Years after being cast out of the clan, he spent his entire life in the red mist village. It was called so due to the red coloured atmosphere observed during the sunset through the dark night.
All sorts of wild beasts happen to be rampant in moments like this. The closer one is to the forest, the lesser the chances of survival. Even peak body tempering cultivators aren't safe. Qi condensation cultivators can barely survive.
Xuanyuan Zhen cared less for that. He felt boundless power raging within his body. Stronger than he was at peak body tempering five years ago. He needed to test his power through combat, as well as fill his stomach.
The first beast he encountered was an Iron Scaled Tiger. It unleashed an aura comparable to peak body tempering realm. It's dark-silver coloured skin like an armor, together with it's dagger length claws that could rip a cultivator on the same level was enough to send chills up one's spine.
'Perfect!', Zhen thought to himself as he approached the beast. As it noticed him, a look of disdain appeared on it's face. To think that this human child would come to court death by approaching him. At least it won't waste enough time to hunt for food, it thought to itself.
They stared at each other. Assessing each other as well as looking for an opening.
A mere body refining fifth stage was of no threat to it, thought the Iron Scaled Tiger as it leaped towards Zhen with it's claws exposed to rip it's prey apart. Noticing the beast making the first move, Xuanyuan Zhen dashed towards it as well with a clenched fist.
One man and one beast, viewing each other as prey. And so they clashed against each other.
BOOM!!!
The sound of their collision reverberated in the woods, the impact pushing both parties away from each other. The boy stared at his fist in wonder, the beast at his claw in shock. They dashed again towards each other. This time a test of strength, speed, skill and savagery.
Xuanyuan Zhen grew braver with every confrontation. The Iron Scaled Tiger grew more terrified on the other hand. It's body had accumulated internal injuries plus cracks to it's impenetrable defense, while the human boy remained intact, despite the sharpness of its claws.
'This is no human ' it thought to itself. Years of combat experience made it arrive to a single conclusion.
RUN!!!
So it turned around and fled in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, Zhen was just getting started. His purple-golden blood Qi boiled within his veins as he chased after his prey.
His right hand clenched into a fist, and his arm raised as he leaped towards it, then upon landing, punched down on its head.
SQUELCH!!!
The sound of a crushed skull was all he could hear as brain matter splashed on the ground, and finally the entire body of the beast.
A teenage body tempering mid-stage cultivator just killed a beast comparable to peak body tempering realm. Zhen stared at the huge corpse before carrying it on his back. And so he returned back to his dwelling.
---
Already night, Zhen walked home with the corpse of the Iron Scaled Tiger on his back. After years of surviving on fruits and herbs, today he feasts on meat. Unknown to him, someone was waiting for him at home. Two teenage boys, one about the same age as him named Lin Yun, and the other about eighteen years old, Lin Feng.
"What a pleasant surprise" Lin Yun began with a playful smirk.
"A scavenger returning with meat. It seems like you've been lucky this time"
Lin Feng said nothing but stared indifferently at the confrontation between juniors. Both brothers have been a menace due to their identity as the sons of the village head of red mist village. Xuanyuan Zhen during his years in this backwater region has endured constant mocking.
"Unfortunately for you, we'll be taking this meat" Lin Yun continued as he raised his left arm to push Zhen to the ground. He mustered the strength of a peak body tempering realm to strike Zhen down with a palm technique.
The attack collided on Xuanyuan Zhen's chest. But instead of pushing the target down, his palm felt numb, like he struck an iron wall.
The smirk on his face vanished, replaced with confusion. Before he could retract his arm, Zhen caught his hand with his right arm. Lin Yun felt like an iron vice had held his arm. He struggled with all his might, but to no avail. His frustration turning to fear.
Lin Feng noticing his brother's struggle tried to intervene. But it was too late.
CRUNCH!!!
A loud crushing sound could be heard, as Zhen squeezed hard on Lin Yun's hand.
"AAHHH!!!" Lin Yun screamed aloud in intense pain as he felt his left hand shattered.
"Let my brother go, and I'll leave you a clean corpse", said Lin Feng to Xuanyuan Zhen, with a cold, condescending tone.