Chapter 145: The Hunt Begins

Chapter 145: Chapter 145: The Hunt Begins

Yuan Ji’s voice grew louder and more impassioned, rising in volume as the rewards became more generous.

When the prize of 3 million Xia Country Coins was finally announced, everyone erupted.

They were itching to charge into Ruins Town and start a massacre.

Lin Qi’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the 3 million Xia Country Coin prize on the screen.

’That’s a whole lot of money. If I get first place, on top of the one million Xia Country Coins from the warm-up competition...’

’I’ll have made four million Xia Country Coins from this one Practical Training Camp.’

’And I’ll be able to buy even more Cultivation Resources.’

Time passed without notice, and soon it was 10 AM sharp.

"And now, I declare the practical training has officially begun!"

"I hope that in six hours, you will all return safely. I wish you all great success in your Martial Arts!"

Yuan Ji pointed to the massive, black-and-red steel gate to the right and announced loudly.

BOOM!!

The steel gate rumbled open, revealing a surface marked by the passage of time—rust, claw marks, and bloodstains were everywhere.

The gate was set in a colossal steel wall ten meters high. As it boomed open, Ruins Town finally came into everyone’s view.

"Go!!"

BOOM!!

WHOOSH WHOOSH~~

Over two thousand Martial Artists, weapons in hand, surged into Ruins Town like a flowing river.

They kicked up a fierce wind and clouds of dust, creating a spectacular scene.

Meanwhile, on the ground not far away, rows of black Metal Boxes popped open.

BEEP BEEP BEEP!!

Fist-sized green metal spheres began to glow, each with a black circle in the center that resembled a human eye.

Thousands of these green metal spheres ascended in unison, flying into Ruins Town.

"The drones are ready!" a soldier on the ground spoke into his headset.

...

Lin Qi and the others followed the crowd, rushing into the vast, boundless Ruins Town.

"Brother Qi, did you take off your Gravity Ring?"

After they had run for a while, Jiangtao glanced at Lin Qi beside him and asked curiously.

"No," Lin Qi said, stopping in his tracks.

Jiangtao’s eyes widened. "You haven’t?"

"I already took mine off. The Gravity Ring will hinder your performance."

Lin Qi looked out at the dilapidated town before them and said confidently, "I’ll take it off when I need to."

Jiangtao was filled with awe. ’That’s Brother Qi for you,’ he thought. ’So cool!’

"I get it!"

"Brother Qi, let’s split up here, then. See you in six hours!"

"And I’ll make it into the top ten on the Points Chart." With that, Jiangtao turned and dashed off, heading deeper into the town.

He quickly vanished from sight.

A smile touched Lin Qi’s lips. ’Top ten, huh?’

He scanned his surroundings. Everything before him lived up to the town’s name—it was a field of rubble, with broken walls and crumbling ruins everywhere.

The walls of some buildings had collapsed, exposing tangled webs of steel rebar that looked like the skeletons of giant beasts...

HUFF~

Lin Qi let out a breath. Holding the Black Great Spear in one hand, his body shot forward like a nimble cheetah, and he soon vanished among the dilapidated buildings.

...

「In a training base on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.」

"HSS~ HSS~"

ROAR~~

Dust filled the air amidst the broken ruins, punctuated by the roars of Calamity Beasts. A handsome Li Zehao, dressed in a white Combat Suit and wielding a Silver Spear, walked through the chaos.

He recalled the words of his uncle, Zhang Tai.

"Little Hao, you must perform well in this practical training."

"Hunt more Calamity Beasts, get a higher score, and completely crush that Lin Qi from Cang Province."

Li Zehao gripped his Long Spear, thinking confidently, ’How can a country bumpkin like him possibly compare to me?’

’In this practical training, I’ll show everyone the gap between us.’

HSS~ HSS~

A moment later, a massive figure stepped out before him. Li Zehao attacked, his Silver Spear striking out like a silver meteor.

...

「Ruins Town」

The acrid smell of dust and gunpowder hung in the air, refusing to dissipate.

A figure flashed past the fragments of a bombed-out building.

ROAR~~

A brown Mastiff Dog, the size of a large canine with a streamlined body, bared its fangs and pounced.

SWOOSH~

Facing it was a delicate-featured young man in a white Combat Suit, wielding a Yanling Saber.

His Saber Technique was a whirlwind. He vanished from his spot, and just as the Mastiff Dog was about to snap its jaws on him, he swung his saber.

SHLICK~

A sharp Saber Aura sliced across its neck, and blood sprayed wildly into the air.

THUD!

The Mastiff Dog collapsed. Wang Qiufeng wiped the blood from his saber, then raised his wrist and pressed a yellow button on his watch.

A green screen projected in front of him, displaying a chart.

[Points Chart]

[1st Place: Wang Qiufeng, Points: 15]

[2nd Place: Zhou Xiyin, Points: 12]

[3rd Place: Chen Li, Points: 11]

[4th Place: Li Ke, Points: 10]

...

[7th Place: Lin Qi, Points: 8]

...

The corners of Wang Qiufeng’s mouth turned up. ’In a hunting competition like this, those of us who are fast have a huge advantage.’

’When it comes to speed, no one is faster than me.’

’I’m taking first place in this practical training. I want the honor, and I want the 3 million Xia Country Coins!’

He glanced at the Mastiff Dog’s corpse on the ground and shook his head.

’First-Level Calamity Beasts give too few Points. I need to hunt Second-Level Calamity Beasts to be more efficient.’

With that, he transformed into a Gale and vanished. A green metal sphere trailed closely behind him, recording his every move.

...

Elsewhere, in a massive crater filled with fetid, stagnant rainwater, a stench of decay filled the air.

HSS~ HSS~

An Iron Spike Wild Boar, as large as a small armored car, began to charge. Its skin was rough and hard, covered in bristles like iron spikes.

Its protruding tusks were like curved Sharp Blades, giving off a cold glint of light.

BAM!!

With a heavy CRACK, a Black Heavy Sword came down on its head like an Axe Blade, the terrifying force shattering its skull and brain.

CRASH!!

The massive carcass slammed into the crater, sending up a huge splash of water. Blood trickled from the Iron Spike Wild Boar’s seven orifices.

The powerfully built Chen Li shouldered his Black Heavy Sword, planted a foot on the corpse, and pulled up the leaderboard.

He smiled when he saw he was in 3rd place.

’Only third place. My hunting efficiency at the start really can’t match those speed-focused types.’

’But once I hunt more Second-Level Calamity Beasts, it’s only a matter of time before I take first place.’

’I hope you all hunt plenty of Calamity Beasts. It’d be no fun if it’s too easy for me to surpass you.’

Chen Li gripped his Black Heavy Sword and grinned with confidence.

’Second-Level Calamity Beasts are no problem for me!’

’My target is Third-Level Calamity Beasts.’

He recalled the Disaster Beast Tide that erupted in Magic Cube Plaza after the Spring Festival, where he had slain 25 Calamity Beasts.

He had even gone head-to-head with a Third-Level Calamity Beast.

’I’ve gotten even stronger since then!’

’I’m going to hunt a Third-Level Giant Beast!’

’A Second Realm Martial Artist fighting a Third-Level Calamity Beast... now *that’s* what I call interesting!’

With that, his gaze hardened with resolve, and he headed toward Area 2.

...