CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 100 SEPARATE ACTIONS_1

"Starting today, let’s split up and act separately," Wang Zhan said after a moment’s thought. "The six of you actually coordinate better together, and I’m more comfortable operating alone."

Upon hearing this, the other members of the team looked taken aback.

Huang Pufeng said gloomily, "So, you’re saying you don’t need us anymore? Did you have a major breakthrough yesterday? Don’t tell me you’ve become a Warrior?"

Huang Pufeng had just been making a casual remark, but to his surprise, he saw Wang Zhan nod.

Wang Zhan stated frankly, "That’s right. I just broke through to the Warrior level yesterday. My strength has increased at least several-fold, so lower Soldier-level beasts are no longer a match for me. That’s why there’s no point in me continuing to operate with you all."

"You’re advancing too quickly! It’s only been a few days," Song Dongming was also rather speechless.

Ever since getting to know Wang Zhan last year, he’d always felt he was cultivating very diligently.

In less than half a year, he had broken through from level five to level seven, and that was while constantly suppressing his cultivation, only breaking through when he absolutely had to.

But comparing himself to Wang Zhan, who had rocketed from level three to Warrior, and whose attributes could break the limits by such an astonishing margin, Song Dongming felt that martial cultivation seemed rather pointless.

It wasn’t just Song Dongming; similar thoughts arose among the other team members.

"Captain, you’re only a freshman this year, and you’re already a Warrior?" Sun Kelan pouted and said, "No wonder you look down on us."

"No, that’s not it. It’s just that operating separately is better for all of us. I’ve seen that the six of you have been coordinating quite well these past few days," Wang Zhan quickly waved his hands and explained.

"Alright, it’s settled then. I’ll be heading to explore the unknown area later, and I won’t be returning to the Melted Cave every day to rest," Wang Zhan continued. "You six need to be careful. If you encounter danger you can’t handle, remember to fire off flares for help immediately. The results of the competition are definitely not as important as your lives."

Hearing this, the others knew Wang Zhan was set on this course of action, so they could only agree.

The next morning, Wang Zhan bid farewell to the group, packed three days’ worth of food into his backpack, and left the Melted Cave alone.

「...」

At this moment, Wang Zhan was comparing a hand-drawn map with the one on his personal terminal.

The simple hand-drawn map detailed the area Sun Kelan had explored over the past week, extending nearly fifty kilometers around the Melted Cave. This was undoubtedly a vast expanse, almost reaching the unknown area indicated on the personal terminal’s map.

Although Ke Lan’s combat abilities are average, her skills as a scout are definitely top-tier, Wang Zhan remarked with emotion as he held the map.

It was hard to imagine that a hand-drawn map could be nearly identical to the precise map on the personal terminal, and even clearly mark the distribution of Soldier-level beasts.

With this map, Wang Zhan’s activities in the vicinity would be much smoother.

I won’t rush to explore the unknown area today. First, I’ll test my combat power as a Warrior and, while I’m at it, hunt some beasts to max out my basic attribute points, Wang Zhan planned his itinerary.

According to the information provided by the System, the Warrior stage also had nine levels. The base attributes for each level reached 200 points, precisely double that of the Martial Artist Stage. And extreme attributes still constituted 50% of the base, amounting to exactly one hundred points.

Each level up in the Warrior stage increases physical strength twice as much as in the Martial Artist Stage, and there’s also a powerful enhancement from mental energy. No wonder it’s almost unheard of for Martial Artists to challenge Warriors of a higher level; the disparity is too great, Wang Zhan mused to himself.

While pondering this, Wang Zhan quickly selected a target to test his combat power.

Ten kilometers north of my current position is the territory of the lower Soldier-level beast, the Rhino Dragon.

The Rhino Dragon, a beast unique to Oceania, bore some resemblance to a rhinoceros, but its physique was even more formidable, and it even had a pair of fleshy wings on its back.

Once the target was selected, Wang Zhan hesitated no longer, quickening his pace towards the Rhino Dragon’s territory.

About half an hour later, Wang Zhan reached an area of swamp land.

This stretch of swamp land wasn’t excessively large, only about a few square kilometers in area. A river flowed through the middle of the swamp land, which was where the Rhino Dragons dwelled.

Wang Zhan continued deeper into the swamp land. After another ten minutes or so, he spotted a massive figure lying on the muddy ground beside the river, several hundred meters away.

The Rhino Dragon was even larger than Wang Zhan had imagined, standing about seven or eight meters tall and over twenty meters in length.

Its entire body glinted with a silvery metallic sheen. Its hide was clearly tough, yet it was so smooth it felt somewhat uncanny.

Wang Zhan was somewhat exasperated. Another one of those thick-hided brutes with no Talent abilities.

Although beasts with Talent abilities could be troublesome to deal with, these types of thick-hided beasts, which one could only fight head-on with brute force, were often even more dangerous.

However, Wang Zhan didn’t hesitate further. He had arrived, the beast was right before him; there was no point in retreating.

Taking the Liyun Blade from his back, Wang Zhan took a deep breath. His mental energy emanated from his body, covering a radius of 150 meters around him.

Instantly, Wang Zhan sensed Spiritual Energy that was several times more potent than before.

The Spiritual Energy I can manipulate is at least five times greater than before. The boost mental energy gives to one’s strength is truly astounding! Wang Zhan was inwardly thrilled.

Meanwhile, due to the spread of his mental energy, the Rhino Dragon on the other side had also detected Wang Zhan’s presence.

ROAR!

A tremendous roar resounded, making Wang Zhan’s scalp tingle. The muddy swamp land around him even undulated from the force of the roar.

Quite the set of lungs, but I wonder how capable you really are, Wang Zhan sneered, gripping the Liyun Blade and charging directly at the Rhino Dragon.

After becoming a Warrior, Wang Zhan’s speed had also increased dramatically. The muddy terrain had no effect on him. In just a few seconds, he crossed several hundred meters and arrived before the Rhino Dragon.

He gripped the Liyun Blade tightly with both hands, leaped high into the air, raised the big saber above his head, and brought it down in a vicious chop.

The sharp blade whistled through the air, arriving before the Rhino Dragon in an instant.

The Rhino Dragon reacted extremely quickly, whipping its head to the side and meeting the Liyun Blade with the long horn on its snout.

CLINK!

With a crisp sound, Wang Zhan’s body was sent flying, but he landed steadily after retreating only a few meters.

’Strength +4’

Just as I thought, nothing’s changed; I still gain attribute points from fighting opponents of the same level, Wang Zhan mused to himself. But to gain more extreme attribute points now, I’ll need to kill at least intermediate Soldier-level beasts.

Thinking this, Wang Zhan’s gaze towards the Rhino Dragon before him took on a provocative glint.

"You’re quite something. I’ll count on you for my basic attribute points."

Naturally, the Rhino Dragon couldn’t understand Wang Zhan’s words, but the sheer audacity of this minuscule human daring to intrude upon its territory was enough to make it fly into a rage.

The battle between the two quickly escalated in intensity, and Wang Zhan’s attributes steadily increased with each clash.

「...」

Just as Wang Zhan and the Rhino Dragon were locked in a fierce back-and-forth, a team of Martial Artists suddenly appeared at the edge of the swamp land.

It was the team from the Royal Martial Arts Academy.

"Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy, Wang Zhan!" William said, his face cold, as he led the six others into the swamp area.

"You’re certain you saw Wang Zhan enter this area earlier, correct?" William asked, turning his head.

The scout from the Royal Martial Arts Academy team nodded. "That’s right. I saw him enter with my own eyes. His target is likely the Rhino Dragon near the river."

"Excellent," William said. "It’s not just Wang Zhan. Anyone from Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy who dares to offend our Royal Martial Arts Academy—this time, we’ll wipe them all out."

Previously, when the personal terminal updated the rankings, William saw that the Royal Martial Arts Academy hadn’t even made the top ten. He immediately decided that they had to eliminate that fellow who kept provoking them before continuing their mission.

Without a doubt, the ones who had snatched several of their lower-class Soldier-level beast cores and three intermediate Soldier-level beast cores were the people from Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy, currently ranked second.

As for well-known figures in Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy, besides Wang Zhan—the genius who had previously defeated a prodigy from Yanjing Martial Arts Academy and caused quite a stir within the Academy system—William and his group couldn’t think of anyone else.

That’s why they had been searching for Wang Zhan’s whereabouts for the past two days. Their goal wasn’t just to eliminate him from the competition, but more importantly, to reclaim their beast cores and restore the Royal Martial Arts Academy’s ranking to its proper place.

"William, the competition has already progressed to the second stage. Are you sure you want to pick a fight with Wang Zhan at this time?" Ally advised in a low voice. "From our previous dealings with Wang Zhan, we all know he’s not an easy opponent."

"Enough!" William snapped. "He’s tricked us repeatedly. Are we just going to let it slide? Ally, you’re worrying too much!"

Hearing this, Ally shook her head slightly and said no more.

The seven from the Royal Martial Arts Academy continued deeper into the swamp land. Soon, they spotted Wang Zhan and the Rhino Dragon battling by the river.

"Heh, just as expected, he’s here," William sneered. "To be able to fight a Rhino Dragon single-handedly, he is indeed quite capable. Unfortunately for him, he’s provoked the wrong people. This time, Chu State Military Martial Arts Academy is destined for an early exit."

"All of you, advance! Surround that fellow! Don’t let him get away!" William commanded.

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

「...」

Meanwhile, Wang Zhan had sensed the arrival of the Royal Martial Arts Academy group from afar much earlier, but he simply had no time to deal with them, or rather, he couldn’t be bothered.

After another hard clash with the Rhino Dragon.

’Physique +3’

After fighting for half an hour, I’ve finally maxed out the 200 base points for my three main attributes. All that’s left are the 100 extreme attribute points.

As he thought of this, killing intent finally gleamed in Wang Zhan’s eyes as he looked at the Rhino Dragon before him.

This ’tool’ dragon has now served its purpose.

Just then, the seven-member team from the Royal Martial Arts Academy had approached to within fifty meters.

I’ll finish you off first, then deal with the others, Wang Zhan tightened his grip on his big saber, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he faced the Rhino Dragon.