Apex War God

A young man stood in a ten-meter-deep hole, his feet planted firmly on the ground, his elegant fighting stance unwavering, one hand clenched into a fist and the other one palm up.

The other person went flying back and crashed into the ground about seven or eight meters away, sending dust and sand into the air as his blood stained the ground.

That person was Ai Feili; the top boss in the prison had been defeated.

The prisoners were wide-eyed in disbelief as they watched the scene unfold.

They had seen this limping, middle-aged man’s powerful kick send a grown man flying before, so they found it hard to accept the fact that someone had defeated him in a single move.

Yang Wu won but showed no joy on his face, as he was completely drained, even overdrawn. His profound art’s circulation slowed down as he fell into a weakened state, about to collapse at any moment.

Just then, Shi Lengmei, who was waiting for an opportunity at the side, moved.

She rushed over with fast and light steps, crouching slightly while holding the short crowbar in a reversed grip. The crowbar flashed with ice-attributed energy, thrusting out from about six meters from Yang Wu. A trail of snowflakes in the air streaked toward Yang Wu’s heart with menacing force, a truly vicious attack.

Yang Wu’s body refused to respond to his command. With barely a chance at evasion, he could only watch as the strike approached. As he accepted his fate, Sooty sprang up, using its small body to shield him.

Woof!

Sooty was only the size of an arm and felt like it could never grow larger. The force sent its juvenile body flying far away, followed by an agonized yelp.

The helpless Yang Wu watched the scene unfold. He felt a pang in his heart like a needle prick. This was the second time Sooty placed its life on the line to save him; the first time had been against Black Ape. Even if it had emerged from the first ordeal unscathed, could it take the hit this time?

“Damned little black dog!” Shi Lengmei cursed and charged toward Yang Wu again.

“You are the damned one!” Yang Wu’s repressed rage erupted. The only reason he could grow stronger after entering the prison was the luck Sooty brought him. It had helped him countless times, and he already considered it a partner in battle. Now, his little partner had saved him once more, taking the lethal blow in his place. He felt gut-wrenching heartache at his helplessness—so painful that he wanted to kill.

Yang Wu’s eyes were bloodshot; his blood boiled. His depleted peach-pit dantian squeezed out the last drop of energy, which exploded from its thousand holes with pure rage. In that instant, another minor meridian suddenly burst open, along with ten more acupoints. With newfound strength gushing through his body, he threw his fist and palm toward Shi Lengmei.

The dragon turtle roared and overturned the rivers!

The Dragon Turtle Sea Flipping Art instantly entered the Established stage, its power skyrocketing. The Profound Energy projected over sixteen meters, bursting out like a dragon turtle’s assault, giving Shi Lengmei no chance to evade.

Bang!

The terrible blow smashed Shi Lengmei’s body into bits and pieces, limbs strewn around, blood splattering everywhere.

Ai Feili, who had just managed to pull himself into a sitting position, sighed at the gruesome death. “Going up against him knowing that even I am no match for him, she deserved her death.”

After Yang Wu killed Shi Lengmei, he sped towards Sooty, calling out anxiously, “Sooty, tell me you are alright.”

When he reached Sooty and found it unresponsive on the floor, he almost cried his eyes out.

“S…Sooty!” Yang Wu choked with sobs.

Just as he was about to go blind from the crying, Sooty suddenly opened its eyes, bounced up from the ground, perfectly fine, and even licked his palms. The dampness on his palms brought Yang Wu back to reality. “Sooty, you’re alright?”

Woof! Sooty responded proudly, wagging its tail.

The bloodthirst on Yang Wu’s face disappeared, and he smacked the puppy, reprimanding it, “You almost scared me to death by faking your death, you rascal!”

Sooty was not angry at being smacked away, running back to lick his palm in a clear display of affection.

Yang Wu carried Sooty in his arms, no longer mad. “Although your body is strong enough to take hits, I’ll become indebted to you, a dog, if you die, and that would be embarrassing, so don’t be so reckless next time.”

Woof! Sooty responded, but whether in the affirmative or negative was unclear.

Yang Wu petted it with a satisfied smile on his face.

Sometimes, dogs are better than humans. How many people can be as loyal to their friends as Sooty is these days?

Yang Wu placed Sooty on his shoulder, noticing that the energy flow in his body was two or three times faster than usual. He was quickly absorbing Profound Energy from the surroundings and rapidly replenishing his drained peach-pit dantian. Wisps of energy drifted into the peach pit’s thousand holes. All this was because he had opened up another minor meridian.

The human body had not only twelve major meridians but also eight minor meridians—known as the eight extraordinary meridians. Ordinary cultivators of low cultivation realms usually opened up only the twelve major meridians, while the eight minor meridians could be opened up only upon reaching the General Realm. Yang Wu was only a Superior Grade Warrior, yet he had opened up two extraordinary meridians already, and these were the most important two: the Du and Ren meridians.

With these two meridians open, he could be called an entry-level grandmaster of the martial path.

Many in the General Realm might never open these two minor meridians. There was a saying that if one opened up the Du and Ren meridians, all eight minor meridians would be opened, connecting all meridians. The two meridians were clearly vital.

One could see a path to the King Realm after opening the two meridians.

Otherwise, one would stay in the Consummate Grade General Realm for the rest of one’s life, doomed to little progress afterward.

Yang Wu really hit the jackpot when he mistakenly thought Sooty had been killed, as his murderous rage had opened up the Ren meridian.

Although he was just standing, he was automatically absorbing energy much faster than usual, a benefit of opening up the Du and Ren meridians.

Yang Wu glanced at Ai Feili on the side and asked, “Are you going to give me your Scarlet Steel Rock now?”

With Ai Feili’s lame leg bleeding, he did not force himself to stand up, remaining seated on the ground to stop the bleeding. He nodded at Yang Wu’s question. “The victor takes all; the rocks are yours.”

“Alright, you have my thanks!” Yang Wu did not plan to dwell on the matter with Ai Feili. He was satisfied with taking their Scarlet Steel Rock, as that was the main purpose of his trip.

As for those dazed prisoners, he had no intention of attending to them, feeling no obligation to stay and act as their boss.

“Hold on. I want to negotiate a deal with you,” Ai Feili called out to Yang Wu.

Yang Wu did not turn around. “What is it?”

“I have a favor to ask,” Ai Feili said.

Yang Wu waved his hands. “This viscount has no spare time for that.”

Ai Feili spoke again. “It’s not a deal with no return. I’ll give you a General Class technique for my end of the deal!”

Yang Wu immediately returned to Ai Feili’s side, smiling. “Shoot! As long as it is within my capabilities, I’ll do it without demur.”

It had to be said that Yang Wu’s ability to do an about-face instantaneously was unmatched.

Ai Feili naturally ignored this change of attitude; he knew the young man was no fool. If there were nothing in it for the other party, no one would accept his request.

“You there, send the alliance’s Scarlet Steel Rock to cellblock two,” Ai Feili commanded the prisoners hanging around.

The prisoners understood that he had something to discuss with Yang Wu and left to carry out his order.

Ai Feili spoke again. “I know you are going to the Death Legion to get rid of the convict label after gathering enough Scarlet Steel Rock. With your strength, I believe you have a twenty to thirty percent chance of coming out of the battlefield alive, so I want to ask you to do something for me. Please, accept the deal.”

“You have great insight. This viscount here will definitely live to get out of prison with a clean name. That said, tell me what you want me to do and how much you will give in return. If it’s a fair deal, I’ll consider it,” Yang Wu said, sitting down beside Ai Feili.

“I need you to help me take care of a mother-and-daughter pair!” Ai Feili showed some shyness as he said that.

Yang Wu was instantly at a loss for words.

This cliché plot was a little familiar.

When he was younger, a guard in the Yang Family estate told him about a pair of sworn brothers. When one of them had to go to war, the other offered generously, “You can fight the war without worrying. Rest assured. I’ll take care of your wife and daughter properly!”

In the end, the one who went to war died on the battlefield, and his wife and daughter became his sworn brother’s wife and daughter instead.

Ai Feili noticed Yang Wu’s strange expression and immediately scolded him. “Hey, you’d better not be getting weird ideas! I’m just asking you to assist them from the shadows. They are just commoners, so letting them live commoner lives is enough.”

“By the way, how about my remuneration?” Yang Wu dismissed his thoughts about the cliché plot.

He—an upright viscount—was not one to take advantage of others while they were powerless. He cared more about what he would gain from the deal.

“You haven’t agreed to it yet,” Ai Feili said.

“If the remuneration isn’t good enough, there’s no way I’ll accept the deal!” Yang Wu retorted, slightly unhappy.

“Fine, you already know I have the nickname Swift Feet; that’s because I have a General Class combat technique called ‘Swift Feet,’ a technique with two uses. Practicing it can both increase your offensive power and enhance your agility. If you agree to my request, I’ll teach you this technique. How does that sound?” Ai Feili asked seriously.

“The name of the technique doesn’t sound domineering at all, but it’s passable as remuneration. I’ll do what you asked me to do.” Yang Wu reluctantly accepted the deal.

A General Class technique was not common goods, even among the Yang Family’s collection of combat techniques. Since he had not memorized that many of those techniques, it would be a waste not to take the one offered to him now.

“Then you must make a vow first. If I teach you the technique but you don’t fulfill my request, it’ll be a great loss for me!”

“This viscount here is so handsome, compassionate, brave, and loyal. Do I look like someone who will go back on his word?”

“You do!”

“Damn, you won’t have friends if you act like this.”

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