Chapter 166

After night fell in the Great Rift Valley, the temperature plummeted; thin frost and cold mist surged and spread, settling on shoulders, radiating chill.

Inside the cave, two bright bonfires were lit; Zheng Jun and the others each chose a spot and sat down.

Between their brows, every one of them wore a trace of fatigue; their clothes were also somewhat dirty, stained with a few shades of dark blood.

"The closer we get to the Secret Sect disciples' old nest, the more modified beast mastiffs we encounter. These monsters have extremely tenacious vitality. The lowest grade kind — their lower jaws can split into four petals, spraying green toxin; the intermediate ones have mechanical implants in their limbs, capable of high-speed charges, tearing and biting……"

Zheng Jun quietly narrated her observation results; although she was of the Martial Path, her actual combat level was not high, but conversely she was exceptionally outstanding in Qi Lock and Spiritual Induction aspects.

Therefore she became a core figure in the team, mainly serving as the battlefield commander role.

"These two types are still manageable, barely. We need to be careful of the Mastiff King; its feature is three evolved bone spurs on its tail, larger build; besides its vitality level being a step higher, it also has a 'Group Enhancement' skill, releasing pheromones that drive its kin into a frenzy."

Zheng Jun spoke with lingering fear; during their rapid advance, they had unfortunately run into just such a Mastiff King.

Its existence turned the originally non-lethally-threatening mastiff pack into extremely bloodthirsty ones, each attacking crazily like fearless suicide infantry.

If not for the team having a dedicated Assault Trooper Lin Kang, wielding a tactical straight sword smelted from dead iron, killing that mastiff king which sat like a general in his command tent, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

"The Great Rift Valley's environment is too harsh; every three to five li advanced, the possibility of encountering an attack increases. According to normal trial assessment, if we want to break through to the Middle Layer Area, it would take roughly three days……"

Lin Kang, resting the tactical straight sword on his knees, shook his head and said.

They had discarded the rest of their burden, and without considering the main mission of collecting materials to accumulate points, headed straight for the Secret Sect disciples' old nest, waiting by a tree stump to ambush the Nanhuang Dao Guan Disciple.

Once they jointly eliminated the opponent, they would activate the wristwatch's electronic marker, announcing withdrawal.

After all, the College Entrance Exam bonus point rewards for the top fifty were far less generous than the compensation the Ying Clan offered!

"Look on the bright side; our team finds it this difficult, that Nanhuang Dao Guan Disciple will only consume more; he alone not only has to face the mastiff pack, but also collect corresponding materials, find a safe place to spend the night."

The youngest bald brother in the team laughed hee-hee:

"We're all exhausted enough; he probably has little stamina left. In my view, might as well night raid, take advantage of the rest interval, take him down in one go!"

Zheng Jun directly vetoed:

"Wen Han, don't treat the Wilderness Trial like playing house. The Great Rift Valley at night is ten times more dangerous than daytime! Not only is the temperature very low, heat loss is fast, many foreign race plants also revive; foreign race plants that grow in this harsh environment, just thinking about them is terrifying."

The bald brother was called Wen Han; because he admired the First Generation Ten Greats' Kao Yun Chao, he deliberately shaved his head, expressing his heart of emulation.

He was the existence in the team with combat power second only to Lin Kang; New Martial School Military Style, his horizontal training kung fu was cultivated especially profoundly, muscles trained to the point of blocking small-caliber bullets, approaching inhuman degree.

"My skin is rough and flesh thick; how about I alone sneak over, cut off his head in the middle of the night and end the trip. The Ying Clan said, severely injured elimination gets a fifteen billion big contract; if we kill the Nanhuang Dao Guan Disciple, we can get a cross-planet voyage quota to Haizhou, and then be recommended into the Four Great National Universities."

Wen Han was quite confident; for Central City Amateur Level Experts, the name Qin Shi held no deterrent force whatsoever.

Martial Path Supernovas all rely on fists to brutally punch out their brilliance.

Generally speaking, the louder the reputation, the fiercer the battle record.

But in private investigation they discovered Qin Shi had no eye-catching battle record; he just helped the Patrol Division capture criminals a few times, participated in the Sharp Sword Activity of sweeping away black and evil.

Inside this, battle records possessing reference value were not many; Wen Han had seen countless routines in Central City, pulling strings to get a certificate for his own children, then using Patrol Division connections to find a few Action Division elites to escort and protect, cooperating to participate in missions.

A very common gilding method.

The hardest battle record for the Martial Path still has to be fully public arena competition!

Unwritten rules are relatively fewer, operation difficulty also greater.

"Don't underestimate anyone, Wen Han, turn that bald head of yours; how does your vision compare to that old generation senior of the Nanhuang Dao Guan? You should know, Zhou Yuanchen once attempted to enter the Nanhuang Dao Guan as a disciple, yet was refused entry.

As an old generation senior contemporary with the First Generation Ten Greats, would he choose a mediocre and incapable youth as his Jinmen Dizi?"

Zheng Jun admonished with a serious expression, her eyes carrying a warning meaning, not hoping Wen Han would act rashly, startling the snake by beating the grass.

Wen Han knew clearly in his heart that Zheng Jun was right, but habitually talked tough:

"Hard to say. Old people becoming muddle-headed isn't impossible."

Lin Kang laughed:

"Alright, Ah Jun's words have no flaw; since we chose to team up, together eat down the Ying Clan's commission, then we follow the plan.

Besides us, there are also Lao Wu and Lao Zou's two teams, nearly forty people; this encirclement hunt goes with overwhelming momentum, we also don't need to rush; slowly grinding the Nanhuang Dao Guan Disciple to death is the most steady."

Zheng Jun was the commander, Lin Kang was the backbone; their two opinions carried great weight, the others then no longer said anything more.

"Okay okay okay, whatever you two say goes! I'll absolutely obey discipline!"

Wen Han laughed cheerfully, stood up, hitched his pants, and asked Zheng Jun:

"Captain Zheng, I apply to go outside to piss; can you approve?"

Zheng Jun frowned tightly, also responding fiercely:

"Scram far away!"

Wen Han humming a little tune, let out an extremely punch-worthy weird laugh, and walked quickly out of the cave.

Lin Kang helplessly looked at Zheng Jun illuminated by the bonfire; red hair bright and beautiful, charm radiating in all directions.

He sat closer to comfort:

"Don't be like Old Wen, know the same; this person is just like that, a rogue. Ah Jun, how is the Qi Induction?"

Zheng Jun's Thousand Mile Soul Locking Technique cannot locate in real time; it needs a three-hour interval, through special spiritual meditation, to confirm target direction.

"The previous induction sent out, the distance wasn't far, roughly twenty li away, already no longer moving. I think he shouldn't be foolish enough to attempt night travel……"

Zheng Jun tightly closed her eyes, adjusted her breathing; with the rise and fall of her chest and abdomen, two small snakes of unequal length coiled around her nose tip, surging vitality stimulating the hundred bones; in the dark, a wisp of bright light jumped and flickered, dragging out a winding curve.

This was precisely her Qi Lock target!

"He is…… outside!"

Zheng Jun's whole body hair stood on end, a chill emerged; she abruptly opened her Shuang Yan, sternly shouted:

"The person has already come!"

Lin Kang and the remaining three team members froze for a moment, then immediately reacted, hurriedly grabbed their weapons, and with vigilant gazes looked toward the cave entrance shrouded in night.

Pitch-black twilight mist floated; all sounds were still, quiet and soundless.

Everyone held their breath, expressions tense, as if a blood-devouring fierce beast crouched outside.

Not long after, glug glug, a smooth round head was thrown in.

Wen Han's terrified eyes met Zheng Jun's gaze.

The red-haired girl's eyelids twitched in fright, and a tremor rose unbidden in her heart.

Her throat felt stuffed with cotton, blocked so she could not make a sound.

Although Wen Han had a bad temper and liked to be a troublemaker, her strength was unquestionable; her Qi Life Force exceeded eighty points, and she had learned Horizontal Training, so bullets could not pierce her skin, yet she was beheaded in less than half a minute.

"The strength of a Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple... is it really this strong? But he was dropped into the Outer Area, which means his Qi Life Force is far below Zhou Yuanchen and Ji Yuqi!"

Zheng Jun took a deep breath; the tremor climbed from her soles to the top of her head, then drilled back down from her head to her soles, like a cold snake slithering back and forth inside her body.

She was spiritually keen, condensing her Spiritual Field Power into bundles that rushed toward the cave, sinking into the dense twilight, trying to catch the Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple's trail.

Hiss hiss hiss!

It was like a ladle of cold water splashed onto a great furnace, evaporating before it even got close, sending up billowing heat.

Zheng Jun's head ached as if struck by a great iron hammer, and she toppled backward!

She endured the splitting pain and looked at Lin Kang:

"Right outside! Thirty meters away, due south!"

Assault Trooper Lin Kang gripped the tactical straight sword forged from dead iron, strode out with such speed that strong wind pressure blew out the campfire inside the cave, nearly extinguishing it!

Sky-filling sparks drifted, Lin Kang held his sword with both hands in a thrusting posture, and instantly appeared outside the cave.

A Qi Life Force like raging waves drove his Mortal Body, crossing thirty meters, straight toward the direction Zheng Jun had indicated!

The tactical straight sword split the air wave, but struck empty air!

"Oh no! A-Jun misjudged!"

A chill rose on Lin Kang's back; his sword arm moved, his waist twisted, like pulling a waterfall, and he whirled down in a rotating slash!

Twilight filled the wilds, thin frost spread, the air was stirred, as if a white long queue coiled around Lin Kang, roaring wildly!

The blade light flashed, and the rock wall behind was cleanly cut open, several meters deep!

The attack missed again!

Lin Kang, having exerted force twice in succession, breathed slightly heavily, his gaze sweeping around, searching for the Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple!

"Hiding your head and showing your tail!"

The grass bush rustled; Lin Kang narrowed his eyes and swung his sword to kill, this time finally hitting the mark, the tactical straight sword splitting flesh and blood.

It was only Wen Han's headless corpse!

Blood blossomed burst, and various innards clattered onto the ground!

"Where exactly are you hiding!"

Lin Kang felt a hidden alarm in his heart; he had not expected the Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple to actually be infiltrating at night, making a long-distance raid, intending to wipe out his entire squad!

"Careful! Lin Kang!"

Zheng Jun's incredibly terrified sharp voice tore through the night; Lin Kang raised an eyebrow and brought his tactical straight sword back to defend his chest!

The twilight was dense, electric light flashed, and the black military saber broke through space, heavily striking the dead iron forged blade!

Clang!

The clash of gold and iron rang out, the piercing sound wave crushed clumps of weeds, and debris drifted wildly!

Lin Kang's chest felt as if struck by a hammer; he staggered backward under his feet, nearly vomiting blood.

"Such strong concealment methods; I didn't sense anything even when he was this close!"

He looked at the Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple who finally appeared; that upright figure stood with a sword, the blade seemingly wrapped in electric light, blue arc light leaping unceasingly, illuminating the young face.

"You are already surrounded by me; I suggest you give up resistance and surrender with hands up."

Qin Shi grinned; as expected of a contestant in the Top Hundred Tournament, if not for the terrifying lethality of the Perfect Grade Electric Shock Military Saber, he might not have taken down that bald man with extraordinarily sturdy muscles.

This fellow who also used a sword had very surging Qi Life Force and rich combat experience.

Just now that assassination strike, if it had been Old Jiang or Zheng Gui, they would have been pierced through the chest and killed on the spot.

"Hehe! Since you delivered yourself to my door, then let's be straightforward! Take your life, exchange for my future!"

Lin Kang sneered; as long as this Nanhuang Daoist Hall Disciple no longer used the night to hide and sneak attack, but openly fought with Combat Power, he would definitely not lose.

The dead iron forged tactical straight sword trembled slightly; the ground under his feet shattered, his figure vanished in an instant, and almost at the moment the mud flipped open, he appeared on Qin Shi's right side.

The blade moved like a fish swimming, silently sliding through the water flow, slashing toward the neck!

Usually, exerting force and channeling power must create noise, but Lin Kang's strike was vastly different from convention, almost soundless, like moonlight falling, covering toward Qin Shi.

Clang!

Qin Shi turned his blade, like a dragon looking back, his body shifting accordingly, with extremely fast reaction, blocking Lin Kang's sinister assassination attack.

His Spiritual Field Power had long since spread out, covering his whole body, as if he had eyes behind his head, with no blind spots in three hundred and sixty degrees; how could Lin Kang succeed?

The two blades collided, Qi Jin clashing!

Qin Shi's arm tightened, twelve Large Tendons tightly wrapped, layer by layer removing the mighty force transmitted over.

Therefore his body was firm as a rock, unmoving, as if unaffected.

Lin Kang felt his tiger's mouth go numb, nearly shaken apart; his soles dug deep into the dry cracked ground, kicking up rolling smoke and dust.

He gritted his teeth and continued to swing his sword to chop; the two were very close, and if he retreated now, he would easily fall into a passive disadvantage of being beaten.

Therefore Lin Kang's eyes gleamed with spirit, his own spirit condensed to the extreme, cooperating with the intense surging of Qi Life Force.

The second sweeping slash was faster, fiercer, and more turbulent!

Unlike the previous quiet gathering, this strike drew in the accumulation of the whole body, his breath directly raised to the Peak, almost like lightning splitting the night sky, falling toward Qin Shi!

"Now that's impressive!"

Qin Shi's gaze settled; his breath and blood merged, making his Mortal Body emit clattering sounds, like surging tides, churning and striking the shore!

In less than a few seconds, the two weapons collided with a boom!

A sticky air wave burst from the middle; Lin Kang's both hands' tiger's mouth soft flesh was shaken to pieces, fresh blood flowed long, even his clothes burst open, making a tearing sound!

He staggered backward, his Tactical Straight Sword trembling violently, as if an enraged dragon were roaring, threatening to fly from his grasp!

Were it not for the superb quality of the dead iron, both sword and man might have been severed together, split in two!

"This isn't eighty points of Qi Life Force! It's too savage!"

Lin Kang stared fixedly at Qin Shi, as if seeing a monster, his eyes filled with shock.

He considered his own foundation already quite solid, his base considerably thick.

Yet after clashing just two blows he was injured, utterly defeated!

Such a result was completely unexpected!

"Ah Jun was right! A Grandmaster's eye is truly keen!"

Lin Kang was just pondering how to respond when he saw Qin Shi launch himself in pursuit; his speed was so fast he was like a wisp of shadow, merging into the wind.

Dragon Roll Stance!

The Perfect Grade Electric Shock Military Saber swung and slashed, like iron cavalry charging, heading straight for Lin Kang!

The latter had no choice but to raise his sword to block!

He firmly believed that relying on his dead iron Tactical Straight Sword, he could absolutely withstand Qin Shi's attack!

"Stall until teammates..."

The thought had barely risen in Lin Kang's mind before his arm emitted a cracking sound.

Qin Shi wielded his saber like swinging a hammer, his momentum fierce beyond description, each strike faster than the last, each heavier than the last, smashing down on his opponent like forging iron.

In less than half a second, the ground beneath Lin Kang's feet was stomped into a large pit, his whole body sinking down a section!

Clang clang clang clang clang!

Gold and iron clashed continuously, sparks flying in all directions!

Clang!

The storm-like assault abruptly halted, the lingering echoes fading.

The remaining few who had rushed from the cave to the outside widened their eyes.

They saw Lin Kang's arms shattered, his hard bones as if crushed by pressure, nearly pulverized inch by inch!

That dead iron Tactical Straight Sword was covered in nicks and cracks, unable to withstand the slightest touch any longer!

As Qin Shi sheathed his saber, Lin Kang's body was pulled along, his eyes hollow as he lunged forward and fell.

Zheng Jun's eyeballs didn't move, as if frozen.

The terror in her heart maximized, she subconsciously closed her eyes.

But her keen Spirit silently reminded her that that Qi presence gradually approached, until it stopped before her.

"Don't, don't kill me..."

Zheng Jun never dared open her eyes, only pleading miserably.

But there was no response; that Qi presence covered her like a death Shadow; and like a sharp sword, it hovered above her head.

"Rest assured, it'll be quick, not a bit painful."

A calm voice reached Zheng Jun's ears.

Immediately after, a wisp of breeze brushed past her neck.

Just as Qin Shi said, there was no pain; a bewitching flower of blood bloomed in the night Color, then withered and faded.

(Chapter End)