Wang Xuan felt as though an enormous pressure were weighing down on him.
He took a deep breath. Rather than immediately using his Attribute Points, he chose to start practicing archery.
Each time his Attribute Points increased, his body would temporarily weaken. He planned to break through in archery first, then use the Attribute Points.
"Time to begin!"
Wang Xuan took a deep breath. The Double Efficiency effect activated, and he began practicing archery in the clearing.
Your Basic Archery experience +3 Your Basic Archery experience +3 ...
Arrow after arrow flew out. Wang Xuan's archery began improving at a rapid pace, and before he knew it, he had reached a critical threshold.
More than ten minutes later.
The Crimson Panel's notification sounded beside his ear.
Your Basic Archery has broken through to Great Mastery. You have obtained two Attribute Points. Attribute Points: 4 Basic Archery: Great Mastery progress 1/800 Archery effect evolved. Sure Shot → Triple Star Shot: Fire three arrows in succession within three seconds. The arrows can converge upon a single point, greatly increasing damage. Can pierce through a tree fifty centimeters in diameter. Your strength has increased. Current strength: 120 kilograms!
As the Crimson Panel's notification faded, Wang Xuan felt an indescribable sensation appear in his mind. His understanding of archery had deepened by more than double.
A sharp gleam surged in his eyes. Unable to conceal his delight, he murmured, "Two Attribute Points. I never expected breaking through to Great Mastery in archery would double the Attribute Points gained!"
"And the archery effect evolved as well! Triple Star Shot—three arrows in three seconds, all converging on one point. Its killing power is multiplied several times over. Even in the military, this would be enough to call someone a divine archer!"
Wang Xuan was overjoyed.
To fire three arrows in succession within three seconds and make them converge on one point meant that from raising the bow and nocking the arrow to firing it, he had only one second!
Such a terrifying ability could absolutely be called that of a divine archer!
Looking at the four Attribute Points on the panel, Wang Xuan did not hesitate.
"Crimson, add points!"
All four Attribute Points were used at once.
In an instant!
A muffled peal of thunder rang out within Wang Xuan's body, like the pounding of massive war drums!
Thump! Thump!
At first, the sound was not obvious. Yet several seconds later, it resounded through the night sky like rolling thunder!
It carried an indescribable oppression!
Wang Xuan's expression abruptly changed!
His flesh and blood actually began to pulse along with the thunderous sound!
The flesh, sinews, bones, and muscles throughout his body seemed to be tempered!
Scorching waves of heat radiated from his body, one layer after another!
"Ah!"
Wang Xuan could not help sucking in cold air. An indescribable pain spread through his entire body.
It was as if someone were holding him down and hammering him!
His skin continuously strengthened beneath that pounding. At last, it broke through a certain limit and turned a faint bronze color!
Like ox hide!
More than ten seconds later, the thunderous sound gradually disappeared.
Wang Xuan panted heavily, staring at his body in disbelief!
The muscles on his body had grown by thirty percent.
The skin all over his body shone with a faint bronze gleam, as tough as ox hide!
Your strength has increased. Current strength: 200 kilograms! Your body has broken through its current limit and reached the Ox Hide level of the Iron Skin Realm. Defense greatly increased.
The Crimson Panel's notification sounded, and Wang Xuan's heart surged with emotion!
He felt a power unlike anything he had ever known!
The next moment!
He threw out a savage punch!
The wind from his fist howled, and the air instantly exploded!
Bang!
The violent sound filled Wang Xuan with delight!
"What incredible strength!"
"The Iron Skin Realm... could this be the realm of martial artists?"
Wang Xuan muttered, a gleam flashing in his eyes!
With that punch just now, he felt that he could kill a cow with a single blow!
Wang Xuan did not know exactly what kind of realm the Ox Hide level of the Iron Skin Realm was.
But he could clearly feel that his physical strength had soared, and that the skin all over his body had become as tough as ox hide!
He lightly drew his hunting knife across his skin with some force, yet it did not leave a single mark!
"I wonder whether my current strength is enough to kill Shi Yong!"
A surge of killing intent suddenly rose in Wang Xuan's heart!
He thought of Shi Yong!
Shi Yong was now working for Zhou Bapi. Last time, he had driven the Black Bear toward Wang Xuan, intending to kill with a borrowed knife!
Together with the probing he had done during the day, Wang Xuan was certain that Shi Yong would strike again!
The most likely time was tomorrow!
Rather than wait for Shi Yong to come looking for him, it would be better to take the initiative himself!
Kill Shi Yong!
Cut off all future troubles!
The moment that thought arose, it grew wildly in Wang Xuan's heart like weeds!
But just as Wang Xuan was considering this matter, an intense weakness suddenly swept over him. His vision went black, and he nearly fell.
"Not good! The increase was too fierce. The energy in my body is exhausted!"
"So... hungry!"
Wang Xuan dropped to one knee, his face turning deathly pale. He had gained forty kilograms of strength at once, directly draining all the energy in his body!
"I need to replenish my energy!"
Wang Xuan struggled to his feet, picked up his bow and arrows, and returned to the courtyard.
Lu Yao happened to be carrying out the cooked squirrel meat. Seeing Wang Xuan's pale face, she immediately set down the meat and hurried over.
"Brother Shi, what happened? Why does your face look so terrible?"
"Don't scare me!"
Lu Yao was badly frightened and quickly supported Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan gave a bitter smile. "I practiced too hard."
"Sister-in-law, I'm hungry."
Lu Yao sighed in relief. "So that's what it was. You scared me to death."
"The food is ready. Hurry inside and eat."
With Lu Yao supporting him, Wang Xuan entered the room and sat down. Lu Yao brought out the cooked millet, squirrel meat, fatty pork, and some wild vegetables.
Wang Xuan was starving. Without hesitation, he immediately wolfed everything down.
After shoveling down several large bowls of rice in succession, the weakness in his body gradually faded.
"Good thing I didn't strengthen my body in the mountains."
"Next time I use Attribute Points to improve myself, I must prepare enough food beforehand!"
The lessons from those two occasions made Wang Xuan keenly realize the importance of preparing food in advance.
"Sister-in-law, I still need to enter the mountains tomorrow."
"I'll have to trouble you to prepare some more food for me later."
After finishing his meal, Wang Xuan said this to Lu Yao.
"What?"
"You're going into the mountains again? Can your body handle it?"
Lu Yao immediately grew worried.
Although Wang Xuan had caught prey today, she had never stopped worrying about him.
Wang Xuan smiled. "Don't worry, Sister-in-law."
"My body is fine. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to catch all this prey today. Besides, the day after tomorrow is the day we have to repay Zhou Bapi. I have no choice but to enter the mountains."
Lu Yao lowered her head at his words.
She knew that Wang Xuan entered the mountains to keep her from jumping into a sea of fire.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm holding you back."
Lu Yao lowered her head, her face full of self-reproach.
Seeing this, Wang Xuan hurriedly comforted her. "Sister-in-law, don't be like this. You're my sister-in-law. Taking care of you is what I should do."
"Besides, when I was sick before, weren't you the one who cared for me all along? Without you, I would have died long ago."
Hearing this, Lu Yao slowly raised her head.
Their eyes met. Wang Xuan gave Lu Yao a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Sister-in-law. I'm not the same as I used to be."
"Look, I've even got muscles in my arms now!"
Wang Xuan raised his arm and showed Lu Yao the muscles that had already bulged on his forearm.
Lu Yao's face flushed slightly at the sight.
"Alright, then I'll... go prepare it for you."
Lu Yao spoke softly and began clearing away the bowls and chopsticks.
Watching Lu Yao stand up, Wang Xuan could not help sighing.
The matter of Zhou Bapi was like a stone pressing down on both their hearts, leaving them unable to breathe.
"This has to be dealt with as soon as possible!"
"Right now... I'm still too weak!"
Wang Xuan muttered, fury rising in his eyes.
The thought of killing Shi Yong surfaced once more!
"Should I make a move..."
Wang Xuan began to ponder.
Shi Yong was not only an old hunter, but he also had a younger brother at the martial arts school!
With Zhou Bapi as his backer, almost no one in Black Mountain Village dared provoke him.
But!
Wang Xuan's encounter with the Black Bear last time had undoubtedly shown that Shi Yong—or perhaps Zhou Bapi—wanted him dead!
"A true man who hesitates when he should cut will only suffer chaos instead!"
"I can't sit and wait for death!"
"I must strike first and gain the upper hand!"
Wang Xuan was not someone who wavered. After thinking for merely a dozen seconds, he made up his mind.
But he did not set out immediately. The sky had only been dark for a short while, and Shi Yong likely had not gone to sleep yet.
He needed to wait. Only when the night was deep and all was still would it be a good time to act!
"Practice archery first. I'll move later!"
After resting for a while, Wang Xuan began practicing archery outside. Intense killing intent filled his heart, causing every arrow he fired to carry killing intent!
You fired an arrow filled with killing intent. Basic Archery experience +10 You fired an arrow filled with killing intent. Basic Archery experience +11 ...
After his archery improved, his experience began rising as well. Coupled with the blessings of killing intent and Double Efficiency, Wang Xuan's Basic Archery began to grow madly.
An hour later.
Basic Archery: Great Mastery progress 565/800
"Whew... I never expected the killing intent in my heart to make my experience rise this quickly. If I practice for another hour, I'll probably reach perfection!"
Wang Xuan let out a breath and looked up at the sky.
Dark clouds covered the heavens. The moonlight was black, and a faint breeze lingered in the air.
Perfect weather for murder!
"Unfortunately, there's no time."
"Shi Yong, today... you will die!"
Wang Xuan muttered, killing intent churning in his eyes!
He packed up his things without alerting Lu Yao, then left with his bow, arrows, and hunting knife on his back.
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