Chapter 45: Strategy
Chapter 45: Strategy
“Mana Missile?” The young man smoothed his flowing silver hair, a look of weariness and helplessness appearing on his handsome face. “Little brother, if you said ‘Scorching Ray,’ I’d believe it. If you said ‘Lava Burst,’ I’d believe it. Even if you said a simplified version of ‘Finger of Death,’ I’d grit my teeth and believe it. But Mana Missile?”
At this point, he spread his palms and shrugged. “Buddy, when making an excuse, can’t you put in a bit more effort?”
In his common sense, how could a Mana Missile have such earth-shattering power?
Li Yi remained silent, feeling even more helpless inside. It was rare for him to tell the truth, so why did no one believe it?
“My name is Wang Ben, and this is my sister, Liu Fangfei,” the silver-haired youth said as he walked into the forest, helping his sister support the fat man. He introduced himself, “This fatty is my brother Shi Yi, and him, you’ve met—the ‘Jungle Hunter,’ Zhang Jue!”
“Hmm.”
Li Yi nodded. He neither planned to give his name nor cared to ask why the siblings had different surnames.
A chance encounter was best forgotten in the vast world of rivers and lakes.
He raised his hand to look at the back of it and shook his head, cursing inwardly.
After slaying a Moon-Snatching Blood Macaque, the points on his hand hadn’t increased at all.
Clearly, this mark had certain restrictions—perhaps prohibiting nearby people or prohibiting magical beasts from being injured—to prevent cheating.
“Never mind, let’s consider it a good deed. Besides, I still got a Level 1 Magic Crystal.”
Li Yi stopped overthinking. He stepped onto the giant ape’s body, pulled out his dagger, and prepared to retrieve the Magic Crystal.
Only magical beasts above level 1 could develop Magic Crystals within their bodies.
This type of Magic Crystal was completely different from the pure white ones condensed from Mana at Dawn Cliff.
In fact, at Dawn Cliff, the accurate term should be White Crystal.
In terms of value, a Level 1 Magic Crystal equaled a hundred White Crystals, making it very precious.
“Daring to steal my prey? Do you have a death wish, kid?”
“Zhang Jue, are you insane? Move that bow away!”
Two voices filled with shock and anger rang out in succession—one from Zhang Jue, the other from Liu Fangfei.
A sharp, stinging pain came from the back of his head—a familiar sensation. Li Yi knew he was already locked onto by the “Lament of the Forest” longbow.
Zhang Jue’s face was fierce, his bow fully drawn. This beast was extremely important to him; his concern made him act rashly, and his murderous intent surged.
“Don’t point an arrow at my head. I hate it most when people point arrows at my head…”
Li Yi did not turn around. His figure remained calm and composed, his tone like unmelting ice.
Before his words faded, a mournful wail of a wraith spread eerily. Hellfire surged beneath his feet, as if some savage demon, carrying molten lava from hell, was about to burst from the ground!
“What… is this?” Zhang Jue’s gaze turned terrified. His fingers stiffened, almost immovable.
His mind flashed back to the scene moments before—that straight beam of bloody light, slicing through the void and killing the giant ape.
He had acted impulsively. How dared he point an arrow at such a powerful person?
Fear and regret filled his heart, but he was already in a difficult position.
“Zhang Jue, what are you doing? This Moon-Snatching Blood Macaque was killed by him, so of course it’s his trophy!”
At this moment, Wang Ben strode over, timely offering a way out.
“But this magical beast is crucial for us…” Zhang Jue quickly seized the chance to lower his bow, though his tone was resentful and discontent.
Brother Ma’s line truly exuded domineering aura…
Muttering to himself softly, he sealed the constantly weeping and wailing wraith bottle and calmed the Illusionist Bracelet on his wrist.
The earlier display hadn’t consumed much Mana. It was merely a staged effect combining illusions and the wraith’s wail. But paired with the previous spell that instantly killed the beast, it was enough to intimidate everyone.
He also had no desire to conflict with this group.
It wasn’t that he feared them.
But with one trouble already trailing him, inviting another would be utterly unwise.
“Little brother, this Moon-Snatching Blood Macaque is very important to us. Could you perhaps accommodate us?” Wang Ben spoke while feeling his request was a bit excessive. He rubbed the back of his head, thought for a moment, and said, “I can trade something for it!”
“What thing?” Li Yi’s face remained unruffled; he wasn’t in a hurry to refuse.
“A movement secret technique,” Wang Ben paused, deliberately emphasizing his tone, “a Sage-grade, top-tier movement secret technique.”
Secret techniques, similar to secret arts, were the pinnacle of combat skills with remarkable uses.
“A secret technique?” Li Yi tugged at his mage robe, unable to resist reminding him, “Can’t you tell I’m a Mage?”
“Of course! But this combat skill is very special. It doesn’t demand high Battle Aura. More importantly,” Wang Ben took a deep breath, deliberately building suspense, “this secret technique complements spells seamlessly, connecting flawlessly with spells like ‘Wind Stride Spell’ and ‘Feather Fall Spell.'”
“Are you telling the truth?” Li Yi finally showed a change in expression. Combat skills that could synergize with spells were absolutely rare, which was one reason why Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts often became a joke.
“You can see for yourself, then you’ll know I’m not lying…” Wang Ben raised his hand and tossed a bamboo slip from a distance.
“Oh? Trusting me so much?” Li Yi lifted his palm. The bamboo slip hovered mid-air, slowly flying into his hand. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll take it and run?”
“Seeing your extraordinary appearance and outstanding bearing, you’re clearly no ordinary person. You would never covet such a small thing…”
Though aware these words carried flattery, they did sound quite pleasant.
This young man was gentle yet imposing, possessing the bearing of a great leader—no wonder fate favored him, allowing him to condense the “Aura of Radiance.”
Li Yi inwardly praised, then raised the bamboo slip to his forehead.
Movement technique—Thousandfold Strategy!
Several words appeared in his mind.
After a while, Li Yi’s expression shifted from calm to focused and faintly excited.
This technique was miraculous!
No wonder it didn’t require Battle Aura. Simply put, this movement technique was just footwork.
It blended Liangyi, Sancai, Sixiang, Bagua, and Shifang. Each step was a calculation!
This technique required enormous computational power and extremely high mental demands. It probably suited Mages more than warriors.
“This thing is good…” Li Yi nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly added, “But I want one more thing.”
“What thing?” Wang Ben asked urgently.
“That archer’s pupil technique—’Jungle Pupil.’ I’d like to borrow a look too.”
“Zhang Jue, what do you say?” Wang Ben was taken aback and turned to the archer.
“Impossible! This technique is my family’s secret art, and it has a special connection with the heroic spirits of my ancestors.” Zhang Jue shook his head without hesitation, refusing firmly. “Without the protection of ancestral heroic spirits, even if you wanted to learn it, it would be absolutely impossible.”
He spoke with such conviction that Li Yi couldn’t tell if it was true or false.
“In that case, it’s a deal!”
“Thank you!” Wang Ben clasped his fists and asked, “May I ask your honorable name, little brother?”
Li Yi didn’t want to use his real name.
And he naturally didn’t bother using an old joke like “Lei Feng.”
“Everyone calls me Lei Fengxia!” A flash of inspiration struck his mind. Keeping a straight face, Li Yi said slowly.
“Lei Fengxia, would you like to join our group?” Wang Ben asked earnestly, patting his chest. “Don’t think we’re weak; actually, my sister and I are deliberately holding back. In magic, ‘early wisdom’ matters; in martial arts, ‘late bloomers’ are valued. Both of us are honing ourselves…”
“I know,” Li Yi nodded without surprise. “You’re refining the ‘Aura of Radiance,’ and your sister is nurturing the ‘Mottled Bamboo Physique’!”
“Oh? You can even see that?” Liu Fangfei’s pretty face flushed slightly as she spoke softly.
“Of course, who wouldn’t recognize a Celestial Human Aspect?” Li Yi smiled slightly. The girl’s smile felt like a spring breeze.
Most Celestial Human Aspects were reserved, but a few were outwardly visible.
Such as Sima Yi’s “Wolf-Glance Physiognomy,” Xiang Yu’s “Double-Pupil Physiognomy,” and, as seen before him, this girl’s “Mottled Bamboo Physique,” also known as “Female Hero Physique.”
“Can you help me with something?” Li Yi rolled his eyes and suddenly said.
“With what?” Liu Fangfei replied generously.
“This bamboo slip, I’ve already memorized it. You can take it back.” Li Yi lowered his voice, turning away from a certain direction. “But before taking it back, give me a sword strike!”
“Huh?”
“A full-force sword strike!” Li Yi emphasized.
“Damn couple!”
In the distance, watching the young man and woman chatting and laughing happily, Hong He felt displeased and cursed inwardly.
Suddenly, he looked stunned. The smiling girl’s expression changed as quickly as the weather, turning vicious and malicious. Her left hand reached for the bamboo slip while her right hand, gripping a heavy sword with azure waves, launched a close-range sneak attack, slashing Li Yi in the stomach!
Li Yi’s back showed no expression, but a flash of blood was visible. Clutching his stomach, he swung a Mana Missile and stepped back quickly.
“I never imagined that after hardship comes relief—an opportunity has arrived!”
Hong He’s spirits greatly lifted.