Crossing Over: The Strongest Mage

"Alright! Let's go inside the wooden house and have a look," Fang Yu said. Just as the four were about to enter the house, a loud roar echoed.

"Who dares to trespass on this immortal's domain? Have you all lost your minds?"

"Is there someone else here? Could it be a cultivator?" Yan Huo and his companions were all shocked.

"We didn't mean any offense, we were just entrusted with a task to find something here. We hope the immortal will be merciful," Yan Huo shouted, not knowing where the voice was coming from. He spoke honestly toward the wooden house.

"Utter nonsense! Searching for something? I see you came here for these treasures. If you don't want to die, then leave one of your arms behind, and I'll let you go. Otherwise, none of you will leave here alive," the voice roared.

"Senior, we're just searching for something. If you don't allow us to search, we won't force it. But why do you want us to leave an arm behind?" Yan Huo was angry after hearing the unreasonable demand.

"Hmph! This is the price you pay for trespassing on this place. If you don't want to die, quickly leave an arm. Do you want me to do it myself? If I take action, I can't promise that you'll only lose an arm, hahahaha!"

"I know you're a cultivator, so I've been polite, but now you're being unreasonable. Hmph! If you want our arms, we'll see if you have the ability to take them!" Yan Huo said as he swung his arm, his anger rising. No matter who the other party was, Yan Huo would not back down. He would not let his friends be harmed.

"Oh!? You… you're a cultivator? Strange! How come I didn't sense it?" The voice's attitude changed drastically after it learned that Yan Huo was a cultivator.

"Heh heh, little brother, don't be angry. Since we're both cultivators, let's talk things out. Heh heh. There's nothing here besides treasures. You're not looking for something, are you? Just leave."

"The item we're looking for is very important. I hope Senior will have mercy and allow us to search here," Yan Huo said sincerely after the voice changed its tone.

"Is that so?" The voice seemed hesitant. "By the way, are all of you cultivators?"

"No, only I am," Yan Huo answered truthfully.

"Heh! How many years have you been cultivating? What's your current cultivation level?" the voice asked again.

"Not many years, just a few," Yan Huo replied.

As soon as Yan Huo answered the second question, Fang Yu, standing nearby, noticed something odd. He was about to raise his hand to stop Yan Huo, but it was too late.

"Oh!? Just a few years…," the voice fell into silence for a moment, before suddenly cursing, "Just a few years, and you dare call yourself a cultivator? No wonder I didn't sense anything. You're trying to fool me, huh? Fox Great Immortal, right? Leave your arms behind immediately and get out of here, or I'll take your lives instead!"

"You!" Yan Huo didn't expect the other party's attitude to change so drastically after learning he had only been cultivating for a few years.

"Sigh! As I expected, even among cultivators, there are those who bully the weak. Looks like we won't be leaving here in one piece today," Yan Huo muttered to himself.

Here's the translation of the excerpt:

Fang Yu said in despair to Wang Mang and Yang Lue: "Hmph! You fickle bastard! I'll say it again, if you want our arms, let's see if you have the ability to take them."

Yan Huo angrily cursed, "That's right! If you want our arms, we'll see if you have the ability to take them." Wang Mang stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Yan Huo. Yang Lue had also somehow moved to stand behind Yan Huo.

Sighing, Fang Yu hesitated, not knowing what to say. Then he thought to himself—if they really lost their arms, what would he, Fang Yu, return to? Without arms, he would have no martial skills, and without martial skills, would the brothers who hated him still let him remain as the young master? Living like a cripple, it would be better to take the chance and fight to the death, at least dying heroically.

If the other party were from the martial world, Fang Yu wouldn't be afraid, but they were cultivators! Yan Huo had only practiced cultivation for a few years, yet he already possessed such formidable strength. The person they were about to face had probably cultivated for hundreds of years, so what would his strength be? Fang Yu dared not think about it.

"If we try to escape toward the cave entrance…" Fang Yu thought for a moment, then shook his head. Since the opponent had already demanded they leave their arms, they would certainly not be given a chance to escape. Though Fang Yu was usually indifferent toward others, he wasn't the type to sacrifice his companions and run away alone.

Sighing again, Fang Yu moved forward and stood in line with the other three.

"Hmph! I didn't expect you all to be so brave. I hope when you see my true form, you won't be scared out of your wits. Hahaha!" The voice boomed.

"Stop talking nonsense! Where are you? Come out!" Yan Huo shouted as he looked around.

"Where am I? Am I not right in front of you?" As a massive figure walked out from behind the gigantic stone pillar, the four of them gasped in shock and horror. "Ah!!"

The huge stone pillar stood in the center of the cave like a towering column, and standing at its base, a human seemed so small in comparison. The figure that emerged from behind the pillar was nearly one-third of its width. A giant warrior, with a blue face and sharp fangs, clad in golden armor and a golden helmet, standing over ten meters tall, appeared before the four.

"This is a cultivator who has practiced for hundreds of years?!" The four thought, both astonished and in despair.

"This is bad!" Yan Huo hadn't expected that the first cultivator he would meet would be like this. He quickly said to the other three, "Quick, hide behind me."

"Now that you've seen my true form, do you still think you can fight back?" The golden-armored giant roared. His voice boomed like thunder and struck the four of them, shaking their hearts.

"I'll say it one last time—leave your arms behind immediately and get out of here."

"I've already said it—if you want our arms, let's see if you have the ability to take them." Yan Huo would never compromise again. He didn't want his friends to suffer any harm.

Without looking back, he whispered to the three behind him: "As soon as I make a move, you all run toward the cave entrance, don't look back."

The three of them understood immediately. Yan Huo was willing to sacrifice himself to ensure their safety.

"I'll stay!" Fang Yu spoke up, but before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Don't even talk about how your internal energy hasn't fully recovered. Even if you were at your peak, staying behind would only burden Yan Huo."