C8 So What If He Was a Rank 6?

"What?! That was incredibly fast!"

Chung Tieh knew he couldn't afford to be careless. He was just about to pivot and strike when Lu Chen launched his attack.

Golden threads burst from Lu Chen's fist, striking Chung Tieh squarely in the back of the head.

The back of the head is a person's most vulnerable spot—if hit just right, it can be lethal!

Bang!

"Ah!"

Chung Tieh cried out in pain, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed to the ground with a thud, unconscious. Although Chung Tieh was a Grade Six Spirit Disciple and Lu Chen merely Grade Four, it wasn't quite enough to be fatal with a single punch.

"What?"

Chung Tieh's two companions were in disbelief. Lu Chen had managed to take down a Sixth Grade Spirit Disciple with just one punch. Overcoming a two-grade difference and defeating Chung Tieh so easily was not something they had anticipated!

Lu Chen crouched down and rifled through Chung Tieh's clothes. Aside from a bag on his back, there was nothing of value.

"He's already down. Do you two want to end up like him? Out here in the wilderness, if three of you were lying shirtless on the ground, even if someone came to collect the bodies, they might not find you!"

Lu Chen's gaze was icy. In that moment, his Spirit Force Fluctuation nearly reached that of a Grade Five Spirit Disciple.

"Be smart. Leave all your valuables and scram!"

The two were petrified. In a panic, they dropped their knives and bags, picked up Chung Tieh, and beat a hasty retreat.

"Kid, you just wait. When our boss gets here, you'll see what's coming to you!"

As they ran, they couldn't resist hurling a few threats at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen paid no mind to their intimidation. Once they were out of sight, he sat down to catch his breath and restore his Spirit Force.

"Damn, those Dragon Steps really drain the Spirit Force. I barely took two steps and I'm already tapped out!"

Lu Chen hadn't spared Chung Tieh out of mercy; his Spirit Force was nearly depleted after using the Dragon Steps. If the remaining two had decided to fight to the death, Lu Chen wasn't sure he could emerge victorious without sustaining injuries.

"I need to be careful not to use overly powerful martial skills in the future. Sure, they look cool in action, but once they're used up, they could cost me my life!"

As a former Grade Nine Spirit Emperor, Lu Chen had access to numerous formidable martial arts, but they drained his Spirit Force at an alarming rate. Take the Divine King Slaying Dragon Seal, for instance; the first seal alone could completely deplete the Spirit Force of a Grade One Spirit Transforming expert.

Currently, the martial skills Lu Chen could wield were of a much lower grade. The Golden Chant, for example, was a low-level Profound Rank martial skill that used less Spirit Force and, consequently, packed a lighter punch.

Martial skills and cultivation techniques were categorized into four ranks: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, each with three levels of mastery.

"Alright, let's see what treasures this journey has yielded. I can't afford to come up short!"

With that, Lu Chen began rummaging through the bags belonging to Chung Tieh and his two companions. The Grade Four Spirit Disciples' bags held little of value, just some Spirit Beast parts, but Chung Tieh's bag was a different story. It contained two Beast Crystals from a Grade Five Spirit Disciple and over a dozen gold coins.

"Not a bad haul. It's not a fortune, but it's enough to trade for quite a few things!"

But just as Lu Chen was setting the bags aside, suddenly, a series of squeaks pierced the air!

The little monkey beside him leapt into his arms, and before Lu Chen could even react, the monkey had already begun gnawing on a black crystal the size of a fingernail.

"My Beast Crystal!"

Lu Chen exclaimed in dismay as the little monkey swallowed the entire crystal. After its feast, the monkey let out a contented burp and snuggled into Lu Chen's arms, its eyes closing for a nap, clearly deciding to make Lu Chen its new home.

"Hahahaha, this monkey can eat Beast Crystals? Looks like the Immortal Indicating Monkey is here to stay!"

Lu Chen gently lifted the monkey from his chest and studied it closely. The young Immortal Indicating Monkey's golden forehead hair was intricately patterned with tiny, ancient script – the legendary Immemorial Immortal Scripture!

The Immortal Indicating Monkey is a creature of ancient legend, a divine beast with a unique gift. In its youth, this monkey could detect the presence of Spirit Pills and Divine Weapons from great distances, making it highly favored by Alchemists. The one that leaped into Lu Chen's embrace did so after catching the scent of a Beast Crystal on him.

As an adult, the Immortal Indicating Monkey possesses the extraordinary ability to discern the shifts of fate, yet its name derives from a different tale altogether. According to lore, a mortal, yearning for immortality, devoted himself to acts of kindness. One day, he encountered a thirsty purple-gold monkey and, true to his nature, offered it his flask of wine. Delighted by the gesture, the monkey pointed at the man, who was instantly transformed—shedding his mortal coil and ascending as an immortal. Thus, the name Immortal Indicating Monkey was born.

"This strand of Immortal Embroidery is one of the three key components in crafting the Nine Worlds Cosmos Pill, and it also marks the Immortal Indicating Monkey's immaturity. Once mature, the embroidery will shed, and its fur will naturally evolve into a majestic purple hue."

"It's the resolution to a dilemma that eluded me in my past life!" exclaimed Lu Chen, inhaling deeply. The Nine Worlds Cosmos Pill is a miraculous elixir that facilitates the breakthrough to the Spirit Emperor Stage. Advancing to the Spirit Monarch Stage requires not only the full activation of eight spiritual meridians but also the endurance of nine cycles of reincarnation, observing the vicissitudes of life.

The journey through these nine cycles is fraught with peril. Though it may seem to pass in the blink of an eye, each cycle harbors the risk of ensnaring the soul, leading to either the complete erosion of one's cultivation or the shattering of the spirit, leaving behind nothing but an empty husk.

Yet, the Nine Worlds Cosmos Pill offers a sanctuary from these trials, bestowing upon its user the accumulated wisdom and fortunes of nine lifetimes, elevating their state of mind. In his former life, Lu Chen sought this legendary pill within the tomb of the Ninth Godly Monarch.

"Let's set aside the pill for a moment. Just having the ability to find Spirit Pills ensures I won't have to worry about resources for my future cultivation. I've truly stumbled upon a treasure!" Lu Chen exclaimed with a hearty laugh as he scooped up the dozing Immortal Indicating Monkey and cradled it in his arms. Considering this, the Beast Crystal seemed utterly insignificant!

Time flies, and before you know it, Lu Chen had spent three days in the Roaring Forest. He spent those days hunting demonic beasts and mastering the Golden Silk Inch Punch. The intense combat allowed him to advance to the Grade Five Spirit Disciple realm.

"A punch of an inch packs the force of an inch; when the Inch Punch is unleashed, even gold and stone shatter! Golden silk as threads can penetrate armor, and as a web, it can shield the body."

"In my past life, I never delved deeply into this martial art. But now, I see its depth—it's both offensive and defensive, and within its flow lies a deeper understanding of the martial path."

Lu Chen's fists were enveloped in golden silk, each movement deliberate and slow. Yet, within that slowness, there was an indomitable force that left no room for evasion. The golden threads on his hands wove an impenetrable dance of attack and defense, seemingly flawless.

"Now, my Golden Silk Inch Punch is likely twice as formidable as it was before!"

Next to him, a small monkey with black fur and a streak of gold on its forehead was munching away at a snow-white, radish-like plant, thoroughly enjoying itself.

"Xiaohei, you're enjoying that snow ginseng, aren't you?" Lu Chen asked, picking up the little monkey, still busy with the snow ginseng, and holding it close with a smile.

This was the same Immortal Indicating Monkey Lu Chen had encountered three days prior, which he had affectionately named Xiaohei due to its glossy black fur.

"Squeak squeak!" In response to Lu Chen's words, Xiaohei nodded with an almost human-like understanding, then continued to nibble on the snow ginseng, paying no further attention to Lu Chen.

Watching Xiaohei voraciously devour the snow ginseng, Lu Chen couldn't help but smile wryly. Ever since the little creature had joined him, it had been an endless cycle of eat, eat, eat, with most of Lu Chen's time devoted to finding food for his insatiable companion.

This little guy was certainly determined. As soon as it finished its meal, it could pinpoint the location of the next spiritual herb. Lu Chen had even left a few behind for it while harvesting. But the Beast Crystals? The little creature had gobbled them up without leaving a single one.

Lu Chen glanced at the meager handful of spiritual herbs in his pocket and sighed. The search for more herbs had to go on if he wanted to craft any pills upon his return.

"Squeak squeak squeak!"

Just as Lu Chen was preparing to rise and continue his quest, Xiaohei, nestled in his arms, seemed to catch wind of something. It latched onto Lu Chen's collar, squealing with excitement, its tiny claws frantically scraping at his chest.

"Hahaha, has Xiaohei sniffed out another treasure?"