C15 Breaking Through to the Essence Gathering Stage

"Pfft!"

Lu Chen transformed his fist into a palm and struck the head of a blood wolf. Then, with a swift hook of his left foot, he kicked the lifeless creature out of the cave.

His movements were fluid, executed with a natural grace.

At that moment, Lu Chen's skin tensed, and a sharp sense of danger surged within him.

Without a second thought, he stomped forcefully on the ground, propelling his body backward and retreating several steps.

"Chi!"

Almost simultaneously, a half-foot deep claw mark appeared on the ground where Lu Chen had stood just a moment before!

At the cave entrance, a Wolf King, far larger than any ordinary blood wolf, had emerged, exuding a bloodthirsty and ferocious aura.

"Peak of Rank One?"

Lu Chen eyed the Wolf King with a trace of puzzlement. He sensed a threat emanating from the creature that seemed disproportionate to a Demon Beast at the peak of Rank One's late stage.

It was well-known that his Origin Power was considerably more potent than that of his peers. Just a month prior, he had effortlessly slain two Scale Armor Tigers.

Following that, he consumed an Essence Spirit Fruit, further enhancing his strength to Layer Nine of the Body Tempering Realm. Typically, a Demon Beast at the peak of Rank One's late stage wouldn't withstand more than three moves against him. Yet, here he was, feeling an ominous threat from the Wolf King before him.

An anomaly often indicates an underlying menace!

"Awoo!"

As Lu Chen assessed the Wolf King, it too glared back with a savage gleam in its eyes. With a menacing growl, it charged into the cave, lunging at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen retreated at high speed as the Wolf King's heavy paws sent tremors through the narrow cave, causing the stones to quiver.

"Bam!"

Before he knew it, Lu Chen found himself at the cave's dead end, his back against the wall.

Trapped with no escape, Lu Chen pushed off the stone wall, propelling himself forward with explosive force. In a flash, he unleashed his formidable combat strength, delivering a powerful punch directly at the Wolf King.

Bang!

A forceful punch sent the Wolf King sprawling to the ground.

"Hmm? How can it be so weak?"

Lu Chen was taken aback by how easily the Wolf King had been bested by a single punch. He hadn't anticipated that the creature would fall so readily.

Yet, the sense of impending danger within him didn't subside; it only intensified.

The Wolf King, having been floored, sprang back up, its crimson eyes glaring at Lu Chen with venomous spite.

"Roar!"

With an enraged roar, the beast's presence exploded, unleashing a ferocious might. Its terrifyingly powerful aura peaked, overwhelming and formidable, soaring as if to rival a Rank Two Demon Beast.

As this aura burst forth, the Wolf King's body swelled in size, reaching a towering three meters in height and five meters in length, its fur turning a blood-red hue. Its fangs grew wildly, scraping against the rocky wall with a hissing sound, leaving deep claw marks.

Witnessing the Wolf King's transformation, a flicker of an enigmatic gleam darted across Lu Chen's eyes.

"Roar!"

The Wolf King lunged forward, its razor-sharp claws descending upon Lu Chen like a thunderbolt.

"Sizzle, sizzle..."

The claws, sharp as knives, cut through the air, emitting a deep, explosive sound.

Lu Chen steeled himself, casting aside his previous underestimation of the Wolf King. He channeled his Origin Energy throughout his body, concentrating it into his right fist, and then he unleashed a fierce punch directly onto the wolf's claw.

"Bam!"

The impact of fist against claw sent a shockwave radiating outward, creating a tempest within the cave that spiraled into a miniature whirlwind.

Lu Chen's complexion paled, a pained grunt escaping from deep within his throat as he was hurled back and slammed into the cave wall, tumbling to the ground in disarray.

"Roar!"

Seizing the moment, the Wolf King lunged at Lu Chen, its claws descending with ruthless ferocity.

Bang!

In the nick of time, Lu Chen kicked off the cave wall, rolled forward, and repositioned himself behind the Wolf King.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

With a surge of energy, he unleashed a barrage of powerful punches that rained down on the Wolf King's hind legs.

With a sharp snap, the Wolf King let out a pained howl and thudded to the ground.

"Swoosh!"

As the Wolf King hit the dirt, Lu Chen stepped forward, his right hand sweeping out a gleaming dagger from his sleeve. He plunged the razor-sharp blade deep into the nape of the Wolf King's neck.

"Pfft!"

The sound of the blade slicing through flesh filled the air, accompanied by the spray of hot blood. Lu Chen twisted the dagger, driving it further into the Wolf King's neck.

With a final, desperate howl, the Wolf King's eyes dimmed, its body tensed, and then it collapsed with a heavy thud. Blood poured from the wound, staining the mountain wall crimson.

Simultaneously, as the Wolf King drew its last breath, the wolves outside the cave let out a collective roar and scattered, leaving the area.

Relieved, Lu Chen gazed at the now normal-sized Wolf King, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. He bent down, withdrew the dagger, and with a swift motion, sliced open the Wolf King's belly to search within.

Ding!

A metallic fragment the size of an infant's palm slipped from the Wolf King's innards and clinked against the cave wall.

"I've found it—the Divine Weapon Fragment," Lu Chen exclaimed joyfully.

"To think that after a month of effort, I would find it here without any trouble. Fate truly smiles upon me!"

Overwhelmed with excitement, Lu Chen reached for the Divine Weapon Fragment. With a focused thought, the Artifact Spirit of the Heaven Splitting Axe materialized, enveloping the fragment before vanishing.

"Boom!"

As the Divine Weapon Fragment disappeared, a surge of long-missed energy erupted within Lu Chen. Without hesitation, he sat down cross-legged and began to channel the Minor Succession Art.

The cave's atmosphere quickened, drawing in strands of Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi. The energy swirled into a vortex funnel, pouring down onto Lu Chen's crown in a frenzied cascade.

Time slowly slipped away.

Crack! After an indeterminate period, a soft click sounded near Lu Chen's ear.

Abruptly, his eyes snapped open, revealing a subdued smile.

"I've finally reached the Essence Gathering Stage!"

...

The following day dawned, the morning light piercing the sky and rousing the slumbering earth to a new day.

Lu Chen emerged from the cave, his gaze falling upon the wolf carcasses strewn about. He chuckled ruefully; last night's battle had been sheer madness.

He had no intention of lingering to clean up the aftermath, as his pack was already brimming with materials.

Stepping onto the blood-soaked earth, he made his way toward the periphery of the Deep Blue Mountain Range.

Navigating through the dense forest, Lu Chen reached the outskirts of the range. Just a few more miles and he would be clear of the Deep Blue Mountains.

"Boom!" At that moment, a muffled roar echoed from not too far off.

Lu Chen halted, swiftly scaling a towering tree to survey the source of the noise.

"Nothing? It must be a few miles out, or perhaps even farther."

Lu Chen pondered, astonished. If his guess was correct, the entity responsible for the sound had to be at least at the Essence Gathering Stage or Rank Two.

"Swoosh!"

Driven by curiosity, Lu Chen leapt from the tree and vanished into the underbrush, moving with the stealth and speed of a predator closing in on the fray.

Halting a few hundred meters from the conflict, he used the thick foliage for cover, climbing another lofty tree to gain a commanding view of the nearby battlefield.

Below, a man and a woman stood armed with swords, exuding an aura of formidable might; both were clearly Essence Gathering Stage masters.

They stood ten meters apart, statuesque and vigilant, each wary of the other.

"It's him!"

Recognizing the man's features, a flash of murderous intent flickered through Lu Chen.

This was the same blue-clad youth who had previously sought his life.

Lu Chen's hands tightened into fists as he curbed the surge of rage within him, his gaze shifting to the woman's elegant form.

A simple dress clung to her exquisite figure, while she wielded a long sword radiating a green glow. Her features were as if painted by an artist, her smile bright and teeth gleaming, her skin as smooth as jade. Her beauty was so striking it made one's heart flutter.

While Lu Chen was observing them, a shade of gray swiftly crept over Su Xue's lovely face, and a hint of agony shone in her eyes.

"You truly are impressive, Junior Sister Su Xue. To withstand my Thousand Chance Poison for so long," the young man in blue remarked with a grin.

Su Xue bit down on her teeth, remaining silent, her brows furrowed in pain, eliciting sympathy from onlookers.

The young man in blue appeared accustomed to Su Xue's silence and went on, "Honestly, I find it hard to bring myself to kill a beauty like you, Junior Sister."

His lips twisted into a sinister smile as he continued, "Junior Sister Su Xue, if you agree to be my woman and hand over the Divine Weapon Fragment, I will give you the antidote."

Su Xue coldly uttered two words, "Dream on!"

With those words, she stepped forward, her sword bursting with vital energy as she thrust it furiously at the young man in blue.

"It seems you're intent on seeking death, Junior Sister!" he sighed in resignation. A flash of murderous intent sparked in his eyes as light blue Yuan Qi erupted from his arms. Without flinching, he bellowed and punched directly at the tip of Su Xue's incoming sword.

"Ding!"

The crisp clash echoed as a powerful energy swept from the point of impact, kicking up dust from the ground. Su Xue's delicate frame shook, and she stumbled back several steps with a stifled groan.

The young man in blue, however, stood unshaken.

Su Xue regained her footing, the gray pallor on her face deepening. Clearly, the Thousand Chance Poison was becoming unmanageable and was taking its toll.

"Junior Sister, you're afflicted with the Thousand Chance Poison, leaving you with barely 20-30% of your strength. How do you expect to contend with me?" The young man in blue stood confidently, hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of assured victory.

"My offer still stands. Hand over the Divine Weapon Fragment and agree to be with me, and I'll cure you of the Thousand Chance Poison."

"Dream on. I'd rather die today than let you have your way," Su Xue declared, her lips curling into a resolute smile.

After a moment, her expression hardened with resolve. "Buzz!" A wild energy burst forth, her garments billowing and hair dancing in the tumultuous aura. A surge of potent Origin Power erupted from within Su Xue, warping the very air around her.

The intensity of the Origin Power was so overwhelming that it momentarily subdued the Thousand Chance Poison, unveiling her true, stunning visage.

Witnessing the fearsome display of Origin Power radiating from Su Xue, the young man in blue's face contorted with alarm. "Junior Sister Su Xue, have you lost your mind? Harnessing the Divine Weapon's power will only hasten your demise!"