Chapter 43: Blood in the Wind
The moment the first beast collapsed with its skull shattered, the second one—sleek and dark-furred—paused in its tracks. Its glowing amber eyes studied Wu Yuan warily, then flicked to the corpse of its companion. A low, guttural growl echoed from its throat, filled with rage and a beast's instinct for revenge.
It could sense Wu Yuan was injured.
And that was all it needed.
With a snarl, the beast lunged.
Wu Yuan's body was too slow to respond properly—his energy reserves nearly dry, limbs sluggish from the intense battle. All he could do was raise his right arm instinctively.
Crunch!
The beast's jaws clamped down hard. Pain flared as its fangs scraped against his skin—but that was all. Wu Yuan's muscles, tempered through relentless cultivation and the brutal torment of the Heaven‑Eating Pulse Conduction technique, held firm. That kind of pain wasn't for show—it had carved resilience into his very bones. His body was already far tougher than most Spirit Initiation cultivators, and this beast's bite couldn't penetrate beyond faint red scratches.
Gritting his teeth, Wu Yuan steadied his stance, blood still dripping down his arm. Then, with a sharp breath, he gathered every bit of energy he could muster from his trembling frame.
With a grunt of effort, he hurled the beast—still latched onto his arm—into the air like a stone from a catapult. It slammed into the ground with a heavy thud, skidding through dirt and broken leaves.
But it wasn't dead.
His eyes narrowed.
"Level 1 Spirit Initiation Realm," Wu Yuan muttered, calm returning to his battered form. "Just like the first."
His thoughts raced despite the dizziness pressing against his skull.
My base stats are already equal to a Level 6 Spirit Initiation cultivator… so they can't harm me.
But that wasn't the real problem.
I don't have the energy left to fight for long. If I drag this out, stronger beasts will arrive. I need to end this quickly.
With a guttural snarl, the creature stabilized its limbs and rose again, shaking off the impact. Its glowing eyes locked onto Wu Yuan with renewed fury.
The beast began to circle him now, tail lashing side to side, slow and deliberate—testing him, waiting for another opening. Its posture was cautious, but the killing intent it radiated had only grown stronger.
Wu Yuan inhaled sharply. His bleeding right fist still throbbed with every beat of his heart. The cloth he'd wrapped around it was soaked through. And yet… he still had one last strike in him.
Just one.
And it had to count.
Before Wu Yuan could gather enough energy to strike again, the beast lunged.
Its sudden burst of speed caught him off-guard. Wu Yuan barely twisted to the side, but it wasn't enough. The beast's weight slammed into him, lifting him off his feet and flinging him through the air like a broken doll.
He hit the ground hard—shoulder-first, then spine, then finally his injured right wrist smashed against a jagged boulder.
A sharp groan tore from his throat.
It wasn't just the fresh pain—it was the agony of old wounds flaring anew, of blood flooding over barely-sealed gashes.
Before he could rise, claws slashed down.
The beast was relentless. Its nails, sharp as sword edges, raked across his chest and arms, carving deep gashes and tearing through fabric. His upper shirt shredded with the impact, fluttering away like broken leaves—leaving Wu Yuan's torso exposed, bloodied, and heaving.
I can't go on like this... Wu Yuan clenched his jaw, his vision blurring for a moment as another pulse of pain shot through his body. He can't truly injure me… but these impacts still come at a cost. My bones are rattling, my wounds are tearing open again—this pain isn't sustainable.
He exhaled slowly, forcing down the rising panic.
I need to think. I can't match him in speed right now, not like this. But brute force isn't the only path to survival...
His eyes narrowed, flicking toward the terrain behind the beast.
If I can't overpower it, then I'll outmaneuver it.
Wu Yuan's breaths came shallow and sharp. His limbs ached, his skin burned, and his strength was slipping through his fingers like sand. But his mind—his mind remained sharp.
The beast lunged again, jaws wide, claws raised to tear through him. Wu Yuan didn't meet it head-on. Instead, he staggered sideways, letting his weakened legs collapse at the last second. His body dropped just beneath the beast's charge, and the creature soared over him—its full momentum carrying it forward.
Now!
Behind Wu Yuan, a jagged boulder jutted from the earth like a fang. The beast, unable to stop in time, slammed head-first into it with a bone-cracking thud. Its roar became a confused, dazed growl as its skull bounced off the stone. But that wasn't the end.
The impact sent tremors through the rocks above, dislodging several larger stones that had been precariously balanced atop the boulder.
Crack—crash!
The stones came down like heaven's judgment, slamming into the beast's back with a sickening crunch. Dust and debris burst outward, momentarily hiding both beast and carnage.
Wu Yuan didn't waste a heartbeat. Gritting his teeth, he forced his battered body upright, gathering every last shred of energy he could muster. Power surged—chaotic, painful, but just enough.
He leapt.
His wrapped left fist shot forward, empowered by desperation and brute will. The beast, groaning under the weight of the fallen stones, barely lifted its head before—
CRACK!
Wu Yuan's fist connected cleanly with its skull. This time, there was no resistance. Bone shattered. The beast's body went limp beneath him, finally still.
Wu Yuan dropped beside it, panting.
Got you...
Wu Yuan didn't allow himself a moment of rest.
His entire body throbbed—bones aching, muscles screaming—but he forced himself to rise. Step by step, he began walking away from the battlefield. There was no time to waste. The blood, the noise, the fallen beasts—it would all attract more predators soon.
He clenched his jaw and pressed forward, dragging his battered frame through the dense undergrowth. Every few steps, his vision blurred, knees buckling slightly before he caught himself. But he didn't stop.
I can't stop now. Just a bit farther...
A kilometer. That's how far he pushed himself—limping, stumbling, his shirt torn, his right arm nearly numb. He searched for a cave, a hollow, anything he could use for shelter—but nothing safe revealed itself.
Time was running out. If another beast appeared now—
Then, he spotted it. A tall, ancient tree, thick with leaves and twisted branches. Its upper canopy was dense enough to hide his presence. Not the best option—but the only one.
With gritted teeth, Wu Yuan clawed his way upward, every movement a new wave of agony. His right wrist throbbed sharply, forcing him to rely almost entirely on his left arm. Bark dug into his palms. Thorns scraped against his side.
But finally, after what felt like an eternity, he pulled himself into the thick foliage. Hidden between a knot of sturdy limbs and broad leaves, Wu Yuan slumped down.
The world spun around him. Blood oozed from reopened wounds. His breathing was shallow and ragged.
But he was alive.
Safe—for now.
After what felt like hours—though it was likely far less—Wu Yuan's breathing finally steadied. Hidden among the tree's thick canopy, his heart still thudded painfully, but clarity had begun to return.
With effort, he lifted his left hand and summoned the familiar translucent screen.
[System Mission Complete]
Mission: Kill Level 7 Spirit Initiation Realm Cultivator – Completed
Rewards:
– 500 SP
– Jadeflesh Pill ×12 (Promotes skin regeneration and tissue healing)
– Battle Technique: Lightning Blade
– New Store Sections Unlocked: Space Ring, Clothing
Wu Yuan's eyes flickered.
Then came the next message:
[System Mission Complete]
Mission: Kill 2× Level 1 Spirit Initiation Realm Beasts – Completed
Rewards:
– 200 SP
– Unlocked Pill Recipe: Jadeflesh Pill
"Jadeflesh Pill... just what I need."
Without hesitation, he opened his inventory and materialized one of the pills. A glistening, faintly translucent green pill lay in his palm, radiating a gentle, medicinal fragrance. He popped it into his mouth without hesitation.
A cool, soothing energy surged through him, washing away the heat and tightness clinging to his damaged muscles. The pill's effects spread rapidly, mending torn tissues, reducing swelling, and easing internal bruises. He could feel it—flesh knitting, blood vessels sealing, even the dull ache in his right wrist softening.
His entire body exhaled relief.
But Wu Yuan didn't smile.
He stared at the flickering screen, his breath ragged.
If I'd checked this earlier…
His jaw clenched. I wouldn't have had to go through all that.
Internal injuries. Scratched raw and nearly half-naked, hiding in a damn tree.
He sucked in a cold breath.
"The system really doesn't give any warnings, huh?" he muttered bitterly under his breath. "Not even a little hint like, 'Hey, maybe try opening your rewards before nearly dying?'"
No response, of course.
Just that ever-blank interface, glowing quietly in front of him.
And then, without thinking, Wu Yuan swiped sideways.
Name: Wu Yuan
Age: 8
Clan: Wu Clan
Realm: Level 12 – Body Tempering Realm (Middle Grade)
Stats
Strength: 160
Endurance: 160
Agility: 160
Defense: 160
Progressions
Lightning Root – In Progress
Lightning Body – In Progress
Lightning Soul – In Progress
Lightning Spirit – In Progress
Lightning Chakra Progress: 95%
SP: 1254
Inventory
Spark Essence Pills – 60 Pills
Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pills – 0 Pills
Spirit Awakening Pill – 24 Pills
Jadeflesh Pill - 11 Pills
Techniques
Aura Veil (conceals true cultivation)
Heaven‑Eating Pulse Conduction
Thunderflash Step
Lightning Punch
Lightning Blade
Store
Pills
Vital Core Stim (Unavailable) – Cost: 1000 SP
Lightning Essence for Body Tempering Realm – Cost: 5 SP
Spark Essence Pill – Cost: 20 SP
Spirit Awakening Pill – Cost: 20 SP
Jadeflesh Pill - Cost: 15 SP
Techniques
Temporary Clarity Scroll – Cost: 10 SP
Ironblood Body Tempering Scroll (Top Grade Yellow Rank) – Cost: 200 SP
Pill Recipes
Spark Essence Pill – Cost: 100 SP
Spirit Awakening Pill – Cost: 300 SP
Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pill – Cost: 200 SP
Jadeflesh Pill – Cost: 200 SP
Newly Unlocked Sections
Space Ring...
Cloths...
Wu Yuan blinked at the screen.
These mission rewards shocked Wu Yuan more than anything he'd seen so far.
Healing pills... now even clothing and a space ring section?
He narrowed his eyes.
"How is it that the system always gives me exactly what I need, right when I need it?"
It wasn't just a lucky coincidence anymore. First, it gave him Vital Core Stim before talent awakening ceremony. Then Lightning Essence and Spark Essence Pills, right when he was wondering how to cultivate. And now… Lightning Blade.
After reading it, Wu Yuan was still reeling.
The technique was frighteningly similar to what Lei Hanwu had used. A violent surge of lightning qi, compressed into a blade-thin line, bursting forth with terrifying speed and sharpness. A lethal move.
"Is this… just luck? Or is the system observing me?" Wu Yuan frowned. "Tailoring rewards based on what I'm experiencing…"
He stared blankly at the screen.
"And I still don't know its name."
His eyes slid to the Realm section.
Level 12 – Body Tempering Realm (Middle Grade)
That made him pause.
"…Mid grade?"
He hadn't cultivated since breaking through. He was sure of that. Not even a single cycle. So how…?
A slow realization crept in. He thought back to the fight. The moment he focused all his strength into his right wrist. The moment he unleashed Lightning Punch.
"That's it…"
When he cultivated, he'd used many pills. But he hadn't refined all the essence in them. The Lightning Marrow Cleansing Pills, the Spark Essence Pills—they'd saturated his body too quickly. Some of that medicinal essence must've gone dormant. Hidden. And during the life-or-death battle… that dormant energy was forced into motion. Especially in his wrist.
That had tempered his body in real time.
A battle breakthrough.
Wu Yuan sat still, stunned.
"I tempered my body… by fighting."
He let out a breath and grinned.
"And 1,254 SP… I finally broke 1,000."
A grin stretched across his face.
"I'm rich. A little rich man now, hehe…"
He tapped the Space Ring section.
"Let's see what kind of treasure you're hiding now…"
His finger hovered over the tab—and the moment it opened, his eyes widened.
"Wait… what is that?"