Footprints Deep Within the Rift, Everyone's Scalp Tingled

Third layer, deepest point.

Above their heads, the oppressive rock ceiling gave way to dark red luminescent ore deposits.

The low rumbling grew clearer by the moment.

Every few minutes, the ground trembled slightly, accompanied by a wheezing sound like a bellows being pulled.

"This isn't right. Too big."

Wang Tie lowered his voice, the hilt of his blade creaking under his grip.

He'd been in this line of work long enough to have a beast-like instinct for danger.

"Lin Feng, we can't be far from the 'source.' Maybe we should find a place to hole up first?"

Lin Feng didn't answer. He was staring at a puddle of slime at his feet.

The slime was pale yellow, clinging to the edge of a rock, hissing white smoke as it corroded small pits into the hard ore.

He used his blade tip to scoop up a bit and brought it to his nose.

A thick stench of rotting flesh slammed into his senses.

"This is secretion from an exotic beast laying eggs."

Lin Feng had always done well in his cultural classes; this knowledge wasn't hard for him.

He stood up and looked toward a cliff up ahead.

"If I'm not wrong, there should be a massive nest ahead."

"Those abnormal fluctuations are coming from this big guy."

Li Ming's face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Brother Lin, aren't exotic beasts at their most vicious when laying eggs? Going over now—aren't we just feeding ourselves to it?"

Lin Feng glanced at him.

"The egg-laying period is indeed vicious, but it's also when it's at its weakest."

"If you want to get stronger, you have to seek fortune in danger."

Lin Feng's words silenced Li Ming.

He thought back to the days of being bullied at school, to the loan sharks hounding his family.

If he didn't get stronger, his life would never change.

"I'll go with you."

Li Ming gritted his teeth. His voice trembled, but his eyes held a resolve he'd never shown before.

The three pressed on.

As they rounded the cliff, the sight before them made all three suck in a sharp breath.

It was a massive basin.

At the center of the basin, countless exotic beast bones were piled into a hill over ten meters high.

And atop that bone mountain lay a giant beast, its body a deep, dark red.

It looked like a lizard magnified several times over, its back covered in dense bone spikes, each one burning like a torch.

The beast's abdomen rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and with each breath, visible red ripples spread outward.

This was the "abnormal fluctuation" Zhao Tianxiong had mentioned.

"Red Flame Earth Lizard..."

Wang Tie's voice shook badly.

"This thing is E-class as an adult. Judging by its size, it's at least Martial Artist, second stage."

"Lin Feng, let's pull back. This really isn't something we can handle."

Wang Tie was genuinely terrified.

The gap between Martial Disciple and Martial Artist was huge, but the gap between first and second stage Martial Artist was just as big.

And this was an exotic beast with an inherently powerful physique.

Lin Feng stared at the Red Flame Earth Lizard. The long blade in his hand let out a faint hum.

It was the resonance of his qi and blood surging wildly through his body, vibrating against the blade.

[Detected E-Class Exotic Beast: Red Flame Earth Lizard (Weakened State)]

[Kill grants substantial Martial Path Points. First E-Class Exotic Beast kill has a chance to drop a Martial Technique.]

The system's prompt echoed in his mind.

"Martial Technique?"

Lin Feng's heart jolted.

This thing is a rare item—normally only passed down through martial arts families, major martial arts universities, or the military.

What circulates on the open market is mostly common fitness routines or incomplete, unorthodox methods that can cripple you if practiced too long.

Occasionally, a decent Martial Technique shows up, but it's always at an astronomical price—ordinary families shouldn't even think about it.

"Didn't expect to drop this from an E-Class Exotic Beast."

Lin Feng licked his lips, a flicker of heat in his eyes.

He knew this was the biggest opportunity he'd encountered so far.

If he could kill this earth lizard, his strength would take a qualitative leap.

"Old Wang, take Li Ming and fall back—retreat behind that cliff."

Lin Feng stared at the earth lizard, walking forward without looking back.

"Are you crazy? You're going to take it on alone?"

Wang Tie's eyes went wide, disbelief written all over his face.

"I'm not crazy."

Lin Feng twisted his neck, producing a series of cracking sounds.

"It's in its weak phase right now."

"This is the best chance—can't afford to miss it."

"If it smoothly enters its mature phase, none of us will get away."

Wang Tie wanted to argue further, but Lin Feng's icy stare shut him down.

He knew that once Lin Feng made up his mind, no one could change it.

"Fine. Watch yourself. If things go south, get out fast—don't tough it out."

Wang Tie grabbed Li Ming, crouched low, and retreated toward the cliff.

Li Ming glanced back at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with worry and admiration.

Once the two were safely positioned, Lin Feng slowly exhaled a mouthful of stale air.

He reached out and touched the blade, feeling the cold sensation beneath his fingers.

[Steel of the Blade: 75/500]

He'd killed quite a few minor monsters along the way, and the stacks had built up to a respectable number.

Though it hadn't yet reached the 150-stack Armor Piercing effect, the 50-stack defense break had already doubled his attack speed.

Lin Feng didn't dwell on it any longer. He moved.

Instead of opting for stealth, he kicked off the rock with force.

His entire body turned into a black blur, charging straight toward the Bone Mountain at the center of the basin.

Though the Red Flame Earth Lizard was in its weak phase, its perception remained sharp.

It snapped open its dark-golden vertical pupils, a low growl rumbling from its throat.

Whoosh!

A thick blast of fire breath shot from its mouth, instantly turning the ground in front of Lin Feng into scorched earth.

Lin Feng twisted midair, narrowly dodging the flame breath.

He used the Bone Mountain as a springboard, his long blade arcing through the air.

"First strike!"

Lin Feng barked, bringing the blade down heavily on the lizard's back.

Clang!

Sparks flew.

That dense layer of dark-red scales actually blocked Lin Feng's full-powered blow.

But the defense break effect still kicked in.

A fine crack appeared on the scales, and a trickle of dark-red blood seeped out.

The lizard, stung by the pain, let out an enraged roar.

Its tail, thick as a pillar, swept sideways with brutal force.

The wind howled, sending countless bone fragments flying.

Lin Feng didn't dare take it head-on. He tapped off the scales with his toes and floated backward.

Boom!

The tail slammed into the Bone Mountain, collapsing half of the piled bones in one hit.

"That's some strength."

Lin Feng landed on a nearby rock, his sword hand slightly numb.

The Earth Lizard's defense and strength far exceeded his expectations.

But he did not retreat; instead, his gaze burned even hotter.

"Again!"

Lin Feng charged forward once more.

This time, he stopped hacking at its back and instead used his agile footwork to weave around the Earth Lizard's belly and limbs.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Every strike landed precisely in the gaps between the scales.

Though each blow only dealt minor damage, as the number of cuts accumulated, the wounds on the Earth Lizard grew more numerous.

It was thoroughly enraged by this human, who was like a fly buzzing around it.

The Earth Lizard struggled to stand, but the sharp pain from its abdomen forced it to collapse again.

It was at a critical moment of laying its eggs.

Lin Feng seized that instant.

He leaped abruptly, landing on the Earth Lizard's massive head, his long blade held upside down.

"Break for me!"

He poured all his spiritual power into the blade's tip and drove it viciously into the Earth Lizard's dark-golden vertical pupil.

Squelch!

Blood splattered all over Lin Feng.

The Earth Lizard let out a wretched, piercing scream, and the entire Rift trembled violently from the sound.

Behind the cliff, Wang Tie and Li Ming watched the scene, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

"This... is this something a human does?"

Wang Tie muttered to himself, unaware that the blade in his hand had already fallen to the ground.