Chapter 25: If You Dare to Show Off, I’ll Blow You to Pieces

With the aid of his equipment and his strength now elevated to the eighth rank of warrior, Gu Feng might not have mastered the art of leaf-stepping flight, yet his speed rivaled that of most spirit practitioners. Still, uncertainty gnawed at him—his pursuer possessed the ability to traverse the air atop leaves. Glancing back, Gu Feng saw that there remained a considerable distance between them, and only then did he allow himself a breath of relief.

The spirit practitioner hunting Gu Feng had expected that his overwhelming speed would easily catch the young man. Yet, as Gu Feng gradually pulled away, frustration and fury twisted his face. “Boy, halt right there!” he bellowed.

To this spirit practitioner, Gu Feng’s escape was a minor matter; losing a high-level martial skill was the true catastrophe. Determined, he poured all his strength into the pursuit, racing after Gu Feng with unyielding resolve.

As the chase intensified, the gap between Gu Feng and his pursuer slowly narrowed. It was subtle, but unmistakable.

Thousands of bandits atop the Thousand Peaks watched the spirit practitioner pursue Gu Feng. None followed; not only was the chase beyond their capability, but even if they caught up, the spirit practitioner needed no assistance.

Gu Feng looked back again, watching the domain of the Thousand Peaks vanish from sight. Only the spirit practitioner remained in pursuit. Remembering the opportunity for his third death, a spark of hope flickered within him.

If only he could find a favorable terrain and settle his sister safely, he could detonate and kill this spirit practitioner. Then, his sister would merely need to wait out twelve hours.

The plan formed in his mind, Gu Feng spoke to Gu Yan, “Yan’er, listen to your brother. Shortly…”

He explained his strategy. Gu Yan, knowing well her brother’s uncanny abilities, asked no questions and nodded in assent.

With their plan agreed upon, Gu Feng pondered where to safely place Gu Yan. After a moment’s thought, he sighed and shook his head—his timidity in the past had kept him within Forest Village, leaving him utterly ignorant of the landscape beyond.

“Brother, are you seeking a safe place for Yan’er to wait for your return?” Gu Yan ventured.

“Ah! Sister, you know of such a place?”

“Yes! Once, I went hunting with Grandfather and discovered a cave. The black bear inside was killed by an expert, so it should be quite safe.”

Gu Feng’s eyes brightened. “Sister, where is that cave?”

“Brother, I’ll show you the way.”

The siblings spoke openly, making no attempt to conceal their conversation. The spirit practitioner trailing behind heard it and sneered, dismissing the possibility of any hidden scheme.

Gu Feng’s cultivation at his age already astonished the spirit practitioner, but even so, Gu Feng was certainly no match for him. As for hiding, it was naive to think one could evade a spirit practitioner such as himself.

With a cold laugh, the spirit practitioner pressed on, closing the distance.

“Brother, run that way—the cave is beneath the cliff opposite,” Gu Yan instructed.

Gu Feng looked ahead: a basin lay before him, and across it rose a sheer cliff, forty or fifty meters tall. Dense trees clustered at the base, obscuring any sign of a cave.

“Boy, I advise you to surrender. For the sake of your sister’s beauty, I might consider marrying her as my ninth wife. She could live a good life,” the spirit practitioner said, his gaze lingering on Gu Yan’s enchanting visage.

Though the distance was shrinking, Gu Feng remained unperturbed. If Gu Yan’s words proved true, and he settled her safely, it would spell the spirit practitioner’s doom.

Even if there was no cave, as long as the basin was secure, the spirit practitioner’s fate would be sealed.

The system confirmed that no other beasts inhabited the vast basin.

Gu Feng understood well: as the former territory of a mighty black bear, even after its death, lingering fear kept other creatures away.

The spirit practitioner, seeing Gu Feng unmoved, smiled coldly, resolved to make him suffer before claiming the high-level martial skill and ending his life.

Racing forward at full speed, Gu Feng—despite his eighth-rank warrior strength—grew weary from carrying his sister. Fortunately, the cliff was near.

“Brother, it’s over there,” Gu Yan gestured to the left, where a massive black opening, shrouded by tangled trees, was barely visible to the casual observer.

Relieved, Gu Yan recalled how she and Grandfather had once watched from afar as someone battled the black bear. Grandfather had deduced the location was the bear’s den, but neither had ever seen it firsthand, so uncertainty lingered in her heart.

Gu Feng, aided by his system, had already noticed the large cave: three meters wide, seven meters tall, and over thirty meters deep. One could only imagine how formidable the bear that once dwelled inside must have been.

Moreover, the cave’s formation was clearly not natural; claw marks scarred the walls.

Gu Feng found it hard to believe that the bear had dug the cave itself. He also wondered why such a powerful beast would reside on the outskirts of the mountains.

Unable to unravel the mystery, Gu Feng, carrying Gu Yan, charged toward the cave.

The spirit practitioner saw the cave as well and frowned, worried about unknown dangers within.

Gu Feng carried Gu Yan into the cave, over ten meters deep, and set her down. He solemnly instructed, “Yan’er, no matter what happens, stay inside. After twelve hours, I’ll come for you.”

Seeing her brother’s grave expression, Gu Yan did not understand why she had to wait twelve hours, but she chose to trust him, nodding obediently.

Gu Feng gently caressed her face, then turned and strode to the cave’s entrance.

Gu Yan watched her brother’s retreating figure, then glanced fearfully into the pitch-black depths of the cave. “Brother, be careful,” she called.

Gu Feng did not reply, anxious that the spirit practitioner might storm inside. He quickened his pace, leaving the cave.

The spirit practitioner arrived at the entrance. Cautious of a possible trap, he did not rush in but probed around. Just as he prepared to enter, he sensed Gu Feng emerging, and was puzzled.

Gu Feng lingered at the entrance, gazing at the spirit practitioner outside with an excited smile.

If he could take down a spirit practitioner, how much experience would he gain?

The thought quickened his pulse with exhilaration.

The spirit practitioner, seeing Gu Feng’s gleeful expression, was perplexed. Had the boy lost his mind? To grin at him with such excitement?

He could not fathom it, but he felt no fear. Whatever tricks Gu Feng had, they were mere child’s play before absolute power.

“Boy, hiding your sister in the cave was foolish. Still, such a secluded place suits my purposes. Is this where you hope for me and your sister to consummate our union? Fine, once I kill you, I’ll take her inside and make her mine.”

“Damn you,” Gu Feng cursed furiously. His sister was his inverse scale—any insult meant death.

The spirit practitioner’s face darkened instantly, and he strode toward Gu Feng step by step.

As a spirit practitioner, possessing spiritual energy, he intended to crush Gu Feng’s mind, torment him, seize the martial skill, and then end his life.

Watching his foe approach, Gu Feng sneered, “Enough posturing. I’ll blow you to pieces.”