The Forbidden Area was silent, save for the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Fang Ze crouched on a thick tree branch, his breathing shallow and rhythmic. Below him, about fifty meters away, lay a small cave entrance. A faint, bloody red glow pulsed from within, illuminating the massive creature sleeping at the entrance.
The Iron-Hide Boar. A Tier-5 vicious beast. Its skin was as tough as steel; a normal sword couldn't even leave a scratch on it.
Analysis: Frontal assault is suicide. Stealth is impossible due to its heightened sense of smell.
Fang Ze's eyes were calm. He untied the pouch at his waist.
"Beasts are strong, but they are slaves to their instincts."
He checked the wind direction. Perfect. Northwest wind.
Fang Ze poured the mixture of 'Rotting Corpse Flower' powder and dried chili onto a piece of raw meat he had stolen from the kitchen. He didn't throw it directly at the boar. Instead, he tossed it into a bush about twenty meters to the boar's left.
Thud.
The soft sound woke the beast. The Iron-Hide Boar grunted, its snout twitching. The scent of blood—mixed with the pungent aroma of the flower—drifted into its nostrils.
It was a smell no scavenger could resist.
The boar stood up, shaking its massive body, and lumbered towards the bush, abandoning its post for just a moment.
"Now."
Fang Ze dropped from the tree like a falling leaf. He didn't run; running created vibrations. He glided across the grass using a footwork technique from his past life—the Ghost Step. Although his body was weak and he couldn't unleash its full power, it was enough to silence his movements.
He reached the cave entrance.
There it was. The Blood Spirit Grass. It had seven leaves, each dripping with a ruby-like dew.
Fang Ze didn't waste a second admiring it. He reached out, his hand wrapped in a cloth (to avoid direct contact poisoning), and uprooted it in one smooth motion.
Crack.
A twig snapped behind him.
Fang Ze didn't freeze. He didn't turn around in shock. His muscles instantly coiled like a spring.
"Fang Ze?"
A voice filled with disbelief rang out.
Standing at the edge of the clearing was a young man holding a torch. He wore the uniform of the Fang Clan's patrol guards. Tier-2 Body Refining.
"You... you trash?" The guard's eyes widened as he saw the red grass in Fang Ze's hand. Greed instantly replaced his surprise. "Heavens! Is that the Blood Spirit Grass? You stole from the clan!"
The boar in the distance roared, realizing it had been tricked, and started charging back.
"Give it to me!" The guard drew his sword, grinning hideously. "Hand it over, and I might leave your corpse intact. A useless servant like you doesn't deserve such a treasure!"
Time seemed to slow down.
On one side, a Tier-5 beast charging back. On the other, a Tier-2 guard blocking the exit with a sword. And Fang Ze, a Tier-1 trash with no weapon.
Situation: Critical.Solution: Kill.
Fang Ze turned around. The terror from the morning appeared on his face again. He held the grass out with trembling hands.
"P-Please! Don't kill me! Take it!"
He threw the Blood Spirit Grass towards the guard.
The guard instinctively reached out to catch the precious treasure, his sword arm lowering slightly. His eyes were fixed solely on the glowing red herb.
Fatal mistake.
In the split second the grass was in the air, obstructing the guard's vision, Fang Ze moved.
He lunged forward. Not towards the exit, but directly into the guard's personal space.
As the guard's hand closed around the grass, Fang Ze's hand closed around the guard's throat.
Between Fang Ze's fingers was a sharp, jagged stone he had picked up earlier.
Puchi!
No technique. No fancy martial arts. Just pure, anatomical precision. The stone severed the carotid artery and the windpipe in one slash.
"Gurgle..."
The guard's eyes bulged. He tried to scream, but only blood bubbles foamed at his mouth. He looked at Fang Ze, unable to comprehend how this cowardly servant had suddenly turned into a demon.
Fang Ze didn't blink. He kicked the dying guard in the chest, sending him flying backwards—directly into the path of the charging Iron-Hide Boar.
Roar!
The enraged boar, seeing a human holding the grass (which the guard was now clutching in his death grip), gored the guard instantly.
Fang Ze didn't stay to watch. He used the chaos to slip into the shadows of the dense forest.
...
Ten minutes later, in a safe, hidden cave miles away.
Fang Ze sat cross-legged. He wiped the warm blood off his face.
"First kill of this life," he muttered indifferently. "Messy. Too slow. I need to get stronger."
He looked at his empty hands. The guard had died holding the grass... or so it seemed.
Fang Ze opened his mouth. On his tongue lay the real prize—the seven crimson leaves of the Blood Spirit Grass.
Back there, he had thrown the root and the dirt clump at the guard. The moment he lunged, he had stripped the leaves with a sleight of hand fast enough to deceive a novice.
"Benefits secured. Witness eliminated. Scapegoat provided."
Fang Ze swallowed the leaves whole.
Fire exploded in his stomach. The pain was excruciating, as if lava was pouring through his veins.
"Good," Fang Ze gritted his teeth, a twisted smile appearing on his face as his bones began to crack and reshape. "Let the rebirth begin."