C13 Life and Death Battle

Two days later, Chu Tianyu's stomach began to grumble in protest, forcing him to halt his cultivation.

By now, his meridians had healed, and he could sense an increase in his physical strength. His newfound power made it easy for him to hunt down a mountain goat, a feat he wouldn't have dared attempt before.

With a stronger body came a greater need for energy. The legendary general Lianpo could consume 10 catties of meat and rice even in his old age to replenish his energy. Those with profound martial skills could have their vital essence surge like billowing smoke, visible for miles, and easily consume an entire cow in a day.

While Chu Tianyu hadn't reached such heights, he had embarked on the path of cultivation, his vital essence now several times more potent than an ordinary person's. A mere wild rabbit could no longer satisfy his hunger.

His culinary skills had significantly improved; he could now enjoy well-cooked meals.

Ravenous, Chu Tianyu devoured half a sheep, its essence coursing through his limbs and veins, bringing comfort to his body. Yet, his stomach remained hollow until he had finished the entire sheep, culminating in a satisfying burp.

He had spent six days straight channeling the Vajra Esotery, his Genuine Qi slicing through resistance like a sharp blade through bamboo—forceful and expansive. His meridians doubled in width, and his physical strength soared, reaching a formidable eight hundred points of force.

"Perfect, I'm brimming with strength. At this rate, I'll quickly achieve Level One," Chu Tianyu boasted, belching contentedly. "It seems I'm quite the genius."

Squinting with excitement, he envisioned legions of young admirers. In the capital, it was rare for someone to reach Level One within a month, and those who did were considered exceptionally gifted.

Ao Xingyun observed the shift in Chu Tianyu's attitude. Aside from a hint of disappointment in his gaze, he remained silent. They had known each other for less than a month, and he believed a few more challenges would do Chu Tianyu some good.

A thunderous "Boom!" erupted abruptly beside Chu Tianyu's ear, like a bolt of lightning or the wrath of the heavens.

Chu Tianyu's face drained of color as he stood frozen in shock. As seconds ticked by, panic spread uncontrollably through his heart, weighing on him like a massive boulder, leaving him gasping for breath.

With a metallic "Clang!" a stone the size of a washbasin hurtled into the cave, slicing through the air with a whistling sound. It whizzed past Chu Tianyu's head, stirring his long hair before crashing against the stone wall and sparking a shower of sparks.

Though the boulder had passed, a chill lingered around Chu Tianyu's head. Had the stone been just half a foot lower, he'd be sharing tea with the King of Hell at this very moment.

Outside the cave, the roar of explosions continued, punctuated by the shrill cries of women and the booming shouts of men.

Chu Tianyu realized that powerful fighters were clashing outside, and while he feared being caught in the crossfire, he couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement.

Encountering a battle between such formidable opponents was a rare opportunity. Crouching low, he cautiously made his way to the entrance to witness his first combat in this new world.

Since arriving in this world, Chu Tianyu had developed a deep fascination with strength, likely influenced by his younger self.

The cave entrance was a mere thirty meters away, yet Chu Tianyu took his time approaching it. He had to be careful; the previous boulder had nearly claimed his life, and his caution had allowed him to narrowly evade several more potentially lethal rocks.

Hugging the cave's stone wall, Chu Tianyu poked his head out with a determined gaze, taking in every detail.

A short distance from the cave entrance, two experts moved with agility and force akin to thunder, their lethal strikes aimed with deadly precision. Clearly, they were locked in a fierce battle for survival.

"Boom!" The collision of Genuine Qi resounded like thunder, stripping away leaves, rolling up grass, and whisking away soil. Dust billowed into the air, obscuring the sun.

Their movements were so rapid that Chu Tianyu could barely make out the two silhouettes.

One figure was enchanting, with purple garments billowing like the sails of a ship and hair cascading down like a waterfall, resembling a fairy gracing the earth with her presence.

The other stood tall and imposing, clad in a robe embroidered with eight pythons, their fangs bared and claws poised for attack. His hair was fastened with a purple jade pin, and pearls adorned his attire, making him appear as valuable as ten thousand gold coins. Each of his movements was expansive and unrestrained, exuding an unmatched dominance.

Chu Tianyu's heart raced with excitement. The arrogance he felt from his recent surge in strength had vanished, as his own abilities, not even reaching Level One, seemed insignificant—mere dust compared to these two formidable beings. The disparity between him and the experts before him was like comparing the glow of a firefly to the brilliance of the moon, or a candle's flame to the sun—immeasurably vast.

With a resounding "Boom!" the two combatants exchanged a powerful strike, sending a fierce shockwave that forced Chu Tianyu to stagger backward. Even the ancient trees bent at their trunks, and rocks that had stood for millennia now bore gaping fissures.

As the dust settled, Chu Tianyu gazed upon the battlefield with utter astonishment. The earlier devastation was significant, but now, it transcended mere destruction—it was annihilation. Within a hundred-meter radius, everything had been reduced to dust, including the boulders. A thick carpet of multicolored powder blanketed the ground: brown from pulverized stone, cyan from wood shavings, and yellow from the earth, as if the land had endured the relentless bombardment of countless cannons.

Chu Tianyu was coated in a fair amount of this powder, but it was the least of his concerns. His focus remained unwaveringly on the two figures.

They stood ten meters apart, locking eyes with grave expressions, neither daring to underestimate the other. Their flushed faces and labored breathing indicated that the battle had been anything but easy.

Between them lay a crater thirty meters wide, with over a foot of earth sheared away.

Although Chu Tianyu had previously witnessed the havoc wrought by Ao Xingyun's combat, seeing it firsthand was incomparably more shocking.

From their previous clash, it was evident that the combatants were evenly matched. Under normal circumstances, the battle would have concluded by now, especially considering the difficulty of reaching such a high level of cultivation. Without deep-seated enmity, there would be no reason to engage in a fight to the bitter end, risking mutual destruction.

Yet, the two individuals before him were defying expectations. Their increasingly guarded stances signaled that the confrontation was far from over.

"Qin Ming, hand over the bone, and I'll spare you," demanded the man, middle-aged and clad in a yellow robe with a regal air, as if he were issuing royal decrees.

The woman caught her breath. Her cultivation level was comparable to the man's, but physically, she was at a disadvantage. She was aware, however, that surrendering the bone wouldn't guarantee her safety. Besides, the artifact was worth fighting for with every ounce of her being.

"Duan Dali, you're delusional. This is the Qin Empire, not your Dali. It would be wise for you to leave now. Otherwise, once our warriors arrive, your fate is sealed," she retorted with a clear, resonant voice that carried no hint of courtesy.

Chu Tianyu pieced the situation together. The man, Duan Dali, was a formidable figure from Dali, while the woman, Qin Ming, hailed from the Qin Empire. Though Tianyu had only been in this world for less than a month, he was aware that the Qin Empire and Dali were sworn enemies. Chu Nan had earned his renown and the title of South Guarding Marquis through his valor in the war against Dali, defending the southern borders for over a decade. Everyone in Dali longed for his downfall. Moreover, it was said that women inherently possessed an extra edge in such matters, which made Tianyu lean towards rooting for Qin Ming's triumph.

Duan Dali's eyes narrowed slightly, betraying a hint of apprehension. The Qin Empire, with its overwhelming might, loomed over him like an oppressive mountain, the memories of a bloody past still haunting him.

He scoffed, "I'm well aware that this is Qin territory, teeming with formidable experts. But at our level, unless a Saint emerges, what can you possibly do to me?"

Qin Ming's body tensed, and a bitter expression crossed her face. Indeed, at their level, only a Saint could possibly detain Duan Dali. With all the Saints injured and in seclusion, disinterested in worldly matters, it had paved the way for Duan Dali's brazenness. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had the audacity to set foot in the Qin Empire, no matter how bold he felt!

As for the young fellow beside him, he was even less of a concern. A Level One warrior was practically invisible to them, akin to an ant.

Indeed, they had noticed Chu Tianyu a while ago. Yet, given his insignificant strength, they regarded him as nothing more than an ant and simply overlooked him. Little did the protagonist know, he had narrowly escaped death numerous times.