"Self-Renewing Soil, Rejuvenation Herbs, Flame Spirit Grass, Body Refining Leaves, and so much more. Queer, in the northernmost reaches of the First Range, a Blessed Land is forming? No, can a Blessed Land alone have the potential to breed so many top-grade resources? This is a transition. Given a few years, this place will become a Treasure Land. What should I do?" The Bull asked himself while his evil-laden gaze weighed on the Birusk village.
"Less than 150 occupy this land, all wear the exact same garb, hitting at a cult. That five-year-old-looking boy around whom they subconsciously gather seems to be the only exception. A hidden expert leading a secret cult, or a true child placed as a figurehead by the genuine threat? Judging from their reactions to my presence, the majority of those people aren't cultivators yet. But a few may hide within and play the pigs to eat tigers. Should I probe the truth, or retreat and gather reinforcements first?" The Bull's thoughts trailed off.
As an Emissary Bull of the Barbaric Demon Mountain, he had nothing to do under the First Range. But fortunately, a divination expert predicted the appearance of critical resources here within the next 20 years and sold the information to his sect leader, who in turn wanted to leverage it with the Vermilion Brides Sect. His luck had always been outstanding, and with the pretext of delivering a message, he traveled two Ranges and stumbled on a Devil Stone—forever changing his destiny.
He only needed to deliver his sect master's message to the Vermilion Brides Sect, 600 km from here, return to his faction, and he was destined to enjoy unrivaled glory. His sect master would bow to him, the experts of the Monster Paradise would descend to lead him into their ranks. Concubines, wealth and top nurturing would follow. Compared to those, was the risk of offending a secluded expert worth it? The Grand Cataclysm changed the world for the worst and dangers ran amok. Before uncertainty, retreat was the preferable option.
But as the Emissary Bull considered withdrawal, the villagers' attitude underwent drastic changes.
…
From the moment the Emissary Bull appeared and unleashed his pressure, the villagers felt weak at their knees and, if not for Harun's support, couldn't remain standing. Folklore tales dictated that when Gods or Devils descended, mortals should kneel and hope for the best. However, with Harun here, the situation was different. Was kneeling to this fat bull not a heinous show of disrespect to their Spiritual Lord? Of course they couldn't do it. But as they strengthened their resolve, Harun's voice echoed in their minds.
"The time of tribulation has come. The Heavens sent this bull to test your mental fortitude and devotion to your Spiritual Lord. Believe in your lord and no harm shall befall you. I will now battle the Bull of Heaven and trigger your trial. But first, let's all bow toward the Heavens to thank them for the challenge," Harun said.
That the Bull chose to first observe and make no aggressive move showed that he calculated all possibilities and considered a retreat. Were this an ordinary village, Harun wouldn't care. But should the news of this Land's worth spread, trouble would rain on them no end. Just like the Bull couldn't see his cultivation, Harun couldn't sense his either, but with the system, saw words that troubled him: "mid-stage of the Earth Fusion Realm."
Though he couldn't see through their strength implications, those words made one thing clear. The world no longer relied on the Divine Path alone. Worse, the Bull carried Devil Essence. Be it for his safety or the information he held, Harun couldn't let go of that bull and had to milk him dry. Spurred by his words, the Birusk clansmen threw looks of reverence at the sky, and bowed, full of zeal. Harun did the same, believing that since the Bull hesitated due to their unknown depth, this show of complete submission would rekindle his greed—it did.
"I suppose I was worrying for naught. No expert worth his mettle would degrade himself by having his subordinates bow toward an equal or lesser being. Moohahaha, the loot is mine!" The "Bull of Heaven" burst into cow laughter, pushed the pressure of his cultivation base to the peak, and dropped on the village.
"This Eminence is an Earth Fusion Realm expert of the Barbaric Demon Stronghold. Surrender all your resources without a fight, and I can spare your…"
BANG!
The Emissary Bull had not finished his words that Harun's right elbow crashed into his back, sending him cratering in the village's soil. His spine cracked, but before he could make sense of the move, a kick crashed into his thick neck, propelling him toward the forest. Though short of breath, the bull regained his senses soon enough to see the five-year-old boy streaking toward him with a fiendish grin.
The limits of the Bull's Devil Essence erupted in a surge of dark filaments. Dark-purple flames snaked around his form, with rocks of the same color taking shape in a rushed formation.
"The brat deceived me…" the Bull cursed, but at the same time, no longer found Harun that fearful. By gambling on the element of surprise, Harun undoubtedly came at him with his full strength. Or so the bull thought. That "full" strength, however, couldn't claim his life. With a snort, the bull stomped his hooves, sending horrible cracks throughout the ground and village. The villagers stood still, without an ounce of fear, Harun raised his right hand, emerald light from the mystery of Life rippled, and the cracks' spread stopped. The ground fixed itself, and the bull's eyes widened in fear.
That moment of hesitation sealed his fate. Harun's speed and destructive power shot up. In a flash, he reappeared before the bull, his nails expanded into dark-blue venomous claws that he sank right in the beast's neck! Devil Essence could allow Jiyan to resist Harun's pond because the aim wasn't to destroy those that came in.
But when faced with his true destructive means, that alone couldn't solve the problem. The poison kicked in, paralyzing all the bull's bodily functions while eroding his internal organs! Terror-stricken, the bull let out a desperate snort, causing six colossal earthen spikes to spring forth and target Harun...who'd already vanished and reappeared at his back!
The spikes hit thin air and, grabbing the paralyzed bull's tail, Harun hurled him toward the sky, letting him tumble on the deadly spikes he summoned. As if guided by a will of their own, the purple flames and rocks rained flame and earthen projectiles against the spikes, crushing them into debris.
Spreading his Monstrous Sense, the bull sought Harun's location. But too fast for his body and reaction speed, Harun had already appeared above, dropping alongside the bull. Greeted by a slasher smile that put veteran butchers to shame, the bull broke into tears.
"Blight of the Underworld!" Harun activated his Physique's ability. A bottomless swamp of blight and decay formed across the ground, with gray lotuses sprouting and blooming at naked eye speed. From those lotuses, gray filaments poured out, staining the atmosphere with their Withering Essence. Instantly, the Bull could feel his colossal body break down. So fast was the decomposition that he didn't doubt that should no one rescue him, within ten seconds, he'd lose his life here.
Worse, he couldn't muster any of his abilities, merely able to watch his inevitable death.
"I am a mid-stage Earth Fusion Realm expert, comparable to a mid Celestial Guard! With my Devil Essence, I can fight peak-stage Celestial Guards without fear! In this tiny First Range, how could I suffer such a sordid fate?! Luck! Where are you?!"
The bull wept as he tumbled into the swamp. But Luck didn't answer his prayers, and that vile force of blight swallowed him whole. The Bull sank, unaware that in that swamp, Harun controlled his life and death.
Darkness filled the Bull's eyes, but at that time, the Withering Essence devouring his life with gluttonous speed paused, and he stood in suspension within the swamp liquid. With a nimble spin, Harun landed on top of the swamp water, staring at the bull from above.
"Luck is on maternity leave, giving birth to protagonist-level brats for me. Now pal, let's talk."