Chapter 25: Unexpected Change, Child of Destiny

Red Cloud observed the incoming strike, full of brute force yet lacking in malice, with no trace of arrogance in his eyes. After all, this elephant demon was a beast of the innate realm; its raw strength was formidable. Even if he could withstand it, the impact would not be pleasant.

He shifted his body slightly to evade the stomping blow and the agile trunk, then raised his arm to hurl the leg bone imbued with baleful energy at the elephant demon's eye socket.

The strike hit true, sinking the bone deep into the creature's eye. Seeing this, Red Cloud drew his crescent moon blade. With a swift motion, the weapon, shrouded in malevolent aura, flashed like moonlight, accompanied by the sickening sound of flesh and bone parting.

When his figure reappeared, he was already behind the giant elephant.

A thunderous crash.

The elephant let out a mournful cry that ended abruptly, its head—large as an iron cauldron—slamming heavily onto the earth and scattering leaves in every direction.

Red Cloud gently flicked the demon blood from his crescent moon blade, returning to the side of the fallen beast. He gazed at its body, still standing upright in place, and a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

With the spinal marrow of this elephant demon, combined with what he had prepared earlier, he believed he could cure the baleful affliction plaguing the children of the half-demon tribe.

Thinking thus, his mood brightened. He opened the elephant demon's spine and extracted the marrow, but made no effort to bury the remains. Instead, he sliced open its belly, exposing all to the wilds. By nightfall, the mountain beasts would surely erase all traces of the carcass.

Seeing that dusk was already approaching, he felt no urgency to return. He casually retrieved the leg bone from the elephant's eye socket, his voice tinged with surprise and doubt.

Was it merely an illusion?

Red Cloud examined the leg bone, noting it bore not a hint of blood. He wrapped it in bear hide and slung it over his back.

...

Night fell, and for reasons unknown, a gentle rain began to patter.

Red Cloud sat back in a stone cave, watching the firelight flicker over the roasted meat. He sliced off a small piece with his crescent moon blade and chewed slowly.

After eating, he drew out the leg bone once more, gently rubbing it. What he once thought an illusion now seemed real.

Earlier, he had slain the cave’s resident bear demon with a single blow using the leg bone. Moments later, upon pulling it out, all the bear demon's vitality had been drained away; even its once lustrous fur had grown coarse and dull.

Clearly, the owner of this leg bone had been someone of great significance in life. But what realm had they attained? Perhaps not merely the Transformation stage above Nirvana...

As he pondered, his hand suddenly clenched, and he sprang to his feet, looking toward the direction of Shuimen Town.

---

The clouds in this world were ever elusive, rarely manifesting beyond faint wisps. Why, then, had he just sensed a powerful surge of tribulation energy?

No time to think further—he knew something momentous must have occurred in Shuimen Town. Without hesitation, he fashioned a bear-hide raincoat, draped it over his shoulders, and strode into the downpour.

...

Red Cloud moved swiftly without pause, heading toward Shuimen Town, his passing marked by a fleeting shadow in the night.

After nearly an hour’s journey, he reached the outskirts of Shuimen Town.

Standing on high ground, he inhaled the drifting scents and halted.

Gone was the town’s former peace and serenity. Instead, fires raged in the rain, refusing to be extinguished.

Above, tendrils of tribulation energy continuously seeped into the sky, vanishing without a trace.

But upon Red Cloud’s arrival, the tribulation energies seemed to find their target, converging upon him.

Ding—Tribulation points increased by 20.

Current tribulation points: 125

The pleasant chime did not bring a smile to Red Cloud’s face; instead, it stirred anger. He had prepared for this for so long, and it ended before it even began?

This was the clearest site of tribulation energy he had found, and now it was severed?

He drew a deep breath, recalling the layout, and headed into Shuimen Town, toward the encampment of the half-demon canine tribe.

Along the way, the scent of blood grew ever stronger, but he found no corpses, prompting a suspicion in his heart.

Hiss...

Upon reaching the canine tribe’s encampment, Red Cloud detected a blood stench several times thicker than usual, and glimpsed severed limbs scattered on the ground. His expression unchanged, he proceeded deeper.

Each step through the blood-soaked earth sent crimson foam splashing.

As he advanced into the compound, he paused, surprise flickering in his eyes.

There were survivors!

The body Red Cloud inhabited was of the Treasure Body realm, able to sense any movement within three yards—a skill that easily registered the faint stirrings here.

---

Clang—

He drew his crescent moon blade, approaching with caution. He lifted the lid of a low water jar.

He sensed no powerful aura there, only a weak one.

Yet within, the tribulation energy formed a tiny vacuum, untouched by the chaos around it—a remarkable phenomenon.

Peering inside, he saw a half-demon curled up, ears twitching slightly, looking up at him.

As their eyes met, a roar echoed deep in Red Cloud’s mind, and a notification appeared before him.

Child of fortune from the Treasure Vase Realm detected; tribulation master, act swiftly!

Child of fortune?

Red Cloud’s interest was piqued. He understood the term well.

Such individuals carried immense destiny. In the wilderness, not only himself but even those who reached the Golden Immortal realm through cultivation were children of fortune.

They were favored by the world’s luck, advancing rapidly in cultivation, embodying the realm’s fortune itself. Wherever they went, calamity turned to blessing—or nearly so.

"Hero Zhao, is that you?"

The curled half-demon, rainwater dripping upon her, came to her senses.

She stretched slightly, reaching out to touch Red Cloud’s crescent moon blade, shivering at its cold touch and quickly withdrawing her hand.

"It’s me."

Red Cloud gazed at the little demon, sighing inwardly. He sheathed the blade and turned away.

"Let’s speak outside. This place is no longer safe for lingering."