A Bargain Delivered to My Door!

"Level 5 exotic beasts grant around 60 to 70 experience points."

Chen Ming glanced at the level data on his panel.

He still needed about 500 experience points to reach level 4.

"I should look for exotic beasts level 6 and above to kill."

For Chen Ming, there was actually little difference between level 5 and level 6.

The time and difficulty required for the kills should be about the same.

With the buffs from his equipment and his mental detection ability, Chen Ming's range for fighting monsters above his level had increased.

Previously, he could only handle one or two levels above his own, with three levels being near his limit.

Now, he estimated that taking on monsters four or five levels higher shouldn't be a problem.

After the battle with the level 5 Gale Mantis just now, Chen Ming had only lost 40 points of constitution.

It was no more than a tickle.

[Shadowless Armor, Constitution +800!]

After applying the bonus from the newly acquired Constitution Rune Stone to his equipment, Chen Ming continued forward.

He took a look at the location of the 'Comprehensive Dungeon' on his map.

He prepared to head deeper in that direction.

This way, once he reached level 5, he could enter the dungeon immediately.

On a hillside.

Chen Ming stopped in his tracks, holding his long blade as he scanned his surroundings.

From four directions, four apes, each two meters tall, surrounded him.

All four were level 6 exotic beasts!

Chen Ming had actually realized he was surrounded seconds ago, but he didn't dodge.

"Just in time."

The battle was about to erupt.

Chen Ming stood his ground, fearless, weathering attacks from all sides while focusing on beating one beast to death first.

[-1!]

[-1!]

[-1!]

[-35!]

Accompanied by roars, blade light and fist wind intertwined.

Silver iron fists, each larger than Chen Ming's head, slammed into his body, the collisions sounding like violent blacksmithing.

However, Chen Ming was already a piece of 'iron' tempered to the limit, and he remained completely unmoved.

[-35!]

[-70!]

[-70!]

His long blade tore through the apes' defenses bit by bit.

Blood sprayed everywhere!

[Killed Silver-Backed Ape (lv.6), experience +90!]

[Obtained: Silver-Backed Ape-Beast Core (lv.6)]

Watching one of their 'four brothers' being hacked to death right before their eyes, the remaining three Silver-Backed Apes went berserk.

"Awoo!"

Their silver fur bristled, covering their massive fists like iron spikes.

They let out roars and launched an attack from three directions simultaneously.

Leaping into the air, they raised their fists high and smashed them down violently—

Chen Ming's expression didn't change at all; he simply looked up calmly at the iron fists now inches away.

He was picking his next target for a 'one-on-one.'

Bang!!

The strike was heavy and powerful.

Even the ground shook, sending dirt flying!

[-1!]

Before the dust had even settled, a blade of light suddenly erupted.

It struck true, slamming hard into the crotch of one of the apes.

[-70!]

Having already identified the weak point with the first one, the remaining three were naturally dealt with even faster.

[Killed Silver-Backed Ape (lv.6), EXP +89!]

[Killed Silver-Backed Ape (lv.6), EXP +88!]

[Killed Silver-Backed Ape (lv.6), EXP +91!]

[Obtained: Silver-Backed Ape-Beast Core (lv.6) (*3)]

"Not bad, a huge wave of EXP."

Chen Ming wiped his blood-stained long blade as the air grew thick with the pungent scent of gore.

Yet, Chen Ming himself remained spotless, not a single drop of blood or speck of mud staining his person.

His fine-quality physique equipment had been forged from numerous beast cores and rare materials, after all.

It was warm in winter and cool in summer, and even possessed a self-cleaning function.

Chen Ming was very satisfied with this.

He glanced at his stamina consumption.

[2400/2600]

He had lost 200 points, less than one-tenth of his total.

"Let's continue. Only two more to go, almost there."

Reaching level 5 before dusk shouldn't be a problem.

Being level 5 on the second day of the Grand Exam would surely secure him a spot in the top three.

Aside from the SS-rank Qin Zhixue, even other S-ranks found it difficult to break through to level 4.

However, one couldn't rule out others having special methods.

After all, the first day of the Grand Exam was when the gap was smallest; the combat power at level 1 was simply too low.

As time went on, those with better family backgrounds and higher-tier class advancements would gradually pull away from the average person.

Chen Ming headed deeper toward his designated 'dungeon' location, leveling up as he went.

Ten minutes later.

He encountered two exotic beasts locked in a struggle.

He saw a frog half a man's height tangled with a winding, unknown creature.

The latter appeared to be a plant-type exotic beast.

Its body was covered in vines marked with mottled red spots, and atop its head bloomed a massive flower filled with dense rows of teeth.

It was quite chilling.

The scene was chaotic.

Thick, viscous liquid splattered everywhere, emitting a foul stench.

"Lucky me, I've arrived at the perfect time."

Chen Ming's lips curled as he drew his long blade from his mental space.

It looked like this plant-type exotic beast was hunting the frog, and the battle was nearing its end.

Wasn't this just free EXP delivered to his doorstep?

There was no reason not to take it!

Hang in there, Brother Frog!

Chen Ming moved quickly, fearing the frog might be killed the very next second.

He sprinted forward, gripping the hilt tightly with both hands as he swung it behind him.

Mustering every ounce of his strength, he closed the distance and brought his blade down hard upon the frog.

The tip of the blade traced a perfect arc—

[-72!]

A flash of light flickered past.

The long blade sliced through the head of the half-man-tall frog without the slightest resistance.

The entire head was severed in one clean stroke.

There was not a moment of hesitation.

A perfect strike!

The Venomous Frog was already on its last legs, teetering on the edge of death.

Chen Ming's blade landed true, serving as the finishing blow!

[Killed Venomous Frog (lv.6), EXP +88!]

[Obtained: Venomous Frog-Beast Core (lv.6)]

When will I be able to slay a beast with such a satisfying strike every time?

Chen Ming savored the feeling; that last slash had been truly exhilarating.

"ROAR--"

A pungent, foul stench assaulted his senses.

Another twisted beast let out a hiss.

Its hard-won prey had been snatched away by a human who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

The beast core had vanished as well.

It was going to devour this human!

[Tyrant Flower]

[Level: lv.6]

[Ability: Corrosive Entanglement]

[Description: Has a massive appetite and eats anything; watch out for its agile tentacles!]

This Tyrant Flower had just finished a battle, and its condition was clearly not optimal.

However, upon seeing that the one who had stolen its prey was merely an unremarkable, low-level human, it lost all hesitation and lunged forward.

Its tentacles, covered in deep red spots, whipped through the air in a dizzying display.

[-1!] [-1!]

At the same time, the Tyrant Flower opened its massive maw, spewing out a cloud of pungent, dark red gas.

Wherever this gas drifted, the grass and trees withered rapidly.

It was clearly laced with toxins.

Chen Ming took a deep breath and began the fight.

His immunity to negative status effects gave him nothing to fear.

[-37!]

[-37!]

[-74!]

As the final blow landed, Chen Ming split the Tyrant Flower's fang-filled "flower head" wide open.

The battle was over.

[Killed Tyrant Flower (lv.6), EXP +90!]

[Obtained: Tyrant Flower-Beast Core (lv.6)]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up to level 4! (550 EXP required for next level)]