The Mortal Empire's borders stretched into untamed wilderness—forests twisted by demonic qi, mountains split by ancient battles, rivers that ran red in certain seasons. Few mortals ventured beyond, for only death waited outside the empire's walls.
Today, death marched toward it.
The earth shook as a monster horde surged forward. Wolves the size of houses padded silently across the cracked plains, eyes glowing crimson. Bears with flames dripping from their fur bellowed, their roars shaking the heavens. Winged serpents spiraled through the air, venom dripping from their fangs like rivers of poison.
At the rear stood three ragged men, their auras heavy, their faces twisted with greed. Rogue cultivators. Peak Core Formation stage. They had herded the monsters for weeks, waiting to unleash them on an unsuspecting border town.
But instead of helpless mortals, they found a farmer, a tiger, and a mortal boy standing in their path.
The Farmer's Orders
Lai stood with his hoe slung lazily over his shoulder, expression calm. Beside him, Garfield's white hair fluttered in the wind, his golden eyes burning with battle-hunger. Long Fei, pale but determined, clenched his fists nervously.
"Garfield," Lai said, his tone casual as if discussing the weather. He pointed at the three cultivators. "Yours. Don't die."
Garfield's lips split in a feral grin. "Finally."
Then, without warning, Lai grabbed Long Fei by the collar and hurled him straight into the middle of the monster horde.
The boy screamed as he flew through the air. "MASTER—!"
He landed in a swarm of fangs and claws, monsters lunging at him instantly.
"Survive," Lai said calmly, dusting his hands. "Until Garfield finishes."
Before anyone could react, Lai clapped his hands. Blinding light spread across the battlefield, forming a shimmering dome. The barrier hummed with power far beyond mortal or cultivator comprehension.
The three rogue cultivators stiffened, eyes wide. "A… a Heaven-ranked formation?! This—this isn't possible—"
Lai smiled faintly, his eyes cold. "Mm. No one leaves. Not until the harvest is done."
With a flick of his wrist, Ao Guang appeared beside him, dragged unwillingly from his lakeside home.
"What—what is this?!" Ao Guang sputtered, looking down at the battlefield in horror.
"Entertainment," Lai said simply. He conjured a jade table, a teapot, and two cups. Reclining on a drifting cloud, he poured tea for them both. "Good tea deserves good scenery."
Ao Guang stared at him, heart pounding. This farmer… is more terrifying than the abyss itself.
Garfield vs. The Three
The first cultivator raised his spear, lightning crackling across its length. "Beast! You dare face us alone?!"
He lunged, thunder exploding in his wake. The spear's point split the air like divine judgment.
Garfield met him head-on. His claws, shimmering with golden qi, clashed against the lightning spear. The impact detonated like a thunderclap, flattening trees and splitting the ground. Sparks rained like a storm of stars.
The second cultivator roared, weaving seals with blinding speed. Flames erupted from the earth, coiling into colossal dragons that barreled toward Garfield.
The tiger-man's body glowed, the Gold Skin art hardening under the inferno. He grabbed one dragon by its flaming throat and crushed it into cinders, then leapt forward with savage speed, his fist slamming into the man's chest. Blood exploded from the cultivator's mouth as he flew backward like a broken doll.
The third cultivator struck silently from behind. His sword, dripping with venomous qi, carved across Garfield's back, tearing through flesh. Golden blood sprayed into the air.
Garfield roared in pain, muscles bulging as his body trembled on the brink of collapse. His aura flared, golden light enveloping him as his body healed under Lai's enforced art.
"You dare wound me?" Garfield snarled, his voice echoing like thunder. His claws tore through the air, releasing spectral tigers that pounced upon his enemies.
The Beast's Rampage
The spear wielder tried to block, his lightning surging into a barrier, but Garfield's claws shredded through it like paper. His hand sank deep into the man's chest, ripping out his beating heart in a spray of blood.
The fire cultivator screamed, hurling a wall of flame. Garfield charged through it, his skin glowing like molten gold. His fist caved the man's skull with a single blow.
The venomous cultivator's blade slashed desperately, each strike coated in poison that corroded the very air. Garfield caught the blade mid-swing, his claws crushing steel like glass.
"No—no!" the man shrieked, stumbling back.
Garfield's grin widened. His jaws opened, sharp fangs gleaming, and he bit the cultivator in half. Blood and entrails splattered across the soil.
The battlefield fell silent except for Garfield's heavy breathing, his golden eyes gleaming with feral triumph.
Above, Lai sipped his tea. "Not bad."
Ao Guang's hands trembled as he held his cup. "Not… not bad? He just slaughtered three Peak Core cultivators like animals—"
"Mm." Lai looked thoughtful. "But he still wastes energy."
Long Fei's Hell
Meanwhile, Long Fei staggered through a nightmare. Wolves tore at his flesh, serpents sank fangs into his legs, bears slammed claws into his ribs. Each time he was shredded apart, warmth surged through him—bones snapping back into place, wounds sealing instantly.
Then it began again.
He coughed blood, stumbling as a crow's talons gouged his shoulder. His mind screamed at him to give up. I'll die. I can't do this. I'm just a mortal—
But Lai's cold voice echoed in the air.
"Weeds grow anywhere. Will you be a weed… or the crop?"
Something inside Long Fei shifted. He picked up a jagged rock and smashed it into a wolf's skull. Blood sprayed his face. His body screamed in agony, but his eyes lit with savage fire.
Each time he fell, he rose again, madness and determination burning together.
Ao Guang's gaze turned downward, pupils shrinking. This boy… he's being forged in hell itself.
Cliffhanger – The Chen Family's Banquet
By the time Garfield stood panting amid three corpses, and Long Fei knelt in a sea of monster blood, the battlefield was silent.
Lai poured himself another cup of tea. "Good," he said, as if judging a day's work on the farm. "The weeds are pulled."
Far away, in Fallen Town, the Chen family's mansion glowed brightly.
Inside the grand hall, lanterns burned, laughter boomed, and wine flowed freely. The Patriarch and dozens of elders raised their cups high.
"To the Chen family's prosperity!"
Their banquet table overflowed with delicacies—roast spirit beast, fragrant herbs, golden wine. They feasted proudly, arrogance thick in the air.
None of them realized they were celebrating their own funeral.
The Chen family enjoyed their last supper.
End of Chapter 6
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