Chapter 34: Schemes and Struggles
Chapter 34: Schemes and Struggles
The Lightning Scale Beast was a Fifth-Grade Monster Beast, its intelligence no less than that of an ordinary human.
Earlier, it had broken away from Lu Hangzhi to chase Zhu Fuqin, not because Lu Hangzhi was tough to deal with, but because it thought Zhu Fuqin was easier to handle and hunt down. Then it turned back to continue pursuing the slightly more troublesome Lu Hangzhi…
Sensing the Lightning Scale Beast’s aura quickly approaching, Lu Hangzhi immediately understood that Sister Fuqin had likely been eliminated. With the speed of a Fifth-Grade Monster Beast, it would catch up to him very soon.
“Fight for my life then.”
Lu Hangzhi resolutely shot out his Flying Sword, cutting down two nearby large trees. He threw out a Wind Art Talisman along with Floating Fire Art…
Boom!
Instantly, the floating fire and flames transformed into a giant fire dragon, directly swallowing the two fallen trees. The flames expanded again and, under the influence of the wind, turned into a fireball dozens of meters in diameter, heading straight for the Lightning Scale Beast. The momentum was immense, no less impressive than a Fourth Grade spell effect, astonishing many Elders who were watching.
“Good kid.”
“No wonder he stood out in the Outer Sect Competition. Just his combat awareness and calm mind… tsk tsk, Old Chen really found a treasure.”
While the group whispered in amazement, the Lightning Scale Beast roared and tore through the sea of flames, charging out. Then… it stepped into the newly formed mire, its speed immediately slowing.
“The attack was still too weak.”
“As expected of a Fifth-Grade Monster Beast, its body is as tough as a Fourth Grade Spiritual Artifact.”
In an instant, Lu Hangzhi controlled his Flying Sword to leave two gashes on the Lightning Scale Beast’s body. At the same time, he used Object Control Art to pull back the two fiercely burning trees and slammed them hard onto the Lightning Scale Beast’s back, worsening its sinking situation.
Seeing the Lightning Scale Beast temporarily trapped by the flaming trees, Lu Hangzhi said nothing and turned to escape, widening the distance once again.
Just as the Lightning Scale Beast was about to break free, a colossal sword beam descended from the sky. The sharp Sword Qi connected heaven and earth, directly beheading the Lightning Scale Beast…
The next moment, a peak Fifth Grade Cultivator appeared near the Lightning Scale Beast’s corpse. Looking at the burning trees and the large area of mud, he smiled slightly:
“Ten thousand Points, obtained without any effort. Fine, I’ll spare your life then.”
Wang Feng, the chief disciple of the Discipline Hall, had actually noticed Lu Hangzhi’s presence earlier. But compared to a hundred Points, ten thousand Points from the Lightning Scale Beast were obviously more tempting. So, he unleashed his thunderous attack without holding back, easily taking the ten thousand Points, then turned and left.
“So strong Sword Qi!”
“It must be a Senior Brother or Senior Sister with Fifth Grade Cultivation… Run!”
Feeling that astonishing sword intent, Lu Hangzhi sped up again.
…
“That’s about enough.”
“Among the current Inner Sect Disciples, those at Third Grade and early to mid-Fourth Grade have mostly been eliminated. The remaining are almost all Fifth Grade and peak Fourth Grade disciples, leaving only Lu Hangzhi, this little Third Grade guy… slipping around like a loach.”
“Now even the Third Grade Demonic Beasts and Monsters have mostly died off. He probably won’t have another chance to gain Points.”
On the high platform, the Elders discussed, nodding from time to time.
Only Chen Ji watched with great interest:
It was already pretty good!
As the disciple with the lowest cultivation in the Inner Sect, managing to get two thousand Points and rank around eightieth was quite impressive for him.
Moreover, Lu Hangzhi, with his Third Grade cultivation, was still lively and active in the Trial Space, living more comfortably than those cautious, step-by-step Fourth Grade Cultivators.
Just as everyone believed Lu Hangzhi couldn’t gain any more and would stop around the hundredth rank, he unexpectedly encountered Senior Brother Xiao Lin, whom he had met once before.
The latter was being chased by a Fifth Grade Magma Ground Lizard. His Swift Movement Art was weakened by invisible seismic tremors, slowing him down unknowingly, so he couldn’t break free from the Magma Ground Lizard’s earthquake waves.
“Damn it!”
“This damned lizard, how annoying!”
Seeing his defensive Art Techniques quickly dimming under the earthquake waves, Xiao Lin grew increasingly frustrated and desperate. Just as he was about to turn and fight for his life, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure darting quickly ahead… His eyes lit up. “Trying to run?!”
“Stay here!”
The terrain ahead changed, a high wall rising from the ground, blocking Lu Hangzhi’s escape route.
“Trying to trick me?”
Lu Hangzhi wasn’t willing to back down. Seeing that Xiao Lin was pulling him into the mess without any scruples, he didn’t care about anything else and immediately cast a counter spell without hesitation.
Mire Art!
Wind Art!
Second Grade spells were naturally fast to cast. The gloves gifted by Senior Brother Xiong Qi had the effect of speeding up spellcasting. Two spells were thrown out instantly.
Poor Xiao Lin, having just seen Lu Hangzhi stop after being blocked, hadn’t even had time to feel proud when suddenly his feet sank into the mire. The earthquake waves combined with the mud, dragging his steps to a halt. The distance to the Magma Ground Lizard closed instantly…
His defensive spell shattered!
“Sht!”
Xiao Lin was horrified.
Before he could even curse, a gust of wind blew, making him stagger and fall extremely awkwardly and unbelievably into the mud…
Roar!
The Magma Ground Lizard suddenly lowered its head and charged forward at full speed.
A brilliant spiritual light erupted from Xiao Lin’s body. Two protective spells of different colors appeared one after another, but they were immediately shattered by a granite spike that shot up from the ground. He was seriously injured, vomiting blood and flying out over ten meters.
Lu Hangzhi’s eyes lit up.
His Wood Spirit Sword shot out in pursuit…
Whoosh!
The sword beam circled in the air and returned to Lu Hangzhi’s hand. Xiao Lin’s body then crumbled and dissipated.
One thousand Points obtained.
Having abruptly lost its attack target, the Magma Ground Lizard’s attention immediately shifted to Lu Hangzhi, who was further away…
Lu Hangzhi continued running for his life.
This scene shocked the group of Elders on the high platform, making them all show thoughtful expressions.
“Now I understand why the Supreme Elder abandoned the one-on-one combat format and created this Illusory Real World Trial Space for the disciples to train in.”
Chen Ji said slowly:
“The disciples’ cultivation levels vary, but their methods in facing enemies are completely different. Many Fourth Grade Cultivators have even worse escape and survival skills than a Third Grade Cultivator. Their combat methods are also very limited, unable to utilize even half of their true strength. If they really encountered Demonic Beasts and Monsters, they might manage against those of similar rank, but in complex situations, their performance is barely satisfactory.”
“True.”
“It seems we need to increase the frequency of the Inner Sect disciples going out for real-world training. Only then can we increase the number of the sect’s True Disciples.”
“Indeed. Only True Disciples are the real pillars of the sect, capable of standing on their own! Luckily, this session has Wang Feng, Leng Wuya, and Lin Shuang, all three meeting the standard of being self-reliant.”
“Mhm.”
Just then, a beastly roar that shook heaven and earth came from the Illusory Real World Trial Space…
Everyone’s expressions changed.
“A Sixth-Grade Demonic Beast?”
“Who disturbed a Sixth-Grade Demonic Beast?”
“…”
Lu Hangzhi’s face was full of bitterness.
He really didn’t want to admit that he was the one who caused it.
Being chased by the Magma Ground Lizard, in his panic, he had actually barged into the core restricted area—the habitat of a Sixth-Grade Demonic Beast.
Originally, a mere Early Third Grade Cultivator alone wouldn’t have caused such a big reaction from the Sixth-Grade Demonic Beast. The blame lay with the foolish Magma Ground Lizard, which had made a grand and noisy entrance as if afraid no one would notice its arrival, ultimately shaking and collapsing the nest of a Great Earth Bear residing in a tree hollow.
The Sixth-Grade Demonic Beast was clearly very vindictive. Rushing out from the tree hollow, it let out a sky-shattering roar, ran up to the Magma Ground Lizard, and easily sunk its half-meter-long bear claws into the latter’s tough flesh, leaving several shocking bloody gashes. The pain made the Magma Ground Lizard roll on the ground.
Watching this scene, although Lu Hangzhi was nervous, he mostly saw a sliver of opportunity within…
In the Illusory Real World, whether you could get the Points depended on whether you could land the final blow!
Just like in a game, getting the last hit.
A Fifth-Grade Monster Beast corresponded to ten thousand Points.
If he could land the final blow on the Magma Ground Lizard and gain ten thousand Points, his ranking in the Inner Sect would surely leap significantly.
Fortune favors the bold!
Lu Hangzhi decided to risk his life!
Taking advantage of the Sixth-Grade Demonic Beast’s complete focus on the Magma Ground Lizard, Lu Hangzhi quietly hid behind a nearby large tree. He held the Wood Spirit Sword in one hand and a Talisman tightly in the other, his eyes fixed intently on the Magma Ground Lizard being torn apart under the Great Earth Bear.
The six-meter-long Magma Ground Lizard was covered in tough granite-like skin, but it couldn’t withstand the attacks of the Great Earth Bear, known for its strength. Soon, it was covered in wounds and near death, every gash deep enough to reveal bone.
The Magma Ground Lizard had no intention of waiting for death. It fought back with all its might, trying to break free from the Great Earth Bear’s control.
Thump! Thump!
Granite spikes shot up from the nearby ground, slamming into the Great Earth Bear’s body, attempting to push it away.
However…
The sharp granite spikes barely pierced the Great Earth Bear’s skin before getting stuck, unable to advance further. Instead, the Great Earth Bear smacked it twice, taking away two large chunks of flesh.
The Magma Ground Lizard was slapped onto its back, exposing its soft, bloodied abdomen.
Seeing the Magma Ground Lizard’s belly, the Great Earth Bear showed nearly insane ferocity. It decisively pinned the Magma Ground Lizard’s head and raised its other stout, sharp claw high, preparing to deliver the fatal strike…
At the critical moment, Lu Hangzhi acted decisively.
Before the Great Earth Bear’s final blow landed, a sword beam flashed like lightning into the Magma Ground Lizard’s lower abdominal wound, directly grinding its internal organs and completely ending the Fifth-Grade Monster Beast’s life.
Having succeeded with one strike, Lu Hangzhi turned and left immediately, without any hesitation.
Steal the kill and not run, waiting to be killed himself?
Still as a statue when hiding, swift as a fleeing rabbit when moving—his actions were seamless and fluid, leaving the group of Elders on the high platform looking at each other, then all gritting their teeth and glaring at the beaming Chen Ji.
Just from that one strike, Lu Hangzhi’s Points instantly soared from the original three thousand to thirteen thousand, directly breaking into the top thirty, ranking twenty-seventh.
A new disciple with Early Third Grade cultivation, ranked twenty-seventh in the Inner Sect… This ranking made many Fourth Grade Cultivators blush with shame, feeling quite embarrassed.