Chapter 18: Sharp Slash

The triple‑shot fireballs missed Mu Yi, and the huge Goblin on the altar grew increasingly irritable, no longer launching instant fireballs but beginning to mutter, as if chanting some spell.

"Did you think I wouldn't use ranged attacks?"

Mu Yi couldn't just watch the Goblin finish its chant, so he immediately hurled the mountain‑cleaving blade in his hand; the blade sliced through the air with heavy force, shooting straight at the huge Goblin.

Mu Yi caught a hint of mockery flash in the huge Goblin's eyes, and, as expected, when the flying knife struck the Goblin, a faint red glow appeared on its body.

The red light instantly deflected the flying knife, and the huge Goblin continued its spellcasting at an unhurried pace, moving with an unexpected touch of elegance; despite its nouveau‑rich appearance, the breezy, nonchalant aura was clearly displayed to Mu Yi.

"Magic shield?"

Mu Yi instantly realized his opponent was no longer a low‑level blood‑line spellcaster but a true mage.

Although the other side still seemed like a half‑baked mage, it was obvious that the gear he wore compensated for his innate shortcomings.

Mu Yi could feel the air growing hot and restless, as if the previously lazy fire‑element particles suddenly became agitated.

Mu Yi dared not delay, charging wildly toward the huge Goblin, hoping to interrupt it before it unleashed its ultimate move.

But the moment Mu Yi stepped onto the altar, the huge Goblin flashed a treacherous grin.

Boom!

Crimson flames filled Mu Yi's entire view; the huge Goblin's spell had long been ready, a massive blaze engulfing every spot beneath the altar, waiting for Mu Yi to walk right into it.

"Ah!!!"

Mu Yi let out a painful wail; his Explosion‑proof Suit could indeed resist ordinary fire and water, but that referred to normal flames, and the raging fire‑element particles easily pierced its protection.

They seared Mu Yi's fragile flesh and the more sensitive nerves within.

The intense concentration of fire‑element particles generated extreme heat, instantly igniting Mu Yi's hair and turning his epidermis into charred black marks!

Just as Mu Yi's body was about to be reduced to a lump of charcoal, the scarlet Inner Qi surged from within, shielding him from the flame's erosion.

Mu Yi stared with his blood‑red eyes, burst out of the inferno, and lunged toward the huge Goblin.

The huge Goblin was clearly surprised that Mu Yi could emerge through the flames, its face showing obvious bewilderment.

But it remained unflustered; it was the Goblin Leader, Beast Disaster, Espirin, bearing a flame shield and being quite formidable itself.

Even on Simple Difficulty it had already begun magical‑martial dual cultivation, let alone in this Hard Difficulty Dungeon.

However, it now prefers to torment its opponents with spells, maintaining the so‑called elegant demeanor of a mage.

All Mu Yi could do was struggle; it was already eager to savor Mu Yi's despair, just like the other adventurers it had killed.

After finally reaching it, finally shattering the flame shield, intending to slay this feeble mage, when it seized his weapon, the despair etched on its face became its favorite delicacy.

Yet the next second, it sensed an ominous aura; an inexplicable sense of danger surged through its body, and Espirin was momentarily stunned.

The vague premonition made it abandon the thought of further enjoyment, suddenly quickening its pace, brandishing its sturdy staff to try to crush Mu Yi outright.

But the next instant, Espirin felt a flash of light; a sharp, stabbing sensation made his neck tingle, and before he could react, a blood‑red hue filled his vision.

In the following moment, Espirin felt as if he were flying; as the world spun, he saw a familiar headless figure slowly collapsing.

"Am I dead?"

Espirin thought absurdly, yet darkness surged toward him; he could only stare wide‑eyed, his gaze filled with resentment.

【Zongwang Prompt: Leader defeated, the current new‑player Dungeon Goblin Disaster (Hard) cleared, will reset after 72 hours.】

【You cleared the Dungeon: Goblin Disaster (Hard Difficulty), you received a base reward of 300 Zongwang Disaster Coins and 300 points of Universal Experience.】

Mu Yi looked around; finding nothing else, he directly chose to exit the Dungeon…

Although he survived the sea of fire, the burning pain constantly tested his limits; had his mastery of Iron‑blooded Slaughter not improved, he might have completely lost his sanity by now.

…

Mu Yi lay on the bed, the scorching pain feeling like an illusion; after a while he finally regained his senses.

He couldn't help but touch his body, and upon discovering that even his Explosion‑proof Suit remained intact, Mu Yi finally recovered from the near‑charcoal state.

Opening the Zongwang Panel, he wanted to know what had just happened; the flash of insight slipped away amid the pain, but he was certain it was directly linked to the earlier Soul Trial.

Because at the moment he instantly killed the Goblin Leader, the image that flashed in his mind was Guan Yu decapitating himself with a single slash; that blade light lingered in his thoughts.

"【Zongwang Prompt: Your specialization has grown, now upgraded

"Blade Mastery 【Beginner】 → Blade Mastery 【Proficient】"

"Observed combat with unknown entities, unlocked combat skill 【Sharp Slash】"

"【Sharp Slash】: You have grasped the true meaning of sword technique; when wielding a blade, you can unleash a swift slash.

This slash deals physical damage that ignores defensive skills, can be amplified with Inner Qi, and each use consumes all Inner Qi."

(Requires prior mastery of Blade Mastery.)

Looking at the skill he had just unlocked, Mu Yi spat out some kind of plant.

Dealing physical damage that bypasses defensive skills—that's pure finishing move.

No wonder the Goblin Leader's magic shield failed earlier; Mu Yi had thought it was single‑use, but this skill directly ignores defense, so a single hand slash can behead the opponent.

"Indeed, level compression is correct; only under high pressure can one achieve a major breakthrough!"

Mu Yi felt immensely grateful for his earlier decision to compress levels; had he raised his rank earlier, he probably wouldn't have grasped these now.

However, the Dungeon encounter also made Mu Yi wary; he now must raise his level.