C4 Fearless

Chu Yun exhaled deeply, his gaze lingering on the two lifeless bodies before him. He remained silent for a moment before shaking his head. Although the Chu Yun of the past had not taken many lives, he was no stranger to such scenes. However, as someone who had crossed over into this world, this was his first time taking a life. Despite acting in self-defense, the weight of extinguishing two lives with his own hands felt profoundly different.

Yet, Chu Yun was not one to dwell on such matters.

"Since I've arrived in this world, conflict and bloodshed are inevitable. I'd better focus on my current predicament," he mused, shaking his head once more.

Lee Zhi and Lee Yan had been contracted to assassinate him. They hadn't explicitly said so, but Chu Yun was fairly certain that Grand Elder Li Daoran was behind the attempt on his life.

"Why does Li Daoran want me dead? Lee Zhi and Lee Yan mentioned they've been after me for two months. Could it have something to do with the theft of the Earthly Demon Ape?" Chu Yun pondered internally.

With the scant information at his disposal, he found it challenging to draw any concrete conclusions.

Turning his attention back to the bodies, Chu Yun deliberated briefly before retrieving a bottle of corpse powder from his System Space and sprinkling it over the remains. A fierce hissing filled the air as the powder worked rapidly, reducing the bodies and their clothing to nothingness in mere moments—a clean and traceless disposal.

"Whoever is behind this, the silent disappearance of Lee Zhi and Lee Yan, coupled with my survival, will surely instill fear in them. They won't make a move until they've assessed my capabilities. This period of uncertainty is my chance to grow stronger," Chu Yun resolved.

With that, he made his way to the streamside, armed with the three Ordinary Grade Baits the system had rewarded him with, and began to fish.

"Congratulations, you have obtained the Ordinary Grade Martial Skill Iron Shirt (Perfection) Martial Skill Experience," the system announced.

"Congratulations, you have obtained the Ordinary Grade Martial Skill Eight Steps to Catch Cicada (Perfection) Martial Skill Experience."

Congratulations, you've gained ten years of martial arts cultivation.

Three fishing attempts, three rewards.

The final orb of white light entered Chu Yun's body, causing his cultivation level to surge dramatically.

Chu Yun's cultivation base ascended from the ninth rank of the Physical Body Stage, rapidly breaking through the threshold of the Critical Stage. He then progressed to Critical Stage rank 1, and subsequently reached the second rank.

Ultimately, his cultivation plateaued at the pinnacle of Critical Stage rank 3.

"I've finally made it back!"

Chu Yun's eyes snapped open, a sharp gleam flickering within them.

Though the decade of martial arts cultivation hadn't restored him to his former peak at Critical Stage rank 5, the pinnacle of Critical Stage rank 3 had already significantly enhanced Chu Yun's combat prowess.

With the Blazing Sun Heavenly Dragon Martial Spirit, Chu Yun could take on two opponents at once, defeating warriors of Critical Stage rank 1 and 2, even when he was only at the ninth rank of the Physical Body Stage. Now that he had surpassed the Critical Stage threshold, his combat strength had multiplied exponentially, rendering him a force to be reckoned with.

The next morning, at dawn.

On Chaoyang Peak, a figure sat cross-legged at the summit, drawing in the spiritual essence of the land.

Clad in a white robe, it was none other than Grand Elder Li Daoran of the Elemental River Sect.

"Grand Elder, I have urgent news!"

A man approached briskly along the mountain path, bowing respectfully.

"Speak."

Li Daoran's voice was calm, his eyes remaining closed as he uttered a single word.

"Last night, you ordered Lee Zhi and his brother from Xiaoqing Peak to assassinate Chu Yun. They have yet to return!"

"What?"

Li Daoran's eyebrows quivered, and he opened his clouded eyes, a glint of sharpness passing through them.

"Is Chu Yun dead?"

"He is not! Moreover, he emerged from Xiaoqing Peak and has been seen wandering around the sect as if nothing happened."

"Did you send someone to look for Lee Zhi?"

"Not yet."

"There's no need to search for them."

Li Daoran shook his head. "They wouldn't dare to delay such a matter. If they were still alive, they would have reported back by now. Their absence suggests they are likely dead."

The man appeared astonished and remarked, "Xiaoqing Peak is scarcely populated. Aside from Chu Yun, there isn't a single formidable person. Who could have possibly killed Lee Zhi and Lee Yan?"

"That's precisely what makes it intriguing," Lee Daoran said, his eyes narrowing. "Chu Yun's master must have returned."

"The Third Elder, Xu Jinsong?"

The man's expression shifted, betraying his concern. "What should we do then? If he discovers that we've taken Chu Yun's Martial Spirit and transferred it to the Second Young Master, he won't let this slide easily!"

Xu Jinsong, the Third Elder of the Elemental River Sect, also served as the Peak Master of Xiaoqing Peak.

Three years prior, Xu Jinsong left for a training expedition and has not been heard from since. The consensus within the sect was that Xu Jinsong had perished in the outside world.

Had it not been for this belief, Lee Daoran would never have targeted Chu Yun. They only dared to strike at Chu Yun and take his Martial Spirit because he was alone.

But now Xu Jinsong had returned?

"Don't lose your composure," Lee Daoran said with a level gaze. "What difference does it make if he knows? His disciple is now a cripple, and my son, having mastered the Earthly Demon Ape, has become an unparalleled genius with dual Martial Spirits. I fear nothing, even if the sect master becomes aware of our actions."

The man shuddered, absorbing the gravity of Lee Daoran's words.

Upon further reflection, he realized Lee Daoran was correct. The arcane method for transplanting Martial Spirits was a one-time procedure for any given spirit. Attempting to reverse the process would not only be challenging but could also severely damage the soul of the Martial Spirit.

With the Earthly Demon Ape gone, the likelihood of it ever returning to Chu Yun was virtually nonexistent, rendering Chu Yun ineffective.

Now that Lee Yuanfeng possessed the Earthly Demon Ape, he had emerged as a prodigious talent with twin Martial Spirits. For the Elemental River Sect, Lee Yuanfeng's value had soared.

Should Xu Jinsong reveal the truth to the sect master, it was almost certain that the sect master would favor the Lee Family, knowing that it would bring forth a genius with the Earthly Demon Ape to the sect.

"If Xu Jinsong refuses to accept this, tell him to come see me. Does Xiaoqing Peak honestly believe it can stand against Chaoyang Peak? That's laughable."

Lee Daoran shook his head, his smile cold.

"What's our next move with Chu Yun?"

"For now, let's leave him be. If Xu Jinsong has any intentions, we'll decide accordingly. His absence suggests he's got something else in mind."

"Understood."