C5 The Chrysanthemum Was Ruined

Limping with his grievous wounds, Zhang Yu at last stumbled upon a spot of relative safety after a desperate dash.

"Ouch, that's really painful," he winced, the intense pain in his chest prompting him to suck in a sharp breath.

"Now's my chance to heal while it's safe. If another Demon Beast shows up, I'm done for," he murmured to himself.

Quietly tracing the pathways of the Creation Divine Arts in his mind, he intermittently shifted his hand signs, allowing streams of unseen spiritual qi to meander through his body from his crown. The soothing flow of the cultivation technique juxtaposed with the throbbing pain of his injuries created a tumult of sensations within him. Zhang Yu's expressions flickered rapidly, one moment soaring in celestial bliss, the next plunging into the depths of infernal agony.

Since the accidental activation of the Creation Jade Disc, it had been residing silently within Zhang Yu's dantian. But now, it stirred with a sudden yearning that jolted its master.

"What the hell is happening?" he muttered, baffled by this newfound longing. "Everything was fine just a moment ago, why this sudden change?"

A lightbulb went off in his head as he pondered the cause. "Could it be the Demon Crystals? The two I just acquired are the likely culprits behind the Creation Jade Disc's restlessness." Zhang Yu unwrapped the bundle strapped to him and extracted the two Demon Crystals.

"Exactly as I thought," he confirmed, feeling the pull of desire intensify.

Out of the blue, a magnetic force emanated from his palm, drawing the energy from within the Demon Crystals into the Creation Jade Disc nestled inside him.

Zhang Yu was dumbfounded. It was common knowledge across the Vast Dragon Continent that Demon Crystals could only be absorbed by humans once transformed into Medicine Pills by an alchemist, due to the wildly turbulent spiritual energy within. Direct absorption, as with Demon Beasts, was impossible for humans. Yet, here was the Creation Jade Disc in Zhang Yu's grasp, defying all logic and siphoning the energy straight from the crystals—an utterly baffling phenomenon!

In no time at all, the spiritual energy within the two Demon Crystals had been completely drained. Zhang Yu winced as he looked at the now pulverized crystals—those were pure silver coins, vanished in an instant. His disappointment was short-lived, however, as he was soon swept up in a wave of elation. The spiritual energy siphoned by the Creation Jade Disc was now nourishing him in return. Absorbing spiritual energy was usually a gradual process, but if he could harness the power of the Demon Crystals directly through the disc in the future, he would save himself countless hours of grueling effort and gain a significant advantage in his cultivation.

Zhang Yu could feel roughly a third of the energy from the two Demon Crystals flowing back into him, causing his cultivation level to buzz with anticipation. This influx, even if only a third, was already on par with the total spiritual energy within him.

"With one concerted effort, I'll break through to the Qi Cultivating Stage!" Zhang Yu focused intently, hastening the absorption of the spiritual energy. Suddenly, he shuddered as he vividly felt streams of spiritual qi from the heavens and earth rush into his body, eagerly consumed by his starved cells. He had achieved a breakthrough, becoming a martial cultivator, and the Creation Divine Arts had seamlessly progressed to the Qi Circulation Realm.

As the spiritual energy within him multiplied five or sixfold, Zhang Yu's lips curled into a contented smile.

"They say that it's in the face of life and death that one can break through the quickest. This gamble, taking down the Barbarian Armor Giant Lizard for a leap in my cultivation, was truly worth it."

A crisp "snap" echoed from the bushes nearby.

"Who's there?" Zhang Yu called out, his voice laced with caution. "Show yourself, or I won't be responsible for my actions."

At that moment, an Ape Demon, covered in blood, emerged from the foliage. Its eyes conveyed a desperate plea, prompting Zhang Yu to hold back his attack.

Ape Demons weren't the strongest among the Demon Beasts, but they were renowned for their intelligence. With a brief scan, Zhang Yu confirmed it was a first-level Ape Demon and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Go on, get out of here. I've no desire to harm you," Zhang Yu said.

"Squeak, squeak!" The Ape Demon suddenly cried out to Zhang Yu, gesturing emphatically with its fingers. It pointed at Zhang Yu, then at itself, and finally in the direction it had come from, seemingly trying to communicate something to him.

"Brother Ape, I'm at a loss; I can't make heads or tails of what you're saying!" Zhang Yu expressed his frustration to the Ape Demon.

Sensing no malice from Zhang Yu, the Ape Demon bravely approached and tugged at the hem of Zhang Yu's pants before retreating a few steps. It repeated the gesture, pulling and stepping back again.

"Are you trying to lead me somewhere?" Zhang Yu gleaned some insight from the Ape Demon's actions, yet he hesitated. He was unfamiliar with the Demon Beast Mountain Range, and the risk of stumbling into peril was high, potentially costing him his life. But the Ape Demon's imploring gaze struck a chord within him, softening his resolve. "Alright, I'll follow you. But if danger arises, don't hold it against me if I make a break for it. You lead the way." Zhang Yu gestured towards the direction the Ape Demon had come from.

Realizing Zhang Yu had acquiesced, the Ape Demon sprang into action. Agile and swift, it dashed ahead, frequently glancing back to ensure Zhang Yu was keeping pace.

After navigating the treacherous mountain paths for a quarter of an hour, they arrived at a valley. The scene before Zhang Yu made the Ape Demon's intentions clear.

In the heart of the valley, an Iron Back Vast Bear, over ten feet in length, was on a rampage. The sight of Ape Demon corpses strewn about the bear suggested that without help, the remaining Ape Demons would soon meet a grim fate.

Zhang Yu observed the towering Iron Back Vast Bear and quietly assessed the power disparity. The bear's aura indicated it was on the cusp of advancing from the second to the third level as a Demon Beast. Having recently advanced himself, Zhang Yu could only match a second-grade Demon Beast at best, thanks to the edge provided by his Creation Divine Arts. Even with his intervention, the odds of triumph were slim.

Watching the still and unmoving Zhang Yu, the Ape Demon that had led him here began to anxiously call out to him again, occasionally tugging at his clothes.

Seeing the Ape Demon's desperate pleas, Zhang Yu steeled his resolve. "Enough, I came to the Demon Beast Mountain Range for training. If I only choose to fight Demon Beasts that match my own level, how can I speak of breaking through my limits and contending with fate!"

With a swift motion, Zhang Yu drew his short sword and seized the moment to strike at the Iron Back Vast Bear. "Ding!" His blade glanced off, striking the bear's back and producing a metallic clang.

Yet, Zhang Yu wasn't disheartened by his ineffective strike. The Iron Back Vast Bear's defense was formidable, and it was of a higher realm than his own. He moved with agility around the bear, repeatedly thrusting his sword at it.

After several attempts, the Iron Back Vast Bear grew enraged by Zhang Yu's provocations, abandoning its assault on the other Ape Demons to lunge at him instead.

Feeling the surge of force barreling toward him, Zhang Yu was acutely aware that a direct hit to the head from the Iron Back Vast Bear would burst his skull like a smashed watermelon. This realization made him handle the confrontation with even greater caution.

"Clang." Zhang Yu narrowly managed to parry the Iron Back Vast Bear's lethal blow, but the impact left his insides roiling.

"Puff!" Unable to contain it any longer, Zhang Yu spat out a mouthful of blood.

When he wasn't the focus of the Iron Back Vast Bear's fury, Zhang Yu could inflict some damage through hit-and-run tactics. Now, as the bear's primary target, he found himself mostly on the defensive, seizing only rare opportunities to counterattack.

Ideally, targeting the face of a Demon Beast like the Iron Back Vast Bear, known for its immense strength and robust defense, would be the best strategy. But for Zhang Yu, who stood just 1.7 meters tall, this was hardly feasible.

As the peril escalated, Zhang Yu's composure deepened. He recognized the impossibility of escape in his current predicament; a fight to the death was the only option. Yet, unable to reach the Iron Back Vast Bear's face, how could he turn the tide of the worsening situation? The thought of perishing here became a chilling reality.

"Weakness, weakness, yes! If I can't hit its upper body, then targeting its rear should do the trick!" A spark of inspiration struck Zhang Yu, and he finally devised a plan.

But the Iron Back Vast Bear was always facing him. How could he possibly get past its defenses to strike at its backside?

He racked his brain until he realized that only by feigning death could he draw the Iron Back Vast Bear's attention away. "No pain, no gain. It's all or nothing now."

As the Iron Back Vast Bear launched another powerful blow, Zhang Yu channeled his spiritual energy into his palms. With a resounding "crack," he took the full brunt of the bear's mighty palm, resulting in a fractured and dislocated left arm. He collapsed motionless to the ground.

The Iron Back Vast Bear, seeing Zhang Yu seemingly lifeless, excitedly lumbered over to him.

Nearer and nearer.

Now! In the split second the bear let its guard down, Zhang Yu summoned the last of his spiritual energy and viciously stabbed into the bear's rear, following through with a slash. With a "rip," he gutted the Iron Back Vast Bear, its intestines and organs spilling out onto the ground.

With a final, defiant roar, the Iron Back Vast Bear collapsed.

Coughing, Zhang Yu dragged his severely wounded body up from the ground and sat, catching his breath.

"I really overdid it this time." After assessing his internal injuries, Zhang Yu couldn't help but speak out in resignation.

At that moment, the Ape Demon that had led Zhang Yu to this place, seeing that he had survived the encounter with the Iron Back Vast Bear, quickly gathered its kin around him, their eyes brimming with gratitude. Without warning, the four Ape Demons lifted Zhang Yu and carried him toward their dwelling.

Powerless to resist, Zhang Yu could only accept his fate. Upon entering the cave, he discovered it was quite deep, but it wasn't dark thanks to a type of softly glowing mineral. After a considerable trek, the Ape Demons finally set Zhang Yu down.

Gazing upon the scene before him, Zhang Yu was struck with awe. "Could this actually be the legendary..."