Chapter Four: The Hunt Must Never Cease
This strike was even faster than before, and its power seemed greatly increased.
"Clang!"
"Crack!"
At this moment, even in its mutated Dragonwood Sword state, it could not withstand Qin Chuan’s monstrous assault, no matter how hard it tried.
"Ding! Critical hit triggered, acquired critical hit attribute."
"Ding! Lethal strike triggered."
"Ding! Killed level 7 Lord Mutated Dragonwood Sword, gained 1500 experience points, bonus 100% experience for defeating a higher-level enemy, congratulations host, you've gained 3000 experience points."
"Ha! Excellent, what a pleasant surprise—I've gained a critical attribute! Devour it!"
A surge of suction emanated from the Black Dragonwood Sword, drawing a stream of pure primal essence steadily into the sentient core.
"Ah, this feels fantastic! The essence of the Mutated Dragonwood Sword is simply superb."
Qin Chuan felt a shiver of delight run through his entire body.
"Ding! Devour successful, gained 300 evolution points."
Evolution Points: 350/800
Experience: 3200/6400
Critical: 5% chance on attack to increase sharpness by 150%.
Although Qin Chuan did not level up after slaying the Mutated Dragonwood Sword, he unexpectedly acquired a critical hit attribute.
"Now it’s getting harder and harder to evolve and level up, but I like that. Ha! This forest is the perfect hunting ground."
"There are many powerful beings here. If I carelessly run into a second-tier or higher foe, I'll be finished."
"I must remain cautious and vigilant at all times."
With years of gaming experience, Qin Chuan knew well when to call it quits and take his gains.
So, without lingering, he began to conceal his presence, slipping deeper into the forest.
As he ventured further, the forest grew darker, and an eerie silence fell around him.
A swirl of radiance rose in the shadows—it was an old tree condensing its sentient core.
But Qin Chuan no longer needed to devour such low-level essence; he craved stronger spiritual beings.
"Hmm, there are barely any level 6 spiritual beings here. It seems the highest this territory goes is level 6, and that level 7 Mutated Dragonwood Sword was the local super boss."
"It looks like I'll have to push into the next territory to continue my hunt."
Qin Chuan crossed a small river, which acted as a subtle boundary line.
Soon, he discovered some spiritual beings above level 6. Friction and battles occurred frequently between them, but everything happened under the lord's watchful control.
Right before his eyes, a fierce struggle broke out—a wild boar and a Spineback Beetle were locked in a brutal fight. Both were top-tier first-rank, high-quality, level 7.
Seeing this, Qin Chuan’s eyes sparkled: "Excellent, my luck is good today! When two tigers fight, the fisherman profits—my favorite scenario!"
Now, Qin Chuan decided to play the fisherman, waiting for the perfect moment to deliver a fatal blow to both.
Both wild boar and Spineback Beetle were offense types. The boar had tusks and its body bristled with spines, while the beetle had eight sharp claws and a carapace covered in countless spikes.
They were locked in vicious combat, but it was clear both were nearing their limits.
They glared at each other, eyes burning with hatred and fury.
"You filthy pig, today only one of us walks away!"
"You wretched bug, I've had enough of you! Today, you die!"
Qin Chuan smirked inwardly. "Fight, fight as hard as you can—ha!"
In the next instant, both unleashed their ultimate moves. As offensive types, their skills were all close combat.
Bang!
A violent collision shook the ground, leaving a huge crater, and both revealed the vulnerable underbellies in the aftermath.
"Ha! Here’s my chance! Flowing Strike!"
Seizing the moment, Qin Chuan struck at the Spineback Beetle first—as its tough shell made it the harder target.
"Thud!"
The Black Dragonwood Sword plunged into the beetle's exposed belly, and the system’s melodious prompt sounded in his mind.
"Ding! Critical hit triggered."
"Ding! Killed level 7 Spineback Beetle, gained 350 experience points, bonus 100% experience for defeating a higher-level enemy, congratulations host, you've gained 700 experience points."
"Ha, exhilarating! Falling Sky Flowing Strike!"
At the same time, a blue flash erupted as Qin Chuan unleashed his ultimate on the wild boar.
"Swish swish swish!"
"Aaaargh!"
A hundred sword shadows rained down, inflicting tremendous damage on the already weakened wild boar.
In the next instant, the Black Dragonwood Sword locked onto its target, killed it, and returned to Qin Chuan as the skill refreshed.
"Go, Flowing Strike!"
Qin Chuan’s eyes blazed as he delivered another killing blow.
"Ding! Killed level 7 Wild Boar, gained 350 experience points, bonus 100% experience for defeating a higher-level enemy, congratulations host, you've gained 700 experience points."
In the blink of an eye, Qin Chuan had taken down two level 7 spiritual beings above his own grade.
"Excellent, devour!"
"Ding! Devour successful, gained 70 evolution points."
"Ding! Devour successful, gained 70 evolution points."
Feeling the surge of primal essence, Qin Chuan was thoroughly satisfied. "Time to vanish—ha!"
Whoosh!
His true form, the Black Dragonwood Sword, vanished into the dense undergrowth, and he glanced at his stats.
Evolution Points: 490/800
Experience: 4600/6400
"Not bad. A couple more and I'll level up and evolve again."
Qin Chuan crept along the grass, only to be met by a spider web flying straight at him as soon as he emerged.
"Damn, ambushed!"
"Ding! Detected top-tier first-rank Red Spider, excellent quality, level 7."
The Red Spider was a master of hunting and patience. It had lain in wait for some time, excitement and anticipation gleaming in its eyes as Qin Chuan appeared.
"Like hell you'll catch me! Blink!"
Always wary of the forest’s dangers, Qin Chuan kept his Blink skill at the ready—a lifesaving trick.
The Black Dragonwood Sword blinked three meters, just outside the spider web’s range.
"Huh?"
The Red Spider was startled by the miss, inadvertently revealing its own position.
"Falling Sky Flowing Strike!"
Qin Chuan reacted instantly, unleashing his ultimate area attack, clearing his line of sight in the process.
Blue light flashed, and a hundred sword shadows rained from above.
"Ding ding ding!"
"Crack!"
The sword shadows struck the Red Spider’s hard shell, producing a crisp clatter.
At the same time, the great tree ahead shattered, and a two-meter-long Red Spider fell from above, battered and wounded.
"Damn you! You dare ambush me? I was ambushing before you were born! I’ll annihilate you!"
Furious, Qin Chuan immediately launched his Flowing Strike, aiming for the Red Spider’s eyes.
"Chirp!"
The Red Spider, just landed and unsteady, could barely react, and Qin Chuan was a mere eight meters away, his sword form flying at lightning speed.
"Thud!"
"Ding! Critical hit triggered, damage increased by 150%."
"Ding! Lethal strike triggered."
"Ding! Rage function activated. When Rage reaches 100, the next attack will be a guaranteed critical hit with knockback."
"Ding! Killed level 7 Red Spider, gained 350 experience points, bonus 100% experience for defeating a higher-level enemy, congratulations host, you've gained 700 experience points."
"Ding! Gained 10 Rage points for killing the Red Spider."
Landing a hit and unlocking a new function, Qin Chuan was elated. "Damn! Full Rage guarantees a critical hit with knockback—use this right and it’s a game-changer!"
"Ha, killing enemies builds Rage too—this is just too great!"
"Devour the essence!"
"Ding! Devour successful, gained 70 evolution points."
Evolution Points: 560/800
Experience: 5300/6400
Rage: 10/100
Qin Chuan quietly celebrated, slipping back into the grass. After what had just happened, he became even more cautious, deciding to lie in wait.
A moment later, there was a rustling ten meters ahead in the grass.
"Damn, here we go again?"
"Falling Sky Flowing Strike!"
Without hesitation, Qin Chuan unleashed his ultimate, clearing the area ahead.
In this series of battles, Qin Chuan discovered how effective his ultimate was for clearing his line of sight. If a powerful enemy appeared, he could retreat immediately; if it was prey, then too bad for them.
"I’ll take all the essence and experience for myself!"
Blue light flashed ahead as a hundred sword shadows rained down.
"Ding ding ding!"
"Who dares ambush me?!"
A furious roar sounded as a black shadow rose upright from the grass, two stout arms brandishing a pair of iron pincers, its body covered in hooked claws.
The bombardment had clearly hurt it, leaving its shell riddled with white marks, nearly punctured.
"Ding! Detected top-tier first-rank Ironclaw Centipede, excellent quality, level 8."
"Damn, this one looks tough. But kite tactics are my specialty!"
Qin Chuan deliberately made some noise and shouted, "Your grandpa is right here!"
"Bastard! You’re dead!"
The Ironclaw Centipede, over three meters long, charged at him in fury.
"Heh, come on! I’ll blink!"
Qin Chuan, seeing the centipede take the bait, gleefully blinked away from his previous position.
"Die!"
The Ironclaw Centipede’s pincers crashed down where Qin Chuan had just been, but caught nothing.
Holding its pincers aloft, the centipede looked around in confusion. "Huh? Where’d you go? You were just here."
"Chirp!"
At that moment, the Black Dragonwood Sword struck from behind.
"Ding!"
"Argh! What hit me? That hurts!"
The Ironclaw Centipede spun around, seething, as the Black Dragonwood Sword returned to its spot, and gave chase.
"Enjoy the piercing effect? Hurt, doesn’t it, you bastard?"
That strike had not only damaged its shell but left the centipede in agony.
Qin Chuan blinked away again, beginning his kiting routine.
A moment later, the system’s melodious chime rang out once more.
"Ding! Killed level 8 Ironclaw Centipede, gained 400 experience points, bonus 100% experience for defeating a higher-level enemy, congratulations host, you've gained 800 experience points."
"Ding! Gained 10 Rage points for killing the Ironclaw Centipede."
"Ha! Another one bites the dust."
Qin Chuan laughed heartily and triggered his devour ability.
"Ding! Devour successful, gained 80 evolution points."
"Almost time to level up—wonderful!"
Evolution Points: 660/800
Experience: 6100/6400
Rage: 20/100