The sun dipped west, insects chirped through the forest.
Ye Xuan sat alone by the campfire, blood flowing like tides through his veins, a faint rumble echoing within his meridians.
That night, he had fully stabilized the power granted by the medicinal soup.
"Body tempering truly works."
He clenched his fist, joints cracking like firecrackers.
Yet disturbance soon arrived.
---
Outside the woods came rustling footsteps.
Several human youths stepped into the forest, short swords and crossbows in hand, leather armor strapped to their waists.
"There's a group of goblins in this forest—perfect for practice."
The leader sneered.
Their eyes were filled with contempt, not even regarding goblins as living threats.
In this world, F-rank goblins were the most common "training targets" for beginner hunters.
Ye Xuan lifted his eyes, gaze indifferent.
---
The youths quickly spotted him.
"Huh? This goblin looks strange… is it practicing swordplay?"
One pointed at the wooden stick in his hand with mockery.
"Haha! A weakling goblin learning human sword arts? That's hilarious!"
Another burst into laughter.
They slowly closed in, blades gleaming under the dusk light.
"Kill it, and it'll be our first trophy!"
---
Ye Xuan did not move.
He simply stood there quietly, gripping the wooden stick, his expression calm, as though facing not hunters, but toddlers learning to walk.
The first youth lunged, sword thrusting straight at him.
Ye Xuan sank his hips, his body shifting slightly aside.
—The blade skimmed past his shoulder, narrowly missing.
"What? It dodged?!"
The youth froze in shock.
The next instant, Ye Xuan's stick flicked lightly, striking directly at the boy's wrist.
Crack! The sword flew from his hand, and with a scream, the youth's wrist swelled, forcing him to his knees.
The others roared in anger, charging together.
Short swords and crossbow bolts flew in unison.
Ye Xuan's eyes chilled. Stepping forward half a pace, his entire figure darted into the group like a hunting leopard.
His wooden stick spun—sweeping, jabbing, thrusting—each strike precise, landing on joints or vital points.
Bang!
Crack!
Agonized cries rang out one after another.
Within mere breaths, all four youths lay sprawled on the ground, wrists snapped or ribs fractured, drenched in cold sweat from the pain.
Their eyes widened in disbelief.
"Im… impossible… the weakest goblin… how could it have such skill?"
Ye Xuan drew back his stick, expression unchanged.
He did not kill them, only cast a cold glance before turning to leave.
"The mortal body is gradually steady. The path of body tempering shows its edge."
"But if I wish to return to the peak, this strength… is far from enough."
He raised his head toward the distant mountains.
There—lay his true place of cultivation.
The night wind howled, his figure slowly vanishing into the darkness.
While the youths sprawled on the ground, only a single thought remained in their hearts:
—This goblin… could never again be treated as practice.