Chapter 149: Feng’s First Hunt [III]
"Raise your hand up and will your weapon to return, then deal with as many of them as you can!" Azel called out, his tone calm.
Feng’s face twisted in despair.
Did he really expect his Master to step in and save him?
A part of him still clung to the hope that Azel would step in and save him, but those crimson eyes said otherwise.
His master was testing him — forcing him to stand on his own feet.
Feng exhaled shakily, turned back toward the tree, and lifted his trembling hand.
Mana sparked faintly around his fingers as he willed the bone spear to return.
There was a faint whistling sound then the spear ripped free of the trunk, cutting through the cold air with terrifying speed.
Feng braced himself with both palms, and the weapon slammed into his grip and nearly knocked the breath of out him.
The monkeys shrieked as they closed the distance, snow scattering beneath their clawed feet.
Feng didn’t give himself time to think.
His arms moved almost on instinct as he took the stance he had mimicked countless times in his mind.
He inhaled deeply, gathering what little control of mana he had, and hurled the spear.
The weapon spun in the air like a silver flash.
It tore through one monkey, then many others, before embedding itself into the trunk of another tree.
Feng’s heart skipped.
His body quivered not from fear, but from the rush.
A surge of mana poured into him from the slain beasts, flooding his dantian.
His chest pounded with exhilaration.
’I think I just broke through.’
But there was no time to savor it.
A monkey had already leapt forward, claws bared.
"Too fast!" Feng cried, stumbling backward.
The swipe grazed past his chest, the icy wind burning against his skin.
In desperation, he willed the spear to return.
It shot through the air like a guided star, piercing the monster’s chest before it could strike again.
Blood sprayed across the snow as the beast collapsed, and the spear tore through to Feng’s waiting grip.
Another pulse of mana coursed through him.
His limbs no longer felt as heavy.
His breath steadied.
His fingers clenched firmly around the shaft.
Feng raised the spear, his eyes narrowing on the remaining monkeys.
This time, he didn’t charge recklessly.
He forced himself to still his breath, lowering his center of gravity, letting his prey come to him.
Snow crunched as two frost monkeys lunged.
One soared through the air, its jaws snapping as it came down toward him.
Feng’s hands moved with clarity.
The spear shot upward in a clean thrust, stabbing straight through the beast’s head.
The momentum of the kill nearly ripped it from his grip, but he twisted, pulling free and flinging the corpse at the second attacker.
The second monkey shrieked in surprise as the body collided with it, staggering it just enough.
Feng’s follow-up was merciless — his spear cut sideways through its skull, silencing it instantly.
The last monkey froze. Its instincts screamed at it.
It turned on its heel, scrambling to flee into the trees.
"Not this time," Feng growled.
He reared back, mana pulsing, and hurled the spear.
The weapon flew true.
It struck the fleeing beast in the back of the head, pinning it to the snow before ripping itself free and returning to his grip like a loyal wolf.
"That’s all," Feng muttered, chest heaving.
He wiped the blood from his cheek with the back of his sleeve.
There was no fear in his eyes... only fierce pride. "The spear returning is... very helpful."
Azel, leaning lazily against a trunk not far away, had to admit he was impressed
’Not bad. He’s learning faster than I thought.’
But before Feng could bask in victory, the air shifted.
The snow trembled as something heavy landed nearby.
From the trees, an oversized shadow emerged.
Its silver fur gleamed under the pale winter sun, each muscle rippling with restrained power.
Two crimson eyes glowed as it beat its chest, releasing a guttural roar that shook the ground.
A frost ape.
The rank-four monster stood taller than any man, its sheer presence dwarfing the frost monkeys.
Every stomp sent tremors through the snow.
Feng’s heart leapt into his throat, but strangely, he smirked.
He could feel the creature’s mana.
It was stronger than the frost monkeys but only slightly.
"This will be no problem," Feng whispered to himself, adrenaline blinding him to the danger.
He took the stance once more, mana surging into the spear until it glowed faintly blue.
"Heavenly Spear Projection!" he roared, hurling it at the beast.
The spear tore through the air — but the frost ape simply swung its massive arm, knocking the weapon away with a dismissive slap.
The weapon clattered uselessly across the snow.
"What?" Feng’s voice cracked, panic slicing through his confidence.
He willed the weapon to return, and it obeyed, but his pulse was already spiking.
He gritted his teeth, charging forward with a desperate cry. "I’m much stronger than it!"
He thrust the spear at the ape’s chest with all the strength he could muster.
The tip struck — then bounced off harmlessly.
The ape’s thick hide had absorbed the blow completely.
A massive hand swung toward him.
Feng’s instincts screamed, and he flung himself backward just in time, the gust of the swing nearly knocking him off his feet.
Snow blasted upward where the strike landed, a crater forming in the ground.
Feng stumbled, raising his spear again, but his confidence had evaporated.
His chest heaved.
His eyes darted frantically.
’What do I do?’
Then...
"You must always know your limits in battle," a voice cut through the chaos.
A brilliant streak of light flashed past him, carrying with it the sharp hiss of displaced air.
The frost ape froze mid-motion.
A sword gleamed in its skull, buried to the hilt.
The beast’s roar died in its throat as its massive body toppled, shaking the forest floor with its final breath.
Azel walked forward, crimson eyes unblinking.
The sword vanished as if it had never existed.
Feng staggered, his body trembling from the rush of almost dying.
His master’s words stung worse than the cold.
"I think you’re making the mistake of judging an enemy’s power by their mana alone," Azel said, his tone was calm. "A dangerous habit."
Feng gulped, forcing himself to nod. "...Yes, Master."
"Why don’t you take a look at the ape?" Azel suggested, motioning toward the corpse.
Feng hesitated, then stepped closer. He knelt, pressing a hand to the beast’s arm.
His fingers sank into the coarse fur, then pressed against the skin beneath.
He stiffened.
It was impossibly dense, like leather forged into steel.
His spear had never stood a chance.
"So thick..." Feng whispered.
Azel crossed his arms. "Exactly. Its defenses were beyond your current strength. Mana is only one part of power. Never forget that."
You had to discipline a cultivator before they let the pride get into their head.