Wu Kai moved between the rocks with his body low, his senses on maximum alert. The roar had ceased, but the air still vibrated with the beast's presence. He followed the stream, stepping carefully so as not to make noise on the wet stones. The smell of damp earth mixed with something more savage, old blood.
Then, he saw it.
At the edge of the small waterfall, drinking water with slow and elegant movements, was a black leopard. Its fur was dark as night, with subtle silver stripes that glowed faintly under the remaining light of the day. Its body was slender, but every muscle was defined with lethal precision. Its long, curved fangs gleamed when it raised its head. Its golden eyes, alert, scanned the surroundings.
Wu Kai felt his heart beat faster. It was not fear. It was something warm, almost joyful. That leopard was clearly close to rank 1 mid, strength equivalent to the third, perhaps even the fourth stage of the Body Refinement Realm. Far above him, who was still at the second stage.
Even so, a dangerous smile curved his lips.
"Perfect…"
He did not retreat. Instead of hesitating, he felt a wave of excitement rise through his chest. Fighting something stronger was exactly what he needed. Denser blood. Richer essence. The only way to grow fast enough to not be expelled from the sect.
The Blood Spiritual Physique activated by instinct. His blood began to circulate at extreme speed, hot like lava, filling every muscle with brute strength. His eyes gained an intense red glow. Even without having broken through to the third stage, he felt that his current strength approached the third stage with the physique activated, perhaps even touched the fourth stage.
The leopard suddenly raised its head. Its ears moved. Its golden eyes locked directly onto the place where Wu Kai was hiding.
He had been discovered.
Without waiting, the beast leaped from the edge of the waterfall with deadly grace. Its black body cut through the air like an arrow, claws extended.
Wu Kai did not try to flee. He advanced as well.
At the last instant, he twisted his body to the side. The leopard's claws tore through the air where his head had been a second before. The wind from the strike messed up his gray hair. He immediately counterattacked, the dagger cutting in an upward arc.
The blade struck the leopard's flank, but the cut was shallow, the beast's skin and muscles were as tough as reinforced leather. Only a red line appeared.
The leopard spun in the air with impressive ease and attacked again, this time with its front paw. Wu Kai raised his arm to block. The impact was brutal. He was thrown backward, rolling over the wet stones. Pain exploded in his forearm, but he got up quickly, spitting saliva mixed with dirt.
"Faster than the wolf… much faster."
There was no panic in his voice. Only sharp focus.
The leopard did not give him time to breathe. It advanced low, trying to bring him down with weight and speed. Wu Kai jumped to the side, but he was too slow. A claw tore into his left thigh, opening a deeper cut than the previous ones. Hot blood ran down his leg.
He gritted his teeth. Instead of retreating, he focused on his own blood. Five dense needles formed at the tips of his fingers. He fired them almost at point-blank range.
Three hit the beast's shoulder and neck. The leopard roared in pain, but the injury did not stop it. It shook its head and lunged again, jaws open.
Wu Kai rolled to the side, feeling the beast's hot breath pass close to his face. He stood up and attacked again, this time with more strength. The dagger came down with full force onto the back of the leopard's neck.
The blade sank deep. Black blood spurted out.
The leopard howled and twisted violently, throwing Wu Kai away as if he were a rag doll. He slammed against a rock, the air leaving his lungs. Pain radiated through his back, but he forced himself to stand.
His blood was circulating faster and faster. The pain seemed distant. The strength within him grew with every second of combat.
"I won't die here… I will win."
He spat blood and smiled. A savage smile, full of teeth.
The leopard came again, limping slightly from the injured leg but still lethal. Wu Kai did not wait passively. He advanced to meet the beast, using the speed his physique granted him.
They collided in the middle of the rocky clearing.
Claws and dagger danced in a brutal sequence. Wu Kai received two more cuts, one on the shoulder and another on the chest, but he managed to stab the dagger twice into the leopard's side. Each strike made more blood spurt, and every drop that fell to the ground seemed to call to him.
His eyes shone more and more red.
At the peak of the clash, when the leopard attempted a fatal bite at his neck, Wu Kai did something even he did not expect. He let the dagger fall, extended both hands, and grabbed the beast's jaws, forcing them open.
His muscles trembled with the effort. The leopard was absurdly strong. But the Blood Spiritual Physique roared within him.
With a hoarse shout, Wu Kai forced blood out through the pores of his palms. Ten thin and extremely dense needles pierced the leopard's mouth and throat from the inside.
The beast choked on its own blood. Its golden eyes widened in shock and pain.
Wu Kai did not let go. He pushed the needles deeper, twisting them. The leopard thrashed frantically, claws tearing into Wu Kai's arms and torso, but he held firm, his face twisted in a mixture of pain and ecstasy.
Finally, with one last violent spasm, the leopard collapsed to the side. Its heavy body hit the stones with a dull thud.
Wu Kai fell to his knees beside it, panting, covered in blood, his and the beast's. His arms trembled. Deep cuts marked his body. His left leg throbbed intensely. But he was alive.
And he was smiling.
"I… did it…"
The words came out hoarse, almost a whisper. The adrenaline still burned in his veins, but now it was accompanied by a deep satisfaction. He had fought something clearly stronger. He had made mistakes, felt pain, nearly died, and still won.
He crawled toward the leopard's body and placed his trembling hands over the largest wound on its neck. His eyes shone intensely red.
"Come to me…"
The flow began slowly, then accelerated. Thick streams of rich and powerful blood were drawn into his body. The beast's vital essence was far denser than that of the wolf or the deer. Wu Kai felt every drop being refined, strengthening his muscles, repairing his cuts, densifying his bones, and, above all, enriching his own blood.
The sensation was almost orgasmic.
A wave of pure energy flooded his limbs.
Wu Kai slowly opened his eyes. A wide, satisfied smile spread across his face.
"The third stage is close…"