Chapter 70

With a loud roar, Lu Buqi's powerful kick felled a tree as thick as a man's embrace. Although it was not as devastating as Wang Chengzhou's hammer, which could crush anything in its path, it was still a terrifying display of strength.

"In my previous life, even at the Transformation Stage, I never had such terrifying strength. The power techniques and marrow techniques in this world are truly terrifying, almost pushing the human body to its limits!" Lu Buqi's bones resonated, and the overwhelming sense of power made him let out a clear whistle.

"No wonder martial artists at the Blood Boil Stage can charge through thousands of soldiers and even break down city gates on their own!" Lu Buqi's eyes sparkled. "If I reach the Blood Boil Stage, this strength..."

Lu Buqi was filled with longing, but he did not indulge in idle thoughts. He continued to analyze his physical condition and combat strength. A martial artist must have a deep and clear understanding of their own abilities to fully unleash their power.

"An average Bone Resonance Stage martial artist has a strength between three thousand and eight thousand pounds. A seventh-level Bone Resonance martial artist usually has a strength of around five thousand pounds. Someone like Old Wang, who excels in strength, might have six thousand pounds, but I have more than double that, even reaching fifteen thousand pounds!"

"If I reach the ninth level of Bone Resonance, I might have nearly twenty thousand pounds of strength!" Lu Buqi was inwardly amazed. "This is like the impact force of a fast-moving truck. The reason for this is not only my innate talent for strength but also the fifteen meridians that are more clearly developed than in ordinary martial artists. But the most crucial factor is probably the Five Animal Imitation Fist."

"Who else could have started practicing the Five Animal Imitation Fist from birth like me?" Lu Buqi felt a surge of passion. "The Bright Strength technique is meant to enhance destructive power. Without its effects, relying solely on marrow strength and courage, my strength would probably only reach ten thousand pounds. The internal martial arts of China, after thousands of years of development, are not to be underestimated."

Indeed, the Five Animal Imitation Fist, combined with the power techniques and marrow techniques, had created a subtle and magical synergy, allowing Lu Buqi to maintain peak condition without any special conditioning.

"Yangze County... Father, Mother, Old Wang... Qiao'er, wait for me. I'll be back soon!" Lu Buqi retracted his gaze and looked into the dark depths of the Great Hong Mountain. His heart swelled with determination. "Great Hong Mountain, I, Lu Buqi, am here to conquer you!"

As if responding to Lu Buqi's challenge, the Great Hong Mountain seemed to grow angry. Just as the sky began to turn white in the east, and Lu Buqi was about to find a place to rest, a gust of foul wind came, startling him. He rolled away in a lazy roll.

With a crash, the tree where Lu Buqi had been standing fell. Looking at the creature, Lu Buqi couldn't help but swallow hard. "Good heavens, what do you eat to grow so big?"

It was a tiger, over ten feet long and two meters tall, with a sleek black coat and no blemishes. On its forehead, where there should have been a "Wang" mark, there was a cluster of flesh, making it look even more ferocious and terrifying.

If there were any experts in spirit beasts present, they would recognize this as the most notorious killer in the Great Hong Mountain, the Black Jaw Ghost Tiger, a sixth-stage spirit beast.

The Black Jaw Ghost Tiger did not answer Lu Buqi's question. It took a cautious step back and then pounced, much like the stance Wang Duocai's follower had taken when Lu Buqi had shattered his arm.

When a tiger pounces, unless you have the power to completely overpower it, you should never block it. At that moment, the tiger's full strength and body weight can be unleashed. If it lands on you, no matter how skilled you are, it will quickly bite your throat or crush your head.

As the most powerful inheritor of the Five Animal Imitation Fist and a master's degree holder in animal ecology, Lu Buqi's knowledge of felines, especially tigers, was among the top five in China.

"Come on!" Lu Buqi laughed, but he did not recklessly charge. Instead, he sidestepped and crouched, dodging the Black Jaw Ghost Tiger's tail whip.

When facing a tiger, the most important things to watch out for are its claws and teeth, as well as its two-meter-long tail, which is as deadly as a spear or a club. Do not underestimate its flexibility and strength.

"The strength is at least thirteen thousand pounds, and the speed is as swift as the wind. Oh, God, you really are taking care of me!" Lu Buqi's mind worked like a computer, quickly calculating the Black Jaw Ghost Tiger's strength. He licked his lips. "I really have to thank Wang Chengzhou. Without him pushing me to improve, I would probably be dead today!"

The Black Jaw Ghost Tiger's pounce and tail whip were ineffective, and it clearly reassessed Lu Buqi's strength. It took a light step, slowly gathering momentum, ready to strike when Lu Buqi made a mistake.

In a battle between experts, every move is a killing move. Sometimes, a single attack can mean the difference between life and death. A classic example is from the Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history, where the top expert Yan Liang was beheaded by Guan Yu, who was not much stronger. This was the result of overconfidence and underestimation.

For Lu Buqi, the Black Jaw Ghost Tiger was an opponent of similar strength, perhaps even slightly stronger, especially considering the injuries on his shoulders and legs.

With his left hand holding the Fish Gut Sword and his right hand the slightly longer triangular spike, Lu Buqi stood steadily, ready to dodge and attack. This Black Jaw Ghost Tiger was not like the low-level spirit bear; a single misstep could result in severe injury or death.

Suddenly, Lu Buqi seemed to step on an uneven surface and slipped. The Black Jaw Ghost Tiger seized the opportunity to pounce, but as it lunged, Lu Buqi suddenly sidestepped and spun, thrusting the triangular spike into the tiger's shoulder. This was a feint move called "Fox Charm and Ape Climb."

As the triangular spike pierced the Black Jaw Ghost Tiger's shoulder, a deafening roar echoed through the forest, startling the birds. Lu Buqi, who had intended to leap onto the tiger's back, was thrown off.

"Sometimes, a weapon that is too easy to pull out can be a problem!" Lu Buqi sighed inwardly. Missing such a good opportunity meant he would have to work harder to kill this beast.

The injured Black Jaw Ghost Tiger became even more frenzied, pouncing, turning, and lashing out with its tail, launching wave after wave of attacks. Its ferocity was no less than Wang Chengzhou's, and it was even more brutal.

Fortunately, Lu Buqi's Fish Gut Sword was a rare and powerful weapon. Although he was somewhat clumsy in dodging, he managed to inflict several wounds on the Black Jaw Ghost Tiger, including one on its shoulder.

Perhaps because of that wound, the Black Jaw Ghost Tiger suddenly abandoned Lu Buqi and disappeared into the forest, likely deciding that he was not worth the effort for breakfast.

"Phew..." Lu Buqi exhaled heavily. The intense battle had left him exhausted. "I really can't underestimate this Great Hong Mountain. A random tiger almost cost me my life!"

Lu Buqi was not foolish enough to chase the tiger. If he provoked its true ferocity, the result would be disastrous for him.

This battle, though yielding only a few tiger hairs, made Lu Buqi realize that the Great Hong Mountain was not a simple forest. Even with his strength comparable to that of a beginner Blood Boil Stage martial artist, he could still die if he was not careful.

Perhaps due to the Black Jaw Ghost Tiger's lingering presence, Lu Buqi slept until noon without any disturbances.

Sleep is the best way to recover, and it was not just a saying. Lu Buqi's wounds had already scabbed over. After drinking a few sips of water from his water bag, he nailed a unlucky squirrel to a tree with a flick of his wrist.

Although animal blood might contain parasites, it could occasionally serve as a source of hydration. The chase and escape of the previous night had led Lu Buqi deep into the Great Hong Mountain, where human presence was rare, and wildlife was abundant. He quickly gathered enough food.

As the aroma of cooking meat filled the air, Lu Buqi's appetite was whetted, and a smile played on his lips. "Finally, I can safely start a fire and cook some meat. I don't believe Wang Weiwu will come to hunt me down himself."

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