Chapter 24: Expert

Translator: Lordbluefire 

Lu Yuan’s vision darkened as his consciousness shook for a moment.

When he regained his senses, he saw that he had appeared in the Graystone Forest. Gigantic stone pillars were everywhere.

It was none other than his previous location back then.

Under one of the pillars nearby, three graystone beetles were chewing on rocks contently.

Hence, Lu Yuan’s sudden appearance stunned all three of the bugs.

They then slowly turned their heads and looked at Lu Yuan.

Both parties matched gazes and the atmosphere fell silent.

After that, the three graystone beetles started screeching as they charged at Lu Yuan.

As the black-colored sword appeared in Lu Yuan’s hand, he also started charging toward the three graystone beetles.

Although the enhancement to speed from the Blackiron Body couldn’t be considered great, that was only when compared to those on the same level. To the graystone beetles, Lu Yuan’s current speed was still considered very fast.

He stepped to the left and right, dodging past the three bugs from the center as a black-colored sword light arced past their bodies.

As a result, greenish-black fresh blood sprayed out as the three graystone beetles fell to the ground and died.

Right after, Lu Yuan went over to pick up the three spirit crystals on the floor. He then cut off a total of three pieces of graystone armor shells as he revealed a smile.

“Having some gains the moment I enter, not bad, not bad.”

He casually absorbed the three spirit crystals before staring at the sun to determine his direction. He then began to head in the direction that would exit Graystone Forest.

Given his current strength, he could definitely hunt ferocious beasts that were stronger than graystone beetles. By doing so, he would receive more spirit crystals, and his improvement would be even faster.

On the way, Lu Yuan killed all the graystone beetles he saw regardless of their number. In any case, they weren’t a match for Lu Yuan.

Very soon, he entered a small field that had a radius of roughly 100 meters.

The moment he entered, he could see a black-rune graystone beetle and four other normal graystone beetles lying down in a row on the right, chewing down on rocks.

Lu Yuan’s eyes brightened.

He didn’t expect to see a black-rune graystone beetle here.

If it was in the past, he would definitely choose to sneak away when he encountered a black-rune graystone beetle.

But things were different now. He felt that the current him wasn’t any weaker than a black-rune graystone beetle.

Just so coincidentally, he could use this chance to check his own strength.

Lu Yuan pursed his lips. He stared at the black-rune graystone beetle from afar and felt battle intent stirring in him.

Just when Lu Yuan was planning to head forward, a team of five kobolds exited another tunnel not far away.

When they saw Lu Yuan, they started. After that, they saw the black-rune graystone beetle at the side.

A moment later, the eyes of the five kobolds brightened as they revealed their smiles.

“It’s actually a black-rune graystone beetle! Our luck is so good!”

“We can kill it!”

“There’s also a human. Let’s finish him off first in case there’s trouble. Bali, take note. If our movements alert the black-rune graystone beetle, you will be responsible for blocking it.”

“No problem.”

Their expressions were malevolent and their eyes gleamed with cold light when they looked at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan: “…”

He felt very speechless, why would he run into kobolds every time?

Lu Yuan’s expression gradually turned cold as well when he saw the five kobolds take out their weapons and slowly move closer to him. His hand was holding around his Bugclaw Sword tightly.

“Kill!”

A female kobold that stood at the back pulled on her bow and fired, giving the signal to attack.

Woosh~!

An arrow shot through the air, blasting toward Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan’s pupils narrowed. He lifted the sword in his hand as he looked at the fired arrow.

Keng!

The arrow came in contact with Lu Yuan’s sword and was knocked aside.

When the kobolds saw this scene, their eyes brightened.

The leader of this kobold group wielded a gigantic ax. His height was over two meters, and he was extremely muscular. He then bared his teeth and said.

“Pay attention, this is an expert!”

“Understood!”

After that, the muscular kobold roared and charged toward Lu Yuan as though he was a tank.

Not only so, but a kobold wielding a longsword and a kobold wielding two daggers also flanked the sides of the muscular kobold. Both of them were also charging at Lu Yuan.

The instant the battle began between both parties, the black-rune graystone beetle and the other graystone beetles were alarmed.

They turned their heads in the kobolds and Lu Yuan’s direction. After that, the black-rune graystone beetle screeched as the bugs lunged toward them.

The one remaining was a kobold who was roughly the height of 1.5 humans. He wielded a gigantic metal shield and a long blade. His name was Bali.

When he saw the black-rune graystone beetle leading four beetles rushing over, a malevolent smile appeared on his face.

“I cannot allow you bugs to disturb them.”

As he shouted, a layer of graystone armor appeared on the surface of his body.

It was none other than Stoneskin.

He then rushed alone toward the black-rune graystone beetle and the other beetles.

Upon seeing Bali charging at it, the black-rune graystone beetle roared in rage and activated its own Stoneskin.

It stretched out a sharp claw and slashed at Bali.

In return, Bali lifted his gigantic shield to block the attack.

Keng!!

Bali retreated a few steps but swiftly stabilized his posture.

He revealed a malicious smile.

“My defense isn’t something you can break.”

Not caring about the black-rune graystone beetle that was roaring in rage, Bali directly swung his longblade at the other four normal graystone beetles.

For a time, Bali managed to hold back the black-rune graystone beetle and the other four graystone beetles in a relaxed manner.

…

At this moment, the muscular kobold had arrived before Lu Yuan. He roared wrathfully and clutched his battle-ax with both hands before lifting and cleaving it toward Lu Yuan.

His ax then began to glow with white light.

Genetic Battle Technique: Heavy Strike!

The battle-ax brimmed with violent spirit energy as it whistled through the air, moving toward its target.

Lu Yuan’s eyes narrowed as his heart felt somewhat heavy.

He didn’t expect that in such a place like the Graystone Forest, he would encounter two gene fighters that had engraved and recorded extraordinary genes!

That violent battle-ax caused his hair to stand on its ends as he sensed the aura of danger.

After that, he held his sword with both hands and maneuvered it to block the battle-ax.

Keng!!

Lu Yuan felt a huge impact gushing at him.

As a result, his chest trembled and his body was forced back a few steps. Even his hands felt somewhat numb.

While Lu Yuan was forced to retreat, the two kobolds at the side of the muscular kobold charged forward and lunged at Lu Yuan.

The sword-wielding kobold on the left aimed a slash at Lu Yuan’s waist, and the kobold on the right held his two daggers tightly. One of the daggers pierced at Lu Yuan’s eyes and the other at his heart.

Their coordination was as smooth as flowing water and was extremely cohesive.

Lu Yuan felt danger so the spirit energy in his entire body started to surge.

Upon activating the battle technique: Blackiron Body, the surface of his body gleamed with an inky dark color. Two black-colored runes also appeared on his cheeks.

After activating the Blackiron Body, his strength surged greatly and a hint of sharpness flashed in Lu Yuan’s eyes. He then stretched out his left hand and grabbed the dagger that was piercing toward his eyes.

As for the other two attacks, Lu Yuan allowed them to slash his body.

Upon seeing this, the three kobolds revealed a malicious smile.

Keng! Keng! Keng!

The sounds of metal colliding echoed three times, causing the malicious smiles on the kobolds’ faces to stiffen.

Lu Yuan securely grabbed the dagger with his left hand and when the other two weapons struck his body, they actually only cut open his clothes and were stuck on his skin, unable to advance any further.

The two kobolds at the side could sense this the clearest. It felt like they were trying to cut metal. The vibration from the impact shook them so badly that their arms felt somewhat numb.

After that, the eyes of the two kobolds violently narrowed.

“What?”

“That didn’t break his defense? This is impossible!”

The muscular kobold who was a step behind widened his eyes and cried.

“Mixi, be careful!”

Mixi, the kobold wielding the two daggers, seemed to have realized something.

Fear flashed through his eyes as he wanted to retreat.

However, it was too late. The Bugclaw Sword Lu Yuan was holding didn’t block the weapon for precisely this reason. It was all for this instant.

The Bugclaw Sword arced past the kobold Mixi’s throat, causing fresh blood to spray out.

Mixi’s gaze slackened and fear could be seen within his eyes. But nothing could be done. His body trembled and fell to the ground.

Other than Bali who was currently entangled with the black-rune graystone beetle, the other three kobolds watched with wide-open eyes at the fallen Mixi. Disbelief flickered in their eyes.

“Damn, it’s an expert that acts weak to prey on others!”

The other sword-wielding kobold fell, his hair standing on its ends. He hurriedly retreated and ran back to the muscular kobold’s side as he looked warily at Lu Yuan.

It was as though Lu Yuan was going to slash him apart at the next instant.

“B*stard! Given your strength, why would you be in a region like the Graystone Forest?!”

Lu Yuan rubbed his chest and waist.

The locations where he got hit by these two were still somewhat painful.

However, his Blackiron Body was after all pretty tough, and these two kobolds hadn’t engraved or recorded any battle techniques yet, so their attacking prowess was somewhat weaker. Hence, their attacks only caused him some pain.

They couldn’t even deal any damage to him.

At this moment, Lu Yuan stared at the muscular kobold who had an unsightly expression as he laughed.

“Aren’t you guys pretty strong too? Since you guys can stay here, why can’t I?”

The kobolds didn’t know what to reply.

Lu Yuan rubbed his throat and flashed them a radiant smile.

“Let’s not waste time talking crap. I’m going to send you guys to meet that poor little fellow who just died.”