Storm Plains.
Ming Shu was shrouded in a black, malevolent wind, his silver hair danced wildly, and his robes fluttered in the wind.
Like a god riding a torrent of destruction, using himself as the eye, he drives the heaven-and-earth tornado of malevolent winds forward.
As far as the eye could see, the herds of Thunder Horn Rhinoceros roaming the earth and the floating Wind Element were all swept into the edge of the tornado by the Berserk suction force.
Sizzle!
Countless serrated blades, precisely Control by telekinesis and with high-frequency vibrations at their edges, shot out from inside the tornado, transforming into meat grinder blades that instantly sliced and dismembered the monsters caught within.
Flesh and blood, shell, elemental core—all matter was instantly reduced to the finest particles, then ground down by pure malevolent wind energy, transforming into mist that continuously flowed into his body.
The level of the Monster Soul continues to climb at Berserk rate.
But that's not enough.
The Eagle Head Demon's Perception from the Ming Shu spread outwards from him like an invisible spider web.
The three-dimensional Perception granted by the Eagle Head Demon clearly Reflection every fluctuation of life within a radius of several kilometers in his mind.
"Northeast, 2 km, Thunder Lizard Group ----Southwest, 3 km, Small Wind Element Life Group----"
His mind raced, calculating the optimal clearing route and experience gain efficiency.
With a slight thought, the malevolent wind tornado above suddenly split into a tributary, like a ferocious black python, whipping up sand and gravel from the earth and biting towards the northeast.
At the same time, the main tornado he was piloting turned southwest, and its speed increased again.
Divide your attention and eliminate two high-value targets simultaneously.
This is a height that ordinary players can hardly reach, and it is the ultimate test of a player's mental Control, yet the Ming Shu proceeds without any hindrance.
He was already capable of doing this before becoming a player.
This was also one of his survival skills when exploring the Monster World; he had long since ingrained it into his instincts.
Rumble!
To the northeast, above Thunder Lizard Group running through the air, a giant black serpent suddenly crashed in.
The countless thick bolts of lightning spewed out by the thunder lizards were twisted and disintegrated the moment they touched the evil wind, which instead amplified the wind's power.
The next moment, a dense Heavy Hammer of telekinetic hammers rained down like meteors, smashing the nest and the lizards inside into a scorched crater. The fierce wind swept the monster horde up and sliced them through the air, turning them into a mist that flowed back.
To the southwest, a tornado violently crashed into the Wind Element.
Although they belong to the wind element, these naturally born elemental entities are like infants facing a giant before the tornado in the Ming Shu, which is imbued with malevolent energy and the power of thought.
Their life forms were instantly torn apart, becoming part of the tornado, causing its size to subtly expand once more.
"Not enough!"
Ming Shu clenched his teeth, and the veins on his forehead became increasingly prominent.
The continuous bursts of high intensity and precise Control caused his mental energy to surge like boiling water, sending waves of stabbing, throbbing pain through him.
But he didn't care at all. He took out a bottle of azure blue " Deep Sea Soothing Potion " that he had bought from the Trading House from his storage space again, tilted his head back and gulped it down.
The cool, icy blue sensation instantly soothed some of the burning pain in his mind, clearing his thoughts once more.
He can't stop for a moment now.
That guy called "Night Patrolman" was like a tireless beast, relentlessly chasing after him, and the gap between them was narrowing further.
Even through the list, he could feel a fierce aura.
A flash of crimson light appeared in Ming Shu's eyes. He pressed his hands down, and the surging evil wind and psychic power around him began to vibrate at an even more Berserk frequency.
The color of the tornado shifted from jet black to a more chilling Dark Red, as if it were stained with blood and fire.
The diffusion properties were activated, the tornado's range expanded again, and its movement speed increased dramatically. Wherever it passed, it scraped away meters of the ground, leaving behind a smooth, mirror-like surface.
The choice of the Ming Shu was to overdraw one's resources, which resulted in peak output in the final few hours.
Even if I eventually die from the side effects of the drug, it will be worth it.
Under his Berserk attacks, monsters were constantly being reduced to nothing in the Calamity of the Fiends.
The rate at which Monster Soul Experience increases has increased again.
The throne is within reach; how can I allow others to lay their hands on it?
This was the first step he had taken to ascend to godhood, earned through two years of hard labor. How could this first step, a triumphant one, be interrupted?
Meanwhile, in the Pohun Rift.
The scene here is completely different from the "catastrophe-ravaged" Storm Plains, yet it is equally filled with violence and destruction.
boom!
Click!
A figure wreathed in Dark Red red wind and lightning crashed into a group of " Lava Colossus " that had just emerged from the cracks in the earth's veins, like an out-of-control meteorite.
It was a larger variant than the ordinary Rockcap Beast, over seven meters tall, its entire body made of Dark Red, scorching rock, with Lava Veins flowing across its surface, and each movement was accompanied by Roar like an eruption of subterranean fire.
Lin Ji's figure appeared extremely small compared to them.
But in the next instant, the insignificant one stirred up a storm.
"Gāng Qì, explode!"
With a deep roar, Lin Ji's crimson Gāng Qì exploded, transforming into a blood-flame shockwave that spherically rippled outwards.
The three-headed Lava Colossus, bearing the brunt of the impact, was violently struck by the Berserk of the combined multiple properties of the Gāng Qì. The Lava Veins on its body were instantly covered with cracks, and its heavy body was pushed backward.
Using the recoil, Lin Ji darted along the ground like a ghost, instantly appearing beneath the raised foot of a Lava Colossus.
Rage, Shatter, Critical Hit!
Right fist, from bottom to top, reverse punch.
The Dark Red wind and lightning on the fist "Tyrant" were compressed to the extreme, transforming into a spiraling sharp cone that slammed solidly into the relatively vulnerable joint of the Lava Colossus.
Thump!
Like a thunderclap, a Berserk force erupted.
The Lava Colossus was like glass struck by a massive hammer; its surface was instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks before it exploded with a deafening roar.
The scorching lava, mixed with fragments of rock, shot upwards like a volcanic eruption.
The flying fragments approached Lin Ji, who was protected by the triple external characteristics of wind, Gāng Qì, qi, and rage, and were instantly pulverized.
Even the colossus behind it, under the aftershock of this explosive force, let out a painful, muffled roar, its massive body losing its balance and falling backward, knocking over another colossus behind it.
The Lin Ji has been restarted.
Driven by his Extreme Speed speed, his figure left blurry afterimages among the Lava Colossus.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fists, elbows, knees, legs—every part of the body, imbued with multiple characteristics, bombarded the colossus's body like a raging drum.
His playing style completely abandoned defense.
In the words of Phase Kill, it means: turning offense into another extreme form of defense.
Offense is the best form of defense; injuries are the only way to save lives.
A Lava Colossus's lava fist slammed towards his original spot, but only struck an afterimage.
Lin Ji, however, deliberately turned his left shoulder to meet another rocky arm that swept in from the side.
Click!
A clear cracking sound came from my left shoulder, accompanied by excruciating pain.
Lin Ji's expression remained unchanged. Using the force of this attack, he spun his body at an even faster speed, and his right leg swept Sweeping like Battle Axe, a kick infused with " Brute Strength " and " Critical Hit," slamming hard into the pillar-like thigh of the Lava Colossus.
boom!
Its thigh snapped off, and the giant statue howled as it knelt on one knee.
Lin Ji landed, took a step back, and his right hand was already pointing like a knife, with his qi and Gāng Qì and thunder converging at his fingertips into Dark Red sharp light.
"Die!"
He roared and lunged forward, his fingertips like red-hot branding irons, piercing the kneeling colossus's lava-filled eye sockets and penetrating its brain.
Pfft!
Boiling liquid splattered.
The colossus's body stiffened, then disintegrated into a thick mist.
As the mist rushed in, the fracture in Lin Ji's left shoulder healed rapidly under the nourishment of the rules and logic of the rage characteristic, and his consumed stamina was also replenished.
He shook his fully recovered left arm, his eyes gleaming with even greater ferocity.
"Even faster!"
He glanced at the floating leaderboard window that had been zoomed in and out in the corner.
The gap with the first place has narrowed to 1.6 levels.
But only a little over three hours remained.
The Dragon Sparrow Clan's livestock were clearly working hard, and their experience gain was accelerating.
He was very clear about his own strengths and weaknesses compared to the other party.
Players of the Dragon Sparrow lineage are born with a head start.
They possess the three-dimensional Perception and telekinetic Control granted by the Eagle Head Demon, meaning they can fly freely in combat and are several times more efficient at hunting prey than the Eagle-Headed Demon.
Combined with the Wind Element, their attack range can easily cover hundreds or thousands of meters, making them veritable mobile natural disasters. They are undoubtedly the strongest version answer in the early game, and their monster-clearing efficiency is simply phenomenal.
In terms of hunting speed, even a close-combat Berserk style that relies on solid footwork and direct combat can't keep up.
Not to mention, the Dragon Sparrow Clan players' Control of various elements allows them to deal with all types of enemies.
Even with his flying pedal, the Shadow Step, he could only use it for traveling, not for fighting at high speeds like his opponent.
Even if ten of them were combined, their monster-clearing speed wouldn't match that of their opponent.
But he also has his own advantages.
The opponent's advantage lies in the coverage of the "surface," while his advantage lies in the penetration of the "point."
He followed the most extreme " Berserk Warrior" path in the late-game warrior class, sacrificing sustain and defense to maximize burst damage.
This gave him the ability to take on challenges beyond his level.
The opponent needs to defeat dozens or even hundreds of ordinary monsters to gain experience, while he only needs to kill one high- Hunting Level monster to catch up.
If quantity is insufficient, quality will make up for it.
This " Pohun Rift " beneath his feet was a perilous place he remembered, where an unknown guild had risen rapidly by relying on its core members to grind levels like crazy. This was the "leveling paradise" where he, with his foresight, could overtake others.
The rock-capped beasts, Lava Colossus, and even the Core Beast deepest inside are all tough and thick-skinned, with attacks that come with powerful crowd control. They are a nightmare that players find extremely troublesome in the early stages, but they are perfect for a melee berserker like him who relies on close-quarters combat, trading blows for lives, bursting armor penetration, and recovering from kills.
He spent a lot of time searching for Fortuitous Encounter in the early stages, squandering millions of Sacrificial Power to strengthen his Body Tempering, embed key Astral Veins, and forge the "Tyrant" gauntlets. All his efforts were aimed at raising his strength to a level that was worthy of this leveling paradise.
The goal is to achieve the highest returns in this final sprint.
All the groundwork has been laid for this moment, to claim the top spot!
In the blink of an eye, a fierce glint flashed in Lin Ji's eyes.
With a push of his feet, he soared into the sky, and the Shadow skateboard automatically adhered to his feet.
call out!
He transformed into a streak of Liu Guang and shot towards the deepest part of the rift valley.
There, dwells the true overlord of this rift valley: the Core Lava Beast.
High risk can also bring high returns.
A few minutes later, he hovered above a cave that was constantly spewing out the scorching smell of sulfur.
Below, a boiling lava lake is filled with several dark, hill-like formations.
Deep within the cave, heavy breathing echoed, each breath causing magma to surge and the Rock Wall to tremble.
Just getting close was enough to cause Lin Ji's skin to feel a burning pain from the terrifying heat and pressure, and his protective Gāng Qì fluctuated violently.
This is it.
Lin Ji was not afraid at all; on the contrary, he excitedly licked his chapped lips.
He took out the amplification scroll he had bought earlier but had been reluctant to use from his Spatial Inventory.
Rage Scroll, Sharpness Enhancement Scroll, Swift Wind Phantom Scroll.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Ji slapped the three scrolls onto his body one by one.
Buzz!
A hazy light enveloped him, and power erupted within him like a volcano. His sense of speed increased to the point of near-out-of-control, and the wind and thunder power flowing on the surface of the "Tyrant" gauntlet solidified like liquid, shimmering with light.
"The hunt begins."
Lin Ji raised his head, took a deep breath of the scorching air, and locked his gaze on a Core Beast in the lava lake that had just raised its ferocious head.
The next second, the Shadow skateboard beneath his feet roared with extreme power, carrying him like a falling Stars, relentlessly crashing into that deadly lava lake.
In the final three hours of the battle for the throne, both "cheaters" unanimously chose to step into a higher-level death zone, risking their lives to gain a growth rate that Transcendence their limits.
In the Forum's live streaming section, Lin Ji and Ming Shu's live streams alternated at the top of the popularity charts. The numbers following the top two spots on the activity leaderboard jumped wildly, like fierce war drums pounding in the hearts of every onlooker.
"OMG, this live stream is so exciting! I'm switching back and forth between watching it, both sides are ridiculously strong!"
"Two hours left, the gap is 0.7 levels, the gap is getting smaller and smaller."
"I have a question: why are there always overpowered players in every tournament? We're all just Earthlings, so how come they're so incredibly strong? Aren't they all starting with a Monster Soul?"
"These two are absolutely unstoppable for newbies, they're incredibly fierce, it's so exciting!"
All players' attention was firmly drawn to the final showdown.
Storm Plains and Pohun Rift have transformed into two battlefields of carnage.
On one side, there was a calamity of elemental forces, with malevolent winds sweeping across the sky and psychic powers blotting out the heavens.
On one hand, there's the violent aesthetics of Gāng Qì and brutal, visceral punches.
Two completely different fighting styles, yet equally frenzied, launching a fierce charge toward the ultimate throne.
Time flies by in the pursuit.
One hour later, the difference is 0.4 levels.
45 minutes, the gap is 0.2 levels.
The last half hour.
The difference is 0.1 levels.
The Forum posts were being refreshed at an alarming rate, and all the players held their breath, staring intently at two names on the leaderboard that were almost neck and neck.
The Ming Shu provides a stable and efficient way to increase the overall Monster Soul level.
Lin Ji's overall Monster Soul level increases very rapidly, often surging upwards by a large margin, which is a characteristic of hunting high-intensity monsters.
The last 20 minutes.
The gap has reached 0.05 levels.
Deep within the Core Heart, Lin Ji Bloodbath flames. Beneath his feet lay the remains of a Core Beast that had just been blasted apart, now disintegrating into mist that drifted towards him.
His breathing was somewhat disordered; the scroll's effects had long since worn off, and he had just survived his period of weakness, relying entirely on sheer grit to stay afloat.
Looking up into the depths of the cave, a Core Lava Beast resembling a lava mountain slowly turned around, its massive single eye, like a furnace, locking onto his figure.
A terrifying pressure descended like a landslide or a tsunami, the air so hot it could ignite steel.
Lin Ji grinned, revealing his teeth stained red with blood.
"The last one—killing you will be enough!"
He held nothing back, channeling the little strength he had just recovered into his fists.
Gāng Qì, Fury, Shatter, Brute Strength, Unyielding – all traits are activated simultaneously.
Fine, blood-red cracks appeared on the surface of his body, a sign that his strength had exceeded his limits.
The tyrant's final act has begun.
He roared, transforming into a Dark Red meteor that tore through the lava, and deliberately crashed into the terrifying behemoth.
Almost simultaneously, Storm Plains.
The Ming Shu floated in mid-air, its face as pale as paper, blood seeping from its seven orifices.
The potion's benefits began to backfire, and it felt as if a million steel needles were churning in my mind.
However, the raging tornadoes surrounding him remained Berserk, though their size had shrunk by nearly half.
Below was a scorched earth, which he had ravaged with his storm-like energy countless times, leaving no trace of life.
His Perception scanning range has been narrowed down to within a kilometer.
Not enough—it's still a little short.
The Ming Shu, with its blurred vision, directs its Perception toward the edge of the plain, the dangerous area where it meets the " Thunder Mountain Range ".
There are even more powerful storm-type monsters there, but going there in his current state would be extremely risky.
A moment's hesitation was quickly replaced by the resolute determination in his eyes.
There is no way out.
He Control the remaining tornadoes of malevolent wind, like a weary king leading his elemental legions toward the final battlefield.
The last ten minutes.
The Forum is silent.
On the list, the experience numbers following the two names jump incredibly slowly, yet they captivate the attention of millions.
Just then, Xunye LJ's experience bar suddenly jumped.
In an instant, he widened the gap with the second place by 0.8, and a dazzling golden light rose on the leaderboard. The game ID of Xunye LJ soared into the sky, leaping to the top.
That leap nearly sealed the victory.
[ Xunye LJ - Overall Monster Soul Level: 69.2]
Almost at the same second, the experience bar of the Ming Shu also struggled to climb to the top, flashing with golden light.
[ Longque Next Round I'll Be the Boss - Overall Monster Soul Level: 68.5]
Level 0.7, a negligible difference, yet it stands like an insurmountable chasm.
In the final ten minutes of the chase, Ming Shu narrowed the gap to 0.6, but it was too late to turn the tide.
The countdown for the event has reached zero.
The rankings froze instantly, golden light flowing, announcing the news to the entire server.
[ Challenger Prompt ( Full Channel ): The " Newbie Rush " event has officially ended. The top-ranked player, Xunye LJ, received a reward of 5 million Sacrificial Power. The second-ranked player, Longque Next Round I'll Be the Boss, received a reward of 3 million Sacrificial Power. The third-ranked player...]
The Forum instantly erupted in excitement.
Although many players had a premonition that Night Patrol's leveling speed was too fast, the only thing lacking in getting first place was time.
But once the results were finalized, the Forum was once again abuzz with discussion.
"We won! The reward for topping the event leaderboard has been increased to 5 million Sacrificial Power! This is such a great start!"
"You guys don't even look at how many qualifications were given out this round. In the very early days, the first place only required 100,000 Sacrificial Power, and there were fewer competitors back then. Now, I think 5 million is quite normal. The difficulty is on a completely different level compared to the early days."
"This is so satisfying to watch! The ultimate comeback, fighting their way back from over 20,000th place to number one—even novels wouldn't dare write something like this."
"The big boss is amazing too, he held on until the very last second, but unfortunately lost."
"This year's newbie event is even more exciting than the last one; it almost gave me a heart attack, although the rewards don't seem to apply to me."
"A new king has appeared! Patrol Night is awesome! This growth rate is probably in the top three compared to previous generations. The first place will definitely be the Fate-Defying God of Magic. I just wonder if any player will break the record in the future."
Cheers, amazement, regret, and reverence—countless emotions erupted on the Forum.
Pohun Rift, Molten Core Land.
Lin Ji knelt on one knee on the scorching hot rock, breathing heavily.
Before them lay fragments of materials left behind by the disintegrating Core Lava Beast.
Exhaustion overwhelmed him like a tidal wave; every muscle groaned, and his vision blurred to the point of being unable to see clearly.
The Challenger Prompt let him know he had won.
The Dragon Sparrow Clan's top player, who dominated the rankings in his previous life, has now been defeated by himself on the leaderboard.
"First----.
He murmured softly, then laughter rolled out from deep in his throat, growing louder and louder until it turned into unrestrained, wild laughter that echoed in the empty, scorching cave.
"Hahaha, I did it!"
Edge of the Storm Plains.
The Ming Shu floated silently in the gradually calming wind, the malevolent tornado long since dissipated.
He stared at the frozen results on the list, and the conspicuous "Second Place" below his own ID, and remained silent for a long time.
The bloodstains on his pale face had not yet dried, and waves of excruciating mental anguish washed over him.
Two years of patience, countless preparations, a showdown of titans, and in the end—a mere half-step difference.
Are you unwilling to accept this?
certainly.
But he didn't feel angry.
Instead, I felt a sense of relief.
He just glanced at the live replay of the night patrol.
He didn't lose to someone who relied on luck, but to an opponent who burned with the same intensity, and was even more ruthless and desperate than him.
Such a defeat is something I accept wholeheartedly.
At least, he gave it his all and fought to the very last moment.
Ming Shu exhaled a long breath of foul air, tinged with the smell of blood, and raised his hand to wipe the bloodstains from his face.
The anxiety in his eyes faded, replaced by a calm that had settled in.
"Night Patrol—LJ." He murmured the name, etching it deep into his heart. "You won this time, but the road ahead is long. We'll meet again in the future."
After speaking, he took one last look at the golden ID hanging at the top of the list. In the instant his will weakened, his body exploded into a cloud of blood mist and returned to the Di Zhao.
Lin Ji also returned to the Xiao Hei's Room after the Ming Shu due to the backlash from the medicine.
The Forum's uproar did not subside after the two went offline; on the contrary, it intensified.
Without exception, all the top players and those at the top of the leaderboard in previous newbie leveling events eventually grew into top players who stirred up a storm in their respective regions.
This is an ironclad rule that has been repeatedly proven.
Therefore, the moment the event rankings were finalized, Recruitment and management for all the major guilds began.
Countless private messages, each carrying generous terms, flew towards Lin Ji and Ming Shu like snowflakes.
Promises: resource allocation, core position, future development blueprint—each condition is more enticing than the last.
These established or emerging guilds are all eager to recruit this year's brightest new star, adding an important cornerstone to their guild's development.
But what these top guilds trying to recruit are unaware of is...
The Ming Shu appears to be a free agent who has not yet joined any team, but in reality, it was marked with the Dragon Sparrow Mark before entering the game.
As a member of the Fate Race who migrated to the Dragon Sparrow lineage, his affiliation was already determined.
Once the event concludes, I will officially join the small legendary guild "Dragon Sparrow," which was founded by " Reverse Fate's Throat " and is comprised primarily of members of the Dragon Sparrow Clan.
External offers are meaningless in the Ming Shu.
The newly crowned "King of Rising Stars," Lin Ji, also has no intention of joining any guild.
He didn't even bother to glance at the Forum's clamor and the barrage of private messages.
His gaze had already been set on something much farther away.
The glory and rewards of being at the top are merely stepping stones; his true goal is to explore that ancient ruin based on the memories of another life.
Obtain the key to the Tenth-Gen Primal: the Time Sand Leak.
This is just the beginning.
The dust has settled on the struggle for the throne; for him, it is merely the starting horn for the next magnificent journey.