Xia Jing's Helplessness

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Even in its seedling stage, the Cloud-Soaring Vine was terrifyingly powerful. Vine after vine, each a thousand meters long, shrieked sharply through the air as they battled Hong, who was enveloped in black radiance, until the sky and earth seemed to darken.

Just as the other Councilor-level powerhouses watched, a terrifying electric eel suddenly shot out of the lake. Its body was no shorter than the Cloud-Soaring Vine's tendrils, and the moment it appeared, lightning swirled around it as it lunged at Hong.

"It's the King-level Monster, the Sky-Swallowing Eel!" Thor and the other Councilor-level powerhouses were utterly shocked. Some could not help warning Hong to be careful.

However, Hong was the strongest person in the world, after all. Though he had only reached the first level of Domain, his strength was still absurdly formidable. As the electric eel struck like lightning, the spear in his hand spun instantly, carrying a streak of black light as it stabbed straight toward the eel.

Pfft!

With a single strike, he pierced straight through the King-level Monster Sky-Swallowing Eel's head. Its thousand-meter-long body crashed into the lake, sending towering waves splashing into the air.

A moment later.

As the Cloud-Soaring Vine's assault weakened.

The lake suddenly churned with layer upon layer of swirling waves. An eight-clawed tentacle rapidly stretched out from the vortex and lashed toward Hong.

"Another King-level Monster?"

"What secret does this lake hold? Two King-level Monsters appeared at once, along with that terrifying plant lifeform?"

Many Councilor-level powerhouses were shocked, yet their eyes gleamed with burning greed. None of them were fools. With the lake being this strange, it had to contain treasures. But the plant's long vines were too powerful. Even Hong could not take them down immediately, so they did not dare rush in recklessly.

Another half hour passed.

Hong retreated from above the central island.

His brows were tightly furrowed. The Cloud-Soaring Vine was clearly extremely difficult to deal with, and King-level Monsters kept launching attacks to interfere. Taking down the Cloud-Soaring Vine would not be easy.

"Big Brother, a Cloud-Soaring Vine actually appeared on Earth. You've struck it rich this time!" Thor said enviously. After all, Hong had discovered the Cloud-Soaring Vine first, and he would not go up and fight Hong for it.

Hong shook his head. "This lake is strange. King-level Monsters keep appearing, and it'll be difficult for me to deal with the Cloud-Soaring Vine. Lei Zi, I need your help."

Thor smiled. "No problem. It's been a long time since I last stretched my muscles."

"Wait until daylight, when the visibility is better. I need to recover too." Hong looked at the other Councilors and saw the temptation on their faces. "If any of you want to go in and try, feel free."

The other Councilor-level powerhouses were immediately tempted, but most did not move.

Only the third and fourth speakers rushed forward.

Yet they were soon forced back by the long vines, fleeing in miserable disarray.

Thor sneered. "If you don't have the strength, put away your greed."

The Councilors all looked embarrassed.

Seeing this, Zhou Hao shook his little head and returned to the fighter jet, leaving Mist Island. He had already checked in for the day, so staying here would only waste time. Besides, unless the Cloud-Soaring Vine was dealt with, there was no way to enter Mist Island.

But even if the Cloud-Soaring Vine were dealt with, given Babata's personality, it would never casually release the Wood Essence Crystals for Earth's Councilor-level powerhouses to fight over. After all, Babata's target was not these Earth powerhouses.

Elite Training Camp, a room on the third floor of the Nine-story Tower.

A spacious martial arts hall.

Dressed in a loose training uniform, Xia Jing wielded his saber in an unending flow like waves. Sharp whistles occasionally rang through the air as saber light flashed and force passed through layer after layer.

Zhou Ying'er stared without blinking.

Meanwhile, Zhou Hao sat casually on the floor, utterly bored. His mind was wholly occupied with figuring out how to check in inside the Meteorite Star Ship. The Cloud-Soaring Vine and Wood Essence Crystals were good things, but they ultimately could not compare to the secret technique inheritance of the Yunmo Star lineage.

Whoosh.

A streak of saber light darted through the air.

Xia Jing sheathed his saber and stood still. His breathing was steady, his aura deep and powerful. Performing that exquisite saber technique had not affected him in the slightest.

"Zhou Ying'er, Zhou Hao, the saber technique I just demonstrated was only at the second realm. Most members of the training camp are at this level. If there is anything you do not understand, speak up, and I will guide you step by step." As he spoke, he looked at Zhou Ying'er and Zhou Hao.

Zhou Ying'er was completely focused, which greatly satisfied Xia Jing.

But Zhou Hao... looked utterly distracted, leaving Xia Jing speechless.

"Zhou Hao."

"Huh? Teacher Xia, what is it?" Zhou Hao came back to his senses.

Xia Jing's face darkened. "Come demonstrate the saber technique I just used."

Zhou Hao stepped forward, took an ordinary combat saber that Zhou Ying'er tossed to him, and began to perform it.

As early as the second day of Xia Jing's instruction, he had checked in here and obtained mastery-level realms in saber techniques, spear techniques, and all kinds of other weapons.

Thus, as he performed the saber technique, his initial awkwardness gradually turned into greater and greater proficiency. By the end, he was like a grandmaster who had studied the saber for decades, every movement flawless.

Xia Jing stared in a daze.

Even when Zhou Hao sheathed his saber, he had yet to recover.

"Teacher Xia?" Zhou Hao called out several times.

Only then did Xia Jing come back to his senses. Looking at Zhou Hao, deep helplessness welled up within him. He had studied the saber for decades and had only barely reached the major accomplishment realm. Yet after teaching Zhou Hao for just a few days, the boy had already comprehended it to perfection.

Comparing the two.

He could not help feeling as if he had spent more than a decade practicing the saber for nothing.

"Zhou Hao, from today onward, do whatever you want. I won't restrict you anymore." Xia Jing had finally understood what a true monster was.

Zhou Hao scratched his head. "Teacher, isn't that a little inappropriate?"

Xia Jing wore a bitter expression. "With your talent, there is no need to be bound by my instruction."

"Alright."

Xia Jing looked at Zhou Ying'er, and only then did his expression improve somewhat. At least not everyone was as freakish as Zhou Hao. "Zhou Ying'er, from now on, add another hour to your lessons with me. Your talent is ordinary, so you need to work even harder."

"Yes, Teacher Xia." Zhou Ying'er's face was full of determination.

Zhou Hao stayed in the room for a while before leaving directly and returning to Jiangnan Pavilion. Since Teacher Xia had already said he did not need to attend lessons, he was happy to enjoy the freedom.

Using Zhou Tian Starry Sky Concealment, he quickly left the training camp.

When he arrived at Mist Island again.

The area around the lake had completely changed. Countless Earth factions had set up camp, with one encampment after another built across the area. Compared to the night before, the number of War God-level martial artists had nearly doubled, and almost every Councilor-level powerhouse in the world had arrived.

Besides that.

The mist over the island at the center of the lake had completely vanished. The surface of the island was bare, stripped of vegetation. Clearly, Hong had already taken away the Cloud-Soaring Vine.

Zhou Hao was in no hurry to check in and instead stopped at the edge of the lake.

"A Beast Emperor has appeared in the Mist Island lake. All War God-level martial artists, do not venture deep into the lake to explore." Electronic announcements continuously sounded at the lake's edge, warning those reckless War God-level martial artists.

Zhou Hao was startled. He had not expected a Beast Emperor-level monster to appear on Mist Island after only one night. Babata had truly gone all out.

Hong and Thor were nowhere to be seen around Mist Island. Since he could not enter the lake from the edge, Zhou Hao simply began checking in.

"Ding, congratulations, Host... You have obtained one Wood Essence Crystal."

"Ding, congratulations, Host... You have obtained the Spirit of Grass and Wood, Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Wood Heart."

"Ding, congratulations, Host... You have obtained the Spirit of Grass and Wood, Thousand-Year Willow Wood Heart."

Three consecutive drops.

Zhou Hao's expression did not change. He knew that at this rate, these three items would probably be all he received from future check-ins.