Aftermath and New Realizations

Rumble!!

Rumble!!

Rumble!!

The ground trembled as chaos consumed Qingfeng Village. The air was thick with the clash of steel, the growls of demons, and the anguished cries of Martial Artists. Bandits controlled by demonic forces scattered under the relentless assault, leaving the demons no choice but to reveal themselves. Blood stained the earth, and the once-silent village became a maelstrom of destruction.

Then, from atop a distant mountain, a massive shadow appeared—a blood-red wolf demon. It let out a menacing howl before charging down with terrifying speed. Its crimson eyes gleamed with malice, and its claws gleamed like sharpened blades.

"No! It's a Level Four wolf demon!"

Gasps of horror swept through the Martial Artists. A Level Four demon was a calamity, capable of overpowering several Martial Artists in the Blood Exchange Realm simultaneously. Fear gripped even the seasoned fighters, and the atmosphere thickened with dread.

Xu He and other seasoned Martial Artists sprang into action. They intercepted the Level Four wolf demon with practiced coordination, engaging it in a desperate battle. Xu He's strikes were precise, each movement designed to exploit the demon's weaknesses. The fight pushed him to his limits, but his resolve never wavered. Yet, this was only the beginning. As the fight intensified, more Level Four wolf demons emerged from the shadows, prompting the blood exchange experts to step forward and confront them. Despite their bravery, the tide seemed unending.

And still, Xiao Long, the leader of the city guards, refrained from joining the fray. His calmness amidst the chaos frustrated many, but when a Level Five wolf demon, the true leader of the pack, revealed itself, Xiao Long finally made his move. With his ten captains, he surged into the battlefield, his strikes decisive and deadly. The city guards followed his lead, cutting down the remaining wolf demons with brutal efficiency. The once-overwhelming tide of demons began to falter under the combined might of the Martial Artists and guards.

Amid the chaos, Ye Chen—armed with his bow and a few precious Demon-Breaking Arrows—tried to remain inconspicuous. But fate had other plans. An injured wolf demon, snarling and limping, locked its glowing eyes on him. Its mangled body didn't diminish the threat it posed. Ye Chen steadied his aim and released an arrow. It struck the beast's leg, piercing through its tough demon hide, but failed to bring it down.

The wolf demon, enraged, charged toward him. Ye Chen fired another arrow, but the demon dodged with ease. Forced to abandon his bow, Ye Chen relied on his martial skills. He evaded the demon's lunges with his Wind Shadow Leg technique, narrowly avoiding its claws. The wolf demon's movements were erratic but dangerous, each attack aiming to tear him apart.

After several exchanges, he saw his chance. Gathering all his strength, Ye Chen struck with his Qinggang Hand, smashing into the demon's neck. The blow was devastating, leaving the demon severely injured, but not dead. Ye Chen, gasping for breath, was stunned by its resilience. A human would have succumbed to such injuries, but this demon continued to fight. With one final, calculated strike, Ye Chen finished it off, his heart pounding as he realized this was the first demon he had ever slain.

"Its resilience was terrifying," he thought, examining its lifeless body. "If it hadn't been injured already, I wouldn't have stood a chance."

Not long after, a resounding roar echoed across the battlefield, signaling the death of the demon wolf leader. Xiao Long's voice followed:

"The demon wolf leader is dead. Hunt down the remaining wolves!"

Relief washed over Ye Chen as the tide of battle turned. The demons were routed, and Qingfeng Village fell silent save for the groans of the injured and the crackle of flames. Ye Chen took a moment to compose himself before cautiously approaching the village's interior. Now was the time to search for treasures left behind.

The search began. Ye Chen scoured the outskirts, avoiding the core areas where stronger Martial Artists claimed the most valuable prizes. Using his Wind Shadow Kick technique, he darted from house to house, his movements swift and precise.

"Nothing valuable here."

"Not this one either."

After half an hour, Ye Chen's efforts bore fruit. He held a package containing secret medicines, elixirs, rare metals, and eleven martial arts manuals. While most were low to mid-grade skin-grinding techniques, they were treasures to someone like Ye Chen.

"These manuals will help me push my cultivation further," he thought, inspecting the worn pages. "If I can master them all, I might have a chance to advance."

When the search ended, Ye Chen reunited with his master, Xu He. The elder Martial Artist bore visible injuries but seemed relieved to see Ye Chen alive.

"Good," Xu He said, nodding. "Surviving this mission shows your potential."

The mood darkened as the survivors regrouped. Of the thirty disciples who had accompanied Qinggang Martial Arts School to Qingfeng Village, only sixteen returned. The losses weighed heavily on Xu He. His gaze lingered on the bloodied battlefield, a silent testament to the price of their victory. The dead would not be forgotten, their sacrifice a reminder of the dangers lurking in the world.

"Return to the martial arts school," Xu He ordered. The survivors obeyed, their spirits subdued, each carrying their own scars from the battle.

Back in the safety of Qinggang Martial Arts School, Ye Chen retreated to his training room to assess his spoils. Among the items, the martial arts manuals stood out most. He studied their contents, realizing their potential to elevate his cultivation. Yet, the gap to advanced techniques remained daunting.

"If I can master these and push my Stone Skin Realm to perfection, I might reach the Iron Skin Realm," Ye Chen mused. "But to attain the Silver Skin Realm, I'll need higher-grade techniques—ones that only the inner city possesses."