mtlumby2d Chapter 144 Bobcats
Chapter 144 Bobcats
Over a month later, Liu Xing and his servant finally reached the coastline. Their non-stop journey had been uneventful, with no major dangers. Jiao Jiao had slain and devoured any Level 2 or 3 demonic beasts they encountered along the way. This was, after all, an open sea area, close to human society, so high-level demonic beasts were rare.
Along the coastline stretches a vast expanse of towering mountains. Maps indicate this is the renowned Doramaya Mountains, encompassing a radius of 50,000 kilometers. The highest peak, over 10,000 meters above sea level, experiences extreme cold and is perpetually covered in snow and ice. Due to its proximity to the sea, the region enjoys abundant rainfall, a moderate temperature, and lush vegetation, resulting in an incredibly diverse flora and fauna, numbering in the millions. No one has yet fully understood the region's natural resources.
This place was a great distance from the Qianji Sect, and Liu Xing had already prepared himself for the long journey. Back on the mainland, Jiao Jiao was no longer suitable for public appearances, so Liu Xing placed her in a pet bag. Liu Xing summoned his speedboat and continued on his journey. Given the distance, he wasn't in a rush; he simply took his time, exploring the surroundings and broadening his horizons.
Shortly after entering the forest, a group of Level 2 demonic beasts flew towards him. Liu Xing took a closer look and saw they were pterosaurs, three feet long, with sharp beaks and claws, and somewhat bat-like in size. Liu Xing didn't want to fight the pterosaurs here, so he pressed hard with his foot, performing a heavy drop, and the assault boat sank into the forest. Seeing their prey escape, the pterosaurs, enraged, breathed fire, burning the hilltop below. However, Liu Xing had already vanished.
He was vulnerable to attack from the air, so he simply moved through the woods. The light-footed techniques he'd learned in the mortal realm hadn't been used in a while. Now, navigating the woods, they came in handy again. He transformed into a shadow, advancing swiftly. Along the way, he'd picked some ripe medicinal herbs from cliffs and other dangerous locations—a truly unexpected find.
Recently, Liu Xing's clothes were disheveled and his body was covered in scars, though they were minor injuries. The cause was a fight with a mountain cat. The mountain cat was a Level 4 demon beast, slightly less powerful than him, but incredibly fast. Liu Xing's plum blossom footwork was already superb, but he still suffered a minor setback during the initial encounter. The mountain cat suddenly struck him on the head with a claw, startling him and leaving him no time to react. Fortunately, the cautious Liu Xing had already covered himself with his blue helmet and sharkskin armor, otherwise he would have been killed.
The bobcat was so swift that it vanished into a fleeting shadow before Liu Xing's eyes, undetectable even by the naked eye or his spiritual sense. Encountering such a swift beast for the first time, Liu Xing, itching to catch the bobcat, gave chase. Initially, the bobcat chased him, beating him to a pulp, but Liu Xing's formidable defenses prevented any fatal damage. Liu Xing, a man of unyielding resolve, knew he still had room for improvement in speed, so he used the bobcat as a sparring partner, constantly observing and learning from it, refining his footwork, and fine-tuning his breathing and power techniques.
After repeated sparring sessions, each man and beast would rest when tired, only to resume the fight once their energy had recovered. Gradually, Liu Xing was able to track the mountain cat's movements, and from passively accepting its blows, he was gradually able to counterattack with a few moves. Later, Liu Xing's dodging and evasion became even more refined, not only anticipating his opponent's moves but also evading the cat's sudden paw strikes at unpredictable angles. This demonstrated a significant improvement in his perception and flexibility, which would be of great benefit to him in future close combat.
In all martial arts, the only way to defeat them is through speed! Liu Xing knew this truth well. He had previously devoted himself to improving his mana and spiritual awareness, relying on the sharpness of his magical instruments to strike his opponents. But if he were trapped in a forbidden area where he couldn't use his mana, how would he fight? Wouldn't he be at the mercy of his enemies? Liu Xing had previously thought he was worrying too much and subconsciously ignored his weakness in close combat.
This encounter with the bobcat made him realize his own lack of speed and strength. So, he began to invest time and patience in playing with the bobcat, aiming to improve his close combat abilities. This battle lasted for over a month, and gradually, Liu Xing began to gain the upper hand. The bobcat finally grew frightened and gradually lost its advantage. It tried to escape, but couldn't, as Liu Xing relentlessly pursued it. Liu Xing beat the bobcat, then let it go. When the cat ran away, he beat it again, caught it, and let it go again. Despite all his strength, the bobcat still couldn't escape Liu Xing's clutches. After two months, the bobcat finally gave in, meowing in begging for mercy.
Liu Xing then gave it a Spirit-Enhancing Pill and helped it digest it and awaken its spiritual intelligence. The mountain cat suddenly felt as if it had discovered a new world. Its mind was much more agile than before. Many things in its life experience that had previously been puzzling to it now suddenly became clear. Previously, it had been naive about its future path of cultivation, acting on instinct and taking things as they came. Now, it had a stronger sense of purpose. It knew it needed to draw on the help of others to gain more resources and advance further on its path to immortality.
It looked at Liu Xing with gratitude, prostrating itself before him, thanking him for his kindness in rebirth, which had saved it many detours on its journey to immortality. Liu Xing accepted it calmly, nodding with satisfaction.
"Will you acknowledge me as your master? I'll guide you further on the path of cultivation." Seeing the mountain cat's gratitude, Liu Xing decided to recruit it. A pet's acceptance must be genuine; otherwise, if it's false, it will be difficult to control and may even turn against its owner. The mountain cat hesitated. It was used to its own freedom and, deep down, didn't want to be controlled.
"Although my current realm isn't as high as yours, that's because I've cultivated for a shorter time. I'll probably surpass you soon. You've seen that I've made faster progress than you, my magic power is stronger than yours, and my speed is even faster now. I'm not a vicious person who kills innocent people. Following me will only help you more." Liu Xing persuaded him patiently and sincerely. After all, bragging doesn't require preparation, just speak freely. Shan Mao pondered it carefully and felt that Liu Xing was right. Opportunities are limited in these wild mountains. He used to act on instinct, but now with a clear goal, he naturally chose the most beneficial way to cultivate. After a long period of contemplation, he finally nodded in agreement.
"I do, Master. Please treat me well and help me grow. I will also assist you with all my strength!" Shanmao said sincerely. He split off a strand of his spirit, and, enduring the pain, passed it to Liu Xing. Liu Xing hurriedly took it, storing it in his sea of consciousness. He immediately chanted a spell to soothe the other soul, alleviating the pain of Shanmao's soul-shattering.
"Good, good, good! From now on, we, master and servant, will support each other, make progress together, and ascend to the path of immortality!" Liu Xing was overjoyed. He now had another helper.