Mò Lì Yǐ Xū

Crouching low, Jiang Yan poured all his strength into his legs and took a step forward.

BOOM!

The ground beneath his feet caved in, exploding. Amidst the flying dust, Jiang Yan closed the distance to the five-man encirclement targeting Shan Renhu in just a few steps.

In Shan Renhu's peripheral vision, he saw Jiang Yan, after cleanly dispatching the Monster, stride forward, his body seeming to burst through the air, bringing a ferocious malice as he charged.

He paused, shifting slightly to the side, making way for Jiang Yan.

It was habit. Having cooperated with Jiang Yan a few times, whenever they encountered a Monster, they just let Jiang Yan handle it.

After all... as soon as he attached the Blazing Flames Talisman, the Monster would likely be annihilated.

Shan Renhu had even given Jiang Yan a nickname behind his back: "One-Strike Jiang."

If he could destroy a Monster in one move, Jiang Yan would never hold back to use a second.

This time was no different.

With the strength, speed, and agility of a peak Martial Apprentice, coupled with the power of a mid-grade Blazing Flames Talisman, Jiang Yan was facing a Severe Sha-level Monster. It was a complete mismatch, a higher level against a lower, a larger force against a smaller one.

This was also Jiang Yan's preferred way to farm Monster: low risk, stable rewards.

Like a sudden thunderclap, Jiang Yan instantly charged at the Green Shade Fire Monster. He swung his right arm, bending his longsword into an arc, and slammed it fiercely at the Monster!

"Die for me!"

With the strike, the air churned like boiling water, surging like tides.

Faintly, a sonic boom sounded, and a white wave seemed to appear along the sword's spine.

BOOM!

PUFF!

The Green Shade Fire Monster didn't even have a chance to resist. It was blasted apart by his overwhelming attack, unable to re-aggregate, directly shattered by the talismanic power.

Monster Value: 12

"As... as expected, it was a one-hit kill again." Shan Renhu's face twitched violently. Although he knew Jiang Yan would kill this Monster, the others had been surrounding and attacking it for a while.

It was so hard to kill, yet Jiang Yan just ended it with a single, decisive sword strike.

In comparison.

"Am I just too weak?" Shan Renhu asked himself silently.

At this moment, Ren Yuan and Tang Long also finished off their Green Shade Fire Monster.

Four black and gray streams of energy swirled and merged into Jiang Yan's left hand.

The tentacles felt cold, and the Monster value increased.

Monster Value: 31

Seeing the Monster value, Jiang Yan's first thought was:

He was rich.

So, teaming up to gain experience really yields more than farming small Monster by myself?

Jiang Yan mused inwardly.

As the group regrouped, Tang Long couldn't help but curse, "What bad luck. The Talisman Soldiers defense had just faded, and monsters appeared immediately."

Jiang Yan secretly glanced at Shan Renhu, seeing his face was calm and very solemn.

At a time like this, why would Tang Long even think to ask Old Shan for support? What kind of luck does he have? Doesn't he have any idea...?

"Alright, stop talking nonsense," Ren Yuan raised a hand to interrupt Tang Long's complaint. He looked out into the wilderness.

It was dark.

The Talisman Soldiers needed time to condense. This small wave of Monster might just be an appetizer.

Things could get more dangerous later.

"Heighten your vigilance. Jiang Yan, Tang Long, you take the ends of the formation, I'll be in the middle. If you spot any Monster, support each other immediately and kill it!"

"Now, spread out, try not to let any Monster sneak in."

If a Monster managed to sneak in, it would not only cause casualties but also potentially cause trouble for Ning Gongdao.

Under Ren Yuan's arrangement, the team spread out. Jiang Yan and Shan Renhu moved together to the other end of the formation.

Ren Yuan narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Jiang Yan.

That kind of power, that kind of speed... it's definitely not something someone who just entered the Martial Apprentice realm can possess...

He knew Jiang Yan's information well; he had only broken through recently.

By all rights, he should only be in the early stages of the Martial Apprentice realm. Yet, Jiang Yan had just mowed down two Monster as if they were nothing, his efficiency even higher than Tang Long's.

So, have I encountered a true genius martial artist?

Or perhaps a genius with strong combat awareness, not the kind of trash who only knows how to cultivate.

Shan Renhu's face contorted. "Jiang Yan, have you… have you broken through again?"

His tone was twisted, a mix of hope and resistance.

When I first met you, I was on the verge of breaking through, but then you became a Martial Apprentice, and I still hadn't. And now…

"Yes, Brother Shan, you saw through it." Jiang Yan smiled sincerely at Shan Renhu. A few beads of sweat dotted his forehead; the intense exertion from two consecutive bursts had taken a toll on his body. "I've been cultivating diligently recently and finally broke through again."

He wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice calm. "Heaven rewards the diligent. As long as you work hard, you will improve."

Shan Renhu's eyebrows twitched violently, and a strained smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Yes, I also believe that Heaven will not fail those who work hard."

"Because I am one of those who work hard. I practice diligently for two hours every day, all to become a Martial Artist."

But why the hell did you break through again when I'm still not a Martial Artist?

Shan Renhu mechanically moved his legs, his heart… utterly lost.

Inside Qingshan Village.

The willow-shaped Talisman Soldiers were gathering power.

"It's been an hour."

Ning Gongdao watched the jade tree's light projection in the air. The great willow tree had solidified into substance, and a hint of anxiety flickered deep within his calm eyes.

He held a talisman with green stripes in his hand. "Soon, soon."

At that moment, the green willow light projection in the air flashed suddenly, and the light vanished.

The next instant, a small willow tree appeared on Ning Gongdao's shoulder.

"Done."

The Talisman Soldiers had finished gathering power and could lend a portion of their strength.

"The Talisman Soldiers in the village have too singular a function, usually only for defense. It's troublesome," Ning Gongdao shook his head and glanced at the main body of the Talisman Soldiers in the plaza.

Its light was dim; it would need time to repair.

"It seems after this matter is resolved, I'll need to assign more people to Qingshan Village. The Talisman Soldiers in their recovery period have slightly insufficient defensive capabilities…"

Dismissing these thoughts, Ning Gongdao beckoned. "Baldy, come here!"

That trash Tan Xinghe was actually swallowed by a Monster. If he hadn't died, the Monster wouldn't have obtained the Essence Blood of a Martial Artist, and how could it have started to advance?

"Hall Master, you summoned me."

Being called 'Baldy' by a big shot from the True Martial Hall, Hu Xing didn't dare to retort. The chief's self-inflicted death, even needing to return to his residence to eat, resulted in nothing left.

He had to stay close to Hall Master Ning. This was the safest place in all of Qingshan Village.

"Remember, after I use the Probing Talisman to find the Monster and suppress it," Ning Gongdao held up a finger, "you immediately drive away the nearby villagers. I might not be able to hold back."

Hu Xing understood Ning Gongdao's meaning. Once the Monster was found, Ning Gongdao would have to act immediately. He had quietly inquired; Ning Gongdao was the Hall Master of the True Martial Hall, a master in the Blood Refining Realm.

Though he wasn't a Martial Artist yet, he knew what kind of existence a Blood Refining Realm Martial Artist was.

A single brush from such a person would be fatal.

Immediately driving away the nearby villagers was to prevent any curious villagers from watching the fight, thus protecting them.

PS: I heard some readers want me to count votes (recommendation tickets) until my hands bleed… Just vote then (＾▽＾), I'm ready… Where's the band-aid?