After half an hour, the intense battle against the Armoured Snake had come to an end. Its titanic body now lay lifeless in the middle of the cave, massive coils collapsed upon themselves like fallen fortresses. The once-invincible creature, with its obsidian scales and deadly venom, had finally been slain. But the cost had not been light.
The acrid stench of poison lingered in the air, and among the fallen snake's coils, several bodies could be seen—rogue Cultivators who had been unfortunate enough to be caught in the spray of its venom. Even now, some of the Martial Apprentice Realm cultivators sat against the cold stone walls, faces pale and drenched in sweat, recovering from close brushes with death.
"Finally, this snake died"one of the Xiao Clan elders muttered, his tone heavy with relief and exhaustion. He rubbed his bruised shoulder, which still throbbed from the earlier impact with the cave wall.
The six Martial Grandmasters slowly approached the corpse of the Armoured Snake, their expressions a mix of caution and greed. One of the Mo Clan elders carefully extracted the two arrows from its eyes and studied them.
"These are Tier 3 Arrows…They're not something any ordinary rogue Cultivator can afford. Also the arrow shots were too precise, the person must be from a sect or a powerful clan"one of the Mo Clan elder said.
Hu Sun glanced at the crowd, his voice loud.
"To the hidden archer, if you're still here, speak up! We want to split the Armoured Snake corpse with you"Hu Sun said.
Just then, a figure walked forward from among the crowd, parting the group like a blade slicing through silk. He was young—barely past his teens—but carried himself with confidence that made even the seasoned warriors step back.
It was Shi Feng.
In his right hand, he held a gleaming emerald-colored bow that shimmered faintly under the dim cave light. In his left hand, he carried a quiver filled with sleek, razor-sharp arrows, each one carved with intricate markings that suggested they were no ordinary weapons.
Shi Feng stepped forward until he was directly in front of the massive Armoured Snake corpse. His expression was calm, almost indifferent.
"I want this Armoured Snake Core"Shi Feng said, voice clear and unwavering.
Hu Sun narrowed his eyes, his expression turning cold and unreadable as Shi Feng finished speaking. A flicker of displeasure flashed across his face, though he quickly masked it behind a forced calm. He had been willing—perhaps even content—to share the Armoured Snake's corpse evenly if Shi Feng were truly a Martial Grandmaster. After all, strength demanded respect, and those who stood at the peak of Martial Cultivation had earned their share through power alone. But Shi Feng was merely at the Martial Master Realm.
To Hu Sun, this level of strength didn't warrant such bold demands. And yet, Shi Feng had the audacity to lay claim to the most precious part of the snake—the Monster Core that even Martial Saints would covet. It was not just arrogance; it was a challenge, a slight against the natural hierarchy of power.
Hu Sun's jaw tightened subtly, and a dangerous glint shimmered in his eyes. This wouldn't go unanswered.
"Kid, was that you who shot those arrows?"Hu Sun asked as take few steps towards him.
"Yes"Shi Feng replied flatly.
A moment of silence followed his answer. Some of the rogue Cultivators turned toward him, whispering in surprise. Others looked to the elders, waiting to see how they would respond.
"You just shot a few arrows from the back while we risked our lives fighting up front. And now you think you can walk in and take the most valuable part of the Armoured Snake? Dream on."Hu Sun said and a faint sneer formed on his lips as he released his Spiritual Energy towards Shi Feng.
Shi Feng didn't flinch. He didn't argue. Instead, he took one slow step forward him. Then another. And as he moved, a wave of Spiritual Energy began to radiate from his body.
At first, the pressure felt similar to the Ninth Layer of the Martial Master Realm, but within seconds, that assumption was shattered. His aura surged, climbing rapidly—past the peak of the Martial Master Realm, into the First Layer of the Martial Grandmaster Realm.
Gasps echoed throughout the cave.
But the surge didn't stop.
The ground beneath Shi Feng's feet began to crack. The air thickened with oppressive force, and the six elders present all felt their own auras instinctively retract in defense.
The pressure finally settled.
Fifth Layer of the Martial Grandmaster Realm.
Every single person in the cave—be they elder or youth—now stared at Shi Feng with awe and fear. Even the six powerful elders exchanged uneasy glances. The strongest among them, a senior from the Mo Clan, was only at the Third Layer of the Martial Grandmaster Realm.
Shi Feng's aura dwarfed them all. He looked around, his expression still cold.
"Now, do you think I just shot some random arrows?"Shi Feng asked, voice like cold steel.
No one answered. No one dared to.
The atmosphere had turned completely. Where a moment ago there had been skepticism and scorn, now there was only respect and a touch of fear.
Without waiting for permission, Shi Feng turned to the Armoured Snake's corpse. With practiced precision, he used his Spiritual Energy to slice through its thick armored body. Moments later, he reached into the creature's innards and pulled out the gleaming Monster Core. It pulsed with dark energy, dense and radiant—a treasure of immense value.
Shi Feng held it up for a moment, as if to let everyone witness what he had claimed.
Then he calmly stored it in his Storage Ring.
"I won't take everything. You can divide its body amongst yourselves."Shi Feng said.
With that, he stepped back and sat near a large rock, beginning to restore his Spiritual Energy. No one tried to stop and disturb him.
The elders glanced at one another. The pressure of Shi Feng's Cultivation still lingered in the air like a stormcloud. They knew better than to challenge someone of his caliber, especially not within this dangerous cave.
With little choice, they began dividing the corpse.
The Armoured Snake's body was massive and laden with rare materials. Its armored scales could be forged into top-tier defensive armour, its venom harvested for powerful poisons, and its flesh refined into nourishing pills.
They split the remains into six equal portions. Each elder took a section and carefully stored it in their Storage Rings.
As the process concluded, everyone retreated to the edges of the cavern to recover. Spiritual Energy circulated quietly among the Cultivators as they sat in meditation. The air, though heavy with tension, had calmed.
The deeper cave entrance yawned before them—a foreboding darkness that promised both danger and untold riches.
After half an hour passed, the six elders stood again. Their wounds had mostly healed, and their auras had stabilized.
Hu Sun turned to the gathered cultivators.
"Everyone, get ready. We are moving deeper into the cave."Hu Sun announced.
A quiet wave of resolve passed through the group. Boots shuffled, weapons were re-secured, and the group slowly began forming groups once more.
And so, the journey continued—deeper into the cave, where the true inheritance of the fallen Cultivator awaited.
As the large group pressed deeper into the mysterious cave, tension hung thick in the air. Shadows flickered from the torchlights carried by various clan members and rogue Cultivators, illuminating the ancient walls that seemed untouched by time. The temperature grew cooler, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed through the tunnel.
Among the group, Shi Feng walked silently and confidently, his emerald-colored bow strapped across his back. Though he appeared calm, his sharp eyes missed nothing.
One of the Mo Clan Elders, a lean man with graying temples and a sharp gaze, stepped closer to Shi Feng. The two exchanged no visible gestures or words, but everyone can tell that they are using voice transmission so that no one can know what they are talking about.
No one else other than the Elders noticed their interaction. Even if someone had glanced their way, it would appear as if the elder was merely walking beside a talented young man.
At the back of the group, Xiao Wei observed everything with quiet intensity. He had seen Shi Feng's skill firsthand during the fight against the Armoured Snake. The young man was undeniably powerful, and his emerald bow was clearly not an ordinary weapon. But Xiao Wei felt no jealousy or resentment. He had no interest in vying for treasure that others would kill for. His purpose was clear and vastly different.
Xiao Wei's focus was on the powerful Cultivator who had slain a peak Tier 4 Level 9 Fire Tiger. If he could find the body of that legendary figure, he might be able to convert it into a Shadow Soldier. That, in Xiao Wei's eyes, was more valuable than any treasure the cave might hold.
He walked slowly, careful not to draw attention, blending in with the rest of the Martial Apprentice Realm Cultivators. His face was still stained with dirt to hide his true identity, and he avoided any direct conversations.