Chapter 45

Su Liang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Is Zhao Zhao Anran from Taian Academy?

Taian Academy is one of the three major academies of the Great Xia, and also the strongest of the three, possessing the best resources!

It was also the academy Su Liang was targeting.

It’s just that he didn't know if Zhao Zhao Anran was a student or a teacher; judging by her appearance and age, Zhao Zhao Anran should be a student.

But this strength...

Possessing an SS-grade talent and a Legendary job, and having reached the Eighth Rank, even among teachers, she would be among the best, if not the strongest, right?

Forget it, it doesn't matter...

Su Liang chuckled, his eyes like those of a hungry wolf.

He turned to scavenge the Frost Dragon’s treasure in the lair.

He hadn't expected that Zhao Zhao Anran’s "fifty-fifty" split included the treasure in the dragon’s lair.

The gold coins and jewelry might be less valuable.

But inside were quite a few crystal materials and gemstones that could be embedded in equipment and weapons.

He spent a full two hours scavenging before he stopped.

He didn't let a single inch of land, a single ice crystal, or even a needle or thread in the lair go.

Afterward, he fell asleep in the dragon’s lair, feeling satisfied.

The next day, in the dragon’s lair.

"Little Zi, come out."

Su Liang raised his hand and summoned the Amethyst Thunder-Flame Dragon.

He placed the two materials in front of it.

[Frost Dragon Heart] (Special Material)

[Grade]: Legendary

[Effect]: The heart of a Frost Dragon; consuming it can increase the concentration of dragon bloodline!

[Frost Dragon Essence Blood]

[Grade]: Legendary

[Effect]: The essence blood of a Frost Dragon, extremely precious; consuming it increases HP by 20% and ice resistance by 20%! (Each person can consume it at most once.)

Little Zi first poked its head out to observe the surroundings, confirming that Zhao Zhao Anran was not there.

"Awoo~"

Su Liang didn't even need to say anything; seeing something that could make it stronger, the Amethyst Thunder-Flame Dragon cheered and swallowed them one by one.

It swallowed everything.

BOOM!!!

A terrifying dragon might erupted.

It didn't advance, and it didn't grow larger, but all four of Little Zi’s basic attributes increased!

Satisfied, he left the dragon’s lair.

Su Liang rode the Amethyst Thunder-Flame Dragon and flew through the snow mountains for another day...

Finally,

he arrived at the coordinates for the job advancement quest in the depths of the snow mountains!

After melting the accumulated snow with dragon breath...

The entrance to an ancient colosseum was revealed.

This was a dungeon!

[Dungeon Name]: Ancient Colosseum

[Dungeon Difficulty]: ???

[Level Restriction]: Lv40

[Player Limit]: 1 person

[Dungeon Introduction]: Sleeping inside is the last remaining killer of this ancient colosseum, the "Dark Mantis," extremely dangerous!!!

(This dungeon is a one-time special dungeon; if the "Dark Mantis" is not killed, it will break through the dungeon’s shackles, descend upon Blue Star, and begin hunting and evolving!)

A one-time special dungeon.

No difficulty selection, can only be entered solo.

Su Liang was bewildered.

Another thing he had never heard of; is this Dark Mantis really that tough?

Frowning, he stepped into the dungeon.

After the world spun around.

Su Liang looked around; it looked like an ancient Roman gladiator arena.

The arena was very large, at least tens of thousands of meters.

The arena was empty!

There were nine cage-like entrances.

And the surrounding stands were protected by barriers capable of resisting a Ninth Rank Legendary BOSS, so he couldn't go up.

Where are the monsters?

Just as Su Liang showed a look of doubt, a whistling sound came from behind him, and a sharp claw struck out suddenly!

Holy crap!

No martial ethics, starting with a sneak attack!

"Death from afar!"

A hoarse, low voice sounded slowly in his ear.

Swish—!

The words fell along with the attack, and the sickle-like sharp claws slashed across the Fallen Knight’s Armor.

Everything happened too fast; even Su Liang was caught off guard, and his HP was directly reduced by a small chunk by the BOSS.

"Death your mother's ass."

Su Liang cursed inwardly and immediately entered the Divine Concealment state, his figure quickly fading.

This was the first time he had been sneak-attacked by a BOSS before even seeing its face.

And,

why is this thing’s damage so high?

Su Liang looked behind him.

As a top-tier hunter, killer, and assassin, the Shadow Mantis possessed unparalleled combat skills.

(Note: join the group) So!

The Shadow Mantis’s body size was not large, only slightly taller than the 1.8-meter Su Liang.

Compared to other BOSSes Su Liang had encountered, it was as small as an ant.

But it was the most terrifying existence besides the Frost Dragon!!!

[Monster]: Shadow Mantis · Rogers

[Grade]: Legendary BOSS

[Level]: Lv60

[HP]: 42.1 million

[Attributes]: Strength 58,050, Constitution 42,100, Agility 63,550, Spirit 23,110

[Talent]: Devour Evolution (SSS-grade)

[Skills]: Isolated and Helpless, Killing Instinct, Shadow Thrust, Deadly Dual Sickles, Shadow Continuous Slash...

[Description]: Originally just a weak mantis in the Dark Jungle, it evolved through constant killing and devouring, becoming the most feared killer in the colosseum!

[Devour Evolution] (SSS-grade): Can gain attributes and evolve the body by devouring flesh and blood.

Terrifying attributes, surpassing the attribute panel of any Lv60 BOSS Su Liang knew of!

If the Shadow Mantis were the same level as the Frost Dragon.

Even...

Its attributes would be higher than the Frost Dragon’s.

Continuing to look down...

SSS-grade talent!!!

Su Liang’s eyes widened, his breathing rapid.

This was the first SSS-grade talent holder he had seen besides himself!

No wonder the Shadow Mantis had such perverted attributes!

"Too bad, meeting me, you can only count yourself unlucky!"

"You won't have a chance to get out!"

Su Liang muttered.

If it were a weaker professional, they might be killed by it.

Then, the Shadow Mantis would break through the dungeon’s shackles, no longer kept in the colosseum, and relying on this SSS-grade talent.

It would wantonly hunt and devour monsters and humans.

Very soon!

It would be able to constantly evolve and grow to the Ninth Rank!

Even...

Become a god, and hunt gods!!

"But your talent... I can take it out for you and carry it forward."

Su Liang’s eyes flashed with brilliance, his expression extremely greedy.

Devouring flesh and blood doesn't necessarily mean eating it raw; it can be roasted and eaten, so he was determined to have this SSS-grade talent!

[Berserk Aura]!

[Blood-Sucking Aura]!

[Death Aura]!

[King’s Aura]!

With four auras activated at his feet, to be safe, Su Liang did not release Unparalleled.

The Shadow Mantis’s "Isolated and Helpless" had double the single-target burst, making its output in a duel extremely terrifying.

If the duration of Unparalleled ran out and he was controlled, he might be left at low HP in one combo.

Even if,

he had Time Reversal and resurrection skills, Su Liang didn't want to take that risk.

As for calling out the Amethyst Thunder-Flame Dragon, although it could avoid this skill, if he didn't kill the BOSS quickly, the Thunder-Flame Dragon would be in danger.

Su Liang still wanted its talent and skills.

He arrived beside the Shadow Mantis.

[God-Slaying Continuous Thrust]!

Terrifying power condensed on the blade; he appeared from Divine Concealment, and his attack erupted suddenly.

BOOM!

Fire-is-Happy ignited with flames, and in an instant, Su Liang thrust nine times!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch!!!

Nine scarlet blood flowers exploded on the Shadow Mantis; the damage multiplier triggered by Graceful Release wasn't high, only taking off one-tenth of its HP.

At the same time!

Blood-Sucking Aura took effect, sucking back the HP Su Liang had lost.

Su Liang swung Fire-is-Happy, wanting to land another attack.

But!

The Shadow Mantis’s reaction speed was extremely fast; red light flashed in its eyes, and the wings behind it flapped rapidly.

It dodged the attack directly and leaped into the air.

"Tear you into pieces!"

[Deadly Dual Sickles]!

The Shadow Mantis swung its pair of giant sickle claws, tearing through the air, and landed on the slightly stunned Su Liang like lightning.

Being hit by the Shadow Mantis’s attack again, Su Liang’s expression immediately tightened.

This was the first time he had only released one skill before the BOSS reacted and dodged.

He had only been distracted for a moment.

And,

this was while he had Death Aura active to reduce movement speed and the Supremacy of Kings talent to reduce agility attributes!

"This skill is too perverted!"

Su Liang sighed.

He wasn't referring to Deadly Dual Sickles, of course, but the skill the Shadow Mantis had trained in the colosseum...

Killing Instinct!!!

An excellent killer can make the most perfect response with the fastest reaction and speed.

Extremely troublesome!

[Shadow Continuous Slash]!

[Full-Power Strike]!

When the Shadow Mantis’s attack came again, Su Liang held the greatsword in his right hand and thrust out violently.

Both released their skills at the same time.

Just when the attacks were about to touch each other.

Su Liang and the Shadow Mantis tacitly turned their bodies at the same time, dodging each other’s attacks, and released their skills again from the side.

[Shadow Slash]!

[Throat-Slitting Blade]!

The Shadow Mantis’s giant sickle claws radiated black light and slashed horizontally.

At this moment, the greatsword in Su Liang’s hand flashed, carrying traces of flame, and drew a beautiful arc in the air, swiping toward the Shadow Mantis’s throat.

"Still me, better by a notch."

Su Liang’s mouth curled up slightly.

Relying on the suppression of his Agility attribute, Throat-Slitting Blade went first, interrupting the Shadow Mantis’s skill.

The two-second suffocation effect attached to the skill left it unable to move.

Swish swish swish swish!!!!

A series of air-piercing sounds rang out; it could only watch helplessly as Su Liang’s attacks fell crazily.

Pfft!

Pfft!

Pfft!

Fire-is-Happy went in and out of the Shadow Mantis’s body, its attacks faster than afterimages!

In just two seconds, the Shadow Mantis had been stabbed over twenty times by Su Liang!

Following that,

a beautiful notification sound appeared in Su Liang’s ear.