Black Bear Spirit

"Chen Feng, what realm are you at now?"

Facing Lin Jun's question, Chen Feng laughed at himself.

"Naturally, I'm a Mortal martial man, nowhere near Origin Transformation."

If not for Lin Jun's affairs, he would have broken through to Origin Transformation by now.

Over the past three years, not only had his martial arts failed to improve, they had even shown signs of regressing under Lin Jun's influence.

"What is Origin Transformation?"

Even knowing Lin Jun was utterly useless at learning, Chen Feng still could not help wanting to chop someone down when faced with such a stupid question.

You were a Demon Exorcist, yet you did not know what Origin Transformation was?

"It is the dividing line between Mortal martial men and the Transcendent Realm. Only once one steps into Origin Transformation can one be considered to have truly entered the world of cultivation."

"A martial man of Origin Transformation can be called a martial artist."

Lin Jun nodded, indicating that he understood.

Above the Mortal realm lay Origin Transformation.

"Don't even think about it. This step has trapped countless people. Even after more than ten years, I've only barely glimpsed the shadow of Origin Transformation."

It was a hurdle, one that separated the Mortal from the Transcendent Realm.

Only after crossing it did martial cultivation truly begin.

Yet no one knew how many geniuses had fallen against the face of this hurdle-wall.

It was not merely talent—luck and external aid were all part of it. Not one could be lacking.

Origin Transformation Demon Exorcists would be officially registered by the imperial court. In modern terms, they had an official post and ate from the state's bowl. Unless they committed some unforgivable crime, no one could dismiss them.

Lin Jun was still only a contract Demon Exorcist.

Sure enough, the end of the universe was civil service exams. Even another world was no exception.

The two traveled in silence, arriving at Liu Family Ravine around midnight.

The entire Liu Family Ravine, with its hundred households, was utterly silent. Not a single lamp was lit.

Even the dogs did not dare bark upon seeing them, only trembling.

Lin Jun wandered through Liu Family Ravine and discovered footprints left in the mud.

"It should be a black bear. This is troublesome. That demon has boundless strength and hide as thick as armor. Ordinary blades cannot even pierce its fur."

Chen Feng's expression turned grave.

Lin Jun pointed at the wall. Two faint green lights in the darkness were especially conspicuous.

Chen Feng instinctively drew his sword, only for Lin Jun to force it back into its sheath.

Two enormous black bears emerged from the night. By estimation, each stood at least three meters tall. Lin Jun looked like a little man standing before them.

A half-eaten, bloody corpse hung from the black bear's mouth. A round lump of flesh and blood dropped from its jaws, rolled several times across the ground, and came to a stop before Lin Jun.

It seemed to be human organs, mangled beyond recognition.

A bear cub followed beside the black bear, playing with the mutilated remains of two children clenched in its mouth.

It seemed unskilled at it, however, and the bodies kept falling from its mouth.

The bear cub curiously watched Lin Jun and Chen Feng, tilting its head as it examined them.

By moonlight, the black bear looked over Lin Jun's clothes, then dropped the half-body from its mouth and said in a deep voice:

"Zhang Ju's man?"

Its foul, fishy breath carried a nauseating stench of blood. Chen Feng stared fixedly at the half-body, his entire body trembling.

Damned beast.

"Yes, Lord Zhang sent me."

Lin Jun silently held down Chen Feng's sword hilt. Chen Feng found that no matter how hard he pulled, he could not draw his treasured sword.

The rage in his heart left him no mind to wonder where Lin Jun had gotten such strength, until he saw Lin Jun's gaze, cold as the moon's reflection in water.

Chen Feng instantly calmed down.

"Hmph, that old fox. I've endured him for three years! Three years! I can only eat people in secret!"

"My cub only tasted human flesh for the first time today, and you bastards have already come knocking?"

Lin Jun said nothing, merely watching the black bear in silence.

Though enraged, the black bear did not vent its anger on Lin Jun.

It feared Lord Zhang.

"Fine. Wait another three months. Once that damn Demon Exorcist leaves, all of Liu Family Ravine will be mine!"

"Today's matter was my fault. I'll apologize to that fox."

Chen Feng looked at Lin Jun in astonishment.

Zhang Ju, the magistrate of Green Forest County.

For the first time, Chen Feng felt that Green Forest County was so unfamiliar.

"What are you saying, Brother Bear? Lord Zhang knows of your difficulties as well. Let there be no next time; we'll let this matter pass."

Lin Jun smiled and took the body the little Bear Demon had dropped onto his shoulder.

"Brother Bear, your child is still young. How can you let him carry such a heavy burden? Why not let your little brother here be of service?"

"Chen Feng, what are you standing around for? Come help!"

Chen Feng looked at Lin Jun, who carried that mangled body without changing expression, and the shock in his heart was beyond words.

"Yes, sir."

Suppressing the confusion in his heart, he hoisted the other child's corpse onto his shoulder.

The foul stench and his own revulsion made him nearly vomit several times, yet Lin Jun appeared completely unaffected.

The Black Bear Spirit was also amazed. The old fox's underlings had never been so friendly toward them before.

"You're a good kid. I like you."

The black bear burst into laughter.

"To be favored by Brother Bear is truly the highest honor."

The black bear carried the half-body in its mouth and headed toward the mountains, with Lin Jun and Zhang Feng following behind.

Half an hour later, an old man stepped down from a donkey cart and arrived at Liu Family Ravine.

Looking at the bloodstains on the ground, he was overcome with grief.

Another household had met with disaster.

He knocked on every door in Liu Family Ravine, gathering its hundred-odd residents together.

The bear's roar outside had frightened them out of their wits. Even now, they had yet to recover from the terror.

The village head looked at the crowd. They were like living puppets, walking deadwood.

Suffering was etched most vividly across their faces.

There were no expectations, no hope. They lived only for the sake of living.

Demons had not appeared only a day or two ago.

Facing the crowd, the village head did not say a single word. He merely shook his head.

The villagers seemed to have long expected this. After nodding, they returned to their homes and waited in fear for tomorrow's sunrise.

"Brother Bear is truly blessed. Your son looks so sturdy. In the future, he will surely be even stronger than you."

"Hahaha, not at all, not at all."

The black bear's face was full of pride.

Lin Jun did not praise him directly. Instead, he kept praising his child, which pleased him greatly.

This kid knew how to handle people.

"Brother Bear is so strong. You must have more than one child, right?"

"Of course! I have seven bear cubs! Seven!"

"Oh, Brother Bear is truly mighty."

"I imagine Sister-in-law must be stunningly beautiful, for Brother Bear to be so mighty."

"Heh heh heh, to tell you the truth, little brother, I fought for thirteen years before I managed to snatch my wife back. If it weren't for her going out recently, I'd have eight sons already!"

Hearing this, Lin Jun smiled.

"Brother Bear is so formidable. Sister-in-law surely could not bear to go far. She should be back in the next few days, right?"

"Hahaha, of course. Your sister-in-law will be back tomorrow."

Watching Lin Jun become sworn brothers with the Bear Demon so quickly, the doubts in Chen Feng's heart deepened.

And though Lin Jun seemed to be calling the Bear Demon brother, Chen Feng always felt there was something hidden in his words.

Had he even figured out the Bear Demon's household registration?

Chen Feng was startled by his own thought, then promptly cast the speculation aside.

Why would Lin Jun need to figure out the Bear Demon's household registration?

He could not possibly be planning to wipe them out, could he?

How was that possible?