Luo Luoji, lying in the sandpit, saw that familiar figure injure Ye Man with that strike. A complex expression mingling relief and melancholy appeared on his face, as if he were somewhat conflicted.
He was relieved that the boy he had picked up and watched grow had reached this point, and that he had even turned back to save him, proving that he had not misjudged him. Yet part of him wished the boy had never come back.
He had only just entered the Professional Rank, and even his first sneak attack had failed. Aside from learning to shatter his own jade, he had no way to deal with a Three-Star Warrior at all...
"Not bad, not bad! You're truly impressive! You've completely exceeded my expectations—or rather, you've exceeded them far too much! I originally thought only that big fellow could cause me any trouble, but I never expected you to reach this point."
Ye Man had already regained his composure and was clapping continuously as he spoke to his opponent from a distance, his voice full of vigor.
"Still planning to use poison? I deliberately chose the upwind position."
As a ranged archer, Xuan Ye naturally did not mind stalling and keeping his distance from his opponent. However, he secretly heightened his guard. This fellow was too sinister. Was he plotting something?
"Hahaha, this time I'm sincerely inviting you to join us. With your peerless talent, you still had to join the Scavenger Squad before you could stumble your way into the Professional Rank. You should also understand how the aristocratic families and nobles monopolize resources, and..."
Facing Xuan Ye's guarded expression, Ye Man seemed to chuckle before speaking solemnly.
"Don't joke with me. Although I haven't read many books, I still know that Feralas isn't the true name of some Hell Demon God. What the hell does that have to do with noble oppression?"
Xuan Ye clearly wore an expression that said, Are you messing with me?
Secretly, he first half-drew his bow, ensuring that he could fire at the greatest possible speed the moment he straightened it. These little tricks had all been learned from that sly fellow, Ye Man.
"Looks like you've refused. Then there's nothing I can do... Hm, what are you doing with those little movements? You haven't given up yet? With your current strength, the moment your first sneak attack failed, it was already over."
Ye Man shrugged and put on an exasperated expression before launching into his verbal assault. However, the fact that he did not attack immediately clearly showed that he was wary of that ingenious shooting style.
And when facing a Ranger who had just advanced to the Professional Rank, whose profession demanded extreme concentration, especially a young kid lacking experience and worldly knowledge, a mental assault through words would more or less have an effect. That was beyond doubt.
"You won't know unless you try."
Xuan Ye kept a calm expression. At least on the surface, he did not seem affected.
"Heh~ You've only just broken into the Professional Rank, and you're still so young. You lack combat experience and the tempering of blood and death. Can you guarantee that, when necessary, you'll have the resolve to burn your core without hesitation?!"
That false smile returned to Ye Man's face as he slowly spoke. His words carried an inducement and a suggestion. In truth, most fallen Professional Rank Experts never even had the chance to burn their cores. What they lacked was precisely that resolve! Not to mention a young man who had just broken through. Combined with the suggestion and inducement before him, the conditions were ripe!
'Sizzle~'
Before his words had even fully faded, Ye Man, who had looked ready to sit down and have a heart-to-heart conversation, transformed into a desert storm in the next instant and charged toward the dune where Xuan Ye stood!
A Warrior's unique explosive footwork allowed his short-term Charge speed to surpass even that of a Thief focused on agility!
Combined with his deliberately irregular evasive movements and the cover provided by the sand, he truly became impossible to predict!
He had completely overcome the rigid inertia that was the greatest flaw of a Warrior's Charge. His assault trajectory was extraordinarily nimble, and it was likely a movement Combat Skill specifically designed to counter ranged attacks!
He was practically a human-shaped Azure Wolf! His speed over a hundred meters was fully controlled within two seconds!
His absolute speed was slightly inferior to an Azure Wolf's, but he was still carrying a Heavy Axe!
A Heavy Axe that was more than capable of blocking arrows when necessary!
'Whoosh!'
Xuan Ye had been fully prepared to shoot and launched his attack first without the slightest hesitation!
To him, a moving opponent was easier to track than a stationary target with limitless possibilities! Because of inertia!
Within his 'Perception,' the Professional Core successfully condensed in his Inner Palace began releasing searing stimulating energy, constantly stimulating and activating his body. His strength and reactions were worlds apart from before his advancement.
Yet the most striking change was the enhancement of the five senses represented by the word 'Perception'!
His dynamic vision in particular had improved tremendously. When he concentrated, every visual image appeared slowed down to a certain degree.
Combined with his unique environmental parameter scanning, this was like adding wings to a tiger when it came to drawing his bow and firing arrows.
The arrows shot out continuously like rockets, trailing white waves of air. They swept forward with an air that could seal off every direction around Ye Man, blocking every possible path!
Every arrow had a different speed and power. Ordinary arrows with penetrating force were interspersed with occasional charged attacks, and every strike targeted a point of exertion that made Ye Man feel especially sick and uncomfortable.
Xuan Ye's unique qualities were being displayed to the fullest!
'Clang~'
A charged arrow precisely struck the blade of the Heavy Axe, which had just blocked an arrow and was still in the middle of a throwing motion. It caught the fleeting moment when the old force had faded and the new force had yet to arise, causing the entire Heavy Axe to jerk to a stop and become rigid, unable to be withdrawn in time!
Then an ordinary arrow that had seemed intended only to disrupt the target wobbled into Ye Man's left shoulder!
The sharp arrow pierced his flesh, and the momentum after it embedded itself tore a hideous wound through all the muscles around his shoulder!
"I won't suffer the same loss twice!"
Having landed a hit, Xuan Ye felt a trace of excitement. He had used an arrow that looked lethal and swift as bait, while the ordinary arrow fired first was the true killing move. This was completely contrary to the style he had displayed before!
Even a cunning old fox like Ye Man had fallen for it!
If he had had time to think and react, the trick would actually have been easy to see through. Unfortunately, every arrow Xuan Ye fired in his continuous assault served a purpose, and they were too devious. Dealing with them was already extremely difficult. He gave his opponent no time to think or prepare, leaving him able to block only by instinct and subconscious reaction!
However, Ye Man, who had been hit by the arrow, was now less than thirty paces from Xuan Ye! He had entered a dangerous distance!
There were four arrows left in the quiver—enough for two simple patterns or one composite pattern!
Grip the arrow. Guide it!
On the other side, Ye Man had been forced to stop because of the arrow in his shoulder and its powerful tearing force. A solemn expression appeared on his face as he briefly confronted Xuan Ye from thirty paces away.
He stared fixedly at his opponent while slowly raising a hand to grip the arrowhead lodged in his body and snap it off.
As he broke the arrow shaft, Xuan Ye forcibly suppressed the tempting urge to attack and maintained a heightened state of alert. It was as if some unseen voice were telling him what peril he would fall into if he attacked at that moment.
The two sides were now within striking distance, their auras entangled and ready to erupt at any instant. The tension was several times greater than before!
"Looks like suffering a few losses at my hands has made you more cautious. But do you think you can escape simply by refusing to follow my rhythm? Now I can also tell you what my Bloodline Power is. It's... Bloodlust Power!"
Ye Man gripped his Heavy Axe and stared fixedly at Xuan Ye's arm movements as he spoke slowly in a slightly hoarse voice due to his injury.
The moment he began speaking, Xuan Ye already sensed an enormous threat. Once he heard what Ye Man had said, surprise and horror appeared in his heart.
Given his opponent's displayed talent, there was absolutely no need to doubt whether he had awakened a Bloodline Power.
Xuan Ye was not surprised by how high the rank of his opponent's Bloodline Power was. He was surprised that someone with Ye Man's talent possessed only this cheap Bloodline Power that he had rated as a skin tag!
Yet being cheap and common did not mean Bloodlust Power was weak!
After natural evolution and survival of the fittest, it had become the most widely distributed Bloodline Power. Without a doubt, it possessed the strongest adaptability and practicality!
The more severe the injury, the stronger the ability! As long as one still had a breath left, one could unleash peak-level attacks! Its ability to turn the tables and wear down opponents was astonishing!
Then that seemingly injured left arm he had ignored...
Not good!
A fierce gust of wind came straight at him. Xuan Ye instinctively fired his final arrow and simultaneously rolled violently to the side.
He no longer expected this arrow to injure the enemy. He only hoped it could obstruct him for a moment!
The instant he lowered his head, the arrowhead of the broken arrow that had initially struck his opponent flashed past, scraping across his smooth, bare scalp!
No wonder he had sensed danger earlier! Fortunately, he had played it safe and kept the arrow on his bow, giving himself one final chance to struggle.
He just did not know whether it would work!
After rolling heavily across the sand, Xuan Ye's momentum had only just decreased when he leaped backward with sand covering his body.
Just as his rear foot left the ground, a curtain of sand exploded before him! The axe had slammed heavily into the sand in front of him!
The burst of sand stung his cheeks and made him close his eyes involuntarily.
If not for the arrow he had fired, or if he had not decisively leaped backward, that powerful strike would have been enough to turn him into a meat patty!
"You may not be the strongest One-Star Ranger I've ever seen, but you're the most talented person I've ever seen when it comes to fitting the Ranger profession! Unfortunately, you have no chance now!"
With the arrow that had obstructed him still stuck in his thigh, Ye Man had endured the attack to close in. After his strike missed, he decisively raised his axe and slashed upward while roaring. The surging power of his Qi and Blood Battle Roar instantly scattered all the sand around them!
A roar and dizziness appeared in Xuan Ye's ears!
His opponent had lost every possibility of variation!
A ferocious look of triumph also appeared on Ye Man's face. He had finally dealt with this troublesome kid! He would not even give him the chance to burn his core!
Yet Xuan Ye, who had just leaped backward into midair, suddenly spoke.
"Who told you I was a Ranger?"
The instant he began speaking, he opened the eyes he had closed to avoid the curtain of sand. What entered Ye Man's sight was a sea of crimson...
Thanks to Book Sea Without End 69, Masked Dance of Heaven, WHy, Ran Ye 1992, Twisted Edge, and the other readers for your rewards, as well as to everyone for your support.
That's all for today's update. The weather's so hot that I'm heading back to Africa to escape the heat.
Before you continue