Chapter Thirty-Seven: Kill!

Inside the stone cave, three fresh corpses lay strewn about, three wounded men remained, and Stone Yan stood among them. As Stone Yan entered the cave, he did nothing, yet he could feel a relentless stream of vital energy surging from the three new corpses, flooding into the seven hundred and twenty acupoints of his body, causing a faint, persistent ache within him.

Instinctively, Stone Yan activated the "Rampage" technique. His muscles shriveled, and his already gaunt frame grew even thinner in an instant. An icy, murderous aura—sinister and forbidding—spread swiftly from the white mist swirling about him, saturating the entire cave. That aura seemed to possess a strange power, capable of ensnaring the minds of others.

The three living martial artists, unable to resist, breathed in some of the misty white vapor. A surge of violent, murderous resentment welled up from the depths of their hearts.

"Kid! I’ll skin you alive!"

The leader barked a cold command, and in his palm, a grotesque gray-green poppy flower bloomed. The poppy, forged entirely from refined vital energy, appeared lifelike and grew rapidly before their eyes. In a blink, the flower swelled to the size of a fan, its core shimmering with icy, bone-piercing lights, and a hazy green glow radiated outward.

With a casual flick, the poppy flower soared from his palm, its petals opening like a ferocious maw, lunging straight for Stone Yan’s head, as if to swallow it whole.

"Ha!"

Stone Yan let out a low growl, instantly refining the negative energies newly absorbed into his acupoints. Streams of these forces flowed from his pores, condensing in front of him into three spectral figures.

The ghostly silhouettes hovered before him, chilling and dreadful, their eyes brimming with boundless hatred for the world.

"Second Brother! Fourth! Six!"

The slight youth stared in horror at the apparitions floating before Stone Yan, unable to suppress a terrified cry.

The three ghostly figures unmistakably mirrored the appearance of the three fresh corpses on the ground.

Even the leader’s expression faltered; he involuntarily stepped back, but the monstrous poppy flower did not retreat, still lunging fiercely at Stone Yan’s head.

"Break!"

Stone Yan punched out, streams of white mist swirling and condensing, myriad negative forces converging like rivulets to form a pale silver serpent, which plunged straight into the heart of the poppy flower.

"Boom!"

The poppy exploded, shards of icy light shooting forth like dazzling fireworks—bizarre and enchanting.

"Watch out!"

The leader cried out, stepping forward to shield his companions. Points of strange light flickered in his palm as he gathered the flying shards of cold light to his chest.

Stone Yan’s expression remained icy. With a thought, his body turned to stone in the dim cave, dark brown and hard as iron.

The dozens of icy shards struck him with a crackling barrage, but his petrified body repelled them all, letting only a trace of chilling energy seep through to his flesh.

That cold energy surged through him, yet most of its power was neutralized by his stone-like muscles. In moments, Stone Yan’s limbs returned to normal, and he felt not a hint of cold.

"Ding Yan!"

Di Yalan rushed in, her eyes widening at the sight of Stone Yan facing three martial artists alone. She let out a concerned cry, "Are you all right?"

"Use ‘Blue Demon Flame’ to hold off the leader. I’ll deal with the two innate martial artists first."

Stone Yan gave a terse command, then, at his mental direction, the three ghostly figures before him pounced like ravenous wolves toward the three men in the cave.

The cave was cramped, barely accommodating the group; every attack forced the enemies to stand their ground, unable to dodge.

The three men within, seeing the specters approach, were gripped by terror.

For the unknown, mankind is innately fearful.

Especially since these three ghosts were their companions just a minute ago!

They tried to retreat, only to find their backs pressed against the rock wall, with nowhere to run.

"Do not fear!"

The leader shrieked, compressing the icy shards he’d absorbed into a shimmering ring of silver light, forming a shield before the trio.

Stone Yan sneered inwardly, then willed the three ghostly figures to halt abruptly before the shield, clawing and biting at it, their eyes brimming with endless resentment, fixed upon the three men.

The negative energies seemed to pool in the ghosts’ gaze, penetrating the minds of the trio through their locked eyes.

Under the assault of those dark forces, the three suddenly felt themselves plunged into the Nine Nether Hell, beset by countless fierce spirits eager to drag them into eternal torment.

Their expressions froze, terror distorting their faces.

"Lan! Dissolve the cold barrier!" Stone Yan roared.

Di Yalan trembled, and without hesitation, released the "Blue Demon Flame" she had prepared, which transformed into a nimble firebird and plunged into the silver barrier.

"Sss sss!"

The silver shield melted under the intense heat; the barrier, forged from refined vital energy, faltered beneath Di Yalan’s "Blue Demon Flame" martial soul, and a fist-sized breach suddenly opened.

The three ghostly figures slipped through the gap like smoke, each merging into the bodies of the three men.

Stone Yan surged forward, pouring all his vital energy into his arms. As his fists shot out, the air crackled with the sound of an avalanche.

The mist around his iron fists condensed into a thick, pale liquid, coating his hands so that his gaunt arms appeared as fearsome as a demon’s claws.

"Thud!"

Stone Yan’s hand, sharp as a blade, pierced the chest of the slight man who had once harassed Mu Yu Die, his fist bursting through the man’s body and slamming into the rock wall with a deep rumble.

"You little bastard!"

The leader, a cultivator in the Human Rank, snapped out of his nightmare. Seeing another brother slain before his eyes, he roared in fury, his palm erupting with blinding silver light that struck Stone Yan’s chest.

A tidal wave of force, laced with icy chill, exploded against Stone Yan’s chest.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

Stone Yan staggered back three steps before steadying himself.

He had endured the full power of a Human Rank martial artist’s attack and felt only a dull ache in his chest. Upon quick inspection, he found his body unharmed. Aside from the freezing chill numbing his chest, he bore not a scratch.

The second stage of his "Petrification Martial Soul" was truly formidable!

Laughing inwardly, Stone Yan channeled his vital energy, swiftly circulating it through his chest meridians. The warm flow dissipated the freezing numbness with ease.

Di Yalan, wielding a short sword, joined the fray with the leader, her firebird forged from "Blue Demon Flame" martial soul aiding her in the assault. Not only did it neutralize his icy power, but it also subtly suppressed his mysterious martial techniques.

"Are you all right?"

Mu Yu Die entered, pinching her nose against the heavy stench of blood. She nearly retched as soon as she stepped inside.

"Pile the corpses together!"

Stone Yan frowned, issuing a command. Without waiting for Mu Yu Die’s reply, he moved like a vengeful demon, instantly closing on the other innate martial artist still trapped in his nightmare.

"Fifth!"

The leader’s face twisted in terror as he screamed, his urgency palpable.

He could not fathom how Stone Yan, with only an innate rank cultivation, could survive his attack and still fight on. He himself was at the second tier of the Human Rank!

"Big Brother..."

At his desperate cry, the fifth brother woke abruptly, instinctively calling out.

It was his last word.

In the next instant, his cry was cut short, his back slammed into the rock wall, blood streaming from his seven orifices.

Stone Yan, empowered by "Rampage," crashed forward like a mountain, driving the man against the wall with such force that his bones shattered and he died instantly.

"Fifth!"

The leader wailed in agony, watching his brothers fall one by one. For the first time, regret gnawed at him.

Regret for provoking Stone Yan, the star of slaughter; regret for venturing into the shadowy forest.

"Miss Mu! Pile the bodies!"

Stone Yan turned, glowering fiercely at the panicked Mu Yu Die. "If you don’t want to die, hurry up!"

Mu Yu Die shuddered under his icy gaze. Overcoming her disgust for the blood-soaked corpses, she crouched and began to gather up the mangled bodies, stacking them in a corner.

"Ding Yan! Help!"

Di Yalan called out, "This one’s vital energy is thick—I can’t finish him off quickly!"

Outside the cave, the number of beasts grew, their roars echoing endlessly. It wouldn’t be long before the valley was overrun. Di Yalan knew time was precious; they had to subdue the leader swiftly.

"On my way!"

Stone Yan charged forward, placing himself between Di Yalan and the leader, facing him head-on.

"Boom!"

The leader’s silver light flashed again, striking Stone Yan’s chest with another fierce blow.

"Heh heh!"

Stone Yan grinned coldly, relying on the second stage of his "Petrification Martial Soul" to absorb the attack, pressing the leader back until his shoulders met the rock wall, leaving him no escape.

The firebird, forged from "Blue Demon Flame," swooped in, landing on the leader’s shoulder. Tendrils of flame wrapped around his arm, the scent of burning flesh rising as the fire grew, winding from his shoulder to his waist, scorching his vital organs.

"Aah!"

The leader screamed in agony, frantically pummeling Stone Yan, desperate to break through and flee the cave.

"It was you who forced your way in. Now you want to leave? Heh, too late!"

Stone Yan raised a black shield, employing his "Petrification Martial Soul" and withstood the onslaught. His emaciated frame stood unmoved, like an ancient boulder impervious to wind and rain.

Di Yalan shifted aside, her short sword piercing the leader’s leg.

"Spare me! I have treasures stolen from the ‘Thunderwing Silver Wolf’ cave. Let me go and they’re yours! Please!"

The leader pleaded, baring his teeth in agony.

"I want the treasures. And your life."

Stone Yan sneered, pale mist enveloping the man. Amid his terrified cries, Stone Yan drove a finger through his throat.

The leader’s eyes lost their luster, his body slumping against the rock wall, sinking slowly to the ground.

Without another glance, Stone Yan turned and glared at Mu Yu Die, muttering coldly, "Troublesome. Still not finished."

Mu Yu Die forced herself to endure, stacking the corpses despite her aversion. For one with her fastidiousness, this was no small feat. Expecting speed from her was impossible.

Stone Yan grunted, saying no more, and began stacking the bodies himself, hands slick with blood. "The beasts are gathering in the valley. Whether we live or die now is up to fate."

...