C10 Enemies Always Cross Paths with Each Other

Since his arrival at the Demon Beast Mountain Range, Zhang Yu had been living on edge, constantly engaged in battle. Today marked the first time he'd broken through to a new realm without any reservations. As he felt his cultivation stabilize, Zhang Yu's eyes snapped open, a brilliant flash of light briefly illuminating the depths of his gaze before vanishing.

Sitting cross-legged, Zhang Yu let out a deep breath of stale air and inspected the wound on his chest. Peering through the tears in his clothing, he could see the wound had scabbed over. Gently peeling away the crust, he found fresh, new flesh underneath.

Such was the wonder of a martial artist's world—what would be a fatal wound to an ordinary person could often be remedied with a single Medicine Pill.

This time, fortune had smiled on Zhang Yu. Not only had his injuries healed completely, but he had also achieved a breakthrough in his realm!

He rolled his neck, listening to the satisfying cracks of his joints, and felt the powerful surge of spiritual energy within him. A grin of pure joy spread across his face as the sunlight streamed through the cracks, casting a rugged glow on his features.

Rising to his feet, he threw a few punches into the air, savoring the fierce whoosh of his movements. With a final flourish, he brought his hands to rest, standing tall and composed.

"Controlled and precise, like an extension of my own body. Not bad at all," Zhang Yu remarked, pleased with himself.

"Mr. Zhang, enjoying yourself while leaving us hanging? That's hardly brotherly," Lei Ming teased from the side.

Zhang Yu chuckled. "Mr. Lei, you're too kind. I was simply caught up in the excitement of my breakthrough!"

"You know, that little 'excitement' of yours took a whole day and night. We were starting to think you'd stumbled onto some secret technique or something."

"Really? It was that long? I had no idea—I'm sorry for making you all wait," Zhang Yu apologized with a sheepish grin.

"As long as you're alright, that's all that matters. Here, take these two Ice Flame Profound Spirit Fruits; you've earned them."

Lei Ming was about to toss the precious Spirit Fruits to him when Zhang Yu stepped forward, grasping his hand firmly. "Big brother, we agreed to share equally. I've already consumed one; I couldn't possibly take more without feeling guilty!"

"People are alive, but rules are rigid. If it hadn't been for you, the butterfly would have truly been in danger. And you, you nearly lost your life in the process. Though I'm not sure how you managed to expel the snake venom at the last second and even achieved a breakthrough, the credit this time is all yours. It's only right that you take more."

"I take what's mine, and I refuse what's not. That's my principle. I'll accept this Ice Flame Profound Spirit Fruit. If you consider me a brother, let's not speak of the rest," Zhang Yu declared resolutely.

Seeing Zhang Yu's firm stance, Lei Ming finally let go of his hesitation.

He clapped Zhang Yu on the shoulder and said, "Good brother!"

"Now that you've got the Spirit Fruit and your wounds are healed, we should head out," Lei Ming proposed.

"Alright, let's go."

Approaching noon, the intense sunlight beamed down on Zhang Yu's face, causing slight discomfort, a stark contrast to the soft luminescence within the cave.

"Mr. Zhang, with your profound cultivation at such a young age, your potential is boundless. It's clear you intend to train solo in the Demon Beast Mountain Range. With that in mind, we'll take our leave and not impose any further. This is where our paths diverge," Lei Ming said solemnly as they exited the cave.

Zhang Yu was taken aback, realizing Lei Ming had anticipated his desire to part ways.

"Yes, that is indeed my intention. So, my brothers, let's bid farewell here. Until we meet again," Zhang Yu said, a touch of awkwardness in his voice.

"Indeed, until the future. Farewell!" Lei Ming and the others responded with a traditional hand gesture.

Watching Lei Ming and his companions fade into the distance, Zhang Yu turned and embarked on his own path.

...

"How can I quickly enhance my strength?" Despite being quite skilled for his age as a Peak Martial Artist, Zhang Yu knew it wasn't enough. The recent attack was a clear sign that Yishui Town's days of peace were numbered. With time running short, Zhang Yu was determined to bolster his strength swiftly to make a meaningful contribution in the days to come.

"Ah, that's right, I've just acquired a new movement technique – Shape Moving Shadow Changing. Now's the perfect time to start practicing it," Zhang Yu realized, smacking his forehead with a sudden insight.

Zhang Yu stopped beneath a towering tree, reaching into his bag to retrieve a martial skill of the highest caliber within the Profound Level: Shape Moving Shadow Changing.

"Move with the step, swift as lightning; glide like a fish, elusive and striking. Master the art of evasion, and close in for the attack." These were the bold words that greeted him as he flipped open the cover.

He read on, absorbing the text: "Stand tall, step lightly, be as majestic as a dragon, as fierce as a tiger, as imposing as a diamond, or as subtle as a cat. In combat, if you can drift like a leaf, unpredictable and free, you'll stand on unbeatable ground. If you can strike like lightning, your foes will be unable to escape or defend, falling prey to your moves." The text went on to detail the three realms of Shape Moving Shadow Changing: light as a swallow, drifting like a leaf, and swift as lightning.

After meticulously studying the entire martial arts mantra, Zhang Yu pondered deeply, an epiphany dawning upon him. He then matched the text to the diagrams, mentally rehearsing the moves repeatedly. Roughly an hour later, having committed the entire martial skill to memory, Zhang Yu rose to his feet.

"Martial skill cultivation isn't just about theory; it must be fused with practice. Now, what I need is to put it into action and witness the true might of this technique."

Guided by his recollection, Zhang Yu's steps became unpredictable, shifting left and right, as if carried by the wind.

The body is the commander of the limbs, the foundation of strength. Mastering movement techniques and synchronizing them with limb attacks can make one unstoppable, adding wings to a tiger. Generally, hand techniques are easier to learn than body movements. Attack skills might come more naturally, but evasive techniques require precise timing and spatial awareness. A minor miscalculation could lead to a major setback, leaving one vulnerable to the enemy's counter.

Despite Zhang Yu's confidence in his agility, he found himself drenched in sweat as he practiced the art of Shape Moving Shadow Changing.

"Merely enduring this grueling training won't cut it. I need to find Demon Beasts with comparable agility and test my skills in real combat," Zhang Yu mused.

"The Shadow Rat is the perfect choice. An adult Shadow Rat is a second-level Demon Beast. While its attacks are weak, its movements are incredibly swift, making it ideal for honing my martial skills."

Resolved, Zhang Yu set out to find his quarry.

...

With two sharp sounds, Zhang Yu's arm was marked by two fresh, long gashes.

Upon encountering the Shadow Rat, he sheathed his short sword, intent on confronting it solely with his newly acquired Shape Moving Shadow Changing technique. But the Shadow Rat was exceedingly quick. Unarmed, Zhang Yu sustained numerous injuries, though thankfully they were superficial. Nonetheless, they were enough to make anyone wince.

"This isn't working. Where am I going wrong?" Zhang Yu pondered mid-battle, analyzing his movements for any shortcomings.

"That's it! Controlling my body can't just be a matter of following my brain's commands—I need to move instinctively. Only by integrating mind and body can I achieve lightning speed." As he continued to practice, insights began to illuminate Zhang Yu's thoughts.

Gradually, with each successive strike, Zhang Yu began to inflict damage on the Shadow Rat, no longer at such a disadvantage.

"That's the sensation I've been searching for!" In a sudden outburst, Zhang Yu's hand struck like a blade, slicing at the Shadow Rat's neck. The creature collapsed, lifeless. In that moment, Zhang Yu felt a profound lightness in his body, as if he had sprouted wings.

Zhang Yu realized that his recent breakthrough had allowed him to master the initial phase of Shape Moving Shadow Changing—becoming as light as a swallow. His speed had nearly doubled, and his agility had significantly improved. It might have seemed effortless, but it was the result of thousands of attempts and that moment of revelation. Moreover, ever since the Creation Jade Disc fused with his being, it had been subtly enhancing his capacity for insight.

Reflecting on the past two days of hard work that had not gone to waste, a smile crept onto Zhang Yu's face.

"Mastering the first level of Shape Moving Shadow Changing is a start, but with two tougher levels ahead, I need to redouble my efforts," Zhang Yu thought to himself, his sense of achievement fueling his resolve to pursue the martial path rather than leading to complacency.

With his belongings in order, Zhang Yu resumed his search for Shadow Rats elsewhere. It was then, amidst the dense foliage, that voices reached his ears once more.

"Young Master Liu Neng, what exactly are we searching for? The family has mobilized so many, and after several days we've come up empty-handed, not to mention the loss of several lives. There's a growing undercurrent of discontent," someone lamented.

"Hmph, these myopic fools swarm like bloodthirsty locusts at the first scent of profit but scatter with the slightest exertion. Utterly useless. Liu Jun, don't you dare emulate them," Liu Neng retorted with disdain. "We're on the hunt for an ancient sword-sharpening site, rumored to house martial techniques and a Divine Sword left by a predecessor. Securing them would make our campaign against the Zhang Family all the more effortless. Zhang Yu got lucky last time; had we killed him, we could have set the Liu and Zhang families against each other by implicating the Wang family and reaped the benefits of their feud."

"I've been poring over this family map, but after all this time, we're still clueless. I'm starting to question its worth," grumbled Liu Neng.

"Haha, Zhang Yu surviving is meaningless. Once we obliterate the Zhang Family, his existence will be more pitiful than death," chimed in the youth known as Liu Jun.

All the while, they remained oblivious to the fact that Zhang Yu was close at hand, silently absorbing every detail of their conversation.