Chapter 4
"You there, come here," Chen Feng shouted, pointing at one of the guards.
"YES, SIR!" the guard replied, his voice wavering slightly as he snapped to attention.
"Go fetch his body. It’s four hours south in the Great Zhou Forest. Search within a ten-mile radius; you’re bound to find him. With your cultivation, you should be back here in thirty minutes. Now, get to it!" Chen Feng ordered, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"Yes, sir!" The guard quickly rushed out, his face pale, fearing the consequences of failing this mission.
Fifty minutes later...
"Where the hell is he?" Chen Mo growled, slamming his fist on the table, frustration boiling over. The other siblings exchanged looks of annoyance, their patience wearing thin.
"Calm down, brother. He’ll be back soon. Maybe that little cockroach is a bit heavier than we thought," Chen Feng said, trying to sound confident, but the beads of sweat forming on his brow betrayed his nerves.
BOOM! The doors to the Chen family dining hall burst open as the guard stumbled in, dropping to his knees, his chest heaving with ragged breaths.
"Speak of the devil! Bring his body here!" Chen Feng shouted, a twisted smile spreading across his face as he relished the moment.
"S-SIR, H-HE... HE’S GONE! We saw the bloodstains, but there was no body, sir!" the guard stammered, still struggling to catch his breath.
"GONE?!" Chen Feng roared, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How could that cockroach still be alive?" His aura flared, a chilling wind whipping through the dining hall as his frustration and fear bled into the air.
Chen Mo smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Looks like your plan wasn't as flawless as you thought, brother."
Chen Ren let out a mocking laugh. "So much for your grand scheme, Chen Feng. You couldn't even get rid of the family's biggest embarrassment," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Who knew a rat like him would be so hard to squash," Chen Yuan added with a chuckle, shaking his head at Chen Feng's humiliation.
"Tch, WHERE COULD HE HAVE GONE?" Chen Feng muttered, anger and confusion twisting his features.
Great Zhou Forest
Tian Ping moved slowly through the dense forest, his body still aching but somehow feeling stronger with each step. The cool air stung his lungs, and the scent of pine and damp earth filled his nose. He pressed a hand to his stomach, feeling the steady pulse of his newly awakened energy coursing through him.
"I should be dead," he muttered under his breath, "but somehow, I’m not.
The forest seemed to close in around him, shadows stretching long and dark, but there was a fire in his eyes now—a determination that refused to be snuffed out.”Wait for me you bastards i'll make you pay for this”.As Tian Ping trudged through the dense forest, rage and determination simmering in his eyes, he suddenly heard a rustling in the underbrush. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as the ground shook slightly beneath him. Before he could react, a kobold, a vicious Zhen beast with scales like rough stone and glowing red eyes, leapt out of the darkness with a snarl. It was small but fierce, its claws glinting in the dim light, and its mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth.
The beast lunged at him with startling speed, its claws aiming straight for his throat. Tian Ping’s reflexes kicked in, and he barely managed to dodge to the side, feeling the air slice as the beast’s claws whizzed past his face. He stumbled back, heart pounding, his mind racing. I can’t let my guard down. This is a fight for my life!
The kobold snarled, baring its fangs, and without hesitation, it charged again, this time swiping at Tian Ping’s legs to knock him off balance. Tian Ping jumped back, trying to steady himself, but the beast was relentless. It came at him with a flurry of strikes, each blow faster and more precise than the last.
I will not die to a 8th stage dantian beast! Tian Ping thought, his newly awakened Zhen energy swirling within him. He could feel the power of his yellow dantian coursing through his veins, urging him to use it. Gritting his teeth, he steadied his stance and extended his hand towards the beast. He concentrated, letting the energy flow, and suddenly felt the sharp power within him come to life. His hand glowed faintly with a golden aura, a manifestation of his Zhen energy.
The kobold leapt again, jaws wide, ready to tear into him. This time, Tian Ping didn’t dodge. Instead, he thrust his glowing palm forward, meeting the beast mid-air. There was a flash of light as his Zhen energy exploded outward, sending the kobold flying back with a yelp, crashing into the trees. The creature skidded to the ground, stunned but not defeated.
The beast growled and shook off the impact, its eyes now blazing with anger. It bared its fangs and started circling Tian Ping, looking for an opening. Tian Ping took a deep breath, centering himself, feeling his newfound power coursing through him. This was his moment to prove that he wasn't the weakling his family thought he was.
"I won't die here," he muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Not before I get my revenge."
The kobold lunged once more, but this time Tian Ping was ready. He sidestepped its attack and, in a fluid motion, summoned the energy from his dantian, creating a faintly glowing blade of Zhen energy in his hand. With a swift strike, he slashed at the beast's side. The kobold howled in pain, its scales cracking under the force of his attack.
Blood splattered onto the forest floor as Tian Ping pressed the advantage, his strikes growing more precise and deadly with each move. The beast tried to retaliate, but it was no match for his newfound strength. With one final, powerful blow, he drove the Zhen blade through the kobold’s chest. The creature let out a final, gurgling snarl before collapsing to the ground, defeated.
Breathing heavily, Tian Ping looked down at the fallen beast, the adrenaline slowly fading from his veins. He wiped the blood from his face, his eyes filled with a fire that hadn't been there before.
Side Note: Kobolds
Kobolds are small, wolf-like creatures with scales covering their bodies, sharp claws, and jagged teeth. Though they are relatively weak compared to other Zhen beasts, they can still pose a threat to those unprepared. In the hierarchy of the cultivation world, the strongest kobolds can only reach the Foundation Stage, making them less formidable adversaries to experienced cultivators but dangerous to novices. Their strength lies in their numbers and their relentless nature, always hunting as a pack.
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