The War-god of Conquering the Heavens

C11 – Arrogant Youth

Upon the demise of the Two-Winged Fire Wolf, Chen Shaofeng initially intended to attend to its remains. Yet, upon disintegration, he made a startling discovery: a fiery-red, energy-rich nucleus had tumbled from the creature’s carcass.

A Demon Core!

Spotting the fallen object, Chen Shaofeng’s delight was instantaneous. What else could it be if not a Demon Core?

Never had he imagined he would chance upon a Demon Core with such casual dispatch.

Consider that Demon Cores could fetch a market value of up to a thousand gold taels, with premium variants unattainable by ordinary means. Typically, Genuine Spiritual Stones were required for procurement, rendering them invaluable.

Hence, the likelihood of Chen Shaofeng acquiring a Demon Core through a mere slaying was exceedingly high.

This realization filled him with profound elation.

To avert any mishaps, he hastily secured the Demon Core.

Yet, despite his careful retrieval, an unforeseen incident occurred when he attempted to grasp the Core.

Abruptly, two figures materialized before Chen Shaofeng, barring his path—one before and one behind him.

“Hand over the Demon Core in your possession, and you may depart unscathed. Otherwise, do not blame me for my lack of leniency.”

Just as Chen Shaofeng secured the Demon Core, a youth materialized before him, appearing roughly the same age.

Adorned in resplendent attire, with delicate features and a winsome smile, his eyes betrayed a covetous gleam at the sight of the Demon Core.

Though a first-stage Demon Core was the lowest tier, its utility for warriors was undeniable. The beast’s essence contained within could greatly hasten a martial artist’s progress.

The young man did not appear destitute, leading Chen Shaofeng to speculate that his fervent desire for the Demon Core stemmed from his recent breakthrough to the first stage of the Mortal realm, seeking to expedite his cultivation with its energy.

These Demon Cores held immense value, each equivalent to that of a First Ranked Warrior.

In a typical city, Mortal Realm warriors were esteemed as top authorities. Even in the presence of Nanshan County’s, they remained formidable figures.

Typically, their clan or faction provided cultivation resources, sparing them the need to seek such essentials externally.

Despite the rarity of Demon Cores, they weren’t entirely scarce, albeit in slightly diminished quantities.

Consequently, there was no need to perilously hunt Demonic Beasts of a higher level to acquire them.

This scarcity of warriors capable of hunting Level One Demonic Beasts made Demon Cores even more coveted.

Understandably, the youth before him sought to seize the initial stage of Chen Shaofeng’s Demon Core.

“You seek the Demon Core in my possession? On what grounds?” Chen Shaofeng dismissed him with a glance, continuing on his way.

Although the forest wasn’t vast, leaving would consume precious time Chen Shaofeng preferred not to squander.

“Wretch! Refuse to surrender the Demon Core and I’ll render you useless!”

He then turned to his companion, demanding, “What are you waiting for? Why allow the Demon Core to slip through our fingers?”

“Young master, leave it to me!”

The young man’s companion, a nondescript middle-aged individual, bore an aura that belied his seemingly ordinary appearance. Chen Shaofeng discerned his strength was anything but ordinary.

In the preceding attack, Chen Shaofeng barely registered the middle-aged man’s movements.

Potent! Incredibly potent!

This middle-aged figure likely stood at least at the 4th level of the Mortal Realm or higher, as evidenced by Chen Shaofeng’s inability to discern his actions.

The assessment was simple: the middle-aged man possessed formidable strength.

“Young master!” I don’t wish to be your adversary. Just relinquish the Demon Core; it benefits everyone,” pleaded the middle-aged man.

Displaying a demeanor of resignation, the middle-aged man clearly disapproved of his master’s actions, yet felt compelled to carry out his wishes.

“I must insist, you expect me to surrender the Demon Core? Claiming it’s for everyone’s benefit, yet I believe it’s advantageous solely for yourselves!” Chen Shaofeng erupted in anger.

If they had approached amicably and purchased it with Genuine Spiritual Stone, he might have considered selling it at a loss.

However, from the moment they arrived, they sought to acquire the Demon Core without any mention of purchase. How could he not feel incensed?

Despite their seemingly noble words, weren’t their actions akin to those of bandits?

“Since the Young Master refuses to part with the Demon Core, I have no choice but to act against you.”

It was evident the middle-aged man intended to resort to forceful means, but it was understandable. In this world, strength commanded respect; all else was mere rhetoric.

None would underestimate his strength, hence he didn’t rely on it solely to claim what he desired. No one was that foolish.

Thus, as he uttered these words, his aura naturally surged.

As anticipated by Chen Shaofeng, upon releasing his aura, he immediately sensed intense pressure, discomforting yet insufficient to triumph solely by aura.

No wonder such formidable pressure emanated from these three levels.

At that moment, the middle-aged man moved. Though seemingly slow, in Chen Shaofeng’s perception, it was lightning fast.

With no time for contemplation, Chen Shaofeng swiftly employed his Cloud Walk technique, doubling his speed to narrowly evade the middle-aged man’s strike.

“Impressive! You managed to evade my attack. However, the gap between our realms is too vast; even with footwork, you’re helpless,” remarked the middle-aged man.

With his words, the middle-aged man accelerated once more, seemingly materializing in front of Chen Shaofeng.

Simultaneously, he thrust his right fist toward Chen Shaofeng’s chest, confident it would connect.

To his surprise, his punch didn’t land on Chen Shaofeng’s chest but clashed with his fist instead.

Unleashing its fury, the Crimson Flame Fist erupted in full force.

Despite being merely a low-level Yellow Rank martial skill, the opponent relied solely on physical prowess. Without employing any martial skill of their own, their strength, no matter how formidable, had its limitations.

Conversely, Chen Shaofeng wielded a martial skill, even if it was low-level. Against an ordinary physical attack, even one of considerable strength, the defense would prove insufficient. Moreover, the disparity in levels between them was merely three.

Impact!

As the middle-aged man’s fist connected, sparks scattered in every direction, engulfing his hand in flames.

While Chen Shaofeng’s punch lacked overwhelming force, its fiery nature rendered it scorching hot.

Although this intense heat posed no real threat, its disruptive nature was sufficient. For Chen Shaofeng, any distraction caused to the middle-aged man provided an opportunity for counterattack.

Indeed, the middle-aged man had underestimated his adversary, fixating on the flames engulfing his hand while neglecting Chen Shaofeng’s proximity.

Precisely this scenario was what Chen Shaofeng had hoped for.

Time was of the essence; there was no opportunity to employ complex martial skills. With all his might, he thrust his fist towards the middle-aged man’s face.

A martial artist’s visage was often their most vulnerable spot.

Chen Shaofeng’s Innate Second Level of Mortal Martial Stage endowed his blow with maximum effectiveness at the opponent’s weakest moment. Striking elsewhere might not afford the same advantage, potentially squandering this opportune moment.