The autumn wind was bleak, red leaves drifting down.
The wild grass had yellowed and withered, while bright red or orange wild fruits hung from the branches.
"Hmph-hrr!" The black wild boar's bristles stood on end as its four hooves thundered across the ground.
A thick layer of fallen leaves had accumulated on the mountain ground.
The wild boar charged forward, carrying a gust of wind, leaves swirling in its wake.
Fang Yuan stood perfectly still, watching the boar draw closer and closer, his face cold and ruthless.
Kill!
He suddenly took a massive stride forward, then broke into alternating steps, charging straight at the wild boar without dodging or evading.
The boar's two snow-white tusks pierced the air, brimming with murderous intent.
Fang Yuan sidestepped the tusks, lowered his shoulder, and slammed it violently into the boar's head.
Right at the moment of impact, a faint jade-green light flickered across Fang Yuan's shoulder.
Jade Skin Gu!
Bang.
A dull thud rang out as the two collided violently.
Fang Yuan stumbled back three steps in succession, while the boar retreated only one.
All things considered, Fang Yuan's strength was still slightly greater. But running on two legs, he couldn't match the stability of the boar's four hooves. At the same time, the boar's center of gravity was far lower and more stable than his own.
However, the boar had taken a fierce blow to the head and, though still standing, its thick body was already swaying.
Fang Yuan shouted and charged again. His left hand pressed down on the boar's tusk while his right fist rose high, the faint jade-green light forming a thin Light Film that shrouded the surface of his fist.
Bang.
The fist smashed down hard, and the boar immediately let out a cry of pain, struggling with all its might.
The muscles in Fang Yuan's left arm bulged, veins popping out like writhing earthworms as he held the boar in an iron grip.
At the same time, his right fist rose high again and again, then hammered down with devastating force.
Bang, bang, bang.
Each time the fist struck the boar's head, the emerald jade light on his fist flared brilliantly.
The boar was battered senseless by the blows, its struggling growing weaker and weaker.
"One final strike!" Lightning flashed in Fang Yuan's eyes. He stretched his torso, extended his right arm to its highest point, then bent his elbow and brought it crashing down.
The green jade light clung tightly to Fang Yuan's elbow, tracing a green arc through the air as he struck.
Bang!
Fang Yuan dropped to one knee, his elbow smashing through the boar's skull with savage force. The boar didn't even have time to let out a final scream before going completely still.
The boar's head was completely deformed. Broken white bone pierced through the black skin, exposed for all to see. Blood and brain matter seeped out slowly, painting a brilliant crimson across the layers of withered leaves.
A gust of bleak autumn wind swept through.
It lifted a few fallen leaves and dispersed the heat of the boar's blood.
"Life should be as brilliant as summer flowers. Death should be as exquisite as autumn leaves." Fang Yuan murmured, savoring the scene before him.
The living were intense and radiant; the dead were desolate and silent.
Between life and death lay such a stark contrast, revealing both the cruelty of nature and the splendor of existence.
"In any world, the victors shine brilliantly while the defeated crumble into cold desolation. The difference between victory and defeat, to me, is the difference between life and death. For those who walk the Demonic Path, failure almost always means death."
Fang Yuan leaned directly against the boar's corpse and sat cross-legged on the ground. He released the White Pig Gu, letting it feed on the pork, then directed his awareness inward, sinking it into his body's Empty Orifice.
Within the Empty Orifice, the ink-green bronze Yuan Sea surged and receded, its waves rising and falling.
When the Yuan Sea was full, it occupied forty-four percent of the volume. After this fierce battle, Fang Yuan had used the Jade Skin Gu multiple times to bolster his defense, consuming True Essence in the process. Now only thirty-six percent of his True Essence remained.
In terms of raw amounts, he had only consumed eight percent of his True Essence — not even a full tenth. But since this was Peak Stage First Transformation ink-green True Essence, that was already a significant expenditure.
At the Initial Stage of the First Transformation, True Essence was emerald green.
At the Middle Stage of the First Transformation, True Essence was dark green.
At the High Stage of the First Transformation, True Essence was deep green.
At the Peak Stage of the First Transformation, True Essence was ink green.
Concentration was essence.
Activating the Moonlight Gu once required ten percent of emerald green True Essence. Converted to dark green True Essence, it would only require five percent. Deep green True Essence halved that again, and ink-green True Essence likewise.