Killing Field

Seeing that beautiful blue planet again, the few of them couldn't help but feel stirred with excitement. Although this trip into space hadn't been long—less than a month—they felt like travelers returning home from a distant journey, their sense of belonging to Earth stronger than ever before.

Back on Earth, everyone went their separate ways. Yin Congyang followed Hong back to the Limit Dojo headquarters.

Having witnessed the splendor and cruelty of the universe, they all craved greater strength. In the days that followed, they used the Green Wave Marrow to push their power to the limit.

Luo Feng used his remaining money to buy a plot of land at Nine Star Bay on Black Dragon Mountain Island, building a few wooden cabins to his own liking. Everyone bound their login coordinates there, so whenever they entered the Virtual Universe, they would appear at Nine Star Bay. Luo Feng's, Hong's, and Thunder God's families could also log in using consciousness-sensing helmets. Luo Hua, in particular, felt like he had discovered a whole new world. Though he had little money, that didn't stop him from analyzing and learning about various financial investments across the universe, preparing to invest once he had capital in the future.

At Yin Congyang's reminder, Luo Feng purchased the Planetary Defense System ahead of schedule, setting up full-scale protection for Earth and camouflaging or concealing all detectable ruins.

He also had Babata wipe all information from the internet that might involve the Golden Horned Behemoth. With Babata's skills, it was easily erased without leaving a single trace.

These were all preventive measures Yin Congyang had devised against the upcoming Nolan Mountain Family's adventure squad. But to truly dispel the Nolan Mountain Family's covetousness toward Earth, these measures wouldn't play a decisive role. So Yin Congyang decided to head to the Killing Field and try to catch Man Luo's attention, just like in the original story.

If the plan went smoothly, he could test out one of his ideas.

Through this period of hard training, combined with the effects of the Green Wave Marrow, Yin Congyang smoothly broke through to Planetary Level Stage Two. Hong and Thunder God also each advanced one stage.

Yin Congyang shared the information he'd gathered about the Killing Field with Luo Feng, Hong, and Thunder God. All three were intrigued and entered the Killing Field together.

"...So this is the Killing Field?" The four of them entered the Killing Field together in the Virtual Universe. It was an enormous hall, comparable in size to a city.

Looking at the massive "blood droplet" backdrop in the hall, Thunder God couldn't help but exclaim, "Now that's impressive!"

"How could it not be? The prices here are sky-high—definitely not something ordinary people can afford," Hong remarked.

Yin Congyang smiled beside them. "Inside this Killing Field, there's another place that costs only a tenth of the Killing Space, and it's even more interesting..."

Thunder God was overjoyed. "Tell me, where is it?"

"The Killing Space lets you set your own opponents—any kind you want. Why is it so expensive?" Yin Congyang winked mysteriously at Thunder God, earning an eye roll in return. "Because the Killing Space acts like a teacher. For example, Brother Thunder, you could set an opponent with a Domain of Thunder at the second level, with incredibly rich experience in using it. By clashing domains over and over, wouldn't it be easier to comprehend the second level of the domain?"

Seeing Thunder God nod repeatedly, he continued, "So, the high cost of the Killing Space makes sense. The place I'm talking about is called the Battle Space. You can't set opponents there; instead, you duel with another real-life warrior or Spiritual Master in the Virtual Universe, so the cost is lower. Later, once your rating goes up, you can even set a fee—maybe you won't spend money at all, and might even earn some... I suggest we alternate between the two. For instance, first duel real opponents in the Battle Space, and when you gain insights, go to the Killing Space. That should speed up our progress."

All three agreed it was a good plan. They went to the counter to bind their bank accounts, each chose a code name, and then started issuing challenges.

"What name did you pick?" Thunder God asked Yin Congyang.

"Lumberjack." Yin Congyang shot back, "And you?"

"Martial God..."

"Uh... that's unique. Very you." Yin Congyang turned to Luo Feng and Hong beside him. "Brother Hong and Luo Feng?"

"Killer."

"Madman."

The four sat in a corner of the Killing Field's hall, screens floating before each of them, displaying a vast array of opponents' strength profiles. To fight, they had to send a challenge request, and only if the opponent agreed would they be assigned a Battle Space.

Yin Congyang knew that as a newcomer to the Killing Field with no record, he could only challenge those of the same rank. Since his rating was zero, challenging higher-rated opponents would likely get no response. So he straightforwardly sent a challenge to a Planetary Level Stage Two opponent with a one-star rating. The opponent quickly agreed, and with a "whoosh," he vanished from the hall, entering the Battle Space. He didn't warn the other three—letting them hit some snags would be good. Some things had to be experienced firsthand; always being reminded wouldn't build their own experience.

Hong, Thunder God, and Luo Feng exchanged glances.

"Why did Congyang get a response so fast?" Thunder God said helplessly. "I challenged a six-star, and there was no reply at all—they just ignored me..."

"Same here. I challenged a seven-star, and they didn't even respond..." Luo Feng sighed. "What about you, Brother Hong?"

Hong blinked. "I challenged a Planetary Level Stage Nine nine-star. I felt I could take him on, but... the challenge was directly rejected. The system said that as a nine-star strongman, he had the authority to set a minimum of seven stars to challenge him."

Only then did the three realize that with their "zero" rating, if they wanted to challenge high-rated opponents, they'd have to raise their own ratings first. So they lowered their standards and started grinding for ratings.

In the Battle Space.

On a peak tens of thousands of meters high, the summit had been leveled into a metal arena, ten kilometers long and ten kilometers wide.

Yin Congyang's first opponent was a Planetary Level Stage Two warrior with the code name "Heavy Sword." He was a burly figure, nearly three meters tall, wielding a two-handed heavy sword, with a record of 55 wins and 44 losses.

As soon as they met, the burly warrior drew his heavy sword. "Lumberjack, I see your record is 0 wins, 0 losses—looks like you're a rookie. Perfect, you're my 100th opponent. As my centennial foe, I'll make sure you die quick..."

Yes, Yin Congyang had chosen the code name "Lumberjack" in the Battle Space to commemorate his old lumberjack days.

Yin Congyang didn't reply. He took out the second-rank Force Weapon, the Heaven-Opening Axe, provided by the Battle Space, and charged at his opponent like lightning.

"Heavy Sword" let out a sneer and rushed toward Yin Congyang at high speed. Just as they were about to collide, Yin Congyang twisted his body, stepping with mysterious footwork to slip to the opponent's side. The Heaven-Opening Axe came down at a bizarre angle, cleaving into the opponent's neck.

"Shiiing~~"

The opponent's head flew clean off, blood spurting several meters into the air like a fountain. His body fell to the ground like a felled tree, the severed head's eyes wide with shock.

Lumberjack, 1 win, 0 losses.

"Clang~~"

One axe split open the opponent's telekinetic weapon. Bursting with speed, he flashed in front of the opponent and swung his axe down...

Lumberjack, 2 wins, 0 losses.

..."Pfft~~" One axe tore through the opponent's Force Battle Suit...

Lumberjack, 3 wins, 0 losses. Rating: One Star.

"Good, three consecutive wins earns a star. Let's keep going..."

Yin Congyang's stamina was nearly limitless, and his soul was exceptionally powerful. Inside the Virtual Universe, he barely felt any fatigue.

Battles in the Battle Space were generally very fast; he could fight hundreds of matches every day. Low-rated opponents almost never put pressure on Yin Congyang, and naturally, they offered little in the way of tempering.

In the Virtual Universe, a Planetary Level who possessed a domain was considered a top-tier genius, but even they usually only reached that point after the seventh stage of Planetary Level. Not a single one had a domain at the second stage.

So Yin Congyang began frantically challenging opponents of various star ratings at Planetary Level second stage. His winning streak continued.

Five days later.

Yin Congyang's rating rose to eight stars, yet he still hadn't encountered an opponent who could force him to use his domain. He kept challenging.

Seven days later, Yin Congyang's rating climbed to nine stars, with a record of 803 wins and 0 losses.

Looking at the nine-star rating, Yin Congyang tried challenging an opponent at Planetary Level third stage. The system actually approved it, and his winning streak continued.

Ten days later, Yin Congyang crossed stages to challenge an opponent at Planetary Level fifth stage. He finally had to use his domain, and his winning streak continued.

Fifteen days later, Yin Congyang challenged a seven-star opponent at Planetary Level ninth stage. He unleashed both the Domain of Gold and Water, defeated them, and won.

Record: 1677 wins, 0 losses.