Chapter 3 – One Punch Kill! Qi Gathering Grass!

Heifeng Town.

It was an ordinary town at the foot of Liuyun Sect’s mountain.

The town lay adjacent to the Heifeng Forest, and most people passing through were cultivators, some came to hunt fierce beasts, others to search for rare herbs and treasures. Still more stopped here to rest during their journeys. The place was bustling with activity.

After leaving the sect, Gu Yang quickly arrived at Heifeng Town. He didn’t immediately rush into the forest to hunt beasts, though. Instead, he found an inn and checked in, intending to have a meal first.

But as soon as he sat down, many people in the inn cast glances in his direction.

Of course, it wasn’t because Gu Yang was particularly handsome, rather, it was the iconic cloud pattern on his robes that drew their attention.

That symbol marked him as a disciple of Liuyun Sect.

Liuyun Sect was one of the four great sects in Hunan Province of the Chu Kingdom, known far and wide. Its name commanded respect across the region.

Gu Yang didn’t think much of it.

Soon, the food was served, and he dug in heartily.

After eating his fill and resting a bit, Gu Yang prepared to leave for the Heifeng Forest.

But just then, nearby conversations reached his ears.

“Hey, did you hear? Disciples from Baiyang Sect are here in Heifeng Forest too!”

“Huh? Seriously? Isn’t Baiyang Sect pretty far from here? What are they doing here?”

“Seems they came for training. There’s a beast tide near their sect, so they had to relocate their training grounds. Heifeng Forest was the closest option.”

“Yeah, I heard Baiyang Sect’s top outer disciple, Du Feng, is leading the group!”

“You mean the one who killed a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator while still at Body Tempering Level Nine?”

“That’s the one!”

“Damn! With a guy like him leading the group, who’d still dare enter the forest to hunt beasts?”

“Knowing Baiyang Sect’s usual behavior, if we run into them, they’ll definitely try to snatch our stuff. Forget it, I’m going home after this meal. I’ll wait until they’re done with their training.”

“Bad luck! Looks like beast hunting is off the table for the next few days.”

The faces of those chatting darkened with frustration and resentment.

They were rogue cultivators, unaffiliated with any sect. They went wherever they could earn spirit stones by hunting. Encounters with sect disciples during such excursions were common, and of all sects, Baiyang Sect’s disciples were the most arrogant. Every time they crossed paths, those disciples would act tyrannically, demanding resources.

If refused, they’d declare that it was an act of hostility against the entire Baiyang Sect.

It made these rogue cultivators furious, but there was nothing they could do except avoid them.

Gu Yang quietly listened from the side, but he didn’t take it to heart. He treated it as nothing more than an amusing anecdote.

Once the conversation died down, he stood up and left the inn, heading toward Heifeng Forest.

Heifeng Forest was an ancient woodland, rumored to have existed for countless years. It was filled with many types of fierce beasts, diverse and numerous.

Because it lay beneath Liuyun Sect’s mountain, the sect had once sent its experts to clear the forest and exterminate its strongest beasts. This was done to protect their disciples.

As a result, although the forest was still home to many beasts, it was relatively safe, making it a perfect training ground.

Of course, the deeper regions of the forest still housed powerful monsters, but as long as one didn’t wander too far in, there was little danger.

Gu Yang’s goal wasn’t those Qi Gathering Realm beasts, so he didn’t plan to go too deep either.

Not long after entering, he encountered a beast.

Within a thick cluster of shrubs, a red-patterned leopard lay resting, its heavy breathing rhythmic and calm.

Gu Yang’s arrival startled it.

“Roar!”

The leopard let out a furious howl, its massive eyes brimming with killing intent.

How dare a human intrude on its territory!

With fury blazing, it launched itself at Gu Yang with a powerful kick of its hind legs.

Gu Yang glanced at the beast.

Well, damn…

His first encounter turned out to be a Body Tempering Level Ten leopard!

This was the first time Gu Yang had faced a beast head-on.

While he processed the situation, the leopard already raised a huge claw and swiped at him. Its sharp talons tore through the air, creating a piercing sound. The attack was vicious and aggressive.

Gu Yang calmly shifted his body to the side, dodging the strike.

Then, without hesitation, he raised his fist and struck with the Vajra Fist, aiming for the leopard’s abdomen.

Boom!

What appeared to be an ordinary punch landed directly on the beast’s belly.

“Awrooo!”

A loud, pained cry burst from the leopard’s mouth.

Thud!

It collapsed to the ground instantly, letting out a series of pitiful whimpers. Its body trembled all over, and in its abdomen, where Gu Yang had struck, a large bloody hole had appeared. Blood gushed out in a steady stream.

The scene was downright terrifying.

The leopard now looked at Gu Yang with horror in its eyes, it had never imagined this human, who didn’t seem particularly powerful, could explode with such monstrous strength!

Gu Yang, too, was a bit stunned.

Just one punch?

He had taken down a Body Tempering Level Ten leopard with a single strike?

He stared at the bloody hole in the beast’s belly and fell into deep thought.

He knew that beasts at the same realm were stronger than human cultivators, both in strength and physical toughness.

A force that could make a human cultivator cough up blood might barely leave a scratch on a fierce beast.

Killing a Level Ten beast usually required multiple cultivators attacking with full force.

And yet…

He’d practically beaten this one half to death with a single punch.

No, if left alone, it’d bleed out in minutes. Technically, that meant he’d killed it with one strike.

So this was the power of the Vajra Fist at perfection?

Truly terrifying.

Gu Yang looked down at his fist and couldn’t help but marvel.

But he didn’t linger on it too long.

Soon, his attention was drawn by a greenish-yellow herb nearby.

His eyes lit up.

“A Grade-Two Qi Gathering Grass!”

This was a rare medicinal herb of great benefit to cultivation, especially useful for breaking through to the Qi Gathering Realm, it could increase one’s chances of success by 30%.

No wonder there was a Level Ten leopard guarding the area, it had been protecting this treasure.

Gu Yang was overjoyed.

Could this Qi Gathering Grass help him break through?

He looked hopeful.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward and picked the herb.

Just then, a shout exploded behind him!