Volume One – The Frontier of the Chen Kingdom, The Defiant Marquis’s Immortal Path Chapter 51: Forced to Leap from the Cliff

With their minds made up, Chen Yu and his two companions hastened toward the direction of the Nine Provinces. They traversed mountain after mountain and dense forests, feeling as though their destination was already within sight. Tension and excitement mingled in their hearts, yet none of them dared to relax even for a moment.

"We're almost there... almost there..." The thought cheered them inwardly as they clenched their teeth and burst out of the woods—only to freeze in astonishment at the sight before them.

Their legs felt as heavy as if filled with lead, making it nearly impossible to move. Blocking their path stood a white wolf king, a colossal butterfly, and a bristling, furious cat.

Their sudden appearance drew the attention of these three beastly creatures, but after a mere glance, the beasts seemed disinterested and ignored them. The wolf king howled at them, his gaze full of disdain.

At that moment, Chen Yu and his friends noticed a divine light shining between the three beasts.

"Lord of the Path, you have already obtained a divine light—why must you compete with us for another?" The cat demon, to their surprise, spoke in human tongue, its voice brimming with indignation.

"Heh, so what? Who says one can only seize a single divine light?" the wolf demon retorted coldly.

"With five divine lights, five beings of the Heavenly Severance Mountains may leave. If you take more, do you mean to cut off our escape?" the butterfly demon said icily.

"Enough talk. Let's see what you're capable of, then," the wolf demon, Lord of the Path, sneered.

"Despicable..." The cat demon and its companion bristled with anger. "Very well! We shall have to test your skills ourselves!"

The battle among the three great demons erupted at once. The cat demon moved with lightning speed, its sharp claws slashing at the wolf's face in an instant. The butterfly demon beat its wings, raising a wild gale laced with a fine powder.

Yet the wolf demon, Lord of the Path, was unfazed. With a leap backward, he evaded the cat demon’s attack, then let out an enraged howl. The terrible soundwave instantly shattered the gale.

Even Chen Yu and his companions, though nearby, were badly affected. Blood trickled from their ears as the force flung them several yards away.

Their faces blanched—terrifying, truly terrifying.

Barely managing to get up, they did not dare tarry for an instant. Quickly skirting around the battling beasts, they made for the exit.

"Heh... and you human ants think you can escape?" The wolf demon, who had barely paid them any heed, now felt provoked at their attempt to flee before his very eyes. With a swipe of his paw, a blade of wind shot toward them.

"Watch out!" Chen Yu shouted, raising his weapon without thinking to block the attack.

A metallic clang rang out—the sound of a sword snapping. Chen Yu's body was hurled backward, and he spat a mouthful of blood skyward.

"Third Brother!" Jing Zhe and the others rushed to catch him.

"I’m fine!" Chen Yu's face was pale, blood dribbling from his lips, but he fought to stay upright.

The wolf demon, Lord of the Path, had intended to strike again and end their lives, but at that moment, both the cat and butterfly demons darted toward the divine light.

"Dare you!" The wolf demon snarled, instantly joining the fray with renewed fury.

"Damn it..." Jing Zhe, seeing Chen Yu injured, felt his anger rise. Fixing his gaze on the battling demons, he muttered darkly, "Is that divine light truly worth so much to you?"

"Don’t, big brother..." Sensing Jing Zhe's intent, Chen Yu tried to dissuade him, but by then Jing Zhe had already charged forward.

"Eight Desolations Fist!" Seizing the moment while the three demons fought, Jing Zhe unleashed a punch at the divine light.

"Fool!" The three demons bellowed in fury, never expecting this human ant to dare such audacity under their threat—much less to send the divine light flying.

The wolf demon roared, blasting Jing Zhe away before racing after the tumbling divine light.

It felt as though Jing Zhe's organs were being torn apart; he couldn’t help but spit another mouthful of blood.

"Big brother..." Chen Yu and the others called out in concern.

Jing Zhe managed a triumphant grin. "Not dead yet."

"We have to go," Xue Han urged. "The three demons could return at any moment—this is no place to linger."

"Right... let’s move. I’ve spoiled their plans; they won’t let us off easily." Jing Zhe, choking down his pain, sprinted away.

Within mere moments, all three could sense murderous intent speeding toward them from behind.

"They’re catching up!" one of them exclaimed anxiously.

"Ants, do you still think you can escape?" the wolf demon, Lord of the Path, roared in fury.

"It’s the wolf demon," all three thought, their hearts pounding as they pushed themselves to run even faster.

But when they followed Bai Zhenzhen’s instructions and arrived at the supposed destination, they were stunned. Before them yawned only a sheer cliff—no way forward, no path in sight.

"Did she trick us?" Xue Han gave a bitter laugh.

With no way ahead and their pursuer closing in behind, was this where their journey would end? They could hardly accept it. After braving countless dangers to reach this point, could the road truly be cut off here?

"Human ants, you dare cost me a divine light—such a crime cannot be forgiven," the wolf demon, Lord of the Path, snarled. "Offer up your lives and serve as my meal!"

As the wolf demon advanced step by step, their hearts clenched tighter.

He jeered, "What’s this? Do you imagine you can jump and enter the Nine Provinces? Ha! Indeed, it’s the fastest way—if you survive the fall."

The three exchanged a glance and suddenly understood; Bai Zhenzhen had not deceived them after all.

Meeting each other's eyes, they realized that rather than be devoured by the wolf demon, they might as well take their chances—there might still be hope.

"Have you decided?" Jing Zhe asked solemnly.

Chen Yu and Xue Han both nodded firmly, determination shining in their eyes.

"Good. Then let’s go. Believe in ourselves—let us meet again in the Nine Provinces, brothers!" With a shout, all three leaped from the high cliff.

The wolf demon was caught off guard, left only to watch as the three vanished into the fog-shrouded abyss.

He had never imagined these three humans would make such a resolute choice, to leap without hesitation from the ten-thousand-foot precipice.

With a bitter, resentful howl, the wolf demon’s form shifted rapidly until he assumed human shape. Coldly, he turned to leave, muttering, "It's time I left these Heavenly Severance Mountains as well. I wonder, who are the other five chosen?"

Within the ranks of the five immortal beasts, Bai Zhenzhen smiled in genuine surprise. "Oh... they really jumped? Heh... I do hope they survive!"