Meanwhile, Rayden and Grah continued their treasure hunt.

One gloomy.

One cheerful.

Rayden sat casually atop Grah’s back, humming a light melody as if they were strolling through a garden instead of the most dangerous part of the forest.

The reason for his good mood was obvious.

The yellowish orb hanging around his neck.

Just thinking about how much essence was compressed inside it made his eyes gleam. That thing was a treasure beyond measure. Once he officially began his cultivation journey, it would push him forward by leaps and bounds.

All he needed now was one more worthy treasure.

Then he would start the war against the Scavengers.

Simple.

Direct.

Bloody.

Grah, however, did not share that enthusiasm.

The blue horned wolf was starting to believe he was cursed. Truly cursed. Out of every beast in this forest, he had to be the one chosen to partner with Rayden.

If that massive snake from earlier had still been alive, they would have been dead by now.

Who knew how dangerous things would become the deeper they went?

And yet that yellow orb had completely clouded his lord’s judgment. It was as if Rayden had forgotten fear existed.

Grah grumbled internally but did not dare voice it.

He knew the lord was crazy.

But this?

This was another level.

After a while, the duo came to a stop.

A figure stood in the distance.

The man was rummaging through the forest floor, digging, searching, gathering herbs with frantic focus. His clothes were simple. A black top with the sleeves ripped off. A large red tattoo marked his cheeks. Sweat poured down his face as he clawed at the earth.

Rayden did not stop because the man was human.

He had seen humans before.

No.

He stopped because of what he felt.

Soul Echo Vision unfolded silently.

Aura.

Breathing pattern.

Energy flow.

There was no doubt.

A cultivator.

And not just any cultivator.

A member of the Scavengers.

Rayden smiled.

It was not warm.

It was cold.

Deadly.

“To think I would meet one so soon,” he murmured softly.

Good.

He could extract information first hand.

The scavenger member was currently digging up something that looked like a dull colored grape buried deep in the soil. He had only managed to dig up five after what seemed like hours of back breaking labor.

The strength required to keep digging like that was insane.

He worked.

Rested.

Worked.

Rested.

Again and again.

He was exhausted, but he had no choice.

He needed at least thirty of these before returning.

If he failed to meet quota, he might not live to see the next day.

Just as he was about to bend down again, his instincts screamed.

His head snapped to the right.

There, standing calmly, was a blue horned wolf.

And atop it.

A small human child.

The man’s eyes lit up.

But he was not looking at the child.

He was staring at the yellowish orb hanging around the boy’s neck.

As a cultivator at the peak of the first stage of the Awakening Realm, he could feel it immediately.

The deep.

Soothing.

Terrifyingly dense energy sealed inside that orb.

His breathing grew heavier.

That treasure was worth a fortune.

If he offered it to the Lord…

Would he be promoted to the ranks of the elite?

The thought alone made his heart pound.

His exhaustion vanished.

Greed flooded his eyes.

He licked his lips.

The thought of what he would gain from that orb made his blood boil with excitement.

This was it.

His chance.

His rise.

And the best part?

The orb was hanging around a baby’s neck.

Taking it would be easier than snatching candy from a child.

His gaze shifted to the blue horned wolf.

That was the only problem.

Stage three.

Maybe stage four.

If they fought head on, his chances of dying were high.

But the beast looked tired. Sluggish. Maybe even injured.

Good.

More good news.

Today was truly his lucky day.

He stepped forward, eyes turning cold and sharp with confidence.

“You beast,” he said, voice hard. “Be wise. Drop the child and run at your fastest speed. I am not planning to kill any beasts today.”

He paused.

“But if you stay, you will die. Both you and the child.”

He expected resistance.

A growl.

A defensive stance.

Instead, the wolf glanced at him once.

Then shook its head.

Disappointed.

Utterly disappointed.

It slowly sat down and lowered its head, as if it had already lost interest.

The man blinked.

I see.

The wolf has chosen not to interfere.

Smart beast.

He turned his attention to the baby.

The child was staring at him with wide, innocent eyes.

Cute.

Soft.

Harmless.

That kind of charm might have worked on someone else.

Not him.

“Remove that orb from your neck,” he said sternly. “Throw it over here.”

The baby just kept staring.

Same cute face.

Same silence.

The man rubbed his forehead in irritation.

“I hate babies.”

Of course the brat could not understand him.

After a moment, a dangerous smile spread across his face.

“I guess I have no choice.”

He took a step closer.

“If you do not understand what I am saying, I will simply snatch it from your neck. If your neck cracks in the process, I will not care.”

He stepped forward again.

Then he froze.

Not because of danger.

Not because of killing intent.

But because of shock.

The baby was no longer just staring.

He was smiling.

At first glance, it looked cute.

The longer you looked, the more wrong it felt.

Predatory.

That was not a baby’s smile.

That was a devil’s grin wearing a child’s face.

Rayden stood up from atop Grah.

Then he began walking down slowly, that signature grin carved across his soft, childish features.

“Of course,” Rayden said.

What came out was baby babbling.

But his eyes said everything.

“I will not feel guilty about what I am about to do to you either.”

He stepped onto the ground.

“I will beat the crap out of you. Squeeze every detail from you.”

His smile widened.

“Then I will end you.”

His body darkened.

Skin turning black and hard like obsidian.

Hellskin Fortification activated.

Power surged through him.

Ultra Boost followed.

His muscles tightened. His senses sharpened. His stats skyrocketed in an instant.

A spark bloomed along his fists.

Then it erupted.

Flames roared to life, forming blazing gauntlets that wrapped around his tiny hands like living infernos.

The scavenger’s eyes widened.

His mind spiraled.

Fear.

Confusion.

Dread.

Terror wrapped around his heart like an icy vice.

A second ago, a cute baby was sitting on a wolf’s head.

Now?

Now a black skinned demon with glowing red eyes stood before him.

“What the hell are you?” the man whispered, stepping back.

If it was just the appearance, he would not have been this shaken.

It was the danger.

The sheer, suffocating danger radiating from that dark skinned baby.

He had only ever felt that kind of pressure from the elite.

This was no child.

This was a monster.

Rayden smiled.

“Your worst nightmare,” he said.

What came out was soft baby babbling.

But this time, the message landed.

The man felt it.

Fear crawled up his spine as he stared into those hellish red eyes.

Then he ran.

“Bad choice,” Rayden said.

Ultra Boost surged.

His speed exploded.

For a split second he vanished, then reappeared behind the man like a shadow snapping back into place. His movement could rival a fifth or even sixth stage Awakening Realm expert. Compared to this first stage rookie, it was absolute overkill.

Catching him was effortless.

Rayden grabbed the back of the man’s head.

Like crumpling paper.

He yanked him off his feet and smashed him into the ground.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

The earth cracked with each impact.

The scavenger could not even fight back. His bones began to fracture under the monstrous force. His vision blurred. His body felt like it was being torn apart.

He fainted.

“I’m not letting you off that easily,” Rayden muttered.

He slapped him hard across the face.

The man’s eyes snapped open just in time to receive another merciless beating. Fists wrapped in raging flames crashed down again and again. Teeth flew. Blood sprayed. His face swelled beyond recognition.

The pain overwhelmed him.

He fainted again.

Rayden clicked his tongue.

“I’m not done with you.”

If anyone had witnessed this scene, they would have been frozen in terror.

A small baby.

Beating a grown cultivator like this.

Rayden dragged the broken man toward a massive boulder. With casual, monstrous strength, he lifted it.

The ground trembled.

Rayden placed one small hand on his chin, thinking.

“Which part should I crush first?”

His glowing eyes scanned the man’s body.

Face?

No.

He would die too quickly.

Hands?

He shook his head.

Later.

That left one place.

His leg.

Decision made.

Rayden moved.

The boulder came down.

Brutal.

A thunderous bang echoed through the forest.

A sickening crack followed as bone shattered.

Then came the scream.

Raw.

Agonizing.

It tore through the air, scattering birds from the trees.

To be continued…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep