Chapter 183: Mad Killer
The next morning, Yu Xuan ended his meditation, opening his eyes to the faint rustling of leaves. His senses stretched outward like ripples in water, immediately catching the familiar presence of Lingluo stirring awake nearby.
She yawned, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand before stretching her limbs.
"Ugh, I look like a beast after that fight," she muttered, before changing into a fresh set of clothes.
Yu Xuan had already done the same. He disliked the feeling of blood sticking to him, and though his appearance was far from vain, he always preferred cleanliness when he could afford it.
"Here," he said, pulling two food pills from his storage ring. He handed one to Lingluo, who swallowed it without complaint, and they ate in silence for a moment, taste of the food pill settling in their throats.
With their strength recovered, they set out once more. Yu Xuan walked a few steps ahead, his eyes sharp as he continued etching faint marks on trees to keep their path mapped. Soon they reached a sharp bend in the trail. Yu Xuan’s mental map unfolded in his head — this direction brought them close to the battlefield from last night.
They pressed forward, hours passing under the sky. The straight path gave them speed, and by late evening, they emerged into terrain that felt strangely familiar.
Yu Xuan slowed, frowning. Something was off. This was the same kind of area they had come from before, yet none of the trees bore his markings. That meant one thing.
They hadn’t been here and the area was eerily similar to their place where the previous fight took place.
"Careful," Yu Xuan said quietly, moving outwards, scanning the plains. Lingluo nodded, her cheerfulness subdued, her body tense and ready.
At first, nothing stirred. The field was eerily quiet, the stillness unnerving. Then, a low rumble rolled across the ground, growing louder until the earth trembled beneath their feet.
A shadow emerged from the heart of the plains — a hulking figure, towering nearly fifteen feet tall.
Its strides were thunderous, covering meters in a single bound. Its body resembled the green monsters they had fought earlier, but this one was far worse. Its crimson eyes glowed, small tusks jutted from its mouth, and in its massive hands was an axe almost the size of a tree trunk.
The monster’s speed belied its size, moving with frightening agility as it bounded toward them.
"Only one this time," Lingluo muttered, squinting at the creature. Her tone was casual, but her eyes betrayed caution. The aura rolling off it was far more oppressive than the others.
"Let me handle this one," Yu Xuan said firmly.
Lingluo tilted her head, then shrugged, leaning against a tree. "Fine. Show me what you’ve got, little brother."
Yu Xuan stepped forward, energy humming faintly beneath his skin. His eyes locked on the charging monster.
To his surprise, the giant spoke. Its voice was loud yet clear, shaking the air.
"My enemy," it bellowed, "the killer of the Fifth Guardian. Today you die beneath my axe, by the hands of the Fourth Guardian — Mad Killer!"
Yu Xuan raised an eyebrow. Guardians? So the leader they defeated last night had not been the end, but only one piece of a larger force. His lips curved into a smirk.
"You too must be weak like that woman," Yu Xuan said casually, taunting him. "Oh—and I remember killing plenty of your subordinates yesterday."
But unlike the others, the provocation did nothing. The monster’s crimson gaze didn’t waver.
With a roar, Mad Killer leapt high, muscles coiling with raw power. Midway through the leap, he hurled his massive axe downward with terrifying force. The weapon whistled through the air, cutting a path like a falling meteor.
Yu Xuan moved aside, dodging. The axe struck the earth with a thunderous impact, splitting the ground apart. The resulting shockwave rattled the plains, nearly throwing Yu Xuan off balance.
He recovered swiftly, only to sense movement at his flank. Mad Killer’s massive leg was already sweeping toward him in a brutal kick. Yu Xuan stepped sideways, narrowly avoiding it. The air pressure alone whipped against his clothes.
’He has terrifying physical strength,’ Yu Xuan thought, eyes narrowing. ’This won’t be easy.’
Taking advantage of the opening, he launched himself upward. His fist, wrapped in force, slammed directly into Mad Killer’s jaw.
The giant’s head snapped to the side, and a spray of black blood splattered from its mouth. But the result wasn’t what Yu Xuan hoped. The monster only staggered slightly before fixing him with blazing, murderous eyes.
It spat more of the black blood, and when it hit the ground, the earth hissed and corroded as though touched by acid.
Yu Xuan landed lightly, putting distance between them. His mind raced.
Martial arts alone wouldn’t be enough against something this large and this durable. Every strike from him was a mere scratch compared to the monster’s overwhelming physique.
His gaze sharpened, and his hand lifted slightly. From his space ring, he drew out a gleaming spear.
"If brute force won’t do..." Yu Xuan muttered, "...then I’ll carve that massive body apart."
The giant’s size would be its own weakness.
Yu Xuan tilted his head and sneered. "Tell me, are you sure you’re not weaker than that woman? For someone claiming to be the Fourth Guardian, your strength feels less than hers."
This time, the provocation landed.
The Mad Killer’s tusked face twisted into a grin, and then he burst out laughing. "Hahaha! I, Mad Killer, weaker than that woman? Ridiculous! If you defeated her, it must have been nothing but coincidence!"
With a roar, he leapt high and swung his colossal axe down with terrifying force.
Yu Xuan’s spear flashed forward, hurled with all his strength.
The Mad Killer didn’t bother dodging. He met it head-on, smashing the weapon aside with his axe. Sparks scattered from the impact. But in that instant, Yu Xuan had already drawn out another sphere. He hurled it forward, aiming straight for the monster’s exposed chest.
The projectile struck — yet when it hit, the result was disappointing. The Mad Killer’s flesh barely yielded. The impact left only a shallow mark, a faint scratch against his body.