Chapter 334: Instant Kill! Qin Zheng Arrives!

"More than ten days, and we've only gathered a thousand or so assessment crystals—this progress is pretty bad."

In the forest, Lin Hui and his team from the Heavenly Prodigy Training Camp walked on muddy ground.

Compared to ordinary ability teams, they looked far more relaxed.

Two sixth-rank lower-tier abilities, plus three fifth-rank combatants—there was truly no need to worry too much in this forest.

Even if they truly encountered a sixth-rank upper-tier beast, they could still escape if they couldn't win.

"There are too many teams from Tianyu Daochang; getting a thousand or so assessment crystals is already pretty good."

Their team leader, Qin Zheng, said helplessly.

In past years, Tianyu Daochang also brought large groups of ability users in, but each team's strength wasn't particularly strong.

But this year, for some reason, perhaps because that S-rank from Sakura Country also entered...

The strength of Tianyu Daochang's teams has surged dramatically compared to last year!

Many times, when we found assessment crystals, they were snatched away halfway by Tianyu Daochang teams.

"True enough." Lin Hui nodded slightly, then asked curiously:

"Teacher Qin, are these assessment crystals really that useful? The more you collect, the more rewards you get?"

"Not necessarily."

Qin Zheng shook his head. "Looking at the final outcomes of ability users who entered the No. 9 Civilization Ruins in past years..."

During the reward collection phase after the assessment, the ability user's innate talent is what truly determines the outcome.

If your talent is too low, no matter how many assessment crystals you collect, it won't help."

"I see. Then with my talent, I'll definitely get a huge pile of rewards!"

Lu Heng confidently patted his chest.

Standing gracefully beside them, Xia Lan's beautiful eyes also held a hint of anticipation.

Her special A-rank spatial ability should be enough to earn her some decent rewards.

"I don't ask for much—just one elemental weapon at the end," Lin Hui chuckled.

Elemental weapons are exclusive gear for elementalists; if an elementalist has a suitable one, their power increases by at least 30%!

But elemental weapons are extremely expensive, and even now, he still hadn't acquired a good one.

"By the way, the treasures hidden in the No. 9 Civilization Ruins are truly astonishing."

At one trial per year, that's 3021 generations—over three thousand years!"

Rewards have been distributed every year, yet there are still treasures left."

Lin Hui marveled, "Why didn't the ninth-rank Martial Saints just empty the entire civilization base?"

"You think they didn't try? Right after the No. 9 Civilization Ruins were discovered, they attempted it."

But ninth-rank Martial Saints couldn't enter at all—if they forced their way in, the entire ruin space risked collapsing."

And the sixth-rank ability users who could enter couldn't break through the No. 9 Civilization Base's defenses."

Over time, they gave up."

Qin Zheng smiled in reply, while his powerful spiritual force swept outward, carefully scanning for any possible dangers nearby.

He was an elemental wind ability user, not a spiritual ability user.

But as an elementalist who had trained spiritual refinement techniques, his spiritual force was still formidable.

Simple applications like this were still well within his capability.

"Huh? This aura is...?"

As his spiritual force swept across, Qin Zheng quickly detected a familiar aura:

"It's Su Chen—he seems surrounded by several fifth-rank ability users."

"To survive this long in the ruin space, Su Chen is quite impressive."

Lin Hui and the others, including Xia Lan, were also surprised upon hearing this.

Most solo adventurers below fifth rank died within days of entering the ruin space, devoured by beasts.

"Indeed impressive. It seems his talent is even higher than I imagined."

"Let's go see. If we can save his life, that's a good thing."

Seeing potential, Qin Zheng immediately led the group toward the direction his spiritual force had sensed Su Chen.

A normal fourth-rank upper-tier ability user wouldn't have made him rush so urgently.

But Su Chen looked far too young—seemed under twenty-one.

Such a prodigy would be perfect for the Heavenly Prodigy Training Camp!

'With this life-saving favor, he won't dare refuse the Lei Tang Training Camp entrance exam anymore, right?'

Thinking this, Qin Zheng quickened his pace further...

On the other side, even before these people appeared, Xu Jingming had learned of their presence through Eva's reconnaissance.

He hadn't expected these four to be from Gaoli, and even bolder—daring to rob him.

"Take off your battle suit, space ring, and gear—we'll spare your life."

The Gaoli ability user leading them, wielding a battle blade, spoke in halting Daxia language.

"Two fifth-rank mid-tier, two fifth-rank lower-tier."

"With your motley crew, you really think you can take my gear and assessment crystals?"

With a sweep of his spiritual force, Xu Jingming immediately sensed their ranks.

The four opposing ability users froze, wondering if they'd misheard.

A fourth-rank upper-tier dared speak to them like this?

But as fifth-rank ability users, they couldn't possibly have misunderstood.

So the leader's expression turned icy cold:

"Are all you Daxia people this arrogant?"

"Fine. I've changed my mind—I'll take not just your gear, but your life too!"

With that, all four activated their abilities!

BOOM!!

They were all enhancement-type ability users; after activation, their bodies transformed differently.

The powerful aura they unleashed made even most fifth-rank mid-tier beasts cower!

"It's not that I'm arrogant—it's that you're... athetically weak!"

ZIIIIIIIIIT!!

As he spoke, crimson-gold lightning flashed—Xu Jingming's tall figure holding the long spear vanished from his spot!

Simultaneously, the man who seemed their captain felt a black spear shadow, wrapped in crimson-gold light, sweep toward him.

Then he saw his own back.

No—not just his back; his entire body came into view.

And at the neck of that body, blood gushed violently—the head was gone.

Only then did he realize: he'd been decapitated outright!

As this thought registered, his consciousness slowly faded, and with a thud, his flying head landed lifelessly on the ground.

"Shit! How could this happen?"

"Captain! Captain!"

The remaining three were stunned by the sudden turn, shouting frantically in Gaoli language.

They never imagined the Daxia man they'd seen as prey had killed their captain in a single blow!

"Monster! This guy's a monster!"

In shock, the three bolted in three different directions!

"Try to run? Too late!"

With a cold snort, Xu Jingming moved like wind and lightning.

His black spear thrust repeatedly, swiftly ending the lives of the three.

Since reaching fourth-rank mid-tier, his power was terrifying!

He might need some effort against sixth-rank ability users, but against a few fifth-ranks, it was practically instant slaughter!

The facts proved it: from the start of battle to its end, he'd taken less than four or five seconds.

And this scene was witnessed in full by Qin Zheng and the others, who had just arrived nearby...

PS: Third chapter done. Thank you, dear readers, for your support!