The rain had gradually stopped at some point.
The dark clouds parted, and a cold, bright full moon once again hung among the treetops, its clear light falling over the ravaged valley.
Lin Yuan stood before the Black Scale Beast's body, which lay collapsed like a small mountain...
After a long while, he let out a deep breath.
"It's over."
Lin Yuan walked over, his steps light, as if he'd just set down a thousand-pound burden.
As he spoke, his gaze sharpened, and he regained his usual composure and efficiency.
"The tasks this system gives out are surprisingly considerate."
Lin Yuan gave a self-mocking smile. Then he turned his wrist, and the S-Grade Blood Shadow Battle Blade that had accompanied him for so long appeared in his hand.
Though the blade hadn't even managed to pierce the soft armor on the Black Scale Beast's throat, it was more than enough for cutting up a corpse.
After all, once a monster died, its muscles lost their vitality, and its defenses weakened considerably.
Screee—
The blade scraped through a gap between the scales, making a grating sound.
"This is valuable stuff."
Lin Yuan deftly pried off the black scales, each one about the size of a washbasin.
These scales had come from a monster close to King-level. They'd make combat suits with absolutely astonishing defensive capabilities.
And the scraps of the sharp claws shredded by [Heaven Wheel Guard] were still top-grade alloy material, even though they'd been broken.
In this era, materials from high-level lord-class monsters were always in short supply on the market.
The Black Scale Beast's remains were worth at least several billion Huaxia Currency!
This was also a major source of income for War God-level powerhouses.
Just as Lin Yuan had stowed the valuable materials from the heart into his backpack—
Ding!
That familiar, emotionless synthetic voice suddenly rang out in his mind.
[Task "Settle Everything" completed!] [Reward issued: Origin Force weapon, Shadow Devourer (War Blade); secret technique, Shadow Kill.]
"Hmm?"
Lin Yuan paused, a glint flashing in his eyes.
The next moment, he felt his right hand grow heavy.
The system had automatically withdrawn the S-Grade Blood Shadow Battle Blade into its storage space. In its place was a War Blade that was pitch-black throughout, with a long, classic design.
The instant it landed in his hand, Lin Yuan's pupils contracted.
Heavy!
Far too heavy!
With his current physique at the peak of High-level War God, the strength of one arm was well over hundreds of thousands of kilograms.
Yet holding this blade made his hand feel weighed down. It had to be at least ten times heavier than an ordinary S-Grade War Blade!
By the light of the moon, Lin Yuan examined the War Blade called "Shadow Devourer."
Its body wasn't pure black, but a deep, shadowy color that seemed to swallow light.
Faint dark-gold patterns flowed along the blade, flickering in and out like a breath. A cold, murderous aura, as savage as something from the depths of space, traveled from the hilt straight into his palm.
At the same time, a vast stream of information flooded his mind.
"'Shadow Devourer,' forged from the rare 'Dark Star Gold' found in the depths of the universe. It is indestructible and highly conductive to Origin Force and Spiritual Force.
"Property: Devouring (can absorb trace amounts of light and energy, concealing the blade's trajectory)."
"What a fine blade!"
Lin Yuan couldn't help exclaiming.
Just from touching it, he could clearly feel that "Shadow Devourer" was countless times stronger than the S-Grade War Blade he'd used before. Beside it, that old blade was as fragile as a plastic toy.
"If I'd had this blade just now..."
Lin Yuan gave it a casual swing.
Whoom!
There was no shrill whistle as it cut through the air. The blade passed through it as if slicing into water, silently, and even the surrounding light seemed to twist for an instant.
"If I'd been holding it earlier, the Black Scale Beast's armor would've been no tougher than paper. I could've slaughtered it with my eyes closed..."
Lin Yuan shook his head, both stunned and amused.
The system had left his level unchanged, yet his actual combat power had leaped to an entirely different level.
Was this the joy of being a "cheater"?
"The Strongest Path System... It really delivers."
Lin Yuan ran a hand along the cold blade, but didn't let it go to his head.
He knew all too well that outside tools were still just outside tools. No matter how good the system's equipment was, without sufficient strength of his own, he'd be like a child carrying gold through a crowded street—just asking to be killed.
Besides...
"These beginner rewards are coming so often, it feels like a trap."
Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes and looked up at the deep night sky.
He didn't believe the tasks ahead would stay this easy.
It was like playing a game: monsters in the beginner village were always easy to beat, and good gear dropped all the time. But once you left the beginner village...
Just as his thoughts were wandering—
Ding!
The system's voice rang out again, as if to confirm his suspicions—or as if it couldn't wait to push him onward.
[Task: Observe this year's newcomer at the Elite Training Camp, Luo Feng, and discreetly give him some guidance.] [Reward: Universe-level genetic Origin Energy cultivation method, Nine Star Transformations.] [Comment: A true powerhouse must not only be strong but also know how to read the situation. Go take a look at that young man favored by Earth's will. You may find something unexpected.]
Looking at the pale blue text that appeared across his retina, Lin Yuan couldn't help twitching the corners of his mouth.
"This system's got quite a personality..."
"Or is there really a beginner's protection period, and it's afraid I'll get killed because I'm not strong enough, so it keeps stuffing me with rewards?"
First, it had given him a divine weapon; now it was giving him a top-tier cultivation method?
Nine Star Transformations!
He'd only seen the name, but those three words—"Universe-level"—were enough to drive any martial artist on Earth mad.
The best Guidance Technique currently available on Earth was the Five Hearts Toward Heaven cultivation method, and its efficiency was so poor it was infuriating.
But Nine Star Transformations—just the name made it sound like the kind of treasure that could completely transform a person!
"Whatever."
Lin Yuan took a deep breath and put aside his jumbled thoughts.
"This is a genetic Origin Energy cultivation method, ready for the taking. It's who knows how many times better than Five Hearts Toward Heaven.
"I'm stuck at the peak of High-level War God. If I want to break through to Planetary Level quickly, I have to make this trip..."
Only by reaching Planetary Level could he truly step onto the threshold of cultivation in the universe and claim a foothold in its boundless expanse.
"Besides, as a newly appointed Honorary Inspector of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, I can get in and out of the Elite Training Camp easily."
Lin Yuan rubbed his chin, a nostalgic look in his eyes.
"Come to think of it, I used to be a student there myself..."
Thinking of that, Lin Yuan couldn't help sighing.
"After all that winding around... I still can't get away from Luo Feng."
"Since fate has led me here, I may as well go meet the future City Lord Luo."
With that, Lin Yuan didn't linger.
Whoom!
Nine silver crescent blades appeared out of thin air, quickly joining together beneath his feet to form a perfect disc.
Lin Yuan stepped aboard. His figure became a streak of light, shooting through the post-rain night sky and racing north. In the blink of an eye, he vanished beyond the horizon.
All that remained was the enormous monster corpse, lying silently in the valley, bearing witness to everything that had happened that night.
Three days later.
Hongning Base City, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's Global Headquarters.
No matter how many times you visited this magnificent city, rebuilt from the wreckage of a gigantic spaceship, it still inspired awe from the depths of your heart.
A massive Black Dragon Statue loomed over the headquarters' main gate, its eyes gazing down on the countless people below with overwhelming majesty.
The Elite Training Camp, known as the "War God Preparatory Camp," was located in the most central part of headquarters.
It was midday, and the sun was shining brightly.
A young man in a black casual combat suit, a long black War Blade strapped to his back, was walking leisurely toward the camp's imposing gates.
"Stop! This is a restricted military area. No unauthorized entry!"
Two fully armed guards, both radiating the aura of War General Level fighters, immediately stepped forward and blocked the young man's path...
Before you continue