In the depths of the Beast Forest, Xiao Ye stood alert, staring at the two strangers before him. Their faint bloodstained aura marked them as outsiders to Qingyang Town.
"We're here to kill you!" The burly man grinned, his fists crackling with Posterior Heaven Realm energy.
Xiao Ye scoffed. A posterior heaven cultivator? They think they can kill me?
Fierce Tiger Fist Stance!
His muscles surged with energy as he launched a punch, his fist transforming into a snarling tiger's head. The ground trembled as the beast-like aura shattered the air.
BOOM!
The burly man's arm snapped like a twig. With a gurgled scream, he flew backward, blood spraying in arcs.
"What?!" The wiry man's eyes bulged. According to Xiao Ba's intel, Xiao Ye was only a posterior heaven cultivator.
"Who… who are you?!" the wiry man stammered.
Xiao Ye's fist struck again, four layers of Qi coalescing into a devastating blow. The wiry man crumpled like a ragdoll, his bones cracking under the force.
"You… you're not human!" he wheezed.
"Xiao Ba sent you?" Xiao Ye's voice dropped to a lethal whisper.
The wiry man spat blood, desperation flashing across his face. "He colluded with our Second Boss! But I… I can tell you more!"
"Speak quickly." Xiao Ye's toe pressed into the man's throat.
"The Beast Forest… there's a Heaven Realm expert's cave! Our boss sent us to find it, but we fled when we saw the guard bear!"
A Heaven Realm cave! Xiao Ye's heart raced. Such a treasure trove could catapult him past Zhao Qian—if he survived.
"Where is it?"
"Deep in the forest… a low hill with jagged rocks. But—"
Xiao Ye silenced him with a kick. "Thank you for your honesty."
The Cave
The overgrown path led to a moss-covered hill. Parting the waist-high weeds, Xiao Ye uncovered a hidden entrance. Darkness swallowed him as he descended, his fingers grazing damp stone walls.
This is too risky, he thought. Without light, even a minor beast could ambush him.
But the promise of Heaven Realm treasures outweighed the danger.
Boom!
A distant roar shook the cave. Xiao Ye froze. A bear?
His Time Tower mark glowed faintly, illuminating jagged teeth and claws embedded in the wall. The beast's massive frame blocked the tunnel ahead.
Run.
Xiao Ye turned, but the bear lunged—a shadow of muscle and fury.
Great Splitting Palm!
Four layers of Qi erupted from his palms, slamming into the beast's chest. The cave trembled as the bear staggered, its roar fading into silence.
Breathing hard, Xiao Ye pressed onward. At the tunnel's end, a glimmer of light revealed a chamber filled with ancient scrolls and jars.
Heaven Realm artifacts…
His hands trembled as he reached for a jade bottle labeled Nine Heavens Rebirth Elixir.
Outside, thunder rumbled. Xiao Ye glanced at the sky—dawn was breaking.
The Chongyang Sect entrance exam is tomorrow.
With this elixir and the Time Tower, he'd crush the competition.
As he exited the cave, a bloodied handprint marked the entrance. Somewhere in the forest, Xiao Ba's spies would find it.
Let them come, Xiao Ye thought, his smile cold. I'll bury them all.