"Phew!"
Gently closing the manual, Ye Tian let out a deep sigh, his heart growing increasingly heavy. The continent of Shenzhou was indeed fraught with peril; even such a formidable individual had fallen victim to treachery.
It was evident that this world bore countless dangers beyond anything Earth had ever known.
"Rest in peace, Brother Liu. I will strive to fulfill your dying wish!" Ye Tian sighed softly, then reached out to probe Liu Yunfei's chest, only to shake his head in disappointment after a moment.
"Indeed, he has been dead for over three days; his martial soul has long since dissipated!"
Ye Tian felt a tinge of regret. A person of such strength, the first genius of the Godstar Sect, surely possessed a martial soul far superior to his own. If he could have absorbed it, his cultivation speed would have surged tremendously.
Yet, Ye Tian was not a greedy person; a fleeting disappointment washed over him before he regained his composure. After all, he had already obtained a Mysterious Rank Martial Arts, an unexpected boon.
His gaze then fell upon the five jade vials, which appeared extraordinary. In his mind, they were likely used to contain rare elixirs.
In fact, the jade vials were indeed meant for storing pills, but four of them were empty. Only one vial contained three earthen-colored pills, exuding a faint fragrance and looking quite remarkable.
"Five vials, three pills?"
Ye Tian was momentarily taken aback, then let out a wry smile. "Brother Liu, this hardly befits your status as the first genius of the inner sect of the Godstar Sect; you ought to have brought more pills with you."
However, considering that the individual had engaged in a fierce battle before succumbing to poison, he might have consumed quite a few pills.
The fact that these three pills were left behind likely indicated they were of the lowest quality.
Yet, this suited Ye Tian just fine; given the other's high level, he wouldn't dare consume any pills that were too advanced. After all, one could suffer from an overabundance of energy, which could be fatal.
"I wonder what these three pills are; I hope they will be of assistance!" Ye Tian sighed softly. Finally, he cast one last glance at Liu Yunfei's body, tucked the pills away, and began to navigate through the tunnel toward the exit.
"Hopefully, that damned bear has already left!"
Ye Tian consoled himself.
Another lengthy crawl ensued, and by the time he spotted the glimmer of light at the exit, he was utterly exhausted and could move no further.
"Finally, I can no longer see that stupid bear!" Gazing at the empty cavern entrance, Ye Tian managed a smile despite his fatigue.
But the next moment, that smile froze on his face.
A massive, grotesque visage loomed before him, its fierce eyes glaring at him intently.
Then, a deafening roar echoed throughout the cavern.
"Roar!" The Black-Furred Violent Bear King had not left. Hearing the commotion from the dark tunnel, it had rushed over and immediately spotted Ye Tian, letting out an enraged roar.
"Damn it! Oh heavens, please don't do this to me!"
Ye Tian screamed in horror, diving back into the tunnel, only allowing himself to breathe a sigh of relief when the bear's face was no longer visible.
However, his heart remained filled with anxiety.
What had begun as an escape from imminent danger had turned into a moment of fortuitous blessing, yet the threat still lingered.
Even with the Mysterious Rank Martial Arts, how could he flee from this place?
He would merely be a sacrificial offering!
Without food, he would starve to death within these confines. Perhaps, after several years, a fortunate little soul would discover his remains, claiming the Starry Hand and subsequently becoming renowned throughout the world… while he would merely be left as a pile of bones!
Unwilling!
He refused to play the supporting role!
Ye Tian's face was etched with frustration as he raged internally, finally fixing his gaze on the three pills.
"Swallowing them could yield three possibilities!" Ye Tian focused on the three pills, feeling as if he had made a crucial decision.
"The first possibility: the pills are too potent, and I might explode!"
Considering Liu Yunfei's background, this risk was quite substantial.
"The second possibility: the pills could enhance my strength, albeit minimally, but at least they might alleviate some of my hunger, allowing me to survive a little longer." Time was of the essence; the longer he could delay, perhaps help from the Ye family village would arrive.
Under normal circumstances, Ye Tian could have sustained himself for a while, but the round trip through the tunnel had drained all his energy and hastened his hunger.
"The third possibility: the pills might greatly enhance my strength, enabling me to escape from the Black-Furred Violent Bear King!" Ye Tian's eyes sparkled with determination. He was banking on this third possibility. Although hope was slim, in such a predicament, he had no choice but to take a gamble.
"Brother Liu, you must bless your little brother, at least for the sake of your third sister!"
Ye Tian silently whispered "Amitabha," steeling himself before swallowing one of the pills.
Boom!
The pill melted upon entry, resembling a torrential wave of searing heat that coursed down Ye Tian's throat, flowing directly into the three primary meridians that had been unblocked.
In an instant, an astonishing scene unfolded before Ye Tian's eyes. The torrent transformed into pure vital energy, surging through the three main meridians, and charged towards the fourth meridian that had yet to be opened.
Within moments, this fourth meridian was successfully unsealed, and Ye Tian immediately ascended to the fourth level of martial artists, a powerful force erupting from within him.
"Roar!" Ye Tian exclaimed in exhilaration, his entire being brimming with strength, banishing the previous sensation of hunger.
At the fourth level of martial arts, he realized he must be the fastest person in Baiyun Town to reach this stage.
"What a miraculous pill! Truly befitting a powerhouse from the God Star Sect. One pill can unblock a meridian. If one had ten such pills, could they not directly create a tenth-level martial artist?" Ye Tian was deeply astonished; such legendary sects commanded awe across Baiyun Town, and this single pill was enough to inspire admiration from all.
To elevate one's realm with a single pill was an indication of its unparalleled value; it was not something money could easily procure. And this was merely the least valuable pill left behind by Liu Yunfei.
"Reaching the fourth level of martial arts saves me six months of arduous training!" Ye Tian's eyes sparkled with determination. Transitioning from the second to the third level had consumed over a month of his time, yet the disparity between the third and fourth levels was immense. He believed it might take him another six months to break through.
However, now, with just one pill, he had soared to the fourth level of martial arts.
Ye Tian was filled with excitement and exhilaration. And there were still two more pills remaining!
"With my current cultivation at the fourth level of martial arts and paired with the Thunderclap Palm, I may not be able to defeat the Black-haired Violent Bear King, but I can certainly escape unharmed," Ye Tian mused, elated that his crisis had been averted.
Yet, he did not rush home; instead, he opted to consume the remaining two pills.
"Taking these two pills, the sixth level of martial arts is within reach!" Ye Tian's gaze blazed with intensity, an unprecedented thrill coursing through him.
To leap three levels was an incredible opportunity! From the third to the sixth level, Ye Tian's strength would undergo a fundamental transformation. Even in Baiyun Town, a sixth-level martial artist would be considered a formidable presence.
Boom! Boom!
With two muffled thuds, aided by the two pills, Ye Tian successfully unblocked two more primary meridians, advancing to the sixth level of martial artists.
With this remarkable leap, Ye Tian felt an explosive power surging throughout his entire being. He let out a tremendous roar, startling the Black-haired Violent Bear King waiting outside.
"What an overwhelming sensation! I feel as though I could obliterate that fool of a bear with a single punch!" Ye Tian bellowed, curbing his excitement, fearful that he might cause a collapse of the tunnel.
At this moment, six primary meridians had been unsealed, and a rich vital energy flowed through them, churning within and manifesting as a terrifying force.
At the sixth level of martial arts! Even within the beast-hunting squad of Ye Family Village, he was now a strong contender, capable of standing on his own.
In the entire Ye Family Village, most capable men were limited by their talents, with strengths ranging only from the third to the fifth levels. A sixth-level martial artist was already considered an elite member of the beast-hunting squad, while those like Ye Tian's father, Ye Meng, who were at the seventh level, stood as elite among elites, possessing significant influence in the village and potentially becoming elders in their old age.
As for eighth-level martial artists like Ye Ba and ninth-level martial artists like Ye Feng, they were likely successors to the next village chief or powerful elders.
Now, with a cultivation level of sixth-level martial arts, coupled with the fully mastered Thunderclap Palm, Ye Tian felt capable of challenging even seventh-level martial artists.
Such strength, in the broader scope of Baiyun Town, made him a notable powerhouse.
At this moment, Ye Tian felt he finally had the foundation to establish himself in the Divine Continent, at least no longer needing to hide within the village. In the vicinity of Baiyun Town, very few could pose a threat to him.
"Big Fool Bear, it's time to settle the score," Ye Tian smirked coldly as he advanced toward the cave's exit.
"Roar!" Sensing the movement within the cave, the Black-haired Violent Bear King rushed over to investigate. Upon seeing Ye Tian's head emerge, it immediately slammed its massive paw down, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
Clearly, even the Black-haired Violent Bear King had grown impatient from the long wait and was eager to eliminate the annoying ant before it.
However, as it brought its colossal paw down, it suddenly noticed the small ant before it wearing a mocking smile.
Is this a provocation? the Black-haired Violent Bear King instinctively wondered.
You dare to provoke me? With a roar, the Black-haired Violent Bear King exerted more force into its paw, aiming to crush Ye Tian with all its might.
Facing this terrifying strike, Ye Tian effortlessly raised his own hand, and the two disproportionately sized paws collided.
The anticipated scene of Ye Tian being crushed did not unfold. Instead, he grasped the bear's paw firmly, rendering it unable to escape.
"Roar!" Though the Black-haired Violent Bear King lacked intelligence, it was nonetheless gripped by fear and began to roar in terror.
"Do you enjoy the chase?" Ye Tian replied with a chilling smile, seizing the Black-haired Violent Bear King's paw. With a mighty roar, he hoisted it into the air before slamming it down to the ground.
"Boom! Boom! Boom…"
After slamming it to the ground dozens of times, the once-mighty Black-haired Violent Bear King was brutally defeated by Ye Tian.