Chapter 122: Chapter 98: Half a Minute, One Million
Its enormous body suddenly went rigid. The violent, forward-charging momentum was cut short, as if choked off by an invisible giant’s hand.
It thrashed its head, struggling frantically, but its body—its core vitals pierced and imploded by the [Overlapping Waves Form]—only convulsed violently a few times before going still, as if its very essence had been drained away.
The light in its once-ferocious, blood-red eyes flickered and died like a snuffed-out candle, swiftly dimming and then vanishing completely.
With a thunderous crash, the massive body collapsed like a falling mountain, crashing heavily into the dust.
The ground trembled violently as a cloud of dust shot into the air.
Amid the billowing dust, Li Wen staggered before forcing himself to stand firm.
He gasped for breath, his chest heaving like a bellows as beads of sweat rolled down his temples.
Slaying this peak-stage, intermediate-level Demon Beast, renowned for its defense, by forcing the still-unpracticed [Overlapping Waves Form] had consumed over ten times the energy it took to instantly kill the two Wolf Demons.
The overdraft of his Spiritual Power was especially acute, stabbing at his mind like a thousand needles.
The standard-issue longsword in his hand had endured pressure and energy far beyond its limits when he executed the Overlapping Waves Form. Its blade was now covered in cracks. The front half had shattered, leaving only a broken hilt in his grasp—a silent testament to the unparalleled ferocity of that last strike.
Li Wen fought back the dizziness from his depleted Spiritual Power and the turmoil in his body, forcing himself to maintain a final shred of clarity with his [Absolute Focus] state.
Though his Primordial Spirit scan felt weak, he remained vigilant, sweeping his senses across the surroundings and keeping them locked on the depths of the cliffside cave to ensure no other threats remained.
The thick stench of blood and kicked-up earth hung in the air, mingling with his ragged breaths that echoed through the valley.
Just then, the sharp crack of a sonic boom tore through the air, growing closer by the second.
A jet-black military aircraft with stark, angular lines ripped through the sky at several times the speed of sound, coming to an abrupt halt dozens of meters directly above the battlefield.
The powerful downdraft flattened the surrounding vegetation and kicked up a swirl of dust.
SWOOSH!
An agile figure leaped from the aircraft before it had even fully stabilized, landing like a cannonball with a resounding THUD. A slight bend of the knees was all it took to steady herself.
As the dust settled, the person was revealed.
She was a woman with an exceptionally curvaceous and full figure. Her tight, black combat suit traced exaggerated, powerful lines, giving her an incredibly stunning and explosive presence.
She appeared to be around thirty, with olive skin, ear-length hair, and eyes as sharp as a hawk’s.
It was Chu Hong, the high-level Super Martial Artist stationed in the area, who had rushed here after receiving the emergency support request.
Chu Hong’s gaze swept over the three Demon Beast corpses on the ground, each with a different form and a gruesome death. Two Wolf Demons had their chests and abdomens torn open. A massive Iron-Armored Earth Dragon Beast had a longsword still embedded in its neck, fresh blood gushing from the wound.
A flash of profound shock crossed her eyes before her gaze finally settled on the young man.
Though the young man looked slightly exhausted, he stood tall, his eyes bright and piercing. A peculiar field of power radiated from him—faint, almost imperceptible, seeming at odds with the environment yet also subtly in harmony with it.
It was an aura she had only ever sensed from a very small number of people...
"The Power Realm?" Chu Hong’s voice held a trace of barely concealed astonishment and... profound envy.
Li Wen slowly pulled his longsword from the neck of the armored beast, flicking the blood from its blade.
In response to Chu Hong’s question, he just nodded calmly. "Yes."
Chu Hong drew a sharp breath. Upon receiving confirmation, the shock and envy in her heart instantly soured into a deep bitterness.
She had been stuck at the peak of the high-level Super Martial Artist stage for three or four years, training bitterly day and night, yet she had never been able to so much as touch the threshold of the Power Realm.
It was the key to stepping into the Flying Star Realm.
Countless high-level Super Martial Artists like her spent their entire lives stuck on the wrong side of that impassable chasm.
Yet this boy, who looked no older than seventeen or eighteen, had already crossed that threshold. ’His talent is...’
She forcefully suppressed her feelings and quickly got back to business. "You killed all three Demon Beasts?"
"I did," Li Wen answered succinctly.
Chu Hong nodded, her expression turning strictly professional.
"According to regulations, all Demon Beast carcasses belong to the one who slayed them. You have the right to dispose of these three as you see fit."
"Additionally, per Bluestone City’s supplemental reward policy, citizens who assist in repelling or slaying powerful Demon Beasts that threaten the city are eligible for an extra bonus."
Li Wen wasn’t surprised. He had long since committed the relevant Fire Hall regulations to memory.
Still, looking at the massive carcasses on the ground—especially the corpse of the armored beast, which was like a small hill—he couldn’t help but furrow his brow.
"It’s just... with the size of these three Demon Beasts, I’m afraid I can’t transport them back to the city on my own."
"Haha, that’s the easy part." Chu Hong laughed heartily, clearly having anticipated this.
"Our aircraft is equipped with large capture arms and an ultra-low-temperature cryo-preservation bay. We can transport them back for you! Consider it a thank you for dealing with this mess and avenging our people."
She glanced over at the members of the sweep team, who were still receiving first aid.
"Then I appreciate it." Li Wen saw no reason to refuse.
Chu Hong spoke a few words into her communicator.
Soon, the military aircraft hovering overhead descended lower. A hatch on its underside opened, and a massive metal arm covered in mechanical grapples extended downward.
With precise mechanical control, the arm seized the two Wolf Demons and the ten-plus-ton Iron-Armored Earth Dragon Beast one by one, securing them firmly in its grapples.
The entire process was fast and efficient, a clear display of the Federation’s advanced military technology.
"Come on up! We’ll give you a lift!" Chu Hong gestured to the aircraft’s ramp, which now touched the ground.
Li Wen thanked her and boarded the aircraft along with Chu Hong and the now-stabilized members of the sweep team.
A few minutes later, the conspicuous military aircraft—like a giant vulture clutching three enormous Demon Beast carcasses—landed at the edge of the massive plaza in front of the Fire Hall branch in Bluestone County.
BOOM!
The moment the mechanical arm slammed the massive corpse of the Iron-Armored Earth Dragon Beast onto the hard-paved plaza, making the ground tremble, the entire square fell silent for a beat. Then, an uproar of discussion and disbelief erupted.
"My god! What kind of Demon Beast is that? It looks like a pangolin, but it’s way too big!"
"Look next to it! That’s... a Swiftwind Demon Wolf! And both of them are dead? Who did this?!"
"The one in the middle... that has to be an Iron-Armored Earth Dragon Beast, right? Judging by the color and size of its scales, it’s definitely at the level of an intermediate-rank Super Martial Artist. Its Defense Power is top-tier among the Demon Beasts outside the city."
"Hiss—Who could possibly take down an Iron-Armored Earth Dragon Beast? And even bring back the body?"
"A military aircraft brought it. Was it a big shot from the army or an expert from the Fire Hall?"
"Wait! Look at who’s getting off that transport... so young! Is that a teenager?!"
"Holy crap! Isn’t that Li Wen? The genius who ranked 48th in the provincial mock exam?!"
"It really is him! He even took down Demon Beasts on the level of a Super Martial Artist?"
"The Power Realm! He must have comprehended Saber Intent! Only a Power Realm Powerhouse can borrow the power of the world to break through an Iron-Armored Earth Dragon Beast’s defenses! He’s too strong!"
The chatter exploded like water hitting a pan of hot oil, instantly reaching a boiling point.
Countless eyes were fixed on the three terrifying Demon Beast carcasses, and on the figure of the young man walking toward the entrance of the Fire Hall branch—calm, yet with a trace of exhaustion.
Li Wen was long used to being the center of attention.
He ignored the clamorous discussion and the focused stares, walking straight into the branch hall without a moment’s hesitation.
He activated his V4-level access wristband and contacted the dedicated service staff in charge of materials reclamation via an internal channel.
Soon, several burly men in Fire Hall work uniforms hurried over and, with practiced efficiency, began to process the three behemoths.
Weighing, sampling, recording, butchering... A few hours later, Li Wen received a clear notification on his account:
"Dear A-Rank Contracted Member Li Wen:
The Demon Beast materials you submitted have been appraised and processed. The corresponding Fire Hall points have been credited to your account:
Swiftwind Demon Wolf (Junior Peak) Carcass x2, Excellent Quality. Points Awarded: 108,000
Iron-Armored Earth Dragon Beast (Intermediate-Level) Carcass x1, Rare Quality. Points Awarded: 1,050,000
Total Points Awarded: 1,158,000. Please verify your account.
—Fire Hall, Bluestone Branch, Materials Management Department"
One million, one hundred fifty-eight thousand Fire Hall points.
Even though he had already estimated the value, he couldn’t help but reveal a flicker of delight as he watched the enormous number of points instantly appear in his account.
This was nearly one-fifth of the initial resources from his A-rank contract, and he had earned it all in less than half a minute of combat.
The rare Iron-Armored Earth Dragon Beast, in particular, was worth over a million points alone.
On the path to growing stronger by killing monsters, points were the most crucial fuel. This sudden windfall thoroughly ignited the intense craving for power and resources that burned within Li Wen.
He even felt the impulse to temporarily pause his arena ranking climb and go hunt Demon Beasts in the wilderness outside the city.
The thought was incredibly tempting.
But just as quickly, his mind flashed to the true horrors that might be lurking in the endless wilderness outside the city—terrifying Demon Beasts of the Flying Star Realm, or perhaps even the Bright Moon Level.
They were like silent reapers lurking in the depths of the wilds.
Even though he had reached the Power Realm, if he encountered a Flying Star Realm Demon Beast, his speed, techniques, and even his Primordial Spirit scan would be rendered meaningless in the face of such an absolute disparity in power. He would be crushed to dust in an instant.
Reason quickly doused the fiery impulse.
’I’m still too weak...’ Li Wen slowly exhaled, the excitement in his eyes giving way to a deeper calm.
’The second provincial mock exam... top three! An S-rank contract! Those cosmic treasures that can lay the foundation for becoming a god or a demon... that is the true path to the heavens. Hunting Demon Beasts outside the city is too risky and inefficient. It’s not a viable option for now.
’For now, the top priority is to focus on the arena, push for the Diamond rank, improve my saber techniques, and fully comprehend the [Flowing Rainbow Shocking Magpie Chapter].’
Over a million points would be enough to support a period of frenzied training, especially his consumption of Starlight Concentration Liquid.
Slaying beasts was just a windfall. The path Li Wen was meant to walk was one where his saber cleaved the very sea of stars.
A glint as sharp and cold as a blade’s edge quietly formed in the depths of his eyes.
