Chapter 104: A Leap in Strength

  Hong Xue hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering with uncertainty as she looked at Yang Tian's calm expression. Then, a dazzling smile spread across her face. "Yang Tian, can I ask for your help?" she said, her voice sweet and pleading.

  Yang Tian had just demonstrated his immense strength, and even Hong Xue wasn't confident she could defeat him. With his help, they might just be able to seize the Spirit Origin Fruit from the three men.

  "I can help you," Yang Tian replied, turning to her. When he saw the hopeful look on her face, he smirked. "But I want two of the Spirit Origin Fruits."

  "You..." Hong Xue's eyes flashed with anger, and she stomped her foot in frustration. "How can you be so ungrateful? If it weren't for us saving you, who knows where you'd be right now?"

  "Don't forget, I've already repaid that debt. Besides, it wasn't you who saved me—it was Hong Ying," Yang Tian said coolly. He remembered clearly how, a few days ago, no one had wanted to take him in. It was Hong Ying who had insisted on dragging him onto the carriage.

  Hong Xue's face flushed with embarrassment. She knew Yang Tian was right. The debt had been repaid, and it was Hong Ying who had saved him, not her.

  The guards exchanged uneasy glances, many of them feeling a pang of guilt. Most of them had treated Yang Tian with indifference, and only a handful had even spoken to him.

  "Fine, I agree. Two Spirit Origin Fruits," Hong Xue said after a moment, nodding reluctantly. A smile returned to her face as she looked at Yang Tian.

  "What's this? Planning your deaths already?" The scar-faced man sneered, his eyes lingering on Hong Xue as if she were a piece of art.

  "If you want the Spirit Origin Fruits, come and get them. Just don't lose your lives in the process," Yang Tian said with a shrug, his tone casual.

  The three men's eyes immediately snapped to Yang Tian, their expressions darkening.

  "Big talk for a brat. Kill him!" the scar-faced man barked. One of his companions, a man with a gloomy expression, stomped the ground and charged at Yang Tian, his energy surging.

  As the man's fist closed in, Yang Tian reached out and caught it effortlessly. Before the man could react, Yang Tian kicked him in the stomach.

  "Bang!" The man was sent flying several zhang, crashing through a few ancient trees before finally landing ten zhang away.

  "Damn, this kid's strong," the gloomy man muttered, clutching his chest. A rib had been shattered, and his face twisted in anger.

  "Where did this kid come from?" the scar-faced man muttered, his earlier arrogance fading as he studied Yang Tian with a wary expression.

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  "Let's take him down together!" the scar-faced man shouted, his energy surging. The three men unleashed their combined aura, bearing down on Yang Tian.

  "I'll handle this," Yang Tian said, stopping Hong Xue from joining the fight. He wanted to test the limits of his Battle Copper Body.

  "Stubborn fool," Hong Xue muttered, stamping her foot in frustration.

  "Whoosh!" Yang Tian's figure blurred as he charged forward, tearing through the trio's combined aura. His body shimmered with a silvery light, and the air around him trembled.

  "Be careful. This kid's not normal. Attack together!" the scar-faced man warned, summoning a green iron blade above his head. The other two did the same.

  "Watch out! That's their joint attack!" Hong Xue called out, drawing her sword and preparing to intervene.

  "Kill him!" the scar-faced man roared. The three blades slashed through the air, their edges gleaming with deadly intent. Countless blade lights filled the void, weaving together into a net that surged toward Yang Tian.

  Facing the incoming blades, Yang Tian's silvery glow intensified. The air around him hummed with pressure as he threw a punch, his fist radiating a brilliant light.

  "Boom! Boom! Boom!" The force of Yang Tian's punch was unstoppable, tearing through the net of blades and slamming into the iron swords.

  "Clang!" The swords were sent flying, and the three men were thrown back, blood trickling from their lips. The backlash from their own weapons had injured them.

  "Yang Tian is incredible!" The onlookers gasped in awe. To single-handedly overpower three low-tier spirit weapons wielded by ninth-level martial artists—it was terrifying.

  The crowd erupted in murmurs, and even Hong Xue's face showed a flicker of shock. Yang Tian's strength was beyond comprehension.

  "Big brother, what do we do?" the gloomy man asked, his face pale as he glared at Yang Tian.

  "Play it by ear," the scar-faced man said grimly, gathering his energy once more.

  "Still not strong enough," Yang Tian muttered, rubbing his fist. There was a faint scratch on his skin, but it healed almost instantly. The three men were no pushovers.

  "The Spirit Origin Fruit is about to ripen. I don't have time to waste on them," Yang Tian thought, glancing at the fruit. The energy around it was growing more intense, signaling its imminent maturity.

  "Bang!" Yang Tian stomped the ground, his figure shooting forward like an arrow. His energy surged, creating a powerful pressure that forced the three men back.

  "Boom! Boom!" Yang Tian threw another punch, a crimson light erupting from his fist. The sheer force of his energy sent the scar-faced man flying.

  "Such powerful energy!" the scar-faced man gasped, feeling his own energy falter under the pressure. His face paled.

  "Attack together!" he roared. The three men summoned their iron blades again, slashing at Yang Tian.

  "Begone!" Yang Tian shouted, throwing a flurry of punches. Cracks appeared on the blades, and before the men could react, Yang Tian was in front of them.

  "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Without pause, Yang Tian sent all three men flying. His energy surged, filling the air with a crimson light that left the onlookers stunned.

  "What kind of fist technique is that?!" the scar-faced man gasped, blood spilling from his lips. He couldn't even gather his energy properly.

  "Brother Yang is amazing!" Hong Ying exclaimed, her eyes shining with admiration. Yang Tian was around her age, yet his strength far surpassed even Hong Xue's.

  "Run!" the three men shouted, their greed replaced by fear as they fled into the forest.

  "Thud! Thud! Thud!" Suddenly, Yang Tian appeared in front of them, delivering three swift kicks to their chests.

  The men were sent flying, blood spurting from their wounds. Yang Tian's kicks had shattered their ribs.

  "Damn brat!" the scar-faced man growled, struggling to his feet. His eyes burned with hatred as he pulled out a jade gourd.

  "Scatter!" he shouted, uncorking the gourd. A cloud of black mist surged out, rushing toward Yang Tian.