Chapter 55 Watch Yourself in the Next Life

"A spiritual weapon!"

Thoughts raced through his mind.

Ye Liuyun immediately realized that this situation had nothing to do with the "Chosen by Fate" trait.

It was because of that spiritual weapon.

It was that spiritual weapon that had endowed Zhao Tian with power.

"My lord, I truly have no idea what you are talking about."

Zhao Tian believed he had concealed himself well.

Yet Ye Liuyun still noticed that as he spoke, Zhao Tian's gaze unmistakably carried malice and hatred.

This was the trait of holding grudges for every slight.

Had he made an enemy of him? It mattered not; the moment he made his move, Ye Liuyun had already prepared himself.

"Hand over—"

Lifting his hand, he prepared to force Zhao Tian to surrender the item.

"Crack."

At that exact moment, another faint, crisp snap rang out. A nearby large tree suddenly fractured and toppled straight down, heading directly for the spot where Ye Liuyun stood.

Having already witnessed the fortune-buffing effect of the Chosen by Fate, Ye Liuyun did not find it strange in the least. He channeled his inner qi and struck out with a palm strike.

"Boom!"

The collapsing tree exploded directly in mid-air, shattering into countless wooden shards.

By the time he turned his head back, Zhao Tian had already seized the opportunity to run a considerable distance away.

"Run? Do you think you can escape?"

Phantom Ninefold Steps.

With a leap, Ye Liuyun's figure dissolved into several afterimages, rapidly pursuing Zhao Tian. The real and illusory intertwined, appearing eerily ghost-like.

Since Zhao Tian had never practiced martial arts, he knew nothing of special techniques and could only run forward blindly.

...

"This is utterly absurd!"

Normally, with a person devoid of cultivation, his Phantom Ninefold Steps movement technique would allow him to catch up within a few breaths.

Yet Zhao Tian's speed was stubbornly no less than his own.

This was practically cheating on a divine level.

"Fortunately, my own cheat isn't shabby either!"

As if anyone lacked a cheat of their own.

He drew the treasured saber at his waist and slashed directly toward Zhao Tian.

"Slash!"

A blade aura, scorching like fire, cleaved straight toward Zhao Tian.

Just as it was about to strike, Zhao Tian seemed to have twisted his ankle. His body suddenly listed to the side and he crashed to the ground, which coincidentally allowed him to evade the blade aura entirely.

...

Never mind, I'm used to it!

Ye Liuyun simply landed smoothly beside Zhao Tian, returning his saber to its scabbard.

"You cannot escape. Hand over the item."

A genius who has not yet grown up is no genius at all. By the same token, what is there to fear from a son of destiny who has yet to mature?

Ye Liuyun's tone was icy.

It made Zhao Tian's complexion turn incomparably unsightly.

"It seems you are unwilling to hand it over!"

Seeing that Zhao Tian remained silent, Ye Liuyun suddenly smiled.

Originally, Ye Liuyun's objective had indeed been that spiritual weapon, but upon seeing the golden trait named "Chosen by Fate," his objective changed.

That spiritual weapon could at most be considered a bonus; whether he had it or not didn't matter. But this golden trait—he was determined to have it.

"In that case, go to hell!"

Seeing that Ye Liuyun was genuinely about to strike, Zhao Tian's expression instantly shifted.

"Wait! Spare me! As long as you spare me, I will hand the item over to you."

While there are green hills left, one need not worry about firewood.

Lost treasures could be found again, but if one lost their life, truly everything would be gone.

These words caused Ye Liuyun to pause his attack. He had drawn his saber only halfway before sliding it back into its sheath.

Without a word, he simply stood quietly and watched Zhao Tian.

...

Perhaps realizing that resistance was futile.

Zhao Tian stopped struggling like a cornered beast. Although his expression still mingled lingering resentment with malice, he slowly raised one hand.

Following this movement, a red mark the size of a finger appeared on Zhao Tian's wrist.

The next moment.

A dagger, completely blood-red in hue, materialized in Zhao Tian's hand.

"Is this the spiritual weapon?"

Ye Liuyun took it naturally and examined it closely. According to Lü Lan's description, this was very likely a top-grade spiritual weapon.

The dagger was not large; rather, it appeared somewhat pocket-sized, easily held in a single hand.

"Do you know its function?"

The thought that the treasure he had acquired with such difficulty was being snatched away like this filled Zhao Tian with venomous hatred.

Yet for now, he could only forcefully suppress his emotions and speak.

"I don't know anything about spiritual weapons. I only know that whenever I use it for hunting, every kill gives me a feeling of growing stronger."

Having grown up in this village since childhood, Zhao Tian naturally knew nothing of spiritual weapons.

When he first obtained the item, he had thought it was merely an unremarkable small knife. It wasn't until one day when Zhao Tian used this dagger to hunt a wild deer that he experienced a sense of soothing revitalization washing over his entire body—a sensation he had never felt so intensely before.

"Does hunting targets make the wielder stronger?"

Ye Liuyun raised an eyebrow.

No wonder Zhao Tian clearly possessed no cultivation, yet had been able to withstand his palm strike without the slightest injury.

"My lord, you have already obtained the item. May I leave now?"

Seeing that Ye Liuyun's attention was entirely focused on the red dagger.

Although his eyes were filled with malice, Zhao Tian lowered his head and spoke in a subdued voice.

In his heart, he had etched Ye Liuyun's face into his memory, vowing that once he grew stronger, he would definitely seek revenge on this Ye Liuyun.

"Of course!" Ye Liuyun curved his lips into a smile.

"I—"

Seeing that Ye Liuyun had agreed, Zhao Tian prepared to depart immediately.

But the next moment.

"Whoosh!"

Another blade strike came sweeping in, but this time, a rolling boulder tumbled down the mountainside, perfectly intercepting and blocking the blade aura.

He is truly difficult to kill!

"It seems even the heavens do not wish for you to die."

"No matter. The heavens may not want you to die, but I do."

Zhao Tian was no fool; he could feel this biting intent to kill and knew that Ye Liuyun was utterly determined to murder him.

But why?

"Wait, I've already given you the item. Why must you still kill me?"

"Kid, pay attention in your next life. When you hold a grudge against someone in the future, don't make it so obvious."

Did you really think that just because you lowered your head, I wouldn't see the hatred in your eyes?

Since they were already enemies, cutting the weeds and eliminating the roots was the best solution. Ye Liuyun had no intention of letting a tiger return to the mountain.

Zhao Tian was indeed difficult to kill.

Yet just as Ye Liuyun had said, before he had matured—

Even a son of destiny meant nothing.

"Overbearing Saber Slash!"

This strike was a saber technique Ye Liuyun had acquired from Sheng Lanzhi, and its blade aura was fiercely powerful.

Under this single slash, regardless of shattered stones or tree trunks, everything was obliterated into nothingness.

It pierced straight through Zhao Tian's body.

Until the moment of his death, Zhao Tian wore an expression of sheer disbelief.

Perhaps he never expected that he would simply die here like this.

"Rumble!"

The previously clear and cloudless sky suddenly gave way to a muffled roll of thunder. Ye Liuyun raised his head to look.

"So what if you are blessed with fortune? I believe only that man can conquer fate."