Endless Ascension

Chapter 17: Who is the true predator

The Autumn Hunt Competition was a fierce event where contestants hunted down demonic beasts and earned points based on the beasts' heads they brought back. Each first-tier beast was worth three points, second-tier five, third-tier ten, and fourth-tier fifty. Hunting down a fifth-tier beast with a condensed crystal core would earn a thousand points, but since the inception of the competition by the Qin family, no one had ever managed to slay a fifth-tier beast.

Within half an hour, Qin Ze and Yun Man had hunted down thirty-six demonic beasts, most of them second-tier, accumulating roughly one hundred and fifty points in total. This was an incredibly impressive haul that would make anyone envious.

Qin Ze, however, didn't seem fazed. He glanced at Yun Man and said, "You can take all of these."

"No way, and cutting off their heads is too gruesome and cruel. I'd be terrified," Yun Man replied shyly, stepping aside. Her demeanor was a stark contrast to her earlier violent persona, making her seem like a completely different person.

Qin Ze scrutinized Yun Man's expression and saw that she genuinely didn't want the points. Without hesitation, he severed the heads of the Azure-fanged Wolves, their blood spilling onto the ground before stuffing them into his spatial wooden token.

"So brutal and bloody," Yun Man pinched her nose and retreated a few steps, remembering the gruesome scene of Qin Yang killing Qin Shan yesterday, which sent a shiver of fear through her.

As Qin Ze continued to harvest the heads, he secretly kept an eye on a dense foliage tree, thinking coldly, "They can really hold out."

When he was surrounded by demonic beasts earlier, he had noticed a shadowy figure hidden in the foliage, though its concealment was impeccable. However, the fact that several beasts beneath the tree were looking up with glinting malice gave him a clue that someone was hiding above. He just didn't know who.

After collecting the heads of over thirty demonic beasts, Qin Ze suddenly collapsed, his face paling, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and panting heavily. He beckoned Yun Man, saying, "I was bitten by a Venomous Ceiling Spider earlier. My whole leg is numb. Do you have any antidote?"

Lying half-on-the-ground, Qin Ze looked pained, clutching his thigh with one hand and pounding it with the other as dark blood kept oozing out, indicating a deep poison.

"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Yun Man panicked, rushing over to Qin Ze's side and trying to help him up. Seeing his entire leg turn black, she grew increasingly worried. "I'll help you back to the cave."

"I can't... my leg has completely lost sensation..."

Qin Ze was panting heavily, his face ashen, eyes unfocused, and his expression of extreme pain almost brought tears to Yun Man's eyes. She didn't know what to do; she didn't have any antidote and had no idea the Autumn Hunt Competition could be so dangerous. If she had known, she would never have come.

"Guard my back while I use my qi to expel the poison. Don't let anyone disturb me," Qin Ze gasped, his eyes darting surreptitiously towards the dense foliage of the tree.

Immediately, Qin Ze sat down in meditation, his focus absolute.

"Okay, okay, hurry and expel the poison, I'll guard you," Yunman replied without hesitation, rising to her feet and scanning the surroundings warily.

"Haha... fate truly smiles upon me, haha..."

Qin Yang leaped down from the tree, landing lightly on the ground. With a cold smile, he drew his steel broadsword and advanced towards Qin Ze.

"You... you..."

Yunman's face paled at the sight of Qin Yang, memories of violent deaths flooding her mind, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.

She was truly terrified.

Just the sight of someone being killed could send her into a faint; the prospect of Qin Yang, a psychopath, was unbearable.

Qin Yang licked his lips with a leering smile and gazed at Yunman, saying, "Yunman, I never expected you to have hidden your strength for so long. As a mere outer disciple, your qi cultivation is astonishingly profound. You've concealed yourself well."

"If you submit to me today, I'll recommend you to the Elders' Council after the Autumn Hunt. You'll become a core member of the Qin family..."

"What do you say? With me, you'll never have to worry about anything again."

"No one in the Qin family, nor in the entire Qinghe City, will dare to bully you."

Qin Yang approached slowly, his leering smile growing more intense as he gazed at Yunman's trembling body.

Anything that happened during the Autumn Hunt was ignored by the Qin family.

Murder went unchecked, let alone rape. Especially since Qin Yang was favored by the Elders' Council and was the son of the Grand Elder, no one in the Qin family dared to cross him.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll attack," Yunman summoned her courage and shouted, her gaze flickering towards Qin Ze beside her, worry etched on her brow.

At that moment, Qin Ze sat cross-legged, eyes slightly closed, emanating a faint qi aura as he concentrated on expelling the poison. Sweat dripped from his forehead like rolling beans, indicating that he was at a crucial juncture.

"Haha..." Qin Yang laughed menacingly.

Qin Yang swaggered confidently, shaking his steel broadsword slightly as he quickened his pace. Yet, deep within, he was cautious. He had just witnessed Yun Man's prowess, and knew that a real fight would be a drawn-out battle, with no clear winner for some time. And once Qin Ze had finished expelling the poison and regained consciousness, Qin Yang's chances of victory would dwindle to none.

His current objective was simple—to end Qin Ze's life with a single stroke. The rest could come later. As he gazed at Yun Man's delicate face, sinister thoughts crept into his mind. After everything was settled, he planned to find a secluded spot and indulge in his desires with her.

The more he thought about it, Qin Yang couldn't help but let out a lecherous chuckle. He slowly pushed Yun Man back, his right hand tightly gripping the steel broadsword, silently channeling his qi into it.

The blade emanated an intimidating aura, leaving Yun Man's heart racing with panic. She was at a loss, unable to make a decision. She even found herself resenting her own timidity, knowing only how to cultivate her strength but afraid to confront anyone in a fight. She wondered how she had even managed to train for so many years.

The reason why Yun Man hadn't garnered much attention from the Qin family was precisely because she never dared to engage in combat. She feared hurting others and the violent scenes that accompanied battles.

She struggled to overcome her fear.

With a fierce thrust, Yun Man unleashed her silk ribbon from her sleeve, sending it flying over a meter away. Qin Yang was startled, his focus momentarily disrupted, but he quickly regained his composure with a sneer.

The ribbon posed no threat, resembling nothing more than a colorful dance ribbon used by entertainers. It was visually appealing but utterly lacking in offensive power.

"My little beauty, don't be afraid. Brother will be gentle with you soon," Qin Yang said with a growing sense of excitement, seemingly seeing through Yun Man's vulnerabilities. He completely disregarded Qin Ze, who was still meditating, considering him as good as dead.

With a single swing of his blade, Qin Yang believed he could sever Qin Ze's head.

Yun Man stood protectively in front of Qin Ze, and Qin Ze could smell the faint fragrance emanating from her, fresh and soothing.

"Who is the true predator?" Qin Ze asked, his lips curling into a cold smile.