Chapter 5: Her Choice

After acquiring his special constitution, Iwao's progress soared rapidly. Together with the sapling, they absorbed Spiritual Energy like a whale sucking in water, greedily plundering it. Yes, the word "plundering" was apt for describing it here! It was simply too exaggerated! As the sun set, successive bursts of qi waves echoed through the mountains, like thunder on a clear day. When Iwao opened his eyes again, he could feel the overflowing power coursing through his body. Unknowingly, he had already returned to the Earth Spirit Realm! "At this rate, in seven days, I'll at least reach the Third Level of the Earth Spirit Realm!" Iwao clenched his fists, excitement gleaming in his eyes. Though he hadn't yet reached his peak, the progress was already remarkable. And all this was thanks to that little sapling, Travis. "Excellent, once I reach the Earth Spirit Realm, I can go hunt some Beasts." Travis looked smug. "And this bit of improvement isn't even worth mentioning. You're about to witness my true skills. Let's head deep into Purple Chain Mountain and have a good kill!" Iwao didn't say much. "Let's go." Purple Chain Mountain was a series of undulating mountains, teeming with Beasts, and extremely dangerous. It was difficult to explore deep into it without reaching the Earth Spirit Realm. Not long after they entered, the fierce roar of a Beast could be heard nearby. "To the left front, about eight hundred meters away. It'll attack in a few breaths." Travis sat on Iwao's shoulder, legs crossed. With his ability to sense plants, he seemed to have countless eyes in the deep mountains and forests, missing nothing. "Are you going to handle this, or should I?" Travis asked with a smile. "I'll take care of it." Iwao gathered his Spiritual Energy, his expression cold. Soon, a fierce leopard leaped out of the jungle. Its footsteps were almost silent, and it pounced suddenly, catching its prey off guard. Like a raging wind, its face fierce, jaws wide open to bite. It was a Spotted Swift Leopard, at the First Level of the Earth Spirit Realm. Known for its terrifying speed and biting power. "Boom!" Iwao raised his hand and punched, hitting the Spotted Swift Leopard squarely in the face. The Spotted Swift Leopard was knocked to the ground, howling in pain and convulsing. The force behind that punch was extraordinary! Half of the leopard's cheekbone collapsed, blood pouring from its eye sockets. Iwao was pushed back several steps by the recoil, but he quickly made another move, stepping forward and striking with his palm, the terrifying power within it severing the leopard's neck. Sharp bones pierced through the skin, blood gushing out. "Don't, don't kill it. It's a waste to destroy such a creature. Let it be absorbed!" Travis hurriedly directed, waving his hands. "If you want to eat, you come and eat." Iwao stopped, his face filled with disgust. The method of directly absorbing life force was something Iwao couldn't fully accept. The same went for letting Travis absorb it. After all, the Spiritual Energy within both of them was interconnected. "When you absorbed Kenyi before, I didn't see you hesitate. Your behavior now is just being sentimental." Travis shrugged, seemingly unaffected, as roots and tendrils sprouted from him, surrounding the head of the Spotted Swift Leopard. After a few breaths, only a dried-up animal hide remained. "Ah, that feels good!" Travis stretched his limbs, seeming to grow taller. The Spiritual Energy within him had also seen a considerable increase. Iwao wasted no time, rushing deeper into the mountains. With only seven days, every level he ascended reduced the danger by a bit. Ensio, as the top figure of the Leach Family, possessed the strength of the Sixth Level of the Earth Spirit Realm, making him no easy opponent! A day passed in the blink of an eye. Deep in the night, all was quiet. Iwao sat on a tree branch several meters high, his upper body bare, revealing muscles as strong as iron. The continuous killing and devouring had propelled him to the Second Level of the Earth Spirit Realm. His progress was far faster than imagined. A faint scent of blood covered him from head to toe. The weaker Beasts would often be scared off by this scent before he even approached. Every night, a dense miasma would rise in the Purple Chain Mountain. Poisonous creatures ran rampant, necessitating caution. Typical Beast Tamers in the Purple Chain Mountain would light fires to fend off the venomous creatures, but Iwao didn't need to. The bloody aura around him repelled all poisonous creatures. "Someone's coming." Iwao opened his eyes in the darkness, his gaze sharp. Over time, he had learned some of Travis's methods. Anywhere with plants was like having an extra pair of eyes, able to perceive everything. "There seem to be quite a few people." Iwao held his breath, completely blending into the darkness. In the time it took for an incense stick to burn, a dozen or so young men arrived from all directions. They gathered in the large clearing beneath Iwao's feet, lighting a fire and roasting meat. Drinking and chatting away. "Brother, how was your harvest today?" "Ah, don't mention it, came back empty-handed." "Same here, finally managed to slay two Ninth Level of Human Spirit Realm Beasts, only to have them snatched away. Such bad luck." "Did you guys notice there were unusually few Beasts today?" "Yeah, ran around for half the day and didn't encounter a single one." The young men complained to each other as they drank. Iwao stood silently on the tree, observing it all. He had seen many of these young men before. Apart from Cloud-Flipping City, there were also some young masters from Louisville. They seemed quite familiar with each other, indicating they were probably attending a Beast Hunting Assembly held within a specific circle. After some complaining, they started discussing a recent event that had drawn attention in Cloud-Flipping City. "I heard Tammy is about to marry into the Clayton Family, and the young master of the Clayton family has some rather peculiar hobbies, often playing maids to death while they're still alive. Is it true?" "Heh, of course, it's true. Once Tammy marries into that family, it's like entering a tiger's den." "Although Tammy is considered a sickly girl, she's undeniably beautiful, especially with that lovable charm." "And this Iwao isn't much of a man either. His sister is about to throw herself into the lion's mouth, and he dares not even show his face." "Haha, I heard the Grand Elder of the Leach Family is looking for him everywhere. If he dares to show his face, he's dead!" Some people had a bit to drink and became uninhibited. Their words were filled with mockery. "The Leach Family is something. No matter what, Tammy is still the daughter of a distinguished family. Marrying into the Clayton family as a concubine is already a loss of face. If she's mistreated by the young master of the Clayton family, it would be a disgraceful matter." A young master from Louisville sighed. "A disgrace? What's there to be ashamed of?" A cold snort came from the darkness, and several figures emerged. The leader, dressed in black robes, had a sharp gaze. It was Omega Leach, the only son of the second elder of the Leach Family. "Young Master Omega." Upon seeing Omega arrive, the others quieted down. "Tammy, Iwao's sister, may have once been dazzling with her status," Omega sneered, "but now, she's nothing more than a servant in our family's eyes. Marrying into the Clayton Family is her choice, and how they treat her has nothing to do with my Leach Family. We will not interfere in her life or death!" "A person who's less than even pigs and dogs, how could my Leach Family bother with them?" Omega chuckled, showing no concern. Many young men nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, a figure concealed in the darkness exuded an aura akin to a hellish reaper. From his eyes emanated a chilling intent. The temperature around dropped sharply.