Chapter 17 - A Rogue Encounter
Impossible, what could that rogue be doing here? Could he have tracked my location? Li Kang struggled to temper his thoughts while he frantically cycled. Remaining as still as a statue, he kept a sharp lookout for the Wanyi cultivator although it appeared that he was unaware of Li Kang's presence, at least for now. ki energy coursed through his veins like the mighty currents of the Wang River. After 10-15 minutes of cycling Li Kang had broken into the 4th stage of the bone tempering phase. He was now merely 1 level below stage 5, the highest level. After leveling up in cultivation, a cultivator's channels and meridians would be notoriously unstable. Sustaining major injuries here could cripple your cultivation or even lead to instantaneous death. However there is a well known risk and reward benefit inverse to this. If significant power is gained without injury, the newly swollen channels from advancing hold the capability to gain even more power from an influx of ki energy during this unstable period.
I have to go for it, this is my best chance to get revenge on the Wanyi group for stealing my inheritance treasures. Even though it's risky, I can massively power up. Li Kang thought. I could die here, but I must grasp opportunities like this if I want to stand atop this Martial World!
With a quick burst of speed, Li Kang appeared behind the Wanyi bandit. His vicious daggers flashed in streaks of light across the bandit's neck. With a grunt Li Kang stumbled forward, his weapons had merely found the afterimage of the Wanyi mercenary!
"Not bad, kid," The bandit turned casually while pulling down his green mask to reveal a rugged face with keen eyes. Once again Li Kang flashed with speed and performed another devastating strike. And once again the bandit seemingly vanished, only to appear again, outputting a dangerous flurry of strikes. Li Kang quickly dodged and blocked, his treasure daggers providing the strength to block attacks from an opponent a whole stage above his own. The rogue pushed Li Kang to his limits, landing several glancing blows and bruising his torso. Li Kang panted with exhaustion as he felt his body giving in, when suddenly the attacks ceased.
The man leaned on his blade a short distance away. "I've already got what I need from the Suhn clan and to be blunt, the Wanyi group's Gulong region branch is slim on new prospects," The masked man tossed a coin bearing the Wanyi insignia onto the dirt in front of Li Kang. "Personally I would rather kill you now and take those grade 1 heavenly treasures but the boss showed interest in you. It seems like his instincts were right, despite you only being a 4th stage bone tempering phase you fight like a peak bone tempering phase cultivator. Seek us out if you're interested." With that, the rogue cultivator blurred into a shadow and disappeared from sight.
Damn, what a close call, meridian crystallization level cultivators are too scary. This gives me even more motivation to level up quickly.
While he was unable to capitalize and gain the added strength from taking out the Wanyi cultivator, he may have gained a new ally although it would be fraught with danger. Despite his battered state, Li Kang knew he had to put the Wanyi group aside in his mind and focus on farming the lower ranked Suhn clan cultivators until he reached the peak of bone tempering stage. As his level was stronger than any except meridian crystallization stage experts Li Kang knew he would be able to kill and drain the ki energy from any other search parties he encountered. With this in mind, Li Kang roused himself and set out on the hunt.