Liu Yunche tore off a piece of Fire Ganoderma, placed it in his mouth, carefully chewed and swallowed it, then sensed the medicinal power within.
The next instant, he felt a surging force rise from his abdomen. It was as though a ball of crimson fire had been born inside him, burning away all filth and impurities.
Ravenous, Liu Yunche swallowed the rest of the Fire Ganoderma whole.
In an instant, the flames swelled as though they had become a blazing red sun. Liu Yunche felt his limbs and bones begin to heat up, while his skin and flesh began to glow. Under that radiance, faint black vapor drifted away.
The pores all over his body opened, and his skin, flesh, tendons, and bones seemed to cheer as they greedily devoured the medicinal power produced by the Fire Ganoderma.
Half an hour later, Liu Yunche slowly opened his eyes, looking full of vigor.
The flesh all over his body had become firmer, the scale-like patterns beneath his skin denser and finer, and the iron-colored sheen deeper. His skin had taken a great step toward Silver Skin.
Though he had yet to formally begin Flesh Tempering, his muscles had already undergone partial refinement. Not only had his physique strengthened, but he would also save considerable time at the Flesh Tempering stage.
After carefully examining the changes in himself, he found that his overall combat strength had not increased much.
Yet what delighted him was that the inner breath generated by his body's autonomous operation of the Nurturing Origin Stance had increased.
Liu Yunche's heart leaped with joy. "As expected, it improved my innate talent."
Moreover, this method of improvement was unlike the rumors of vast amounts of impurities being expelled through one's pores, leaving a martial artist covered in foul, black sweat.
At that moment, he only felt refreshed and clear-headed, his entire body much lighter.
At that moment, Shi Qingyue sat solemnly at the cave entrance, his gaze alert. Hearing footsteps from behind him, the tension in his heart abruptly eased.
He turned around and saw Liu Yunche slowly walking out of the cave. Dressed in tiger hide, he had lost a trace of the forest overlord's majesty and gained a touch of calm detachment.
Shi Qingyue was sincerely happy for his brother.
He smiled. "Later, it'll be your turn to keep watch."
Amusement flickered in Liu Yunche's eyes as he nodded and teased, "Qing Yue, just rest. I won't let any demon beast sneak up behind you."
Shi Qingyue froze for a moment before suddenly understanding. He raised his fist and laughingly cursed, "Screw you. My move that specializes in attacking the rear gate is an extraordinary move."
"Ordinary people aren't blessed enough to enjoy it."
For a time, laughter rang continuously through the cave.
Early the next morning, the two rose at dawn.
One was dressed like a savage, while the other was curled beneath tiger hide, looking every bit like a scrawny little Tiger Lord.
"Today, we should find He Wu and the other two early, so we can make plans sooner," Shi Qingyue said evenly.
The two ran one before the other through the mountain forest.
Half an hour later, Liu Yunche and Shi Qingyue were resting while concealed in the treetops.
Suddenly, two martial artists passed by below the road, speaking in low voices.
"Brother Zhao, hurry and follow. A variant demon beast cub appeared up ahead. Quite a few people have already gone over, so let's join the excitement too."
Brother Zhao hurriedly picked up his pace and followed him.
"A variant demon beast cub?"
Liu Yunche and Shi Qingyue exchanged glances, both seeing surprise and uncertainty in the other's eyes.
"Perhaps it's another demon beast drawn out by the Demon-Luring Incense," Liu Yunche guessed.
"Yunche, let's go have a look too. He Wu and the others might be there."
Liu Yunche nodded in agreement, and the two trailed behind those martial artists.
The suddenly appearing variant demon beast cub stirred a trace of vigilance within Liu Yunche.
The bandits have methods of luring demon beasts. If...
Liu Yunche quietly buried that thought in his heart. He had never forgotten the danger from Blackwind Stronghold.
As they traveled, martial artists also came running from different directions, all heading toward the same place. Shi Qingyue even knew several of them.
When those people caught sight of Liu Yunche and Shi Qingyue's attire, a strange look flashed through their eyes. Still, they merely nodded slightly in greeting.
At last, the group rushed out of the forest, and a gorge appeared before them.
The gorge was not large, resembling a gourd lying on the ground. This place was thus known as Gourd Gorge.
By the time Liu Yunche and Shi Qingyue arrived, the surroundings were already bustling with activity.
In the middle of Gourd Gorge, Liu Tianlin of the Liu Household, He Chaoyang of the He Clan, and Tao Xiaoyun of the Tao Clan stood in confrontation.
Martial artists from many martial arts halls stood quietly in the corners. Flying Bear Martial Arts Hall, which had crossed paths with Liu Yunche before, was among them.
When Han Xu saw Liu Yunche arrive, the hand gripping his blade unconsciously tightened, and excitement flashed in his eyes.
Just as he was about to step forward, Li Youchen pressed a hand onto his shoulder, signaling him not to act rashly.
Han Xu nodded faintly. Without his usual temper, he seemed much steadier. He restrained himself and quietly stood beside Li Youchen.
Some independent martial artists had also each found a corner to wait in, though most remained near Gourd Gorge's entrances and exits.
Liu Yunche's gaze lingered briefly on the Golden Radiance Lion beneath Tao Xiaoyun before passing over them and settling on the demon beast cub beneath a massive boulder.
Its entire body was crimson, shaped like a canine with three tails growing from its rear. It appeared injured and unable to move, baring its fangs at the crowd.
"This is..." Liu Yunche hesitated. He had never seen such a strange beast before.
"This is a Red Dog Zheng. Rumor has it that it carries a trace of the bloodline of the ancient demon beast Zheng."
Shi Qingyue introduced it.
The Red Dog Zheng's nostrils twitched as though it had caught some scent. It slightly turned its head and looked toward Liu Yunche.
Liu Yunche's heart tightened. He secretly took out the Demon-Luring Incense from his clothes and, while no one else was paying attention, hid it in a crack between the nearby rocks.
As time passed, more and more martial artists arrived through the entrance.
Seeing the martial artists gathering in ever greater numbers, Tao Xiaoyun was the first to break the silence.
"You two, as for how this Red Dog Zheng is to be divided, why don't we first settle on some rules?"
He Chaoyang laughed loudly, his red robes snapping fiercely in the mountain wind.
"This young beast is crimson from head to toe. It is clearly fated with me and should naturally belong to me."
Tao Xiaoyun's elegant brows furrowed slightly. Her original intention had been to establish rules and prevent everyone from fighting, allowing someone to fish in troubled waters.
She had not expected to encounter an arrogant, reckless brute like He Chaoyang.
Liu Tianlin, standing beside her, gave a derisive laugh. "Brother He, your words are truly amusing. Why not become an actor? It would not waste that talent of yours."
Without waiting for He Chaoyang to flare up, he continued.
"If we follow Brother He's logic, then since I am dressed in brown today, would not this entire land be fated with me?"
"Everything produced by these mountains and forests should all belong in my hands."
He Chaoyang gave a cold shout, his eyes and brows full of provocation. "Fine! Since Brother Liu has objections, we might as well settle it with our hands."
As his words fell, He Chaoyang raised his fist and prepared to strike.
"Enough!"
A sharp cry rang out. Tao Xiaoyun sat atop the Golden Radiance Lion, her face cold.
However, He Chaoyang was arrogant by nature and did not buy it. He said blandly, "What, Miss Tao? Do you wish to be the first to sample my fist techniques?"
Tao Xiaoyun was furious. She truly could not understand how, among the Three Great Families, the He Clan had produced such a bastard.
She turned and smiled at Liu Tianlin. "Brother Liu, why don't you and I join hands to sweep this man out first, then decide who gets the cub?"
Liu Tianlin laughed heartily. "Good! Sister Tao has spoken straight to my heart."
"He Chaoyang, will you withdraw on your own, or shall we beat you severely wounded before you withdraw?"
He Chaoyang narrowed his eyes and remained silent. Yet the faces of the He Clan martial artists behind him had already drained of color as they anxiously looked toward him.
He Chaoyang impatiently waved a hand behind him, then ignored the He Clan members.
He stepped forward, excitement glinting in his eyes, and roared, "Fine! Let me see what you two are capable of."
As his words fell, he shot forward. His crimson robe rushed straight at Liu Tianlin.
Liu Tianlin snorted coldly. In his eyes, this was He Chaoyang looking down on him.
Fearless, both his palms instantly turned iron-colored as he charged toward He Chaoyang. At the side, Tao Xiaoyun planted one foot on the Golden Radiance Lion's head and sprang forward as well.
The next moment, fists and palms collided.
The sound was like iron weapons violently crashing together, instantly echoing throughout Gourd Gorge.
All three were Iron Muscle martial artists. No one present possessed a higher cultivation than them.
After only a few exchanges of words, they had already traded fists and palms. Within the gorge, the other martial artists silently watched.
They had only come to join the excitement. None dared truly snatch the cub from the hands of the Three Great Families.
In the one-against-two situation, He Chaoyang was like a madman provoked beyond endurance. A calm fury lay in his eyes as he attacked without defending, completely disregarding the fists and kicks landing on his body.
For a time, he actually suppressed the pair's attacks.
Liu Tianlin did not mind. His hands moved without pause, each swing carrying fierce palm winds.
"Let's see how long you can hold out."
Though Tao Xiaoyun was a woman, her temperament was fierce, and her fist technique was exceedingly heavy. Whenever Liu Tianlin received He Chaoyang's attacks, she would strike He Chaoyang from the side.
After only several dozen exchanges, the crimson robe had become tattered beyond recognition.
Yet Liu Tianlin was not having an easy time either. He had taken one of He Chaoyang's punches squarely in the chest, and it was now faintly aching.
One of Tao Xiaoyun's arms hung limply at her side, unable to exert strength for the moment. He Chaoyang had seized an opening and injured it with a punch.
Suddenly, the two joined forces and blasted He Chaoyang back several yards. Liu Tianlin said calmly, "Brother He, are you still not withdrawing?"
Blood seeped from the corner of He Chaoyang's mouth. His left hand clutched his chest, his body staggered, and his breathing was ragged. Clearly, his internal organs had been injured.
Just then, the situation in the arena abruptly changed.
A figure nearly blending into the environment flashed past. With lightning speed that left no time to cover one's ears, he grabbed the cub and ran for the exit without looking back.
"Bold bastard!" Liu Tianlin and Tao Xiaoyun shouted in fury almost at the same time.
Liu Tianlin no longer had the leisure to deal with He Chaoyang and immediately gave chase.
Tao Xiaoyun shouted, "Stop him!"
The people of the Three Great Families moved almost simultaneously. Quite a few independent martial artists seemed to see an opportunity and quietly began moving as well.
Shi Qingyue sighed. "This man truly has nerve, and he is decisive enough."
Watching the figure dodge through the pursuit of countless martial artists, Liu Yunche added, "And his movement technique is nimble, far beyond that of an ordinary martial artist."
Of course, he still isn't as good as me. Liu Yunche did not say those words aloud; they merely flashed through his mind.
Seeing that the man was about to rush out of Gourd Gorge, he would be able to flee into the forest. With his camouflage that nearly blended into the surroundings, finding him would become even more difficult.
That man also knew that once he escaped Gourd Gorge, he would be like a fish entering the sea or a bird soaring into the sky, with a broad and open road ahead.
Looking at the exit so close before him, delight and longing appeared in his eyes. Once he sold this demon beast cub elsewhere and exchanged it for a batch of martial arts resources, his martial path would hold great promise.
Suddenly, barking rang out. "Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Where did that dog barking come from?
The thought flashed through his mind. The next instant, a huge hand descended with the force of one holding up the heavens and firmly clamped onto his head.
Before you continue