The morning mist had barely cleared when Tian Jue stepped once more into Wolfback Mountain. He moved like a shadow through the outer layer, his senses honed from weeks of refinement.
Beast after beast fell in a single move.
Their ranks—2nd, 3rd, even 5th Qi Refinement—were no longer a challenge.
He barely broke a sweat.
By midmorning, he reached the blurred boundary between outer and inner zones, where the land sloped sharper and ancient trees curled skyward like sleeping giants.
He stayed cautious—walking the edge of danger, not quite stepping over.
Within a few hours, he had harvested three out of seven herbs required for Marrow Tempering. But the rest?
"I'll need to enter territory controlled by Foundation Realm beasts."
These creatures didn't wander. They ruled their own regions, jealously guarded. Unlike lower-tier spirit beasts, they didn't attack on sight. They waited, calculated, and killed with experience.
"If I want real tempering, I'll need to face one directly. A live opponent with killing intent."
That's when he heard it.
Fast, panicked footsteps echoing down the slope—so light, so hurried that they barely bent twigs.
Tian Jue instantly slipped into cover, senses flaring. He squinted toward the source.
A girl—barely eight years old—burst through the brush, her robes stained with dust, her long ponytail whipping behind her. Despite her youth, her aura pulsed at 9th Layer Qi Refinement.
Behind her thundered a beast with long limbs and four glowing eyes, each radiating malice.
"Four-Eyed Monkey… Foundation Realm."
She caught sight of Tian Jue and shouted, "Run! It's too strong!"
But Tian Jue had already moved.
With a flick of his wrist, three acupuncture needles flew like lightning. Only one punctured the beast's thigh, the others deflected by its thick hide.
The Four-Eyed Monkey howled.
Too late—Tian Jue hadn't covered his ears.
The sound hit like a hammer of pure spirit, not through flesh but through his mind. A wave of invisible pressure knocked him back, his ears bleeding, nose streaming.
"A spiritual attack… rare—even in my past world. This isn't a normal beast."
His eyes flared with focus. He quickly pulled up the system status on the beast.
[Spirit Beast: Four-Eyed Monkey]
• Realm: Foundation Stage (Early)
• Trait: Innate Attic – Royal Bloodline
• Abilities: Sonic Roar (Spiritual), Quadric Sight, Enhanced Agility
"Royal bloodline… That explains it."
Tian Jue didn't hesitate.
He activated Silent Wind Steps, closing the gap between them in a blur of wind and motion. The beast lashed out with a claw—it missed by inches.
He dodged, slashed with his chain-bound needle, deflected its blows with precise steps and controlled breathing.
The monkey leaped back—opened its mouth.
"Roaring again!"
This time, Tian Jue anticipated it.
He hurled a needle straight into the beast's throat, stunning it mid-roar. A sharp squeal, gurgled and muffled.
Before it could recover, Tian Jue was already airborne.
His chain slithered around the monkey's neck like a serpent.
One foot landed on the beast's chest.
The other pressed hard against its snarling face.
He gritted his teeth—and pulled with all his strength.
The chain tightened.
The beast thrashed, tried to claw—but it was too late. Its air was gone. Its body convulsed.
Moments later… it went still.
Tian Jue dropped beside it, panting.
Blood dripped down his ear. His muscles ached. His senses rang.
"That… was intense."
His first real, dangerous fight in this new life. And it had almost gone sideways.
"I misjudged it. I thought I could suppress a Foundation Realm beast the same way I did in my past life… but this world's monsters are different."
The royal bloodline especially unnerved him. He'd only seen such beasts in his previous life's ancient texts.
He turned toward the girl—finally getting a proper look at her.
She clutched a torn satchel to her chest. Her arm was bleeding from a gash. But her eyes were wide with awe, not fear.
"You… you saved me," she whispered.
Tian Jue nodded. "You're injured. Sit."
He pulled out a basic herbal salve and clean cloth from his pouch.
She didn't resist, only stared at him with something close to adoration.
"You really killed it," she whispered. "I thought… I was dead. But you—how old are you?"
"…Six," he said, dabbing her wound.
Her jaw dropped.
"Six!?" she exclaimed, stunned.
Tian Jue only smirked.
To be continued…