Chapter 009: Black Demon Beast

Night.

Beside the cave, a sharp-eyed man walked through the jungle, his footsteps extremely soft. The fine steel long blade in his hand still dripped with blood.

Suddenly, a ten-foot-tall black shadow emerged from the jungle, carrying a burst of stench. The shadow's legs pushed off forcefully, leaping into the air.

Seeing this, the man's face changed drastically, but it was too late. His protective light shield was shattered instantly, and moments later, the man's head was crushed by the shadow's massive forelimbs.

A crunching sound exploded as a ten-foot-tall beast landed before Yang Tian's eyes, covered in pitch-black bristles. Its gaping maw was tearing at a human corpse, the crunching sounds continuous, clearly the sound of chewing bones.

At the cave entrance, Yang Tian witnessed all of this.

“So it’s a Black Demon Beast.” Yang Tian’s expression turned grave. From the emitted blood energy, this Black Demon Beast was at the first tier, fifth level. Beasts were divided into tiers one to three, corresponding to human cultivation levels.

Yang Tian slowly approached the Black Demon Beast. When he was nearly three zhang away, the beast suddenly stopped eating. It raised its head abruptly, its green eyes fixed on Yang Tian.

“Good perception.” Yang Tian’s heart tightened. Suddenly, he stomped the ground with his foot, unleashing immense force that sent mud flying. Using this momentum, he lunged forward.

“Growl.” The Black Demon Beast let out a low roar, its fierce aura erupting. Its pitch-black bristles stood on end. Seeing the approaching figure, it pushed off with its powerful hind legs, leaping into the air, and swung its forelimbs, revealing sharp claws aimed at Yang Tian’s head.

Swish! Swish!

Watching the claws draw near, Yang Tian’s figure flickered, turning into a gust of wind. Countless crimson fist shadows, each ferocious and powerful, spread out with thick blood energy as he clashed with the Black Demon Beast.

Boom! Boom!

Dust and smoke billowed. The residual gale force shredded several ancient trees nearby, and tearing sonic booms exploded repeatedly.

Bang!

Yang Tian’s body suddenly spun, tracing an arc as he moved behind the Black Demon Beast. He struck with a fist, the force biting cold!

“Roar!” The Black Demon Beast was blasted several zhang away, roaring incessantly. A deep, bone-deep wound appeared on its abdomen, spurting blood.

A biting gale force struck again. The Black Demon Beast’s face twisted, its aura climbing steadily. Its eyes fierce, its forelimbs clamped down like giant pincers.

Yang Tian’s mind was exceptionally calm. Just as the forelimbs were about to hit his body, he twisted in midair and kicked the Black Demon Beast’s abdomen with his rear foot.

“Slap.” A crisp sound. Yang Tian’s toes went numb, startling him. He retreated, tapping the air several times before landing.

“Such strong physical defense.” Feeling the pain in his toes, Yang Tian looked up at the Black Demon Beast, whose aura was climbing, and muttered inwardly. This beast was nearing the sixth level. Beasts were naturally strong in body but low in intelligence. Humans, on the other hand, were naturally intelligent but physically fragile.

“Roar!” The Black Demon Beast roared, revealing its full set of fangs, yellow liquid dripping continuously. Its entire body exuded a violent aura as it charged toward Yang Tian like an enraged bull trampling the ground.

Seeing this, Yang Tian remained unmoved. His muscles tensed instantly, thick blood energy concentrated in his fist. As the beast drew near, he leaned forward slightly, standing like a firm rock.

“Boom!” His fist suddenly swung out, a crimson light attacking with speed like thunder, shattering the air itself.

The fist imprint clashed with the Black Demon Beast’s claws. A powerful shockwave spread out, and the beast was sent flying.

“Crack… crack…”

The ground cracked continuously. Under the residual force, Yang Tian fared no better. His body staggered back several zhang before stabilizing. Several bloody gashes appeared on his arm, blood flowing freely.

“Hiss.” Looking at the wounds on his arm that reached the bone, Yang Tian sucked in a breath. This time, without hesitation, he endured the pain, stomped the ground, leaped into the air, and chased after the beast’s body, grabbing its powerful hind leg.

Yang Tian punched out, crimson light rolling, sonic booms exploding repeatedly. A bloody hole appeared on the beast’s hind leg, spurting blood.

“Roar.” The immense force struck, and the beast let out a miserable howl. At the same time, its body rapidly expanded, growing by a third in less than three breaths.

“Not good, it’s the berserk bloodline.” Yang Tian’s expression changed as he retreated rapidly. Some beasts had a chance to be born with a trace of berserk bloodline, which, when activated, would continuously boost their combat power.

“Boom! Boom!”

Trampling the ground, the mud layer cracked continuously. The beast’s speed increased severalfold, reaching Yang Tian in an instant. Its thick arm struck Yang Tian’s back.

“Crack!” Bones broke. Waves of excruciating pain washed over Yang Tian. His throat went sweet, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Beast!” He cursed lowly, rage burning in his heart. His stubbornness was aroused. He grabbed the beast’s forelimb, pulled hard, and drove his knee into its spine.

In the tight space, Yang Tian showed his ruthlessness. He fully activated the War Heaven Art, continuously replenishing his consumed blood energy. After prolonged combat, the beast’s berserk bloodline was about to fade.

“Blazing Sun!”

Yang Tian shouted coldly. The miniature sun gathering on his fist was several times more violent than before. He punched out, and a great sun rolled through the void, attacking the beast’s head.

Bang!

A dazzling crimson light streaked across the void. Before the beast could react, the sun exploded violently, thick blood energy erupting, blood and bone flying.

“Roar!” The beast howled miserably, its massive body rolling around, smashing several ancient trees that required several people to encircle, blood splattering.

Ten breaths later, the Black Demon Beast fell unwillingly.

Seeing this, Yang Tian’s face was somewhat pale, clearly from exhaustion. He looked at the beast, whose aura had dissipated, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. This was the first beast he had hunted.

Yang Tian sat cross-legged on the ground. After recovering most of his blood energy, he took out a fine steel long blade from his void ring and cut off the beast’s hide and fangs, placing them into the ring. These could be used for refining tools and traded for blood stones at the market.

When he split open the beast’s chest, a black fleshy ball appeared in his hand. Yang Tian grinned. This was the beast’s inner core, used for alchemy.

Swish!

Just as Yang Tian was recovering his blood energy, a streak of azure light shot through the vacuum, producing a piercing sonic boom. Yang Tian’s eyes snapped open. Before his thoughts could shift, his body had already dodged to the side.

Sizzle!

The azure light struck a large tree, and thick green smoke rose instantly. A tree that required several people to encircle gradually corroded, its once lush trunk rapidly withering.

“What a venomous heart.” His face darkened. His gaze fell on a burly man in tight clothing approaching slowly, a sense of danger spreading in his heart.

“What do you mean by this, sir?”

“Good reaction, you actually dodged my attack.” The man looked at the young man with interest, then glanced at the fallen beast and said mockingly, “Nothing much. Give me that beast’s inner core, and you can go.”

“Heh, you want the inner core in my hand? Let’s see if you’re qualified.” Yang Tian sneered. He knew in his heart that today’s matter could not be resolved peacefully.

In this world where the strong ruled, conflicts leading to bloodshed over a single word were common. Moreover, the man before him had directly ambushed him, clearly no stranger to murder and robbery.

This was the dark side of the cultivation world—naked threats.

“You little brat, today I’ll teach you the rules of the cultivation world.” A gloomy look flashed in the man’s eyes. As his gaze shifted, a streak of azure energy suddenly shot from his sleeve.

Swish!

Facing the oncoming energy, Yang Tian mobilized his blood energy, setting up several layers of defense around his body.

Boom!

The azure energy broke through several defenses, reaching Yang Tian’s heart. Yang Tian punched out, a crimson fist energy swinging out. The energies clashed in the air, a sonic boom exploding.

“Not bad.” The man’s expression turned serious. His figure flickered, turning into a blur, and in two breaths he was beside Yang Tian, striking at Yang Tian’s head with a jade-like palm.

“Ha!” Yang Tian roared lowly. The muscles on his arm jumped, bones grinding with dull sounds. Biting energy surged out, a crimson glow on his fist as he met the descending palm.

“Bang.” Dazzling light clashed, residual energy burst forth. At the same time, the sound of breaking bones exploded repeatedly. Yang Tian endured the pain and threw another punch.

“Boom!” Yang Tian’s face was cold, but he couldn’t help sucking in a breath. Three bones in his hand were broken.

“Die!” Suppressing the pain, he formed his two intact fingers into a claw and stabbed at the man’s eyes.

The man’s pupils contracted slightly, but his face remained calm. Ignoring the lightning-fast fingers, he punched at Yang Tian’s chest.

“Hng.” Yang Tian took the blow head-on. His chest burned like a furnace, unbearable pain wracking him. He gritted his teeth and thrust his halted fingers forward, feeling flesh resistance.

Blood splattered!

“Ah—” The man screamed in agony, clearly not expecting Yang Tian to take his blow. Blood gushed from his right eye, and on the ground, a terrified eyeball rolled.

“Beast, you deserve to die!” The man roared repeatedly, murderous intent seeping from his body, his twisted face nearly contorted.