On his way back to Herb Hall, Chase flew like a streak of light, ascending from the base and remaining in the sky. However, as he soared, he began to sense an odd feeling, as if something or someone was watching him from the shadows.He paused mid-air and stood in the sky. Finally, he realized he seemed to have been trapped in some kind of formation. Looking down, the familiar landscape of Capital City had vanished, replaced by an entirely unfamiliar terrain.Chase, who had flown this route countless times, immediately knew something was wrong.This was bad!Chase expanded his consciousness, scanning his surroundings. He quickly sensed a presence hovering several hundred feet away in the void, the source of that watchful feeling from earlier.It was an ambush!Though he could only detect one person so far, Chase knew there had to be more. He extended his consciousness even further and, sure enough, he found another individual lurking a few hundred feet behind him. Upon closer ins
To confirm his suspicions, Chase asked Albus in the next moment, "Have you not kept up with the news in the cultivation world lately?"Albus' face twisted with rage at Chase's question. If there was one thing that stung, it was this. Ever since Chase's breakthrough in the secret realm, which led to him slaughtering the Coopers, Albus was terrified and took the Hawkins family and hid deep within the Martial Soul Hall's secret realm.They then cut off all ties with the outside world.From the moment they hid in the secret realm, Albus shut himself away, swearing not to emerge until he made a breakthrough. He believed that only by growing stronger could he ever defeat Chase.Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, his hard work paid off. He had broken through.To ensure nothing went wrong, Albus emerged from his seclusion and spent a great deal of resources to convince the Martial Soul Hall's Supreme Elder, Ulrich Mudson, to join him in taking Chase down.Ulrich brought out a f
As soon as Chase said this, four domains emerged simultaneously, releasing an overwhelming pressure that descended in an instant."How is this possible? How could you have become this powerful in such a short time?" Unable to withstand the pressure, Albus was the first to collapse to his knees. It was not that Albus wanted to kneel; he was simply completely overpowered by Chase's domains. He was locked in place with no way to escape.The pressure bore down on him, shattering the bones in his knees and forcing him to kneel.Ulrich fared slightly better, but only just. He managed to stay standing, yet he was paralyzed and unable to move a single step. At this moment, Chase had complete control.With just a flick of his true energy, he could take both of their lives."I've been in seclusion this whole time. What happened? How did you become so strong? I refuse to believe this!" Albus raged, still in disbelief over the situation.Chase was uninterested in Albus' complaints, so he d
Even someone as formidable as Albus turned out to be nothing more than a mere pawn.There was only one thing that puzzled Chase. Despite the Salvatores, the Webers, and even the Coopers all having people who had surpassed the martial lord level, he had not detected such a presence from the Hawkins family.After all, they were still one of Capital City's Eight Influential Families.Chase kept this suspicion to himself. He extended his consciousness fully and quickly saw through the entrapment formation. The so-called trap was just a pre-arranged formation set along his path, something he could have easily avoided if he had been more vigilant.With a casual wave of true energy, he struck a critical point in the formation, causing it to unravel. Instantly, his surroundings reverted to their original state.After confirming his bearings, Chase flew back to Herb Hall. Upon his return, he chose not to mention the ambush to anyone, not even to Hannah or Quinn. He simply wandered around H
"So, you're Chase?" Just as Chase decided to ignore Douglas, another man stepped forward from behind Douglas, glaring at Chase with hostility."And who are you?" Chase noticed the man for the first time. At first, he thought this individual was merely one of Douglas' staff. After all, someone of Douglas' status in the Webers would typically have several attendants. However, this man was different. He boldly stepped ahead of Douglas and spoke directly to Chase. It was clear he was not a mere attendant. No subordinate would dare act so presumptuously."Listen carefully, Chase. I'm Herbert Weber, one of the White Tiger Guards. Today, you'll fall by my hand!" Herbert declared arrogantly, staring down at Chase, who was still seated at the entrance. His stance conveyed a sense of superiority."Another one from the White Tiger Guards," Chase muttered. Without even lifting his gaze, he pointed to the bag next to him. "If you're here to watch, it'll be 20 spiritual stones. Otherwise, leave
The man's calm recounting made the crowd realize just how formidable Chandler was."Chase is only at stage seven martial lord, but Chandler is at stage nine! He doesn't stand a chance!" one person exclaimed."Exactly, the gap between their levels is just too great. Chase is in real trouble this time," another agreed, and the crowd began murmuring their concerns.At that moment, Chandler, who was dressed in a combat outfit, leaped onto the arena. "Now that both fighters are ready, I'll announce the odds," Skylar declared. "Chandler's odds are set at 1.2, while Chase's odds are at 2.8!"With such a disparity, it became clear that even Skylar did not believe in Chase's chances. Given the power gap between them, it was not hard to understand why.The spectators eagerly placed their bets on Chandler. Although the 1:2 odds meant that betting ten spiritual stones would only earn them two extra if Chandler won, everyone knew this was a sure thing.There was no way Chandler could lose aga
Chandler spoke furiously. He was almost knocked out of the arena by Chase's punch earlier, but fortunately, he managed to dissipate that terrifying force at the last moment.It was clear now that Chase was not just a name without merit.Chandler dismissed his arrogance and unleashed his full strength, releasing the overwhelming aura of a peak martial lord."It's over. Chandler's serious now. Chase is done for!""Yeah, I thought for a second Chase might actually pull off a miracle and punch him out of the arena," someone murmured."That was just because Chandler underestimated him. Now that he's serious, Chase probably won't even have another chance to throw a punch. The gap in their power is just too big.""Right, I was almost about to complain to the miracle doctor about some insider trickery!" The crowd's murmurs pushed the excitement to a peak.Things proceeded as expected. Chandler unleashed his full power, seemingly to regain his lost dignity, and launched a powerful punch
At that moment, Chandler could not believe it. With his 16th punch, he had once again gathered all his true energy, yet he still could not defeat Chase in a single blow.Chandler quickly realized that he had been caught in Chase's trap. He was already entangled in Chase's momentum and could not break free no matter how hard he tried.By the 17th punch, Chase only stepped back slightly. With the 18th punch, he did not move at all.On the 19th punch, they were evenly matched. With the 20th punch, Chandler was pushed back just a little.Although it was only a tiny step, it sent waves of shock through Chandler's mind.How was this possible? Not only had Chase neutralized his full-power punch, but he also managed to push him back. Chase was like a madman, relentlessly difficult to deal with. Any ordinary person who suffered such injuries would have lost most of their strength by now, but Chase still seemed full of energy, as if the blood on his chest did not even belong to him.Chan
Fern spat out a mouthful of blood. His face turned deathly pale as he staggered backward, and he barely kept himself from collapsing."This… This is impossible!" His eyes widened in disbelief, filled with both unwillingness and sheer terror.As a proud disciple of the Ghost Palace from the nether realm, how could he lose to a mere country bumpkin?Shame and rage burned within him. Grinding his teeth, he roared, "Chase Collins! You dare wound me?! You're dead!""Oh? Is that so?" Chase's eyes narrowed slightly.Without another word, he slowly drew his sword.With a swift swing, the blade slashed through the air, sending a brilliant arc of sword light sweeping forward like a cascading ribbon.Fern's expression twisted in horror. He scrambled to evade, but he was a fraction too slow. A deep gash tore across his chest, blood spilling down in crimson streaks.Sucking in a sharp breath, Fern clutched his wound. His face was drained of color, and sweat beaded on his forehead as he star
The next day, the sky was just beginning to brighten.Chase sat cross-legged, regulating his blood flow while sensing the vast and surging demonic energy within his body."The demon blood contains immense and pure energy. If I can refine it perfectly, my physical strength might break through its current limits and reach the peak!"His eyes narrowed, a sharp gleam flashing within them."Hmm? They found me this quickly?" Just as he was about to continue his training, he sensed something and looked outside.A sword hummed through the valley. A young man in black stood atop a cliff with a sword in hand."A martial artist… His energy is thick and powerful, far beyond others of his level. No wonder he was able to kill that beast. He truly lives up to the title of a top-tier genius."The young man's sharp gaze flickered with a trace of wariness. He was clearly shaken by the sheer strength Chase had displayed.He had just slain a demon wolf and reaped a bountiful reward. Yet now, he ha
Chase released his grip.The Black Fiend Bow returned to his grasp, and he swiftly nocked another arrow.The piercing sound of the arrow cutting through the air echoed as it tore through the night sky, carrying a terrifying force as it pursued its target.Blood splattered as a severed leg fell to the ground.A chilling scream rang through the forest as a shadowy figure plummeted from above.Chase's gaze remained cold as he stepped forward, closing the distance.When he got a clear look at the figure's face, his eyes narrowed in surprise. It was the old crone from the river's source!She was still alive!"You little bastard! You deserve to die! You should be dead!" The old woman, who had disheveled hair, glared at Chase with venomous hatred."Is that so?"Chase grinned while raising his arm. With a flick of his wrist, three more arrows shot out in rapid succession. In the blink of an eye, they shattered the old crone's remaining limbs, crushing her bones completely.The woman
Chase's face turned pale, his heart pounding wildly."This is…"He felt his entire body surging with boundless true essence, flowing like a relentless tidal wave.A strange and eerie aura surrounded him, shrouding him in a mist-like energy that made it impossible to see through or fully comprehend."Gosh!" Chase stood frozen in shock.For a moment, he felt as if he had become someone else entirely."Could it be…"A chilling thought flashed through his mind."The trace of demonic energy I absorbed… Was it carrying remnants of the Demon Ancestor's will?"He quickly pieced it together."The Demon Ancestor may have perished long ago, but fragments of his will must still linger. If I transfer that lingering consciousness into this purple skull emblem, then…"Chase took a deep breath. "That would be equivalent to having two lives."His luck this time was truly extraordinary. Not only had he discovered the Devouring Sky Demon Art, but he had also unexpectedly absorbed a remnant of
Chase furrowed his brows as he got lost deep in thought. "Could it be that the demonic race never truly perished but instead went into hiding, secretly passing down this forbidden art? First, I need to fully understand the Devouring Sky Demon Art before investigating that secret."With that decision made, Chase immediately began his closed-door training.Once cultivated to its peak, the Devouring Sky Demon Art could consume souls and refine them into demonic puppets with terrifying combat power.For Chase, this technique was a perfect match. "Devouring Sky Demon Art, First Layer!"With a single thought, new information flooded his mind.This was the fundamental incantation of the technique—nothing too obscure. After a quick review, Chase grasped it with ease.He extended his finger, allowing a drop of blood essence to fall onto the purple skull emblem.In an instant, blinding crimson light erupted from the emblem. It trembled violently, letting out sharp, anguished wails, as if
In just a matter of moments, the androgynous young man was dead. His corpse lay motionless amid the blood-soaked ground.His final curses and hatred meant nothing to Chase, who remained indifferent and showed no reaction.Chase withdrew his hand with a calm expression. Every strike he delivered was absolute—he never left his enemies a chance to recover."This technique of his is rather unique. It absorbs the life essence of others to enhance one's own power." Chase rubbed his chin, lost in thought."Unfortunately, it has a fatal flaw. The more one absorbs, the stronger the backlash. If not controlled properly, the user ultimately loses themselves, becoming neither human nor ghost."He sighed inwardly."This sinister martial art must have been created by a powerful demonic sect figure. It's a flawed version, but it's still highly dangerous. If left unchecked, it could bring disaster to the world."A chilling glint flashed through Chase's eyes. Demonic arts were forbidden as they
The moment the words left his mouth, the androgynous young man lunged at Chase with a dagger in hand. He closed the distance between them at an alarming speed.In an instant, his energy surged, and the aura radiating from his body grew even more intense.This was the power of a stage-nine martial god!"Hah! You dare act so arrogantly in front of me? One hand is all I need to deal with you. Now, let me show you my strength!"Chase sneered, extending a single hand toward the approaching, black-robed young man."An ant trying to stop a giant?"The young man smirked. He flicked his wrist, sending his dagger slicing through the air while gleaming coldly.The dagger struck the back of Chase's hand, but instead of cutting through, it shattered on impact, producing a metallic ringing sound.The young man stumbled backward, his face twisted in shock."How… How is this possible?"His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Chase, who remained completely unharmed. His skin was untouch
"Regardless, this demon beast's corpse is incredibly valuable. Whether it's the demon core, demon blood, or even its tendons and bones, all can be refined into powerful weapons."Chase licked the corner of his lips.A demon core was the essence of an innate demon beast, brimming with potent lifeblood energy.Meanwhile, demon blood was the condensed essence of the beast's body, holding immense power. If used for cultivation, it could accelerate training speed multiple times over. Not only that, demon blood also had the astonishing ability to purify impurities within the body."This demon beast is a treasure trove. If I hunt one and sell it, I could make an absolute fortune."Chase licked his lips once more, making up his mind. Under the cover of night, he would launch a sneak attack on this powerful demon beast lord.Besides, since this demon had lived in the valley for so long, it was likely a native of the area.If Chase wanted to explore the valley, clashing with these creatur
'My body is strong, but it still has its limits. If I can absorb some Blood Vein Ginthera, I should be able to enhance my physical strength!' Chase thought.If his physique could undergo a transformation and reach martial nirvana, what would happen then?A martial nirvana-level martial artist possessed a reborn body. Their skin itself could serve as armor, and a single punch could shatter steel. They could even withstand direct attacks from spiritual artifacts, making them nearly indestructible.If he could strengthen his body just a bit more, he would be able to practice martial nirvana techniques and unleash their full might with just a simple movement. He would be capable of destroying mountains and rivers in an instant."Blood Vein Ginthera is indeed a great option for tempering the body, but with my current level, I need to at least reach the martial nirvana realm before I can withstand its medicinal power. Otherwise, consuming it would cause my body to collapse instantly."S