, its bloodthirsty fangs already looming over him.
Woof!
At some point, a small ck dog appeared beside the young man, bristling its fur, ring, and barking at the golden Wolf King.
Its barks were not threatening, even sounding a little childish, far from the might of a wolfs howl, but in Lang Jies ears, that bark was like a crack of thunder. The Wolf King froze in its tracks and withdrew its Spirit Energy. It no longer dared to bite the young man or the others.
At the same time, the Human King attacked again, and the blow sent Lang Jie shooting into the distance.
Dust and dirt flew everywhere, along with the powerful force.
The dirt and rocks battered the young mans body, but he stood his ground, protecting the woman behind him.
Lang Jie was heavily wounded and dared not to make any more trouble. With a single howl, it disengaged from the battle with the Human King and looked in the direction of the young manrather, the ck dog on his shoulder. Fearful, it quickly fled.
When the Wolf King wanted to escape, who could stop it?
Apparently realizing something, the Human King nced at the young man, then shook his head and pped his mighty wings to chase the Wolf King.
Since the Wolf King had fled, the other wolf spirits did not dare to linger, scrambling to retreat. The prison guards snapped back to their senses and pursued the wolf spirits.
The Human King forced the Wolf King into retreat! Lets kill these wolf spirits to avenge our dead brothers!
Right! Kill them all, or more of us will die the next time they attack.
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The fierce battle ended, but the prisony in ruins.
The Human King disappeared while Wang Jiuzhong showed up and attacked a few Wolf Generals, tearing them apart and swallowing them alive, giving the prison guards the impression that the Human King who had chased off the Wolf King was Wang Jiuzhong.
Just like this, Wang Jiuzhong became the prisons savior.
Under a dry pine tree, an old man sang as he drank wine from his gourd. Drunk under an old pine tree, I am free. Watch the hostilities and smoke signals; see how the world changes as time crinkles. Yet the grudge between races always rekindles
Chapter 52: Delivering the Challenge Letter
Chapter 52: Delivering the Challenge Letter
After the wolf hordes assault, more than half of the mountain prison guards were injured or dead. There were also many fatalities among the prisoners. It could be said that this was the worst the mountain prison had been in thest ten years.
Taking the opportunity provided by the need to report this vital matter to the imperial court, Meng Hng and the others left hurriedly.
Previously, Meng Hng entertained ideas of taking down the King-level treasure. But since Wang Jiuzhong was the living King-level treasure, Meng Hng did not dare to fight him.
As for Yang Wu, Meng Hng hadpletely forgotten about him, not taking him to heart at all.
Wan Tianlong knew that after this incident, the management of the mountain prison would be reassigned. The imperial court would definitely send new people. He was not sure if he could keep his position as warden.
On the other hand, Lie Feng and Lie Ziying, that father-and-son pair, gained many followers because Lie Ziying had taken a King as his master, something glorious.
Many guard captains and squad leaders would take shelter under Lie Feng. Thus, Wan Tianlongs influence would inevitably decline.
Wan Tianlong ignored these matters for the time being. As long as he was the warden, he had to manage the prison well. He ordered the merger of the cellblocks, reducing sixty-eight cellblocks to seventeen, to lighten the workload of the prison guards and make things easier to manage.
This was done only as ast resort since the prison guards had been decimated, and the imperial courts reinforcement would take some time to arrive. As for the Barbarian Suppression Army, it lost people all year round. Borrowing people from it would be even more difficult.
Just like that, adjacent cellblocks were merged; cellblocks 1, 2, 3, and 4 became one, and cellblocks 5, 6, 7, and 8 became one. Due to this, the prisoners in the merged cellblocks could visit more freely. New frictions could definitely break out. But after the great battle, the prisons management had be even stricter. And in the wake of this crisis, everyone just wanted to live in peace.
Yang Wu was in cellblock 7, but he paid these matters no mind. After he fought beside Wan Lanxin, they went their separate ways.
As the wardens daughter, Wan Lanxin really should not associate with him too much. Besides, many people were waiting for an opportunity to make trouble. Wan Lanxin and Yang Wu were not fools, so they became more cautious.
Moreover, they had just encountered a Wolf King. They were still in shock and needed a little time to calm down.
When Wan Lanxin left Yang Wu, she still did not forget to make a strongmitment to helping Yang Wu cast off his prisoner status as soon as possible.
Yang Wu believed in Wan Lanxins generosity, but he did not expect too much. He knew very well that he could only rely on himself to have a chance.
Ever since the Wolf King was forced away, Yang Wu had been meditating. Firstly, he had to recoverpletely from his injuries. Secondly, he had managed to open more acupoints during his battle with the Wolf General and wanted to maintain the trend of continuous self-improvement.
Three days had passed. All this time, Yang Wu had been outside the stone hut in the Dragon Turtle Water Suppressing Stance while circting the Supreme Nine Profound Art. Since he had absorbed the Nascent Profound Essence, the Supreme Nine Profound Art could circte without his conscious effort. If he deliberately drove it, the result was even more powerful.
A puddle of water had already formed on the ground where Yang Wu stood. Anyone who saw this would be amazed. How could there be any water on this arid mountaintop?
During these three days of meditation, Yang Wu had not only recovered from his injuries but also opened a total of ny-nine acupoints, leaving only nine acupoints to 108 acupoints.
Energy whirlpools formed in his body; the energy they contained was incredibly vast, no less than that of a Consummate Grade Warrior.
These past three days, he managed to open ten acupoints. If other people knew, they would be shocked. However, he was not satisfied because if the absorbed energy had not been used for healing, he would have already be a Superior Grade Warrior.
Little ck dog, you havee to steal my wine again. Just go away already. This old man does not have much left. I cannot waste it on you.
Hey! Hey! Thats enough. If you chase me again, dont me me for what happens next. Dont think that I cannot teach you a lesson with my old arms and legs. This old man is an expert who can capture dragons with his hands and step on tigers with his feet. Argh! You bit my butt again! It hurts! Yang Wu, you brat, why arent youing quickly to help me? Dont you want me as your younger brothers teacher?
Xun Rui was staying in Yang Wus stone hut. Currently, he was being chased and nipped by a puppy.
Xun Rui had asked Yang Wu for three things: to eat meat, to stay in a stone hut, and to have a beautiful woman to wait on him.
Yang Wu met his requests. He had collected a Wolf General and several carcasses of Wolf Soldiers among the ughtered wolf spirits. After skinning and sun-drying them, he ended up with a lot of meat, arge portion of which he gave to Xun Rui. Furthermore, he let Xun Rui stay in his stone hut and had Xu Jiaohua wait on him.
Xun Rui was a cheeky, perverted old man who did not hold back. From time to time, he would take some wolf meat, roast it over the fire, and eat it. He would also make Xu Jiaohua massage his legs and back. And asionally, he would sneak a pinch on her bum, making her screech.
Yang Wu ignored Xun Ruis antics. In his heart, he considered Xun Rui as half an expert despite his reservations. He just hoped that this old man revered by his little brother had some ability so that honoring him in prison this way would not be in vain.
This carefree old mans greatest fear was Sooty poaching the wine in his wine gourd. To date, he had managed to protect his winebut not his bum. He was often bitten and would burst out in yelps again and again.
Yang Wu helplessly stopped practicing and entered the stone hut. There, he saw Sooty biting Xun Rui. Senior Xun, you drink your wine every day. Im afraid it has already bottomed out. If you just let Sooty take a sniff, the puppy will lose interest. There is no need for you two to keep squabbling.
This gourd of wine is a rarity. How can it be wasted on the dog? Ugh! Quickly tell it to let go of me! Xun Rui said while swinging his bum, trying to throw off the puppy.
Sooty, thats enough! Come here! Yang Wu called out.
Sooty obeyed Yang Wu. It released Xun Ruis bum and jumped onto Yang Wus shoulder. However, the puppy still stared at the wine gourd in Xun Ruis death grip, its tongue lolling out, obviously still coveting the wine.
Yang Wu petted Sooty andforted it, saying, Just wait until we get out of this ce. I will give you many vats of aged wine to taste. There is no need to care so much about that small amount of inferior wine.
Woof! Woof! Sooty responded with its head lowered.
Xun Rui rubbed his bum andughed, This gourd contains an immortal wine. Ordinary wines cannotpare to it.
Sooty barked, looking like it would pounce again and try to snatch the wine and scaring Xun Rui into leaving the stone hut in a hurry. But he still did not forget to say, I am staying away from the ck dog to protect my bum!
Senior Xun, that King from before, was it you? Yang Wu suddenly asked him.
Xun Rui turned around, straightened his rather bent waist, and answered with a dignified air, Uh Little Wu is rather perceptive and actually knew that that King was me?
Yang Wu looked at Xun Ruis unkempt appearance and sighed, If you were a King, you would not be staying here. My imagination just ran wild.
Three days ago, a King fought with the Wolf King. Yang Wu, like everyone else, did not clearly see the appearance of the King. But he felt the voice of the King and Xun Ruis sounded simr. That was why he asked such a question.
Little Wu, why are you looking at me like that? Why dont you think I am a King now? I am just assuming the appearance of an ordinary person! Xun Rui scolded. Then, he noticed Sooty looking like it would pounce again and sped away like his feet had oil under them.
Yang Wu pped his forehead. In no mood to pay attention to Xun Rui and Sooty, he went down the mountain to look for Xu Jiaohua.
Xu Jiaohua quickly appeared before him, wearing simple prisoner clothes revealing half of her quivering bosom. It was quite a view. No wonder that old man Xun Rui is always trying to take advantage of her.
Xu Jiaohua bowed and asked in a charming voice, Young Master, why are you looking for me?
Xu Jiaohua gazed at her outstanding master. Her heart felt restless and unbearable. She yearned to spend a night with this young master. Unfortunately, the master did not favor a fallen woman like her.
You said before that cellblock 7 can challenge the bosses from higher cellblocks by wagering Scarlet Steel Rock, right? Yang Wu asked.
With a nod, Xu Jiaohua replied, Yes, Master. After a pause, she asked, Dont tell me Young Master ns to issue a challenge now?
Yang Wu gave a light nod and replied, Thats right. Tell me about the bosses of cellblocks 5 and 6.
Not daring to hide anything, Xu Jiaohua reported everything she knew to Yang Wu.
The boss of cellblock 6 was Zhou Xuelong, also known as One-Eyed Dragon. He was as strong as ck Ape. Rumor had it that he really liked to drink blood. In cellblock 6, there were frequently strange urrences where a prisoner would turn up dead, drained of blood. Someone even imed to have seen this boss biting a person.
The cellblock 5 boss, Slouching Wang Bajin, was an old prisoner who had been imprisoned for more than five years. He had long since umted fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, enough to join the Death Legion and make contributions to erase his crimes. However, this guy chose to pass his days in this prison. It seemed he wanted to remain here until he died.
ording to Xu Jiaohua, these two were in the Consummate Grade Warrior Realm. Slouching Wang Bajin was already close to the General Realm and was fully capable of being one of the top three bosses, but he just did not have the drive for it.
I see. Deliver a challenge letter to both of them on my behalf. Tell them I will bet all the Scarlet Steel Rock I have. If the two of them win, they can divide it between themselves. If I win, they have to give me ten tons of Scarlet Steel Rock each! Yang Wu said in a deep voice.
Currently, he had thirty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock. If he lost, he would lose all that ck Ape left behind. However, if he won, he would umte fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, so it did not matter if his bet was ten tons more than both of theirsbined. He was just worried they would refuse to ept the joint challenge.
He did this not because he was baselessly thinking highly of himself, but because after fighting and killing ck Ape and a Medial Grade Wolf General, he now had the confidence to take on these two prison bosses.
Young Master, isntisnt this too hasty. You can challenge one of them first, Xu Jiaohua advised.
She was afraid Yang Wu would be defeated, and she would suffer again.
With a dismissive wave of his hand, Yang Wu said, Just go ahead and deliver the challenge letter.
Although he had to umte Scarlet Steel Rock, he also wanted to continue honing hisbat skills through battle. Once he left this prison, he would have to atone for his crime by joining the Death Legion, which had an eighty percent mortality rate. If he was not capable enough, he would not survive the battlefield and return.
He did not want to die on the battlefield when he had yet to reunite with his family, find Snot-Nosed Bug, his childhood sweetheart, and have kids with her.
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Chapter 53: Not Too Dumb, After All
Chapter 53: Not Too Dumb, After All
Yang Wu had challenged the fifth- and sixth-ranked prison bosses!
This news spread like wildfire through the new cellblock 2.
Who is Yang Wu? He actually dares to challenge two bosses at the same time; has his brain overheated? No other boss dares to do that.
I heard hes the brat who ughtered ck Ape. He must be quite capable, or he wouldnt dare do something like this.
Does he really thinks hes all that? Even the first-ranked boss wouldnt have an easy victory if those two bosses teamed up. Who does Yang Wu think he is?
Well know when they fight in two days. I heard the day the Death Legiones to take people ising in half a month; that Yang Wu is probably desperate to leave for him to be this daring!
The name of Yang Wu soon became famous among the prisoners of the new cellblock 2. Even if he died, this batch of prisoners would remember him.
Yang Wu ignored these unfounded rumors, training steadily. The Rainstorm Spear Art had reached Perfection, but the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike was only at the Proficient stage, still some distance from Aplishment.
Aside from practicing hisbat techniques these past two days, he relied on the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance to break through six more acupoints, leaving him only a step away from 108 acupoints.
The night before the decisive battle, Yang Wu and Xun Rui were barbecuing wolf meat. Actually, Xu Jiaohua was the one barbecuing it for them; they were only responsible for eating it.
Xu Jiaohua secretly scolded in her heart, Theyre really ungentlemanly.
Xu Jiaohua was skilled in cooking. Even without seasonings, her barbecue was still delicious.
Xun Rui said without a single bit of modesty, Come,e, Little Wu`zi, little ck dog, this old man invites you to eat wolf meat. Dont stand on ceremony; just eat.
Every time Yang Wu heard Little Wu`zi, which was simr to the address for eunuchs, his face would darken. No man would tolerate it, but this old man seemed to have gotten addicted to calling him that.
[TL Note: In imperial China, eunuchs would be castrated before they could serve as eunuchs. They would stop using their old names and be addressed as Little (family name)zi or (family name) Gonggong, which means Eunuch (family name). The first form of address is reserved for the eunuchs master and those in power. This is a somewhat demeaning form of address, as it is only used with those inferior. However, eunuchs did hold some influence and power in the imperial court, so the first form of address would not be appropriate for their subordinates. Hence, the second form of address, which is more respectful.]
As for Sooty, it couldnt endure Xun Rui anymore and straightforwardly pounced over to bite him.
Xun Rui dodged left and right, yelling, Little ck dog, I told you to stop pestering this old man; otherwise, Ill barbecue you too.
It would have been fine if he hadnt spoken; the more he talked, the fiercer Sooty became. They seemed to be natural enemies, always making sparks fly.
Here, Young Master! Xu Jiaohua said gently, passing some barbecued meat over to Yang Wu.
Yang Wu received it and replied, Thanks.
He chomped down the wolf meat inrge mouthfuls. The profound art broke down the boundless energy in the meat, allowing it to gradually seep into his skin and flesh and strengthen his vitality.
Animal spirits had naturally strong physiques; frequent consumption of their meat could temper ones body and prolong life. These were not necessarily empty words. Powerful animal spirits were excellent tonics that could directly increase ones Profound Energy.
What Yang Wu was eating was Wolf General meat, so the energy it contained was considerable. Even just a small amount was enough to strengthen his body.
If not for his ridiculously overpowered peach-pit dantian, absorbing the wolf meats energy would already be enough to increase his strength.
Yang Wu ate an entire five kilograms of wolf meat before feeling sated. Then, he stood up and practiced the Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike, one palm after another hitting the air and producing sharp whistling, that strong spiraling force directly exploding and cracking nearby rocks.
The spectating Xu Jiaohua couldnt help praising it; this level of skill was extraordinary in her eyes.
Xun Rui ignored Sooty, who was biting him, and took a piece of barbecued meat in his hands. As he devoured it, he looked at Yang Wu disdainfully and chided, Its fancy but impractical!
Xu Jiaohua proimed injustice on behalf of Yang Wu. Youck insight; the young masters palm technique is already perfect.
Littledy, what do you know? Look at him. Fine, he has a nice stance, but he moves like a monkey ying with a big knife; its all a mess and not worth mentioning! Xun Rui said, criticizing Yang Wu from head to toe.
You old fart, do you really think youre all that just because the young master tolerates you? Xu Jiaohua countered, displeased.
She had nursedints in her heart about serving this old man these days, so she took the opportunity to vent her anger.
Littledy, you are truly ignorant. This palm technique is a water-attributed palm technique; the water attribute relies heavily on borrowing the opponents strength to attack, oveing hardness with softness. He is currently blindly taking the path of hardness, so how can he grasp the essence of this palm technique? Its such a waste of this palm technique! Xun Rui said while digging his ear.
Xu Jiaohua said, If you are that capable, then why dont you demonstrate and show me, expand my horizons? Youre just sitting around, talking without doing!
Xun Rui smiled and said, Just take it as me speaking nonsense. Quickly,e and massage my legs. That little ck dog bit me so bad.
Xu Jiaohua didnt take Xun Ruis words seriously, but Yang Wu did. He had been listeninglistening intentlythen pondered Xun Ruis words, feeling they made a lot of sense.
The Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike did indeed draw its power from water-attributed Profound Energy. Yang Wu had believed he was supposed to take the hard route with this palm technique. However, after hearing Xun Ruis words, he now felt there really was a problem with the direction of his practice, so he tried changing. At the same time, he took the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art to verify it. The Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art was another technique that used water-attributed Profound Energy and was already imprinted in his mind. He had already confirmed that improving one could also improve the other.
Yang Wus palm technique was slowly changing. His movements slowed down, but the spiraling force elerated. His palm strikes started to acquire an indescribable sense of depth.
Xun Rui watched Yang Wu out of the corner of his eyes, muttering with a faint smile on his face, Not too dumb, after all.
Forgetting everything else, Yang Wu practiced for two hours, bing more and more adept at the palm technique. The palm strike grew stronger and stronger, the Profound Energy in the palm forming a vortex. With a strong spiraling force, the palmnded on the rock. A palm print appeared on that rock; however, the area around it did not burst into pieces, unlike before.
Yang Wu paused, looking at that rock intently, then smiled. There is hardness in softness; indeed, it is so.
After a while, that piece of rock turned into a mass of powder. The palm technique had entered the Aplished stage, its might rising a level higher.
Yang Wu wanted to thank Xun Rui but found that this old man was already in the stone hut, snoring in his sleep.
He looked at Xu Jiaohua, who was sitting in a daze, and said, Xu Jiaohua, properly serve Elder Xun; you will definitely benefit.
Still thinking Yang Wu would be the one giving her the benefit, Xu Jiaohua winked at him and said, Thank you, Young Master.
Not bothering with her further, Yang Wu gestured to Sooty. When the puppy jumped onto his shoulder, he habitually petted its head and said, You go check up on Skinny Monkey and Xiaoman. You dont always have to stay by my side.
Woof woof! Sooty licked Yang Wus palm and barked twice before jumping off Yang Wus shoulder and running toward the original cellblock 68.
Yang Wu raised his head to look at the dark sky and murmured, I hope you all are alright. I will definitely bring you all out of this ce; its a promise!
Yang Wu was so confident because he had been tempered and had grown in the process of killing, and he had already acquired the heart of an expert.
The night passed and dawn came. A new day had begun.
After his daily absorption of propitious energy, Yang Wu started down the mountain. Although he still had shackles on his legs, he had a musky smell that intoxicated Xu Jiaohua, who was following behind him.
After Yang Wu brought Xu Jiaohua down the mountain, Fatty Dong and ten other prisoners respectfully weed him, calling out, Greetings, Young Master!
Everyone was a prisoner in the prison; probably only Yang Wu would dare call himself a young master.
From now on, you are all part of the Wuhou Gang, not the ck Ape Gang. Remember, your boss wille over in the near future. At that time, you must also treat him this respectfully; if not, dont me me for being harsh! Yang Wu said calmly to Fatty Dong and the rest.
Yes, Young Master! the crowd replied in unison.
After witnessing Yang Wus strength, they no longer dared to doubt his words. Who could fight hundreds of men by himself? Who could finish off ck Ape in one blow? Who could kill a Wolf General?
This young man, who had juste of age, in front of them had done all this. This ce, which could hold prisoners for a lifetime, would most likely not be unable to trap this growing young dragon.
You know what Im doing; Im going to challenge Wang Bajin and Zhou Xuelong. Do you want toe along? Yang Wu asked the group of prisoners.
We will follow the young master and go together! Fatty Dong and the group of prisoners replied.
They wanted to see whether Yang Wu really could fight those two by himself and be the new cellblock 2s boss. If he won, they would undoubtedly have a good time; if he lost, all they had to do was follow someone else. They did not have much to lose.
Yang Wu smiled, not stopping them from following. The group thus proceeded with great fanfare toward Wang Bajins mountain.
The challenge venue was in Wang Bajins territory, as his ranking was higher than Yang Wus and Zhou Xuelongs.
Yang Wus group made their way over. Along the way, many prisoners saw them and gossiped.
The youth in the lead is Yang Wu? Does the expert who ughtered ck Ape really have such a small frame?
It should be him. Hes pretty handsome. I dont know what he did to be thrown in here. What a pity!
Yang Wu wants to challenge Boss Wang and Boss Long simultaneously. This match cant be missed! Lets hurry over to watch.
He is fighting against two alone, simply seeking his death!
Yang Wu ignored the idle chatter. He passed by Zhou Xuelongs territorythe original cellblock 6, one block higher than cellblock 7. The prisoners held here were a tad stronger.
Here, Yang Wu faced an obstructiona hundred prisoners blocking his way. The twelve people at their lead had a ferocious air. It was obvious at a nce that they were up to no good.
Xu Jiaohua went up to negotiate. Ge Hu, what are you all doing? Still not clearing a path for us.
Ge Hu, the leader of these people, was one of the Twelve Guardians under Zhou Xuelong. A man of about forty years old, he was tall and burly, with a ferocious tiger tattooed on his arm, making him rtively intimidating.
[TL Note: Interesting detail, the Hu in Ge Hu means tiger. The tattoo might be a reference to his name.]
Ge Hu looked yfully at Xu Jiaohua and said, So, it is Xu Jiaohua. Your figure is so alluring. If you dont want to die, thene and have some fun with this great me. As for that brat who wants to challenge our boss, hes a fool daydreaming.
Xu Jiaohua wanted to reply, but Yang Wu had already walked toward Ge Hu and swung the crowbar toward Ge Hus head, saying domineeringly, Fight!
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Chapter 54: You Have Bad Breath
Chapter 54: You Have Bad Breath
In the area of the original cell block 5, two gang leaders sat togetherSlouching Wang Bajin and One-Eyed Dragon Zhou Xuelong.
Wang Bajin slouched badly and looked old. He held a metal walking stick propped on the floor, supporting his body as if he would fall over any moment without it.
Zhou Xuelong, on the other hand, had a blind eye covered by a ck cloth as well as an extraordinary great saber slung on his back. The sinister air around him and his bared teeth made him look like he would devour someone alive at any moment.
Both were Consummate Grade Warriors, and ranking higher than ck Ape was sufficient proof they were at least on the same level or even stronger than ck Ape.
A prisoner ran over and reported, Bosses, Yang Wu already started heading over and was intercepted by Ge Hu and hispany.
Zhou Xuelong bared his teeth. If he cant even get through Ge Hu, then he is not worthy to face us.
Of the thirty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, you take twenty tons; I only want ten! Wang Bajin croaked weakly.
Are you nning to conserve your strength, Brother Wang? Zhou Xuelong asked.
Im old. I want to save my strength to live a few more years, Wang Bajin replied.
Oh, dont pull my leg, Brother Wang. Since you dont want to fight, Ill teach the kid his ce on your behalf. But we should stick to splitting the Scarlet Steel Rock equally; I dont dare take advantage of you! Zhou Xuelong said courteously.
There was no way he would believe Wang Bajin was telling the truth. They had fought before, and he was no match for the slouching man. The old man was probably only a step away from the General Realm. Perhaps one day, he would ascend to the next realm and truly leave the prison for the Death Legion.
Im getting older and have no use for so much Scarlet Steel Rock, butthe people under me need to eat! Wang Bajin sighed again.
Zhou Xuelongs face twitched. If thats the case, Ill take just ten tons, and Brother Wang can take twenty.
Wang Bajins half-lidded eyes opened as heughed, Little Zhou, you are a thoughtful one! I see potential in you.
Deep down in his heart, Zhou Xuelong wanted to eat the old man alive, but he had to force a smile, not daring to show his dissatisfaction.
Another half an hour passed, and a prisoner rushed in with news. The situation is bad, bosses. Ge Hu and his bunch have been defeated.
A bunch of useless losers! Zhou Xuelong bellowed.
He hade alone, leaving his Twelve Guardians to intercept and kill Yang Wus group. Now that they were defeated, he was very unhappy.
At this point, Yang Wu had already appeared in the distance with Xu Jiaohua and Fatty Dong.
Yang Wu dragged a crowbar over the ground, holding his head high. There was fresh blood on his chest, but it came from Ge Hu, whom he dragged with his other hand.
Ge Hu, Zhou Xuelongs strongestckey, and another eleven were called the Twelve Guardians, all at least Medial Grade Warriors. They led hundreds ofckeys to block Yang Wu, thinking they could kill him that way. Unfortunately, they severely underestimated his strength. Yang Wu wasted no time and immediately began fighting. Although Ge Hu was a Superior Grade Warrior, he could notst more than one round with Yang Wu, beaten up within a few strikes.
Ge Hu was dumbfounded by his utter weakness when he couldst more than ten moves against Zhou Xuelong.
After his defeat, the others reacted and began attacking. However, Yang Wu was like a wolf among a flock of sheep, swinging the crowbar and executing his Perfected Rainstorm Spear Art, his attacks fast and fierce, making the prisoners cry for their mothers.
Yang Wu was too strong; every strike surpassed ten cauldrons of force. He swept through his opponents with ease.
The Twelve Guardians were no match for him even when they fought him together, all defeated within a single move.
Zhou Xuelongs men were frightened to death, losing their earlier drive.
Xu Jiaohua and Fatty Dong took advantage of this moment and charged into the enemy along with Yang Wu while the enemy was still shocked senseless and unable to retaliate.
Yang Wu did not want to waste any more time on theckeys and headed toward the challenge grounds, dragging Ge Hu along upside down.
Wang Bajin did not order his men to block their path, but there were still many onlookers. When they saw the young man dragging Ge Hu like a dead dog, they felt anxious.
Thats Ge Hu! How did the strongest Guardian under Boss Zhou get beaten up so badly?
That youngster seems to be Yang Wu, the one who challenged the two bosses. He sure is brave.
In front of those two, he is digging his own grave.
BossBoss, save me! Ge Hu, whom Yang Wu was holding upside down by his ankles, cried for help upon seeing Zhou Xuelong.
Zhou Xuelong frowned at the sight of his strongest Guardian and hollered at Yang Wu, Release him immediately or die!
Yang Wu raised his head and called out in the direction of Wang Bajin and Zhou Xuelong, Yang Wu is here for the challenge!
As he finished, he swung Ge Hu toward the two like a sandbag.
Ahhh! Ge Hu shrieked. A yellowish-white substance soiled his pants and even spewed out. An extremely foul stench spread through the area, the stink grossing people out.
Scrunching his nose, Zhou Xuelong punched the air and sent Ge Hu flying to the side with his Profound Energy.
What a tragedy for Ge Hu to be treated like this by his boss!
Zhou Xuelong was truly a cruel, ruthless master.
Zhou Xuelong leaped down. He stared intently at Yang Wu with a murderous gaze and bared bloody teeth. I heard that a young boy killed ck Ape. Now, it seems it wasnt a rumor. Im sure your blood will taste delicious when I devour you.
My blood obviously tastes better than yours; its a shame you will never get a chance to try it! Yang Wu responded, his ck hair flying behind him. He paused and looked at Wang Bajin. Wang Bajin, Zhou Xuelong, I heard you two lead gangs. Today, I formally challenge you, and if you win, my thirty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock will be split between you two. If you two lose, you only have to give me ten tons of Scarlet Steel Rock each; everyone here bears witness!
Yang Wus air of confidence had the female prisoners gazing at him with admiration.
Hah, you sure seem confident. If you hand over thirty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, I can allow you to be my subordinate; otherwise, dont think about getting away in one piece! Zhou Xuelong guffawed maniacally.
Your breath stinks! Yang Wu said seriously, pinching his nose.
Zhou Xuelong red at him. What did you say?!
I said, your breath stinks. Please keep your mouth shut! Yang Wu repeated.
It really stinks! Fatty Dong chimed in from behind, also pinching his nose.
It stinks so bad Im going to faint! Xu Jiaohua said, covering her nose and mouth.
They were not lying, as Zhou Xuelong did have bad breath, but it was taboo to mention it before him since doing so would enrage him.
Kneel or die! Zhou Xuelong roared with rage.
Dont waste any more time and fight. Stop talking! It smells worse than a pile of shit! Yang Wu could not bear it any longer.
You can go die! Zhou Xuelong was incensed. He let out a roar, stalking toward Yang Wu, thrusting his hands at Yang Wus neck.
Although it seemed like Zhou Xuelong was just reaching out with his bare hands, he had actually gathered bloody, baleful energy between his hands. They looked like a pair of bloody ws, inspiring fear.
Unfortunately, this little bit of baleful energy was nothing to Yang Wu. He faced it with the crowbar in his hands upraised, unflinching.
Yang Wu did not hold back at all, and a blinding, powerful blue light shot toward Zhou Xuelongs ws.
Zhou Xuelongs ws shed with the crowbar, and blood sttered from his fingers. He yanked back his hands in pain.
How can this brat be so strong? Zhou Xuelong yelped. After retreating a few steps, he unsheathed his great saber to kill Yang Wu, no longer holding back.
Yang Wu did not move to stop Zhou Xuelong from drawing his saber and even nced calmly at Wang Bajin, who had yet to join the fight. You should fight me together; Zhou Xuelong alone is too easy.
Before Wang Bajin could speak, Zhou Xuelong was already seething. How dare you look down on me?! Ill split your head in half!
I told you to stop opening your mouth! Yang Wu yelled, scowling and swinging his crowbar at Zhou Xuelongs mouth.
Argh!
Zhou Xuelongs teeth shattered, and blood spilled everywhere. His mouth was a mess, proof of how hard the blow was.
Oomph! Zhou Xuelong covered his bleeding mouth and started backing away. It was painful even to the onlookers.
Wang Bajin, who was falling asleep,pletely woke up, showing a smile uglier than a crying face. Im old and cantpete with you kids, but if you are going to take ten tons of Scarlet Steel Rock away, I have to put my old life on the line and fight.
Wang Bajin walked over, starting out slow, but his pace picked up rapidly, with no trace of his weak facade from moments ago.
Haha, you shouldve joined in earlier! Yang Wuughed, readying his crowbar.
As Wang Bajin approached Yang Wu, he stomped on the ground. A deep hole appeared, sand and rocks spraying at Yang Wu.
This was a trick to throw the enemy off bnce.
Yang Wu narrowed his eyes, sweeping the sand in front of him away with his crowbar. Wang Bajin immediately attacked.
Perfect Bnce!
Wang Bajins crowbar teetered on his hands like a bnce scale, moving up and down, confusing the eye. Two clumps of Profound Energy appeared, connected to each other, a total of five meters long; the energy they contained was extraordinary.
Yang Wu did not dodge. His crowbar shone with blue light as he parried the attacks as quickly as falling raindrops in a storm.
With Xun Ruis advice, Yang Wu had mastered the Rainstorm Spear Art to Perfection, and hisbat prowess could now match a Generals, so he had nothing to fear when facing Wang Bajin.
Zhou Xuelong hung back, waiting for an opportunity with his saber unsheathed. When Yang Wu revealed an opening, Zhou Xuelong struck, attempting to cut him in half.
Young Master, behind you! Xu Jiaohua yelped in rm.
Yang Wu avoided the attack as if he had eyes on the back of his head, mming his back against Zhou Xuelongs chest to send him flying.
At the same time, Wang Bajin curled into a ball, his slouching back helping him roll near Yang Wus feet. He grabbed Yang Wu by the legs and sneered, Ill tear you apart alive!
He exerted more force in his arms, trying to split Yang Wu in half from his legs.
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Chapter 55: Unless You—Yang Wu—Can Gain Absolute Authority over the World
Chapter 55: Unless You¡ªYang Wu¡ªCan Gain Absolute Authority over the World
Faint blue veins appeared in Wang Bajins arms as he poured Profound Energy into them in an all-out effort to tear Yang Wu in half.
Just when he thought he could kill the young man, the young mans legs, which he was holding, became akin to an old pine tree deeply rooted in the soilso steady and strong that he could not tear them apart.
Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance!
This stance could be considered an ultimate stance for holding ones ground. Yang Wus feet were nailed to thend as he absorbed water-attributed Profound Energy. The power within his legs was extremely overbearing; even Wang Bajin, with his thirteen cauldrons of strength, could not shake them free.
Yang Wu crouched down, and a force rushed up from the soles of his feet. His body, which was bent like a bow, sprung up and seemed to draw two water dragons out of the ground.
Dragon Turtle Absorption!
This was an evolution of the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance Yang Wu developed in his mind.
The instant Yang Wu leaped, he dragged Wang Bajin into the air, as the old man had yet to let go. Yang Wu crisscrossed his feet, twisting the water dragons into a deadly chain strangling Wang Bajin.
Yang Wu yelled, Kill! The young mans feet were like a pair of sharp scissors and, together with the water chain, strangled Wang Bajin till he was suffocating and bleeding. The old man resisted stubbornly, clutching the chain with all his strength to protect his throat. He hadnt felt death looming in a long time.
M-Mercy! Wang Bajin gasped with difficulty, begging for leniency.
Wang Bajin was afraid of death. Otherwise, he would not have remained in the mountain prison and foregone the chance to join the Death Legion to kill the Barbarians and rid himself of his prisoner status.
He was waiting to break through to the General Realm before joining the army, as he would be more confident of surviving in this way.
But right now, he was about to die, and that made him very sore.
Yang Wu was no murderous madman. The moment Wang Bajin begged for mercy, Yang Wu loosened his grip and released him.
Once Wang Bajin was free of the chain, a gleam shed in his eyes, and his curved back mmed into Yang Wu.
Back Crushing Mountain!
This was a General ssbat technique that Wang Bajin practiced, which was especially suitable with his slouch. Its impact could break a boulder; this technique was the most powerful in his arsenal.
Yang Wu hadnt expected Wang Bajin to be so despicable as to flip his position the moment he released Wang Bajin. As he was already in close contact with thetter, he took the full brunt of the sudden attack and flew over four meters away beforeing to a stop.
Despicable! Xu Jiaohua and Fatty Dong both eximed in anger simultaneously.
They had witnessed Yang Wus overwhelming victory over Zhou Xuelong and Wang Bajin and were already anticipating him bing the new block 2s boss. Hence, Yang Wus soft-heartedness at this critical moment came as a big disappointment.
Haha, how inexperienced! How can one still be soft-hearted in a ce like this? Ill leave you with an intact corpseter! Wang Bajinughed hysterically. Raising his crowbar, he ran toward the young man, determined to finish off thetter once and for all.
Kill him! Ouch! shouted Zhou Xuelong, who had gotten up already. However, he ended up tearing his wound open, which forced out an involuntary scream and made him tear up in pain.
Just as Wang Bajins crowbar was about to hit Yang Wu, thetter flipped over, already a step ahead, bounced up from the ground, and met the crowbar with a palm strike containing spiraling force.
Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strike!
The energy from the young mans palm surged, concealing the spiraling force.
The palm and the crowbar crossed paths, the Profound Energies of the two sides shing. Wang Bajin released the crowbar as the web between his thumb and index finger tore and bled.
The terrified Wang Bajin backed off hastily without a second thought, wanting to concede defeat. s, as soon as he opened his mouth, the rebounding crowbar shot into his oral cavity like an arrow and pierced through his skull directly. He died before he could even scream!
This scene stunned Zhou Xuelong and the other prisoners into utter silence, frightened beyond words. The method was too cruel and fierce; none of them could have prevented it.
Yang Wu looked at the corpse on the ground without any pity on his face. He had given Wang Bajin an opportunity, but thetter had not cherished it.
Dismissing the dead man on the ground, he turned to Zhou Xuelong. Thetter, a murderous man who feasted on human flesh, bent his knees and knelt down immediately, saying, I give up, I give up!
At the moment, he couldnt care less about the pain in his mouth. Preserving his life was more important.
He would have fought to the death if he were roughly equal to Yang Wu or even slightly weaker. However, the gap between them was too vast; how could he fight when they were on different levels of power?
Admitting defeat is good. Remember to send over twenty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock to me! Yang Wumented with a faint smile.
Dont worry. Ill have them all delivered today! Zhou Xuelong promised with a kowtow.
Thats good. Behave and dont give me any trouble. Otherwise, Ill make you regret it! After Yang Wu warned the man, he looked toward block 1. After some hesitation, he decided to return to his ce first.
He wanted to fight his way into block 1 immediately. But on second thought, he decided not to rush into action. The impact of Wang Bajins attack had seriously injured him, so he had to take time to recover. If he were to barge into block 1 for a challenge, the inmates there might just swarm and ughter him easily.
He had now experienced fighting off hundreds of enemies alone. However, the inmates inside block 1 were stronger and more vicious, and he wasnt so arrogant as topletely dismiss them.
It was better to proceed step by step.
The prisoners gathered all around to watch hadnt expected the one-on-two challenge to end so swiftly. Furthermore, it was a routto their disappointment. At the same time, they were in fearful awe of the young man. They had never imagined that a man at such a tender age could easily defeat a Consummate Grade Warrior. If he continued to grow, wouldnt that mean a General would not be able to stop him?
It was a pity that the young man was just a prisoner. Even if he could leave the mountain prison, he might not survive after joining the Death Legion.
Just as Yang Wu was about to depart, a prisoner stepped forward and knelt. Salutations to Boss Yang Wu.
This startled the rest of the prisoners back to their senses. Since the young man had defeated two bosses in a row, he was now their boss. All the prisoners knelt and proimed, Salutations to Boss Yang Wu!
The prison guards heard the promation at a distance, but most turned a deaf ear to it as ordered.
Yang Wu didnt want to be a boss, though, so he said to them, Im not your boss, but from now on, you can join my Wuhou Gang. Youll find out who your new boss is soon enough.
His background was sensitive, so even after he was reduced to a prisoner, he didnt want to be entangled with these people. For him, a true bond with Skinny Monkey, Xiaoman, and Xun Rui was sufficient.
The young man returned to his summit in search of Xun Rui.
The old man was hugging his gourd, fast asleep on the floor, sunk in sweet dreams.
Yang Wu did not disturb him and just sat in a meditative pose outside the stone hut to recuperate from his injuries.
Meanwhile, Xu Jiaohua, Fatty Dong, and the rest supervised the prisoners delivery of Scarlet Steel Rock.
The young man had already gathered fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, so he could hand them over, walk out of the prison, and join the Death Legion anytime to rue contributions to negate his crimes.
Many powerful prisoners longed for such a day. Unfortunately, they did not have the young mans ridiculousbat prowess and thus could only endure the hardship and serve out their jail term.
Yang Wu didnt meditate for long before his wounds were almost healed. Xun Rui had yet to wake up when Sooty returned with a rag in its mouth. The young man took the rag and found some words written in charcoal on it: Everything is well. Young Master need not worry!
The written characters were delicate and neat, so he reckoned the message came from Xiaoman.
Smiling, he muttered to himself, It is good that they are safe and sound. I ought to find an opportunity to speak to Big Sister Lanxin about giving them some conveniences.
Hey, your little dog is here to steal the wine in my gourd again. How annoying! Xun Ruis exmation came from the hut. Obviously, Sooty had ambushed him again.
The little ck dog failed to steal the wine from the gourd; however, Xun Ruis bum suffered a number of bites.
Sooty, stop fooling around, Yang Wu ordered from outside the hut.
The puppy was very obedient and promptly rushed outside. It skillfully leaped onto Yang Wus shoulder andy down, looking well-behaved and docile.
The young man bowed respectfully toward Xun Rui, who was still inside the hut. Old Master Xun, please offer me some pointers, and Ill forever be grateful to you!
The unkempt old man had twice instructed him on hisbat techniques; hence, Yang Wu was very certain Xun Rui was a grandmaster in hiding. Perhaps the old man might even be a genius like what his brother had told him. If so, Yang Wu had to disy courtesy and humility to get pointers from this old man for his future development.
Xun Rui rolled his eyes momentarily, straightened his slouched posture, and replied with much pomposity, Youngd, you have some foresight, indeed, to realize that this old man here is a hidden expert. Pretty good! Pretty good!
Yang Wu maintained his bow in all seriousness. I seek your kind advice.
Xun Rui asked, Whatbat technique do you need advice on? Demonstrate it to me. I may provide some advice if Im in a good mood.
I would like you to point the way forward! Yang Wu replied.
Tsk tsk, how greedy! Xun Rui clicked his tongue. After pausing for a while, he added, Ill listen to your story on ount of those three things you have done for me.
Raising his head, Yang Wu said, I, Yang Wu, son of Yang Zhennan, am a viscount. After I refused an offer to marry into the imperial family, I was framed by unscrupulous people and imprisoned.
The young man rted his life affairs to the old man without holding anything back. He had shared these stories with only Wan Lanxin; Xun Rui was the second to hear them.
As Xun Rui listened, the wretched smile on his face remained unchanged; however, his wise eyes sparkled from time to time, seemingly in unfathomable contemtion or spection.
This is my story in general. I sincerely ask for your advice on how to go forward and cannot thank you enough! After saying that, Yang Wu bowed deeply to Xun Rui again.
You arent much different from me when I first came here! the old manmented with a sigh. Then, he continued, Now that you have collected fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, you can join the Death Legion and rue contributions by killing Barbarians. It wont be difficult for you to clear your crime. However, if you want revenge and the recovery of the Yang ns glory, it will be more than just difficult, unless
Unless what? Yang Wu asked eagerly.
Unless youYang Wucan gain absolute authority over the world!
How do I do that?
Shake the status quo with the Barbarian tribes, shock the imperial court and the ordinary people, gain political power, and change the world!
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Chapter 56: Lang Jie Is Willing to Be a Mount
Chapter 56: Lang Jie Is Willing to Be a Mount
Shake the status quo with the barbarian tribes, shock the imperial court and the ordinary people, gain political power, and change the world!
How domineering and amazing these words sounded. But how many people could actually do this?
Yang Wu was not a fool. He could discern the meaning of these words. He also understood that Xun Rui was right. Clenching his fist tightly, he said, I will definitely be able to achieve these things one day, but I am afraid that day will take too long to arrive. I beg Teacher to give me some guidance!
Yang Wu had changed his manner of address from Senior Xun to Teacher, a clear indication that his regard for Xun Rui in his mind had changed entirely.
Hehe, you think too highly of me. I am a tactician, not a martial arts expert. I can plot gains and losses for the near future. I can strategize your affairs for a hundred years. But I have no idea how to help you gain political power! Xun Rui smiled with wise, old eyes.
Then, I implore Teacher to n my affairs for theing year, Yang Wu replied. He had set a goal for himself to not only cast off his convict status within a year but also return to Royal City and reestablish the Yang ns social status.
One year might seem like a very short time, but Yang Wu was very confident due to the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art. Of course, there was also Sooty.
These days, it just stayed by his side and had not taken out any aged herbs or spiritual pills. However, he believed Sooty had its own reasons for doing so. Perhaps as long as it was willing, it could bring him those aged herbs and spiritual pills at any time.
Your foundation in the martial arts is good. You have also umted enough Scarlet Steel Rock. You just have to survive in the Death Legion, and you can have an unfettered life. It wouldnt be toote to form a nter. Why are you in such a hurry to aplish them in a year? Xun Rui asked.
Yang Wu took a deep breath and replied, I can afford to wait, but my parents and younger brother cannot!
What a loving, filial son! Then, I will draft a n for you for theing year, Xun Rui said with a look of appreciation.
After that, he opened his wine gourd and took a sip. Only then did he say with a look of high spirits, The world believes that this Wild Tactician wrote the Twenty-four Volumes on An Opinion Piece on the Nations Disastrous Mistakes to mislead and harm people. They do not understand the principle of using strong medicine to cure a stubborn disease. Your own affairs are a bit smaller than those of a nation, but the basis is the same. You offended the nobility. That is your first crime. You caused your parents to lose their noble title. That is your second crime. Your third one is that you caused your younger brother to lose his top schr title. If you do not resolve these three crimes, you will never find peace. However, the root of the three crimes is actually the first crime. With your current strength, survival is difficult; it will not be easy to clear your name. Although you have umted fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock, you will die in the Death Legion. The imperial n will never let you live well. Even the girl shielding you wont be able to do anything.
You could have followed my initial advice. You would rue enough contributions to be amander in three years and a junior general in five years. In ten years, you would be a lieutenant general in the Barbarian Suppression Army. You could return home in glory and be granted the title of a marquis. The imperial court would not dare to find trouble with you then, and the imperial n would definitely give you a satisfactory way out. But if you want to attain these ten years worth of achievements in just one year, it will undoubtedly be even more difficult than ascending to heaven. Well, since you have decided on one year, you must be prepared to work hardand risk your life. That means always being at the vanguard of the cannon fodder and bing a warlord of death. If you can do it, you will certainly achieve great things.
In high spirits, Xun Rui borated on the n. He seemed ten years younger, unlike the way he was before.
What a wise man! Yang Wu could not help praising Xun Rui in his heart.
If Xun Rui could hear Yang Wus praise, he would grin from ear to ear for many days and nights.
Vanguard of the cannon fodder and warlord of death? Yang Wu murmured.
Thats right. The Death Legion consists of prisoners and functions to charge recklessly and break through enemy lines. Battles against the barbarians are basically a way of sending the prisoners to their deaths. Those who survive are either crippled or insane. Very few remain intact. However, more than ten years ago, a true warlord of death appearedsomeone who fullyprehended the Death Dao and became a King. So to intimidate the barbarians, the imperial court made him a marquis with the authority to kill first and reportter! Xun Rui told him calmly.
The Death Warlord of the top ten! Yang Wu eximed in surprise.
The Xia Dynasty had ten powerful Kings. The Death Warlord ranked third among them, and no one could rival him in the Death Dao. Even after twenty years, he was still famous.
Yes, thats him! Xun Rui responded with a nod. For others, bing a General in one year already made them a genius. The word difficult cannot cover the challenge of bing a warlord of death. That Death Warlord was in the Death Legion for ten years before bing one, killing his way in the path of a warlord. For you to achieve it in just one year would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. I advise you not to take that path. It would be safer to take things step by step, Xun Rui suggested.
Yang Wu said with a look of determination, Since this is the quickest path avable, I will have to take it even if it leads to the gates of hell. The other paths will take too long, and Im afraid they cannot wait that long.
Yang Wu did not care about his life, but his parents and little brother might not be able to afford the wait. Besides, that little Snot-Nosed Bug far away was still waiting for him. In three years, he would definitely reach the peak he was now looking up to and reunite with his family with a beauty in tow.
There are thousands upon thousands of paths, but only one is suitable for you. Since you have already chosen, you had better forge ahead. At the end of the path of death, you will see the light! After that, Xun Rui said no more and headed down the mountain with wobbly steps.
Yang Wu bowed deeply toward Xun Ruis back, and when he looked up, he could no longer see the old mans figure.
At nightfall, Yang Wu sat alone on the summit, looking out into the darkness. From time to time, he could hear wolf howlsing from the prisons perimeter, but his mind was very calm.
He recalled the torture he had gone through when he arrived at the prison, then how he had mysteriously obtained the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art, also gaining Sooty, a dog spirit, by his side. All this contributed to regaining his self-confidence, improving his cultivation to the Warrior Realm, and giving him the strength of a General. He had defeated the prison bosses and umted fifty tons of Scarlet Steel Rock. He could leave this terrible ce anytime; however, there were Skinny Monkey and Xiaoman. He had promised to take them with him. He did not want to go back on his word, but his time was limited. He wavered momentarily.
Since Yang Wu came from a noble background and experienced many hardships, he was already very wise for his age. It was not in his nature to be indecisive like this, but he valued friendship and righteousness. This was deeply rooted in his bones. He did not want to break his promise to anyone.
Then, lets collect one hundred more tons of Scarlet Steel Rock for them! Yang Wu said while looking into the quiet moonlight.
Right then, he made a firm resolution in his heart.
Although he dearly wanted to leave the prison, he did not feel right leaving those two behind.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared in the dark sky. Yang Wus heart shook with fright. The Supreme Nine Profound Art immediately circted at its maximum as he prepared to attack that shadow, forming a dragon head with one hand and a turtle flipper with the other. Hemented in his heart, I did not expect to die like this!
However, before he could attack, Sooty barked from his shoulder. Woof! Woof!
The bark was not loud, carrying only a few meters, and no one would have cared. Nheless, the shadow was already falling fast from the sky. Dropping heavily on the ground on all fours, it whimpered, Awoo
Yang Wu stared at the figure with wide eyes, his mind struggling to catch up. He thought with surprise, Did this viscounts domineering aura shock this Wolf King into kneeling like this?
The young man had overthought. In reality, Lang Jie was not looking at him but at Sooty on his shoulder.
Woof! Woof! Sooty glowered with its small eyes and barked again like it was saying something to Lang Jie.
Lang Jie nodded repeatedly, just like a big harmless dog.
Yang Wu finally understood that this oue had nothing to do with him. He nced aside at the puppy and said, Sooty, it came here to see you, right?
Sooty nodded cleverly, wagged its tail, and rubbed against Yang Wus ear as if proud to take the credit.
Then, does it listen to you? Yang Wu asked because he could see that Lang Jie had a deferential attitude toward Sooty, just like meeting a ruler.
Sooty responded with another nod.
Yang Wu was delighted and immediately said, Then, let it stay as a mount.
When he was very young, Yang Wu greatly admired those experts who could subdue sapient spirits to use as mounts. Riding astride a powerful mount and dashing down the road, full of vigor and confidence, would make many beautiful women fall for him.
It was just that sapient spirits are sentient beings. Since subduing them required a strongbat prowessas well as a fateful opportunitymaking one submit was very difficult.
Most sapient spirit mounts were raised and trained from infancy. Those mounts were not inferior in spiritual intelligence, but they had lost some of their wildness.
There was a Wolf King right in front of Yang Wu, and he wanted it to be a mount. If other people knew, they would scold him, saying, You are delusional!
However, if they saw what happened next, their jaws would drop to the ground in shock.
Lang Jie is willing to be your mount! Lang Jie spat out the words.
Yang Wu gaped,pletely dumbfounded.
He was just kidding, but this Wolf King actually took it seriously. He was at a loss as to what to do.
Woof! Woof! Sooty barked again, giving Lang Jie a disdainful look. The Wolf King was so scared that it just continued kneeling, not daring to make another sound.
Yang Wu finally recovered his senses. He confirmed that this Wolf King was very afraid of Sooty. He wondered doubtfully, Could Sooty be the heir of the wolf races leader?
But, no matter how he looked at it, Sooty did not look like a wolf at all, devoid of any resemnce.
Just then, the Wolf King spat out something. Yang Wus eyes widened, and he eximed, Is Is this a Wolf Companion Blood Crystal?
A Wolf Companion Blood Crystal was an energy crystal condensed by a Wolf King when it broke through. It contained vast energy and could be called a King ss object.
Just as Yang Wu said those words, Sooty ran over and swallowed that fist-sized Wolf Companion Blood Crystal in one gulp. Yang Wu felt a pang at the sight.
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Chapter 57: Wolf Companion Blood Crystal for Tempering the Body
Chapter 57: Wolf Companion Blood Crystal for Tempering the Body
The Wolf Companion Blood Crystal was the size of a fist, with blood strands running along its sides. Shining and translucent, this precious stone was formed with the blood of the Wolf King and could be considered a King ss object.
When an ordinary wolf spirit swallowed this Wolf Companion Blood Crystal, not only would its bloodline improve, but its strength would also increase significantly, improving its chances of bing a Spirit King.
It could be said that such a Wolf Companion Blood Crystal was a rare find, one that could bring a human great benefits when refining the physical body.
Yang Wu didnt just cultivate. Since childhood, he often read with his brother, except that his brother read schrly books while he read books about all kinds of fantastic oddities. Hence, he recognized the Wolf Companion Blood Crystal that Lang Jie spat out at a nce.
So how could he not feel a pang at the sight of Sooty simply gulping down such a precious treasure?
With just a teeny bit of this rare treasure, he could temper his body further. This held great benefits without any downsides for him.
Fortunately, Sooty wasnt one who only thought of itself. The dog quickly returned and spat out a thumb-sized Wolf Companion Blood Crystal from its mouth. The young man snatched it up and said, Hey, Sooty, this piece of King ss object may not mean anything to you, but this doesnt mean you can behave like a prodigal, you know. With such a big piece, couldnt you have left a little for Skinny Monkey and Xiaoman, too, on top of giving me some?
The puppy stuck out its tongue, revealing two pieces of blood crystals nestled inside its mouth, then quickly rolled its tongue in.
Yang Wuughed heartily and stroked the dog gently. I was wrong to me you. After a pause, he nced at Lang Jie, still sprawled on the ground, not daring to move, and asked Sooty, What should we do with it?
The young man dearly wanted the Wolf King as his mount, but he dared not stand out too much. If he did, he would definitely kick up a storm, and he still wanted to get rid of his prisoner status openly.
Sooty rolled its eyes, then barked a few times at Lang Jie, which nodded submissively to the orders. A whileter, it stood up and said in the human tongue, Heres a wolf fang; please ept it. Itll prevent you from being attacked by my pack, and you can look for me anytime in my territory.
After saying that, it spat out a ratherrge wolf fang to Yang Wu and, after giving Sooty a reluctant nce, took off into the night sky.
The young man picked up the sharp wolf fang andmented delightedly, Now, I have an amnesty token for the wolves!
This rare opportunity that fell into hisp was really a pleasant surprise.
At the moment, what he wanted most was to use this piece of Wolf Companion Blood Crystal. He knew he couldnt devour it the way Sooty had; its Spirit Energy would immediately finish him off. To use it to temper his body, he had to soak it in water first.
However, it was difficult to bathe in the prison, so where could he find water to soak the item for tempering his body?
It looks like I have to trouble Big Sister Lanxin! Yang Wu thought to himself.
He found a piece of rag in short order, wrote a few words on it with charcoal, and then handed it to the little ck dog. Sooty, help me to pass this to my big sister tomorrow.
The dog took the rag in its mouth and nodded.
That night, Yang Wu could not meditate, so he practiced hisbat techniques all night instead and greeted the morning sun the next day.
That morning, he did not sit to absorb the morning propitious energy. As he stood with his palms behind his back, the propitious energy sank into his body automatically.
Right then, he opened another seven acupoints, just two short of 108.
Despite staying up all night, Yang Wu was sprightly, energetic, and radiant, his mind not the slightest bit sluggish.
Around this time, a prison guard carrying a tub came up the mountain speedily.
This prison guard was very young, around the same age as Yang Wu. He would not be considered handsome, but his tough, resolute air made him more attractive the longer one looked at him.
This young prison guard put the tub in front of Yang Wu and said with an unkind scowl, I dont know what your rtionship with Captain Wan is, but I hope you understand your position and dont implicate her in your affairs.
After saying that, the young guard turned around without waiting for Yang Wus reply and strode down the mountain.
Yang Wu watched the figure depart andughed, This must be another youth charmed by Big Sister Lanxin.
Just then, Sooty scampered in from outside, appearing in front of him with something clenched between its jaws. ncing at the puppy, he said with a cocked brow, Sooty, youre finally willing to get me some aged herbs for nourishment, arent you?
What the dog had in its mouth was aged frost gathering grass, an herb for countering heatiness. Although it was not as precious as blood ginseng, it was valued for its mild, cooling properties, which helped to reduce heatiness, and was easy to absorb.
[TL Note: Heaty and cooling are concepts from traditional Chinese medicine. All foods are categorized into two categories, heaty and cooling. The basis for this is the concept of Yin and Yang. Too much of either can result in problems, so a bnce needs to be achieved. This concept is not present in modern Western medicine. Here is an article exining this concept further and some examples: /heaty/.]
The ck puppy gesticted with its front paws, apparently telling the young man to throw the herb into the tub.
Yang Wu understood. You want me to use this frost gathering grass together with the Wolf Companion Blood Crystal?
The dog nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Alright! The young man knew that Sooty would not do anything to harm him, so he agreed and carried the tub into the stone hut. After throwing the thumb-sized blood crystal and the grass inside, he stripped, stepped into the tub, and assumed the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance to absorb the water-attributed Profound Energy in the ground below him. Even a General Realm cultivator might not have this ability to draw water out of the ground like that.
For most of the day, the young man stood with his full concentration. The water inside the tub grew from damp patches into a puddle, then rose to his knees. Eventually, water filled the tub to the brim.
Yang Wu submerged himself in the water, feelingpletelyfortable. His mental and physical fatigue was swept away in an instant. Inside his body, the peach-pit dantian was absorbing the water-attributed Profound Energy, with the meridians and acupoints humming in synchronicity. He could open a total of 108 acupoints and enter the Superior Grade Warrior Realm anytime.
He held the Wolf Companion Blood Crystal in his palm and crushed it into pieces. The instant the blood crystal shattered, Spirit Energy escaped into the air to manifest a dark shadow in the shape of a wolf prancing toward him with sneering ws and jaws. Others would have been terrified in this situation, but Yang Wu was already prepared; he had worn the wolf fang on his chest. This was a wolf fang from before Lang Jie became a Wolf King. Although it wasnt a King ss item, it was still a Consummate Grade General ss fang. Not only could the wolf fang resist the wolf spirits Spirit Energy, but it could also calm his heart.
The Spirit Energy disappeared before it could get close to the young man. The energy from the blood crystal began to disperse, instantly turning the water in the tub crimson. The water started to boil without warning.
Hiss!
The young man felt like he was inside a steamer. The boiling water was so hot that it made him scream and spasm. He wanted to jump out of the tub for fear of dying.
He endured the excruciating pain, gritting his teeth and thinking to himself, I survived the bloody aura. This pain is nothing!
The Wolf Companion Blood Crystal was only the size of a thumb, but its energy was sufficient to temper a Generals body. As Yang Wu was just in the Warrior Realm, it naturally was enough for him.
The blood crystal had heaty properties while the frost gathering grass was cooling in nature. The herb started to work its effect around this time, producing wisps of cold energy that slightly reduced the heatiness inside the tub. Otherwise, the heat from the water would have been terrifying, beyond the tolerance of a General, much less Yang Wus.
Yang Wu discarded all distracting thoughts. He circted the Supreme Nine Profound Art with all his might and took up the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance to absorb the energy that prated his body.
With thebination of the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance, the energy inside of the tub was continuously absorbed into his pores and eventually reached the peach-pit dantian. The Profound Essence released from the thousands of tiny holes in his dantian was like rosy clouds, which was truly mystical.
While this energy strengthened the peach-pit dantian, more seeped into the young mans flesh and viscera, strengthening these little by little, making them incredibly tough.
As Yang Wu endured the pain of the high heat on his flesh, he could also sense his Mental Energy improving. Otherwise, he couldnt have withstood the pain and would have fainted on the spot. Even if the scalding did not kill him, he would have wasted all this energy.
Another half day passed and night descended. The redness of the water in the tub finally subsided, and the water no longer boiled.
The young man remained standing, his face no longer evincing pain. There was a faint figure of a dragon turtle behind him, but it was so faint that it was almost imperceptible.
Suddenly, the water inside the tub stirred once more. This time, it did not boil but swirled rapidly like a whirlpool. After rising to a certain level, the water overflowed. Yang Wu opened his eyes, and the tub burst.
Bang!
The water spilled all over the ce as a robust, well-bnced, and perfect body revealed itself.
Bursts of unusual noises like tens of thousands of arrows whizzing through the air resounded. Then, a spate of swirling vortexes appeared, motes of light dappling his body like stars and finally forming a long, spectacr rainbow.
Rainbow-Strung Acupoints!
This was a sign unique to the breakthrough to the Superior Grade Warrior Realm.
Yang Wu opened fourteen acupoints in a row, breaking through the limit of 108 acupoints to reach 120 acupoints. Profound Energy swirled rapidly in each acupoint. In fact, the Profound Energy in the twelve major meridians and the minor meridian was like a raging river.
In addition, another meridian seemed to be reacting slightly; unfortunately, the energy could not clear it.
Yang Wu opened his eyes, which were like twoser beams cutting through the night. The area three hundred meters or so outside the hut was clearly visible to him. A soft sound reached his ears, the sound of the prisoners sleeping inside their dens.
Its totally different once one reaches the Superior Grade Warrior Realm. Now, I can go to those higher-ranked prison bosses for a wager. Lets see if theyre willing to contribute the Scarlet Steel Rock they collected, he muttered to himself.
After putting on his prison clothes, he executed a few Spiraling Waves Rending Palm Strikes. The Profound Energy sent out from the center of his palms was remarkably dense, and the spiraling force was sufficient to drill through a Generals Profound Armor.
Aside from that, the cicada armor around him appeared sturdy and strong, resembling a Generals Profound Armor. This naturally meant that his defense had risen by several levels.
Patting the blue shell and his tough physical body, Yang Wu smiled. This body is impervious, right?
After that, he assumed the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance again and began visualizing the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art. He made tremendous gains each time he revisited thisbat art. This was truly a supreme secret technique.
The next day, before Yang Wu could challenge block 1, someone over there came to look for trouble first.
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Chapter 58: Looking for Trouble
Chapter 58: Looking for Trouble
The new cellblock 1 was a merger of the first four cellblocks, and everyone expected the four bosses to be at loggerheads.
However, none of this happened. The four bosses had only met once, and there was no conflict. Everyone got along peacefully in cellblock 1.
What had happened, though, was that their four gangs became an alliance with four leadersthe original four bosses. As such, they had to learn to coexist.
These four leaders were Swift Feet Ai Feili, who was originally ranked first, Zombie Han Wuqing, Little Ugly Girl Shi Lengmei, and the barbarian Shi Taisheng.
Ai Feili was a pirate known for his speed and boasting the strength of a General, before he was imprisoned. Right before his capture, he had been injured severely by imperial court experts and regressed to the Consummate Grade Warrior Realm. Even then, he still stood out within the Warrior Realm, making him worthy of his position as the first-ranked boss.
Just like his name, Han Wuqing was truly cold and ruthless. In merely his thirties or forties, he already wore an expression as stiff as a corpse, as if his heart had died long ago. This earned him the nickname Zombie, and he would kill a man without even batting an eyelid.
Little Ugly Girl Shi Lengmei was a disfigured woman, but there was nothing toin about her physique. She had curves in all the right ces and left nothing to the imagination. If she had not been disfigured, she would have been a femme fatale.
As for the barbarian Shi Taisheng, he was a prisoner of war. His Barbarian Energy was iparably powerful; he could overpower a General without question.
These four people were much more powerful than Slouching Wang Bajin, One-Eyed Dragon Zhou Xuelong, and ck Ape.
After their alliance, they wanted to divide the Scarlet Steel Rock from the prisoners among themselves equally, no longer satisfied with the status quo where the Scarlet Steel Rock was shared among the prisons seven bosses. Hence, they sent their people to the new cellblock 2 to exact tribute from the bosses of the new block 2.
This time, not many had been sent from cellblock 1only eight peoplebut most of them were Superior Grade Warriors, with one in the Consummate Grade Warrior Realm.
No one dared to stand in the way when such a force wanted to enter block 2. Guo Jingshi, the Consummate Grade Warrior at the lead, yelled domineeringly at the prisoners, Bring your new boss to me, and tell him to pay tribute to our cellblock 1 from now on.
Guo Jingshis attitude was extremely arrogant, as if he owned cellblock 2.
One-Eyed Dragon Zhou Xuelong was still recovering from his severe injuries and did note forward to stop him. He even sent someone to inform Guo Jingshi who the real boss was.
Upon hearing this, Guo Jingshi and his gang went to look for Yang Wu and soon found Xu Jiaohua. As soon as heid his eyes on the beautiful middle-aged woman, his lust blossomed, and he teased, I have heard that ck Ape had a nice little lover. Now, I see the rumors are true. This physique looks like it can handle some tossing. I will take you to block 1 with meter so we can have some fun.
Aside from the four allied bosses, Guo Jingshi was the strongest prisoner around. He considered himself equal to the likes of Wang Bajin, Zhou Xuelong, and ck Ape, and the only reason he was not a boss was that he was under Ai Feilis thumb.
Xu Jiaohua was not a kind person. With her arms akimbo, she retorted, An ugly midget like you wants to subdue me? Why dont you take a piss and look at your reflection before speaking?
At the same time, arge number of prisoners converged around them, ready to attack as soon as Guo Jingshi and his gang dared to make any trouble.
Hehe! Youre a little feisty, arent you? Its alright if you dont like me now; once youve tasted what I have below, I guarantee you will want more! Guo Jingshi sneered, ignoring the prisoners surrounding him.
Screw you! Boys, attack and leave no survivors! Xu Jiaohua ordered with a wave of her hand.
Who dares to? The four bosses from our block have formed an alliance. If you dare to attack, our alliance will take all your Scarlet Steel Rock! Guo Jingshi shouted.
Sure enough, the prisoners flinched at Guo Jingshis threat. Everyone in cellblock 1 was ruthlesseven more so than themand much stronger too. Furthermore, block 1s bosses were notoriously vicious, so they were a little afraid.
What are you so afraid of? They cant cause big trouble. Attack! Xu Jiaohua ordered again.
A battle ensued.
Nearly a hundred people fought eight people. This was not as magnificent as when Yang Wu entered block 7 by himself, but it was a simr sight.
Guo Jingshi and the others came prepared. They were all at least Superior Grade Warriors with extraordinarybat prowess. As they met the attacks of these prisoners, they restrained Xu Jiaohua swiftly. Seeing their leader captured, the other prisoners dared not make any foolish moves.
Bring your new boss to me immediately, or I will kill this woman! Guo Jingshi now looked savage.
A moment ago, he was still thinking about having a good time with Xu Jiaohua, but now he intended to destroy her. He was extremely savage.
Therefore, Fatty Dong climbed up the mountain to seek Yang Wus help in resolving the matter.
When Fatty Dong was halfway up the mountain, Yang Wu was already on his way down. Before Fatty Dong could speak, Yang Wu said, I know everything. Lets talk there.
Yes, Young Master! Fatty Dong felt an inexplicable relief at the sight of the young man before him, as if there was nothing in this mountain prison that this young man could not handle.
Yang Wu stroked Sooty on his shoulder and said softly with a smile, I wanted to take a look at block 1 anyway. Now, I have a good reason to do so.
Very soon, Yang Wu arrived at the scene.
Guo Jingshi was fondling Xu Jiaohuas buttocks with a triumphant, lewd smile. How bouncy!
Ill take it as if Ive been assaulted by a pig! Xu Jiaohua cursed as she endured the abuse.
Thats right. Ill take you backter and assault you properly. Lets see how feisty you can be! Guo Jingshi said with a smile.
The prisoners around looked on with jealousy. They wished they could enjoy the warmth and softness of a woman like Xu Jiaohua.
While there were women in the mountain prison, most were hideous, even old and mutted. A charming woman like Xu Jiaohua was rare.
Young female convicts would be assigned as military prostitutes and would never be sent here.
As Yang Wu came to the front, the prisoners gave way left and right. They hailed in unison and reverence, Young Master!
Everyone else liked to be addressed as boss, but not Yang Wu, so the prisoners present addressed him as Young Master.
Guo Jingshi shot a look full of contempt at Yang Wu. A kid who isnt even fully grown dares to rule here? This is nonsense!
Yang Wu looked at Guo Jingshi calmly and said, Let her go, and I will allow you to crawl back to where you came from in one piece.
Hehe, and what if I dont? Guo Jingshi sneered.
If you dont, you will return with one or two missing body parts. Oryou could just leave your head here! Yang Wu responded.
Such bravado! Come, let me see what youre worth and how you n to leave my head here! As a Consummate Grade Warrior, Guo Jingshi was very confident. He handed Xu Jiaohua to someone behind himself and walked toward Yang Wu.
Guo Jingshi came half a meter before Yang Wu, tore open his shirt, revealing hideous, crisscrossing scars, patted his chest, and said, Ive been fighting since you were getting breastfed who knows where. If you have the ability, try and touch me. See if I dont smash your balls into pieces.
Yang Wu looked at Guo Jingshi and retorted, You are very confident. What if it is your balls that are smashed?
Nonsense. I am the top expert under Boss Ai. If I had wanted to be one of the bosses, I could have been one easily, so youd bettere to your senses and pay Scarlet Steel Rock tribute to cellblock 1 if you want a peaceful life. It wont be toote to make something of yourself once the bosses of our alliance join the Death Legion. As for now, just keep your head down. Dont get in my face just because of your foolish youth. Youll die quicker that way, Guo Jingshi said to Yang Wu as if he was disciplining a junior. At the same time, he stretched out his hand to grab Yang Wus face, not taking Yang Wu seriously at all.
Before his hand could reach Yang Wus face, the young man had already grabbed it. Guo Jingshi frowned as he tried to pull his hand back but failed, no matter how hard he tried. His expression changed slightly, and he clenched his other hand to punch Yang Wus face. His fist glistened with Profound Energy surrounding it, extremely domineering, as he felt determined to teach Yang Wu a lesson.
Unfortunately, before his fist could even graze Yang Wu, the young man had alreadynded a swift kick to his crotch.
Ouch!
Guo Jingshi bounced up in pain at the kick, his legs mped shut. Tears flowed from his eyes as he shrieked, Argh! Its sma-smashed!
His scream was ear-piercing. The prisoners who hade with Guo Jingshi mped their legs instinctively in fright.
Guo Jingshi was a Consummate Grade Warrior with superb reflexes, yet his balls had been smashed by this young man. Was Guo Jingshi too contemptuous of his opponent, or was the young man too strong?
Before Guo Jingshispanions could rush over, Yang Wu had already grabbed Guo Jingshi by the hair and yanked Guo Jingshis head down, mming it into his knee. Blood gushed out of Guo Jingshis nose, and he screamed again.
With a cold expression, Yang Wu said, Before you put on airs in front of this viscount, you should look at yourself and take a proper measure of yourself first!
Once he was done speaking, he threw Guo Jingshi ruthlessly toward the other prisoners from block 1.
Guo Jingshispanions were so shocked that none of them tried to catch him but instead scattered to avoid him. Guo Jingshi crashed to the ground and fainted from the pain.
Yang Wus gaze fell on the prisoner who was still holding Xu Jiaohua and shouted, Why arent you releasing her yet?!
His voice was so imposing and thunderous that that prisoner trembled in fear, releasing Xu Jiaohua and pushing her away.
Everyone will be allowed to leave here after breaking an arm yourself, Yang Wu said indifferently to the group from block 1.
Do you really think youve beaten us? Lets take him down together! someone shouted indignantly, then confronted Yang Wu, brandishing a crowbar.
This crowbar glistened with Profound Energy and shed toward Yang Wus throat like a nimble snake. Just as the man thought he had stabbed Yang Wu, the young man mped the crowbar between just two fingers. This was Sharp Spirit Fingers.
You will leave two arms! As soon as Yang Wu announced the fate of this man, he pulled on the crowbar with both fingers, causing the man to lean forward. With his other hand, he reached out and gripped the mans shoulder. Before the man could react, a powerful force broke his shoulder and crushed it.
Crack!
Argh!
The prisoners screams and the sound of breaking bones ovepped, a chilling noise.
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Chapter 59: My Name Is Yang Wu
Chapter 59: My Name Is Yang Wu
Yang Wu crushed both shoulders of the prisoner on the spot. Several others broke out in a cold sweat at the sound of breaking bones and the prisoners screams.
Yang Wu threw the prisoner to the ground like a dead dog and said coldly to the other retreating prisoners from cellblock 1, Are you not going to break your arms? What are you waiting for?
They hesitated for a bit; then, one of them raised the crowbar in his hand and hit his own arm.
Argh!
After that prisoner broke his own arm, no one else dared to disobey Yang Wu; the others also broke their own arms one after the other. To them, that was better than the young man taking action; they would suffer less this way.
Scram! Yang Wu dismissed them.
They scurried off, almost rolling and crawling away from that ce.
The prisoners in cellblock 2 looked at Yang Wu with reverence. In the future, no one would dare to superficially obey but secretly oppose him.
Yang Wu looked at the injured Xu Jiaohua and said, Well done. No one will trouble you from now on.
Thank you for saving me, Young Master! Xu Jiaohua said gratefully.
Yang Wu responded, From now on, just serve Senior Xun with care.
After saying that, he made a beeline for cellblock 1.
Fatty Dong was very clever and immediately followed him, asking, Is Young Master going to block 1?
Yang Wu nodded, and Fatty Dong expressed his sincere loyalty. Im willing to go with Young Master.
Looking at Fatty Dong, Yang Wu teased, Im going to challenge all of them; do you have the guts to be a part of this?
Fatty Dong shrank his neck and smiled embarrassedly. Thenthen I wont hold Young Master back.
Yang Wu did not get angry butughed, Haha, Fatty Dong, what a nice man you are! You are sincere!
The young man raised his head and walked away. He looked heroic and elegant without the slightest awareness of a sheep entering a den of wolves.
After all, the most powerful prisoners were assigned to cellblock 1. Although no one there had entered the General Realm, many were in the Warrior Realm. Together, they could trample even a General to death.
Some time ago, a Wolf General broke into block 1 and was killed by the prisoners there, which went to show how ferocious these prisoners were.
Last night, Yang Wu broke into the Superior Grade Warrior Realm, and his body had been tempered by the Wolf Companion Blood Crystal. He could ignore everyone below the General Realm now. His ultimate goal for this trip was not only to be the master of all the prisoners but also to hone his skills. He became increasingly aware of hisbative nature and knew that only battle could elerate his growth.
Furthermore, he had to be a warlord of death within a year. This was as difficult as reaching the sky, but he had no choice. He had to go through the killing fields to fight and undergo rebirth.
Yang Wu made his way toward cellblock 1, crossing mountains and rocks, traversing weeds and wildflowers. He was not the least bit nervous. Instead, the thousands of pores of the peach-pit dantian in his body were surging with Profound Essence circting in waves, bringing him to a perfect state.
On his back was an iron crowbar left behind by ck Ape. It weighed half a tonmany times heavier than an ordinary crowbarand would be regarded as an unorthodox weapon.
Yang Wu came to the intersection between blocks 2 and 1. Prison guards patrolled there. Catching sight of him, a prison guard walked over to stop him, but another guard shook his head lightly, preempting the former.
Naturally, Yang Wu noticed this detail, so he crossed the intersection without worries and entered block 1.
There were boundaries between each cellblock, so news naturally did not travel well between blocks. Few cared about the sudden appearance of Yang Wu. They only saw him as a fair-skinned and tender neer, who must have stepped on some influential peoples toes since he was assigned to block 1.
A prisoner walked up to Yang Wu and snarled, New boy, get over here and report your name.
Yang Wu responded with a bright smile, My name is Yang Wu!
Sheep dance? Your family is named after livestock. How interesting! Hurry, bleat like a goat for me. If you do a good job, Ill go easy on you. If you fail, then you have to crawl under my crotch like a dog! the prisoner said arrogantly.
[TL Note: Sheep dance is also yang wu in Chinese, a homophone for Yang Wus name.]
Duck Head, take it easy. This child looks so delicate, you might just make him cry. Let me give him somefort, another prisoner said, winking at Yang Wu.
You old codger, everyone knows you like your meat fresh and tender. Just let me discipline him a little bit, then you can have your way with him! The former prisoner then turned to Yang Wu and said, Hurry, bleat like a goat! This old mans patience is limited. Otherwise, I will throw you over to that old codger so he can bust your flower open.
In that boring ce, the prisoners did not seem to have any other entertainment aside from disciplining neers.
Yang Wu caressed Sooty, which was on his shoulder, and smiled indifferently. Sooty, would you simply endure if someone insulted you?
Woof! Woof! Sooty responded twice, bared its fangs, and jumped off Yang Wus shoulder, pouncing at the man who insulted Yang Wu.
The prisoner only saw a sh before his eyes and felt pain on his face before screaming in agony. Blood trickled down his face.
Sooty had scratched his face with its ws and bitten him on the neck, drawing blood.
The prisoner wanted to catch the puppy. However, although Sootys teeth were small, they were extremely sharp, and they bit through the prisoners neck. Blood fountained with no way to stop it. Thus, the man dropped dead.
This was the first time Yang Wu saw Sooty act with such ferocity, going straight for the kill. He thought to himself, It seems Sooty changed after swallowing the Wolf Companion Blood Crystal.
The prisoner who had just been talking to the dead man called to the others, What a fellow! To think youmanded your dog to bite someone to death?! Everyone, attack together and teach this brat a lesson!
He was the first to swing a crowbar at Sooty, sensing that this little ck dog might be more terrifying than a human being.
Unfortunately, his crowbar did not hit the puppy. Sooty had already leaped towards his neck and was biting away.
The prisoner failed to dodge Sootys quick and ferocious bite. The blood vessels in his neck ruptured, and he bled to death.
The other prisoners were horrified to see this but did not stop advancing. They attacked Sooty with the crowbars in their hands, and some even went to pick a fight with Yang Wu directly, believing that as long as they killed the kid before them, the little ck dog might lose its will to fight.
New brat, how dare you cause trouble in block 1! Kneel! a prisoner yelled, smashing his crowbar toward Yang Wus head.
This blow was extraordinarily powerful, with at least fifteen stones of strength. This was the strength of the weapon of a Consummate Grade Warrior.
Before this powerful blow reached Yang Wu, the young man easily caught the crowbar with one hand. With a gentle pull, the prisoner went flying like dog shit.
Im here for the bosses of your alliance. Please inform them, and youckeys should quit sending yourselves to your deaths! Yang Wu said calmly, looking at the prisoners surrounding him.
The prisoners present had some strength, but they were just riffraff to him.
Some prisoners did not buy it and united against Yang Wu. Wielding crowbars, they attacked with vigorous shouts, aiming at Yang Wus different vital organs.
How stubborn! After this remark, Yang Wu finally made a move.
His palms shot out like the wind, so fast that his figure was barely visible. Before the attacks of the prisonersnded on him, the prisoners were already beaten and scattered all over the ce.
Yang Wu pulled out the crowbar slung on his back and said again, Whoever stands in my way will die!
In the pose of a dragon turtle, Yang Wu seemed to walk on air, speeding up gradually; his chains could not restrain him. The prisoners around him only saw a sh before their eyes. When they looked again, the young man was already thirty meters away.
A prisoner eximed, I know who he is! He is Yang Wu, the new boss of block 2. He killed Guo Jingshi and crippled several other fighters.
What nerve! How dare he barge into block 1 alone?! Lets get him!
He looks powerful. We should report to the four alliance bosses.
------
Some prisoners quickly intercepted Yang Wu, but no sooner had they approached than Yang Wus crowbar swept them up and sted them away. No one could evade the might of his crowbar.
Yang Wu showed no mercy, striking flesh with every blow and making the prisoners howl in pain. Plenty of blood sttered the ground, a shocking sight.
Sooty weaved between people, biting wherever it could. Buttocks got bitten, some arms bled, and some necks were bitten throughno one was spared, and no one could hurt Sooty.
Yang Wu headed due east. Within fifteen minutes, dozens of people sprawled on the ground in his wake, frightening the prisoners so much that they did not dare to block him any longer. A stronger person would have to deal with him.
A barbarian prisoner stormed out and shouted, Who dares to throw his weight around here? Our brothers will tear you up alive!
This time, there were four barbarians, all tall and mighty, possessing shocking Barbarian Energy. They each carried a half-ton boulder, which they hurled at Yang Wu in unison.
These barbarians were all Warriors, and they hurled the rocks with such astonishing force that even a Superior Grade Warrior could be stoned to death.
Four huge boulders fell from the sky like meteors, rushing toward Yang Wu. The young man nted his feet on the ground, taking no evasive action, and swung the crowbar in his hands skyward.
Profound Energy shot out of his crowbar like a heavy rainstorm, sting the four boulders to pieces. The debris flew in every direction, pelting prisoners, and many fled in a panic.
When the boulders cracked, the four barbarians had already surrounded Yang Wu. They swung their fists at him in unison, moving with such harmony that their minds seemed connected.
Profound Energy shot out from the four fists, extending as far as three meters. The Barbarian Energy contained in the blows was brutal. If hit, even a Consummate Grade Warrior would die.
Ill use your fists to try out my newly tempered body! Unexpectedly, Yang Wu stood steadfast, weing the punches. He did not even bring out his cicada armor, allowing the four fists tond on his body.
Boom!
The four punches fell on his body simultaneously, and brutal Profound Energy rippled back and forth within him, trying to destroy his meridians and internal organs.
The four barbarians thought Yang Wu was over, and one of them said, Thats all youve got?
To their surprise, the young man retorted immediately, Thats all there is to Barbarian Energy?
The four barbarians were shocked and wanted to retreat. Unfortunately, they were already toote; the crowbar had already shed before them.
Bang! Bang!
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Chapter 60: The Battle of Fists and Palms
Chapter 60: The Battle of Fists and Palms
The crowbar strike contained Profound Energy and was extremely powerful. Even thick-skinned and heavily built barbarians were no match for it. Once they were hit, their skins burst open, and their flesh hung in shreds, bleeding profusely.
A belligerent spirit boiled up within Yang Wu, and heughed, Come on! Bring me more capable fighters. You all are too weak!
Laughing, the young man swung his crowbar hard. Profound Energy stormed on the four wounded barbarians, torturing them. They could not retreat at all, nor could they withstand it.
When Yang Wu put away his crowbar, the four barbarians were already battered and had fallen, surrounded by a pool of their own blood.
Not even looking at them, Yang Wu continued running forward, his crowbar dragging on the ground, the friction producing fierce sparks.
If any prisoner did not fear for his life and dared approach Yang Wu, his crowbar sent them flying. Nobody could stand in his way.
Soon, a bloody path appeared in cellblock 1one made of the blood of prisoners, long and extremely bone-chilling.
The prison guards secretly watching felt their hair stand on end. The young man with the crowbar was no weaker than any of the alliance bosses.
If such a young man wanted to escape the prison, it would take a block captain to stop him.
No matter how far Yang Wu went, Sooty trailed close behind; nobody could stop them.
Yang Wus appearance finally rmed Shi Taisheng, one of the four bosses of the alliance, who ruled the nearby mountain.
The unarmed Shi Taisheng appeared before Yang Wu. He stood at amanding height like an iron tower, with dazzling eyes and a domineering presence.
Shi Taisheng had once in forty-nine Warriors and a General of the Xia Dynasty on the battlefield before his capture.
Although he was now a prisoneran identity that would follow him for lifehis strength remained undiminished. He was now a boss in the prison, and he wanted to kill a few more people of the Xia Dynasty. The young man before him was a prime example of his favorite prey.
If such a young, talented genius had even the slightest possibility of getting out and achieving great things, Shi Taisheng had to kill him to reduce the threat to his fellow barbarians.
This was also why he persisted in his meaningless existence.
Shi Taisheng had the air of a leader. He red coldly at the delicate Yang Wu without the slightest contempt in his eyes, only a murderous intent.
The other prisoners no longer surrounded Yang Wu, vacating the area for Shi Taisheng. They believed this young man before them would surely die at Shi Taishengs hands.
Yang Wu looked up at Shi Taisheng, who was blocking his path, and pointed his blood-stained crowbar at him. Any barbarian who stands in my way will die!
Since he was a child, Yang Wu had known that the people of the Xia Dynasty were at odds with the barbarians, but he did not know the specifics of it, whether it was a territorial dispute or a racial dispute, but in short, the hostility instilled in them was innate.
Boss, kill him! He has injured many of our kin! a prisoner cried.
Yes, dont let him go. He is too arrogant! Does he think there are no capable people in cellblock 1? another prisoner said.
Yang Wu now knew that the barbarian in front of him was Shi Taisheng, a boss of cellblock 1. He had heard Xu Jiaohua exin the state of affairs of block 1 and remembered that one of the four bosses was a barbarian.
Hehe, I love snapping the heads of young, talented youths like you! Shi Taisheng grinned, baring his teeth at Yang Wu.
They all say that barbarians have well-developed limbs and simple minds. It seems this is true. I wont even ept them as my servants! Yang Wu sneered.
Shi Taishengs face sank, and he stalked toward Yang Wu with powerful and heavy steps. Each step left deep footprints on the ground, which showed how domineering he was.
How dare you insult the barbarians?! Kneel, and I will let you die with an intact corpse! Shi Taisheng shouted as he stalked over, pressuring Yang Wu with his powerful aura.
A pale-yellow aura surrounded him like serpents swimming in the air, presenting
a majestic sight.
Yang Wu tossed his unbound, dark hair lightly and smiled. The same to you.
Yang Wu greeted Shi Taishengs threat head-on, utterly undaunted, only hoping the barbarians strength would not disappoint him.
Shi Taisheng raised his gaze, and a yellow fist punched toward Yang Wu. It shot forward four and a half meters, like a python about to devour its prey.
The power of this punch was overbearing, able to split open a mountain. Even a regr Consummate Grade Warrior would not dare to sh head-on with it.
Yang Wu could make out the trajectory of Shi Taishengs attack. He could have avoided it first, then looked for a chance to retaliate, but did not. Instead, he focused his energy in his palm and met the punch with it.
Boom!
Fist and palm collided with a staggering impact, sending distinct energies sshing out. The two held their ground, neither giving in. Their hair and clothes flew in the st wind, and the gravel nearby shot into the air.
Shi Taisheng raised his eyes, which flickered like two divine lights, and sted out another punch. The python opened its mouth again as if to devour.
Yang Wus other hand rippled like a wave, and the spiraling force gathered in his palm like a small vortex, greeting the python.
Fist and palm collided again, still an equal fight. Neither could overpower the other.
I do not believe you are stronger than me! Shi Taisheng yelled in anger, retracted his fist, and punched again, this time with more strength.
Yang Wu pulled his palm back and threw another palm strikelikewise with more strength.
Boom! Boom!
Yang Wu and Shi Taisheng shed head-on, and neither was willing to back down. Profound Energy of two different colors sshed out between their palms and fists, kicking up sand and stones. It was a wondrous sight.
The prisoners around looked stunned, struggling with the thought that such a young man couldpete on equal terms with the barbarian Shi Taisheng in raw strengthas not even the other three bosses in block 1 could.
Damn it! I must punch you to death! Shi Taisheng roared, losing his patience. All his Profound Energy was circting in his body, and his Barbarian Energy condensed in both fists. He shot his fists at Yang Wu simultaneously.
Barbaric Bull Fist!
This was Shi Taishengs fist technique, containing at least fifteen cauldrons of strengthenough to pulverize boulders.
Yang Wu sensed that Shi Taisheng was giving it his all. He stepped back, circting both the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance to their limits. He frantically drew energy from his body, condensing it into two vortices in his palms. They swirled increasingly rapidly, the buzzing of turbulence audible from within. The young man shouted, I used merely eighty percent of my strength earlier, and now I will defeat you with ny percent!
As his voice rang out, he savagely thrust his palms forward.
This attack definitely contained over twenty cauldrons of strength. The spiraling waves of water sted the barbarian python into pieces.
Blood sttered Shi Taishengs arms, and traces of blood seeped out. He staggered backward, leaving a deep hole in the ground with every step.
The vigorous Yang Wu rushed forward like a dragon turtle surfing on water, pressing the offensive with fierce palm strikes.
Shi Taishengs hands were trembling, but he had to raise his fists to retaliate.
The barbarian was forced to retreat again, but he did not fall. His arms bleeding worsened, and pain soured his expression.
Yang Wu continuously retracted and extended his palms in a wavelike motion. His relentless attacks came in surges.
This battle made him increasingly aware of the ingenuity of the Spiraling Waves Splitting Palm as it matured in the Aplished stage. Before long, he would achieve Perfection in this technique.
On the seventh impact, Shi Taishengs arms were bent, his bones broken, and his body crashed to the ground, forming a humanoid pit and raising a dust cloud.
Shi Taisheng was thick-skinned and heavily built, so he did not die yet. He thought about getting up, but a footnded on his chest and caved it in.
rgh!
Shi Taisheng vomited a mouthful of blood and copsed, his body limp with hardly any fight left.
Yang Wu stepped on Shi Taisheng, looked down at him, and dered, All the Scarlet Steel Rock you have collected now belongs to me.
Haha Youre dreaming! I will never leave the mountain prison, so why would I collect Scarlet Steel Rock? Even at the brink of death, Shi Taishengughed wildly.
Yang Wu shouted with murderous intent, Since you have no Scarlet Steel Rock, what use do I have for you?!
Shi Taisheng wanted to shove Yang Wus foot off his chest with his hand, but to his chagrin, Yang Wu stepped down harder right then, crushing his chest and killing him on the spot.
Hehe actually killed Boss Shi. Lets avenge him together!
Thats right. We have been captured and are already destined to die here. If we work together to kill this kid, it will be a win for us!
He has consumed a lot of energy; lets take this chance to kill him now.
The barbarian prisoners shouted in unison, raising crowbars and rocks to kill Yang Wu.
They had long since resigned themselves to their fate. Dying a day earlier did not make a difference to them, but they were satisfied to be able to kill a few more people of the Xia Dynasty.
Yang Wu reached out and grabbed a crowbar that had been thrown to the ground. Sooty again appeared on the young mans shoulder, and heughed. Sooty, lets fight together to our hearts content today!
Yang Wu waved his crowbar. Like a dragon sweeping through thousands of soldiers, it smashed away the multitude of crowbars assailing him from the barbarians hands and shattered the rocks to pieces. Many barbarians died on the spot.
Yang Wu was really in no mood to kill all these barbarians. He headed for another mountain, killing anyone in his way. None of them was his match.
Many of these prisoners were now afraid of being killed. The young mans energy seemed endless. If other Warriors were besieged this way, they would have been exhausted and killed long ago.
Dozens of prisoners huddled together on a nearby mountain. Three stood at the summit, watching Yang Wu rush over. Their faces turned solemn.
These three were the surviving bosses of the alliance: Swift Feet Ai Feili, Zombie Han Wuqing, and Little Ugly Girl Shi Lengmei.
In their eyes, this young mansbat prowess was no weaker than theirs, perhaps even a notch higher. This realization was hard for them to digest.
The younger generation is truly to be reckoned with! the middle-aged Ai Feili sighed softly.
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Note that Xiao Man has been renamed to Barbie. I have gone back and changed all the previous chapters already. So if you have been reading Barbie, just ignore this note. However, if you have been seeing Xiaoman and see Barbie now, this is why. Xiao Man can be literally tranted to Little Barbarian. That''s why we named her Barbie.
Chapter 61: Human-Corpse Transformation
Chapter 61: Human-Corpse Transformation
A long, bloody path stretched toward the mountain like a red carpet. A young man with a little ck dog on his shoulder walked forward, dragging a crowbar. No prisoner remained to provoke him.
Too much blood had spilled along that path. Too many were injured, and too many had died. No one dared to underestimate this young man anymore.
The young man looked up at the dozens of prisoners on the mountain, and his gaze fell on the three bosses in the center. He pointed his crowbar at them, obviously raring to fight.
Swift Feet Ai Feili was a middle-aged man with a vaguely youthful and handsome face. Unfortunately, his hair had grayed prematurely, and his legs were no longer as swift as before. One of his legs was already crippled. Even so, this Warrior, who was previously a General, could still hold his head high in the mountain prison.
Zombie Han Wuqing, however, had the face of a dead man. He looked as if everyone owed himrge sums of money, gloomy and frightening. His body emanated an aura of death and nauseated anyone who came near.
As for Shi Lengmei, she possessed an alluring figure like that of a subus. Her curves in all the right ces could really awaken the beastly nature of most men. If not for her ugly, disfigured face, she would have been taken as a pet by the prison guards of the mountain prison a long time ago.
The fact that these three could be the top three bosses among all the prisoners was a testament to their extraordinarybat power.
The prisoners who guarded the three bosses saw the young man pointing his crowbar at their bosses from a distance, and they red at him with intense hostility. The dozens of them were nothing like the good-for-nothings that Yang Wu had just fought. They are all either Medial Grade or Superior Grade Warriors; together, they could kill a Consummate Grade Warrior and take on a General.
Bosses, let us go down and ughter this arrogant kid. A prisoner volunteered.
Yes, even if he can kill everyone below, he cant kill us. Hes dead meat! another prisoner said.
Dozens of prisoners were about to take action, eager to fight Yang Wu to the end.
Ai Feili waved his hand and said, Even if you took him on, youd only exhaust whats left of his energy, but you would all die. This is not the best way forward.
Whats the use of speaking nonsense? Im going to kill this brat! Zombie Han Wuqing said in a starkly emotionless, unpleasant voice.
Hehe! Im fine with anything! Shi Lengmei said with a smile that was uglier than a crying face.
Yang Wu was already approaching the summit, climbing upward step by step.
Bosses, Yang Wu just wants to ask for a little Scarlet Steel Rock. Ie in peace. Please dont be too stingy! Yang Wu greeted Ai Feili, Han Wuqing, and Shi Lengmei.
Along the way, Yang Wu had already killed countless prisoners. Dering now that he came in peace was truly a joke.
Little friend, how much Scarlet Steel Rock do you want? If it is five or ten tons, I, Ai Feili, am willing to offer it to you myself. Ill take it as an exchange for your friendship! Ai Feili said first.
Five or ten tons is too little! How about adding another zero at the end? Yang Wu said, shaking his head lightly.
He had no other objective for this trip, only Scarlet Steel Rock. He wanted to collect enough for both Skinny Monkey and Barbiefifty tons in totalso that he could leave the mountain prison with them.
Now, that would be a little too much, Ai Feili responded, frowning.
I know its a little much, so lets do this in ordance with the rules of the prison. Whoever has the stronger fist has the final say! Yang Wu said with great enthusiasm for battle.
I guess you only have thirty percent of your strength left at most. Are you not afraid of being ughtered by us? Ai Feili asked.
Even if I only have thirty percent left, it would be enough to show you that this viscount is the strongest among us! Yang Wu said confidently, clenching his fists.
At this moment, Zombie Han Wuqing could no longer hold back. He shouted, Enough of your nonsense! Defeat me, and all my Scarlet Steel Rock will be yours!
Upon saying that, Han Wuqing rushed down from the summit, the crowbar in his hand dragging on the ground and sending sparks flying everywhere.
Shi Lengmei looked at Ai Feili and asked, Are we not going to take action?
You can take action. My leg is crippled, so I dont really want to bother, Ai Feili replied indifferently.
Then I must see if he can handle both Zombie and me working together. If he can, then Ill happily give him my share of the Scarlet Steel Rock! Shi Lengmei made her way down the mountain.
The other prisoners did not dare to take action, well aware that this fight no longer had anything to do with them now that the two bosses were joining forces.
If the young man could defeat even these two bosses, going against him would only lead to death.
Circting the Supreme Nine Profound Art and the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance at their limits, Yang Wu watched as Han Wuqing approached relentlessly. His feet and pores steadily absorbed Profound Energy from his surroundings, restoring the energy he had expended in battle.
Yang Wu had thirty percent of his energy left, but that quickly reached forty percent. When Han Wuqing arrived, Yang Wus energy was fifty percent restored. And by the time Han Wuqing attacked, the young mans energy was at fifty-five percent.
Die! Han Wuqing was truly ruthless; the crowbar in his hand was d with icy Profound Energy as it stabbed toward Yang Wus heart.
Yang Wus strength was great, and he could clearly see the trajectory of the stab. He dodged in a sh, but his clothes still got shed. Han Wuqings attack was that quick.
A sardonic smile appeared on Han Wuqings cold, dead face, and he hastened his attacks.
If Shi Taisheng was powerful with brute force, then Han Wuqings attacks were deliberate, cunning and difficult to avoid. Both methods had their merits. As for the level of danger, Han Wuqings attacks were definitely more terrifying.
Han Wuqings crowbar moved more like a sword. He kept thrusting wildly and could attack eighteen times in one breath, each with a different position. If Yang Wu had not advanced to the Superior Grade Warrior Realm and remained a Medial Grade Warrior, the crowbar would have stabbed him.
Yang Wu dodged again and again, and when he could no longer retreat, Shi Lengmei, who had rushed down the mountain, attacked without warning. She held a shorter crowbar, only about half an arm long. When she struck, a piercing light shot toward Yang Wus back, and the sneak attack hit its target.
The fact that this ugly girl could assume the position of the third boss meant she was very ruthless, and she did not show the young man any mercy just because he had a pretty face.
Yang Wu was beset, and the situation seemed dire.
Ai Feili and the other prisoners watched closely, wondering whether the young man had a way around the situation.
Yang Wu had not expected Shi Lengmei to attack him. He had thought she would not care to join forces with Han Wuqing; evidently, he had been naive to believe so.
Good timing! Yang Wu eximed in surprise, driving his Profound Essence, which had already recovered to seventy percent, to form a cicada shell over his body. Although he managed to dodge Han Wuqings frontal attacks, Shi Lengmeis stabnded on his back. The force cracked his cicada shell, and the remaining energy prated deep into his flesh.
Shi Lengmei was overjoyed, expecting she hadnded a solid blow and dealt severe damage. However, she didnt have anything to smile about at the next moment.
After her attack, Yang Wus figure charged toward Han Wuqing at a much faster speed, as if plunging into Han Wuqings arms. Yang Wu made a move right then.
Promised Rainbow!
The crowbar in Yang Wus hand turned into a spear, and the spear emitted a light like a rainbow after the rain, colorful and dazzling.
Han Wuqings eyes narrowed at this brilliant, flickering light. For the first time, he went on the defensive, retreating to prevent himself from falling into danger. He had reacted very quickly, but Yang Wus attack was still faster. In the blink of an eye, the crowbar arrived before his head. He immediately turned his head to avoid the attack, but it tore off his ear. Blood instantly sttered his shoulder, and the pain made him choke on the cold air while backing away.
Yang Wu felt disappointed at his failure to kill Han Wuqing in one strike. However, Shi Lengmei had already recovered her wits and attacked again.
Shi Lengmeis short crowbar was a testament to the adage, A long weapon is strong, but a short weapon is dangerous. Every move was sharp and dangerous, pressing Yang Wu from all directions.
Han Wuqing did not stand idly by despite his injury. A dense, vicious, dark-azure-colored aura shed over his face as he raised his crowbar and resumed his assault, appearing angrier.
Yang Wu no longer held back. He had not given it his all before because he was umting energy, but now that he had recovered to seventy percent, it was time to fight for real.
The crowbar in Yang Wus hand shot out left and right like a spear, executing the Rainstorm Spear Art. This Warrior ss spear art had reached Perfectionable to match a General ss technique at Proficiency. The young man blocked Shi Lengmeis and Han Wuqings attacks in one go, weaving a formidable defense.
Yang Wu grew more ferocious as the battle went on. His Supreme Nine Profound Art circted faster, absorbing energy from his surroundings. The acupoints on his body shed continually, showing vague signs of two more acupoints opening.
Can you hit harder? This is not enough to entertain me! Yang Wus cicada shell covered his body, which had also been tempered by the Wolf Companion Blood Crystal. His body was now invulnerable. He did not need to fear their attacks at all, now practically invincible.
This was also why he could withstand all those attacks from the prisoners.
I will definitely make your life worse than death! Han Wuqing shouted and threw the crowbar at Yang Wu, startling the young man. To think that Han Wuqing could control the crowbar remotely with his energy! Yang Wu dodged the crowbar and swatted it away, simultaneously leaning back to avoid Shi Lengmeis attack on his throat. He backed up a few steps, opening a distance between them.
Hah!
Han Wuqing let out a strange roar as his face gradually turned green. His front teeth became long and sharp, his arms thickened, and his nails extended. His prison clothes tore into pieces, and a terrifying Corpse Energy emanated from his body.
Shi Lengmei wrinkled her nose and retreated farther away, not daring to join hands with Han Wuqing any longer, as if disgusted by him.
Thisthis is a human-beast transformation? Nothis is a human-corpse transformation! Yang Wu eximed.
Han Wuqings body turned into that of a gori, like ck Ape, but if one looked closely, it looked more like he had turned into a zombie.
It was not unreasonable that Han Wuqing was known as the Zombie. He cultivated the Zombie Art, an evil technique of swallowing Death Energy and Corpse Energy. At the Aplished stage, he could turn into a zombie with much strongerbat power.
Han Wuqing red at Yang Wu and roared in a low voice, Im going to eat you!
At the next moment, he stepped forward and pounced on Yang Wu.
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Note that Xiao Man has been renamed to Barbie. I have gone back and changed all the previous chapters already. So if you have been reading Barbie, just ignore this note. However, if you have been seeing Xiaoman and see Barbie now, this is why. Xiao Man can be literally tranted to Little Barbarian. That''s why we named her Barbie.
Chapter 62: One Move to Determine the Winner
Chapter 62: One Move to Determine the Winner
Han Wuqing did not walk or run toward Yang Wu but jumped like a zombie. However, the speed and height he jumped exceeded an ordinary zombies. His arms were like divine weapons, shing at Yang Wu in anger. As he did so, they formed two rays of azure light that drove Yang Wu to the ground.
Yang Wu raised his gaze, battle hunger writ across his face. He repeatedly thrust his crowbar, drawing rays of light as it smashed toward his opponent.
The crowbar was like a hurricane, a chaotic storm of arrows raining down. His Profound Energy projected over seven meters,parable to the range of an Inferior Grade General.
Yang Wus Rainstorm Spear Art had reached Perfection, and he executed it wlessly, believing it was enough to destroy Han Wuqing.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. Han Wuqing disregarded these attacks and extended his arms, receiving each attack with ease. Besides some marks on his arms, he weathered the attacks unharmedproof of his greater strength after the human-corpse transformation.
Yang Wu had not expected Han Wuqing to take on his attacks like this and remain unscathed. He couldnt help eximing, How can this be?!
Before he could retreat, Han Wuqing grabbed him by the neck and tried to bite his shoulder.
Disgusting thing, get off me! Naturally, Yang Wu would not allow Han Wuqing to bite him. The young man frantically absorbed water-attributed Profound Energy into his body from the ground he stood on. This pressure,bined with the effects of continuous battles, resulted in two acupoints opening instantly. Nascent Profound Essence from the peach pit surged violently, allowing him to burst out with great strength. Then he savagely smashed his knee into Han Wuqings lower abdomen.
Boom!
This collision should be sufficient to destroy Han Wuqings lower abdomen, at the very least.
However, reality did not match Yang Wus expectations. The collision knocked Han Wuqing into the air, but his abdomen remained intact, and his hands still clutched Yang Wus neck. Only his jaw had slowed down.
Yang Wu frowned andnded sessive knee strikes, determined to rid himself of the Zombie.
However, Han Wuqing maintained his suffocating grip on Yang Wus neck. His nails even pierced Yang Wus cicada armor and stabbed into the flesh of Yang Wus neck to choke him to death.
Sooty rushed out and bit Han Wuqings arm, but he disregarded the little dogs efforts. After his corpse transformation, his arms were hard like steel; it was impossible for the puppy to hurt him.
Or so he thought. This little ck dogs fangs were incredibly sharp. When it bit his arm, they were like razor des; azure-tinged blood spurted out.
Without waiting for Han Wuqing to react, Sooty jumped to his other arm and bit again. He failed to shake the little dog off in time and also lost his other arm.
The moment Yang Wu broke free, he concentrated all his strength into his crowbar and fiercely swept it across Han Wuqings lower abdomen. His Nascent Profound Essence surged out like billowing waves and mmed into Han Wuqings lower abdomen.
Han Wuqings corpse transformation was considered subpar, but he could still handle the force from an ordinary Inferior Grade General. However, Yang Wu had already mobilized all his strength for this blow; even a Medial Grade General would find it challenging. Naturally, Han Wuqing could not withstand the attack.
Once the attack seeded, Yang Wu no longer held back, yelling, You disgusting fellow, whats the use of keeping you around? Die!
Yang Wu sensed that Han Wuqing was the kind of evildoer who would not hesitate to kill and might even eat another man. Although the young man was not particrly righteous at heart, he hated Han Wuqing from the depths of his soul. That was why he no longer had reservations, resolving to wreck him.
Shi Lengmei had wanted to make a move, but when the little ck dog red at her with its teeth bared, she stood still.
Bang! Bang!
Filled with a domineering Profound Energy, Yang Wus crowbar smashed Han Wuqings body ruthlessly again and again. He had already lost his arms, and the relentless attacks destroyed his body.
The prisoners around watched helplessly while gulping in fear, intimidated by Yang Wus strength. Had they tried to swarm him, they would have died without question.
On the other hand, Ai Feili, the number one boss, was calm and collected. Once upon a time, he had also possessed that kind ofbat power. Unfortunately, he had regressed to a lower realm and was unlikely to regain his peak.
This truly brings back the good old days! Ai Feili sighed to himself softly.
He was known as a womanizer, but he had only ever been with women who gave themselves to him willingly and had never used force or violence in his conquests. He believed one should gather ones rosebuds while one could, and he had done nothing wrong. It was just that thest rosebud he had picked was a newly married wife of a court official, and the issue became a serious matter that warranted a high-profile arrest. It had taken the authorities thirteen attempts at ambushing him before they seeded.
Even now, he had no regrets for his actions. He only felt sorry for that delicate woman who had died because of him.
He remembered that when he was captured, that woman had proimed boldly that she did not regret spending the night with him. This promation had cost that woman her life, as that prosperous, corrupt official had beheaded her.
Zombie Han Wuqing perished!
Yang Wus crowbar hung low on the ground as sweat dripped down his face. His mouth opened and closed as he panted, obviously fatigued.
No matter how incredible or mystical Yang Wus Profound Art was, maintaining his top form after such a battle was difficult.
However, given some time, he would recover quickly.
Yang Wu looked back at Shi Lengmei and said, Why dont you attack? Are you going to admit defeat?
Shi Lengmei chuckled, Hehe! Thats right. I admit defeat. But if you want Scarlet Steel Rock, you have to ask Boss Ai first. If you can defeat him too, I will personally hand over my Scarlet Steel Rock.
Finishing, she deftly returned to Ai Feilis side as if in deference to him.
Ai Feili shook his head and sighed, Little Ugly Girl, this is a little unfair.
Boss Ai, you are the number one boss of this alliance, so you take care of this. This brat is too problematic. I dont want to follow in the Zombies footsteps! Shi Lengmei said.
My leg is alreadyme! said Ai Feili.
But you still have one leg that is sound! Shi Lengmei responded.
It is a shame you are a disfigured woman. If you werent disfigured, I truly could not let you go! Ai Feili finished with an irrelevant response, then walked toward Yang Wu, dragging hisme leg.
Yang Wu remained silent, focusing all his effort on circting his Supreme Nine Profound Art in the Dragon Turtle Water Suppression Stance. He watched the number one boss with extreme caution, not daring to underestimate the strength of thisme, middle-aged man. Just the fact that he could advance slightly over three meters with each step on his crippled leg was enough for Yang Wu to take him seriously.
Ill give you an hour to recover. Ill send out one attack at you after that. If you can handle it, Ill give you the Scarlet Steel Rock. If you dont, wellthen die! Ai Feili said gracefully when he was five meters from Yang Wu.
One hour is enough for me to return to my peak state. Do you really dare to make this bet? Yang Wu asked.
Cut the nonsense! I was once a General. Even if I have now regressed, my strength is still more than enough to deal with you, who is not even a Superior Grade Warrior. Dont think youre all that just because you can fight above your realm! Ai Feili said sternly as he finally showed a trace of the number one bosss prestige.
Yang Wu reared his head back andughed. Youre mad enough, but you are no longer in the General Realm. I can defeat you in one blow with the strength I have left.
Saying so, the young man headed toward Ai Feili. His profound art circted at maximum,pressing his energy more and more. He wanted to end the battle with one decisive move.
It was to his advantage that Ai Feili had given him an hour, but he disdained to take it. Since he had resolved to walk the path of a warlord of death, he had to temper himself in the face of death. Every battle would end with either his opponents death or his. And it was only through rebirth from the ashes of death that he could break through to a higher realm. This was what he required of himself.
Ai Feili frowned and said, Boy, you dont know your strength!
At this, he began umting energy, and gray Profound Armor adhered to his body. This was only semi-Profound Armorit was notpleteonly slightly better than Yang Wus cicada armor, but Ai Feilis strength was evidently extraordinary.
Yang Wus pace slowed as he approached Ai Feili, but his aura kept strengthening. A faint image of a dragon turtle appeared behind him. Light-blue, water-attributed Profound Energy surrounded him and finally gathered within his arms. At this moment, he had drained the energy of the peach-pit dantian and was ready to strike the final blow!
As Yang Wu got closer and closer, Ai Feilis expression finally turned solemn. He could see Yang Wus realm by observing Yang Wus energy, but when Yang Wu exerted all his strength, Yang Wu appeared to have transformed into a dragon turtle. That awe-inspiring aura was no less than a Generals. Yang Wu was truly a genius who could battle well above his realm.
Some people were probably afraid of this proud talent, so they sent him off to prison. What a shame! Ai Feili sighed softly to himself, his hands forming seals as he circted gray Profound Energy. A sudden gust blew around him, and his sound leg stood straight while hisme leg swung forward slowly. All at once, the image of a leg appeared and grew three meters, six meters, ten meters!
Profound Energy projecting ten meters and thirty cauldrons of strengththis rivaled thebat prowess of a General. This was Ai Feilis true strength.
One move to determine the winner! Yang Wus blood boiled in his body, and his fighting spirit was at its peak. He had forgotten his fatigue from the previous battles and only saw the power of the kick before him. Holding his hands in the dragon turtle stance, he shot forward wildly.
Yang Wu was like a dragon turtle standing above the river, howling at the sky. He felt like he could fly.
This feeling was like when he first encountered the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art. After facing death and emerging victorious, he now had a feel for the Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art.
The dragon turtle emerged from the sea, and the rivers waves billowed.
Theme leg kicked out as if no longerme, with shockingly sharp Profound Energy. It shed with the dragon turtle without any frills, just a pure and solid impact.
Boom!
Blue and gray Profound Energies collided in a thunderous explosion. Rolling shock waves burst through the air. Sand and gravel gged, leaving a deep pit in their ce.
A figure fell to the ground, and blood spurted into the sky.
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Chapter 63: Opening Up the Ren and Du Meridians
Chapter 63: Opening Up the Ren and Du Meridians
A young man stood in a ten-meter-deep hole, his feet nted firmly on the ground, his elegant fighting stance unwavering, one hand clenched into a fist and the other one palm up.
The other person went flying back and crashed into the ground about seven or eight meters away, sending dust and sand into the air as his blood stained the ground.
That person was Ai Feili; the top boss in the prison had been defeated.
The prisoners were wide-eyed in disbelief as they watched the scene unfold.
They had seen this limping, middle-aged mans powerful kick send a grown man flying before, so they found it hard to ept the fact that someone had defeated him in a single move.
Yang Wu won but showed no joy on his face, as he waspletely drained, even overdrawn. His profound arts cirction slowed down as he fell into a weakened state, about to copse at any moment.
Just then, Shi Lengmei, who was waiting for an opportunity at the side, moved.
She rushed over with fast and light steps, crouching slightly while holding the short crowbar in a reversed grip. The crowbar shed with ice-attributed energy, thrusting out from about six meters from Yang Wu. A trail of snowkes in the air streaked toward Yang Wus heart with menacing force, a truly vicious attack.
Yang Wus body refused to respond to hismand. With barely a chance at evasion, he could only watch as the strike approached. As he epted his fate, Sooty sprang up, using its small body to shield him.
Woof!
Sooty was only the size of an arm and felt like it could never growrger. The force sent its juvenile body flying far away, followed by an agonized yelp.
The helpless Yang Wu watched the scene unfold. He felt a pang in his heart like a needle prick. This was the second time Sooty ced its life on the line to save him; the first time had been against ck Ape. Even if it had emerged from the first ordeal unscathed, could it take the hit this time?
Damned little ck dog! Shi Lengmei cursed and charged toward Yang Wu again.
You are the damned one! Yang Wus repressed rage erupted. The only reason he could grow stronger after entering the prison was the luck Sooty brought him. It had helped him countless times, and he already considered it a partner in battle. Now, his little partner had saved him once more, taking the lethal blow in his ce. He felt gut-wrenching heartache at his helplessnessso painful that he wanted to kill.
Yang Wus eyes were bloodshot; his blood boiled. His depleted peach-pit dantian squeezed out thest drop of energy, which exploded from its thousand holes with pure rage. In that instant, another minor meridian suddenly burst open, along with ten more acupoints. With newfound strength gushing through his body, he threw his fist and palm toward Shi Lengmei.
The dragon turtle roared and overturned the rivers!
The Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art instantly entered the Established stage, its power skyrocketing. The Profound Energy projected over sixteen meters, bursting out like a dragon turtles assault, giving Shi Lengmei no chance to evade.
Bang!
The terrible blow smashed Shi Lengmeis body into bits and pieces, limbs strewn around, blood sttering everywhere.
Ai Feili, who had just managed to pull himself into a sitting position, sighed at the gruesome death. Going up against him knowing that even I am no match for him, she deserved her death.
After Yang Wu killed Shi Lengmei, he sped towards Sooty, calling out anxiously, Sooty, tell me you are alright.
When he reached Sooty and found it unresponsive on the floor, he almost cried his eyes out.
SSooty! Yang Wu choked with sobs.
Just as he was about to go blind from the crying, Sooty suddenly opened its eyes, bounced up from the ground, perfectly fine, and even licked his palms. The dampness on his palms brought Yang Wu back to reality. Sooty, youre alright?
Woof! Sooty responded proudly, wagging its tail.
The bloodthirst on Yang Wus face disappeared, and he smacked the puppy, reprimanding it, You almost scared me to death by faking your death, you rascal!
Sooty was not angry at being smacked away, running back to lick his palm in a clear disy of affection.
Yang Wu carried Sooty in his arms, no longer mad. Although your body is strong enough to take hits, Ill be indebted to you, a dog, if you die, and that would be embarrassing, so dont be so reckless next time.
Woof! Sooty responded, but whether in the affirmative or negative was unclear.
Yang Wu petted it with a satisfied smile on his face.
Sometimes, dogs are better than humans. How many people can be as loyal to their friends as Sooty is these days?
Yang Wu ced Sooty on his shoulder, noticing that the energy flow in his body was two or three times faster than usual. He was quickly absorbing Profound Energy from the surroundings and rapidly replenishing his drained peach-pit dantian. Wisps of energy drifted into the peach pits thousand holes. All this was because he had opened up another minor meridian.
The human body had not only twelve major meridians but also eight minor meridiansknown as the eight extraordinary meridians. Ordinary cultivators of low cultivation realms usually opened up only the twelve major meridians, while the eight minor meridians could be opened up only upon reaching the General Realm. Yang Wu was only a Superior Grade Warrior, yet he had opened up two extraordinary meridians already, and these were the most important two: the Du and Ren meridians.
With these two meridians open, he could be called an entry-level grandmaster of the martial path.
Many in the General Realm might never open these two minor meridians. There was a saying that if one opened up the Du and Ren meridians, all eight minor meridians would be opened, connecting all meridians. The two meridians were clearly vital.
One could see a path to the King Realm after opening the two meridians.
Otherwise, one would stay in the Consummate Grade General Realm for the rest of ones life, doomed to little progress afterward.
Yang Wu really hit the jackpot when he mistakenly thought Sooty had been killed, as his murderous rage had opened up the Ren meridian.
Although he was just standing, he was automatically absorbing energy much faster than usual, a benefit of opening up the Du and Ren meridians.
Yang Wu nced at Ai Feili on the side and asked, Are you going to give me your Scarlet Steel Rock now?
With Ai Feilisme leg bleeding, he did not force himself to stand up, remaining seated on the ground to stop the bleeding. He nodded at Yang Wus question. The victor takes all; the rocks are yours.
Alright, you have my thanks! Yang Wu did not n to dwell on the matter with Ai Feili. He was satisfied with taking their Scarlet Steel Rock, as that was the main purpose of his trip.
As for those dazed prisoners, he had no intention of attending to them, feeling no obligation to stay and act as their boss.
Hold on. I want to negotiate a deal with you, Ai Feili called out to Yang Wu.
Yang Wu did not turn around. What is it?
I have a favor to ask, Ai Feili said.
Yang Wu waved his hands. This viscount has no spare time for that.
Ai Feili spoke again. Its not a deal with no return. Ill give you a General ss technique for my end of the deal!
Yang Wu immediately returned to Ai Feilis side, smiling. Shoot! As long as it is within my capabilities, Ill do it without demur.
It had to be said that Yang Wus ability to do an about-face instantaneously was unmatched.
Ai Feili naturally ignored this change of attitude; he knew the young man was no fool. If there were nothing in it for the other party, no one would ept his request.
You there, send the alliances Scarlet Steel Rock to cellblock two, Ai Feilimanded the prisoners hanging around.
The prisoners understood that he had something to discuss with Yang Wu and left to carry out his order.
Ai Feili spoke again. I know you are going to the Death Legion to get rid of the convictbel after gathering enough Scarlet Steel Rock. With your strength, I believe you have a twenty to thirty percent chance ofing out of the battlefield alive, so I want to ask you to do something for me. Please, ept the deal.
You have great insight. This viscount here will definitely live to get out of prison with a clean name. That said, tell me what you want me to do and how much you will give in return. If its a fair deal, Ill consider it, Yang Wu said, sitting down beside Ai Feili.
I need you to help me take care of a mother-and-daughter pair! Ai Feili showed some shyness as he said that.
Yang Wu was instantly at a loss for words.
This clich plot was a little familiar.
When he was younger, a guard in the Yang Family estate told him about a pair of sworn brothers. When one of them had to go to war, the other offered generously, You can fight the war without worrying. Rest assured. Ill take care of your wife and daughter properly!
In the end, the one who went to war died on the battlefield, and his wife and daughter became his sworn brothers wife and daughter instead.
Ai Feili noticed Yang Wus strange expression and immediately scolded him. Hey, youd better not be getting weird ideas! Im just asking you to assist them from the shadows. They are justmoners, so letting them livemoner lives is enough.
By the way, how about my remuneration? Yang Wu dismissed his thoughts about the clich plot.
Hean upright viscountwas not one to take advantage of others while they were powerless. He cared more about what he would gain from the deal.
You havent agreed to it yet, Ai Feili said.
If the remuneration isnt good enough, theres no way Ill ept the deal! Yang Wu retorted, slightly unhappy.
Fine, you already know I have the nickname Swift Feet; thats because I have a General ssbat technique called Swift Feet, a technique with two uses. Practicing it can both increase your offensive power and enhance your agility. If you agree to my request, Ill teach you this technique. How does that sound? Ai Feili asked seriously.
The name of the technique doesnt sound domineering at all, but its passable as remuneration. Ill do what you asked me to do. Yang Wu reluctantly epted the deal.
A General ss technique was notmon goods, even among the Yang Familys collection ofbat techniques. Since he had not memorized that many of those techniques, it would be a waste not to take the one offered to him now.
Then you must make a vow first. If I teach you the technique but you dont fulfill my request, itll be a great loss for me!
This viscount here is so handsome,passionate, brave, and loyal. Do I look like someone who will go back on his word?
You do!
Damn, you wont have friends if you act like this.
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