Chapter 76: Chapter 74: The Black Crystal’s Aberration

Jiang Che led the team of four, advancing at a steady pace through the woods on the right.

With their first experience behind them, Yin Yingying and the other two no longer panicked when facing the Black Beasts.

Under Jiang Che’s guidance and protection, they began to engage the Bull Skin Realm Black-toothed Pigs head-on.

Whenever a crisis arose, Jiang Che would suddenly intervene and get them out of trouble.

Gradually, Yin Yingying and the other two went from being flustered at the start to being able to coordinate methodically, surrounding and killing one or two Bull Skin Realm Black Beasts.

After they finished killing another Late-stage Bull Skin Realm Black Beast.

Jiang Che smiled and nodded. "Not bad. Your coordination is excellent." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Although Yin Yingying didn’t say anything, the arrogance in her eyes as she looked at Jiang Che had lessened, replaced by an indescribable admiration.

She had discovered that Jiang Che wasn’t just powerful; his command and judgment were also extremely precise. He could always predict the Black Beasts’ movements and provide the most effective countermeasures.

Following him gave her an unprecedented sense of security.

Under Jiang Che’s lead, they hunted down over twenty Black-toothed Pigs. Everyone’s Antiseptic Bag grew heavy, a sign of their bountiful harvest.

Of course, most of the beast ears belonged to Jiang Che.

Not only did the other three have no objections, they even felt that Jiang Che was already being quite generous.

After all, if it had been Xiong Hui, they might not have gotten a single beast ear.

Suddenly, they encountered a lone Stone Skin Realm Black Beast.

Jiang Che frowned and quickly had the others fall back. He was going to handle it alone.

Facing the tough, thick-skinned Stone Skin Realm Black Beast, Jiang Che revealed a completely different fighting style.

He no longer aimed for a single killing blow. Instead, he relied on his Flying Swallow Step, enhanced by [Divine Movement], to circle the Black Beast at high speed, like a phantom.

Although the Stone Skin Realm Black Beast was powerful, it couldn’t even touch the hem of Jiang Che’s clothes. It could only roar furiously in place, fruitlessly, as Jiang Che toyed with it, continuously attacking its joints, eyes, and other weak points.

Finally, after it had exhausted all its stamina, Jiang Che used a single [Mountain Shattering] blow to precisely shatter its heart.

The three watched as Jiang Che dispatched a Stone Skin Realm Black Beast with such ease and grace, and the shock in their hearts was immeasurable.

’Just... just how strong is he?’

This thought rose in all three of their minds at the same time.

After dealing with the corpse, Jiang Che pulled a fist-sized, jet-black crystal from the Stone Skin Realm Black Beast’s chest cavity.

Suddenly, Jiang Che’s expression froze.

The Black Crystal was shrinking rapidly, as if it were vaporizing!

Startled, Jiang Che quickly let go.

The Black Crystal then stopped vaporizing.

But Jiang Che also felt an icy current drill violently into his palm and enter his body!

’What the hell is this thing?!’ he thought in alarm.

The icy current rampaged up Jiang Che’s arm.

Finally, as if it had found its destination, it surged madly into his Heart of the Black Abyss!

And that Heart of the Black Abyss was instantly sated by this energy, actually stopping its absorption of his body’s Qi Blood!

He even felt that after absorbing the icy current, the Heart of the Black Abyss beat a little more powerfully!

’What’s happening?’

Jiang Che clenched his palm.

He felt as if his strength had grown even greater!

’Is... is this because of the Heart of the Black Abyss?’

He suddenly recalled that the way Black Beasts evolved was by devouring the Black Crystals of other Black Beasts!

’Could it be... that after my Transformation, I’m something similar to a Black Beast?’

A chill immediately ran down his spine.

He had a vague feeling that the Black Beasts might be connected to the Master of the Black Abyss.

’I’m not going to turn completely into a monster, am I?’

A worry grew in his heart.

He noticed Yin Yingying and the other two craning their necks to look over at him.

Worried his secret would be discovered, he quickly used his saber to flick the slightly smaller Black Crystal into his bag.

Jiang Che looked at the sky. The sun was beginning to set in the west, and the light in the woods was growing dim.

"That’s about enough. Let’s head back," he said.

If they stayed any longer, it would be dark.

At night, the danger in the woods would multiply.

"Alright!" The three had no objections and immediately nodded in agreement.

"Then... what about Xiong Hui and his group?" Yin Yingying hesitated before asking, "Shouldn’t we wait for them? And... what if they really ran into danger?"

Although she hated Xiong Hui’s condescending attitude, they had come together after all. Leaving them behind like this didn’t sit right with her.

Jiang Che frowned.

He extended his senses toward the fork in the road on the left. [Omen] didn’t send any warning of crisis, which meant there was at least no immediate, life-threatening danger to himself in that direction.

But that didn’t mean *they* were safe.

’Those idiots. If they really charged in recklessly, their chances of survival are slim...’

He was, after all, the captain appointed by Chief Liu. Although Liu Hai had said he wouldn’t be held responsible, if there were mass casualties, it would still be difficult for him to explain back home. It would be a hassle in the end.

More importantly...

’If they really are being besieged by a beast pack, there’s bound to be a brutal battle. When that happens, there will definitely be a large number of Stone Skin Realm Black Beast corpses left behind... This is a great opportunity to harvest Black Crystals.’

Jiang Che’s thoughts raced.

Fortune favors the bold.

With his current strength, as long as he didn’t run into a pack of Iron Skin Realm Black Beasts, self-preservation should be more than manageable.

"Here’s the plan." Jiang Che looked at the three behind him. "You three head back the way we came and wait for me outside the woods. I’ll go look for them and check on the situation."

"Senior Brother Jiang, it’s too dangerous to go alone! We’ll go with you!" the skinny youth said hurriedly.

"Yeah! There’s safety in numbers!" the other female disciple chimed in.

Yin Yingying also looked at him with a worried expression. "That’s right! Don’t push yourself! What does it matter to us if those people live or die!"

Jiang Che shook his head and said, "Don’t worry, I know my limits. If you come with me, you’ll just slow me down. Go on now. Wait for me outside for two hours. If I’m not back by then, head straight back to the city."

Seeing Jiang Che’s resolute attitude, the three of them didn’t press the matter further. They could only offer a few worried reminders before heading back the way they came.

Once the three were a good distance away, Jiang Che took a deep breath, his gaze turning sharp.

He no longer concealed his aura. Pushing his Flying Swallow Step to its limit, his figure shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, silently slipping deep into the fork in the road on the left.

...

Meanwhile, in another part of the woods.

"Get out of my way!"

Xiong Hui’s eyes were bloodshot, his appearance like that of a madman.

He pushed his Qi Blood at the Peak of the Stone Skin Realm to its absolute limit. Faint blue arcs of electricity CRACKLED over his palms, and every strike he sent out was like an explosive clap of thunder!

An Early-stage Stone Skin Realm Black-toothed Pig blocking his path was struck, its skull shattered by his palm before it could even bare its Tusks. Its massive body crashed to the ground.

The two Late-stage Stone Skin Realm disciples behind him were also elites from their respective Martial Arts Halls. Now, fighting for their lives, they were using every trump card they had.

One’s Saber Technique was vicious; in a flash of his blade, he left wounds deep enough to reveal bone on the Black Beasts’ tough hides.

The other’s Fist Technique was ferocious, each punch making the air hum as he forcefully shattered a Black Beast’s spine!

The remaining few followed close behind, fighting for their lives.

For a moment, their small team erupted with astonishing combat power, forcefully tearing an opening in the beast pack!

"There’s hope! We can break out!"

Someone saw a chance for survival amidst the bloody battle and couldn’t help but roar in excitement.

"AH!"

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream rang out!

A Mid-stage Stone Skin Realm disciple failed to dodge in time and was viciously gored in the side by a Black Beast’s Tusk. He was sent flying, a horrific gash instantly tearing open his thigh, spilling blood all over the ground!

"Junior Brother Wang!"

"Quick! Save him!"

Two disciples quickly dragged him back, saving him from falling into the pack of Black Beasts.

But at the same time, more Black Beasts swarmed in from all directions, once again closing the opening they had fought so hard to create. The encirclement was shrinking.

Xiong Hui forced back a Black Beast in front of him with a palm strike. His chest heaved violently, and his clothes were already soaked with sweat.

The continuous high-intensity combat had consumed a massive amount of his Qi Blood, and the lightning on his palms had grown much dimmer.

’It’s no use... there are too many... we can’t kill them all! If this goes on, we’re all going to die here!’

He watched the endless stream of Black Beasts pouring in from all around, and his heart gradually sank.

Fear coiled around his heart like a vine.

’I can’t die! I still have a great future ahead of me!’

Xiong Hui’s eyes began to dart about, his mind racing as he searched for a way to escape.

He glanced at his companions still fighting tooth and nail beside him, and a vicious idea quietly took root in his heart.

"Everyone, listen up!"

Xiong Hui suddenly roared again. His voice was somewhat hoarse from exhaustion, but it was still filled with an unquestionable authority.

"We’ll all die if this continues! Someone has to draw their attention away! I’ll use a Secret Technique now to temporarily boost my strength and force a breakthrough from the front, tearing an opening! You all follow behind me and use the chance to escape!"

As he spoke, he bit the tip of his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of Essence Blood. His Qi Blood suddenly surged, and he faintly exuded the aura of the Iron Skin Realm!

"Senior Brother Xiong!"

"Senior Brother Xiong, you..."

Seeing that he was willing to damage his own foundation just to create a path of survival for them, everyone was moved beyond words, their eyes even welling up with tears.

"No more nonsense!" Xiong Hui’s expression was savage, but he had the look of a righteous hero. "Get ready! Remember, you only have one chance!"

"Yes!"

Everyone answered in unison, pushing their remaining Qi Blood to its limit, preparing for one last desperate struggle.

Xiong Hui took a deep breath, the lightning on his palms flaring brightly. He fixed his gaze on the densest part of the beast pack ahead—the same direction they had failed to break through before.

"Now! Charge with me!"

With a furious roar, his figure shot out like a cannonball, heading straight for the beast pack in front!

"KILL!"

Seeing this, the others no longer hesitated. They roared and followed him, placing all their hopes on this "hero."

However, just as everyone’s attention was drawn to the front by Xiong Hui.

At the very instant he was about to crash into the beast pack, Xiong Hui’s figure suddenly veered off at an extremely bizarre angle!

He didn’t charge into the strongest front line; instead, he instantly changed direction and rushed toward the rear flank!

Because most of the Black Beasts had been drawn away, that spot had momentarily become the weakest point!

It all happened too fast. By the time the others realized it, Xiong Hui had already used the short burst of power from his Secret Technique to smash through two unprepared Black Beasts and break out of the encirclement!

Without a single look back, he pushed his Qinggong to its limit and fled madly toward the edge of the woods, his figure vanishing in an instant.

"Xiong... Xiong Hui, he..."

"He tricked us! He ran away!"

"He left us here as bait!"

Everyone stood frozen, staring in disbelief in the direction Xiong Hui had disappeared.

Only when the roars of the Black Beasts snapped them back to reality did they finally understand what had happened.

The rage of being deceived and the despair of being abandoned instantly overwhelmed their reason.

"You animal! Xiong Hui, you bastard!" the tall, thin man let out a hysterical roar.

However, his roar was quickly drowned out by the surging beast pack.

Without Xiong Hui, their strongest fighter, their battered group was utterly defenseless against the frenzied beast pack.

"AHHH—"

More people were injured, and for a time, screams rose and fell one after another.

Watching the black tide of beasts grow ever larger, threatening to completely submerge them, everyone’s hearts plunged into a bottomless abyss.

...