Rescue

Boom!

The spear clashed with the lion's hoof, and Sun Ze was sent flying by the Ox-Lion's brute force. He slammed into a large tree before coming to a stop, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

"Brother!"

Sun Yan saw what happened and cried out in alarm. She hurried to Sun Ze's side and asked with concern, "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

Sun Ze shook his head slightly, wiped the blood from his mouth, and let out a sharp breath. "I'm fine. I didn't expect the Ox-Lion to be so strong. I can barely withstand it."

"Why don't we just run?"

Though Sun Yan had reached the Early Earth Origin Realm, she had only gotten there by piling up spirit medicines. She had never been through a real battle and was already uneasy. After seeing the Ox-Lion send Sun Ze flying with one blow, she looked even more frightened.

"Cousin, I'll distract the Ox-Lion. While it's occupied, you go get the Strange Hundred Fruit."

Unwilling to slink away empty-handed, Sun Ze came up with a plan and spoke to Sun Yan.

"Huh? I... I'm supposed to go? I'm a little scared..."

When Sun Ze told her to retrieve the Strange Hundred Fruit, Sun Yan shrank back, her voice trembling.

"Cousin, don't worry. It'll be fine. I won't let the Ox-Lion hurt you."

Seeing how timid Sun Yan was, Sun Ze felt helpless, but all he could do was reassure her.

"Th-then you have to protect me, okay?"

Sun Yan knew she was a coward, which was why she had come out with Sun Ze—to work up her courage. Hearing his promise, she steeled herself and spoke cautiously.

"Don't worry. Leave everything to me."

Sun Ze stood up and patted his chest as he promised.

With Sun Ze's assurance, Sun Yan visibly calmed down, no longer looking quite so panicked.

"Roar!"

The Ox-Lion saw the two talking and grew even angrier. It darted forward and charged at Sun Ze.

"Cousin, now!"

Sun Ze shouted, raised the Water Spirit Spear, and engaged the Ox-Lion.

While the Ox-Lion was occupied fighting Sun Ze, Sun Yan hurried toward the Strange Vermilion Fruit, hoping to seize the Strange Hundred Fruit.

The Ox-Lion quickly noticed what Sun Yan was doing. It spun around and rushed to kill her, but Sun Ze wasn't about to let it get its way. He hurried forward to stop it.

With no choice, the Ox-Lion had to fight Sun Ze again, though it kept Sun Yan in the corner of its eye. Seeing her draw closer and closer to the Strange Hundred Fruit, it flew into a rage, gathered all its strength, and slammed into Sun Ze.

"Not good!"

Facing the Ox-Lion's savage attack, Sun Ze's expression changed. He hurriedly unleashed his most powerful martial technique to defend himself.

Bam!

The instant the Ox-Lion charged, Sun Ze felt as if a towering mountain were hurtling toward him. Even with all his strength, he couldn't stop it.

And so it happened: Sun Ze was sent flying once more, smashing through dozens of trees before finally coming to a stop.

"Pfft!"

He couldn't hold it back and spat out a mouthful of blood, nearly passing out. Luckily, his will was strong. Before losing consciousness, he took some healing pills, which helped him recover a little.

After sending Sun Ze flying, the Ox-Lion turned and attacked Sun Yan.

"Cousin!"

As the Ox-Lion drew closer, Sun Yan trembled from head to toe, rooted to the spot. She could only scream in terror.

But Sun Ze was already too far away to stop it. All he could do was watch helplessly.

"Cousin, use your martial technique to defend yourself!"

With no other choice, Sun Ze shouted, hoping Sun Yan could survive the attack.

Unfortunately, he had overestimated Sun Yan's courage. She couldn't even move, so how could she possibly summon the nerve to use a martial technique?

As the Ox-Lion drew closer and closer, Sun Yan couldn't withstand the crushing pressure. She fainted from fright.

The Ox-Lion didn't care whether she was unconscious. It kept charging.

"Cousin!"

Seeing that Sun Yan was about to be killed, Sun Ze let out a desperate shout, but it did no good.

At that moment, Sun Ze regretted everything. He regretted coveting that Strange Hundred Fruit, and even more, he regretted sending Sun Yan to retrieve it. If he hadn't, perhaps this tragedy would never have happened.

Just then, a figure flashed past like lightning. In an instant, he passed Sun Ze and reached the Ox-Lion, throwing a punch.

Caught completely off guard, the Ox-Lion was knocked onto its back by the tremendous force and let out a pained howl.

Sun Ze's eyes widened. He stared at the scene in disbelief, as if he were dreaming.

"Tsk, what a tough hide. My hand's gone numb."

Lin Ge shook out his tingling hand and muttered under his breath.

The Ox-Lion had never been knocked onto its back before. It roared again, gathered all its strength, and charged at Lin Ge with its most formidable horn.

Facing the Ox-Lion's full-force attack, Lin Ge remained as calm as still water. Sword qi rapidly gathered at the tip of his right index finger. He lightly swept it through the air, and a streak of sword light flashed by, carrying an overwhelming sword force. It cut the Ox-Lion's horn clean off!

Then, giving the Ox-Lion no chance to recover, Lin Ge suddenly flashed to its side. Vast sword qi gathered in his right hand once more, and he drove his fist forward.

A deafening explosion rang out. A fierce gale swept in every direction, kicking up dust and making Sun Ze squeeze his eyes shut. He didn't open them until the wind died down.

"N-no way!"

When he opened his eyes again, Sun Ze looked utterly incredulous.

The Ox-Lion, whose strength rivaled the peak of the Earth Origin Realm, had been punched straight through the belly by Lin Ge. It lay motionless on the ground, a great deal of blood flowing out and staining the earth.

"This level still isn't enough. I need to keep honing my skills."

Lin Ge glanced at the dead Ox-Lion and shook his head, clearly still dissatisfied with his strength.

With that, Lin Ge slowly walked away under Sun Ze's gaze. He didn't even look at the Strange Hundred Fruit nearby, simply disappearing from Sun Ze's sight.

"W-wasn't he here for the Strange Hundred Fruit?"

Watching Lin Ge disappear into the distance, Sun Ze glanced at Sun Yan lying on the ground, then hurried over and shook her awake.

"Cousin, cousin."

Sun Yan slowly opened her eyes and saw Sun Ze looking frantic. Still groggy, she asked, "Brother, where's the Ox-Lion?"

Sun Ze looked at the Ox-Lion, its body pierced through, and couldn't help shuddering. "Someone killed it."

"It's dead!"

Sun Yan was startled. She slowly got to her feet and saw the Ox-Lion lying dead.

"Ah..."

After a scream, Sun Yan fainted again. Helpless, Sun Ze put the Strange Hundred Fruit into his Universe Bag, then carried Sun Yan on his back and left the forest.