Chapter 70: The Human Punching Bag


    Even though Han Ming wasn''t naturally adept at moving through trees, he managed to adapt quickly. Li Xiaotian had to admit that the young man had talent.


    Initially, Li Xiaotian had been disappointed when he realized Han Ming was a water mage. He had hoped for someone who could truly rescue him. But then he remembered how unlikely that was. Yao Ji, his former disciple, was a peerless master he had trained himself. Even he had fallen victim to her schemes, and there were few on the continent who could defeat her.


    Moreover, Li Xiaotian''s injuries had worsened over the decades, reaching a point where they were beyond healing. Resigned to his fate, he had given up on escaping and instead focused on passing down his martial arts legacy.


    Yao Ji had chosen to cultivate the demonic arts, and while she had some talent for martial arts, she hadn''t fully met Li Xiaotian''s expectations.


    Han Ming''s arrival gave Li Xiaotian a glimmer of hope.


    Although Han Ming lacked combat energy, his physical strength made him a suitable candidate to learn Li Xiaotian''s martial arts. In fact, Han Ming''s lack of combat energy turned out to be an advantage. Without the distraction of cultivating combat energy, Han Ming could focus entirely on mastering martial arts.


    "Observe how the monkeys move through the trees," Li Xiaotian advised, smiling as he watched Han Ming.


    Seeing Han Ming absorb his every word and truly understand them filled Li Xiaotian with a sense of satisfaction he hadn''t felt in years.


    *Boom!*


    As the Ink Ape tried to escape, Han Ming suddenly had an epiphany. He let go of the vine he was holding, leaped to another, and swung back with a powerful punch to the ape''s nose, sending it flying. The force of the blow shattered the third-tier Ink Ape''s skull.


    The other Ink Ape, seeing its mate killed, went into a frenzy.


    Although third-tier magical beasts were intelligent, they couldn''t match human cunning. Realizing he was at a disadvantage in the trees, Han Ming decided to use the ape''s rage against it.


    *Roar!*


    The enraged Ink Ape charged at Han Ming, forgetting that it was no match for him in a direct confrontation.


    Han Ming smirked. "Come on!"


    He swung toward the ape, and the two collided mid-air. Han Ming grabbed the ape''s forelimbs and locked its hind legs with his own, immobilizing it.


    Both man and beast plummeted toward the ground.


    The Ink Ape, unable to move, panicked and tried to bite Han Ming''s neck.


    Han Ming tilted his head back and then slammed it forward, headbutting the ape and leaving it dazed.


    Seizing the opportunity, Han Ming twisted the ape''s body beneath him, using his knee to press into its abdomen.


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    The wind whistled past Han Ming''s ears as they fell, making it hard to keep his eyes open.


    *Boom!!!*


    They hit the ground with a thunderous crash, creating a ten-meter-wide crater. Dust billowed into the air, obscuring the scene.


    "Damn it!"


    After a moment, the dust settled, and Han Ming limped out of the crater, spitting out a mouthful of dirt.


    "How does it feel?" Li Xiaotian asked, standing at the edge of the crater with a smile.


    Han Ming glared at the dead Ink Ape in the crater and spat again. He held up a small, green, diamond-shaped crystal.


    "Just a crystal?" Li Xiaotian asked.


    Han Ming grumbled, "This Ink Ape was way stronger than the one you caught. I thought it might have a core, but no luck. All that effort for nothing."


    Since entering the Wilderness Forest, Han Ming had killed over twenty third-tier magical beasts, but none had produced a core. The rarity of cores was frustrating.


    Li Xiaotian chuckled. "The chance of a third-tier beast producing a core is very low. On average, you might get one core from a thousand beasts."


    Han Ming was speechless.


    "But don''t be too disheartened. Train with me for a year or so, and you''ll be able to kill third-tier beasts much faster. While fourth-tier beasts are still dangerous, they won''t be impossible for you to handle," Li Xiaotian reassured him.


    Han Ming sighed and asked, "Old man, where did you go earlier? You were gone for so long."


    Li Xiaotian smiled and tossed Han Ming a small pouch.


    "My storage bag!" Han Ming exclaimed in delight. It was the bag Bai Kai''s group had taken from him.


    *Gurgle.*


    Han Ming''s stomach growled again. Now that he had his storage bag, he wasn''t worried. He dumped out a pile of food and began stuffing his face, his cheeks bulging.


    "Old man, have some too," Han Ming said, tossing a beast''s leg to Li Xiaotian.


    Li Xiaotian sat cross-legged, savoring the aroma of the meat. "It''s been so long since I''ve had meat," he murmured before taking a small bite.


    *Whimper.*


    A faint sound came from nearby.


    "Who''s there!? Come out!" Han Ming shouted, turning toward the noise.


    He saw a figure in white, bound and lying against the wall. The person''s hair was disheveled, and their clothes were filthy, clearly having been dragged through the tunnel.


    Li Xiaotian chuckled. "I went out earlier and scouted the area. This guy seemed strong, so I brought him back for you to practice on."


    Han Ming approached and recognized the person immediately. "Bai Kai! It''s you!"


    Seeing the man who had betrayed him filled Han Ming with rage. He began pummeling Bai Kai, who could only groan through the gag in his mouth.


    "Enough," Li Xiaotian said. "If you kill him, he''ll be useless."


    Han Ming knew Li Xiaotian had a purpose for Bai Kai, so he held back. Still, Bai Kai''s face was swollen and unrecognizable.


    Li Xiaotian untied Bai Kai and removed the gag. "For the next year, you''ll be Han Ming''s training partner. If he can''t kill you by then, I''ll let you go. So, you''d better give it your all."


    Bai Kai nodded frantically. He had seen Li Xiaotian''s terrifying power firsthand and didn''t dare disobey.


    Han Ming scoffed. "Old man, you''re overestimating him. I could kill him right now, easy as squashing an ant. Why wait a year?"


    Li Xiaotian simply smiled and gestured for Bai Kai to spar with Han Ming.


    Bai Kai forced a smile. "Brother Han, it was all a misunderstanding. I meant no harm—"


    Before he could finish, Han Ming lunged at him, throwing a punch.


    Bai Kai dodged and pleaded, "Brother Han, let''s talk this out."


    "Talk to your mother!" Han Ming roared, kicking at Bai Kai.


    Li Xiaotian calmly reminded Bai Kai, "You have one year. If you survive, I''ll let you go. But if you hold back, don''t blame me for what happens. Oh, and you can injure Han Ming, but you can''t kill him."


    Realizing there was no way out, Bai Kai''s eyes turned fierce. If he was going to suffer for a year, he might as well fight back. Who knew if the old man would keep his word?


    As Han Ming attacked again, Bai Kai twisted his body and struck back with precision.


    Han Ming, underestimating Bai Kai, tried to kick him, but Bai Kai''s hands moved like snakes, wrapping around Han Ming''s leg and flipping him onto the ground. Bai Kai followed up with a punch to Han Ming''s back, sending him sprawling.


    Bai Kai glanced nervously at Li Xiaotian, who appeared to be dozing off, unfazed by the fight.


    Han Ming roared, springing to his feet and charging at Bai Kai again.


    What followed was a series of continuous screams—all from Han Ming.