Chapter 32: Cutting Through Like Melons and Vegetables

In the western outer reaches of the Monster Forest.

Two men in black stood behind Jiang Xuan.

"Are you two sent by that fifth-rank Snow Leopard Great Monster?"

Jiang Xuan was certain his intuition was correct. Yet, this seemed utterly inconceivable. Once one entered the Eternal Realm, that fifth-rank Snow Leopard could not possibly emerge. If that were the case, how could these two have tracked him down? The crux of the matter was that there were no Snow Leopard monsters in this western outer region.

"Since you already know, you may as well die."

"How did you come to know of this?" Jiang Xuan remained puzzled.

"Hah, the one you wounded was my father. Were it not for the vocal transmission technique passed down through our Snow Leopard clan, we would never have known!"

"In truth, my father’s fate doesn't matter much to us. It was only upon learning you possess the Golden Crow bloodline that we traveled all the way from the Northern Region."

"The energy emitted by that fire arrow earlier... you truly do possess the Golden Crow bloodline!"

A vocal transmission technique—that was intriguing. Jiang Xuan felt a flicker of interest. If not for the system’s innate "Heart-Listening" function, he wouldn't have even detected them earlier.

"Do you two possess cultivation techniques, supernatural abilities, or spells?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Jiang Xuan had noticed during this time that the outer reaches lacked resources like cultivation techniques or supernatural abilities. When he had encountered that fifth-rank Snow Leopard in the Eternal Realm, it had certainly utilized such a technique. Presumably, such resources could only be found in the Eternal Realm. Jiang Xuan did not want these for himself, but rather to gift them to his followers. Setting aside their cultivation levels, they were far inferior to him, and even to the Empress and the Demon Lord. Their lack of cultivation techniques was the critical issue.

"You don't need to know what it means. Since you’re here, don't bother leaving."

"It just so happens that my followers have been like starving ghosts; it seems they’ll have a hearty meal today."

"You seek death!"

Realizing the implication, the two men transformed their hands into sharp claws and were upon Jiang Xuan in an instant. Jiang Xuan smiled slightly and flicked his hand, enveloping them in the Fire of Extreme Yang. The two men were struck with terror, their pupils dilating.

"Damn it, transform into your true forms!"

The flames were dispersed by their claws, and two snarling Snow Leopards lunged at him with gaping, bloodthirsty maws. In their true forms, the two Snow Leopards were incredibly ferocious, their every strike sharp and lethal.

Blood-blades danced along with their claws, taking shape through the medium of spiritual energy! The two Great Monsters attacked from both sides, forcing Jiang Xuan to retreat again and again. Yet, he did not appear disheveled.

"I really should thank you both."

"What did you say?!"

The Snow Leopard with the larger, more prominent black spots was blinded by bloodlust. As it roared at Jiang Xuan, it didn't forget to lash out with its massive tail. Jiang Xuan caught the tail, slammed it against the ground with a thunderous crash, but refused to let go. Flames began to spread from the tail upward, and the Snow Leopard let out a shrill, agonizing howl.

"Brother! You bastard! Let go!"

As the massive, gaping maw descended from above, Jiang Xuan sneered. He looked up and gifted the beast a fireball combo. After a brief struggle, the two Snow Leopard Great Monsters lay on the ground, gasping their last breaths.

"I must say, if you hadn't come looking for me, I wouldn't have known just how far my strength had grown."

"It seems that taking on ten at once wouldn't be a problem for me now."

"No, wait—are you two just too weak? You don't seem able to take a beating!"

Jiang Xuan felt a bit speechless. He hadn't even transformed into his true form, nor had he used the Three-Footed Yang Fire, and they were already spent. Were they really this weak despite being first-rank Great Monsters? It made Jiang Xuan wonder if he had become excessively, ridiculously strong.

Suddenly, a crackling sound echoed, and Jiang Xuan froze. His clothes were freezing over at a speed visible to the naked eye!

"Ten Thousand Miles of Ice!"

In an instant, Jiang Xuan was encased in an ice sculpture, frozen dead in his tracks. The two Snow Leopards stood up, one dripping blood from its mouth, the other scorched all over, swaying unsteadily.

"How could such a freak exist among the Eagle tribe! It’s one thing to have the Golden Crow bloodline, but to have such vast spiritual energy as well!"

"It seems we were too careless. To think that a race like the Eagles, which doesn't even have its own original cultivation techniques, could produce such a powerhouse!"

Looking at the masterpiece of their combined effort, both Snow Leopards grinned hideously. Most monsters were born with innate techniques known as "Original Cultivation Techniques," which were perfectly suited to their own biology. However, monsters that lacked such innate techniques often developed other abilities and traits that other clans did not possess. The Eagle tribe’s balance of speed, strength, defense, and perception was already quite rare.

"So that’s how it is..."

The voice drifted through the dense forest, and the ice sculpture confining Jiang Xuan began to crumble piece by piece.

The green robes fluttered as Jiang Xuan stood unscathed before the two Snow Leopard Great Monsters.

"Impossible! The 'Ten Thousand Miles of Ice' was broken just like that? This!"

"What kind of monster is this guy! Our technique contains the Laws of Imprisonment!"

"Enough, enough, stop your screeching. Since you were helpful in clearing things up for me, I’ll let you die quickly."

Employing the "Light as a Swallow" technique, Jiang Xuan appeared at the feet of the two Snow Leopards in the blink of an eye. Though his arms had not fully transformed, they possessed the power of his true form! Like two massive wings, they swept outward!

Blood splattered in all directions! The two Snow Leopards were sliced diagonally from top to bottom, front to back!

"Slicing vegetables isn't even this easy. It seems I really am too strong."

"Will I be rejected by the Heavenly Dao? But then again, what part of the Heavenly Dao would bother with a small monster like me?"

Jiang Xuan chuckled and tossed the four halves of the Snow Leopard Great Monsters into his storage ring. Despite his words, he could sense that breaking the "Ten Thousand Miles of Ice" had consumed quite a bit of his spiritual energy. Just as he was about to head home, he suddenly noticed a cultivation manual appear in his storage ring!

"‘Ice and Snow Cold’! I’ll be damned, it’s actually here!"

"It’s a waste on those brats, but I’ll have to think carefully about who this technique is best suited for."

"The Empress seems suitable, but she already has a technique. Oh well, we’ll see later."

...

"Little ones! Big brother is back!"

"Oh, big brother, you’ve worked hard."

"Big brother, let us rest for a bit; we can’t take it anymore."

"My body feels hollowed out; those two really weren't Eagles..."

"Damn it, I’m exhausted too. You’ve been ganging up on me dozens of times; even a beast couldn't keep this up!"

"I... I am also weary. We shall eat later."

Entering the cave, Jiang Xuan saw his followers lying about in disarray. Even the Empress and the Demon Lord were too exhausted to move! Jiang Xuan knew they were ambitious, but he hadn't expected them to be this diligent.

"Well, not bad. Since that’s the case, I’ll just eat those two Great Monsters myself."

"W-what? Great Monsters! And there were two of them!"

"Big brother! Are you serious? I was joking! I can still fight for another three hundred rounds!"

"Me too! Where are the Great Monsters! I’m coming, big brother!"