Chapter 36: My House Has a Big Pit in Front of the Door

The yellow ox was grinning. Its casual two-line comment on the "Embarrassing Moments Picture-Sharing Website" had drawn a crowd of onlookers and garnered many likes.

Seeing this, Zhou Quan felt his heart was about to give out; he couldn't stand it.

"You never know if it's an ox, a person, or some other strange entity behind the communicator!" This was Zhou Quan's last comment under those pictures, filled with indignation.

"What a painful realization." Someone commented in response, making Fatty Zhou almost burst into tears. It was a truly profound and painful realization that resonated deep within him. However, upon closer inspection, he saw the commenter's name: "Lord Yellow Ox."

"Pfft!" This time, Zhou Quan truly couldn't take it anymore. He opened his mouth and spat out a jet of flames, so enraged he nearly fainted. It was that detestable ox! Then, smoke began to billow from his ears and nose, and intense heat surged from him. He was truly fuming from every orifice.

The yellow ox's comments, naturally, were incredibly popular. A multitude of people quickly left replies and comments, turning them into trending discussions.

"Disgraceful! Simply disgraceful!" Zhou Quan shouted, looking up at the sky.

Chu Feng was surprised. "Something's odd," he said. "Zhou Quan, have your abilities improved? I sense the flames you're expelling are more potent." A large area of the ground had melted into a vibrant red, boiling magma, emitting a pungent sulfuric odor. Zhou Quan had transformed a considerable section of the mountainside into lava!

The yellow ox nodded, acknowledging Zhou Quan's progress.

"That works?" Chu Feng was speechless. With such a stimulus, the power of Zhou Quan's flames had indeed increased by a noticeable margin. The yellow ox wrote on the ground that its species grows stronger the angrier it becomes, as rage stimulates the release of physical potential, far surpassing their normal state.

"Can this be solidified?" Chu Feng asked.

"A little more stimulation, and it should stabilize," the yellow ox replied.

More stimulation? Zhou Quan was on the verge of losing his mind.

The yellow ox paid no heed, approaching and sitting right next to Zhou Quan, instantly making the veins on Zhou Quan's forehead throb. Then, the yellow ox poked Zhou Quan, gesturing for him to look at the view count of the pictures.

"Eight hundred thousand?!" Zhou Quan exclaimed. It had only been pinned by the administrator for a short time, yet it was already rapidly approaching the million mark. In that instant, he was indeed overstimulated. Not only did flames erupt from his mouth, but they also began to pour from his ears, nose, and eyes. He then transformed into a being of pure fire, glowing crimson, with thick smoke billowing from him. Flames shot out whenever he spoke or opened his mouth, a truly frightening sight.

"Argh, argh, argh..." Zhou Quan screamed, venting his pent-up fury.

"Success!" The yellow ox quickly retreated and wrote these two words on the ground.

Much later, the area finally calmed down. A section of the mountainside was now barren, having been reduced to magma and then re-solidified into volcanic rock.

Chu Feng walked over, patted Zhou Quan's shoulder, and told him it was time to head back. "Your strength has improved; keep up the good work," Chu Feng told Zhou Quan, confirming his partial increase in power. The yellow ox also approached, grinning. Uncharacteristically, it showed no disdain, as Zhou Quan's pictures had given it the satisfying sensation of being worshipped by the crowd. It wouldn't burn bridges immediately, would it?

The Taihang Mountains were vast, with open terrain and countless peaks. As they left the Primordial Mountains, the roars of giant beasts faded, and the sight of colossal, meters-long birds soaring across the sky vanished. Even the miasma and other strange phenomena were now behind them. Because of this, the surroundings felt significantly quieter.

Suddenly, the yellow ox stopped, pricked up its ears, and stared intently at the terrain ahead.

"Stop!"

Chu Feng also sensed something; his expression subtly changed. He quickly pulled Zhou Quan behind a large boulder.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Quan was still feeling dejected when he was suddenly yanked, startling him. He thought a terrifying beast was nearby.

"There's danger ahead; hide well here!" Chu Feng warned. He stared into the forest, his eyes suddenly becoming brilliant and unsettlingly sharp. Abandoning his calm demeanor, he drew the black short sword from his side with a metallic clang.

Zhou Quan snapped awake, his dejection replaced by extreme tension. Chu Feng hadn't even drawn his sword when fighting that formidable fierce bird in the Primordial Mountains, yet now he was so serious.

"I'll help you!" Though frightened, Zhou Quan refused to cower there and was willing to step forward and assist.

"No, just wait for me here. Absolutely do not go over, or you might distract me," Chu Feng instructed. After speaking, he vanished in a flash. A distance of several hundred meters was covered in mere seconds for him, shattering previous human limits. He had come alone, leaving the yellow ox behind.

A cold glint flickered deep in Chu Feng's eyes. Upon arrival, he slowed his pace, moving like a silent leopard, creeping through the dense woodland. He spotted several individuals, fully equipped and dispersed throughout the forest, guarding his inevitable path from advantageous positions. Dark, menacing gun barrels poked out from the grass, cold and terrifying, clearly designed to take lives.

"They really came!" Chu Feng's eyes hardened. He had casually left a note at home, and indeed, someone had followed him, even orchestrating such a grand operation. There were dozens of people, all well-armed with large-caliber weapons. A single hit would tear half a body apart.

Having mastered the Ox Demon Fist, Chu Feng's intuition was exceptionally sharp. From a considerable distance, he sensed a bone-chilling killing intent. Rushing blindly into such an ambush would be suicide. At this moment, he realized that the greatest benefit of his boxing practice was his heightened perception. The activation of this instinctive intuition allowed him to detect danger in advance and take preventative measures.

These individuals were remarkable, hiding motionless in the grass like stone statues, their eyes cold and seasoned from combat. They were clearly elite.

"They really think highly of me, even bringing rocket launchers!" A murderous glint flashed in Chu Feng's eyes. He clearly saw those immensely powerful weapons; being hit by one would lead to a dire outcome. He stealthily moved through the forest, sensing each individual to pinpoint their exact numbers and hiding spots.

There were forty-two armed elites. In addition to large-caliber firearms, they also carried ten rocket launchers, powerful enough to pierce even tanks. These weapons could obliterate not only ordinary people but also awakened individuals, even strong ones, at this stage. This was a massive undertaking! Rushing in recklessly would undoubtedly lead to a tragic end.

Furthermore, Chu Feng detected two awakened individuals whose powers seemed very similar, possessing the same ability, as both had golden arms. It was plausible they had consumed the same mysterious fruit.

After assessing the situation, boundless killing intent surged within Chu Feng. It must be that woman's doing again, attempting to rescue the captured bat and giant spider, and more importantly, trying to kill him! Time and again, she had made her move. If he hadn't possessed a certain level of strength, he would have been humiliated long ago, eventually becoming a cold corpse in utter disgrace.

"However many come, I will deal with them," Chu Feng whispered. "I'll make you suffer until you're utterly desperate." He then launched his attack.

He moved behind a rock, descending like a falling leaf, and struck two snipers on the back of their necks with his fist. Both fell unconscious without a sound. Chu Feng moved through the forest, silent and ruthless. In a brief period, he had silently incapacitated twenty individuals, completely undetected.

Suddenly, as he was dealing with the twenty-second person, something unexpected happened: the individual abruptly turned around, displaying unusual alertness, with a faint golden glint in their eyes. An awakened one! This fully equipped elite, armed with a firearm, was actually an awakened individual in disguise, not an ordinary person. He had detected the danger at the very last second.

"You..." He was utterly astonished that someone had gotten so close, nearly touching him.

"Boom!" Chu Feng simultaneously extended his left fist and right sword, attacking forward, aiming to quickly dispatch him. In an instant, the awakened individual's body radiated golden light, and a layer of golden scales appeared, covering him entirely, even his face. He looked like a monster! His reaction was swift; he dodged the black short sword aimed at his neck—a fatal blow—but he couldn't evade Chu Feng's left fist, which struck his chest.

With a dull thud, like striking decaying wood, his defense proved astonishing. Though blood trickled from his lips, he narrowly escaped death, sent flying horizontally.

"The target is here!" he roared, alerting the entire forest.

Attack was Chu Feng's immediate choice and best defense. He leaped, swift as a predatory bird, diving to pursue the awakened individual. Gunfire erupted, a blaze of light concentrated on the spot where he had just been. Rocks, plants, and other elements were torn to shreds. Simultaneously, Chu Feng caught up with his target.

With a thunderous boom, his fist glowed, striking down with full force, like a bolt of lightning, carrying a terrifying aura. Thud! The awakened individual hadn't even landed when Chu Feng caught up, slamming a fist into his back. The blow created a visible indentation, and even the tough golden scales couldn't fully absorb the impact. The awakened individual grunted, his bones audibly breaking. Yet, his defense was indeed superior to other awakened ones; he wasn't killed. Upon hitting the ground, he immediately rolled, attempting to escape.

Whish! Simultaneously, Chu Feng's black short sword arrived, slicing like a black bolt of lightning. Despite his swift reaction, he was still struck. He avoided vital points, but one arm was bleeding profusely. The short sword was so sharp it almost completely severed his left arm, leaving it connected only by some flesh. This was a severe injury. The awakened individual screamed, his face contorted in pain, and the golden scales covering his body dulled.

Bang! Simultaneously, Chu Feng delivered a sweeping kick to his head, sending him flying into a colossal boulder weighing ten thousand catties. He then fell to the ground, motionless. The next moment, Chu Feng vanished from his spot. A hail of bullets poured down, striking the area, sending sparks flying.

Then, with a roar, towering flames erupted in the forest. Many colossal boulders were pulverized, numerous ancient trees toppled, and leaves scattered everywhere. Someone was using rocket launchers to bombard the mountainside!

Chu Feng crouched low, moving through the mountains like a crouching savage dragon, incredibly swift as he dodged bullets. During this process, he eliminated three more individuals.

"He's over there, blow him up!" someone roared.

Boom! Flames surged skyward; rocks in that area exploded, giant trees toppled in swathes, the ground trembled, and smoke billowed into the sky. In an instant, a relentless barrage of fire and fierce firepower obliterated the area, leaving it barren and completely leveled. The rocket launchers were incredibly powerful!

In the distance, Zhou Quan was dumbfounded, utterly petrified and frozen in place. What he saw was powerful conventional weaponry, all targeting Chu Feng. Bang! In that mountainous area, a smaller hilltop had been completely leveled.

This day had been overwhelming for Zhou Quan. It had transitioned from a wild adventure to a horror story, then to a full-blown gunfight. Even with his normally robust nerves, he was now feeling quite shaken.

"Quick, save Chu Feng!" Zhou Quan exclaimed, snapping awake and shouting at the Yellow Ox. The yellow ox remained calm, indicating there was no rush.

In the forest, large swaths of scorched earth appeared. After the rocket launchers fired, the temperature in the area rapidly soared, leaving destruction in its wake. However, they still failed to eliminate their target. Instead, screams echoed one after another, or the gunfire in certain areas inexplicably ceased. Clearly, these individuals had been dealt with! Finally, all gunfire ceased, and silence descended upon the entire forest.

"Trying to leave?" Chu Feng roared, leaving a blur in his wake as he pursued. In just five or six seconds, he was hundreds of meters away, intercepting three individuals. They were all awakened ones, possessing the same ability, their palms a faint golden hue. At this moment, their bodies glowed brightly, completely covered in golden scales.

Chu Feng understood: there were actually four awakened ones in total this time. Two of them had been disguised, hidden among the regular armed personnel. He had already dealt with one of them. Now, these three awakened individuals were trying to escape. Indeed, just as he suspected, these individuals had consumed the same fruit in the same location, granting them the same abilities: immense strength and astonishing defense. Once their bodies were covered in golden scales, ordinary bullets found it difficult to penetrate them.

However, facing Chu Feng now, the three awakened ones were filled with terror. They knew rocket launchers had been used, yet he had survived. They themselves could never have survived that! Chu Feng's clothes were somewhat tattered, but his body remained unharmed and uninjured.

Bang! One of the awakened ones suddenly opened fire, hoping to catch Chu Feng off guard and kill him. However, he was disappointed, only hitting a blur. The next moment, he was sent flying, punched in the head. He felt the world spin, and even with the mysterious scales protecting his body, he couldn't withstand the blow. Blood trickled from his mouth, and he fell to the ground, instantly unconscious.

The other two, witnessing this, despaired. They were considered strong among awakened ones and had come together, yet in front of this young man, they appeared utterly pathetic! In fact, Chu Feng was secretly surprised himself. He had used his full strength, yet only managed to knock them unconscious. Most other awakened individuals would likely have been impaled by his fist.

"Kill!" The remaining two fought desperately. In the mountains, fierce winds howled, and golden light flared. Two grotesque figures, their faces also covered in golden scales, fought Chu Feng to the death. Unfortunately, there was no suspense. Both of them were subdued, bleeding profusely and unconscious on the ground.

Soon after, Zhou Quan ran over, panting heavily. He gazed at the half-destroyed forest, then at the dozens of people sprawled on the ground, his face paling. "Did you kill them all?" he asked.

"How could I be so cruel?" Chu Feng replied nonchalantly. "I didn't kill a single one."

Zhou Quan sighed in relief, but then a new headache emerged. These people had tried to kill Chu Feng, and there were so many of them. How would they deal with them? Chu Feng's next words made his heart pound.

"Aren't you two coming to help? Throw them all into the Primordial Mountains," Chu Feng called out to the yellow ox and Zhou Quan.

Zhou Quan forced a smile that was worse than a grimace. "Throw them *all* in?" he asked.

"Should I keep them so they can try to kill me again next time?" Chu Feng retorted, already gathering mountain vines and tying up the unconscious individuals. This section of the mountains became peaceful. However, deep within the Primordial Mountains, the roars of beasts echoed relentlessly.

"What about these things?" Zhou Quan asked, pointing at the rocket launchers.

"Hide them for now; I have a great use for them!" Chu Feng said, a divine light flashing in his eyes. His killing intent was palpable.

Finally, they began their journey back, first escorting the dazed and pale Zhou Quan to the county town. "For the next few days, just calm yourself down. Stay home, don't go anywhere, and especially don't look for me!" Chu Feng instructed. Zhou Quan quickly nodded; he genuinely wanted some peace and quiet. Today had been far too stimulating for him.

That evening, Chu Feng quietly read a book, ignoring the numerous times his communicator rang. After finishing the book, he took out a map, unfurled it, and carefully studied it. It was a copy he had made after obtaining it from Zuo Jun.

"Yellow ox, tomorrow we'll take a trip into the mountains and pick some fruits for you!" Chu Feng called out.

Not long after, the communicator rang again. It was still the same person; she had been calling all evening. Chu Feng yawned, feeling somewhat sleepy. Only then did he pick up the communicator and answer.

"Chu Feng!" a woman's voice came from the other end.

"It's me."

Hearing his response, the woman felt both disappointment and dread. The man at the foot of Taihang Mountain was still perfectly safe, while another team she had dispatched had lost contact. This was no small matter. She was deeply worried and unwilling to shoulder the responsibility.

"What is it?" Chu Feng asked. It was still the same woman, not Lin Nuoyi herself.

"Did anyone come to your location today to retrieve the injured awakened ones?" the woman asked, trying to maintain her composure.

"I saw a few people falling from the sky, almost crashing to their deaths right by my door, covered in blood..."

"What are you talking about?!" the woman's voice rose an octave on the other end, her tone laced with anger. "How did they *almost crash to their deaths* again?!"

"I already told you, there's a big pit in front of my house."