CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25 THE ATTACKER

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

"The Snow Spiders outside have gone berserk, my teammates are all dead, and I escaped alone. I made my way here through a detour from Wind Valley. My tactical watch is broken, and I just happened to see you guys. I have no ill intentions; I just want to follow you and find a way out..." the person said, slowly approaching Jiang Xinyu and the others.

"Stop!" Jiang Xinyu called out coldly.

"You have to believe me, I really have no ill intentions, it’s just me alone... You have five people, even if I had any bad ideas, I wouldn’t have the guts..." the other party explained in a panic, but their steps steadily advanced towards Jiang Xinyu’s group of four.

"Attack!" At Jiang Xinyu’s command, the ready Gong Feiyu instantly launched Earth Spike.

At the same time, their opponent’s figure moved in a flash, as quick as Speedy Wind, leaving behind afterimages, effortlessly circumventing the Earth Spike and charging towards Xu Xiangwen and Wang Lan.

Xu Xiangwen instantly created a Physical Clone to meet the oncoming attacker. The two Xu Xiangwens, one to the left and one to the right, flanked the enemy, slashing down with their swords simultaneously. However, the opponent’s figure shimmered suddenly, as if turning into a shadow under the moonlight.

The eerie figure slipped through their attack. The clone was struck; its movements stalled for a moment, and then it instantly vanished.

This scene caused Wang Lan’s expression to change drastically. The enemy’s dagger was so fast that Wang Lan couldn’t see the actions clearly; he only vaguely saw two stabs targeting the clone’s throat.

If it weren’t for the clone vanishing the next instant, Wang Lan would have thought Xu Xiangwen himself had been killed in the blink of an eye.

"Wind Attribute? Wang Youle, attack with fire!" Jiang Xinyu shouted.

"Me... should I go? I can’t... If I go up, I’m just asking to be killed..." Wang Youle retreated repeatedly.

"Forget it, Feiyu, you control the field, I’ll go!" Wang Lan drew his sword, dedicating all his remaining points to Self Healing, upgrading it to Bronze 9.

"Be careful, his speed is very fast!" Jiang Xinyu warned gravely.

"My speed isn’t slow either!"

This wasn’t an understatement from Wang Lan. With his movement technique having reached Bronze 9, even most warriors at the Star Shine Stage, or even the Star Cloud Stage, might not match his speed.

Gong Feiyu instantly activated his Star Martial Skill, causing Earth Spikes to repeatedly thrust from the ground in front of him. Although the opponent was extremely fast, this kind of hidden attack, ready to strike from underground at any moment, could still cause some trouble for him.

Wang Lan seized the opportunity to burst forward, his swordwork exploding like fireworks.

The opponent’s Star Martial Skill was wind-based, using the properties of wind to boost their movement speed to several times normal. Speed-related Star Martial Skills were generally powerful, but there were two ways to counter them.

The first was an attribute counter: fire overcomes wind. Flames would scorch air, making wind attributes chaotic and hard to control upon encountering fire. Unless suppressed by several times more Star Power, it would be almost completely countered by fire.

The second was to restrict the area. High-speed movement required sufficient space. Because of Wang Youle’s hesitation, and Wang Lan not having a fire-attributed Star Martial Skill, this tactic was their only option.

With Gong Feiyu using Earth Spike to cause disturbances, Wang Lan took the chance to close the gap for melee, ready to engage face-to-face without giving the opponent any chance to pull away.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG—

The continuous flashes of light from the sword made it seem as if Wang Lan was back to the day he was in a close-quarters slashing match with Huang Feilong.

It had to be said that professional Star Martial Warriors indeed possessed more solid foundational strength than those trained in academies.

The opponent looked to be around forty. While his sword skill might not have been as exquisite as Wang Lan’s, his execution and momentum were stronger. Especially at critical moments, he could unleash a dazzling move to neutralize Wang Lan’s assault, creating an impression of transforming decay into magic.

Each of the opponent’s moves was an aggressive attack, a tremendous drain on stamina. Though Star Power circulating within could enhance one’s physical abilities, Wang Lan had Star Power, and so did the opponent, whose Star Power was denser than Wang Lan’s.

Judging by the situation, Wang Lan seemed unlikely to win. Suddenly, a cold wind howled past, causing both Wang Lan and the opponent to involuntarily pause.

BOOM— A shadow burst into the fray, landing a punch that sent the Star Martial Warrior flying.

Surprised, Wang Lan turned his head to look at Jiang Xinyu, her arm covered in a layer of ice armor as brilliant as diamonds. Her speed had been so fast that Wang Lan didn’t even have time to react.

Although I’d never seen Jiang Xinyu’s close-combat prowess before, it definitely shouldn’t have been as exaggerated as what she just displayed. The Star Cloud Stage... is it really that terrifying?

COUGH, COUGH, COUGH— The middle-aged Star Martial Warrior coughed violently, clutching his chest.

"I advise you to get out of here. Dare to target us again, and I’ll kill you!" Jiang Xinyu’s words, coupled with the chilling coldness she emanated, inexplicably made Wang Lan shiver.

"HEH, HEH... Kill me? So you’re at the Star Cloud Stage now... so young... you must be a genius, right?

"I despise you geniuses the most. Why do we struggle so hard in cultivation, striving so much to improve our strength, while you can reach such heights so effortlessly?

"You are still students, aren’t you? Being able to afford the trial grounds at your age means you must come from wealthy families... Why do all the benefits go to you geniuses? It’s really infuriating!"

"So bitter... A grown man, yet you have such strong jealousy? I’m truly ashamed for you," Gong Feiyu said dismissively, covering his nose.

"Something’s not right!" Wang Lan sensed a hint of danger from the middle-aged man and instinctively warned, "Everyone, be careful. There’s something off about this man."

Suddenly, red spots blossomed on the man’s face, as vivid as a starlight rash. The red blotches spread rapidly, and an aura like a blood mist billowed around him.

The oppressive aura churned, gripping the hearts of Wang Lan and the others as if a giant hand were clenching them tightly.

"Handing you over would definitely get me another dose of Strengthening Liquid, wouldn’t it... Well then!" The middle-aged man abruptly lifted his head, his eyes wide and filled with malicious red. Indistinctly, one could see a pair of vertical pupils, not belonging to any human.

BOOM— The opponent suddenly launched towards Wang Lan and the others, and Jiang Xinyu’s figure dashed forward in a flash.

From her palm emerged a sword of Air Blade Flow, and in an instant, she was engaged in battle.

The figures of the two combatants blurred with dizzying speed. Jiang Xinyu’s Star Cloud Stage strength completely overshadowed that of the Star Shine Stage—a clear difference in class. The middle-aged Star Martial Warrior possessed peak Star Shine Stage strength, but, having been enhanced by some unknown means, his combat power was not inferior to Jiang Xinyu’s.

In an instant, I couldn’t help feeling a chill of fear. If Jiang Xinyu hadn’t broken through to the Star Cloud Stage, wouldn’t we, even after escaping from the Snow Spider’s lair, have likely died here?

"Why would a Star Martial Warrior attack another Star Martial Warrior?" Wang Lan asked in a low voice, not understanding why fellow humans, moreover Star Martial Warriors from the same country, would turn on each other.

"These Star Martial Warriors are just a minority of degenerates, but their existence has increased the danger level of the trial grounds by an order of magnitude. Not everyone is good, and not all Star Martial Warriors are good people.

"The trial grounds have no surveillance or cell phone signals. Even if you kill someone, their bodies will be eaten by Exotic Beasts, so the place has become lawless. Maybe outside the trial grounds they abide by the law, but inside, they shed their humanity and become beasts.

"Especially those of us who look like students; we are prime targets in their eyes. This isn’t the first time we’ve encountered this, it’s just that we haven’t faced someone this powerful before. Fortunately, Xinyu broke through to the Star Cloud Stage, otherwise this time..."

Gong Feiyu’s words stirred an unsettling feeling in Wang Lan. Indeed, human morality needed the constraints of law; without them, their baser instincts could erupt, and they would be capable of anything.

Jiang Xinyu continued her battle with the middle-aged Star Martial Warrior, displaying her foundation in sword skill, which was elusive and agile. Moreover, it was Wang Lan’s first time truly perceiving Jiang Xinyu’s strength.

Her Basic Skills should be above mine; I’m now Bronze Nine, but I still feel a clear gap.

However, what’s puzzling is that after reaching Bronze Nine, I can’t add any more skill points. The first skill to hit this limit was Inch Strength Star Martial Skill; the point-addition button disappeared once it reached Bronze Nine (9/10).

Initially, I thought Inch Strength Star Martial Skill could only be maxed out at Bronze and felt dejected for a few minutes. But when my sword skill also couldn’t be improved after reaching Bronze Nine, I realized it wasn’t about reaching the skill’s cap; rather, the ability to add points was restricted.

I’m aware that above sword skill, there’s sword qi, like in the Water Cutting Flow and Air Blade Flow techniques. If honed to a high level, these skills allow one to cut through a mat three meters away with a single strike that sends out blade energy.

The only restriction I can think of is my own rank. In a sense, I’ve indeed maxed out my skill points for my current level—the peak of the Starlight Stage.

To further enhance my skill strength, I must break free from the confines of the Starlight Stage.

So, even with the system assisting me, it’s unrealistic to think I can catch up with Jiang Xinyu in the short term.

Wait... aren’t we missing someone from our team?

Xu Xiangwen has been missing since the fight began! Where did he go?

Wang Lan signaled Gong Feiyu with his eyes, and Gong Feiyu mysteriously pointed towards the ground. As it turned out, from the beginning, Gong Feiyu and Xu Xiangwen had been coordinating. Gong Feiyu had used his Earth Attribute Star Martial Skill to create a space underground while Xu Xiangwen lay in wait, ready to strike a lethal blow from beneath.

Understanding dawned on Wang Lan, and a plan suddenly formed in his mind.

"Xinyu, get ready. We’ll create an opening for you." As soon as Wang Lan finished speaking, he charged towards the battle. A slash cut through the air, the blade’s light icy and biting.

Jiang Xinyu immediately retreated from the battlefield, and the middle-aged Star Martial Warrior furiously focused on Wang Lan.

Engaging with a Star Cloud Stage genius? I’d be delighted! Battling a genius proves my own strength, doesn’t it? But what’s this Starlight Stage trash doing? Daring to seek death?

The opponent smashed through Wang Lan’s blade light with a punch. Instantly, Wang Lan’s combat knife shattered, and the punch continued its unaltered trajectory towards Wang Lan’s head. If this punch connected, Wang Lan’s head would burst open like a watermelon.

"Inch Strength Fist—"

My Inch Strength Fist at Bronze Nine could take out a low-ranking Demon Soldier of the Demon Clan with one punch. I wonder if this Star Martial Warrior’s defense is stronger than a Demon Soldier’s.

BOOM—

Their fists collided, creating a powerful shockwave that exploded like a hurricane. Wang Lan and his opponent were momentarily frozen in mid-air.

CRACK—

Almost simultaneously, a crisp sound of bone fracturing echoed from both of their fists.