Chapter 2: Defying the Heavens in Fury

Xu Ying had long since given up. He half-heartedly bowed to the green-robed deity, considering it as worship. As for offerings of incense or fruit, that was out of the question.

He barely had enough to eat himself, let alone make offerings to a deity.

The other two villagers called by the green-robed deity, however, looked miserable.

Jiang Lu, one of the villagers, was a man in his forties but appeared as if he were over eighty, his face deeply wrinkled, his body hunched. He trembled as he said, “Great deity, I... I barely have enough to eat. Last night, I only gnawed on some tree bark. The tax collectors came again, extorting more levies. How could I possibly have anything left to offer you…”

The green-robed deity glanced at him and sneered, “You have enough to offer the tax collectors but not me? Do you think I'm less important than them?”

Jiang Lu dared not respond.

The green-robed deity's eyes gleamed as he said, “Don't you have a daughter? Give her to me. I'll marry her, and you'll never have to worry about food or clothing again!”

Jiang Lu collapsed to the ground, his legs giving way as he whimpered, “Great deity, last night the tax collectors took her away because I couldn’t pay the taxes. They said it would cover my levies…”

The green-robed deity snorted coldly, swinging his fist the size of a wine jar at Jiang Lu. “Don’t you have another daughter? Trying to hide her from me?”

Jiang Lu was sent flying several meters, slamming into the opposite wall. His ribs pierced

Xu Ying’s ears buzzed, and his mind went blank.

"Uncle…"

He reached out, only to see Jiang Lu’s shattered head stuck to the wall, his body slowly sliding down, painting the white wall with the strong trunk of a blossoming plum tree.

The old man's corpse, like the trunk of the tree, knelt before the wall.

Chaos erupted in the ancestral hall as people fled in panic, screams echoing throughout.

The green-robed deity held the bride, who was sobbing uncontrollably, almost to the point of fainting. He smiled and said, "Landlord, clean up the body and repaint the wall. Don’t ruin my mood."

The landlord hurriedly agreed, rushing over to Xu Ying. He shoved Xu Ying and scolded, "A-Ying, quickly move the body outside! The deity lord wants to consummate his marriage!"

Xu Ying's mind was still buzzing, his body trembling as he clenched his fists tightly.

The landlord barked, "Do you dare defy the deity lord…"

"Bang!"

Xu Ying swung a fist, striking the landlord square in the face. The landlord’s head collapsed inward, his skull exploding from the back. His body swayed and then fell to the ground.

"He's killed someone! A-Ying has killed someone!" The landlord’s servants fled in terror.

Xu Ying’s body continued to tremble, his mind still a blank void. He had no idea why he had smashed the landlord's head with a single punch, nor why he suddenly couldn’t suppress his fury!

"I killed him... I killed someone... I didn’t want to kill anyone..."

His hands shook, the blood on his face still fresh as he slowly raised his head. He didn’t want to kill the landlord.

His gaze fell on the green-robed deity. That’s who he really wanted to kill.

"But for some reason, I just can't control my hands! I want to kill you!"

Xu Ying, breathing heavily like a wild beast, turned to the landlord’s lifeless body and yelled, "You were too loud! Stop talking! Stop pushing me… I told you to stop pushing me! I’ll kill him now!"

The landlord’s head had already exploded, his skull crushed. Naturally, he couldn’t speak anymore.

However, Xu Ying’s mind was still filled with chaotic noises, buzzing and urging him to kill the deity standing before him.

The green-robed deity’s pupils contracted as he stared at Xu Ying.

From Xu Ying's eyes, the deity could no longer see the familiar fear, which ignited a fiery rage within him.

Fear was an expression he knew all too well—something all mortals should show towards a deity.

In the past, he could always see that reverence in Xu Ying’s gaze, the kind of respect a bug would have for a mighty figure.

But now, that reverence had disappeared.

In its place was blasphemy.

Murderous intent!

In this young man's eyes, the green-robed deity saw pure, unbridled intent to kill!

What was even more terrifying was that the deity realized he was somewhat afraid of this look!

Outraged, the green-robed deity threw the sobbing bride aside and raised his fist, the size of a wine jar, swinging it towards Xu Ying with fury. "You impudent fool! What kind of look is that!?"

Xu Ying crossed his arms in front of him just in time to block. It felt like he had been hit by a charging bull weighing thousands of pounds, sending him flying backward. With a loud crash, he smashed through the ancestral hall’s wall and flew outside!

The green-robed deity stepped over the collapsed wall, coldly laughing, "Mere mortals must accept the fate dictated by the gods. Defiance is futile! Xu Ying, I saw blasphemous thoughts in your eyes! I will cleanse you of your sins!"

Xu Ying landed on his feet, his legs sinking into the ground as he slid back a dozen meters before finally coming to a stop.

"You’re not as strong as I thought..." Xu Ying muttered, shaking his hands before looking up with a strange expression.

"What did you say?"

The green-robed deity's face twisted in fury. He swung his massive leg like a pillar, sweeping towards Xu Ying with a powerful gust of wind.

"You insignificant mortal! How dare you question divine power! You are destined for the tongue-ripping hell!"

His face was stern, and this kick seemed capable of sending Xu Ying straight to the underworld for eternal damnation!

Xu Ying gathered his strength, mobilizing every drop of energy and blood within his body. He threw a punch to meet the deity’s sweeping leg.

In his mind, the techniques from the Elephant Strength Ox Demon Fist, the ones he had just learned from the ancient texts, flashed before him. Without thinking, he instinctively followed the pathways laid out in the scriptures, channelling his energy and blood accordingly.

His blood surged through his body at an incredible speed, shaking his internal organs and rubbing against his muscles and tendons. From his chest came a deafening elephant roar, shaking the air!

Xu Ying’s right arm swelled as he focused his energy, his arm growing noticeably larger, with his fist producing a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air!

Elephant Strength Ox Demon Fist, First Move: Horn Power Splits the Mountain!

Xu Ying’s strength skyrocketed as his punch collided with the deity’s leg. With a loud bang, Xu Ying’s punch pierced straight through the green-robed deity’s thick leg!

At the same time, his body emitted a series of explosive cracks—the sound of his energy and blood breaking through internal barriers!

For seven years, Xu Ying had practiced Taiyi Breathing Technique but had never touched martial arts. He had no idea how far he had progressed. Now, with his first exposure to martial arts techniques, his seven years of accumulated strength was fully unleashed!

Taiyi Breathing Technique tempered his energy and blood, refining his cultivation. Martial arts were the path that allowed this refined power to be expressed.

Seven years of sharpening a blade, and now, the blade finally tested its edge.

Far away, the snake demon, who had just reattached all its dislocated joints and was preparing to flee the village, froze at the sound of those strange cracks. Startled, it hurriedly looked towards Xu Ying.

"He's breaking through the second, third, and fourth layers of the Elephant Strength Ox Demon Fist in an instant! This brat... Is he human or a monster? How did he cultivate so quickly?"

Just as this thought crossed the demon’s mind, Xu Ying’s energy and blood surged again, and from his chest erupted another powerful elephant roar, so loud and deep that it shook the windows of all sixty-seven households in Jiang's village.

Even the water in basins, jars, ditches, and ponds rippled from the vibration!

The snake demon’s mind went blank.

In the blink of an eye, Xu Ying had broken through the fourth layer of the Elephant Strength Ox Demon Fist—already an astonishing feat—and now, unbelievably, he had broken through to the fifth!

The snake demon anxiously looked towards Xu Ying, only to see his energy and blood running wild, even seeping out of his pores!

The overflowing energy and blood formed the phantom image of an elephant-headed deity behind him!

This phenomenon was the hallmark of reaching the fifth layer!

The Elephant Strength Ox Demon Fist had seven layers in total: the first connected energy through the body, the second doubled the blood flow, the third extended power beyond the body, the fourth granted the strength of a divine elephant, the fifth manifested the Elephant God Ox Demon Phantom, the sixth transformed the body into a Blood Qi Killing Body, and the seventh forged the Elephant King Divine Body!

Among the demon race, those who reach the seventh level of martial arts can be called Demon Kings, honoured as Mountain Gods or River Lords!

Reaching the fifth level is enough to be considered a Great Demon!

Xu Ying can now be regarded as a Great Demon!

“But this kid is clearly human…” the snake demon thought in confusion.

Xu Ying didn't have time to ponder. He unleashed the second form of the Elephant Force Bull Demon Fist, White Elephant Swinging Its Trunk!

He turned sideways and spun, his right leg slicing through the air like an elephant's trunk, the air ripping apart with a sharp whistle!

Behind him, the divine figure with an elephant's head and a human body also turned and kicked. The two legs overlapped, and with a loud crack, Xu Ying's kick slammed into the waist of the green-robed deity, making the deity stumble, its waist bending as it nearly fell to the ground.

The green-robed deity was both shocked and furious. It retreated several steps to avoid Xu Ying's attack, suddenly tearing down a nearby wall, raising it high like a fly swatter, intending to crush Xu Ying beneath it!

The wall shattered with a roar as Xu Ying punched through it, bricks and stones flying everywhere and striking the deity's face.

The green-robed deity shielded its face with one hand while swinging its other fist at Xu Ying.

The two fists collided with a loud crack, and the deity's fist broke with a loud snap!

Fear surged in the green-robed deity's heart as it locked eyes with Xu Ying. It was once again overtaken by a profound fear.

It was the fear a mortal feels before a deity!

It felt like a mere mortal, overcome by fear, while Xu Ying seemed like the true deity that held its life and death in its hands!

Desperately defending itself, the deity could no longer evade.

As it saw Xu Ying’s fist growing larger, crashing towards its face, it quickly shouted, “I am a deity sanctioned by the City God! My name is registered in the underworld and the celestial court. If you kill me, you will violate the heavenly laws…”

Before the word “laws” could escape its lips, Xu Ying’s fist struck its face, bursting through to the back of its head and creating a large hole!

The green-robed deity stood dazed for a moment before its body swayed and fell to the ground, its essence scattering and transforming into a pile of wood.

“Ahhhh—” Not far away, the snake demon gasped in shock, mouth agape, screaming.