Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique

Dragging the Black Iron Lock Chain while using Deceptive Step, Mu Chen vanished into the night in just a few flashes.

AWOOO...

ROAR!

GRRR...

Mu Chen’s guess was spot on. Not even fifteen minutes after he had left, dense hordes of Magical Beasts swarmed in from all directions. Aside from the ground littered with viscera, they didn’t find a single scrap of boar meat.

’That was a close call!’

Hearing the countless roars and howls in the distance, Mu Chen glanced back and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead. He executed Deceptive Step even more swiftly, his feet becoming a near-blur.

It wasn’t until the next morning that Mu Chen found a safe place to roast the meat: a natural rock cave. The absence of dry grass or dirt inside indicated that the cave was unoccupied. The entrance was small, just big enough for Mu Chen alone, making it convenient to block.

After thoroughly blocking the cave entrance from the inside, Mu Chen sat down.

RUMBLE...

Er...

’Good thing Master didn’t show up, or he’d just laugh at me again.’ Mu Chen rubbed his stomach in embarrassment. With a flip of his hand, his Storage Ring flashed, and a bundle of dry firewood appeared out of thin air before him. He had gathered it along the way while escaping, and it included some smaller branches.

He arranged the firewood in a circle and used a Fire Stick to light it. Wiping the sweat from his temples, Mu Chen reflected that this was his first time cooking. Back home, due to his frail body, servants and Maids had done almost everything for him. Fortunately, he was an avid reader and had covered a wide range of subjects, including how to prepare meat.

He took out the seasonings and the Giant Wild Boar Meat. Casually pulling two branches from the firewood, he skewered the meat and began to roast it, turning it constantly as he remembered from his reading. He occasionally sprinkled on some salt and other spices. Before long, the boar meat began to release a unique, fragrant aroma. A single whiff was enough to make Mu Chen’s mouth water and his appetite surge.

’It smells amazing!’

Mu Chen praised it inwardly and continued to turn the skewers until the surface of the meat turned a perfect golden brown. He couldn’t resist any longer. Ignoring how hot the freshly roasted meat was, he began to devour it ravenously.

After finishing the first piece of meat, he instinctively licked the juices from the corner of his mouth. He had to admit, the Giant Wild Boar Meat really lived up to its reputation. ’If my simple cooking can make it this delicious, a real chef could turn it into an exquisite delicacy.’

The thought of the rest of the boar meat in his Storage Ring put him in a great mood; he wouldn’t have to worry about food for a while. He cut off and ate two more pieces from the large slab of meat before storing it away again.

After tidying up, Mu Chen lay down right where he was. Guided by his Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique, Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi once again flowed into his body. He was exhausted after running all night and needed to quickly recover his physical strength and Spiritual Power. But the instant he began to fully circulate the Cultivation Technique, a warm current surged from his stomach. It merged with the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and integrated into his very muscles and bones. The effect was almost immediate. Mu Chen clearly felt a significant increase in his physical strength, and his stamina recovered at a rapid pace.

’What is...?’ Mu Chen was overjoyed, but also perplexed.

"Don’t be surprised. This is normal. Nearly all Magical Beast Meat can strengthen a human’s body. However, the amount one can absorb depends on their constitution. Someone like you is probably one in a million. After all, your physical fortitude already surpasses that of countless others."

The voice of the Profound Old Ghost echoed in his mind. With his answer, Mu Chen secretly resolved to eat more Magical Beast Meat in the future. And so, hunting Magical Beasts was added to his training regimen.

Fueled by the energy from the Magical Beast Meat, Mu Chen’s stamina and spirit returned to their peak in just a couple of hours. After circulating the Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique through his body one last time, he rose, ready to continue his journey and hunt for more Magical Beasts.

Since the entrance was blocked from the inside, moving the stones aside was easy. Stepping out of the cave, he took a deep breath. The raw, verdant scent of grass and trees filled his nostrils, feeling incredibly refreshing. After a quick stretch, Mu Chen set off toward the northwest using Deceptive Step. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

What Mu Chen didn’t know was that at the very moment he left, a pair of blood-red eyes emerged from a bush near the cave entrance, a cold light glinting within them.

"Master, how much longer until we get there?"

After walking for several more hours and staring at the unchanging scenery, Mu Chen couldn’t help but feel bored.

"What’s the rush?" the Profound Old Ghost’s mischievous voice replied. "We’re a long way from there. It will take at least another month."

Mu Chen felt a sense of resignation. He didn’t understand why, after traveling for hours and venturing deeper into the Demon Beast Forest, he hadn’t encountered a single Magical Beast. It was highly unusual.

Moreover, Mu Chen kept feeling like a pair of eyes was watching him. But whenever he turned around to look, there was nothing there.

Shaking his head, Mu Chen tried to ignore the feeling and focused on practicing his Deceptive Step and Thunderous Fist. Still, he remained vigilant. He couldn’t afford to be careless here in the Demon Beast Forest. One slip-up, and he’d end up as a Magical Beast’s next meal.

The day passed without incident. At one point, Mu Chen even sat down and feigned Cultivation, hoping to lure out the owner of the mysterious gaze. But no matter how convincing his act was—he even ended up genuinely circulating his Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique—his stalker refused to appear.

’Am I really just being paranoid?’

Frowning, Mu Chen stood up and dusted himself off. It was already evening. The entire day, from morning till now, had been unnaturally quiet, without a trace of any animal life. This was extremely abnormal. A situation like this usually meant one of two things: either there were deadly plants in the vicinity, or... a powerful Magical Beast had claimed this territory.

At the second possibility, Mu Chen shuddered. ’Am I being stalked by a powerful Magical Beast? But they’re almost all massive; I should have spotted it easily. So far, I haven’t seen a single trace.’

Taking a deep breath, Mu Chen felt cold sweat bead on his back. The most terrifying things aren’t what you can see in front of you; they are the things you can feel but can never find.

"Kid, don’t be nervous. You’re not alone, are you?"

Just as Mu Chen’s entire body tensed, the mischievous voice made him relax slightly.

"Master, what in the world is it? It seems like it’s been watching me since morning."

Mu Chen’s eyes darted from side to side, his feet poised to dodge. He had to be ready to evade at a moment’s notice.

"Don’t worry. It’s just a little pussycat with a few special talents, that’s all. Don’t panic. Focus your senses on your surroundings. You should be able to find it easily."

The Profound Old Ghost’s words were like a calming balm, allowing Mu Chen’s tense mind to relax completely. In dire situations, people tend to become anxious. But the more anxious you become, the more your own eyes deceive you, preventing you from making the correct judgment.

Once fully relaxed, Mu Chen closed his eyes, his inner gaze softening. This was a sign that his mind had become completely still. A breeze rustled past, and he could clearly trace its path in his mind—through the trees, across the bushes, and over the flowers and grass.

’Found you.’

A smirk touched his lips. Mu Chen suddenly shot forward, using Deceptive Step. His body became a black streak, streaking past a patch of tall grass. In the instant he passed it, Mu Chen threw a punch.

Accompanied by the sound of rolling thunder, a dark-green figure was forced out from the grass.

GRR...

The figure let out two low growls at Mu Chen, its blood-red eyes flashing with a cold light. Mu Chen stared intently, finally getting a clear look at his stalker.

It was an agile, leopard-like creature. Its graceful, streamlined body was covered in flawless, sleek, dark-green fur. It wasn’t particularly large—about two meters long and seventy-odd centimeters tall. A pair of eyes like blood-red gems were locked onto Mu Chen.

"How beautiful..."

Mu Chen was stunned for a moment, letting out a heartfelt sigh of admiration.

"Silly boy. No wonder you haven’t seen any other Magical Beasts on your way here. You’ve run into a Phantom Gale Leopard, also known by the title ’Phantom Assassin’."

"Huh?"

Mu Chen cried out in surprise. ’What rotten luck,’ he thought. Although he’d never seen a Magical Beast, he had heard tales about the three beasts from the outer Demon Beast Forest that Mercenaries dreaded encountering the most.

The first was a bear-type, the Furious Barbarian Bear. It was a Level 2 Magical Beast and one of the Overlords of the outer forest. Its strength was immense, its hide was tough, and its flesh was thick. Its Attack Power was brutal, and its Defense Power was monstrous—not even some High Level Level 2 Magical Beasts could compare.

The second was a snake-type, the Level 1 Magical Beast known as the Silver Moon Cold Snake. These snakes tended to live near a Cold Pool, and this pool had to be illuminated by moonlight, which is how the beast got its name. It was extremely difficult to find one, but an encounter meant near-certain death. The Silver Moon Cold Snake’s venom could instantly freeze the blood of even a Grand Martial Master. And once a person’s blood froze, death was inevitable.

And the third... was the dark-green leopard right in front of him: the Level 1 Magical Beast, the Phantom Gale Leopard. It possessed neither terrifying Attack Power nor formidable defense, let alone a potent venom. Yet, most people would rather face the other two beasts than this one. That’s because it was a born Assassin. Its streamlined body made it a master of stealth, its crimson eyes were its trademark, and its speed was unbelievable—like a gust of wind. Once it fixed on a target, it would never give up. A Phantom Gale Leopard once stalked a Martial Artist for an entire month before finding the perfect opportunity to kill him, a feat that made it famous.

Looking at the Phantom Gale Leopard that stared silently back at him, Mu Chen gave a bitter smile. ’I’ve really hit the jackpot.’ But at the same time, a powerful fighting spirit erupted in his eyes. ’If I want to be strong, I have to face every challenge. This is just a Level 1 Magical Beast. Am I supposed to shrink away from this?’

Besides, he had already forced the Phantom Gale Leopard out of hiding. In a direct confrontation, killing it wasn’t an impossibility.

With this realization, the fear in Mu Chen’s heart vanished, replaced by sheer clarity. He would challenge this beautiful "Phantom Assassin" with a perfectly calm mind.

ROAR!

Seemingly aware that a direct confrontation was its only option, the Phantom Gale Leopard launched itself forward, charging at Mu Chen with a SWOOSH. Its whirlwind-like burst of speed left a dark-green afterimage in its wake.