29: Fight

Chen Linsheng curled up in the narrow rock crevice, his body taut and his heart pounding wildly.

The monstrous fierce tiger was pacing outside, its hot, rank breath almost spraying the edge of the crevice. Its cold vertical pupils scanned the surroundings, and its low roar made his eardrums ache.

'No good. This crevice is too shallow. If it finds me, one claw can reach in! I must run!'

He instantly made a decision in his heart, preparing to disregard everything and use [One Thread Crossing] to flee deeper into the mountains.

However, just as he was gathering his strength, the “Beast Instinct” Divine Effect brought by Tracking (Perfection) allowed him to catch a hint of abnormality.

The tiger's roar... seemed to lack vigor?

Moreover, the bloody scent permeating the air, besides the blood from the wild deer he had just hunted, seemed to have a heavier, older source... Chen Linsheng risked pressing his eyes against the edge of the crevice, using the vision granted by Five Senses Clarity to carefully examine the pacing behemoth.

At this sight, his heart leaped violently!

He saw that the giant tiger, with its fierce eyes and white forehead, was covered in crisscrossing wounds!

A deep, bone-visible knife wound ran from its shoulder blade down to its ribs. The flesh was peeled back, and although it was no longer bleeding, it was clearly not fully healed.

Half a broken arrow was stuck in its hindquarters, and there were several scorched marks on its abdomen. Its gait carried a slight, almost imperceptible stagger, and while its Aura remained ferocious, it faintly revealed a weakness of being strong on the outside but lacking substance within!

"It's injured! And not lightly!" Chen Linsheng instantly realized, "That's right, the County Yamen's Five Hundred Taels reward, the Hunter Gang's large-scale encirclement, so many Martial Artists—there must be experts among them! No matter how fierce this monstrous beast is, two fists can't defeat four hands!"

Connecting this to the rumors of the hunters and the recent movements of the Hunter Gang, everything suddenly became clear.

This monstrous beast was clearly severely wounded during the Hunter Gang's encirclement, fled here, and was using this soon-to-be-mature Spirit Medicine to heal!

At this moment, [Beast Instinct] clearly fed back that the sense of threat posed by this seemingly mighty behemoth was far lower than he had estimated!

A daring idea ignited in his heart like wildfire.

"It's at the end of its rope! If I don't kill it now, when will I? The Five Hundred Taels reward is secondary; if I can consume this Spirit Medicine..."

Opportunity and risk coexist, but at this moment, the proportion of risk was rapidly decreasing!

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Linsheng's eyes, and killing intent immediately arose!

Just as the fierce tiger, frustrated by failing to find its target, let out another low growl and slightly relaxed—

Chen Linsheng moved!

He slid out of the crevice like a phantom. The Qi and blood from the Hunyuan Pile Posture Technique (Major Achievement) instantly surged to their Peak. The Divine Effect of [Strength Throughout the Body] allowed him to twist all his power into a single force. With a slight shift of his feet using the [Way of Balance], his figure shot toward the fierce tiger's exposed flank like an arrow leaving a bow!

"Roar?!"

The fierce tiger was alarmed, but due to its severe injuries, its reaction was half a beat too slow!

Chen Linsheng struck out with his right palm like a clap of thunder. The Hunyuan Palm at the Minor Achievement Realm fully erupted. Qi and blood condensed in his palm, carrying a burst of unified Hunyuan force, which solidly imprinted itself directly onto the hideous knife wound on the tiger's waist and abdomen!

"Bang!"

A muffled sound!

Chen Linsheng only felt as if his palm had struck tough, aged cowhide, but the "Penetrating Force" Divine Effect of the Hunyuan Palm, specialized in breaking defense, manifested clearly at this moment!

The palm force penetrated the hide, going straight into its internal organs!

Even better, the palm force accurately slammed into the unhealed old wound!

"Awoo—!"

The fierce tiger let out a miserable shriek of pain far exceeding its previous roars. Its massive body was knocked several feet sideways by the strike, its old wound on the waist and abdomen burst open, and blood instantly gushed out!

The ferocity in its eyes was replaced by intense pain and terror. It clearly hadn't expected this weak-Aura little bug to unleash such terrifying power!

Chen Linsheng pressed his advantage, delight filling his heart: "As expected, its defense is greatly reduced!"

Without hesitation, he drew the Ten-Forged Steel Blade from his back!

Cleaver Technique (Perfection)!

Man and blade united!

The blade light was like a bolt of white silk, carrying a tragic Aura of charging forward without reserve, and it ruthlessly slashed down, following the fierce tiger's old wound and the most vulnerable part of its hide!

"Puchi!"

This time, it was not a muffled sound, but the tearing sound of a sharp blade cutting into flesh!

The steel blade embedded deeply into the fierce tiger's waist and abdomen, almost disemboweling it!

Having suffered this heavy blow, the fierce tiger's life force rapidly drained away, the light in its eyes quickly dimmed, and its massive body tottered.

It was clearly about to die right there!

Just as Chen Linsheng prepared to pull out the blade and deliver another strike to completely end the monstrous beast's life—

The "Preempting the Enemy" and "Listening to the Wind to Discern Position" Divine Effects of Tracking (Perfection) simultaneously gave frantic warnings!

A bone-chilling sense of crisis struck from the side and rear!

It wasn't from the tiger!

Without thinking, the minute-level control over his center of gravity granted by the Way of Balance instantly erupted, and his body suddenly twisted and slid sideways at an incredible angle!

"Swish!"

A poisoned crossbow bolt whizzed past his ear and fiercely embedded itself in the tree trunk ahead, its tail vibrating violently!

Chen Linsheng abruptly turned his head, his gaze cold as a blade, looking toward the direction the crossbow bolt came from.

He saw over a dozen figures emerge from the depths of the forest, each with fierce eyes, and conspicuously wearing wooden plaques with the character “Hunter” on their waists!

The leader was a sinister-looking middle-aged man. His temples bulged high, and his eyes flashed sharply when he opened and closed them. The Aura emanating from him far surpassed that of an ordinary Skin Tempering Realm Martial Artist, carrying a heart-palpitating sense of oppression. He was actually a master of the Flesh Refining Realm!

He must be an Elder-level figure in the Hunter Gang.

He glanced indifferently at Chen Linsheng, his gaze like looking at an ant, and then coldly ordered his subordinates: "Go, clean up the tiger carcass."

Two Hunter Gang members immediately responded, gripping their blades and walking toward the dying fierce tiger, completely ignoring Chen Linsheng standing to the side, as if he and his recent battle didn't exist.

The sinister Elder's gaze bypassed Chen Linsheng and greedily fixed on the Spiritual Plant glowing with faint blue light in the center of the mountain hollow. He stepped forward, intending to pick it immediately!

"You!"

Anger flared in Chen Linsheng's heart. The Hunter Gang's actions were even more tyrannical and shameless than the Medicine Gang!

He had fought hard, nearly killing the fierce tiger, yet these people not only launched a sneak attack but also intended to forcibly seize his spoils of war and the Spirit Medicine he found!

Judging by that Elder's Aura, he was definitely a skilled practitioner in the Flesh Refining Realm. Although Chen Linsheng had continuously performed Skin Quenching, a direct confrontation was absolutely not an option.

'Endure! I must endure! Although the Spirit Medicine is good, I must be alive to enjoy it!'

Chen Linsheng instantly suppressed his anger, letting reason prevail. He prepared to use his movement technique to retreat first and settle the score later.

However, just as he was about to move—

"Heh heh, I wondered who was putting on such a great display of might. Turns out it's you, old jackal." A hearty laugh mixed with a hint of mockery suddenly rang out in the clearing.

Hearing this voice, Chen Linsheng was overjoyed and spun his head around.

He saw Senior Brother Shi Poyue and Third Martial Sister Liu Ruyan, who had quietly appeared in a clearing in the woods not far away.

Shi Poyue maintained his usual steady appearance, but a faint, almost nonexistent smile played on the corner of his mouth.

Liu Ruyan, meanwhile, stood with her arms crossed, watching the Hunter Gang members with cold eyes, her gaze carrying unconcealed disdain.

The sinister Elder's steps suddenly halted. His face instantly became extremely ugly, and his eyes were filled with dread, even a hint of fear.

The Hunter Gang members who were about to deal with the tiger carcass also froze in place, as if under an Immobilization Spell, not daring to breathe.

The atmosphere in the clearing instantly solidified!

"Senior Brother! Third Martial Sister!"

Chen Linsheng quickly dashed to their side and rapidly recounted what had just happened.

Shi Poyue listened quietly, his smile unchanged. He patted Chen Linsheng's shoulder, signaling him to calm down.

Then, he stepped forward, his gaze calmly sweeping over the Hunter Gang members before finally landing on the sinister Elder. His tone was gentle, yet carried undeniable authority:

"Elder Liu, this tiger was discovered by Junior Brother Chen, and he fought desperately to severely wound it. That Spiritual Plant was also found first by Junior Brother Chen. Logically, everything here should belong to my Junior Brother. You... cannot take it."

Elder Liu's face was ashen, and his lips moved, seemingly wanting to speak.

But Shi Poyue didn't give him a chance to open his mouth. The sunny, warm smile on his face grew even brighter as he continued: "Of course, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. If you truly want it, it's not entirely impossible..."

He paused, and his gaze suddenly became sharp as an eagle's. His voice still carried a smile, but it instantly turned chillingly cold:

"...However, you must leave your lives behind."

The moment the word "behind" fell!

Shi Poyue moved!

His figure seemed not to have moved, he merely casually raised his hand and lightly pressed out a palm strike toward Elder Liu from a distance!

There was no earth-shattering momentum, only an invisible yet incomparably majestic Protective Aura instantly condensing, erupting like a raging sea storm or Mount Tai crushing down!

Elder Liu's pupils shrank abruptly. His face showed extreme terror, and he only had time to cross his arms over his chest, mobilizing all his Qi, blood, and Internal Energy to resist!

"Pfft—!"

Like a heavy hammer striking rotten mud!

Under everyone's terrified gaze, the Hunter Gang Elder Liu, who was a Flesh Refining Realm master, along with his blocking arms and the few gang members closest behind him, were instantly crushed by an invisible immense force, exploding into a cloud of blood mist and minced flesh!

He couldn't even let out a scream! The might of a single palm strike was terrifying to this extent!

The scene fell into a deathly silence!

The surviving Hunter Gang members were all deathly pale, trembling like chaff. Looking at the spreading blood mist and Shi Poyue, who stood still with his gentle smile unchanged, they felt as if they were seeing a demon god from the Nine Netherworlds!

Chen Linsheng was also deeply shaken by the sight. He knew Senior Brother was strong, but he never expected him to be strong to this extent!

A palm strike from a distance, crushing a Flesh Refining Realm master!

Was this the true strength of Yangwei Martial Arts Hall's Senior Brother?

Shi Poyue retracted his palm, as if he had merely swatted a fly. His gaze swept over the remaining Hunter Gang members, who were nearly collapsing onto the ground, and he spoke lightly: "Scram."

A single word, like an imperial decree of pardon.

Those gang members acted as if they had received a great pardon, scrambling away, wishing they had two more legs. In the blink of an eye, they vanished without a trace, not even daring to collect their companions' remains.

Only then did Shi Poyue turn around and smile at Junior Brother Chen: "Junior Brother Chen, be quick about it and pack up the things. This Spirit Medicine is about to mature, and its unusual fragrance will attract more trouble. We need to leave as soon as possible."

Chen Linsheng suppressed the excitement in his heart and nodded heavily: "Yes, Senior Brother!"