Chapter 21: Since We're Already Here

Night had fallen, silent and profound. All creation slumbered, save for a waning crescent moon suspended in the sky, casting its cold radiance across the land.

At a certain moment, a hazy figure emerged from the darkness, gliding like a wraith through the checkpoint at the foot of the slope and silently stepping onto the southern rise.

“They set up both overt and covert guards—Slim Monkey truly is a shrewd one. But if he thinks that’s enough to stop me, he’s sorely mistaken.”

Casting a glance at the patrolling sentries, Zhao Er pressed onward up the slope. His conviction only grew: something was hidden here, something worth seeking. He had a premonition that tonight would yield an unexpected harvest.

“Snow Without Trace.”

Unleashing his movement technique to the utmost, Zhao Er accelerated his pace.

Meanwhile, within the manor atop the southern slope, Jiang Chen frowned at the six blood-condensing stones arrayed before him.

For days, he had sought a way to eradicate the lingering will within the blood energy—remnants left by the beasts from which it was drawn. He had tried three methods: first, scouring the blood energy with pure killing intent; second, wielding the Profound Killing Finger to manifest the will of martial arts; third, fusing his soul ability and refining the blood energy with the Eye of Killing.

In theory, all three methods should have had some effect, but their efficacy and thoroughness remained uncertain. The will hidden within the beast blood was too faint, almost imperceptible even to him.

“To truly perceive the remnant will in this blood, I’ll need a stronger soul. But that’s no easy feat.”

“The soul-forging technique I devised in my previous life still works here, yet its efficiency is low and it has a ceiling. Once I return to my peak, progress will stall. If I wish to break through again, it may take nothing less than a brush with life and death.”

Thinking of his soul ability, Jiang Chen’s brows knit tighter.

In his past life, it was only through a hundred ordeals that his soul surpassed the ordinary. If the typical person’s soul was first-tier, his was second-tier. This was why, upon transmigrating, he could easily devour Jiang Wang’s lingering soul and claim this body as his own.

Now, though outwardly his soul appeared first-tier in both quantity and quality, it actually bore a trace of second-tier essence. This allowed his soul to strengthen faster than in his previous life—but only for now. Once he returned to full second-tier, growth would halt; the way forward was shrouded in mist.

“So far, everyone I’ve encountered has a first-tier soul—even the martial artists are only a bit more resolute and tenacious, far from undergoing any true transformation.”

“But this world has immortals. If immortality is real, then surely there exist secret arts to elevate the soul. I must keep an eye out for such knowledge—it could help me perfect the soul-forging method and further awaken my soul powers.”

“For now, I can only proceed step by step—testing the effects of this blood energy through the reactions of my experimental mice. Of course, there are still differences between man and mouse…”

His thoughts whirled, plotting his next course, when suddenly he sensed something. His gaze shifted toward the window.

At that moment, outside the manor, a figure advanced beneath the silver moonlight.

“This is the place.”

Standing beyond the courtyard wall, Zhao Er’s gaze was keen.

“Clearing land for vegetables, building a rat house—let’s see what you’re really up to.”

With a surge of strength in his legs, Zhao Er vaulted to the top of the wall. He was well aware of Jiang Chen’s strength, but trusted in his own agility and ability to mask his presence. Even if discovered, he was confident he could escape.

Jiang Chen’s actions were simply too strange. The more he learned, the more unsettled he felt. He had to know the truth, even if it meant taking some risks.

“Seems there’s nothing unusual.”

Perched atop the wall, peering under the moonlight, Zhao Er saw no sign of anything amiss.

“The only odd thing is that empty wooden cage… What does Jiang Chen use it for? To imprison something?”

His gaze lingered on the cage, a hint of doubt flickering in his mind.

In that instant, his back prickled with a chill—a sudden sense of danger. Almost simultaneously, a shadow sprang from the darkness, lunging at him.

“Not good!”

Reacting instantly, Zhao Er twisted aside, narrowly dodging the attack at the last possible moment thanks to his quick reflexes.

Only then did he see the assailant clearly—a rat, but one the size of a well-fed cat, with coarse black-red fur, razor-sharp teeth, and crimson eyes that gleamed ferociously in the moonlight.

“A rat?”

Stunned by the sight of such a monstrous rodent, Zhao Er’s mind reeled. He had never expected to be attacked by such a creature.

Meanwhile, having failed in its ambush, the rat—Mouse Heaven’s Pride—bristled with fury. With a vicious snarl, it sprang at Zhao Er again, its innate savagery unleashed.

Seeing this, Zhao Er fought back. The brief shock had passed; his composure returned.

“Iron Wire Fist!”

As their figures blurred in the night, Zhao Er seized on a flaw in Mouse Heaven’s Pride’s assault and landed a solid punch, sending the creature flying.

Wasting no time, Zhao Er leapt down from the wall, intent on leaving at once. The scuffle had been brief, but it might have already alerted Jiang Chen—lingering any longer would be unwise.

Yet just then, a grotesque roar split the night. The rat reappeared, now greatly enlarged, every hair standing on end, more demon than beast.

“A demon?”

Zhao Er’s pupils contracted, icy dread flooding his heart. He began to regret coming to the southern slope at all—the secrets hidden here might be far graver than he had imagined.

“This place is too dangerous to linger in!”

Suspecting the dreadful truth, Zhao Er’s determination to flee only grew. At that moment, Mouse Heaven’s Pride, now as large as a calf, charged at him with a speed and force far beyond before, wind whistling in its wake.

With no way to evade, Zhao Er struck out with his palm.

The next instant, tremendous force exploded; Zhao Er was sent flying, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He had been injured in the collision, yet used the opportunity to widen the gap between himself and the monstrous rat. Now, he wanted nothing more to do with it.

But as he prepared to slip away, a figure appeared silently, blocking his path of retreat.

“Jiang Wang…”

Bathed in moonlight, the man before him was unlike any common mortal. Zhao Er’s chill deepened. He knew at last—the suspicion that had seemed so absurd before was, in all likelihood, true.