NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 143
As Lu Ming charged forward, a flicker of doubt clouded the Wolf Bear Ancestor's primal mind. Despite the human's seemingly low level, his strength was undeniable. Coupled with the explosive force of his punches, the Wolf Bear Ancestor sensed it might have bitten off more than it could chew.
But apprehension quickly gave way to fury. It had reigned supreme over Bear Mountain for countless years, unchallenged and unscathed. Its power surpassed that of typical Level 8 creatures, rivaling even some Level 9 adversaries.
This hunt was supposed to be an effortless feast, a playful display of dominance like it had shown with Bai Tianyu. Yet, this unexpected intruder had dared to injure it, a humiliation it couldn't tolerate.
The beast's rationality succumbed to its primal rage. With a ferocious roar, it lunged towards Lu Ming, abandoning its clawed attacks for a more instinctive and deadly approach – a bone-crushing bite.
Its massive head, a 10-meter sphere of muscle and fur, descended upon Lu Ming like a meteor. Its maw gaped open, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs, a gruesome sight akin to an open furnace.
The Wolf Bear Ancestor was confident in its bite, believing it would spell certain doom for Lu Ming. But Lu Ming found the creature's actions almost comical. It had just lost a paw to his Explosive Fist, and now it was offering up its head. Did the beast truly underestimate the power of his perfected technique?
Clearly, the Wolf Bear Ancestor had no concept of what a perfect level Explosive Fist entailed. But it was about to learn a painful lesson.
The duel between Lu Ming and the Wolf Bear Ancestor captivated everyone on the battlefield. However, not everyone was worried about the outcome. The people of Nanxiang had unwavering faith in Lu Ming. They believed that with Brother Lu involved, victory was all but assured.
Huo Sheng, Duan Mei, Wang Xiong, and the others saw Lu Ming's arrival as a turning point in the battle. However, unbeknownst to them, a different perspective was brewing not far from the ruins.
Two figures, cloaked in black robes, stood atop a massive boulder in the distance, their eyes fixed on the ancient city. They were humanoid in shape but stood taller than any human, at least two meters in height. Their robes concealed most of their features, but one figure appeared broad and slightly hunched, while the other was slender with unusually long legs.
A melodic voice, belonging to the slender figure in the black robe, broke the silence. "Grandpa, can they survive this danger?"
The sturdier figure, addressed as "Grandpa" by the long-legged girl, wore a solemn expression, his eyes flickering with an ethereal light. He furrowed his brow before responding.
"It's hard to say."
"Why?" The girl inquired, her voice laced with curiosity. "The tall, strong man seems quite powerful. If he defeats the big bear, wouldn't the other wolf bears pose less of a threat?"
Her grandfather shook his head, his voice heavy with concern. "That's precisely the problem. The survival of these new tribulation bearers hinges on whether that man can overcome the giant bear."
"But that bear is no ordinary beast," he continued. "It has reigned over Bear Mountain for twenty Black Mist years. A typical Level 8 creature couldn't maintain such a vast territory. I've observed it before and discovered that it seems to have experienced a fortuitous encounter, granting it physical strength far surpassing that of ordinary Level 8 creatures, only slightly weaker than a Level 9."
Intrigued by Lu Ming's earlier display of the Explosive Fist, the long-legged girl countered, "But the man isn't weak either. He just injured the bear's paw."
Her grandfather's tone grew heavier. "That was the Explosive Fist. But as you know, its power is superficial. Shattering the bear's paw doesn't mean he can shatter its skull. The Explosive Fist cannot penetrate the Six-legged Wolf Bear's incredibly dense skull and directly destroy its brain tissue, nor does it possess the ability to strike from a distance."
"In short... I don't think they can survive this," the grandfather concluded, his voice laced with grim certainty.
He and his granddaughter descended from the boulder, their path leading towards the ancient city ruins. Their purpose in this journey became clear.
"Should we save them, Grandpa?" the girl asked, her voice filled with hope.
"Yes," her grandfather affirmed. "I'm prepared to intervene and do these new Tribulation Transcenders a favor."
The girl understood the significance of Tribulation Transcenders and what this new generation represented. They quickened their pace, eager to arrive at the opportune moment and present themselves as saviors.
But their journey was abruptly halted. The battle between Lu Ming and the Wolf Bear Ancestor had already reached its climax.
It was decided with a single, seemingly simple punch. At least, it appeared simple to both Lu Ming and the Wolf Bear Ancestor.
Lu Ming delivered a swift uppercut to the side of the beast's face, catching it off guard before it could unleash its attack. His fist, the size of a clay pot, seemed insignificant compared to the massive head.
The impact was surprisingly quiet. The Wolf Bear Ancestor had braced itself for a devastating blow, but Lu Ming's punch felt like a gentle caress.
"That's it?" It thought, bewildered.
The Wolf Bear Ancestor prepared to unleash a fatal blow, confident in its superior strength and size. But then, it froze. A strange weakness emanated from the spot where Lu Ming's fist had landed.
Like a venomous serpent, a subtle force wormed its way through the beast's skin, muscles, and bones, finally reaching its brain.
A split second later, a sound akin to an explosion echoed in the minds of both Lu Ming and the Wolf Bear Ancestor. It was the sound of the beast's brain shattering.
Had anyone been able to peer inside, they would have witnessed a gruesome sight. Lu Ming's punch had triggered a delayed detonation within the creature's skull, turning its brain into a pulpy mess. Blood vessels burst, neural pathways disintegrated – the once solid organ was now a liquefied ruin.
In the Mortal Realm, the brain remained the absolute core and most vulnerable point of any being. With its brain destroyed, the Wolf Bear Ancestor lost all control over its body. The moment of detonation marked its instant death.
Its colossal body collapsed, crashing to the ground at Lu Ming's feet. A pale yellow liquid oozed from its eyes, ears, and nose, a grotesque display of its final moments.
The once-mighty beast was dead, its reign of terror brought to an abrupt and unexpected end.
A hush fell over the battlefield. The sudden demise of the Wolf Bear Ancestor had stunned both humans and beasts alike. Moments later, the silence was broken by the whimpers of the remaining Wolf Bears and the jubilant cheers of the humans.
In the distance, the grandfather and granddaughter watched in disbelief. After a prolonged silence, the girl spoke, "Didn't you say the Explosive Fist couldn't penetrate the skull?"
Her grandfather struggled to find an explanation. He had never witnessed anyone cultivate the Explosive Fist to such a level of mastery. Wasn't it more logical to focus on developing more powerful Origin Power Skills?
The girl, sensing her grandfather's unease, asked, "What should we do now, Grandpa? Should we still approach them?"
After a moment of contemplation, the grandfather shook his head. "Not yet."
Their initial plan had been to make a grand entrance, offering their aid as saviors and earning the gratitude of the survivors. However, Lu Ming's unexpected victory had disrupted their intentions. Approaching now might raise suspicions and cast doubt on their motives. The newcomers from Nanxiang would naturally be wary of strangers.
"Let's wait for another opportunity," the grandfather advised. "Opportunities will arise."
The Black Mist Zone was fraught with danger, and these new Tribulation Transcenders were oblivious to the perils that awaited them. They also remained unaware of the unique role they played in this strange new world.
The black-robed figure was confident that with time, a chance to make a favorable impression would present itself.