"Wait for me, Lily!" Ethan didn't hesitate, chasing after her. The remaining youths exchanged troubled glances, unsure of what to do next.
It was clear that the big cat was headed towards Charles' house, and their mission had only been to cut down trees. They didn't want to get involved in such a dangerous situation, especially given their limited skills. The same thought crossed everyone's mind.
Charles could guess what they were thinking, so he didn't say much more. He took a deep breath, stomped his foot, and leaped onto the dark pine tree where Justin was. With both arms wrapped around Justin, he slowly descended.
"Everyone, the big cat is obviously headed for my home. I would be grateful to anyone who comes with me to slay the beast. If you don't want to go, I won't force you. Please, just take care of Justin. He's badly injured and needs to be taken to the town's medical clinic as soon as possible."
After saying that, Charles hurried towards the foot of the mountain.
At this hour, lights shone brightly throughout the village, with candles lit in every household. In the short time it took for the news of the big cat to spread, many brave young men had already gathered torches and were rushing to Charles' house.
Joseph had always been a generous and charitable man, so his good deeds were now paying off. As Ethan and Lily hurried along, they saw many people rushing about, armed with weapons such as knives, axes, hammers, and even hoes. The scene was bustling with activity.
"Hurry, everyone! We need to move faster so we don't let the big cat get away!" A young man said, excitement in his eyes.
"Indeed! The big cat has arrived just in time to accompany our drinks!" A shirtless young man, heedless of the cold, excitedly carried a hoe as he ran.
It wasn't far. Ethan and his companion raced along and soon arrived at the gates of the Charles family estate. Upon entering, Ethan was stunned by the sight. Torches burned brightly on the walls, illuminating the small courtyard filled with people, packed together like sardines, clutching weapons and anxiously watching a particular spot.
Their gaze was fixed on an enclosure – a vegetable garden fenced by a hedge about ten feet tall. Through the gaps in the fence, they could clearly see a massive white tiger, at least five feet tall, crouched on the ground. Its icy glare surveyed the crowd beyond the fence, as if sizing up prey. Blood oozed from its open jaws, evidence of its recent feast.
In the courtyard, the flickering light from the torches revealed pools of blood on the ground. Ethan could only imagine the carnage that had occurred.
"What can we do? My child is only eight years old! Damn this big cat!" A disheveled village woman sobbed, her eyes bloodshot. If not for the people restraining her, she would have charged straight into the enclosure to fight the beast.
"Ma'am, please try to compose yourself. Joseph has gone to the town to find an expert to help," a man nearby offered comfortingly.
"Wait for an expert from town? The big cat will have long fled by then! This flimsy fence won't hold it back for more than two charges," another man said.
"Well, what do you suggest? Do you have a better plan? Are you going to go in there and kill the big cat yourself?" The woman's companion sneered.
"You—"
After a moment of silence, Ethan turned to Lily, who had calmed down somewhat. "Lily, wait here for me. I'm going in to take a look."
Without waiting for a response, Ethan plunged into the crowd and approached the fence.
"Damn it, what are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Lily's face paled in shock, and she called out in concern.
"Sis, don't chase after him. Come with me inside. It's not safe out here," Thomas, who had been standing nearby, grabbed Lily and dismissively glanced at Ethan's retreating figure. "If that fool wants to get himself killed, why should you care?"
Ethan tightened his grip on his knife handle and stood near the fence, silently staring at the big cat within the enclosure. This big cat was clearly no ordinary creature. A typical big cat would weigh around 400 pounds and stand about four feet tall; this one was significantly larger.
Its pure white, unblemished fur, razor-sharp teeth, and the indifferent demeanor with which it regarded the people as if they were nothing, all combined to exert enormous pressure on Ethan. Was this a mutated big cat?
The thought made Ethan's heart skip a beat. Over the years, he had read about the Continent of Chaos and its geography and culture and had some understanding of animal mutations.
Bloodline mutations were an extremely rare yet undeniable phenomenon, with odds of occurrence often less than one in a million. Offspring from two entirely different species or even from the same species could mutate. Not only monsters, but even humans could mutate. According to Ethan's understanding, there was a rare type of blue-blooded human in the Boundless Primordial Chaos. Their blood was blue, their aptitude for cultivation was unparalleled, and their entire body was a treasure, making them the ultimate cauldron. For millions of years, they had been coveted by countless people, making them exceptionally scarce on the continent. Their existence had nearly vanished in the last few centuries, and whether any blue-blooded people remained was unknown.
Moreover, the vast majority of mutations were benign and led to increased strength. "What should I do?" Ethan licked his lips, pondering his options. A wooden fence like this one was unlikely to contain the beast. One solid charge from it could cause the fence to collapse.
Could he charge in and face the beast? Did he have the confidence to kill it with a single blow? Ethan hesitated. His quick knife could be drawn six times in a single breath! But if he failed to kill the creature with any of those strikes, it would surely flee, harming the villagers and disappearing into the forest, where no one could catch it.
It seemed as if they were caught in a deadlock. Beasts of this age or mutated species were typically dealt with by the town's garrison. The garrison of Stone Town consisted of at least 39 elite soldiers, all with a minimum of a level five Strong Blood Realm cultivation. Ethan had only just reached the sixth level of the Strong Blood Realm, making him merely an average member among them.
As Ethan hesitated, he suddenly noticed a commotion in the crowd. The creature was shaking its head and rising to its full height, its cold, white gaze fixated on the people outside the fence. Was it preparing to leave after being sated? Ethan's heart raced.
"Everyone, disperse and ready your crossbows!" Marcus unslung his bow, pulling it taut with an arrow aimed at the beast within the fence. "We must not let the creature escape; it will bring endless trouble to our Storm Clan's Village!"
"Ethan, what are you doing?" Marcus suddenly noticed Ethan cautiously approaching the fence, growing anxious. "Child, come back! It's dangerous!" Marcus felt sympathy for his young neighbor's plight and couldn't bear to see him enter the beast's maw.
"Has the boy gone mad?"
"Hmph, he's completely clueless!"
"Ethan!" At that moment, Lily, in the crowd, noticed Ethan, her pretty face turning pale.With his right hand resting on his knife handle, Ethan slowly approached the big cat. Behind him were the native villagers of Storm Clan's Village. Could Ethan retreat? Even if the villagers were indifferent and disdainful towards him, this was still the land where he'd been raised for thirteen years!Ethan knew that this battle would have consequences, win or lose. If he lost, he'd be devoured by the big cat. If he won, it would create more variables for future vengeance. After all, once his enemy Caleb learned about his cultivation, would he remain calm? Would he still be composed? Surely, he'd be on guard, perhaps even sending assassins after him!"Ah!"Ethan opened the wicker gate and, to everyone's astonishment, stepped inside, then bolted it shut. The big cat didn't move but coldly observed the uninvited guest entering the enclosure, its tail hanging low, sensing that this "little one" was
At dusk the following day, in Storm Clan's Village, inside Robert's dwelling.The winter air was crisp and cold, the north wind howling.Robert's family sat around a warm stove, enjoying hot dishes and sipping fruit wine."Victor, I'm not trying to criticize you," Robert took a small sip of his wine and sighed. "But look at Ethan. He's three or four years younger than you, and he's already a renowned casting master in the town. This past year, every product from Blue Cloud Forge has been top-notch, and I hear it's all thanks to that young man..."Victor's hand froze, but he remained silent. Olivia and Eleanor, seated on either side of Robert, also kept their heads down and continued eating in silence. In this family of four, Robert was the undisputed head, his words unquestioned by the others.A heavy knock on the door was accompanied by a boisterous laugh. "Brother Robert, are you home? It's Caleb."Robert's brow furrowed briefly before he opened the door with a smile. "Brother Benja
Determined, Ethan immediately turned and retreated at full speed. However, in the very next moment, he despaired."Whoosh"The big cat, a full fifteen meters away, leaped to block Ethan's path in a single bound. Its speed even surpassed Ethan's reaction time."Eh," Ethan gulped, staring at the unmoved big cat obstructing the road ahead. It was far too fast. Compared to the young big cat he had killed the previous night, this one was on an entirely different level. Ethan had always considered himself a top figure in Stone Town, but now it seemed that this mysterious big cat could easily swat him away with a single paw.According to ancient records, any living organism in the boundless wilderness that grew for a thousand years had the potential to evolve into a Beast Spirit. However, Beast Spirits also had innate differences in talent. Some were born with exceptional abilities or as fierce, powerful anomalies, while others gained strength by consuming rare treasures or devouring other c
The following morning, as a gentle rain fell, Ethan rose early, washed and stepped outside. Since it was raining, he couldn't chop wood and there was no need to visit Blue Cloud Forge, which he frequented only once a week. Thus, he started his day by practicing his swordsmanship.Diligence and solitude were inseparable from the path of cultivation. To gain, one must first give up. Ethan knew that to exact his revenge and slay his nemesis, Caleb, his current level of skill wouldn't suffice. He must endure the loneliness, bide his time, and lie low until he grew strong enough.With eyes as sharp as blades, Ethan focused on a green caterpillar on the old locust tree before him. With a swoosh, his long sword left its sheath, tracing a brilliant crescent arc in the air as it swiftly descended upon the caterpillar. The blade halted abruptly, just a hair's breadth from the tree. The force of the sword's air split the caterpillar in two, leaving the tree unharmed.This was the realm of master
Ethan's eyes grew sharper, and his right hand naturally rested on the hilt of his blade. The surrounding area seemed to quiet down, with only the occasional conversation of passersby in the distance. In Ethan's eyes, it was as if only the two of them remained in the world.Alexander was undoubtedly the most formidable opponent Ethan had faced since obtaining the Stone Bead. Renowned for many years in Stone Town, he may even have been stronger than Caleb, and Ethan dared not take him lightly. Even in a friendly spar, he had to give his all, not to be underestimated."Ha!"Suddenly, Ethan drew his blade with a flash, like a bolt of lightning, accompanied by a gust of wind, aimed directly at Alexander's waist."Haha, interesting." Alexander's eyes lit up, and at the last moment, he performed an iron bridge maneuver, narrowly avoiding Ethan's gleaming blade as it grazed past his nose."Six strikes in a single breath at such a young age—impressive!" Alexander felt the chilling sensation as
Days passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was spring of the year 1005 in the Chaos Calendar.Ethan's name had quietly spread throughout Stone Town, making him a rising star among the younger generation. Stone Town, comprised of a dozen villages, was a place where even the smallest events became widely known. Most people in Stone Town were aware of the impressive young man who had emerged from Storm Clan's Village.In the verdant month of March, birdsong filled the air near the humble dwelling where Robert resided in Storm Clan's Village.A series of firecrackers erupted outside the hut, their rudimentary construction typical in Stone Town and other parts of the Continent of Chaos. Generally, firecrackers at one's doorstep signified either a funeral or a joyous occasion.With a cry, the door opened, revealing Robert, followed by Victor, Olivia, and Eleanor, all wearing puzzled expressions. They looked at the two approaching figures and the two strong men carrying a pole behind them.
Feeling utterly helpless, Olivia looked around, tears blurring her vision. Her parents' faces were alight with poorly concealed smiles, while her brother, Victor, averted his gaze. For a moment, she felt abandoned by the world."Come, Uncle Robert, let me propose a toast with tea in place of wine," Noah said, filling his and Robert's cups to the brim. His face betrayed his smug satisfaction, for in his eyes, Olivia was as good as his."Pretending to be virtuous? Sooner or later, you'll be mine!" he thought, casting a dark glance towards the upper room.Noah's insatiable lust for women, coupled with his father Caleb's influence in Stone Town, had led to the ruination of countless innocent young girls. He had long coveted Olivia, and now that she was of age, he would not let her slip away."Young Master Noah is too kind. It's my daughter's fortune to be married to you," Robert said obsequiously, draining his cup in one gulp."In that case, Brother Robert, isn't it time to choose an ausp
"What are you waiting for? We must leave now, or it'll be too late! The town is only seven or eight miles away, a swift horse ride there and back would take no more than an hour!""Let's go!" Olivia urged.But where to? There were only one or two paths to the town, and Ethan had no horse. He feared he would be captured by the guards halfway there! Going towards the town at this moment was suicide! Should he head for the mountains? They were filled with wild beasts, and even monsters! Moreover, there were only a few paths down the mountain. Was he supposed to stay there until he grew old?His only option was to find a prominent family in town to hide from the storm.With a plan in mind, Ethan hesitated no more. Glancing at the crowd, he dashed towards Lily's house as if he were flying. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight."That speed..." A young man in the crowd stared in awe, "Ethan truly is a hidden gem! That speed might be comparable to a martial artist at the eighth leve
Juan Baker flipped his right hand and a pitch-black spear appeared.Ethan's gaze had been fixed on Juan Baker and his son the entire time. The instant Juan moved, Ethan realized his intent."You despicable old codger! Don't you dare!" Ethan was so shocked he nearly jumped out of his skin. If Juan Baker had targeted Ethan himself, he wouldn't have batted an eyelid no matter how powerful his opponent was. After all, Ethan's mental resilience was beyond ordinary and with the ancient Azure Dragon's restorative abilities, conventional attacks posed no threat.But for Juan Baker to make a move against Lily was going too far! And it just so happened to be Ethan's Achilles heel!Juan Baker gave a cold smile. Without hesitation, he whipped his right hand down to hurl the spear!At the same time, Ethan sped towards Lily as swiftly as he could.Originally two hundred yards separated Ethan and Lily, but in this life-or-death moment, he seemed even faster than usual. Incredibly, he managed to rus
"Ethan, do you really think you can bully the Baker family so easily?" Juan Baker's face was ashen, utterly humiliated in front of all the major families of Mistwood County. Having his future son-in-law killed and his guest official beheaded right in front of everyone, how could the Baker family continue to hold their standing in Mistwood County if they did not regain some face?Ethan's expression was impassive as his gaze swept over the core members of the Baker family present in the grand hall. Of them all, only four gave him slight pause.Including Juan Baker and his third son Ralph Baker, there were just five Bone Sacrifice practitioners. And now, only four remained after Ethan's handiwork. Such a force was inferior even compared to the Martin family of Hampshire County. Ethan had no patience for idle chatter. He immediately unleashed the Eight Mystical Metamorphoses, his original form and his clone charging at Juan Baker in unison.Speed was paramount. Ethan was currently only a
In the hall, all the "dignitaries" like Anna Patterson and Allan Long watched Ethan and Maxwell with odd expressions, clearly sensing their malicious intent. Yet no one had expected someone to actually crash the Baker family's joyous occasion.For rivals like Anna Patterson, nothing would be better than ruining the Baker family's big day, or even causing their total downfall. So for the moment, all was silent as they waited to see what would unfold.An eerie quiet. Joseph closed his eyes regretfully. He knew of the feelings between his daughter and Ethan, and rather approved of the boy. But his arrival was just too late, and the timing was wrong...After over seven years, Ethan's appearance had changed somewhat, but Charles still recognized him and kept signaling urgently for Ethan to leave quickly.Ethan ignored him completely, back ramrod straight, eyes empty of emotion as he scanned the Baker crowd.Beside him, Maxwell loomed tall and bulky, standing out in the crowd like a crane
"You...you..." Joseph was nearing eighty. Such provocation was too much for him and his face flushed crimson as he gasped for breath."Father!" Charles hurriedly supported Joseph, gently patting his back to help him calm down. "Grandfather!" Lily's hair was disheveled, tears instantly filling her eyes....The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month was an auspicious date, at least for the millions of ordinary folk in Mistwood County.Everyone knew this was the joyous wedding day of the Baker family's third young master. Though he already had two wives and concubines, how eminent was the Baker family? The undisputed overlord of Mistwood County, even lording over nearby counties--their might was undisputed.The Baker family was worthy of being called the overlords of Mistwood County. Their extravagant welcoming convoy stretched over fifteen miles, handing out large festive cash gifts to all they met--not just any gifts either, but ten taels of silver per person!Many eyed the money cove
"Two celestial beings..." Lily's lovely face paled and she instinctively drew closer to the ice sculpture.The loud commotion also woke the just-risen Charles, Joseph and the rest. Soon--The main hall doors opened and the Joseph family streamed out, from Charles and Joseph down to the servants, staring curiously at the Baker entourage and the glittering array of treasures before them.Many had never seen such wealth in their lives! Just the gold ingots alone filled three huge chests. That was not even counting the obviously expensive jewelry and other gifts.Filling chests with gold ingots--how rich did one have to be?Likely enough...to buy half the streets in Stone Town!Joseph's brows twitched slightly. "Young Master Baker, what is the meaning of this?"It was normal to offer betrothal gifts, but gifts of such extravagance were no ordinary matter. Despite his advanced years, Joseph's eyesight remained sharp. He knew well the sheer quantity of gold, silver and jewels laid out befor
Lily gazed at the ice sculpture, lost in thought, barely registering her father's words.Charles stepped forward and sat down cross-legged beside his daughter. "Speaking of that Ethan boy, he really is pitiable. Losing his parents early, and his only grandfather murdered too. Seven years ago he finally avenged his grandfather by killing Caleb, but then got taken away by some mysterious youth. No word since--such a shame."He sighed regretfully. The image of that teenager chopping wood behind their hill seven or eight years ago was still vivid in his mind. Charles had liked Ethan quite a bit. At the time, many talented local youths had been vying for Lily's affection, yet he had favored Ethan, even hoping to match him with his daughter. But unexpectedly..."Father, enough." Lily turned her head slightly, revealing a face that could bring kingdoms to ruin. But looking closely, her beautiful eyes held a deep weariness.Seven years--how many such spans are granted in a mortal lifetime? Se
An hour later. The rain grew heavier, coming down in sheets. The dark sky heralded an early nightfall in this gloomy downpour. The Inn of No Worries had long since closed, and the main street was now sparsely populated, with only a few swaying lanterns barely clinging to their poles in the wind and rain.Under the torrential rain's dilution, the traces of the Fountain of Time's poison had completely faded away. As Ethan strode through the ankle-deep water on the street, it splashed out around his steps.A hundred or so yards across from the Inn of No Worries, a bulky figure stood under the eaves of a dilapidated house, hands hanging loosely at his sides. Drenched by the raging storm, he seemed unfazed, standing motionless as the rainwater streamed down his face through gaps in the broken roof tiles."Maxwell? Your hands...they're healed?" From afar, Ethan immediately recognized Maxwell and grinned, hurriedly splashing through the standing water toward him.Maxwell's lips trembled and
The assassin in purple robes stepped forward to flip over Ethan's "corpse", intending to seize Ethan's Azure Myst.But at that moment--Suddenly! Ethan's eyes shot open as the Azure Dragon shard materialized in his hand, stabbing into the assassin's left and right thighs in rapid succession!"Pfft!""Pfft!"Blood gushed wildly as holes appeared in both of the assassin's legs. His expression changed dramatically as he was jolted awake. Ethan pounced forward, gripping the assassin's thighs tightly, stabbing the Azure Dragon shard again and again into his legs! Ethan knew clearly that a Beyond Heaven core assassin of this caliber likely had some kind of spiritual armor for protection. A direct stab to the heart might not take him down in one blow. In an instant, the assassin's legs were pierced four or five times. The extreme sharpness of the Azure Dragon shard rendered his legs basically useless. The assassin's face was sinisterly dark. He did indeed have spiritual armor--a mid-gra
"I must make him come down," Ethan's icy gaze swept over the water pooling on the ground. The rainwater mixed with a drop of Fountain of Time. Although constantly being washed and diluted by the rain, it had not yet fully dispersed and was still extremely toxic!Because of the Fountain of Time, Ethan's movable space was very limited right now. While the purple-robe could float freely in the void, under such circumstances this battle was unwinnable!Ethan flung an initial stage spear towards the purple-robe in the void. He still had tens of thousands of such spears in reserve in his Azure Myst. For offensive means, as a peak Meridian Training expert Ethan could only do this much against Bone Sacrifice Realm and above enemies.Weakened over thousands of yards of space, the spear's power had greatly diminished. The purple-robe casually waved his hand, deflecting the spear aside. It could not harm him whatsoever.Ethan flipped his hand, taking out a night pot emanating a faint azure glow