Chapter Seven: Striking a Deal

Faced with a demonic beast, a single misstep meant certain death.

Yu Chuan, too, held his breath and focused his mind, exerting the full force of his Thunder Surge Technique. He felt spiritual energy surging wildly within him, his circulation accelerating sharply, and his body filled with power. Thunder Surge could, for a brief moment, triple a cultivator’s strength—this gave Yu Chuan some much-needed confidence.

The Phantom Masked Leopard was renowned for its speed and agility; should he be entangled in a drawn-out fight, he feared he’d be toyed with to death. Gripping his dagger in a reverse hold, Yu Chuan watched the charging beast with a calm, steely gaze.

This was a true demonic beast. If he could kill it, who knew what treasures might burst forth?

A tearing sound rang out. Blood spurted from Yu Chuan’s shoulder, revealing a fresh wound. The Phantom Masked Leopard landed on all fours, drops of blood falling steadily to the ground, growing more plentiful with each passing moment. Blood soon soaked the beast’s neck, but even so, it remained unyielding—such was the resilience of a demonic beast.

Now, all Yu Chuan needed to do was wait for the leopard to falter, then end its life.

But he was not the only one with designs on the Phantom Masked Leopard.

“Boy, this beast is ours! If you know what’s good for you, get lost!”

Yu Chuan shot them a cold look, replying coolly, “Noisy.”

He would love nothing more than to slaughter these interlopers, but the Phantom Masked Leopard was his real prize—he couldn’t afford to lose sight of his goal. There were always those who failed to grasp the situation, thinking numbers alone made them invincible.

He didn’t mind sending any of them to the underworld.

“Boy, if you want to die, we’ll oblige you!”

Three attackers rushed Yu Chuan, intent on bringing him down, while the other three charged at the Phantom Masked Leopard.

Yu Chuan sneered. The Phantom Masked Leopard’s strength was extraordinary—even his soft armor had been torn apart. These fools were simply rushing to their deaths.

But killing men could yield treasures as well—why would he refuse such an opportunity?

In a flash, Thunder Surge roared within him. His dagger danced through the air, impossible to defend against. Blood and severed limbs flew as, in the blink of an eye, the three were butchered, left limbless and helpless.

A dull thud sounded.

…

Three bottles of Foundation Establishment Elixir, four bottles of Marrow Cleansing Pills, six bottles of Bone Refining Pellets. Once he had gathered all the spoils, Yu Chuan saw that the Phantom Masked Leopard had also slain two, while the last survivor fled in terror, cursing his parents for not giving him more legs to run with.

Yu Chuan’s gaze returned to the beast. The Phantom Masked Leopard was now breathing shallowly, clearly on the verge of death. After several more moments of tense stalemate, the beast finally collapsed, blood pooling beneath its massive body.

With a swift slash, Yu Chuan severed the leopard’s head with his dagger. The remains of the beast suddenly exploded, revealing within an ancient, unadorned spear, glinting coldly with spiritual light.

Besides the spear, there was a cyan talisman and five bottles of pills.

Tucking his dagger into his belt, Yu Chuan picked up the spear and swung it experimentally, a note of admiration in his voice. “A fine weapon!”

The spear was essentially a long staff fitted with a sword blade. Though simple in form, it offered myriad ways to kill, its destructive power immense. In this trial ground, a satisfactory weapon would save him much effort.

He stored the leopard’s head and his other spoils in his storage pouch, then pressed onward.

He walked for half a day, and as night fell, he had yet to see a single living beast—let alone the fabled ninth-tier demonic beast. The Phantom Masked Leopard was but a minor demon, and already it had been a grueling challenge.

Who could say how powerful a ninth-tier beast would be? But to slay one would earn him instant promotion to a minor leader’s post in the county office—an opportunity not to be missed.

In the county office, every position was fiercely contested; many fought tooth and nail for a single opening. With only a month left, Yu Chuan knew he had to focus on growing stronger.

There were no rules in this trial ground—an ideal place to nurture his cultivation.

That night, he found a hollow within a tree, killed the two men already inside, and pulled out his Foundation Establishment Elixir and Bone Refining Pellets to begin cultivating at the second level of Qi Condensation.

After a night of bitter cultivation, his strength had advanced considerably, and even his wounds were nearly healed. Such recovery was astonishing—it was no wonder everyone yearned to become a Daoist disciple. Even dogs would covet such power…

With spear in hand, Yu Chuan stepped out of the tree hollow and climbed to a vantage point, gazing down upon a landscape scarred by battle. Countless had perished here, the corpses of both men and demonic beasts scattered throughout.

Fate’s blessings favored too few; those who would leave this place alive were shockingly rare.

Dozens of miles away, a group of people dressed in identical attire were hunting demonic beasts—and common mortals as well. Each was well-trained, armed with weapons and longbows, their coordination impeccable.

Nothing survived their passage—not men, not beasts.

“Eldest Young Master, Young Lady, we have located the ninth-tier demonic beast—it is fifty miles southwest. Of the three scouts sent, only one has returned.”

A man knelt on one knee, reporting to a young man and woman.

The young man wore a black martial robe and a cloak that fluttered in the wind, his phoenix-like eyes narrowed. “In this trial, I want no survivors.”

His sister approached, smiling mischievously, as if discussing something trivial. “Brother, you mean to say you want nothing unexpected to happen?”

The young man replied, “Our Yu family has prepared for this for years, all so I might claim the soul of the ninth-tier demonic beast. The other families must be eliminated first, or I’ll never feel at ease. Anything can happen in this world; I simply want the surest outcome.”

The young woman shrugged nonchalantly. “You’re always so cautious. Do as you please. I have no objections—play however you like.”

Yu Chuan, of course, was unaware of these plots. The farther he went, the more uneasy he became. He had already walked ten miles without seeing a single living soul, let alone a demonic beast. The ground, however, was littered with corpses—a grim sight.

A thunderous roar suddenly erupted from the southern forest—not far away.

Delight surged in Yu Chuan’s heart, and he sprinted southward. Was this the ninth-tier demonic beast? He could not afford to let anyone else claim it first.

With this thought, his pace quickened, weaving through the dense woods and leaping over countless bodies.

“Fellow cultivator, please wait!”

A voice suddenly reached Yu Chuan’s ears, instantly putting him on guard. He darted nimbly, landing atop a distant giant tree.

Following the sound, he saw a slender figure—a man with an oddly enchanting face that radiated danger.

“What do you want?” Yu Chuan straightened slowly, gripping his spear tightly.

“I am Chuqi, a humble Daoist. You carry the aura of a demonic beast’s soul, yet it has not merged with your spirit tablet. I wish to propose a trade, fellow cultivator.”

Yu Chuan narrowed his eyes, studying this Chuqi with a slow, rising smile.