Learning and Application

The Luo Luoji in the sand pit, seeing that familiar figure who had struck and wounded Ye Man, revealed a complex expression mingling relief and melancholy, as if torn.

Both relieved that the kid he had picked up and watched grow had reached this point, and that he had come back to save him, proving he hadn't misjudged him, yet also somewhat wishing he hadn't returned.

Just having stepped into the Professional Rank, his first sneak attack had failed, and aside from learning from him and shattering his core, he had no way to deal with a Three-Star Warrior...

"Not bad, not bad! You're really something! Far beyond what I expected, or rather, too far beyond what I expected! I thought only this big guy could give me trouble, but I never imagined you could reach this level."

Ye Man, having already regained his calm, kept clapping, his voice full of vigor as he communicated across the distance.

"Still thinking of using poison? I made sure to pick the upwind position."

As a long-range archer, Xuan Ye naturally didn't mind dragging out the time and distance with the other party, but he secretly heightened his guard—this guy was too cunning, probably up to some trick.

"Haha, this time I'm genuinely inviting you to join us. With your peerless talent, you only barely broke through to the Professional Rank by joining a Scavenger Squad. You should know well how the noble families and aristocrats monopolize resources, and..."

Ye Man, facing Xuan Ye's wary look, seemed to chuckle lightly and spoke solemnly.

"Don't mess with me. I may not have read much, but I know Feralas is the true name of some Hell Demon God, not some nonsense about noble oppression."

Xuan Ye clearly wore an expression of 'are you f***ing kidding me.'

On the sly, he first half-drew his bow, ensuring he could shoot it out as fast as possible once aligned—these little tricks were all learned from that sly fox Ye Man.

"Looks like you're refusing. That's too bad... Hmm, what's with those little moves of yours? Still not giving up? With your current strength, after that first sneak attack failed, it was already over."

Shrugging, Ye Man put on a helpless expression, then launched into his verbal assault. But obviously, from the fact that he didn't charge directly, it was clear he was wary of that uncanny shooting style.

And facing a newly promoted Professional Rank Ranger, a profession that demanded extreme mental focus, and a young, inexperienced kid, a verbal mental assault could still have some effect—that was beyond doubt.

"How would you know without trying?"

Xuan Ye kept his face calm, at least on the surface, seemingly unaffected.

"Heh~, just broke through to the Professional Rank, and so young, lacking combat experience, lacking the tempering of blood and death... Can you guarantee, at the critical moment, the resolve to burn your core without hesitation?!"

Ye Man put back on that fake smile, speaking slowly, his words carrying a hint of suggestion and implication. In truth, most fallen Professional Rank Experts never even get the chance to burn their cores—what they lack is that very resolve! Let alone a newly promoted youth. With the suggestion and implication laid out, the conditions were ripe!

'Zzzt~'

Before his words had even fully faded, though a moment ago he looked ready for a long chat, the next instant, Ye Man transformed into a desert storm, charging toward the sand dune where Xuan Ye stood!

The Warrior's unique explosive footwork let him sprint at speeds that could even outpace the agility-focused Thief in short bursts!

Combined with deliberate erratic evasion and the natural cover of the sand, he was truly unpredictable!

Completely overcoming the rigid inertia typical of a Warrior's charge, his assault trajectory was extremely fluid—likely a specialized Combat Skill for countering ranged attacks!

He was like a humanoid Azure Wolf! Covering a hundred meters in under two seconds!

Though his absolute speed was slightly slower than an Azure Wolf, he was carrying a Heavy Axe!

An axe that, when needed, could block arrows!

'Whoosh'

Xuan Ye, who had been ready to shoot all along, launched his attack without a moment's hesitation!

For him, a moving target was easier to track than a stationary one with infinite possibilities—because of inertia!

The Professional Core, now condensed within the Inner Palace of 'Perception,' began releasing searing energy, constantly stimulating and activating his physical body. His strength and reactions were incomparable to before his class change.

Yet the most striking change was the enhancement of the five senses, representing 'Perception'!

Especially his dynamic vision, which had greatly improved. When his mind focused, all visual scenes slowed down to a certain ratio.

Combined with his unique environmental parameter scanning, this was like adding wings to his archery.

Like rockets, arrows shot out in a continuous stream, trailing white air currents, sweeping away all obstacles ahead and sealing off every direction Ye Man could take!

Each arrow had a different speed and power, with occasional charged strikes interspersed among ordinary penetrating shots. Every aimed point was a spot that made Ye Man feel exceptionally uncomfortable and awkward to exert force.

Xuan Ye brought his own uniqueness to full play!

'Clang~'

A charged arrow precisely struck the blade of the Heavy Axe, which had just deflected one arrow and was still in a swinging motion, catching the fleeting moment when new force had yet to be generated, causing the entire axe to freeze in a stiff state, unable to retract in time!

Then, an ordinary arrow that seemed only meant to disrupt the target wobbled its way into Ye Man's left shoulder!

The arrow pierced through, its inertia after embedding tearing a gruesome wound across the shoulder muscles!

"I won't fall for the same trick twice!"

Xuan Ye, having scored a hit, felt a surge of excitement. Using seemingly lethal rapid arrows as bait, while the ordinary arrow fired first was the real killer—this was completely opposite to the style he had shown before!

Even a cunning old fox like Ye Man had fallen for it!

If he had time to think and react, the trick would have been easy to see through, but Xuan Ye's continuous volley had each arrow serving its purpose, too tricky to handle, leaving no time for thought or preparation—only instinctive, subconscious blocking!

But now, the arrow-struck Ye Man was less than thirty steps away from Xuan Ye! Already within dangerous range!

And there were only four arrows left in the quiver! Enough for two simple patterns or one complex pattern!

Nock the arrow, draw!

On the other side, Ye Man, forced to stop by the tearing pain in his shoulder, now wore a grave expression. Thirty steps apart, he briefly faced off against Xuan Ye.

While keeping his eyes locked on the opponent, he slowly raised a hand, grabbed the arrowhead embedded in his body, and snapped it off with a twist.

As he broke the arrow shaft, Xuan Ye forcibly suppressed the tempting urge to attack, maintaining a state of high alert. It was as if some unseen voice was telling him that launching an assault at that moment would lead him into a deadly trap.

Now, both sides were within a range where they could fight to the death, their auras entangled and ready to erupt at any moment—far more tense than before!

"It seems that after suffering a few losses at my hands, you've become cautious too. But do you really think that just refusing to follow my rhythm will save you? Now, I can tell you my Bloodline Power—it's... Bloodlust Power!"

Ye Man, gripping the Heavy Axe, stared intently at Xuan Ye's arm movements and spoke in a voice hoarse from his injuries.

The moment he opened his mouth, Xuan Ye already sensed a tremendous threat. And when he heard what was said, shock and alarm flickered in his heart.

Given the opponent's talent, there was no doubt that he had awakened his Bloodline Power.

Xuan Ye wasn't startled by the grade of the Bloodline Power, but rather by the fact that someone with such talent possessed only this cheap power—one he had dismissed as a stubborn rash!

But being cheap and common didn't mean Bloodlust Power was weak!

Among all Bloodline Powers that had survived natural selection and spread the widest, this was undoubtedly the most adaptable and practical!

The heavier the injury, the stronger the ability! As long as a single breath remained, one could unleash a peak attack! Its counter-kill and attrition capabilities were astonishing!

That meant... the seemingly injured left arm he had overlooked...

Not good!

A gust of wind rushed toward him. Xuan Ye instinctively fired his last arrow while rolling violently to the side.

With this arrow, he no longer sought to wound the enemy—only to buy himself a moment!

As he ducked his head, the broken arrowhead that had first struck his opponent whizzed past his bare scalp!

No wonder the sense of crisis had appeared! Thankfully, he had held onto the arrow on his bowstring for a final struggle.

But would it even work?

He rolled heavily across the sandy ground, and as his momentum slowed, Xuan Ye leaped backward, covered in sand.

The moment his back foot left the ground, a burst of sand exploded before him—the axe had slammed heavily into the earth!

The flying grit stung his face, forcing his eyes shut.

If not for that arrow he had fired, if not for the decisive backward leap, that powerful strike would have crushed him into a meat patty!

"You may not be the strongest one-star Ranger I've ever met, but you're the most talented fit for the profession! But now, you've run out of chances!"

With the arrow still lodged in his thigh, Ye Man had endured the attack to close in. After missing, he immediately lifted his axe for an upward slash while letting out a battle cry. The surge of Qi and Blood power instantly scattered all the sand around!

A ringing dizziness filled Xuan Ye's ears!

The opponent had lost all room for change!

A triumphant, vicious grin spread across Ye Man's face—finally, he had dealt with this troublesome brat! He wouldn't even give him a chance to activate the Burning Core!

But at that moment, Xuan Ye, still midair from his backward leap, suddenly spoke.

"Who told you I was a Ranger?"

As his words began, he opened the eyes he had shut to avoid the sand. What met Ye Man's gaze was a flash of crimson...

Thanks to book friends Shuhai Wubian 69, Jiamian Wutian, WHy, Ran Ye 1992, Niubian Bianyuan, and other readers for their tips, as well as all the readers for their support.

That's all for today's update. The weather is too hot—I'm heading back to Africa to cool off.