Chapter 34: Return to Tiandu
The giant ape was utterly enraged. First, Xiao Chen had pierced its fist, and now its tail had been severed. The pain and anger made all its internal strength burst forth.
"Hiss hiss!"
The giant ape opened its mouth wide, gathering all its power, preparing to unleash its final and most powerful attack. In no time, a purple energy ball began to form, growing larger and larger.
"Xiao Chen! Be careful! That guy is about to launch an all-out attack! Don't confront it head-on!" the ancient white tiger hurriedly transmitted its warning.
"Hmph! It won't get the chance!" Xiao Chen snorted coldly. As his words fell, his figure flickered and disappeared, leaving only a few illusory afterimages.
"Xiao Chen, what are you planning to do?" Hearing Xiao Chen's arrogant words, the ancient white tiger was startled and quickly asked.
"Hiss!"
When Xiao Chen reappeared, he was on top of the giant ape's head. Ignoring the giant ape that was gathering immense power, he thrust his divine sword down fiercely. With a slicing sound, a spurt of blood erupted. The giant ape, in the midst of concentrating its power, slowly fell to the ground, and the purple energy ball began to dissipate.
Xiao Chen's speed was too fast, completely different from before. The furious giant ape couldn't detect Xiao Chen's position at all and never expected Xiao Chen to kill it at the moment it was gathering its strength.
Not only the giant ape but even the ancient white tiger was stunned by Xiao Chen's audacity to kill the giant ape while it was gathering power.
"Xiao... Xiao Chen! You're amazing! You killed the white ape!" the ancient white tiger exclaimed in shock after a long silence.
Panting, Xiao Chen then revealed a joyful smile and said, "Great! I won! I defeated this big guy!"
"Xiao Chen, you were too daring just now! You actually attacked the white ape on its head!" the ancient white tiger said in disbelief.
"Hehe, beasts need time to gather strength. In previous battles, the beasts I killed all needed time to use this move. So I made a quick decision; otherwise, killing this big guy wouldn't be easy!" Xiao Chen chuckled, his slightly pale face showing a delighted smile.
"Incredible! Xiao Chen, your speed has increased so much that my eyes could barely keep up. Could it be that you have mastered the Ghost Shadow Technique? Your steps just now were amazing!" the ancient white tiger asked excitedly.
"I don't think so. Although I also felt my speed increase, the Ghost Shadow Technique can't be mastered so easily. I don't know if it's because of the Ghost Shadow Technique," Xiao Chen replied, feeling a bit puzzled himself, as he had only just started practicing the Ghost Shadow Technique's steps.
"Could it be your body's hidden potential?" the ancient white tiger speculated, thinking it over but finding no clues, then shaking its head and deciding not to think about it anymore.
"Haha, let's not worry about it! Let's get the demon core first. This is a Golden Core stage beast's demon core!"
Having killed a Golden Core stage beast, Xiao Chen was very excited. With a swift swing of his divine sword, he skillfully extracted the demon core from the giant ape. The demon core emitted a faint purple glow, containing the most powerful energy Xiao Chen had ever seen. He then flicked the blood off his sword and put it away.
Holding the faintly glowing purple demon core, Xiao Chen joyfully said, "This is the most powerful demon core I've ever obtained. It should help me improve my cultivation significantly."
"Xiao Chen, let's go quickly. If we encounter other cultivators, it could be troublesome," the ancient white tiger transmitted, worried about attracting trouble from envious cultivators.
"Alright! Let's find a place to heal first. Once recovered, we'll return to Tiandu. Although I've broken through to the fasting period, I still feel like eating. When we get back, I want a good meal and a change of clothes. These clothes are stained with beast blood and smell strange, and they seem to have become tighter," Xiao Chen said, storing the demon core in his storage ring and leaping into the forest.
Quickly traversing the complex mountain range, it didn't take Xiao Chen more than ten minutes to reach the top of a mountain. The air was more comfortable and the spiritual energy more abundant there, making it the perfect place to heal.
"Luckily, the injuries aren't too severe this time. But that big guy's tail hit me hard; its strength is indeed formidable," Xiao Chen said with a smile as he sat down cross-legged on a large rock to examine his injuries.
"Xiao Chen, quickly take the Snow Jade Spirit Pill you refined. In a few hours, your injuries should be healed, and we can return to Tiandu!" the ancient white tiger urged, sounding eager.
"Alright! I'll heal now, and you guard me!" Xiao Chen smiled. He had spent over a year in the beast mountain range and had achieved his goals, with nothing left to linger for.
Three hours later, Xiao Chen woke up from his cultivation. After three hours of healing, his injuries were healed, and his cultivation had improved.
"Great! I'm healed! Xiao Chen, it's getting late; let's set off immediately," the ancient white tiger said excitedly.
"Alright! Let's go!" Xiao Chen smiled, leaping off the mountain peak. He soared dozens of feet into the air, gliding gracefully and landing lightly on the top of a large tree. With a gentle push off a leaf, he shot forward again, moving swiftly towards the outskirts of the beast mountain range.
Xiao Chen swiftly traversed the treetops in the beast mountain range. Even if beasts noticed him, they couldn't catch up, as Xiao Chen's speed far exceeded theirs.
"So fast! I can't see who it is," a cultivator noticed, looking up to see only a fleeting shadow.
"Amazing! Someone is running on treetops, but I can't tell their cultivation level. Could it be a Golden Core stage expert?"
"Who is it? Huh? Where did they go?"
The cultivators training in the beast mountain range were all astonished as Xiao Chen passed by, unable to discern who he was.
If they knew it was a 14-year-old boy, they might have fainted from shock.
"Xiao Chen, try channeling your true essence and controlling it throughout your body to see if you can fly," the ancient white tiger suddenly transmitted two hours later.
"Hmm? Channel my true essence throughout my body? Little white tiger, is that how flying works?" Xiao Chen asked while jumping swiftly.
"I don't know. I was born with the ability to fly since I have wings. I just thought it might work for you," the ancient white tiger transmitted with a laugh.
"Alright, I'll give it a try!" Xiao Chen nodded. He stopped on a treetop, started channeling his true essence, and spread it throughout his body. Then he lightly pushed off a leaf, shooting out swiftly.
"Little white tiger, it doesn't work. I did as you said, but my body still falls," Xiao Chen said, shaking his head.
"Ah, it seems you need to comprehend it yourself!" the ancient white tiger sighed.
A few hours later, Xiao Chen had reached the outskirts of the beast mountain range. He noticed fewer cultivators coming for training.
"Hmm? Why are there no cultivators training here? When I first arrived, I saw many people regularly. Why is it now that I see only one or two occasionally?" Xiao Chen asked in confusion.
"I find it strange too. Tiandu should have people coming to train every day. Why is there no one now?" the ancient white tiger also wondered.
"Never mind, let's go back to Tiandu," Xiao Chen said, not paying much attention, and continued on his way.
When Xiao Chen first came to the beast mountain range from Tiandu, it took him three days. Now, his cultivation had improved significantly, and his speed had increased many times over. He reached Tiandu in just one day, saving two days' time.
On the way, he encountered no trouble. Being just a boy, other cultivators naturally didn't bother him.
"Wow! Tiandu has become so lively! It's much more bustling than before, with so many people. Haha," Xiao Chen exclaimed in delight upon returning to Tiandu, seeing countless people on the streets, all with excited smiles on their faces. He wondered what had happened.
Xiao Chen joyfully rushed into Tiandu, his body emitting the smell of dried blood, causing people on the street to avoid him, giving him strange looks.
Xiao Chen didn't care at all, quickly ordering a black robe identical to his old one at a cloth shop, only larger. After a comfortable bath and changing into his new clothes, looking much more handsome, he headed to a tavern.
No matter where he went, the streets were crowded with people, all looking excited and expectant, making Xiao Chen even more curious. But he didn't hurry to ask, first finding something to eat.
"Little white tiger, want to try some? This roasted chicken is delicious," Xiao Chen said as he ordered a table full of dishes, all roasted chicken, putting one into his storage ring. The boy and the beast ate with relish.
Seeing the waiter passing by, Xiao Chen quickly stopped him and asked, "Brother waiter, why is Tiandu so lively today? Everyone seems so happy. What happened?"
The waiter looked at Xiao Chen in surprise, then asked, "Little brother, do you really not know? It's not just lively today. It's been like this for a month now. Tomorrow is the martial arts competition day, and everyone is looking forward to it, of course, they're happy."
"What? Martial arts competition?" Hearing the waiter's words, Xiao Chen was stunned, a strong sense of excitement surging within him.