Stellar Transformation-Chapter 83 - 13: Blood Battle

As Qin Yu and Little Black set out on their journey, within the headquarters in Xiyang Town, the moon shone faint amidst the sparse stars. Qin De stood in the courtyard, looking up at the sky, his hands clasped behind his back.

"The overall situation is settled!"

A fiery light shone in Qin De’s eyes, clearly agitated. The operation to take control of the entire Northern Domain Two Prefectures was flawless, with everything from beginning to end falling within Qin De’s plans. When he had intentionally met with Shangguan Hong to feign an alliance, it was all for this day.

Whether Shangguan Hong truly intended to ally or not, when the time came to take action, he would have to publicly declare his alignment with Qin De’s side—at least externally, excluding a few of the top leaders, ordinary generals and soldiers would not be privy to the truth. Only in this way could the plan unfold to take control of the entire Northern Domain Two Prefectures in one fell swoop.

At this stage, all the Qin Family needed to do was to pull some strings afterward, and the two prefectures of the Northern Territory would no longer belong to the Shangguan Family but to the Qin Family.

"Jingyi, Yu’er, watch over us from the heavens. I will certainly avenge you. The Xiang Family... is destined to be crushed under my feet, and Xiang Guang, Wood, you are undoubtedly going to die," Qin De’s gaze suddenly became fierce, his hands behind his back clenching tight enough to turn his knuckles white.

Hatred!

This feeling had always been hidden in Qin De’s heart. Whether it was the death of his beloved wife or the death of his youngest son, each night gnawed at his heart like ants. Without the destruction of the Xiang Family, without killing Xiang Guang and Wood, Qin De could not rest a single night in peace.

The darkness before the dawn was bound to pass, and Qin De already saw the glimmer of victory.

"One month, within one month to unify the entire Chu Dynasty, annihilate the Xiang Family, and kill Xiang Guang and Wood," Qin De thought to himself, and despite the current deadlock, he was filled with confidence.

The Xiang Family had lost a prefecture, and together with the Mu Family, they held territories across six prefectures. The Qin Family, along with the Shangguan Family, also controlled territories across six prefectures. The power of the two sides was equivalent. However, the Qin Family Army was somewhat stronger. Still, since the Xiang Family was on the defensive and the Qin Family on the offensive, typically, the attacking side would suffer more casualties than the defending side.

In summary, the power of the two sides was roughly equal, leading to a standoff. Yet Qin De was confident that within a month he could unify the entire Chu Dynasty.

In the vastness of the Primordial Wilderness, Qin Yu and Little Black swiftly pierced through the air.

"Another one who has a death wish,"

Qin Yu and Little Black halted once again.

"A Golden Core Early Stage leopard, eh? It’s a Black Wind Leopard. Among the large clan of leopards, the Black Wind Leopard is quite unique, seems a bit tricky," Qin Yu communicated to Little Black through spiritual sense, having already detected a man several kilometers away.

Demon beasts finding it difficult to shapeshift into human form the more formidable they are. For instance, the king of birds, the Golden Flame Eagle—Qin Yu and Little Black had initially encountered a Golden Flame Eagle that, despite being at the Nascent Soul Stage, had not yet taken human form. Upon encountering the Golden Flame Eagle, they had no desire to fight and chose to flee immediately.

As for the three foxes they had killed a few days ago, they were considered rather ordinary Demon Foxes within the fox clan. The Black Wind Leopard, though it could take human form after passing the Four-nine Heavenly Tribulations, didn’t seem all that formidable. But the Black Wind Leopard was special in its own right.

The Black Wind Leopard was especially difficult to handle because of its speed!

The Leopard Clan was already renowned for its speed, with no other demon beast in the animal kingdom able to match it. However, the Black Wind Leopard was even more skilled in speed within the Leopard Clan. One could imagine the swiftness of the Black Wind Leopard. With such high speed, killing it would be difficult.

"Little Black, he’s coming." Qin Yu’s spiritual sense had the opponent completely locked on.

Qin Yu’s soul was constantly nourished and moistened by the Meteor Tear, making his spiritual sense stronger and stronger, out of proportion with his actual strength. This was the reason why Qin Yu sensed the Black Wind Leopard before Little Black did.

"Big Brother, it seems the Black Wind Leopard intends to attack us," Little Black arrogantly said.

A streak of black lightning shot towards them from afar, aimed directly at Qin Yu. A brilliant light burst from Qin Yu’s eyes as his entire being suddenly transformed into several illusions, his hands turning into eagle claws that clashed with the attacker dozens of times in rapid succession like lightning.

"How presumptuous!"

A cold smile formed at the corner of Qin Yu’s mouth. This Black Wind Leopard dared to corner him into a life-threatening situation, and Qin Yu grew fierce. His eagle claws suddenly turned into sword fingers, and a misty pale silver star power shaped into a sword shadow. Qin Yu’s finger pierced through the palm of the Black Wind Leopard.

The Black Wind Leopard retreated hundreds of meters, then stood in mid-air, but a hole appeared in its right palm, with blood flowing out.

In its human form, the Golden Core Stage Black Wind Leopard exuded a rugged aura, with streamlined muscles similar to Qin Yu’s. To be accurate, the Black Wind Leopard’s body was very similar to Qin Yu’s, only its aura was more wild than Qin Yu’s.

"Were the Yan Sisters killed by you? Speak!" The Black Wind Leopard, seemingly oblivious to the gap between them, demanded angrily.

With his arms crossed over his chest, Qin Yu slightly lifted his chin and smirked, "Oh? What if they were killed, what if they weren’t by me? Are you seeking revenge, or do you have some connection to those Yan Sisters? Were they your beloveds?" Qin Yu taunted.

Although the Black Wind Leopard was fast, it was only at the Early Stage Golden Core, and compared to Qin Yu, who was also known for his speed, it was still slightly inferior. If it were a Middle Stage Golden Core Black Wind Leopard, Qin Yu would have had to exert a lot more effort. Had it been a Late Stage Golden Core Black Wind Leopard, Qin Yu’s speed probably wouldn’t have been enough, and he wouldn’t have been so relaxed.

Unfortunately, the one he faced was merely at the Early Stage Golden Core.

"Hmph, where do you two strangers come from, not knowing that this territory within three thousand li is the domain of the Shen brothers? I am Shen Yi of the Shen brothers. The Yan Sisters belonged to us, Shen brothers. How dare you kill the Yan Sisters?" Shen Yi’s eyes flashed with a vengeful light.

Shen Yi, clad in beast skins, had muscles as tough as bronze and iron, looking imposing indeed. Yet Qin Yu paid no attention to his rage.

"Oh? It seems you Shen brothers have been looking for us for quite some time," Qin Yu said with a light smile.

The color drained from Shen Yi’s face as indeed, as soon as they discovered the Yan Sisters were dead, they started searching. They were certain that the demon beasts within their territory dare not confront the Yan Sisters, lacking the strength even if they desired to do so.

Therefore, it had to be outsiders. The Shen brothers thus began their search and eventually, Shen Yi found Qin Yu and Little Black.

"Are you my opponent?" Qin Yu asked with a smile.

"No!" Shen Yi was unabashed, his eyes filled with fierce light as he stared directly at Qin Yu, "Though your strength is not bad, for one man and one eagle, unfortunately... I am not alone! Awoo—" Shen Yi suddenly let out a howl to the sky, his voice echoing for hundreds of li.

Qin Yu’s expression subtly changed.

"Big Brother, leave this one to me, take down one first, and it’ll be easier to face his brother later!" No sooner had Little Black’s spiritual communication echoed in Qin Yu’s mind than Little Black had already transformed into a streak of light, rushing toward Shen Yi. Seeing a massive Black Hawk spread its wings and rapidly approach, Shen Yi immediately flew backward to retreat.

With a swipe of Little Black’s cold, sharp claws, it actually tore through the air, causing Shen Yi’s face to drastically change color. In an instant, using both hands and feet, he narrowly escaped.

"Awoooo——"

The urgency in Shen Yi’s howlings swiftly intensified, and at the same time, his human form began to transform. In almost a split second, the robust man had turned into a Black Wind Leopard, similar in size to an ordinary leopard.

However, this Black Wind Leopard had a green stripe on its back, and what was most astonishing was the appearance of pointed spikes on each of its four sharp claws.

"Little Black, does it take you this long to deal with an Early Stage Golden Core Black Wind Leopard? What did you say last time? It seemed like you claimed you were stronger than a Golden Flame Eagle of the same level. A Golden Flame Eagle is much more powerful than a Black Wind Leopard, and you..." Qin Yu teased with a smile from the side.

Little Black glanced at Qin Yu in annoyance, then stared at the Black Wind Leopard and communicated spiritually, "Sorry, little leopard, you’re about to die. Enjoy your last moments of being alive."

The Black Wind Leopard, upon hearing this, became furiously enraged and leaped into the air, swiftly covering dozens of meters in an instant.

"Smack!"

A flash of light sparked in Little Black’s eyes, and two streaks of purple lightning shot out from its eyes, directly striking Shen Yi, who hadn’t even reacted yet. A miserable howl followed, as the Black Wind Leopard’s body twitched and fell to the ground, electricity flickering over it. With a flap of Little Black’s wings, it vibrated rapidly several times, as if performing instantaneous movement, disappearing on the spot.

"Crack!"

Little Black’s eagle claws tore through the Black Wind Leopard’s skull, instantly ending its life. Little Black then swallowed its Golden Core without hesitation.

"Big Brother, this Black Wind Leopard has a brother; the Golden Core of the brother is yours," Little Black instantly communicated spiritually.

Qin Yu smiled, aware of Little Black’s good intentions. This Shen Yi was merely at the Early Stage Golden Core; his brother would be at least at the same stage, if not the Middle Stage. Recalling the scene of Little Black killing the Black Wind Leopard, Qin Yu asked in curiosity, "Little Black, since when can your eyes emit lightning?"

As far as Qin Yu knew, Little Black’s body could discharge lightning, and lightning could come from its mouth, but his eyes, those fragile organs, could also emit lightning?

"Big Brother, that’s my secret. Eagle Eye is an advantage of the Eagle Clan, you know. The lightning from my Eagle Eye is faster than that from my mouth, and the power isn’t much different," Little Black explained, lightly fluttering its wings.

Qin Yu secretly marveled in his heart at how mysterious Little Black was.

At least, if Qin Yu and Little Black were to engage in combat, Qin Yu wasn’t confident he could defeat Little Black. Little Black’s array of mysterious attacks was endless, especially when Little Black once asked Qin Yu for an Upper Grade Crystal Stone for Artifact Refining, but to date, Qin Yu had never seen Little Black use it.

"Little Black... you’re giving me his brother’s Golden Core? Don’t regret it later," Qin Yu said with a chuckle.

Little Black shook its head, "Why would I regret it? I..." Halfway through its speech, Little Black fell silent, "Two Black Wind Demon Beasts, and they’re both..." Little Black suddenly became somber, no longer as relaxed as before.

Qin Yu nodded, looking toward the northwest, "Right, both Black Wind Leopards are at the Golden Core Late Stage; in terms of speed, they might even be faster than me."

"A kid at the Early Stage Golden Core with two brothers, both at the Golden Core Late Stage Black Wind Leopards. Big Brother, this seems a bit troublesome. Golden Core Late Stage, and two of them at that, plus they’re incredibly quick Black Wind Leopards. They’re the toughest opponents we’ve encountered in a while," Little Black said.

The Golden Flame Eagle they had encountered before was even more formidable, but they didn’t even consider opposing or fighting that Nascent Soul Stage Golden Flame Eagle.

However, Qin Yu and Little Black now saw these two Black Wind Leopards as opponents worth fighting against.

"Old San!"

Two men, almost identical to Shen Yi and wrapped in beast skins, appeared next to the body. These men were near perfect in physique, with their build alone indicating that they were best suited for speed, while the power within their muscles was apparent as well.

"I, Shen Bao!" the man with green eyebrows stared at Qin Yu and Little Black and declared.

"I, Shen Yu!" the other man said as well.

"You killed my little brother, prepare to accompany him in death," the green-eyebrowed man on the left said with a cold voice.

Both of these Late Stage Golden Core High Masters from the Black Wind Leopard Clan exuded an astonishing aura; the death of their brother had driven them to a furious frenzy. Within their 3,000 miles of territory, no one dared to bully their little brother.

This little brother, although only at the Early Stage Golden Core, was untouchable under the wings of his two Late Stage Golden Core elder brothers. Shen Bao and Shen Yu, the brothers, treasured their Old San like a gem and would never allow anyone to bully him. And yet... their little brother was dead now!

Both Shen Bao and Shen Yu accumulated their strength, ready for the moment of their fiery eruption.

"Little Black, on our journey so far, we haven’t really had a good fight yet," Qin Yu transmitted.

Little Black’s Eagle Eye flashed with intense fighting spirit as it responded, "Big Brother, that Golden Flame Eagle was incredibly powerful, unlike any other demon beast we’ve encountered so far. The strongest was just at the Middle Stage Golden Core, and they were just ordinary demon beasts. Either too strong or too weak, they never really allowed us to unleash our true fighting power. But facing these two Late Stage Golden Core Black Wind Leopards, we can finally have a proper battle."

Qin Yu felt his blood boiling once again, reminiscent of the feeling he had as a child when he broke through his physical limits during extreme training.

"One on the left is mine, one on the right is yours," Qin Yu transmitted. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

In the eyes of Shen Bao, it was as though lightning burst forth, and with a fierce shout, he exclaimed, "Kill!" Next to him, Shen Yu’s aura became menacingly sharp as well; as members of the Black Wind Leopard Clan, their speed reached the limit, seeming like two streaks of black lightning rushing at Qin Yu and Little Black with immense swiftness.

"Kill!"

Qin Yu and Little Black’s aura peaked, and with a shout and an eagle’s cry, they unleashed their strongest fighting power, morphing into two streaks of lightning, each charging toward their respective opponents!