Chapter 24: The Third Opportunity for Death

The bandit leader who had made a swift decision to flee earlier now stood atop a towering mountain, gazing down at the chaotic First Peak of the Mountain Gate. He drew a deep, cold breath. His eyesight was exceptional, and he could just make out the other bandits scrambling away from their respective peaks, while the slender youth, carrying a girl of ethereal beauty on his back, began a one-sided massacre.

Gu Feng pursued the strongest bandit leader, Yang Bing. Along the way, any bandit who blocked his path was casually dispatched with a single sword strike, transformed into experience points.

Yang Bing realized Gu Feng was after him and was struck with terror. The fifth-level warriors Jin Hua and Wang Tian had already proven no match for the youth. Now that Gu Feng had set his sights on him, wasn’t death inevitable?

“Move! Out of my way!” Yang Bing roared frantically. He seized the bandits blocking his path and hurled them behind him, hoping to use their bodies to slow Gu Feng down and buy himself time to escape.

“Boss, spare me! Please, don’t!” The bandits grabbed by Yang Bing screamed in fear, begging for mercy. They had seen with their own eyes that any bandit thrown toward Gu Feng was instantly killed with a single sword strike; the unlucky ones were cleaved in two, their blood and entrails spilling across the ground.

The entirety of the First Mountain Gate of the Thousand Peaks Domain was in turmoil, bandits fleeing in every direction.

Seeing Gu Feng approaching in pursuit, some bandits realized escape was impossible. One let out a furious shout: “Kill him! Let’s fight him together. He’s just one man—he’ll wear himself out eventually!”

Hearing this, the bandits targeted by Gu Feng steeled their hearts. If they couldn’t escape, they might as well fight; once Gu Feng was exhausted, someone would avenge them.

“Kill him!” And so, countless bandits with nowhere left to run turned to attack Gu Feng.

Gu Feng was immediately surrounded, beset on all sides by bandits. More bandits stopped fleeing and watched from a distance, eager to witness the spectacle.

“Kill!” Gu Feng roared, undaunted. To him, these adversaries were mere experience.

With the outbreak of the battle, bandits fell in droves; screams, clashing weapons, and a cacophony of sounds filled the air, the stench of blood saturating the mountaintop.

“Die!” A fourth-level warrior bandit leader seized an opportunity to launch a sneak attack, aiming to kill Gu Feng in one blow.

Yet Gu Feng possessed the system—a cheat that let him see through every attack.

Clang!

“Another wok pan?!” The bandit leader, who had finally found his chance, was struck on the head by a wok pan, dizziness overwhelming him.

“Die!” Gu Feng closed in swiftly, slashing at his neck. Blood sprayed forth, and in moments the bandit leader perished, his eyes wide open in death, becoming experience for Gu Feng’s growth.

Witnessing this, the previously fearless bandits were subdued once again. Their legs trembled, and they longed only to flee.

At that moment, not a single bandit wished to face Gu Feng. To them, he was a murderous demon sent from hell.

“Run!” Someone shouted, and all the bandits scattered again, fleeing in a panic.

Gu Feng, gasping for breath, was thoroughly exhausted. In just a short span, he had slain two hundred and twelve bandits. All were at least first-level warriors, earning him a total of four thousand four hundred and forty-eight experience points.

Seeing the experience he’d gained, Gu Feng was overjoyed. He immediately leveled up, spending one thousand points, leaving three thousand four hundred and forty-eight. The next level required three thousand, so he leveled up again, reaching eighth-level warrior.

As an eighth-level warrior, Gu Feng’s strength reached one hundred points, his combat power multiplied several times.

Feeling the surge of strength in his body, Gu Feng, who had fought continuously, was not only no longer tired but invigorated. His eyes burned as he looked at the remaining bandits.

Even more exciting, after reaching eighth-level warrior, a skill tree appeared on the system interface. Cleave was the basic skill, followed by a learnable skill—Heavy Qi Slash.

Heavy Qi Slash required over one hundred strength to learn. Using a weapon as a medium and strength as the source, the user could strike with full force at a target, unleashing a wave of kinetic energy for a ranged attack. The heavier the weapon, the greater the power of Heavy Qi Slash.

Gu Feng’s slaughter of so many bandits finally drew the ire of the Thousand Peaks Domain’s upper echelons.

An angry shout echoed from the mist-shrouded heights of the domain: “Who is this brat, daring to cause trouble in my Thousand Peaks Domain?” Suddenly, a figure descended from the high peak, flying atop leaves.

Thousands of bandits, cowed by the carnage, watched the approaching figure with excitement. This was a domain powerhouse; with him intervening, Gu Feng was certain to die.

To fly atop leaves required the realm of Spirit. The warrior realm was merely mortal; only by breaking through to tenth-level warrior, drawing spirit energy into the body and storing it in the dantian, could one transcend the mortal realm and become a Spirit cultivator.

A Spirit cultivator possessed formidable spirit energy; every gesture carried devastating power.

Watching the leaf-flying bandit approach at great speed, radiating powerful energy, Gu Feng finally frowned.

A first-level Spirit cultivator possessed three times the strength of a tenth-level warrior. Gu Feng’s strength at eighth-level warrior was one hundred; tenth-level would be two hundred, and three times that was six hundred.

In other words, this Spirit cultivator’s strength was six times Gu Feng’s current power.

Faced with the imminent arrival of the Spirit cultivator, Gu Feng could think of only one option: escape.

“Ding! Death opportunity acquired. Sacrifice yourself to kill the Spirit cultivator. Reward: strength +100. Time limit: one hour.”

Hearing the system’s sudden message, Gu Feng was not pleased but frustrated. A reward of one hundred strength was tempting, but with his sister present, if he sacrificed himself, he would need twelve hours to revive. What would happen to her?

Clearly, this death opportunity would have to be missed.

The Spirit cultivator drew near, less than fifty meters from Gu Feng.

At that moment: “Heavy Qi Slash!” A terrifying wave of kinetic energy, unleashed by his strength, shot forcefully toward the Spirit cultivator.

“How is that possible?” Watching the sword-shaped energy surge toward him, the Spirit cultivator was stunned, disbelief written all over his face.

Gu Feng, having unleashed Heavy Qi Slash, didn’t wait for the result. Carrying Gu Yan on his back, he turned and fled.

Seeing Gu Feng charging in their direction, the bandits—already terrified—quickly made way for him.

Gu Feng, intent on escape, had no mind to kill further, lest he delay his flight.

As Gu Feng escaped, it was clear he was only an eighth-level warrior, yet possessed attack techniques usually reserved for third-level Spirit cultivators or higher. He must have advanced skills.

Thinking of advanced skills, the Spirit cultivator’s eyes burned as he watched Gu Feng flee. Such a powerful skill—if acquired—would greatly enhance his combat strength.

“Hmph!” With a cold snort, the Spirit cultivator unleashed a full-force strike, shattering Gu Feng’s Heavy Qi Slash. Spirit energy surged as he flew atop leaves, pursuing Gu Feng.