Volume One, Chapter 12: Fierce

"You even dared to threaten the steward? You must have a death wish!" Crane Pine, who had just used a hidden weapon to provoke the Black Serpent, hoping it would go berserk and attack Ji Die, was inwardly excited.

Having offended the steward, this kid was in for trouble. Oh, almost forgot—he might not even make it out of this pen alive today!

Ji Die shot Crane Pine a cold glance. Seeing countless fruits whizzing toward him, he had no time to mind others. He swung around, using the basket as a shield before him, but a chill had already settled in his heart.

Since arriving at the Seven Mysteries Sect, he'd kept out of trouble, only wishing for a peaceful existence. Yet in this world, even if you don't bully others, others will always seek to bully you.

Let them come!

If they can't kill me, then one day, I'll put an end to them!

Bang! Bang! Fruit after fruit smashed against the basket, bursting open and leaving many holes. Some struck his arms, sending waves of pain; bruises quickly blossomed on his forearms.

Outside the pen, there were cries of agony as well. This was an indiscriminate assault; some fruits shot through the wooden bars, hitting the outsiders.

When the wailing subsided, Ji Die tossed aside the tattered basket, ignoring the bruises on his arm. He lifted his head to meet the furious gaze of the Black Serpent.

Rattle! Rattle! The chains stretched taut, seeming ready to snap at any moment. Hisses echoed in his ears—the earlier sneak attack had ignited the beast’s ferocity, making an enemy of everyone in sight.

Fortunately, the pen was spacious, spanning dozens of yards, and with the serpent chained, it couldn’t reach him for now.

But in this state, it clearly wouldn’t let anyone approach!

“Beast…” Ji Die lowered his gaze, masking his expression. The horse-faced man was watching him from outside. If he failed to complete his task, he’d be accused of insubordination, expelled from the sect, and have his cultivation crippled.

Very well, then—he would subdue this beast!

The Black Serpent, still on edge from the attack, lunged at him the moment he approached, its massive head crashing forward.

“This newcomer is finished,” a disciple outside the pen shook his head in pity.

The Black Serpent was at the peak of Breath Refinement level three, and as a beast, its hide was thick and tough. Early on, it was far more formidable than humans; usually, two or three people of equal cultivation were needed to subdue it.

Without spell arts, one didn’t stand a chance.

Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, Ji Die’s figure flashed and dodged the serpent’s charge with uncanny agility.

“So fast!” Before the crowd could even process this, the Black Serpent attacked again, jaws agape, snapping at Ji Die.

“Behave yourself, beast,” Ji Die’s eyes held no fear. Relying on his nimbleness, he continually dodged, evading its gaping maw.

The Black Serpent, chained by its tail, was limited in movement. Each time it tried to bite him, Ji Die deftly slipped away. Frustrated, it grew ever more violent, relentlessly chasing him through the pen.

This beast couldn’t be tamed!

If it wouldn’t submit, then he’d have to beat submission into it!

Ji Die’s eyes grew colder. Twisting his body, he dodged another savage snap, gathered his spiritual energy, and with bare fists, landed a solid blow on the serpent’s head.

Bang! Though its head was covered in scales, the serpent reeled, dizzy and enraged, and let out a furious, rotten-smelling hiss.

The stench was overwhelming, but Ji Die’s gaze only grew more frigid. Instead, his mind became clearer and calmer, his footwork light and agile as he continued to evade its attacks.

Then, before the Black Serpent could recover, he leapt onto its back, raising his fist and pounding down again.

“Beast! Will you yield or not?!”

The serpent howled in pain. Ji Die had already broken through to the fourth level of Breath Refinement; his strength was tremendous. His fists rained down, each blow making the serpent writhe and thrash, desperately trying to throw him off.

“Damn beast, your head is tough enough!” Ji Die clamped his legs tightly around the serpent, refusing to be shaken off, delivering blow after blow.

But the beast’s forehead was covered in scales, hard as iron; beating it felt almost masochistic. Soon, blood began to ooze from his knuckles.

“Will you yield?” Ji Die seemed to feel no pain, his eyes fierce, venting all his pent-up rage as his fists fell like a storm upon the wailing serpent.

“How is this possible? How can this kid be so strong? That Black Serpent is at the peak of Breath Refinement level three!” The scene stunned everyone. Crane Pine’s face twisted with disbelief, bordering on madness.

Even the horse-faced man frowned, realizing the rumors were wrong. This kid was nothing like a mere level-two cultivator—he was actually toying with the Black Serpent!

By now, the serpent, seeing stars, slammed its back against the wall in a desperate attempt to dislodge Ji Die, even at the cost of self-injury.

This tactic had some effect; as the beast crashed into the wall, Ji Die couldn’t help but grunt from the pain.

“Beast, so you still won’t yield? Then let’s see who gives out first!” As the Black Serpent charged the wall again, Ji Die’s face darkened. He gathered all his spiritual power, raining blow after blow on its head.

Man and serpent grappled in a desperate struggle—Ji Die only grew fiercer, while the serpent had to endure both its own collisions and Ji Die’s relentless assault. At last, with a thunderous crash, it collapsed to the ground, utterly spent and unable to move.

Seeing this, Ji Die finally ceased his attack and leapt off coldly.

His own body ached from the repeated impacts, his bones feeling close to breaking, but he stood tall, gazing down at the serpent at his feet.

“Will you submit?”

The Black Serpent couldn’t speak, but its gaze was filled with a very human-like terror.

Ji Die sneered. As expected, some creatures in this world only respond to force. Treat them well, and they’ll show you no respect; a good beating is the surest way to inspire fear.

Hiss…

Outside the pen, all had fallen silent—only the sound of sharp intakes of breath could be heard.

The scene was simply too shocking. A mighty beast at the peak of Breath Refinement level three, beaten barehanded into submission!

“Has this kid broken through to level three already?” As the strongest present, the horse-faced man saw everything clearly, his face grave.

He was certain now: Ji Die was not at level two.

True, the Black Serpent’s movements were restricted and it couldn’t use its full strength, and Ji Die had relied mostly on agility—but that was still a true peak level-three beast. Attacks from a level-two cultivator wouldn’t have left a mark, let alone beaten it down!

Which meant this young man was at least at level three.

Yet, it had only been seven days since Ji Die arrived at the Seven Mysteries Sect, and he had already broken through two realms in succession!

He remembered clearly: when Ji Die first arrived with Senior Sister Song, he had only been at the first level of Breath Refinement.

Unaware of the horse-faced man’s thoughts, Ji Die, ignoring his own aches, picked up the brush and resumed his work.

The Black Serpent, though exhausted, still tried to struggle. Ji Die had held back just enough that, with the beast’s tough hide, its injuries weren’t fatal, though it was in no state for further resistance and would need time to recover.

“Don’t move!” The moment Ji Die saw it squirm, he landed another punch on its head.

The Black Serpent, utterly aggrieved, dared not move again.