Chapter 36: The Life and Death Line
The treasure vault of King Franklin Bu lay hidden deep within the Eight Wonders Mountains.
According to Lawson Bu, his ancestor—King Franklin Bu—was once a mighty figure in Xandoria County, leading the Bu Family to become the region's most powerful martial clan. However, after his death more than seven centuries ago, the Twin Swords of Light and Darkness were separated. With the loss of one of the swords, the Bu Family fell into decline.
Now, in Lawson Bu's generation, he was the last of his bloodline.
Their journey through the Eight Wonders Mountains had been perilous. Second-rank monsters roamed freely, their strength rivaling Energy Gathering martial artists. Even more terrifying were the top-tier second-rank monsters, some of which could match an Innate Realm warrior.
"Stop!"
Dustin Li suddenly halted, his expression darkening.
Lawson Bu looked at him in confusion. "What is it?"
Dustin pointed into the distance. "Seven hundred meters ahead, there's a third-rank monster. It's as strong as an Innate Realm warrior."
Hearing this, Lawson Bu's face paled.
"Let's go around," Dustin added, changing direction.
Lawson hesitated. "How do you even know there's a third-rank monster?"
ROAR!
A deafening bellow erupted from ahead, shaking the very ground beneath them. A surge of suffocating bestial aura flooded the forest.
Just from its sheer force, Lawson Bu knew that whatever lurked ahead was not something they could face—it was a true predator of the mountains.
As Dustin continued moving to the right, Lawson couldn't help but stare at him. This guy… just who is he?
They pressed forward. With Dustin's life energy perception, they avoided at least ten third-rank monsters along the way. If Lawson had come alone, he would have been dead several times over.
After seven days of travel, navigating treacherous terrain and avoiding countless dangers, they neared their destination.
"How much farther?" Dustin asked.
Lawson unrolled an ancient beast-hide map, studying the markings. "Two days at most."
Dustin stepped forward to look, but Lawson quickly rolled up the map.
The two had cooperated so far, but deep down, they didn't trust each other.
Lawson needed Dustin's Dark Sword to open the treasure vault, but he feared that once they reached the destination, Dustin might kill him and seize everything. The map was the only bargaining chip he had.
Likewise, Dustin knew that if Lawson had a chance, he wouldn't hesitate to betray him.
Despite the tension, they continued forward.
.....
After another two days, they arrived at the entrance of a mist-shrouded canyon.
Beside the canyon, a river cut through the landscape. Perched on a high tree branch, Dustin peered into the canyon, but the dense white fog made it impossible to see anything beyond a few meters.
Lawson stepped forward. "The treasure vault is inside, but we need two things to open it: the Twin Swords of Light and Darkness… and the blood of a Bu Family descendant."
His eyes flickered warily toward Dustin, his grip tightening on the Light Sword.
Dustin smirked. "Relax. I'm not planning to betray you—so long as you don't betray me."
He could tell Lawson had deliberately withheld the bloodline requirement until now, likely fearing that once they reached the treasure, Dustin would kill him.
The two advanced into the canyon.
As soon as they stepped inside, the white mist surged, thickening into an impenetrable veil. Within seconds, visibility dropped to barely a meter.
Dustin frowned. "Lawson, what's going on?"
Silence.
He turned—Lawson was gone.
...
Lawson Bu's Betrayal
Deep within the mist, Lawson held an intricately carved jade compass. A red pointer wavered, guiding him safely forward.
He sneered.
"The treasure vault of my ancestors… why should I let an outsider take a share?"
The Mist Veil Formation was a fourth-rank array—even an Innate Martial Master would be trapped here for eternity without the correct path.
And Lawson had the only guide.
Still, there was one problem.
Dustin had the Dark Sword.
If he wanted to open the vault, he needed to retrieve it first.
His eyes glinted with killing intent.
Following the compass, Lawson soon reached a massive cave entrance hidden deep within the canyon.
Wind howled through the cave, carrying an eerie sound—like ghosts wailing in the darkness.
Just standing there, he felt the overwhelming presence of something monstrous.
According to the ancient records, a fifth-rank monster guarded the treasure vault.
From his storage ring, Lawson pulled out an old jade pendant and bit his finger, smearing blood onto its surface. The pendant flashed red as it absorbed his blood.
ROAR!
A thunderous growl shook the entire canyon. The white mist trembled, rolling in waves.
A colossal black tiger with two heads emerged from the cave.
Each head had crimson eyes that gleamed with murderous intent.
A fifth-rank monster—a beast equivalent to a Martial King!
Lawson's breath hitched. Even though he held the Bu Family's ancestral token, he felt his knees weaken under the sheer pressure of its aura.
The two-headed tiger glared at him, its blood-red eyes narrowing at the jade pendant.
A moment later, the beast lowered its stance, recognizing the bloodline.
Lawson exhaled in relief.
Then, with a vicious grin, he pointed toward the mist.
"There is an intruder," he said coldly. "Go kill him… and bring back the Dark Sword."
The tiger's muscles tensed.
Then, with a deafening roar, it shot forward like black lightning, vanishing into the mist.
...
Dustin's Struggle
Deep in the white mist, Dustin moved cautiously.
He had already locked onto Lawson's life force using his life perception ability. It would take him only minutes to escape the mist…
Suddenly, a massive life force appeared in his range—moving toward him at terrifying speed.
His heart sank.
Something's coming!
BOOM!
A towering black shadow burst through the mist, rushing straight at him!
Even before he could fully see the creature, its aura alone crushed the air, making it difficult to breathe.
A true apex predator.
A monster far beyond anything he had ever faced.
RUN!
Without hesitation, Dustin activated Unpredictable Phantom Step, his body blurring into an afterimage.
BOOM!
The monster's massive claws smashed into the ground where he had stood, leaving a crater.
Four blood-red eyes glowed menacingly in the fog.
Dustin's face turned pale.
This thing… it wasn't just strong.
It was death incarnate.
He ran.
But no matter how fast he moved, it wasn't enough.
The two-headed tiger leapt, its massive jaws opening, a terrifying vortex of suction pulling in everything around it—including Dustin.
His body was dragged off the ground.
NO!
Dustin roared, his eyes bloodshot, his mind screaming in defiance.
As death loomed, something awoke within him.
The Wheel of Life and Death in his dantian spun wildly.
BOOM!
A surge of black and white energy erupted around him.
The next moment—
Dustin vanished.
All that remained was a single black-and-white bead, falling into the monster's mouth.
Darkness consumed him.