Chapter 344: An Uproar Across The Land And A Forging Beyond The Limit?
“Impossible!”
“Who on earth are you? How could Shuang Lang possibly be this strong?”
The limbless Lawson stared fixedly at the white-haired Shuang Lang, his shock beyond anything words could express.
The city lord of Mist Mountain Domain City, Shuang Lang, was only twenty years older than him. Although they were not of the same generation, he had witnessed Shuang Lang’s growth all the way. Ten years ago, Shuang Lang succeeded the aged and failing city lord of Mist Mountain Domain City and stood at the peak of the Four Regions.
Yet Shuang Lang himself had never been some once-in-decades genius. His growth was only slightly faster than an ordinary peerless genius. He had even already been fifty when he stepped into the Heavenly Human Realm.
Only when he was nearly ninety did he finally manage to reach the Grandmaster realm. One could say his potential was exhausted.
Now, in just ten short years, he had flipped his hand and subdued another Grandmaster like Lawson. No matter how you looked at it, it was impossible.
“You see quite clearly. I am indeed not Shuang Lang.” Shuang Lang looked at the gasping Lawson and said with a light smile, “Shuang Lang’s control over the body and qi and blood is far too shallow. For him, even mastering one Limit Breaking Level Martial Skill had already reached his limit. But with my help, he has now brought two Limit Breaking Level Martial Skills to the Perfection Realm.”
“Your help? Two Limit Breaking Level Martial Skills at perfection?” Lawson stared at the Shuang Lang before him, both terrified and shaken.
From Shuang Lang’s words, it was clear that the person in front of him was no longer the former Shuang Lang. Limit Breaking Level Martial Skills were something only the Four Great Domain Cities still possessed. However, they were too difficult to learn; even Domain City Elders who mastered them were few and far between. Lawson himself had been lucky, learning one from a Forbidden Zone ruin in his early years, but he had only barely learned it, remaining at a proficient level. He had never even dared to think of the Perfection Realm.
Yet this Shuang Lang had actually brought two Limit Breaking Level Martial Skills to the Perfection Realm. Calling him a monster was no exaggeration.
What terrified Lawson even more was that the dignified city lord of Mist Mountain Domain City had actually been controlled. He did not dare imagine what kind of faction could achieve such a thing.
“Relax, you will soon reach my level as well.” Shuang Lang looked at the terrified Lawson, tightened his single hand, and directly crushed Lawson into unconsciousness.
Once Lawson passed out, the two vice leaders of Smiling Skull immediately bolted, erupting with the fastest speed of their lives. Their Sequence Extraordinary Level Footwork was performed with unprecedented perfection, pushing their speed beyond ten times the speed of sound.
“Run! We have to get out of here!”
At this moment, the only thought in the hearts of the two vice leaders of Smiling Skull was to flee for their lives. There was nothing else.
The fact that the city lord of Mist Mountain Domain City had been controlled was too shocking, so shocking it inspired pure fear.
However, before the two vice leaders of Smiling Skull could escape one kilometer, the two Early Heavenly Human Realm youths who had followed Shuang Lang appeared before them.
The two Heavenly Human Realm Mid-stage youths merely raised their hands, and two almost solid blood-colored giant hands seized them. No matter how the two erupted with their strongest martial skills, they could not break free.
Before the two vice leaders of Smiling Skull could say anything, the two Heavenly Human Realm Mid-stage youths exerted their strength. The two vice leaders spat blood and fainted, then were grabbed up and carried in a single leap to stand before Shuang Lang.
“After all these years, the wait was finally worth it. This is the finest high-grade stock. His Highness will definitely be satisfied this time.” Shuang Lang looked at the unconscious Lawson, the corners of his mouth involuntarily lifting.
“Lord, this whole area has been cleared. Everything of value has been preserved. How should we deal with these two?” The Sub-demon Race youth pointed at the two vice leaders of Smiling Skull.
“Those two?” Shuang Lang glanced at them with disdain. “Their potential is spent. In this life, even reaching the Heavenly Human Realm Mid-stage will be hard. Reward them to those meritorious soldiers under you.”
The two Heavenly Human Realm Mid-stage youths showed no surprise at this.
The level of civilization on this planet was not high, and cultivation talents were ordinary. Aside from peerless geniuses who had higher value, those who had painstakingly reached the Early Heavenly Human Realm could only serve as ordinary soldiers.
“Lord, the legion commanders’ nephews and nieces hope we can provide a few high-grade specimens, so they can participate in the upcoming plan to fish in the Forbidden Zone.” A Three-eyed Race youth at the side spoke very cautiously.
“A few high-grade specimens? Those vermin really dare to dream.” Shuang Lang rolled his eyes and said displeased, “Do they think our side is their family vegetable garden? Send them the information on the super geniuses in the Domain Cities. Let them pick from the second-rate ones themselves. As for high-grade stock, they should not even think about it. These are our key goods. If those above find out, not even that legion commander will be able to save their lives.”
“Yes.” The Three-eyed Race youth did not dare say more.
Neither the Shuang Lang before him nor the legion commanders’ relatives were people soldiers without noble bloodlines like them could afford to offend.
Meanwhile, in the Mountain of the Dead, after the sudden disappearance of Smiling Skull’s leader and the two vice leaders, the entire underground fortress was leveled, leaving no survivors. Panic spread within Smiling Skull, and the news quickly reached all the major factions of the Four Regions, terrifying them all.
As a top-tier major power in the Four Regions, Smiling Skull had three Grandmasters, and their leader Lawson had remained at the Heavenly Human Realm Mid-stage for many years, very likely approaching the Heavenly Human Realm Advanced Level.
Such a force deserved respect even from the Four Great Domain Cities, who would hesitate to tear their faces with them lightly. Yet now Lawson and the other two had vanished, with no one knowing what had happened. It was truly strange and deeply frightened the top factions of the Four Regions.
Three Grandmasters gone just like that. Many top factions only had one or two Grandmasters stationed. If they encountered the same problem as Smiling Skull, they would end up exactly like Smiling Skull.
For a time, all major factions of the Four Regions, and even the Four Great Domain Cities, sent people to investigate.
But in the end, all investigations came up empty. Still, all the major factions of the Four Regions believed it was most likely done by Obsidian Martial Arts Hall. After all, the hatred between Obsidian Martial Arts Hall and Smiling Skull was deep, and the disappearance of Smiling Skull’s three Grandmasters benefitted Obsidian Martial Arts Hall the most.
With no Grandmasters, Smiling Skull’s entire Mountain of the Dead had effectively become Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s domain. No one believed it was not Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s doing.
Even though Obsidian Martial Arts Hall publicly explained for several days that it was not their work, the major factions did not believe it. They all showed extreme wariness toward Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, sending large numbers of people to watch them. At the slightest unusual move from Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, it had to be reported immediately.
Chiyue Town, Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.
“Hall Master, this is all the intelligence Smiling Skull collected. There was indeed a battle at that location, but there are not many traces at the battlefield, so the fight should have ended quickly. Although there are severed limbs, we found no corpses of any Grandmasters. Those who made a move against Smiling Skull should be far stronger than their three Grandmasters.” Wu Zhuoqun said with an unpleasant expression. “According to Your Excellency Yaoguang’s speculation, this was most likely done by those of the Insectoid Race. Our Heavenly Human Realm powerhouses of all races are of great value to the Insectoid Race, and are very popular goods among their upper echelons. Back when the Insectoid Race descended, many Heavenly Human Realm experts of all races were captured.”
Although Smiling Skull was a mortal enemy of Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, the capture of its three Grandmasters still evoked a sense of “the rabbit dies, the fox grieves.”
If even the three Grandmasters of Smiling Skull could not resist the Insectoid Race, it was likely impossible for Obsidian Martial Arts Hall to block them.
“So it really was the Insectoid Race?” Lin Qi nodded, not too surprised. Besides the Four Great Domain Cities, no other faction within the Four Regions had the ability to easily capture three Grandmasters. He then asked, “How are the gains from the First Domain City now?”
The power of the Insectoid Race needed no explanation. All he could do was develop as quickly as possible, and do so in secret. Otherwise, he might end up like Smiling Skull.
“In the past few days, we obtained more than ten sets of Energy Ore Conversion Equipment. Although all of them are damaged, Your Excellency Yaoguang and the others say they can be repaired, and can even teach the hall’s mechanics how to repair them. In exchange, they hope all crew members can gain usage rights for the Beginner Training Room.” Wu Zhuoqun reported.
“Exchanging usage rights for technology?” Lin Qi thought for a moment, then nodded. “Fine, but they must nominally join Obsidian Martial Arts Hall.”
After obtaining the precise location of the First Domain City over these past few days, he had immediately issued a system announcement, informing everyone that the limited-time event was nearing its end and revealing the location of the City Beyond the Territory. Players frantically began their strategy on the First Domain City, even building a Beginner Mental Secret Tower next to it. They fought abnormals in continuous shifts, twenty-four hours a day, as if celebrating a festival.
From the looks of it now, the players had brought him rich rewards. In just a few days, they had acquired more than ten sets of Energy Ore Conversion Equipment. If all were repaired, they could at least sustain Obsidian Martial Arts Hall’s Energy Blood Essence consumption for a while.
These latest Energy Ore Conversion Equipment sets from the First Domain City were unbelievably efficient compared to the Manufacturing Equipment from Tianhe Domain City.
With twenty tons of energy ore, they could produce one Energy Blood Essence in a single day. The only drawback was the enormous qi and blood cost to power the Conversion Equipment. It would take about one thousand martial artists to maintain; apprentices did not qualify at all.
The older Energy Ore Conversion Equipment required even more manpower and time. As for the Manufacturing Equipment of the Four Great Domain Cities, that was simply beyond imagination.
But Lin Qi also felt fortunate that during the Great Transfer, the First Domain City was sent into the Forbidden Zone. If all the technology from the First Domain City had been inherited by the current Domain Cities, he did not dare imagine what the situation would be like.
Without the limitation of Energy Blood Essence, the four Domain Cities controlled by the Insectoid Race would become unimaginably powerful, with countless geniuses reduced to leeks, harvested over and over.
While Wu Zhuoqun was reporting the recent developments of Obsidian Martial Arts Hall, a system notification suddenly sounded in Lin Qi’s ears.
System: congratulations, host, a player has created a Profound Meaning Martial Skill, triggering the advanced epic Hidden Task “Gate of Law.” Have players create three Profound Meaning Martial Skills, and you will be rewarded with one perfect Profound Meaning evolution. You may select one martial skill mastered by the host or a player to undergo Profound Meaning evolution, with a 100% chance to evolve into a Profound Meaning Martial Skill, naturally reaching perfect level.
“A Profound Meaning Martial Skill? Who is this monstrous?” Lin Qi stared blankly at the system prompt.
Previously, Ye Qinglu’s creation of a Limit Breaking Level Martial Skill had already greatly surprised him. After all, it was a martial skill that surpassed one’s own limits. Even in the Star Energy Civilization, those who could create such martial skills were geniuses whose names would go down in history.
He had even obtained a perfect martial skill evolution reward from that, allowing one of his own martial skills to evolve into a Limit Breaking Level. To this day, he still could not bear to use it.
Above Limit Breaking Level Martial Skills, according to the records of the Star Energy Civilization, were martial skills that had brushed against the threshold of the laws of the world, already beyond what human strength could reach, and thus called Profound Meanings.
As for such Profound Meaning Martial Skills, even with his spiritual perception radius reaching fifty meters, Lin Qi still felt utterly lost. He had no idea what the laws of the world were, let alone how to turn them into martial skills.
It was hard to imagine that a player had actually managed to create one.
While Lin Qi was dazed, in an ore storage room inside the First City in the Forbidden Zone.
This storage room, which not even Luo Wu Shang and Ye Qinglu could budge with their full-power strikes, and which had clearly been moved here from some unknown ruin, now had its floor and walls partially melted.
“Chi Sha, what did you do? How did you end up wrecking the storage room?” The first to log off, Smiling Skull, could not help questioning the bearded young man on the game pod screen.
As a legend in the mercenary world, Chi Sha was a powerful expert Smiling Skull had painstakingly recruited. If possible, he truly did not want to be angry.
Their Free Alliance Garrison had grown to barely match the other Four Great Guard Regiments. It had not been easy. They had just managed to seize a storage room in the City Beyond the Territory but had not yet had time to study what precious ore it held, and Chi Sha had already destroyed it completely, not leaving even a hair behind…
Chi Sha seemed to realize he had caused trouble and explained, “I just wanted to test those ores, see if they could be used to forge a good weapon. I did not expect the Double Burst I just used to be so powerful. I will cover all losses this time.”
“Double Burst? You succeeded?” Smiling Skull stared at Chi Sha in surprise.
They had spent a lot of time studying the martial skills in High Martial Arts Descend. Chi Sha had always wanted a suitable weapon, but the game did not provide one yet, so he had learned the Star Burst used by Lu Fanchen, using that martial skill as a hammer to quench ores.
However, the metals quenched this way were unsatisfactory. It merely flattened C6 alloy and could not further compress it, so Chi Sha had been thinking hard about how to further compress C6 alloy to produce a superior alloy.
Thus Chi Sha came up with a method: use Star Burst with both hands, but rotate the Star Bursts in opposite directions so they would collide at one point and forge the hardest metal.
But the difficulty was too great, feeling beyond human capability.
No one had expected Chi Sha to succeed.
He had even succeeded too well, destroying part of a ruin building that not even Luo Wu Shang and Ye Qinglu could damage.
“I failed.” Chi Sha said with slight disappointment. “With that strike, the metal was directly vaporized. I still need to refine it further.”
“You call that failure?” Smiling Skull was stunned, then quickly said, “Whether it failed or not does not matter. Can you teach me this martial skill? A skill that can damage ruin buildings like that will make us rich if we use it well!”
The whole City Beyond the Territory was unusually sturdy. Many areas were ruins moved from unknown places, so tough it drove people crazy. If they could process these ruin walls, the Free Alliance could dig and search for treasures throughout the City Beyond the Territory, far faster than the other guard regiments that were pushing forward bit by bit.
“This martial skill is not that hard. As long as you have learned Star Burst and spend more time refining ore, once you refine enough, you can naturally use one hand forward and one hand reverse.” Chi Sha said.
“Just refine more ore? Fine, I will tell everyone to refine more ore every day.” As soon as Smiling Skull heard it, he found it simple enough. He then hung up and contacted the others, telling them to practice refining ore daily.
Soon, whenever the members of the Free Alliance had spare time, they would idly pick up a piece of ore to refine. Three days later, Yi Ye Fu Yun excitedly ran over to submit a task, holding an unknown alloy whose strength clearly surpassed C6 alloy by a huge margin, definitely reaching at least grade D.
Lin Qi was stunned after hearing Yi Ye Fu Yun’s method for producing the new alloy.
Using a Profound Meaning Martial Skill to refine ore was a luxury probably unseen even in the Star Energy Civilization.
Yet the results were undeniably excellent. Even Luo Qi’s eyes shone when she saw this new alloy. She felt they finally had a chance to create a true set of Guardian Heavy Armor.
Early morning, Chiyue Town.
As qi and blood surged out of the Third Floor Training Room in the Cultivation Tower, enveloping half of Chiyue Town, a young woman slowly walked out of the room, her face filled with indescribable excitement.
“Miss Precia, congratulations. You have successfully advanced to the Blood Condensation Realm. You can now join Miss Xie Feina and the others in exploring the Forbidden Zone in the future.” Yinuo stepped forward and congratulated her.
Blood Condensation Realm.
Upon reaching this level, the world became completely different. Outside the Domain Cities, one could even become a city lord and bring prosperity to an entire clan. With Precia’s young age, she had every chance to reach the High-level Blood Condensation Realm before thirty.
“Thank you. I still have to thank Hall Master Lin for allowing me to use this training room. Otherwise, it would not have gone so smoothly.” Precia said gratefully.
Reaching the Blood Condensation Realm would greatly raise her status in Mist Mountain Domain City. Moreover, she cultivated an Exercise method that surpassed the Blood Condensation Realm Intermediate Level. Though only half of it, it was enough to significantly increase her chances of reaching Half-Step Heavenly Human, and even a Heavenly Human Realm Grandmaster.
But as Precia rejoiced, her smart watch on her wrist kept chiming, with messages coming one after another.
At first, Precia did not take them seriously, but as she opened them, her expression grew worse.
“Miss Precia, has something happened?” Yinuo asked curiously, seeing her troubled face.
“These are messages from the Domain City, telling me to hurry over for special training. I have already refused this task several times, but they keep urging me. The later messages are even a compulsory order that I must go. I turned off communications during my breakthrough, so I did not receive these earlier.” Precia said grimly. “Now the Domain City has already sent an elder over to strip me of my Domain City status and take me back for trial. They are probably almost at Chiyue Town by now…”
