"This is the seventh third-tier insect beast we've encountered. The danger level in C-grade zones is indeed much higher than in D-grade zones."
In a dilapidated ruined building, Wang Xu and his five companions were resting. Song Zhen took out a mini-computer and began inputting data for analysis.
"The difference between C-grade zones and D-grade zones isn't just the types of third-tier insect beasts that appear; their strength has significantly increased as well. For example, the 'Bronze Tears Bug' here requires three times the effort to defeat compared to the ones in D-grade zones," Wang Xu said, wiping blood off his large blade.
Compared to D-grade zones, the difficulty level in C-grade zones had greatly escalated. Third-tier insect beasts here preferred to stay in groups. Whenever they managed to isolate one to kill, another would often spring into action.
Fortunately, with Zhang Xinglin and Tang Yan joining them, dealing with two third-tier insect beasts was entirely manageable. Wang Xu believed that if it were just him, Zhou Ge, and Song Zhen, they would have likely suffered serious injuries from the Bronze Tears Bugs by now.
"Song Zhen, can you tally up how many insect beasts we've hunted?" Wang Xu called out.
A moment later, Song Zhen reported, "I've got the numbers. Wang Ge, you've taken down 112 first-tier insect beasts, 45 second-tier insect beasts, and 2 third-tier insect beasts. Following the point exchange rules, your score is 208 points."
"Senior Brother Zhang has hunted 134 first-tier insect beasts, 34 second-tier insect beasts, and 2 third-tier insect beasts, making his score 208 points as well," Song Zhen continued.
After hearing this, Wang Xu and Zhang Xinglin exchanged knowing looks.
"Tang Sister has taken down 98 first-tier insect beasts, 23 second-tier insect beasts, and 1 third-tier insect beast, giving her a score of 147 points."
"Zhou Ge has earned 65 points from 35 first-tier insect beasts, 13 second-tier insect beasts, and 1 third-tier insect beast."
"I have 42 first-tier insect beasts, 17 second-tier insect beasts, and 1 third-tier insect beast, resulting in 79 points."
As the figures were announced, apart from Wang Xu and Zhang Xinglin surpassing 200 points, the rest remained below that threshold.
Even so, everyone felt elated. In under five hours, they had already achieved such results. By the time the trial ended tomorrow at noon, they were hopeful that everyone's scores would surpass 200!
For Song Zhen and Zhou Ge, scoring over 200 meant a chance to break into the top twenty or thirty on the leaderboard, which would yield far better training resources than before.
However, upon hearing her score, Tang Yan glanced at Wang Xu and Zhang Xinglin with a frown, clearly dissatisfied with her own performance. As someone consistently ranked in the top ten, falling so far behind was unacceptable.
Wang Xu was also slightly surprised. It was clear that with the contributions of Zhang Xinglin and Tang Yan, their team's overall strength had increased significantly. Just a while ago, when surrounded by dozens of second-tier insect beasts, if it weren't for their help, he would likely have been injured during his escape.
"Let's move. With only three hours until sunset, we need to hunt again before nightfall," Wang Xu said as he stood.
The group packed their gear and followed Wang Xu out of the decrepit building.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, Xu Yuan, leading five third-tier gene warriors, glanced at the electronic map on his wrist, a sinister smile creeping onto his face.
"Wang Xu, oh Wang Xu, this time I'll make sure you die painfully, very painfully indeed!"
A moment later, following the map's signal, Xu Yuan and his team arrived at a radiation zone. If Wang Xu and the others were here, they would be shocked to find that this radiation area was their own base!
"This is the spot! Insert the energy pillars," Xu Yuan commanded, and one of the students behind him produced a purple cylindrical device the size of a water bottle.
As the four energy pillars surrounded the radiation zone, Xu Yuan's eyes gleamed with malice. "Now it's your death time!"
...
"Thud!"
A long blade sliced into the neck of a second-tier insect beast; with a slight effort, its head was severed, and blood sprayed up to three meters high.
Wang Xu retrieved his long blade, looking over at Zhang Xinglin and the others as the sounds of slaying gradually subsided; everyone had completed their kills.
"Let's collect the insect beast corpses and prepare to head back to base," Wang Xu said, glancing at the fading daylight. As night approached, their combat ability would drop significantly in the darkness, increasing danger, so they had to return to safety before it was completely dark.
The group began gathering the insect beast bodies, but Zhou Ge, nearby, caught sight of some shimmering objects. As he collected insect beast corpses, he surreptitiously withdrew a small bottle of green liquid from his pocket.
Zhou Ge discreetly dropped some of the green liquid onto one of the beast's corpses and, while the others were still unaware, buried the corpse beneath a large tree.
After completing this task, Zhou Ge placed the green vial back into his pocket and rejoined the group, acting as if nothing had happened.
Minutes later, once the bodies were collected, Wang Xu and the others set off on their return.
"Creak…" Suddenly, the sound of cracking earth reached their ears, raising everyone's alertness.
"Stand guard!" Wang Xu shouted, swiftly swinging his long blade again and scanning the area for the source of the noise.
Tang Yan was directly behind him. As she heard the cracking sound, she felt a slight tremor in the ground. After a moment's thought, her expression changed dramatically: "An insect beast is coming from underground!"
This warning sent a shock through everyone, but before they could fully process it, a large tree nearby toppled over, and a colossal insect beast burst forth from the ground!
This insect beast was the size of a tank, moving like a caterpillar, with thousands of legs. It had a massive mouth, gnawing on the corpse of another insect beast, swallowing it whole with ease.
"Fourth-tier elite insect beast, Thousand-Legged Soft Bug!" Wang Xu exclaimed in horror, his face turning pale.
Not only Wang Xu, but Song Zhen, Tang Yan, and Zhou Ge were all similarly aghast, especially Zhou Ge, whose eyes were filled with terror as he stammered, "It tricked me… Xu Yuan… you tricked me…"
In the chaos, no one paid attention to Zhou Ge's trembling voice. Only Zhang Xinglin, amidst the panic, suddenly brightened, his energy surging as he licked his lips, filled with battle fervor, as if ready to challenge the fourth-tier elite insect beast before them.
"Run!" Wang Xu ordered immediately.
There was no need for him to shout twice; the moment they recognized the Thousand-Legged Soft Bug, everyone started to turn and flee!
The fourth-tier elite insect beast was on a completely different level from them. No matter how many of them there were, in the presence of a fourth-tier elite insect beast, they were merely appetizers!
"Zhang Xinglin, what are you doing?! Run!"
Wang Xu, turning back, noticed that Zhang Xinglin showed no signs of fleeing at all; rather, he took a few steps toward the creature, sending a chill down Wang Xu's spine. Could this guy be intending to challenge the Thousand-Legged Soft Bug?!
Unfazed, Zhang Xinglin gripped his black sword tightly, stepping forward toward the monstrous insect.
At that moment, the Thousand-Legged Soft Bug also spotted Wang Xu and the others. Having just enjoyed a delicious meal, it was still hungry and headed straight for the nearest person!
The behemoth, the size of a tank, moved across the ground, creating deep furrows in its wake.
"Dark Heart Style, Ten Thousand Swords Shadow!" Zhang Xinglin leapt into the air, and his black sword instantly conjured thousands of sword shadows, all aimed at the Thousand-Legged Soft Bug!
High-level Ancient Martial Arts!
Wang Xu recognized at a glance that Zhang Xinglin was executing high-level Ancient Martial Arts, and had already achieved a minor mastery of it!
The countless sword shadows surged forth, enveloping the Thousand-Legged Soft Bug. It was completely cornered!
Zhang Xinglin's face lit up with joy. This was his strongest attack; it couldn't be better than being able to use it on a fourth-tier elite insect beast.
But very quickly, his smile froze.
The expressions of Wang Xu and the others turned to horror.
The multitude of sword shadows struck the Thousand-Legged Soft Bug, piercing into its soft flesh. To their astonishment, not a drop of blood escaped the creature. The sword shadows vanished completely into its body, leaving no trace behind!
"Flee!" The sheer power of the fourth-tier elite insect beast extinguished any flicker of resistance in Wang Xu and the others.
Zhang Xinglin's face went pale, realizing his strongest attack had left not a single mark on the creature. This fourth-tier elite insect beast was utterly terrifying!
But Zhang Xinglin quickly regained his composure. As the Thousand-Legged Soft Bug closed in, he sprang off a large tree, darting toward where Wang Xu and the group were.
The Thousand-Legged Soft Bug emitted a strange sound, its body writhing once again as it pursued Zhang Xinglin.
With incredible speed, the Thousand-Legged Soft Bug caught up to Zhang Xinglin in the blink of an eye. Alarmed, Zhang Xinglin gritted his teeth, pulling out a blue vial that he hastily swallowed.
What Zhang Xinglin had just imbibed was the "Body Enhancement Potion" that He Shi had spent a fortune on for his students. This potion allowed the user to unleash their full potential for a short time, lasting around ten minutes depending on the individual. However, once the effect wore off, the user would quickly revert to a weakened state, and in severe cases, it could even damage their body, possessing strong side effects.
After taking the Body Enhancement Potion, Zhang Xinglin's aura surged, and his speed dramatically increased, allowing him to overtake Wang Xu and the others, leading the charge.
Though the Thousand-Legged Soft Bug was fast, the forest, dense with trees, slowed it down considerably. Yet, it still remained relentless, hot on the heels of Wang Xu and his group.
"We're almost there, everyone hang on!" Just as Wang Xu spoke, he looked up and froze in shock.
An energy barrier?!
A faint purple glow enveloped a section of the area ahead—this exact section being the base they had previously set up. However, now, the energy wall had completely isolated them.
"Damn it! Who did this?!" Song Zhen exclaimed, seeing the scene and fuming.
As the lead Zhang Xinglin came to a halt, Wang Xu and the others followed suit, fixing their gaze on the figure inside the glowing barrier, who wore a beaming smile...
Xu Yuan!
It was indeed this brat!
"Xu Yuan! Open the energy barrier!" Song Zhen shouted angrily.
"How does it feel to be chased by a fourth-tier elite insect beast?" Xu Yuan replied, his voice laced with amusement as he grinned.
"Tell us your terms to let us in!" Wang Xu had now composed himself, realizing it was likely all orchestrated by Xu Yuan.
"Talking to a smart person is so easy," Xu Yuan replied with a smile. "Honestly, I have no problem with them entering. If they come in, I won't set any conditions. But you, Wang Xu, are not allowed in."