Points

The next morning.

Lin Suchou and Luo Li rode the little mare toward the rising sun.

Along the way, they killed beasts when they encountered beasts and killed people when they encountered people, though everyone they came across had taken the initiative to flee.

Most of the time, Lin Suchou could not be bothered to chase them. After all, killing Spirit Beasts earned Spirit Essence, while killing people only earned Blood Tokens.

The Tokens in Yang Hong and the others' Storage Bags alone numbered no fewer than several dozen. Lin Suchou had a total of eighty-six Tokens, so he was not lacking them for the time being.

The points from Guardian Land had been reset to zero after entering this Trial Land.

He only had thirty-two points now. Based on his observations over the past two days,

Spirit Movement Realm Spirit Beasts were worth one to three points, Spirit Wheel Realm ones were worth four to six points, and Spirit Soul Realm Spirit Beasts were worth seven to nine points.

As for other Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, their points were also calculated according to their strength, but they were extremely difficult to find and were all guarded by powerful companion Spirit Beasts.

However, killing other students was worth five points per head!

Only then did Lin Suchou finally understand why Zhao Long had suggested killing people back in Guardian Land.

One hundred and twenty people reduced to thirty meant there was a total quota of at least four hundred and fifty points!

The Spirit Road truly was cruel...

Fortunately, he had the Luo Ling Heavenly Horse for travel. By noon, Lin Suchou had arrived at the entrance of a gloomy valley.

"Whoosh, whoosh."

Chilling winds blew continuously from within, sending shivers down the spine.

Lin Suchou and Luo Li exchanged a glance. Seeing the determination in each other's eyes, Lin Suchou lightly tapped the little mare's belly with his left foot, and she plunged headlong into the valley where the sinister winds howled.

After entering the valley and traveling several hundred meters, Lin Suchou had not encountered a single Spirit Beast.

This only made him more certain that an exceedingly powerful Spirit Beast was inside. It might even be ranked on the Earth Ranking—a high-tier Spirit Beast comparable to the Spirit Soul Realm!

The possibility was slim, but if their luck was bad, they might really run into one.

Only after Lin Suchou and Luo Li had completely entered the valley did they look around. The valley was dark and damp, moss covered the ground, and water constantly dripped down from the cliffs.

"Croak, croak—"

Suddenly, the cry of a toad caught Lin Suchou and Luo Li's attention.

Following the sound, they saw an emerald-green pool beneath the mountain wall ahead.

The cries came from there.

Lin Suchou had Luo Li dismount first. Then, riding the little mare, he approached the pool to observe what this toad looked like and how strong it was.

Splash.

Suddenly, a massive shadow leaped from the pool. Only when it landed atop a huge boulder did Lin Suchou see the toad's full appearance.

Its skin was pitch-black, but its belly was pale and tender. Its back was covered in pustules of all sizes, each filled with deadly poison.

It stood two zhang tall. Most eye-catching of all was its third eye. As that enormous vertical pupil swept over him, Lin Suchou felt as though he had been seen through.

This toad was actually at the peak of the late Spirit Wheel Realm. Just one step further, and it would enter the Spirit Soul Realm and join the ranks of high-tier Spirit Beasts!

"It's a Three-Eyed Demonic Toad. Be careful—don't let its venom splash onto you!" Luo Li warned from the side. "Its third eye can slow down an object's movements. Even an Emperor Swan moving at top speed would appear several times slower in its eyes!"

"Then I'll test whether this outfit really is a Divine Artifact!"

Having made up his mind, Lin Suchou rode the little mare toward the Three-Eyed Demonic Toad.

"Goddess Luo's Flying Flowers!"

As Lin Suchou drew near, he instantly slashed out a hundred sword shadows.

Yet the Three-Eyed Demonic Toad gave a light leap and landed not far from Luo Li. Its slime-coated tongue shot toward her.

Fortunately, Luo Li was no mere ornament. She wielded the Luo Shen Sword with whistling force. A sound like a tide being cleaved apart rang out, and with a single strike, Luo Li wounded the Three-Eyed Demonic Toad's tongue.

"Croak!"

The Three-Eyed Demonic Toad cried out in pain, then seemed to grow enraged. It slowly turned around as the pustules on its back continuously secreted venom in all colors.

Fortunately, Lin Suchou arrived on horseback in time, scooped Luo Li onto the mare, and left the spot.

Sizzle, sizzle.

The place where Luo Li had been standing was instantly corroded by venom. The bubbling sounds of dissolving stone rose one after another.

Lin Suchou let out a breath. Thankfully, he had arrived in time.

"You stay here with the little mare. I'll be right back!"

Lin Suchou leaped from the mare and returned to the valley.

Seeing that Lin Suchou actually dared to return, the Three-Eyed Demonic Toad immediately spat out dozens of streams of venom.

But the Shou Luo Sword spun endlessly in Lin Suchou's hand. Blazing Crimson Flame directly blocked the venom and vaporized it into mist.

White vapor soon filled the valley, concealing Lin Suchou's figure.

"With the mist covering me, how can your third eye see me?"

Lin Suchou muttered as he suddenly appeared behind it, gripping his sword with both hands and slashing down heavily. "Goddess Luo's Water Strike!"

This attack, which gathered all of Lin Suchou's strength, came down and instantly cleaved three... three enormous boulders in half.

The Three-Eyed Demonic Toad had noticed his movement long ago and leaped straight into the open space at the center of the valley, its massive slimy tongue shooting toward him.

"It can even see through the mist?"

Lin Suchou truly found this troublesome now. He had encountered too few types of Spirit Beasts.

At this moment, he placed all his hopes on the Luo Shen Robe he wore. This robe was a God-tier Low-grade Spirit Artifact, so it should not disappoint him, right?

With that thought, Lin Suchou pulled himself together, adjusted his breathing, and charged straight at it.

Seeing such a slow ant dare to attack it, the Three-Eyed Demonic Toad did not dodge this time. Instead, it turned around, took a deep breath, and sprayed the venom from its back at him.

"Croak!"

Facing the oncoming venom, Lin Suchou chose to take it head-on. He gripped his sword tightly with both hands, took a running start, and leaped high into the air.

"Goddess Luo's World-Shaking Strike!"

When the venom struck the Luo Shen Robe, the Blue Long Robe suddenly formed a blue water shield that blocked it.

The water shield then exploded, and some of the venom even flew into the Three-Eyed Demonic Toad's third eye.

Feeling something in its eye, the toad instinctively raised a hand and rubbed it. When it opened its eye again, it saw a flaming longsword descending toward its head.

"Croak!"

The Three-Eyed Demonic Toad tried to leap away, but it was already too late.

Its eyesight was sharp, but it was not exceptionally fast.

The instant its legs left the ground, the Shou Luo Sword crashed heavily onto its head and slid downward, splitting it symmetrically in two from the center of its body.

Lin Suchou took out its green Spirit Essence, let out a breath, and dropped onto the ground.

That strike had truly drained him dry.

When he emerged from the valley again, Luo Li and the little mare immediately came over to greet him.

"How did it go!?"

Luo Li stepped forward and asked with concern.

Lin Suchou smiled without speaking. He merely raised a green Spirit Essence and gave it a shake.

"Whew, I thought you couldn't beat that Three-Eyed Demonic Toad."

"How could that be!?" Lin Suchou smiled confidently. "I'm Empress's man. How could I protect the Empress without some ability?"

"Stop bragging and keep earning points."

Luo Li laughed and urged him on.

"As you command."

Lin Suchou laughed aloud, lifted Luo Li onto the mare, and continued forward toward the sun!