Chapter 204: New Cards, Fragment Cards!

Chen Mu let out a low shout and stopped walking.

Almost at the same moment, five gray figures shot out from the bushes!

They were five giant rats, each as large as an adult wolf-dog.

Their entire bodies were covered in coarse gray-black fur, their limbs thick and powerful; most peculiarly, their claw joints were faintly coated with a layer of fine, dark scales shimmering with a ghostly light.

Pairs of crimson rat eyes burned with savagery and greed, fixed unblinkingly on Chen Mu and the other two; their sharp incisors bared, dripping thick saliva that emitted a nauseating stench.

"Holy mother! These rats are huge!" Huang Yuanhe jumped in shock, nearly leaping upright.

Xue Xue Ranran's face tightened, her hand instinctively gripping her sword hilt.

Chen Mu's gaze sharpened—he understood at once: these were likely the most basic "abnormal beasts" of this ancient ruin.

Sensing their aura, they were roughly equivalent to a Level 8 or 9 Post-Natural cultivator, but their ferocious, bloodthirsty presence was far more dangerous than any same-level beast from outside.

"Squeak—"

The lead scaled-claw rat let out a piercing shriek; five gray shadows shot forward like arrows, each lunging at one of the three!

"Die!"

Huang Yuanhe, dual hammers in hand, charged forward to meet the rats.

Xue Xue Ranran followed close behind, her longsword drawn.

Shh! Shh!

Chen Mu gathered qi at his fingertips and shot out two sharp bursts of energy.

"Puff~" "Puff~"

No sooner had the wind-splitting sounds echoed than two rats' heads exploded, red and white splattering across the ground.

At the same instant, Huang Yuanhe swung his twin hammers, his rotund frame moving nimbly—one hammer crushed each rat.

The final rat was beheaded as Xue Xue Ranran sidestepped and slashed.

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes!"

……

Five cards in hand, Chen Mu clearly sensed five distinct auras, drawn remotely by the tokens hanging at their waists and recorded within.

These tokens were clearly specially forged.

He reached into his pocket and checked the cards he'd obtained.

Energy Card, Energy Card, Fragment Card, Energy Card, Fragment Card!

Of the five cards, two were new.

Fragment Card?

Chen Mu glanced at Huang Yuanhe and Xue Xue Ranran, who were examining the rat corpses, then silently used one Fragment Card.

In the next instant, understanding dawned in his mind.

Earth Submergence!

Both Fragment Cards contained a unique skill called "Earth Submergence."

Collect enough "Earth Submergence" fragments, and you gain the skill itself!

Prize won?

Chen Mu's lips curled upward, surprise flashing in his eyes.

Earth Submergence—excellent. Earth Submergence—perfect.

This skill was unmatched for escape, pursuit, or stealth.

'I wonder how many fragments are needed to unlock "Earth Submergence"? '

Chen Mu muttered inwardly.

At that moment, Huang Yuanhe, having finished inspecting the rat corpses, called out, "Brother Chen, this rat meat should be edible—should we cut off some to take?"

"... Are you here to hunt, or to compete?" Chen Mu regarded him calmly.

"Exactly, exactly," Xue Xue Ranran chimed in.

"Hehe, my apologies, my apologies—I'm just used to it. Whenever I see beast meat, I want to taste it." Huang Yuanhe scratched his head, grinning proudly as if it were a virtue.

This guy…

Just like Pang Yunrui.

Chen Mu shook his head slightly. "Let's go. Keep searching for more giant rats."

"Let's go!"

Xue Xue Ranran skipped ahead.

The three continued forward.

Chen Mu quietly activated the "Listen to the Wind" skill; every rustle of wind and grass, every faint insect chirp and beast roar within hundreds of meters, clearly entered his ears.

Under his deliberate guidance, the three soon found a second group, then a third group of scaled-claw rats active nearby.

Though fierce, these rats posed no threat to Chen Mu and the others, and were swiftly slaughtered, their auras recorded by the tokens.

Chen Mu acquired seven "Earth Submergence" fragments!

Set out again.

As they passed through a lush, overgrown mountain hollow, a fierce battle erupted—accompanied by a deep, drumlike rumble and a sharp, guttural "gugu" cry.

"Something's happening over there!" Huang Yuanhe perked up his ears.

"Go take a look?" Xue Xue Ranran glanced curiously in that direction.

"Let's go!"

Chen Mu gave a slight nod.

Instantly, the three suppressed their qi and quietly approached the sound.

Parting the dense shrubbery, the scene before them made Huang Yuanhe and Xue Xue Ranran pause in surprise.

There, on a clearing in the valley, over a dozen strangely shaped rabbits were attacking a young man wielding a long sword, his movements swift.

These rabbits stood upright, each one a meter and a half tall, their bodies covered in gray-brown muscular lumps like granite, radiating explosive power.

They moved as fast as a gale, and their swinging fists produced dull, thunderous cracks in the air, as if infused with Lei Ting's power.

The aura emitted by each muscular rabbit was plainly comparable to that of an Innate Realm cultivator!

The young man they were attacking, however, wielded his sword with astonishing speed, like a whirlwind; each flash of blade light struck precisely at the rabbits' vital points. Though outnumbered, he held his ground perfectly.

"It's Ma Jiantong!"

Huang Yuanhe whispered, recognizing the young man—the talented hermit cultivator ranked fifty-sixth on the Hidden Dragon List, Ma Jiantong.

After watching for a while, Xue Xue Ranran murmured, "His swordplay is fast, but it feels kind of average—not as good as Brother Chen Mu."

Her tone carried an air of obvious certainty.

"Don't judge by appearances."

Chen Mu shook his head slightly, his gaze still fixed on Ma Jiantong's simple, sharp sword techniques. "His sword seeks ultimate speed and precision, forged in killing. Its battlefield power is not to be underestimated."

He paused, then changed the subject, turning his eyes to the muscular, knotted rabbits. His voice carried a rare hint of mockery: "Still, the strange beasts in this ancient ruin are truly astonishing—even rabbits are this… distinctive!"

"Hah, definitely distinctive," Huang Yuanhe laughed. "The muscle distribution—this meat must be chewy, full of flavor! Delicious!"

"Here we go again."

Xue Xue Ranran rolled her eyes, unconsciously swallowing saliva. "Still, braised rabbit meat really is tasty."

"Hahahaha~" Huang Yuanhe suppressed his laughter, his fat cheeks jiggling.

…

In the midst of their conversation, Ma Jiantong seemed to lose patience. His sword technique abruptly shifted, accelerating by another third. A blur of blade light flashed—and the dozen fierce muscular rabbits froze simultaneously, then burst open in blood at throat or heart, collapsing heavily to the ground.

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes!"

…

With the card in hand, Chen Mu checked it without expression.

Power Card, Energy Card, Fragment Card, Fragment Card, Power Card…

Another Fragment Card!

Compared to the giant rats, the muscular giant rabbits could drop Power Cards too.

Power Cards were far more useful than Energy Cards.

And the Fragment Cards? Also "Earth Tunnel" fragments!

No problem.

Rabbits have the same burrowing ability!