C7 Immortal Indicating Monkey

Demonic beasts and humans share a similar hierarchy of strength. The Iron-Scaled Snake, for instance, is on par with a human Grade Four Spirit Disciple. Yet, due to its massive size and swift movements, it stands out as a formidable being within its rank among demonic beasts.

Moreover, demonic beasts inherently possess a more robust constitution than humans. So even with Spirit Force at Grade Four, their innate physical prowess elevates their overall strength by a whole grade!

The Iron-Scaled Snake, realizing its ambush failed to take down the seemingly frail human before it, became enraged. It opened its gaping maw wide, its body coiling like a bow primed to launch.

"Looks like it's game time!" Lu Chen chuckled, as golden threads erupted from his right fist, enveloping it in an instant.

"It's been ages since I've had a proper brawl!" he declared. With a feint, Lu Chen's form blurred, reaching peak velocity in a heartbeat, and his golden-threaded fist connected with the Iron-Scaled Snake!

"Wow!" The snake recoiled in pain, lashing out with its tail and striking Lu Chen's back hard enough to tear through his clothes and leave a bloody mark.

"Ha, exhilarating!" Lu Chen laughed, unfazed by the blow. Instead, he hammered his fist down on the Iron-Scaled Snake with even greater force!

Lu Chen's physical training was rooted in the Nine-circle Divine Thunder Spell. This technique involves enduring nine major tribulations to undergo nine bodily transformations, each requiring a breakthrough that feels like shattering and reforming.

The first level, the Purple Extreme Thunder Body, is forged amidst the Heavenly Tribulation!

Though Lu Chen had yet to begin his physical cultivation, the presence of Spirit Force had already set him on the path of the Nine-circle Divine Thunder Spell. To him, the Iron-Scaled Python's assaults were nothing more than a form of tempering!

Seeing that this not-so-powerful human could withstand so much, the Iron-Scaled Python panicked. It feinted with its head and slithered past Lu Chen's punch, attempting to flee.

"Ha, you think you'd realize it's too late only now?"

Lu Chen let out a hearty laugh, his right hand morphing into a claw as he lunged for the Iron-Scaled Python's vulnerable seventh inch. Despite the creature's armor-like scales, this spot was notoriously fragile.

"Profound Strike Claw!"

In his new life, Lu Chen was never short on martial arts techniques.

"Rip!"

Blood sprayed in all directions as the once formidable Iron-Scaled Python lay limp on the ground, its grip on Lu Chen released.

With his fingers shaped like a knife, Lu Chen made a swift incision on the massive snake's head, and a black crystal the size of a fingernail emerged.

"Beast Crystal?"

Lu Chen excitedly stowed the fingernail-sized black crystal into his backpack. Beast Crystals were rare, potentially found in only one out of every three Demonic Beasts hunted—a solidified manifestation of Spirit Force, pure and untainted, making them exceedingly valuable.

"This one alone could fetch a gold coin! And the snake skin, perfect for crafting soft armor, might sell for five silver coins!"

Without further ado, Lu Chen drew his dagger and knelt to skin the snake.

But just then, a piercing shriek echoed nearby. Lu Chen's brow furrowed, and as he looked up, a smaller black figure crashed into his embrace, too quick for him to react.

What on earth?

Golden threads danced across Lu Chen's right hand, and in a flash, his golden-threaded fist reached out to grasp the shadow.

It was a fluffy meatball. Upon closer inspection, Lu Chen discovered it was a chubby little monkey!

Adorable and palm-sized, the monkey sported a single golden hair amidst its black fur, giving it an odd, yet endearing appearance.

The monkey, clearly shaken, clung to Lu Chen's hand and glanced back in alarm.

"Could this be?"

The sight of the tiny creature made Lu Chen's eyes flicker with recognition. This little monkey brought to mind the divine Guardian Beast from his past life's celestial realm.

"It has golden hair, known as the Immortal Embellishment. Could this refer to the Immortal Indicating Monkey?"

Legend speaks of a divine creature, the Immortal Indicating Monkey, born from the Chaos Immortal Stone. As a youth, it was black with a single golden hair on its forehead. Upon reaching adulthood, its entire body turned a majestic purple-gold. The ancients said, 'It knows the secrets of heaven, can tunnel through earth, eclipse the sun and moon, and with a mere point, turn into an immortal.' This was the poetic way of describing the Immortal Indicating Monkey.

Yet this little one is so animated, clearly possessing awakened intelligence. Why then did it suddenly leap onto me? It's well-known that the Immortal Indicating Monkey, a divine beast, has never been subdued by anyone!

"Hey kid, is this demon monkey yours? It's devoured several of our spirit herbs. If you don't make it right today, I fear there'll be no one to claim your body in these wilds!"

As Lu Chen was about to be slandered, three panting, bare-chested men burst from the forest. Spotting the demon monkey in Lu Chen's grasp, they launched into a tirade of curses.

The northernmost reaches of the Vast Lifting Continent are already the chilliest, and winter is nigh. Yet here they are, shirtless in the woods, clearly indicating they're spiritual warriors!

"This monkey crashed into my embrace on its own accord. What makes you so sure it belongs to me?" Lu Chen hadn't yet ascertained if this was indeed the Immortal Indicating Monkey, hence his hesitation.

"Nonsense! Your Spirit Force Fluctuation seems to be that of a Grade Four Spirit Disciple. Even I, Chung Tieh, a Grade Six Spirit Disciple, can't catch this demon monkey. Yet here it is with you. If you claim it's not yours, who would believe that?"

Chung Tieh, the burly leader, was unconvinced by Lu Chen's protest. He drew a half-meter long machete and edged closer to Lu Chen. His two muscular companions also unsheathed their knives, advancing on Lu Chen. They were seasoned hunters of the forest, and in the midst of their banter, they had Lu Chen encircled.

"Listen, kid, our line of work isn't easy. If the employer's goods come up short, we're the ones who pay out of pocket. Keep up your tough talk, and you might just find yourself unable to walk out of the Roaring Forest alive today!"

Chung Tieh noted Lu Chen's simple attire with a hint of surprise; the young man didn't even carry a respectable weapon. Despite an air of distinction about him, he likely wasn't from a prominent family.

In the perilous Roaring Forest, where countless lives were claimed each year, even scions of great houses met their demise. Few ever avenged their deaths, which is why Chung Tieh didn't advocate for murder and robbery.

"A Grade Six Spirit Disciple?"

Lu Chen inhaled deeply, sensing that among the trio, Chung Tieh's Spirit Force Fluctuation was the most formidable. If he was at Grade Six, the others were probably at Grade Five or Four.

The trio's demeanor suggested no peaceful resolution today. Having been a Grade Nine Spirit Emperor in his past life, Lu Chen knew the law of the jungle all too well: strike first or suffer the consequences.

"I haven't used the Dragon Steps in ages!"

With those words, a glow of spirit light danced around Lu Chen's feet. He crouched slightly, his legs coiled like a bowstring taut and ready to release.

"What step is that?"

Chung Tieh eyed the young man, his confidence waning for a moment before he firmly shook his head, dismissing his doubts.

"Whatever step it is, it won't matter once I cleave through it!"

"Three Moves of Mountain Slash, Slanted Peak Slash!"

Chung Tieh seized the blade's hilt with both hands, lifting it high above his head. He leapt forward, bringing the blade down in a ferocious arc toward Lu Chen.

Lu Chen, spotting the descending blade, ignited his legs with a flash of light and stepped into the air, effortlessly sidestepping the attack.

Thud!

"Huh?"

Chung Tieh's blade, which he had swung with full confidence, cleaved nothing but air, burying itself two fingers deep into the ground. Had it connected with Lu Chen, it surely would have split him in two.

"Merciless, attacking with a killer move right off the bat!"

As Chung Tieh scanned for Lu Chen's whereabouts, a chilling voice unexpectedly emanated from behind him.