Chapter 39: Picking Up a Little Brother for Fun

“Brother Wu, when we encounter a beast later, make sure you stay behind me. If it’s a low-level beast, I’ll handle it. But if it’s too powerful, we run, understand?” After traveling some distance into the Severed Mountain Range, Niu Wuji spoke to Wu Tian with utter seriousness.

“Understood,” Wu Tian replied with a slight smile, offering no further comment.

The Severed Mountain Range stretched endlessly. Although five hundred disciples from the Qitian Sect had entered, they had come in through different paths and were now scattered far and wide. There were no fellow disciples nearby anymore, only the shadowy presence of ancient trees.

From the depths of the forest, the calls of birds could be heard.

Niu Wuji, who had started out chattering in Wu Tian’s ear, was now silent and alert, not daring to be careless.

“The deeper we go into the range, the more oppressive it feels. Thankfully, there haven’t been any beasts around here,” Niu Wuji murmured nervously, wiping the sweat from his brow.

But just as he finished speaking, a low growl emerged from a patch of underbrush ahead, and an enormous tiger, as tall as a man, stepped into view.

“Damn!” Every hair on Niu Wuji’s body stood on end.

“Fight or run?” Wu Tian asked, pointing at the massive tiger.

“That’s a level-three Sabertooth Tiger! Without the strength of a level-five Martial Master, we wouldn’t stand a chance. Damn it! I didn’t expect to run into such a high-level beast. Run!” Niu Wuji’s face went pale as he shook his head frantically, grabbing Wu Tian and bolting in the opposite direction.

With a furious roar, the Sabertooth Tiger sprang after them, covering the ground in great leaps and quickly catching up to Niu Wuji.

“Damn it—it’s too fast! There’s no time,” Niu Wuji shouted, seeing the tiger nearly upon them. He shoved Wu Tian forward. “Go! I’ll hold it off!” he called out, drawing the sword from his waist and preparing to confront the charging beast.

The tiger’s paw struck Niu Wuji’s sword with a thunderous impact, sending him flying and sliding ten feet before coming to a stop.

Then, with a roar, the Sabertooth Tiger rounded on Wu Tian, who stood his ground, jaws agape in a bloodthirsty howl.

“Wu Tian, run! We’re no match for it—hurry!” Niu Wuji gritted his teeth against the pain, scrambling to his feet and dashing toward Wu Tian as he shouted.

But before Niu Wuji could reach him, the Sabertooth Tiger had already leapt, its gaping maw descending to swallow Wu Tian’s head whole.

“Run!”

A sharp sound split the air.

Before the word had even left Niu Wuji’s lips, the Sabertooth Tiger’s head was severed from its body. Its momentum carried it forward, the headless corpse tumbling past Wu Tian and landing at Niu Wuji’s feet.

Niu Wuji skidded to a halt, staring in disbelief at the headless body. What the hell had just happened? Could it be...

A chime rang out:

“Congratulations, player Wu Tian, for killing the level-three beast, Sabertooth Tiger. You have gained 2,000 experience, 500 silver, and the Xuan-grade defensive armor, Sabertooth Carapace. Teammate Niu Wuji receives 3,000 experience and is promoted to Level 7 Martial Apprentice.”

“What… What just happened? Why did the tiger’s head suddenly fall off? Was it you…” Niu Wuji stared at the blood-dripping Black Dragon Blade in Wu Tian’s hand, eyes full of disbelief.

“It was merely a level-three beast—nothing worth mentioning,” Wu Tian replied with a shrug, unconcerned.

Niu Wuji pointed at the tiger, then at Wu Tian, and finally plopped down, rubbing his head. “Let me think in peace, just let me think…”

After a long moment, Niu Wuji finally came to his senses. He looked at Wu Tian, bewildered. “Wu Tian, weren’t your meridians shattered and your dantian destroyed? How do you still have your cultivation? And you killed a level-three beast with a single strike—how is this possible?”

“Did I ever say I had lost my cultivation?” Wu Tian countered.

“No, but…”

“It’s a long story, and you’re better off not knowing. More importantly, you seem to have advanced a level yourself,” Wu Tian changed the subject.

Only then did Niu Wuji focus on himself. One look and his eyes went wide with shock.

“Amazing! My cultivation just broke through a bottleneck and reached Level 7 Martial Apprentice! I’ve been stuck at Level 6 for two years, and just like that, I advanced!” Niu Wuji was overjoyed, barely able to contain himself.

“Once you’ve broken through this bottleneck, things will become easier from now on.” Wu Tian smiled with meaning. By forming a party with Wu Tian, Niu Wuji also gained experience—though he didn’t realize it.

“Brother Wu—no, boss! You’re my lucky star, absolutely my lucky star! Meeting you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me!” Niu Wuji exclaimed, throwing his arms around Wu Tian, nearly moved to tears.

“Enough, I’m not interested in men. Get off me,” Wu Tian said, pushing him away.

“Boss, you’re incredible. To kill a level-three beast with a single blow… Your cultivation must be at least at Level Five Martial Master. You truly deserve to be Qitian Sect’s number one genius. From now on, you are my boss!” Niu Wuji gazed at Wu Tian with undisguised admiration, ready to pledge his life to him.

“I never agreed to make you my underling.”

“Boss, do you look down on me? Well, I suppose my own strength is too lacking. Even after breaking through, I’m only a Level 7 Martial Apprentice—hardly worthy of being your follower.” Niu Wuji forced a bitter smile.

Wu Tian chuckled to himself. This fellow was certainly a character, but when it counted, he had been willing to stand up for Wu Tian, facing the Sabertooth Tiger head-on despite being outmatched. For that alone, Wu Tian could not reject him. Besides, Niu Wuji harbored a dormant berserker bloodline—once awakened, he would become a formidable ally.

“Damn it! A man who weeps at a little setback—how can you call yourself my follower? If you want to be my underling, you must become a true man!” Wu Tian scolded him with a laugh.

Niu Wuji’s eyes went wide. He bowed deeply to Wu Tian and shouted, “Boss, thank you for accepting me! From now on, I am yours to command—if you tell me to go east, I’ll go east; if you say go west, I’ll go west!”

“Alright, enough with the theatrics. Since you’ve pledged yourself to me, I should give you a welcome gift. Here, take this!” Wu Tian tossed him the Xuan-grade Sabertooth Carapace, which was of no use to himself but would benefit Niu Wuji greatly.

“Damn! Xuan-grade defensive armor! Boss, thank you for your generosity—I love you!” Niu Wuji caught the armor, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.

“Get lost, I don’t love you at all!” Wu Tian replied, kicking him aside in mock annoyance. Suddenly, Wu Tian’s expression changed. “Move!”

In a flash, Wu Tian grabbed Niu Wuji and hurled him away.