Chapter 7

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Chapter 7: Are We Going to Lose?

"Well, I was just cultivating and didn’t expect to run out of energy," Zhang Yang chuckled awkwardly.

The Night Stalker smiled wryly. "Without the Golden Sun Spirit Fruit, my recovery won’t be easy."

"No worries," Zhang Yang reassured him. "My senior sister must have healing elixirs. They’ll definitely cure you."

"Who is your senior sister?" the Night Stalker asked.

"You’ll know when you see her," Zhang Yang replied, offering no further explanation.

He then helped the severely weakened Night Stalker onto the Ironback Blue Bull, and together, they rode away.

Since they had taken the wrong path earlier, Zhang Yang guided the Ironback Blue Bull to retrace their steps.

Without needing to ask, he already knew that the Night Stalker’s injuries had been caused by Yun Liuhuo. Staying in the area was too dangerous.

Sensing the urgency, the Ironback Blue Bull picked up speed and raced ahead.

Despite some initial healing, the Night Stalker remained critically weak. Even the smallest bump was unbearable, yet he gritted his teeth and endured the pain. Zhang Yang only realized the extent of his suffering when he noticed that the Night Stalker had fainted from the pain.

Slowing the Ironback Blue Bull, he carefully laid the Night Stalker across its back and continued forward at a steadier pace.

After half an hour, he unexpectedly encountered Su Shentong and Liu Changfeng again.

The two were still locked in a fierce battle.

After nearly half a day of fighting, both were drenched in sweat, utterly exhausted, and breathing heavily. Yet, their determination remained unshaken—they were still fighting to seize the giant elephant token.

Watching the scene, Zhang Yang hesitated.

Should he tell them that the ancient giant elephant bloodline within the token had long since vanished?

"Gentlemen," he called out.

Both fighters froze mid-strike, their swords still drawn as they turned to look at him.

Compared to their earlier fierce presence, Zhang Yang found them much more approachable now.

"How about I tell you a way to settle this quickly?"

The two exchanged glances.

Then, they both nodded.

"What method?" Su Shentong asked.

Zhang Yang pulled out the two martial arts books he had acquired earlier and muttered, "Well…"

Su Shentong scoffed and casually tossed him another book.

"Consider this martial arts technique your payment. Now, speak."

Zhang Yang glanced at the book and was overjoyed.

"You two are evenly matched," he explained. "If you continue like this, it could take three days and nights to determine a winner. So why not compete in speed and skill instead? The giant elephant token is lodged in that tree. Whoever gets there first and grabs it keeps it. Simple, right?"

"Good idea," Su Shentong agreed. "We’re equally strong, and this way is much faster."

Liu Changfeng nodded. "Agreed. Whoever gets the token first keeps it."

Both sat down and took out elixirs to recover their energy before the challenge.

Zhang Yang asked, "Do you want me to oversee the contest?"

"No need," Su Shentong replied coldly. "You’re not welcome here. Leave."

Zhang Yang shrugged and urged the Ironback Blue Bull forward.

As they watched him leave, Su Shentong sneered.

"The martial arts technique I gave him… Do you think he can actually use it?" Liu Changfeng chuckled.

"Of course not," Su Shentong replied. "If he thinks he got the better end of the deal, he’s sorely mistaken."

Liu Changfeng smirked. "What technique did you give him?"

Su Shentong grinned. "Ant King Power."

Liu Changfeng’s eyes widened in shock. "Ant King Power? You actually gave him Ant King Power? That’s one of the top fifty powers in the world!"

"So what?" Su Shentong shrugged.

Liu Changfeng took a moment, then burst into laughter.

"True. The requirements to cultivate Ant King Power are even stricter than those for Giant Elephant Power or Demon Elephant Power. Not only does it require a special bloodline, but also a solid foundation and an exceptional physique. Though it’s an unparalleled technique, you could toss it on the street and no one would be able to use it. But tell me, Brother Su, where do you keep getting these high-level martial arts techniques?"

Su Shentong smirked, reached into his storage pouch, and pulled out another book.

"See this? Baxiang Power."

Liu Changfeng gasped. "Baxiang Power?! That’s one of the most powerful techniques in the Dragon Dao!"

He flipped through the pages and sighed.

"As expected… another technique he can’t cultivate."

Su Shentong laughed. "If I run into that kid again, I can use this to make an even better deal."

"Good idea," Liu Changfeng agreed, laughing heartily.

After recovering seventy to eighty percent of their energy, the two resumed their competition for the giant elephant token.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yang had already traveled far, completely unaware of their conversation.

As he rode, he casually flipped through the martial arts book.

Ant King Power.

After reading it, a familiar sensation washed over him.

He understood it completely.

Just like his earlier mastery of the three great powers, this technique was no different—

As if it had always been a part of him.

At this point, he had mastered four major techniques, all of them power-based.

Before long, he returned to the place where he had first waited for Yuluan, realizing that he had initially taken the wrong route when leaving with the giant elephant token.

After confirming his direction, he set off once again.

Due to the long journey, by dusk, he decided to follow Xue Feishuang’s advice and avoid traveling at night. Instead, he found a suitable place to rest.

That night, the Night Stalker briefly woke up, managed to eat a little, and revealed to Zhang Yang that he had been injured by Yun Liuhuo. He also warned him that if he ever encountered Yun Liuhuo, he should surrender immediately—otherwise, it would become a matter of life and death.

After a short conversation, the Night Stalker could no longer hold on and fell back into a deep sleep.

Zhang Yang, however, felt wide awake, so he began to cultivate. Unfortunately, there was little wood energy in the area, resulting in only minimal progress.

And just like that, the night passed.

The next day, he resumed his journey.

At the Blood Fox Thieves’ Stronghold – The Main Hall

Xue Feishuang sat in a tiger-skin chair, her expression cold and serious.

Before her, Yuluan spoke in frustration.

"The Blood Fox thieves are too cunning. When they fled, they deliberately split into eight teams, each heading in different directions. They left so many false trails that we can’t determine which way Zhao Yu and Shiqing actually went. Unfortunately, we must defeat those two to eliminate the Blood Fox thieves completely."

She clenched her fists.

"I arrived too late. If only I had come a little earlier…"

She sighed, then hesitated before adding, "I wonder where that monster Zhang went. He’s much faster than me. Maybe he has already caught up and is secretly tracking the Blood Fox thieves."

At the mention of Zhang Yang, Xue Feishuang’s already serious expression darkened with anger.

Yuluan lowered her head, feeling the weight of her failure.

"I told you to keep an eye on him! What have you done?" Xue Feishuang snapped.

Yuluan defended herself, "You can’t blame me entirely! I tried my best to deceive him, yet he still managed to disappear completely. If anyone is to blame, it’s him—he’s simply too much of a monster! Who else could form a Blood Contract with a single drop of blood and make an ordinary Ironback Blue Bull undergo such a drastic transformation?"

Xue Feishuang exhaled sharply, feeling utterly helpless.

She had misjudged him.

The apprentice she had taken in and personally trained seemed to have no weaknesses at all—only extraordinary talent.

Just then, eight messenger pigeons arrived one after another, landing in Yuluan’s hand.

She quickly retrieved the messages and read through them. Her expression turned grim.

"General, the Blood Fox thieves are too devious. After we dispatched teams in eight different directions to pursue them, we discovered traces of their movements only thirty miles away. However, it turns out they split up again, making it impossible to track them. At this rate… we are likely to lose the title battle."

A deep sigh escaped Xue Feishuang’s lips.

This had been a well-calculated move by the thieves. Their cunning reputation was well-earned.

With only a hundred Snow Guards, finding them within the remaining five or six days would be nearly impossible.

A sinking feeling settled in her chest.

They were going to lose.

And if they failed, given the harsh requirements for earning a title, they might never get another opportunity in their lifetimes.