Chương 231: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted

The stalemate stretched into a third day. The forest, once a stage for their brutally efficient interventions, had become quiet and still. The mysterious attackers, wary of the powerful, unseen force that had systematically dismantled their raiding parties, had ceased all operations. For Li Yu and his companions, it was a period of forced inactivity, but not one of idleness. They were cultivators, and any moment of quiet was an opportunity to cultivate.

During the long, quiet hours of the day, a peaceful, focused silence would settle over their hidden camp. Li Yu would sit in deep meditation, working to understand the intricate principles of the 'Soul Dominion' technique, even if he could not yet apply it. Xylia, a picture of coiled, feral grace, would practice her own cultivation method, her aura pulsing with a quiet, savage power.

Even Fat Pig, whose dedication to cultivation was a more recent development, would sit diligently, circulating the techniques Kui had given him, his own power growing steadily stronger. Jian Xuan, however, found the greatest benefit in this unexpected peace. He would sit for hours on end, his new sword, Daybreak, resting across his lap, his mind turned inward. He wasn't training or fighting; he was simply experiencing the world, letting the quiet sounds of the forest and the simple act of being wash over him.

And in this state of relaxed, non-striving, he could feel himself making progress. As dusk fell on the third day, they broke from their cultivation. Fat Pig, with a cheerful grin, took it upon himself to prepare a meal. He was surprisingly meticulous, humming an off-key tune as he worked. He had produced a surprising array of spices, herbs, and even a small wok from his storage ring.

He expertly diced vegetables, marinated strips of beast meat, and soon the rich, savory aroma of a complex stir-fry filled the clearing. He served the food on simple, wooden plates, along with a jug of strong, locally bought alcohol. Xylia, after taking her first bite, paused, her usually stoic expression breaking with a look of genuine surprise.

"This is… good," she admitted, a high compliment coming from her.

"Where did you learn to cook like this?" Fat Pig let out a booming, cheerful laugh, his large belly shaking.

"As you all know, I have always loved good food!" He took a large bite of his own cooking, chewing with satisfaction.

"Back in my bandit days, I was the only one who cooked for myself. If you want something done right, you do it yourself! I wouldn't trust those other brutes not to poison the food or burn it to a crisp. A man has to eat well, even in the wilderness!" The easy-going atmosphere, the delicious food, and the camaraderie of the campfire created a small, peaceful bubble in the tense, waiting wilderness. It was then that the peaceful bubble that was suddenly broke. Jian Xuan, who had just lifted his cup, froze.

His entire demeanor shifted in an instant, from a relaxed companion to a coiled, deadly serpent. His eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the dark woods to the north.

"Someone is coming," he said, his voice a low, urgent whisper. The others paused, but none of them showed any alarm. Li Yu calmly took another bite of food, while Xylia slowly finished her mouthful.

"How many?" Li Yu asked, his voice even as he reached for the alcohol jug.

"Five," Jian Xuan answered, his spiritual sense reaching out and painting a clear picture in his mind.

"They are moving fast and trying to conceal their presence, but their cultivation is too strong to hide completely. All are in the Core Formation realm. Four at the lower levels… one is a mid-Core Formation expert." A group of that strength was an extremely powerful force, enough to lay waste to most places in this area. This was no simple patrol.

"They are heading directly for us," Jian Xuan added.

"They have found our camp." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Li Yu, Xylia, and Fat Pig exchanged a look, but none of them moved to get up. They simply continued with their meal, their posture completely relaxed, a silent, profound confidence radiating from them. They had a Soul Formation expert on their side. There was nothing to fear. A few moments later, five figures melted out of the shadows at the edge of the clearing.

They were four men and one woman, all clad in dark, practical combat gear, their faces hard and wary. They were clearly a seasoned team of professionals, and the aura of the man in the lead, the mid-Core Formation expert, was sharp and dangerous. The leader's gaze swept over the campsite, taking in the scene. He saw four people relaxing around a fire, casually eating and drinking as if they didn't have a care in the world.

He could sense their cultivation levels were all in the Core Formation realm, and their relaxed, almost dismissive attitude ignited a cold fury within him. His group had been plagued for the last two days by a mysterious, powerful force that had intercepted three of their raiding parties. This group, appearing out of nowhere and camping so brazenly in their hunting grounds, had to be them. Their casualness was a sign of supreme arrogance.

"Well, well," the leader sneered, his hand resting on the hilt of the greatsword on his back.

"Look what we have here. I was wondering who the rats were that had been meddling in our business." Fat Pig looked up from his plate, a piece of meat halfway to his mouth, and put on a look of confused alarm.

"Sir, I think you have us mistaken for someone else. We are simple merchants, resting for the night." The woman in the group let out a cold, humorless laugh.

"Simple merchants? Don't play dumb with us. We know you're the ones who have been attacking our groups. I don't know who sent you, but your little game ends tonight. Prepare to die." The five of them spread out, their spiritual energy flaring as they prepared to attack. Li Yu calmly took a sip of alcohol. Xylia slowly wiped her mouth with the back of her gauntlet. Fat Pig sighed as if he were being inconvenienced. Only Jian Xuan moved.

He slowly, deliberately placed his cup on the ground and rose to his feet, his expression unreadable. The enemy leader was about to give the command to attack. He opened his mouth, a cruel smile on his face. He never got the chance to speak. Jian Xuan did not draw his sword. He did not launch a technique. He simply… released his aura. It was not a flare of energy. It was a change in the very nature of reality. An immense, suffocating, and absolute pressure slammed down on the clearing.

It was the unrestrained, glorious, and utterly terrifying aura of a Soul Formation expert. The effect on the five Core Formation cultivators was instantaneous and catastrophic. The arrogant, murderous expressions on their faces were wiped away, replaced by a look of pure, primal terror. Their spiritual energy, which had been flaring with aggressive intent, was snuffed out like a candle in a hurricane. They found they could not breathe.

Their knees buckled, and they collapsed to the ground, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, their faces pressed into the dirt. Their Core Formation cultivation, a source of immense pride and power, was as meaningless as a child's strength before the crushing, absolute might of a true master. They were flies caught in amber, completely and utterly suppressed. Before the first of them had even finished collapsing, Jian Xuan moved.

He was a phantom, a blur of motion that flowed between the five paralyzed cultivators. There was a series of five, soft, precise chops, the sound of a hand striking the back of a neck. It was over in an instant. The five powerful cultivators, who had arrived with such arrogance and killing intent, were now lying unconscious in a heap on the forest floor. The entire confrontation, from threat to conclusion, had lasted less than ten seconds.

Fat Pig let out a low whistle, his eyes wide as he stared at the five unconscious figures.

"Well, I'll be. They thought we were the ones who were attacking their people?" Jian Xuan stood over the unconscious group, his Soul Formation aura now completely retracted, his expression once again calm as he walked back to the campfire and resumed his seat.

"It seems we were not the only hunters in this forest," he said, his voice a low murmur.

"And they were unfortunate enough to mistake the dragon's den for a fox's burrow." A slow, predatory grin spread across Xylia's face.

"So the real enemy finally showed up." Li Yu looked at the five unconscious cultivators, then back at his companions. The stalemate was broken. The frustrating days of waiting and searching were over. The real enemy they had been looking for, the powerful, hidden hand behind the attacks, had just made a fatal mistake and delivered themselves right to their doorstep.