MASTER OF NONE

The Prey and the Predators

Chapter 4:

After successfully fusing with the Myriad Divine Body, Ye Feng stood up and marveled at his new form.

"So this is what it feels like to possess one of the top twenty divine constitutions," he muttered, flexing his fingers. "Everything has changed. My eyesight is sharper, and I can perceive the slightest shift in wind resistance. It feels like all my senses have been fully awakened."

[ALERT. Host, someone is approaching at extreme speed.]

Ye Feng’s eyes narrowed. Could they have noticed the energy fluctuations from my breakthrough? Without wasting a second, he dove into a dense patch of thorny bushes, completely suppressing his breath.

A split second later, a sonic boom tore through the sky, creating violent shockwaves in the upper air. A figure in pristine, snow-white robes descended like a falling star. It was a young woman, her gaze sharper than a refined knife, radiating an aura of absolute cold. Her name was Mo Qingxue.

She can fly... a Core Formation master! Ye Feng’s heart raced as he watched her hover in the air. I thought powerhouses of this caliber were only found in the great sects of the Imperial City. What is she doing in a low-level county city like this?

Mo Qingxue scanned the scorched clearing, her brow furrowing. "I clearly detected the unique energy of the Myriad Divine Body right here," she murmured, her voice carrying a chilly resonance.

I wonder who she is, Ye Feng mused from his hiding spot.

[If the Host requires her background, the System can provide a full scan for 20 points.]

Ye Feng was taken aback. Wait, you have a feature like that?

[Affirmative, Host. The System can extract information from any target, completely bypassing their cultivation level.]

System, check her data immediately, Ye Feng commanded.

[Data Retrieval Successful.]

Name: Mo Qingxue

Cultivation: Early-Stage Core Formation

Constitution: Heavenly Yin Constitution

Age: 18

Purpose: Seeking a cultivator with the Myriad Divine Body to act as a physical vessel to contain and absorb her volatile Yin energy.

Ye Feng’s expression darkened into a cold sneer. No wonder she rushed here the moment my body awakened. She isn't looking for a disciple; she’s looking for a glorified cultivation slave. He paused, re-reading the data. Wait, she’s only eighteen?

[Correct, Host.]

Ye Feng clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. She’s only a year older than me, yet she’s already reached Core Formation. I guess a powerful background really makes all the difference. I need to get stronger, and fast. If the System hadn’t completely cloaked my spiritual aura, I’d already be a caged bird.

Hovering above, Mo Qingxue unleashed her immense spiritual sense, blanketing the area, but came up entirely empty. There is no one here, she thought, frustrated. Did my senses deceive me?

Just as she turned to leave, the earth violently shuddered.

"Do you think my territory is a marketplace where you humans can just come and go as you please?"

A thunderous voice echoed through the trees as a massive white tiger stepped out of the clouds, walking on the empty air as if it were solid ground. Arcs of violent purple lightning crackled across its pristine fur, and its eyes burned like twin stars of pure malice. This was Bai Zhan, the terrifying overlord of the forest.

A Level 5 Star Beast, Ye Feng noted, keeping his eyes glued to the scene. Only beasts at Level 5 and above can speak human tongue, as their intelligence is fully on par with ours.

Mo Qingxue halted, her expression unyielding. "You must be Bai Zhan, the beast protecting this forest. Do not trouble yourself; I was just leaving."

Bai Zhan let out a deep, mocking roar that shook the leaves from the trees. "It seems my long dormancy has made you humans forget my laws, allowing a mere brat to wander through my domain unchecked."

"Do not mistake our compliance for fear, Bai Zhan," Mo Qingxue countered coldly. "The law states no cultivator above the Foundation Establishment stage is permitted here. We have kept our word. Do not make it sound like we fear you. The only reason the Five Great Clans haven't hunted you down for sport is out of respect for the old treaty. You should be grateful."

Mo Qingxue turned to fly away, but the tiger vanished in a flash of lightning.

Boom!

A massive, electrified claw missed her head by mere inches. Mo Qingxue swung her sleeves, creating an icy barrier to absorb the residual shockwave. Her eyes flashed with deadly intent. "It seems you truly have a death wish."

"If word spreads that I allowed a human slip of a girl to mock me and leave," Bai Zhan snarled, his claws crackling with electricity, "I will lose all dignity in my own realm. Die!"

"Don't flatter yourself," Mo Qingxue snapped. "You never had any dignity to begin with."

The two powerhouses clashed instantly.

The battle was catastrophic. Bai Zhan manipulated devastating torrents of purple lightning, tearing the forest apart, while Mo Qingxue unleashed the freezing, absolute zero energy of her Heavenly Yin Constitution. The sky twisted between flashes of blinding electricity and columns of dark, soul-chilling ice.

After a brutal, exhaustive exchange, a massive explosion erupted.

When the smoke cleared, both combatants crashed to the earth, soaked in blood and heavily weakened. Bai Zhan’s chest was severely lacerated, his flesh blackened by the corrosive Yin energy. Mo Qingxue knelt on the ground, coughing up blood; she had suffered a severe internal backlash from drawing too heavily upon a Yin constitution she could not yet fully control. Neither could stand.

Ye Feng stepped out from the bushes, dusting off his clothes. If it weren't for the absolute defense of my Myriad Divine Body, those shockwaves alone would have shredded me to pieces.

Both Mo Qingxue and Bai Zhan snapped their heads toward the sudden sound of footsteps.

Ye Feng paused, looking at the two crippled powerhouses. He originally intended to slip away quietly, but a memory sparked. Wait... the Newbie Package gave me a Level 6 Soul Brand Contract. It can forcibly tame any beast up to Level 6 into an absolute slave. If I contract this tiger right now, I’ll instantly gain a Level 5 powerhouse bodyguard.

Reversing his steps, Ye Feng walked calmly into the center of the ruined clearing, standing directly between Mo Qingxue and the fallen tiger lord.

Bai Zhan let out a ragged, desperate laugh. "It seems the heavens are on my side! Boy, if you kill that human girl for me, I will grant you anything you desire! Wealth, techniques, resources—name it!"

Ye Feng looked down at the massive beast, his face expressionless. "Anything I require? Truly?"

As I thought, Bai Zhan sneered in his mind, basking in his perceived victory. Humans are fundamentally greedy, opportunistic parasites. Offer them a fraction of wealth, and their fragile minds succumb instantly. Aloud, the tiger rumbled, "Yes! Anything!"

Mo Qingxue stared at the sudden intruder in absolute shock. Where did he come from? she thought frantically. I scanned this entire zone with my spiritual sense. There is no logical way a mere Star Refining brat could evade my detection!

Ye Feng suddenly let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh.

Bai Zhan's eyes narrowed. "What is so amusing, boy?"

Ye Feng clenched his fist, his voice dropping to a dangerous, icy register. "It really is true that only the strong make the rules in this world. If I had crossed your path twenty minutes ago, you would have slaughtered me without a second thought. Now that I hold the power over your life, you lower yourself to negotiate? How pathetic. Let me make one thing clear: I have absolutely no use for your empty promises."

Before the beast could react, Ye Feng raised his hand. "System, activate the Level 6 Soul Brand Contract on the white tiger!"

[Command received. Activating contract.]

A massive, golden mystical crest materialized over Ye Feng’s palm, expanding rapidly to cover the sky before slamming down on Bai Zhan. A powerful suction force gripped the massive beast.

"What is this?! What are you doing?!" Bai Zhan roared, struggling violently against the golden chains of light binding his soul. "Do you have any idea who I am?!"

His roars were cut short as the golden crest forcefully collapsed, pulling the entire massive form of the Level 5 Star Beast directly into the seal on the back of Ye Feng's hand.

Silence returned to the forest.

Ye Feng slowly turned his gaze toward Mo Qingxue, his face an emotionless mask.

Mo Qingxue swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly. "So... you are a hidden Beast Tamer."

Ye Feng didn't answer. In that brief silence, cold killing intent flashed across his mind. He wanted to eliminate her to completely erase his tracks, but he knew a Core Formation master of her age must belong to an incredibly powerful clan. If she went missing, her elders would scour this city, and he wasn't strong enough to oppose a powerhouse clan yet.

Seeing his hesitation, Mo Qingxue tried to regain her composure. "Since you have bound Bai Zhan, he poses no further threat to this region. Once I return to my clan, I will have my elders compensate you and retrieve the beast for our use."

Ye Feng, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "What makes you think you're leaving here alive?"

Mo Qingxue's eyes widened. "You want to silence me?"

"The dead don't talk," Ye Feng replied coldly, taking a step forward.

Mo Qingxue let out a desperate, bitter laugh, her hand gripping the core over her chest. "Do not push me, boy. Even in this weakened state, if you take one more step, I will forcefully detonate my Core Formation sea. I will drag you to hell with me. Now... choose."

Ye Feng stopped, his white eyes locking onto her as he calculated the risks of his next move.