"Another one! Combining magic and battle qi really worked!" After successfully slaying a level-six Flame Tiger, Lin Tian let out a long breath, his face brimming with excitement and satisfaction. He skillfully removed the Flame Tiger's magic core and stored it in his Storage Ring, then swiftly cut off its limbs in one smooth motion.
Since the perilous attack by the shadowy figure, Lin Tian had spent more than ten days venturing through the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Whenever he recalled that thrilling battle, especially the final moment when his spear thrust forward and Fireball flashed like a sudden burst of light, becoming the decisive move that defeated his enemy and killed the robber, a bold idea arose in his heart: Could he incorporate instant-cast magic into battle qi combat, allowing the two to complement each other and become a powerful aid in battle?
From then on, Lin Tian began a difficult yet surprise-filled journey of experimentation. Every time he fought a magic beast, he deliberately abandoned fighting with magic or battle qi alone, instead attempting to combine them cleverly. Along the way, success and failure intertwined. At first, when facing lower-level magic beasts, Lin Tian's combined techniques were far from smooth, and coordinating magic with battle qi proved difficult. Sometimes, his magic came too late, only activating after his spear had already struck. Other times, it came too early and failed to coordinate properly with his spear. But Lin Tian was not discouraged. He continuously adjusted his rhythm and searched for the best timing to merge the two. Fortunately, he acted cautiously and chose opponents that were mostly level five or below, so even failure would not place him in a desperate situation.
As time passed and his experience accumulated, Lin Tian gradually grasped the secret to combining magic and battle qi. Before challenging the level-six Flame Tiger just now, he had already successfully created several exquisite techniques that combined magic and battle qi.
That exhilarating battle not only further proved the viability of combining magic and battle qi, but also greatly improved Lin Tian's close-combat ability. Moreover, because he had recently focused on fighting with battle qi, his warrior strength had naturally reached the peak of level five.
Lin Tian was not satisfied with his improved strength. He knew well that in the perilous Magic Beast Mountain Range, only constant progress would allow him to survive. Thus, he began searching for a quiet place to attempt a breakthrough to level-six warrior. After some searching, he found a secluded cave. A faint stench permeated the cave, whose former owner was a level-three Cunning Fox. The fox was agile and sleek-furred. The moment it noticed Lin Tian's intrusion, wariness flashed through its eyes, and it released a low growl in an attempt to frighten away this unwelcome guest.
Lin Tian smiled faintly and did not take the level-three Cunning Fox seriously. Holding his spear, he charged at it like a phantom. The Cunning Fox nimbly evaded Lin Tian's attacks, darting back and forth through the cave. Lin Tian was in no hurry. He calmly observed its movements. When the fox pounced again, Lin Tian seized the opportunity and thrust his spear, striking it with precision. The Cunning Fox let out a miserable cry, struggled a few times, and then died.
After dealing with the Cunning Fox, Lin Tian sat cross-legged in the cave and devoted himself fully to cultivating for his breakthrough to level-six warrior. He circulated the battle qi within his body, guiding it to flow rapidly through his meridians. As the battle qi continuously gathered and compressed, Lin Tian felt as though a tremendous force was filling his body. Sweat soaked his clothes, but he gritted his teeth and persisted. Finally, amid a powerful surge of energy, Lin Tian successfully broke through to level six warrior.
The breakthrough not only raised his warrior strength. The days of intense battle and cultivation had unexpectedly caused his spiritual power to break through to the middle stage of level six as well. Lin Tian was overjoyed. While the momentum was still there, he began refining the elements of heaven and earth to further increase his magic power.
To test his strength after the breakthrough, Lin Tian decided to find a stronger opponent. He set his sights on a peak level-six Tusked Boar. This Tusked Boar was enormous, like a small hill, and its entire body was covered in coarse, hard black bristles. Two long tusks protruded from the corners of its mouth, gleaming with a cold light. Sensing Lin Tian's approach, the Tusked Boar released a deep roar that echoed through the forest.
The battle erupted instantly. Holding his spear, Lin Tian unleashed all manner of self-created techniques. Yet his attacks did little to the Tusked Boar. Most were blocked by its magical armor, which had the texture of dark iron and defenses comparable to those of a level-seven magic beast. Even attacks that broke through its magical defenses and pierced its thick flesh only left small dents in its body, with little effect.
When the Tusked Boar counterattacked, it was like an out-of-control war chariot, charging fiercely toward Lin Tian. Lin Tian nimbly evaded its assaults as he secretly considered a way to deal with it.
After a fierce exchange, Lin Tian spotted an opening and unleashed Spear Blade. The Fire Arrow at his spear tip struck the Tusked Boar with powerful impact and its naturally high sharpness. The Tusked Boar let out a pained howl, suffering immense agony. Lin Tian then repeatedly used Spear Blade to attack. Finally, after dodging the enraged Tusked Boar's charge, he delivered a powerful thrust that pierced through its body with the sharpness of Fire Arrow, then cast Fireball to erupt within it. The Tusked Boar's massive body swayed a few times before crashing to the ground. This successful kill greatly boosted Lin Tian's confidence. He confirmed that he now possessed the strength to break through the defenses of level-seven magic beasts.
Thus, Lin Tian decided to challenge a level-seven magic beast and see whether his dual level-six strength could truly defeat a more powerful existence. After some consideration, he turned his attention to a level-seven Green Pattern Giant Serpent. Although the Green Pattern Giant Serpent was a water-element magic beast, its defenses were relatively weak and its movements slow. Even if he could not defeat it, Lin Tian was confident that he could retreat unharmed.
Lin Tian then searched throughout the regions inhabited by level-five and level-six magic beasts. He traveled through dense forests, crossed steep peaks, and did not overlook any place where a Green Pattern Giant Serpent might appear. After several days of painstaking searching, he finally discovered his target beside a secluded pool.
The Green Pattern Giant Serpent's body was enormous, as thick as a water barrel and several zhang long. Green and white patterns covered its body, like mysterious designs meticulously painted by nature itself, shimmering with an eerie yet captivating luster beneath the sunlight. Its triangular head was raised high, and its two dark-green vertical pupils resembled cold ghostly flames, radiating an aura that made one shudder. It slowly flicked its long tongue, producing hissing sounds as if proclaiming its territorial sovereignty to everything around it. Its thick body slowly moved beside the pool, each sway creating faint ripples that broke the water's original stillness.
Lin Tian hid behind a clump of bushes nearby, his heartbeat quickening uncontrollably. Tension and excitement tangled in his heart as he stared intently at the Green Pattern Giant Serpent. A fierce battle seemed to be poised to erupt at any moment.
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