Chapter 16: Hunter

Helio looked at the mansion with a quick flash of excitement in his eyes. "Thundering Fury Mansion. Legend has it that a powerful Heavenly Spirit Realm expert once fell on Purple Chain Mountain, leaving behind all his lifelong knowledge in a mansion before his death. This must be it!" Behind him, everyone was equally excited. "Dad, if the Clayton Family monopolizes the treasures in Thundering Fury Mansion, we might just rise to the top among the four major families!" A handsome young man stepped forward, his expression filled with longing. His name was Keoki, Helio's son and the heir to Clayton Family. Keoki's Illusionary Beast was a Fourth Rank Blue-Tailed Poison Scorpion, renowned for its strength and prowess. And Tammy was meant to be his concubine! "That's right. With Leach Family weakened, once we obtain the treasures in Thundering Fury Mansion, we'll merge with Leach Family!" Helio laughed heartily. "Get ready, everyone!" "Yes!" Everyone nodded. Then, Helio summoned his Illusionary Beast and dashed into the mansion. Without hesitation, everyone followed suit, leaving no one behind. It seemed that the Clayton Family was confident that the Leach Family, dealing with internal and external troubles, wouldn't dare to intervene. Once everyone was deep inside the mansion, Iwao slowly emerged from the bushes, his eyes flickering uncertainly. Tammy was exhausted on his back, still asleep. Closing his eyes, Iwao communicated with the vegetation inside the mansion through his consciousness. Luckily, there was some moss inside, faint but enough for Iwao to sense his surroundings. "Swish!" Iwao quickened his pace, like a shadow, following them inside. "Howl!" Not far after Iwao's exit, a roar echoed from the cave, indicating a hidden Beast. The roar shook the cave repeatedly. "Uh-oh, that's a Beast at the Six Level of Earth Spirit Realm! A Cold Scale Bear!" "Kill it! Attack together and slay the beast!" Various chaotic voices followed, then the sounds of battling Illusionary Beasts. The roar of the fierce beast was intense. Through the moss's perception, Iwao witnessed the entire battle. The Cold Scale Bear stood at a towering five meters, its body covered in ice-like hardened scales. Every strike it made shattered the rocks. "Kill them. It's best if both sides suffer losses; in the end, it'll benefit me!" Iwao's lips curved involuntarily. The desire for battle was surging, every fiber of his being. He had planned everything for the future, but before leaving Cloud-Flipping City, he had to resolve some people and matters. "Boom!" A loud noise shook the cave. Iwao sensed that the Cold Scale Bear broke through the siege and landed a heavy blow on Keoki. Despite Keoki's Blue-Tailed Poison Scorpion's desperate defense, he couldn't evade the attack. Keoki spat out blood, his entire body crippled, sent flying out. He was in so much pain that his face twisted grotesquely. "Keoki!" Helio couldn't help but rage, urging his Ghostfire Silver Serpent forward towards the Cold Scale Bear. The Ghostfire Silver Serpent spat venom from its mouth, its teeth sharp and fierce as it bit down on the Cold Scale Bear's neck. This time, it finally shattered the Cold Scale Bear's scales, successfully injecting the venom! Realizing the danger, the Cold Scale Bear roared furiously, charging madly toward one of the Clayton Family's Elders. In a devastating collision, the Elder was slammed into the mountain wall, becoming a mass of blood! Then, the Cold Scale Bear staggered. In just a few breaths, it fell to the ground lifeless. An Elder was about to skin the Cold Scale Bear when Helio stopped him. "Wait until we get the treasures out, then deal with this beast!" "Keoki, how are you feeling?" Helio approached, attempting to help Keoki up. "Dad, don't worry about me. You guys go ahead. The longer we stay, the more likely we'll encounter trouble!" Keoki waved his hand, his excitement evident. "If I can obtain the Maneuver passed down by that powerful expert, I'll leap to become the number one talent in the Great Cyan Empire. When that happens, even Doris will bow before me!" "Okay." Helio nodded, then led the remaining five Elders deeper into the cave. Having killed a Cold Scale Bear, they couldn't be sure if there were any other dangers ahead. Keoki's severe injuries would slow him down in battle; no one could take care of him! It was better to let him rest here. "Phew!" Keoki crossed his legs, circulating his Spiritual Energy to heal his wounds. The reason he hadn't joined any sect was because he was waiting! Waiting to obtain the inheritance of the strong expert here, he planned to rush to the Imperial City to participate in the test held by the Fiery Fire Sect! In the Land of the Five Kingdoms, although there were many sects, only the Fiery Fire Sect caught his eye. "Once I join the Fiery Fire Sect, even you, Doris, will have to kneel before me, Keoki!" Keoki's expression flickered with a sickening excitement, and his body even trembled slightly from excessive excitement. However, at that moment, a figure appeared before him. It was incredibly abrupt! Keoki's smug smile froze instantly as if he had been doused with cold water, his scalp tingling uncontrollably. He never expected it to be him! "I... Iwao! Why is it you..." Keoki's voice was hoarse, his body weakly attempting to flee backward, but the intense pain rendered him immobile. Iwao! The former number-one talent of the Great Cyan Empire, Iwao! The one Wind Sword Sect had crippled, leaving him like a waste! It was him! With Tammy on his back, Iwao approached with a cold expression. "I heard you proposed to the family to have my sister as your concubine?" Each word was like a knife piercing Keoki's heart. "Iwao, this wasn't my idea, it was your Leach Family..." Keoki weakly explained, too shocked to even call for help. Iwao stepped forward, and in an instant, the vines in his hand pierced Keoki's forehead. Merciless! Decisive! "Gurgle, gurgle!" The vines greedily absorbed Keoki's life essence. After a few breaths, Iwao withdrew the vines, closing his eyes to digest. "Kid, your heart is getting colder and colder," Travis joked. Iwao nodded without commenting. After adapting to this period, he no longer resisted such things. Having experienced ups and downs, Iwao's heart became even tougher. As long as he could become stronger, he could be decisive in killing and bear endless infamy. To protect the people he wanted to protect, he was willing to give everything! In the past, he always considered everything for the sake of the family. It was this damn world that forced him to grow up! After slaying Keoki, Iwao narrowed his eyes, sticking close to the mountain wall like a ghost, continuing deeper inside. He was like a hunter, extremely patient. Before the prey took the bait, he wouldn't make a single sound.