Unlike the wild boar from earlier, the cow in front of Lin Fang seemed calmer and stronger.
"This one's different," Lin Fang murmured, his eyes narrowing. "Its qi signature is stronger than the boar's, but it's still weaker than mine. A perfect prey to try out the new skill I just received."
Lin Fang didn't bother with stealth this time. His confidence surged after his earlier kill and the new skill he had obtained.
Why sneak around when he knew he could just overpower his prey?
Stepping out from behind the tree, he landed with a thud, the sound broke the tranquil silence of the forest.
The yellow cow, startled by the sudden disturbance, raised its head and let out a low, bellow. Its golden horns shone faintly as it turned to face him.
The cow spun around with a speed and agility that belied its massive frame, its glowing horns angled menacingly toward him.
The quickness, and agility of its movement surprised Lin Fang.
"It's fast for something so big," Lin Fang muttered, narrowing his eyes.
But he didn't hesitate. Before the cow could charge or retaliate, Lin Fang dashed forward, his qi already surging to his palm.
The steps for the Stone Palm Secret Art flashed in his mind as he moved.
Stone Palm Secret Art, he thought, his focus increasing as he executed the technique.
An illusory stone palm materialized above his hand, its edges shimmering faintly as it condensed his qi into an unstoppable force.
With a graceful move, Lin Fang slammed the palm into the cow's side.
The impact was devastating.
The yellow cow let out a pained roar as its massive body lifted off the ground, flying backwards like a broken kite.
It smashed into a thick tree trunk with a deafening crack, the sheer force snapping the tree in half. The cow crumpled to the ground in a heap, its glowing horns dimming as its life force faded.
Lin Fang approached cautiously, though he already knew the outcome. The yellow cow lay motionless, its chest still, and its qi signature completely gone.
"It died with one hit," Lin Fang muttered, his voice tinged with awe at the power of the skill. He crouched beside the fallen creature, placing a hand on its flank to confirm there was no breath left. "So this is the difference a proper skill makes."
His thoughts turned to the wild boar he'd killed earlier. Despite being physically weaker than the cow, the boar did not die immediately.
The difference between using a skill and not using a skill was obvious to his eyes, it was a big difference that couldn't be ignored.
The skill focused his qi into a single devastating strike, amplifying his strength to a level far beyond what his bare hands with some qi coating could achieve. The cow, despite being significantly stronger than the boar, had been utterly obliterated in a single move.
"So this is what it means to have a proper technique," Lin Fang murmured, glancing down at his palm.
"Even the weakest techniques can make a world of difference," he said, his voice firm. "No wonder so many cultivators focus on gathering techniques and treasures. Without them, even someone with world-defying talent like mine would be limited."
Turning his attention back to the yellow cow, Lin Fang noticed the faint light of wooden chests materializing beside the creature.
A grin appeared on his face.
"Let's see what we've got this time," he said, crouching to open the first chest.
Inside lay another spirit stone, its energy seemed slightly purer than the one he had acquired earlier. The sight of the spirit stone made Lin Fang nodd with satisfaction.
"I don't think I can ever get bored of these little shiny crystals," Lin Fang mused, tucking the high-quality spirit stone into his pouch with a satisfied smile.
His gaze darted to the second chest.
"Alright, let's see what else we've got," he muttered, his fingers slipping under the lid. As it creaked open, a soft glow escaped, momentarily bathing his face in its light.
For a moment, Lin Fang froze, blinking rapidly as question marks filled his mind.
Inside the chest wasn't a weapon, armour, or even another spirit stone. Instead, it held a neatly arranged meal—several skewers of grilled meat, perfectly charred and dripping with juices, nestled atop a bed of steamed rice.
The aroma of spices wafted up his nostrils, making his stomach growl involuntarily.
"A kebab meal box?" Lin Fang muttered in disbelief, leaning closer to confirm what he was seeing.
The chest looked like something straight out of a high-end restaurant, complete with a small packet of condiments and even a pair of wooden chopsticks.
For a moment, Lin Fang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Seriously?" he said, his tone hovering between exasperation and amusement. "I was gearing up for a life-or-death battle with this world's monsters, and the big reward is… takeaway box??"
Still, a smile spread across his face. "Well, I was worrying about the seasoning and cooking of that cow," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "I guess that saved me some trouble."
After grabbing the takeaway box, Lin Fang decided to head back to the temple.
There was no way he was going to eat in the middle of this forest, not with unknown monsters lurking behind every tree and bush.
The idea of sitting cross-legged with a kebab in hand, only to have some predator burst out of the underbrush and make him the meal, didn't sit well with him.
"No thanks," Lin Fang muttered as he briskly made his way back. "I'd rather not end up as someone else's dinner while enjoying mine."
Despite his confidence in handling the monsters he had encountered, Lin Fang knew better than to let his guard down.
Sure, he'd taken down a wild boar and a yellow cow, but those were probably the equivalent of small fries in this world.
Somewhere out there, stronger beasts were roaming, beasts that could snap him in half without breaking a sweat.
"I'm probably as delicious to them as this kebab is to me," Lin Fang muttered, clutching the meal box protectively. "Juicy, tender, and perfectly spiced. A walking buffet with a side of qi."
He glanced at the skewers through the translucent lid, then back at the shadows between the trees.
Shaking his head, Lin Fang quickened his pace.
The temple came into his view just as the sky began to darken.
Lin Fang let out a sigh of relief as he stepped inside, placing the takeaway box on the dusty floor before checking his surroundings.
"Safe, for now," he muttered, eyeing the darkening forest through the broken temple doorway.
He picked up the box again and sat cross-legged in the middle of the temple, the scent of the charred meat already lifting his mood.
Pulling the lid off the box, Lin Fang couldn't help but grin.
He picked up a skewer and took a bite. The flavours exploded on his tongue—perfectly seasoned meat with just the right amount of spice.
He let out an involuntary hum of satisfaction.
"This is ridiculously good," he said, shaking his head. "Better than any kebab I've had back on the Green Planet."