Chapter 96

"I'll give it a try."

Lin Mo looked at Han Mengqing beside him, his tone calm.

【The “Earth Shield Technique” attempts to respond to the master’s will, commanding the ground to rise…】

【Attempt failed. The ground merely bulged into a small, rounded, soft mound—utterly lacking sharpness or lethality.】

【The “Earth Shield Technique” immediately gave up, pouting: It’s no use, Master… I only know how to build walls…】

Lin Mo sighed in frustration:

"Imagine if some enemy tried to ambush you—wouldn’t you want to hit him hard?"

"Concentrate it to a single point! Pierce up from underground—hard!"

【Upon hearing this, the “Earth Shield Technique” instantly erupted in anger: Ambush the Master? Then I’ll crush him! Who dares touch the Master—I’ll impale them all!】

【The “Earth Shield Technique” began frantically compressing earth elements: Sharper… even sharper… impale the villain!】

Pfft—!

A soft sound.

A stone spike, about two meters long and razor-sharp like a spear, erupted violently from the ground!

【Congratulations! Your skill “Earth Shield Technique,” driven by fierce devotion to protect its master, has successfully evolved and unlocked the low-tier Earth skill—Earth Spike Technique (Lv.1)!】

【The “Earth Shield Technique” was overjoyed: Wow! Master! Master! I did it!】

【The “Earth Shield Technique” was incredulous: So… I can be this aggressive?】

【The “Fireball Technique” glanced at it with utter disdain: That’s it? Struggling to unlock a low-tier skill? You’re embarrassing the whole skill community.】

【The “Earth Shield Technique” instantly became meek: B…Big Brother’s right… I’m still too weak… Compared to Big Brother and Third Brother, I’m just playing house…】

Lin Mo ignored this cowardly little earth.

He turned to the three girls and said seriously:

"Yeah, I’ve got it now."

The three girls: "..."

They stared at the stone spike, then at Lin Mo’s calm expression.

Got it now?

What do you mean “now”?

Most Earth mages are lucky to produce a half-meter spike when first unlocking Earth Spike.

You start with a two-meter spike and tell me you just learned it?

Are you kidding?

"Master Lin Mo..."

Han Mengqing’s lip twitched, "You already knew how to do this, right? You definitely knew it already, didn’t you?"

Lin Mo spread his hands, offering no explanation.

Han Mengqing circled the spike once, then frowned in disappointment:

"Sigh, but Earth Spike is single-target."

"Facing a massive beast surge, stabbing one by one—how long will that take?"

"What we need now is area-of-effect damage! Something that wipes out entire groups at once!"

Han Mengyao nodded beside her, her expression grave as she analyzed:

"Mengqing is right—Earth Spike is too inefficient."

"According to what I know, among Earth skills at the mid-tier, there’s one with the greatest damage and control: [Earth Shakes, Mountain Crumbles—Thousand Rock Spears]."

"This technique shatters the earth, then instantly condenses hundreds or thousands of spikes for wide-area piercing attacks."

"It’s hailed as the strongest mid-tier Earth skill."

"Not only is the damage greater, but it also carries an ‘earthquake’ effect—anyone standing on the collapsing ground will lose balance and become immobilized."

"With this skill, clearing monsters would double in efficiency."

After speaking, Han Mengyao sighed and shook her head:

"Too bad—this technique demands extremely high Earth affinity and perception. Even a level-40 specialist Earth mage struggles to master it..."

Lin Mo listened, silently nodding.

Area-of-effect damage plus area-of-effect hard control.

This skill sounded incredibly powerful...

And since his Lightning and Fire elements were currently suppressed, having this would be perfect.

"Sounds good. I’ll give it a try."

Lin Mo said calmly.

The three girls froze.

Han Mengyao opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Didn’t Master Lin Mo hear the second half of what I just said?

Even level-40 Earth specialists struggle with this!

But seeing Lin Mo’s serious expression, the words died in her throat.

Lin Mo turned to his skill panel.

"Little Earth, heard that? [Earth Shakes, Mountain Crumbles—Thousand Rock Spears]."

"If you can make one, making a thousand shouldn’t be hard, right?"

"And add vibration—make the ground shake!"

【The “Earth Shield Technique” felt overwhelming pressure: M…Master, this…this is way too hard!】

【The “Earth Shield Technique” struggled: Vibration… vibration… a thousand spikes…】

Outside:

The ground beneath Lin Mo trembled slightly.

Like an elephant stomping its foot.

And then… nothing happened.

No Thousand Rock Spears. No Earth Shakes, Mountain Crumbles.

The faint tremor didn’t even unsteady Han Mengqing.

"Uh..."

Han Mengqing blinked, "That’s it?"

Han Mengyao also exhaled in relief.

Good… good...

Master Lin Mo might be a monster, but he’s not that unreasonable.

If he could learn a high-difficulty mid-tier skill just by hearing its name, what does that make our efforts?

"It’s fine, Lin Mo."

Han Mengyao stepped forward, comforting him:

"This is normal. It’s a top-tier mid-tier skill—one of the hardest to master in Earth. We’ll take it slow. Don’t push yourself."

Chu Lingxuan also whispered:

"Yes, Master Lin Mo, don’t put too much pressure on yourself..."

"Your Fire and Lightning damage is already high. We’re just slower—steady progress will still clear the stage. No need to force it."

But Lin Mo ignored their comfort.

He stared at his skill panel.

He planned to crank up the pressure on “Earth Shield Technique.”

After all, it was the Earth Spirit—this little thing would never know its own strength unless pushed hard.

【The “Fireball Technique” roared with laughter: Hahaha! This is hilarious! Brother Two, just stick to building walls in the back—big scenes like this still need...】

"Shut up. Still want to eat braised fire-cow tendons? Get lost."

Lin Mo roared inwardly.

【The “Fireball Technique” had been ready to retort, but the mention of braised fire-cow tendons—last night’s absolute delicacy, whose fire essence left it craving more—struck a chord.】

【Between culinary temptation and pride, the “Fireball Technique” found balance.】

【The “Fireball Technique” reluctantly dimmed its flames: Hmph! Fine, I’m leaving!】

The world fell silent.

Lin Mo took a deep breath and began pressuring “Earth Shield Technique.”

"Little Earth, you saw it—Fire and Lightning are both suppressed. Their damage can’t handle these elite monsters anymore."

"Now’s your time to stand up. You’re the family’s last hope!"

【The “Earth Shield Technique” shuddered, its glow flickering: T…The family’s hope? Me? Am I…?】

"Yes! It’s you!"

Lin Mo’s voice surged with intensity, pressing forward:

"Who says Earth must only take hits? Who says Earth must be a turtle?"

"Little Earth, understand this: the best defense isn’t passive endurance—it’s eliminating every threat… completely!"

"You’ve always been the leaf, the sidekick. Big Brother bullies you. Third Brother ignores you."

"But today! Here! You’re the protagonist! You’re the center stage! You’re the hero who saves the day from collapse!"

Think about it—if today you master [Earthshaker], would Little Fire still dare mock you? Would Little Lei still dare ignore you? They’d both have to call you Second Brother!

You’re not mud—you’re mountains! You’re rock! You’re the backbone of the earth!

Rage! Make this earth tremble beneath you! Let those monsters know who truly rules the surface!

These words struck right at the deepest longing within [Earthshield].

Protagonist? Center stage? Great hero?

Second Brother!

【The glow of [Earthshield] grew rapid and intense.】

【That thing which had only ever cowered in the corner, trembling—that thing always looked down upon by Big Brother and Third Brother… now it was the only hope?】

【Though timid, though afraid of death, it was still a noble elemental spirit!】

【Its heavy, earthy body—how could these ants trample it so freely?】

Seeing that Little Earth’s emotions had been stirred,

Lin Mo began to instruct [Earthshield] seriously.

“Little Earth, listen closely! The name is the answer!”

“Why is it called Earthshaker? Imagine the earth as a drum—you’re striking it! Find its frequency!”

“Resonance! Do you understand resonance? That humming, vibrating feeling!”

“Press the soil and rocks together until they can’t take it anymore—they’ll naturally burst out seeking an escape!”

“Like… like a shaken soda! Build up the pressure, then—puff!—it all explodes out!”

If a proper earth-elemental master had heard this, he’d probably have spat blood three liters on the spot.

Resonance? Soda? Drumming? Utter nonsense!

But…

For [Earthshield], already sentient, these words felt like a door swinging open to a new world.

【[Earthshield] froze: Drumming… resonance… soda? I think I’m starting to get it—if I make the earth itself stir, it will become a weapon on its own!】

【[Earthshield] grasped something… yet grasped nothing at all.】

【[Earthshield] had always thought to harden the earth, to make it unbreakable—but now it no longer wanted strength. It wanted to stir. It wanted to release!】

【It began searching for the earth’s frequency, began feeling the earth.】

【[Earthshield] felt it! The earth’s unrest! The earth’s groan!】

【That’s the frequency!】

【[Earthshield] slipped into flow, undergoing sudden enlightenment of a new skill…】

【Congratulations! Your skill [Earthshield] has, through intense longing, successfully unlocked the mid-tier earth skill—Earthshaker: Thousand Rock Spears (Lv.1)!】

【Earthshaker: Thousand Rock Spears (Lv.1): Triggers violent earthquakes within a 500-meter radius (range increases by 10 meters per skill level).】

【Earthshaker: Forces all ground-based targets within range to halt their current action and enter a stasis state.】

【Thousand Rock Spears: Condenses countless sharp rock spears from beneath the ground, dealing massive earth-element damage to all enemies in range.】

【Cooldown: 1 minute.】

Lin Mo’s heart leapt with joy.

Got it!

I’m a genius.

Just then,

“Roar—!!!”

From afar came another earth-shaking roar.

Han Mengqing’s face paled; she pointed and cried out:

“Worse! Another wave’s coming! And this one feels even larger!”

Han Mengyao’s eyes sharpened; her spear shimmered with icy aura:

“Prepare for battle! Lingxuan, take the front! Mengqing, buff Lin Mo!”

“Lin Mo, we’ll wear them down slowly…”

Han Mengyao turned to Lin Mo—and froze.

Lin Mo was frantically using skill scrolls right where he stood.

What was he doing?

Suddenly,

Han Mengyao remembered how, outside the train, Lin Mo had suddenly devoured scrolls like crazy—then moments later pulled out [Thunder Chain Prison], a devastating weapon.

“No way…”