Endless Ascension

Chapter 15: Coward, angel, glutton ? ?

Racing through the night, Qin Ze finally returned to the cave as dawn broke, casting a dim light over the sky.

Inside the cave, Qin Ze's mind was still unsettled, his ears strained for any sign of disturbance. As the restless night gave way to a semblance of calm, he breathed a faint sigh of relief.

The beast he had narrowly escaped from within the Kunlun Mountain Range was of terrifying strength. Had he not fled swiftly, Qin Ze would have undoubtedly fallen prey to its jaws.

"How could there be a beast escaping from the Kunlun Mountain Range?"

"This is merely its periphery; surely there should be no fifth-tier beasts here?"

"Judging by the ferocious screams earlier, it seemed to be under attack. If that's the case, perhaps an adventurer's team has ventured into this hunting ground."

"If that's true, then this is about to become interesting."

The sudden turn of events shattered the silence. The beast that emerged from the Kunlun Mountain Range was indeed a fifth-tier beast—the Violent Kong Ape.

It had not only condensed a core crystal but had also cultivated a divine ability, Fury.

Under the influence of Fury, its strength, speed, and defense doubled, allowing it to unleash its full fury within the confines of its demonic power three consecutive times. The mountain-like body of the ape went berserk, painting a scene of unimaginable terror.

Divine abilities transcended ordinary cultivation techniques, requiring individuals to create, comprehend, and manifest formidable techniques based on their innate conditions or abilities. They were unique, and cultivating supreme divine abilities was exceedingly difficult, even for those at the Sky-Earth Realm or even the Grand Completion Realm, who might struggle to comprehend them throughout their lifetimes.

Divine techniques were far more challenging to master than ordinary cultivation methods, and achieving breakthroughs demanded immense fortune.

The Violent Kong Ape's Fury divine ability was a manifestation of its own strength, comprehended from the Laws of Force. Though it was only a primary divine ability, it empowered the ape to instantly double its strength, which was sufficient to contend with peak Spirit Gathering Realm cultivators.

Qin Ze sat cross-legged, regulating his internal breath.

Exhausted from a night without rest, he grew increasingly drowsy, eventually drifting off into sleep.

"Ah..."

In the morning, a shrill scream pierced through the cave, so piercing that it made one's ears ache.

Qin Ze opened his eyes, only to find Yun Man standing at the depths of the cave, clutching her chest, staring at him with a terrified expression. Seeing her frightened demeanor, he couldn't help but scowl. "What's all the fuss about?"

"Y-y-you... Why is there blood everywhere on you?" Yun Man cowered timidly on one side, staring at Qin Ze, fear etched on her face.

Qin Ze glanced at the dark stains of blood on his clothes and rubbed the back of his head, thinking, "I was so focused on escaping last night that I forgot to clean up."

Having slain hundreds of beastly demons the previous night, Qin Ze had been drenched in their blood. Upon returning to his cave, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep meditating without a proper wash. Now, the pungent smell of blood wafted from his body, causing Qin Ze to furrow his brows. "It's demon blood. I'll go wash up."

After saying that, Qin Ze stood up and walked to the entrance of the cave. Scanning the surroundings, he found no sign of demons and prepared to head down to the stream for a cleanse. Just as he stepped out, Yun Man hurried after him, yet she kept her distance, as if afraid of him.

Qin Ze glanced back at Yun Man and continued down the mountain without hesitation.

Yun Man followed closely behind, muttering to herself in a whisper only she could hear, resembling a chattering young girl.

At the foot of the mountain, Qin Ze cleansed himself and then looked at Yun Man from a distance. "Wash your face, coward."

"You're the coward!" Yun Man retorted indignantly, eyeing the many stains on her clothes. She glared at Qin Ze before heading towards the stream.

Recalling how Yun Man had fainted from fear the previous day, Qin Ze couldn't help but chuckle out loud. "Do you know you fainted yesterday?"

"Y-you... I didn't... I didn't faint!" Yun Man's cheeks flushed bright red, caught off guard, and she tried to cover with a bold denial. However, the memory of Qin Ze killing Qin Shan sent a shiver down her spine.

As martial practitioners, killing was a common occurrence; the weak were prey to the strong, and survival of the fittest was the rule. Yet, Yun Man couldn't bear the thought of killing, let alone witnessing such gruesome scenes, which had led to her immediate faint.

Qin Ze splashed his face with the icy mountain water, feeling refreshed. Sitting on a rock, he watched Yun Man as she crouched by the stream, slightly bending over. Her small hands cupped some water and gently patted her face. The gentle sunlight shone down, casting a radiant glow on her face, the droplets of water sparkling like crystals, creating a fleeting moment of eternity!

Purer than the stream itself, Qin Ze had never seen a girl so innocent, her beauty captivating his heart.

"Hey, what are you staring at?" Yun Man turned her head to find Qin Ze gazing at her intently, her heart fluttering. She touched her cheeks, feeling the warmth, and muttered angrily.

"If you're so scared, how did you dare to participate in the Autumn Hunt?"

"I'm not scared! I'm Yun Man, fearless of heaven and earth!"

"There's a snake behind you."

"Ah... Where? Where is it?" Yun Man exclaimed dramatically, jumping to her feet and immediately diving into the stream. Glancing back, she realized Qin Ze had tricked her and immediately puffed out her cheeks, hands on hips, glaring at him furiously. With a huff of annoyance, she silently cursed him in her heart.

"Haha..."

Qin Ze burst into exaggerated laughter, secretly enjoying his first attempt at teasing a girl.

Yun Man stood in the stream, sunlight illuminating her back as a strand of disheveled hair fell loose. She gently flicked it away with her little finger, looking like an angel descended from heaven. Qin Ze gazed at her, slightly mesmerized.

Following the stream's flow, Qin Ze's eyes suddenly lit up with a smile. "We've got breakfast sorted."

"What's sorted?" Yun Man asked curiously.

"Don't move," Qin Ze stood up and rushed towards her, staring intently at her jade-like feet submerged in the water, his face betraying his excitement.

Frightened by Qin Ze's sudden reaction, Yun Man froze, but the sensation of something slimy and slightly ticklish moving against her feet made her panic. "What is it? What's on my feet?"

"Don't look down, please don't look..." Qin Ze warned, afraid that if Yun Man saw the big catfish, she might jump and scare it away. "For breakfast's sake, just stay still..."

Seeing Qin Ze's expression, Yun Man trembled slightly, certain that something substantial was beneath her feet. The gentle, sinuous movement felt like a snake...

The thought of a snake made Yun Man's face pale, and she stammered, "Is... is... it not... a snake...?"

Meanwhile, Qin Ze was carefully making his way into the water, not even glancing at Yun Man. Noticing her shaking intensify, he thought to himself, "She's really timid."

With lightning speed, he reached down towards her feet...

"Ah!!!" Yun Man screamed and flung herself onto Qin Ze's back, wrapping her arms and legs around his neck like an octopus, clinging desperately.

Qin Ze felt two soft mounds pressing against his back, and his feet sank into the ground before he regained his balance. Undeterred, his hands plunged deeper, quickly scooping up a large catfish and depositing it on the shore. Relieved, he patted Yun Man's pert, taut buttocks playfully. "There, you little coward."

Yun Man saw the large, dark fish flopping on the shore and let out a sigh of relief. But realizing she was still clinging to Qin Ze's back, her arms wrapped around his neck, and most embarrassingly, the hard slap she'd just received on her buttocks, her face flushed crimson.

It was the first time she had hugged someone of the opposite sex, and her blushing face turned crimson, as if it could drip with water.

She immediately jumped off Qin Ze's embrace, unable to look him in the eye.

Qin Ze didn't bother much with her reaction; his stomach was growling, and he needed to fill it first. Gazing at the plump catfish, his mouth involuntarily watered.

Grilling fish was his specialty. In his previous life, as the leader of the orphanage, he had climbed mountains and waded through rivers, seemingly capable of anything.

Swiftly, he gutted the fish, gathered dry twigs, built a wooden frame, and lit a fire. Soon, the aroma of seared fish filled the air...

Yun Man stood bashfully to the side, watching Qin Ze's every move. The alluring scent of the fish wafted into her nostrils, causing her stomach to growl twice, and a trace of saliva escaped the corner of her mouth unconsciously.

"Come and eat if you're hungry." Qin Ze squatted by the fire, not even lifting his head, as the aroma of the catfish's flesh sparked his insatiable appetite.

At this point, Yun Man didn't hesitate. She quickly approached and squatted beside Qin Ze, giggling and asking, "Is it ready yet?"

"Almost."

"It smells so good."

"Of course, it does."

"Why don't you catch another one? I'll have this one."

Qin Ze gazed at Yun Man with wide-open eyes, thinking, "This girl has some nerve."

"Oh, stop staring at me like that. It makes me shy."

Qin Ze remained silent.

"Alright, alright. You can have the head and tail, and I'll take the body. Heehee, it's settled then..."

As the fragrance of the grilled fish spread, Qin Ze suddenly realized a grave oversight. He had forgotten they were in the Kunlun Border Mountains, a place where demonic beasts ran rampant...

A sudden sense of danger crept into his heart...

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