Chapter 40. Fighting the Beast King, Fist Wind Instant Kill

"Where is he now?" the woman asked, her voice cold and detached, her eyes brimming with indifference.

"He should still be in Hu City. We've already confirmed his exact location," the man in the lead, clad in a black suit, quickly replied. The deduction came from the last known position of Elite Squad Nine.

"The first incident could still be written off as an accident. But if it happened a second time, then it's no longer the same." The woman idly toyed with the jade bracelet around her wrist. After a brief moment of contemplation, her tone sharpened. "Dispatch three elite squads. And in addition, reassign one ace squad to assist. I don't care whether he's dead or alive, bring him back. Remember this. I want that man."

Her words revealed the importance she attached to Lu Yuan. To deploy four entire squads for him was no trivial matter.

Every one of those squads consisted of Awakened artificially cultivated by Longevity Genetics. Especially the ace squad, they were the true cream of the crop, elites among elites, their strength unquestionable.

"This..." the suited man hesitated for a moment, his tone cautious. "But most of the company's attention is currently focused on the Mausoleum of Mount Li... Second Madam, regarding redeploying the ace squad, shouldn't this be discussed with the First Madam first?"

The Global Awakening had only just begun. Longevity Genetics did not yet possess an overwhelming number of Awakened, and most of them had already been sent to the Mausoleum of Mount Li to carry out missions of far greater importance.

To now dispatch four squads simply for one seemingly insignificant man... he feared the First Madam would not be pleased.

The woman's expression turned razor sharp the instant she heard the mention of the First Madam.

"What? Are you trying to use the First Madam's name to suppress me?" Her voice cut like ice. "Since the day I entered the Wang Family, Tao'er and I have had our share in Longevity Genetics. It is not your place to meddle or wag your tongue here!"

In that instant, her emotions flared. The elegance she displayed earlier had vanished without a trace, replaced by raw fury.

After all, the First Madam was the true wife of the Wang family. She, despite being called the Second Madam, was in truth nothing more than a mistress. The only reason she had even managed to enter the household was because of her son.

"Yes, I'll see to it immediately," the man bowed his head at once, not daring to defy her.

If word of this reached the family head, everyone present would face severe punishment. Moreover, he was only a subordinate. His sole duty was obedience. Without another word, he quickly departed with his men.

"Hmph!" The Second Madam let out a cold snort once the door closed behind them. "Always trying to use the First Madam's name to suppress me. We'll see soon enough who Longevity Genetics truly belongs to in the end!"

"Mother, don't let those fools upset you. They're not worth it."

A calm voice drifted from the side chamber. A young man stepped out, around seventeen or eighteen years old. His build was well-proportioned, his bearing exceptional. Dressed in a martial training robe, a heavy aura surged from his body the instant he entered, filling the room with oppressive weight.

"Tao'er..." The Second Madam's expression instantly softened at the sight of her son. Rising to her feet, she walked over to him.

"How has your training been? What stage are you at now?"

"Foundation Realm VI!" Wang Tao declared proudly.

"Good! Excellent!" The Second Madam's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Keep pressing forward. You must surpass that bitch's son."

"It's only a matter of time!" Wang Tao replied confidently with a smile. Then he frowned slightly. "But Mother, why are you paying so much attention to that Lu fellow? To even send an ace squad after him... If Father hears of this, he might not be pleased."

To him, Lu Yuan was a trivial matter and not worthy of mobilizing so many resources.

"You don't understand." The Second Madam shook her head. "We've already failed twice. One of the fallen squads was even composed of Awakened. I am certain that Lu Yuan is no ordinary man. Perhaps he obtained something from that fallen meteorite. Remember, anything from beyond the heavens is extraordinary, often infused with wondrous and mysterious substances."

Her gaze softened as it fell on her son. "Tao'er, your talent is exceptional, but your genetic strength still lags behind that bitch's son. It must be enhanced. If we can extract the genes from Lu Yuan and transplant them into you, your talent will soar, enabling another evolution. When that happens, you will earn the full recognition of your father and the entire Wang family."

There was no other way. Though both mother and son had been acknowledged by the Wang family, their standing was precarious, suppressed at every turn. Many of the clan's core secrets remained beyond their reach. They weren't even privy to what those secrets were.

If they wanted to overturn their situation, to rise above, the only path was to further enhance Wang Tao's genes.

"I see." Wang Tao's eyes lit with realization. "If that's the case, why not let me handle Lu Yuan personally? I'm already at Foundation Realm VI, and I've cultivated one of the clan's powerful breathing techniques. Taking him down would be no more difficult than flipping my hand."

Confidence laced his words. He was certain his current strength was enough to earn him a spot on the Top 100 Rankings.

"No." The Second Madam rejected him outright. "If you were to act, it would surely draw the attention of the First Madam."

Compared to her son, her vision was broader. She had weighed the situation carefully. The fewer people who knew, the greater the profit they could reap in secret. Once her son fused Lu Yuan's genes, he would rise in one leap and crush the First Madam and her son completely.

"Alright," Wang Tao nodded, disappointment flickering across his face. "Then do I still need to head to the Mausoleum of Mount Li?"

"Of course! That place is critical. I've already gathered a number of helpers for you. Perhaps you can seize a portion of the opportunities there. Otherwise, all the benefits will be left for others." The Second Madam's tone carried weight. She had already reached out to contacts within her clan, who promised their support.

Everyone knew the Mausoleum of Mount Li held vast opportunities. Whoever claimed its treasures would, without a doubt, dominate the spotlight for a time to come.

The First Madam had already dispatched her men there. Naturally, the Second Madam would not let such a golden opportunity slip by.

With the matter of Lu Yuan and the Mausoleum both in motion, it was like striking from two directions. At least one plan was bound to succeed.

"Understood!"

Joy spread across Wang Tao's face. He had been training relentlessly, yearning for the chance to test himself in the world. His elder brother had already earned the title of Southern Sovereign. He would not allow himself to fall behind.

***

Half a month later...

Deep within the central mountain ranges, human presence was nearly nonexistent. Vegetation grew rampant, untamed and primeval. Colossal trees soared hundreds of meters high, their vast canopies blotting out the sky. Even the blazing noonday sun could not pierce through the thick layers of leaves, leaving the forest shrouded in shadow.

From time to time, thunderous roars echoed through the wilderness, reverberating like the cries of ancient titans. The primal, savage sounds made one's blood run cold, as though the land itself had regressed to the primordial age, cloaked in mystery and dread.

At this moment, within a vast clearing, a wolf over twenty meters tall hurtled forward at a breakneck speed. Its entire body was covered in crimson fur, and a single horn jutted from its forehead, glowing with a red hue.

Its aura was thick and oppressive, exuding majesty and dominance. With every ripple of its powerful muscles, the very air seemed to quiver. Its claws were sharp as celestial blades, each strike capable of rending through massive ancient trees as though they were no more than paper.

This was the Monohorn Giant Wolf, the undisputed ruler of this territory. Whenever it appeared, other mutated beasts instinctively withdrew, not daring to approach.

Yet, if one looked closely, its eyes flickered with fear. Its frantic dash was not that of a predator, but a prey fleeing for its life. From its massive body, streams of blood spilled unceasingly, leaving a crimson trail across the earth.

"I told you, running is meaningless. You might as well stay obediently and become my dinner."

A lazy, drawling voice drifted through the forest.

The Monohorn Giant Wolf stiffened, its fear intensifying. Its gaze darted frantically in every direction as it lowered its frame into a guarded stance, prepared to strike the instant its foe revealed himself.

The very next moment, a tall and slender figure plummeted from the sky, and slammed into the earth.

Boom!

The ground quaked violently, fissures spiderwebbing outward as dust and smoke erupted into the air. Trees nearby shattered outright, unable to withstand the impact.

Roarrrrrrrr!

The Monohorn Giant Wolf bellowed, its roar echoing like muffled thunder. It raised its razor-sharp foreclaws and lunged straight at the figure. This strike was fueled with its full strength for it knew that failure meant certain death.

"Such a disobedient dog..."

From within the haze of dust, Lu Yuan emerged with a faint smile playing on his lips. His aura was completely suppressed, making him seem utterly ordinary. Yet even as the wolf's colossal claws descended upon him like celestial blades, Lu Yuan did not dodge.

He simply clenched his fist and struck forward.

Boom!

A thunderous sonic boom split the air. The atmosphere itself ruptured, surging into waves of chaotic currents.

The Monohorn Giant Wolf hadn't even reached Lu Yuan before its foreclaws shattered under the sheer force of that single punch. Its leg bones, harder than steel, splintered apart with sharp cracks.

Its massive body was sent flying through the air, crashing backward with unstoppable momentum. Hundreds of towering ancient trees were uprooted and toppled before its colossal frame finally slammed into the ground.

There it lay sprawled, gasping weakly, its breaths shallow and ragged.

"I thought you'd be stronger than this."

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Lu Yuan lowered his fist and glanced at the massive chasm left behind by the force of his blow. A trace of helplessness flickered across his countenance.

He was simply too strong now. Even without resorting to any hidden trump cards, his tempered physique alone was enough to sweep aside nearly any opponent.

Take this wolf, for example. Its strength was comparable to that of a Foundation Realm VIII Awakened. Yet it hadn't even touched him before being crushed to the brink of death with a single punch.

To think this wolf is hailed as the beast king of the region...

Lu Yuan shook his head, unwilling to dwell on it further.

He stepped to the carcass and raised his right hand. Radiant streaks of light laced with sharp sword intent flared into existence, condensing into the Great Luo Sword Embryo, which fell neatly into his grasp.

With one decisive slash, he severed the wolf's leg containing its most precious essence before turning to leave.

Around him, powerful mutated beasts that had witnessed the scene trembled violently. Their bodies shivered and their heads bowed, not daring to approach.

But Lu Yuan paid them no attention. Dragging the massive wolf leg with one hand, he casually pulled out his phone with the other.

"About five hundred miles left to Chang'an," he muttered. "Might as well eat my fill and replenish some energy before moving on."

Finding an open clearing, he crouched down and built a fire. Without ceremony, he began roasting the essence-rich flesh of the giant wolf's leg.

In truth, this was how he had survived since leaving Hu City.

After the Global Awakening, with all living beings stepping onto the path of evolution, vast mountain ranges and primeval forests had sprung up across the land where none had existed before. Airways, highways, and railroads had been reduced to near-useless decoration, and vehicles could no longer traverse the new terrain. Thus, Lu Yuan had relied solely on his own legs, running all the way from Hu City.

Of course, travelling by foot consumed an immense amount of energy. Even being at the Unfettered Realm, he couldn't keep up without replenishment. Mutated beasts born from the Awakening naturally became his sustenance.

Their flesh and blood contained unique energy, nourishment that Awakened needed. The stronger the beast, the greater the energy it held.

This was how Lu Yuan had sustained himself along the way.

Over the past half month, countless mutated beasts—even those revered as beast kings—had ended up as nothing more than meat on his plate.

After all, with his current strength, the energy of ordinary beasts was far from enough.

This was still only the early days of the Global Awakening. For now, traveling across the country on foot was still possible. But in the future, that would no longer be the case.

Lu Yuan's thoughts lingered as he watched the wolf leg over the fire, its flesh gradually turning golden-brown under the blaze.

He knew well that as time passed, the land itself would continue to expand. Mountains tens of thousands of meters high would rise endlessly, dotting the horizon everywhere one looked. The entire world would swell to an unimaginable scale.

If one could gaze from the heavens, they would see that not only the planet, but the entire solar system was expanding proportionally. The Global Awakening was not limited to reshaping the planet alone, but was reshaping the vast universe.

But it hardly mattered. With the continual evolution of mankind, once Awakened reached a certain realm, they would gain the ability to soar freely across the skies. And stronger beings would even tread among the stars themselves, moving through the starfields and surviving in the void of the universe.

Judging by my current state, I'll still need some time before I can break the fourth shackle.

At this moment, Lu Yuan quietly assessed himself.

In just three months, he had crossed two realms and advanced into the third stage of evolution. This was thanks to the fusion of multiple peerless divine artifacts. Yet such a solid foundation came with its own problem.

If he wanted to continue evolving and progressing, he required far more energy than that of ordinary Awakened.

There were only two ways to obtain such energy.

One was through visualization methods and breathing techniques.

The other was to consume rare spiritual fruits and exotic herbs, divine artifacts birthed by the world itself.

These had been the mediums of evolution. And for Awakened, they also became vital sources of cultivation energy.

Thus, Lu Yuan's next goals were clear: to obtain the breathing technique hidden within the Mausoleum of Mount Li, and to search for spiritual fruits and herbs.

He vaguely recalled that near Chang'an, several rare fruits had once appeared. Their effects were not earth-shattering, but still worth gathering.

Just enough.

He calculated the time in his mind; there was still a window before the mausoleum fully opened. He could use this period to secure those fruits first.

Soon, under the blaze of the flames, a mouthwatering aroma wafted into the air.

"Not bad." Lu Yuan inhaled deeply, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. The fragrance was rich and enticing.

Mutated beasts were unlike ordinary animals. Even without seasoning, their flesh carried an exquisite taste and texture of its own.

Before long, he was feasting heartily. As the wolf meat filled his stomach, the pores across his body opened up, a sign that his blood and flesh were being replenished with essence.

Rustle—

All of a sudden, a faint sound brushed against Lu Yuan's ears.

Perhaps the aroma had drawn in other mutated beasts. Yet he paid it no mind, for he could already sense that the approaching creature was pitifully weak, something he could crush with a single hand.

What caught his attention instead was the faint presence of several Awakened moving with it.

Swoosh—

In the next instant, a mutated beast lunged from the forest.

It was a hedgehog, the size of a car, its body bristling with quills that gleamed like forged swords.

At the same time, dozens of razor-sharp flying daggers shot forth from the depths of the trees, each flashing with a cold light.

In but a heartbeat, they were already upon Lu Yuan.