Slaying a Peak Fighter

Jiang Donghua moved like the wind, Dou Qi circulating beneath his feet as he activated Cloud-Chasing Steps, gliding through the forest as though on level ground.

More than two months of intense slaughter had made his senses exceptionally sharp. Not even the slightest unusual aura could escape his detection.

Suddenly, he halted, his gaze flashing like lightning as it locked onto a towering ancient tree ahead.

Its trunk was thick, its cracked bark resembling dragon scales.

And on a branch about thirty feet above the ground grew an entirely emerald-green herb. Its leaves were as crystalline as jade, faintly emanating a pale azure glow.

"Azure Spirit Body Tempering Grass?"

A sharp gleam flashed through Jiang Donghua's eyes, and the corner of his lips curled upward.

This herb was exceedingly rare and one of the primary ingredients for refining Body Tempering Pills. Even consumed directly, it could strengthen the sinews and bones and enhance the body's physical strength.

At an auction house, a complete Azure Spirit Body Tempering Grass could sell for at least a thousand gold coins!

"Not bad luck."

He murmured, then leaped into the air. Dou Qi erupted beneath his feet, and he soared up like a swallow before landing steadily on the tree trunk.

However, just as he reached out to pluck it—

"Hiss—!"

A black shadow suddenly shot out from deep within the canopy, swift as lightning, lunging straight for Jiang Donghua's throat!

Jiang Donghua's pupils contracted. His reaction was incredibly fast as he sharply leaned backward, while Blazing Palm instantly gathered in his right hand. Crimson Dou Qi blasted out like raging fire!

"Bang!"

The black shadow was slapped away and crashed against the trunk with a piercing hiss.

Jiang Donghua focused his eyes and saw that it was a venomous snake, entirely black and covered in scales with a metallic sheen. It was as thick as an arm and was currently flicking its scarlet tongue as it stared at him coldly.

"Black Scale Iron Thread Snake?" Jiang Donghua sneered.

"No wonder this herb has grown here until now. So this beast was guarding it."

The Black Scale Iron Thread Snake was a tier-one magical beast with four- or five-star strength. It was incredibly fast and possessed potent venom. Even a Battle Master who was bitten would die within half an hour without timely detoxification!

"Unfortunately, you can't stop me."

Battle intent rose in Jiang Donghua's eyes. With a flick of his wrist, a short blade was already in his palm.

The Black Scale Iron Thread Snake seemed to sense the threat. Its body coiled up, its head raised high, ready to launch a fatal strike at any moment.

"Whoosh—!"

The snake's shadow flashed like lightning as it attacked again!

Jiang Donghua swayed, pushing Cloud-Chasing Steps to the limit. At the critical moment, he twisted aside to evade it, while his short blade flashed with cold light and slashed precisely at the snake's body!

"Slash!"

Blood sprayed into the air as the Black Scale Iron Thread Snake was cut in two. Its severed head still writhed madly on the ground, its fangs bared viciously.

Jiang Donghua snorted coldly and crushed the snake's head beneath his foot to make certain it was completely dead. Only then did he turn around and carefully pluck the Azure Spirit Body Tempering Grass.

The moment the herb entered his hand, a cool medicinal fragrance washed over him, making the Dou Qi within his body faintly more active.

"Good stuff!"

He nodded in satisfaction and placed the herb into his Storage Bag.

However, just as he prepared to leave, he suddenly frowned and swept his gaze toward the depths of the forest.

"Something's wrong."

His senses told him that this area seemed unusually quiet.

"Rustle—"

A breeze swept past, making the leaves whisper, yet apart from that, there was not the slightest movement from any magical beast.

Was I overthinking it?

Jiang Donghua stared at the Azure Spirit Body Tempering Grass in his hand, a ruthless glint flashing through his eyes.

"Anyway, it's suitable for tempering a Dou Zhe's body. No reason not to eat it!"

Without hesitation, he stuffed the entire herb into his mouth, clenched his teeth, and savagely chewed it apart!

"Crunch—"

The herb's juices burst in his mouth, and a medicinal force that was both pungent and fragrant instantly surged through his limbs and bones!

Jiang Donghua let out a muffled groan. The Dou Qi within him churned like boiling water, while waves of stabbing pain coursed through his muscles and bones, as though countless tiny blades were scraping across them.

"Hiss... that's strong!"

He gritted his teeth and growled, veins bulging on his forehead, yet his gaze only grew sharper.

He had long since become accustomed to this kind of body-tempering pain.

More than two months of life-and-death battles had given him endurance far beyond that of ordinary people.

After only a few breaths, the medicinal force gradually stabilized, and he could clearly feel that his physical strength had risen another level!

"Not bad. If I find a few more, I might be able to directly break through to an Eight-Star Battle Master!"

Jiang Donghua grinned, his battle intent growing even fiercer.

However, just as he prepared to continue deeper into the forest—

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The ground suddenly trembled. Trees in the distance toppled one after another, as though some enormous creature was charging straight toward him!

Jiang Donghua's expression sharpened as he instantly entered a combat stance. He gripped his longsword tightly, Dou Qi circulating throughout his body.

"Roar—!!!"

A heaven-shaking roar exploded through the forest. Wild wind swept through the trees, sending leaves flying everywhere!

The next moment, a massive bear the size of a small mountain charged out of the woods, its scarlet beast eyes locked firmly onto Jiang Donghua!

An Earth Quake Bear!

A peak tier-one magical beast, its strength comparable to that of a human Nine-Star Battle Master!

Its body was covered in thick blackish-brown fur, every strand as hard as a steel needle. Its limbs were as thick as stone pillars, and its claws glinted with an eerie cold light, capable of tearing apart rock with a casual swipe!

Most terrifying of all was its innate ability, Earthquake Tremor. Once activated, the ground within thirty to fifty feet would instantly crack apart, causing its enemies to lose their balance and become lambs awaiting slaughter!

"Heh, so it's you?"

"Did that sword strike last time not teach you a lesson?"

Jiang Donghua sneered. There was not a trace of fear in his eyes; instead, his battle intent boiled over!

The Earth Quake Bear let out a low growl, its breath rumbling like thunder. It had clearly been thoroughly enraged.

It had dominated this region for a long time. Never had any human dared to provoke it like this!

Only the human before it had actually made it feel a life-threatening danger last time.

Such an existence absolutely could not be allowed to remain. Otherwise, it would sooner or later die by his hand.

Strike first and gain the advantage; strike late and suffer the consequences!

"Boom—!"

Without another word, the violent bear abruptly rose onto its hind legs, raised both claws high, then smashed them viciously into the ground!

"Earthquake Tremor!"

"Crack—!"

The ground instantly split apart. A terrifying shockwave spread out like a tidal wave, and the earth beneath Jiang Donghua's feet suddenly collapsed!

"Cloud-Chasing Steps!"

Jiang Donghua had been prepared. His body shot into the air like a ghost, Dou Qi erupting beneath his feet as he used the collapsing ground to propel himself skyward!

"Blazing Palm!"

His right palm turned red like heated iron, scorching Dou Qi condensing into a giant flaming hand that struck down at the violent bear's head from midair!

"Bang—!"

The violent bear roared in pain, but the strike merely scorched a patch of its fur and caused no real damage!

"Thick hide and tough flesh. Just as troublesome as expected!"

Jiang Donghua's gaze turned grave as he swiftly pulled back after landing.

The violent bear became completely enraged. Dropping onto all fours, it charged forward like a war chariot, snapping every tree in its path!

Yet a cold smile appeared on Jiang Donghua's lips.

"A beast is still a beast. No matter how strong it is, it only knows brute force!"

His figure flashed as he drove Cloud-Chasing Steps to its limit. At the instant the violent bear charged into him, he dodged to the side, while his short blade flashed with cold light and stabbed viciously into the bear's flank!

"Slash!"

The blade sank into flesh, and blood spurted out!

"Roar—!"

The violent bear howled in pain and spun around with a sweeping claw strike!

Jiang Donghua had expected it. He drifted backward like a willow catkin, then struck with another Blazing Palm, accurately blasting the bear's wound!

"Sizzle—!"

The stench of burnt flesh spread through the air as the violent bear's wound was seared into a bloody mess!

"Again!"

Jiang Donghua's battle intent surged wildly. He prowled around like a leopard, continuously leaving new wounds across the violent bear's body.

Although the violent bear possessed immense strength, its speed was far inferior to Jiang Donghua's. Combined with its excessive blood loss, its movements gradually slowed.

Finally, after fighting for half an hour—

"Die!"

Jiang Donghua seized the opening when the violent bear stumbled. His body shot forward like lightning, and his short blade stabbed straight into its throat!

"Pfft—!"

The blade pierced through its throat, and blood gushed out like a fountain!

The violent bear's enormous body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Jiang Donghua panted heavily, shook the blood from his blade, and sneered.

"A peak tier-one magical beast? Nothing special!"

He crouched down, skillfully cut open the violent bear's skull, and took out an earth-yellow magic core, even purer than the one from the Ironclad Boar.

"Good stuff. It's worth at least eight hundred gold coins!"

However, just as he prepared to leave, his ear twitched. He suddenly raised his head and looked toward the depths of the forest.

"Rustle—"

The leaves whispered softly, as though something was approaching.

And there was more than one!

Jiang Donghua's gaze turned cold as he slowly tightened his grip on his longsword.