Hunter and Prey's Reversal

Skeleton General!

When that enormous figure radiating a dark golden gleam emerged from the darkness, carrying a savage bone blade, the very air in the stone chamber seemed to have been sucked dry.

A terrifying pressure from a superior being descended upon Chen Chen like a tangible mountain.

The ordinary Skeleton Soldiers, which had been frenzied moments before, actually halted their attacks in unison the instant it appeared. They retreated to either side and lowered their hollow skulls, as if welcoming their king.

Eighth Level of Body Tempering!

And undoubtedly one of the best among the Eighth Level of Body Tempering!

Its dark golden bones had clearly been tempered a thousand times over. Their hardness was far beyond that of those grayish-white cannon fodder.

Chen Chen's expression grew graver than ever before.

He could feel the blood and qi within his body becoming sluggish beneath that pressure.

"Roar—!"

The Skeleton General gave Chen Chen no chance to catch his breath. Its blood-red Soul Fire locked firmly onto this living being who had dared slaughter its subjects.

With a soul-shaking roar, its enormous body became a golden afterimage. The Spinal Bone Great Blade in its hand came crashing down with a shriek that tore through the air!

This strike sealed off every avenue of retreat for Chen Chen!

Fast!

Too fast!

It had completely surpassed the speed the Body Tempering Realm should have possessed!

Chen Chen's pupils contracted to their limit.

The Eye of Asura spun at full power!

Under the ultimate threat of death, the world in his eyes changed once more.

Red points of light representing weaknesses also appeared across the Skeleton General's body.

But these points were much smaller and dimmer than those on the ordinary Skeleton Soldiers, and they kept shifting positions at incredible speed!

Its vital points were actually not fixed!

Chen Chen's heart sank instantly to the bottom.

If he fought head-on, death was certain!

In that fleeting flash of lightning and flint, he made the only choice possible!

Instead of retreating, he stomped hard with his foot and shot toward the Skeleton General's chest like a cannonball, advancing rather than withdrawing!

Seven Shadows Step!

With one step, seven afterimages bloomed in an instant, real and illusory impossible to distinguish!

The Skeleton General's blood-red Soul Fire flickered noticeably. It seemed not to have expected this tiny living being to respond in such a manner.

Its great blade was ultimately a fraction too slow.

"Boom!"

The enormous bone blade brushed past Chen Chen's final afterimage and hacked fiercely into the spot where he had just been standing.

The hard stone floor was cleaved with a terrifying trench over half a meter deep! Rubble sprayed everywhere!

Meanwhile, Chen Chen's true body had already charged perilously into its immediate range!

The Half-broken Sword in his hand was infused with all the blood and qi of the Sixth Level of Body Tempering, along with the tyrannical blood-colored Sha Qi of the Asura God Transformation Art. It aimed directly at the core of Soul Fire beating within the Skeleton General's chest cavity like a heart!

This was his only chance!

Yet the Skeleton General's combat instincts were terrifyingly strong.

Having missed its first strike, its other empty, massive dark golden bone claw was already sweeping toward Chen Chen's chest like lightning, carrying howling force with it!

If that claw caught him solidly, Chen Chen would absolutely be crushed into a puddle of flesh!

A flash of madness crossed Chen Chen's eyes.

He paid no heed to the bone claw reaching for him. The broken sword in his hand thrust forward even faster!

Trading injury for life! No, this was staking life against life!

He gambled that his sword was faster than its claw!

"Pfft!"

Just as that grim bone claw was about to touch his body, the broken sword in his hand finally pierced through a gap between the Skeleton General's ribs!

Yet the sensation of shattering the Soul Fire that he had expected did not come.

His sword tip seemed to have struck a piece of tough cowhide. An immense rebounding force surged back, and after penetrating less than three inches, it could advance no further!

There was actually another layer of energy shield around its Soul Fire core!

"Not good!"

Chen Chen was horrified.

And at that moment, the dark golden bone claw was already right before him!

It was over!

At that critical moment, balanced on a hair's breadth.

The Blood Tiger Jade Pendant at Chen Chen's waist—the one he had obtained from Wang Lie and long since forgotten—suddenly flared with a blinding red light without warning!

A warm, pure energy surged out from the jade pendant and instantly flowed throughout his entire body!

[ Ding! Unknown energy infusion detected. The host's blood and qi activity have greatly increased! ]

[ Asura God Transformation Art circulation speed +50%! ]

This sudden change made Chen Chen freeze slightly.

But his battle instincts allowed him to seize this fleeting opportunity!

The blood and qi within him surged wildly into his sword-gripping right arm like floodwaters bursting through a collapsed dam!

"Break for me...!"

With an angry roar, he fiercely drove the broken sword forward once more!

"Crack!"

A crisp sound like shattering glass rang out.

That invisible energy shield shattered in response!

The icy sword tip finally stabbed fiercely into that mass of blood-red Soul Fire!

"Roar—!!!"

The Skeleton General let out an incomparably shrill roar, filled with unwillingness and pain.

The blood-red flames in its eye sockets flickered violently, and the bone claw reaching for Chen Chen abruptly stalled.

Chen Chen pressed his advantage without mercy. His wrist twisted wildly, thoroughly churning that mass of Soul Fire into a shower of light!

[ Ding! Undead creature killed (Skeleton General). Cultivation Points +80! ]

[ Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the hidden mission: Cave Dwelling Cleaner. ]

[ Mission reward: Cultivation Points +100, damaged magical artifact 'Spirit Binding Rope' *1! ]

The string of system notifications sounded like heavenly music to Chen Chen.

He abruptly pulled out the broken sword and used the force to retreat rapidly.

The once-overbearing Skeleton General's eye-socket flames went out completely. Its enormous body crashed to its knees, then scattered into a pile of dark golden bones.

"Phew... phew..."

Chen Chen leaned against the stone wall, gasping heavily, his entire body soaked in sweat.

That battle had been brief, but its danger had surpassed even his earlier confrontation with Wang Zhan.

He glanced at the Blood Tiger Jade Pendant at his waist, which had already returned to its ordinary appearance, a trace of doubt flashing through his eyes.

What exactly was this jade pendant?

It had actually saved his life at such a crucial moment.

He had no time to think further and immediately took stock of his gains.

After killing dozens of Skeleton Soldiers, along with the Skeleton General and the mission reward, his Cultivation Points had instantly soared to an astonishing number!

[ Cultivation Points: 225! ]

He had struck it rich!

Ecstasy filled Chen Chen's eyes, and he did not hesitate in the slightest.

"System! Break through! Seventh Level of Body Tempering!"

[ Breaking through to the Seventh Level of Body Tempering Realm requires 160 Cultivation Points. Confirm? ]

"Confirm!"

[ 160 Cultivation Points consumed. Beginning breakthrough... ]

Boom!

Vast energy exploded within his body once more.

This time, the injuries within him were completely healed under the cleansing torrent of energy!

His strength underwent another leap forward!

When he opened his eyes again, his cultivation had firmly entered the Seventh Level of Body Tempering Realm!

[ Cultivation Points: 65 ]

He rose to his feet, feeling the power within him that was several times stronger than before, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Now, it was time to leave.

Wang Zhan!

He wondered whether you, up there, had been waiting... long enough to grow impatient?

A cold curve lifted at the corner of Chen Chen's lips.

He did not choose to return the way he had come.

Beside that cultivator's skeleton was a hidden passage blocked by rubble.

Clearly, this was the true escape route that cultivator had prepared for himself.

With Chen Chen's current strength, clearing away the rubble was effortless.

Half an hour later.

In the Black Wind Mountain Range, behind an exceptionally concealed waterfall in a mountain ravine.

Chen Chen's figure slowly emerged from a cave hidden by vines.

The long-missed sunlight made him narrow his eyes slightly.

He raised his head and glanced toward the direction of the cliff crevice, killing intent flashing through his eyes.

From this moment onward, the positions of hunter and prey had been completely reversed!