Crescent Sky Rush, Ninth-Tier Transcendence!

"Alright!"

Lin Yuan's volunteering made Gu Shuangshuang nod slightly, a trace of approval showing in her eyes.

However, she did not send Lin Yuan out immediately. Instead, she had Wu Junru make the first move as a demonstration.

"No problem."

Wu Junru was tall and shapely, with a full chest and long legs. Holding a blood-red longsword, she sauntered into the valley.

She picked out a lone Earth Desolate Bull Beast. Standing before the eight-meter-tall beast at just under 1.8 meters herself, she appeared tiny and delicate.

Yet her expression was exceptionally calm. As she looked up at the savage bull, the teasing look had vanished from her crimson eyes, replaced by coldness and an unconcealed killing intent.

"Moo—"

The Earth Desolate Bull Beast lowered its head and looked at the human who had intruded into its territory. A glint of intelligence actually flashed through its round bovine eyes.

Rather than charging mindlessly like a ferocious beast, it took a step back and rolled its eyes around, as though wary of something.

"Such high intelligence!"

Lin Yuan was secretly astonished.

Other than being unable to speak, this savage bull possessed almost the same intelligence as a human.

"This is one of the terrifying aspects of Star Beasts."

Captain Gu spoke at just the right moment.

"Star Beasts are truly intelligent races. They are born with sentience and are no weaker than humans."

"Not only are their talents powerful, but their intelligence is extraordinary as well... which also means they are more cunning and far more dangerous to hunt."

Lin Yuan nodded.

An enemy with a brain was far more difficult to deal with than a beast that only knew how to wield brute force.

Boom!

The battle began below.

Wu Junru stepped forward to provoke it. The Earth Desolate Bull Beast had not sensed anyone else, and its innate arrogance made it view other races as mere ants.

Now that it had been provoked, anger gradually rose in its eyes.

It suddenly stomped forward. A vast force of earth erupted, shaking the ground before it into rolling waves that surged layer upon layer toward the human.

Natal Talent—Earth Tremor!

A mere One-Stripe Rank Star Beast could actually alter the terrain already?

Lin Yuan found it utterly ridiculous.

These Stellar Behemoths truly were blessed by nature. From birth, they could wield such tremendous power...

Whoosh!

In an instant, Wu Junru leaped into the air, her agile figure resembling a crane soaring through the clouds.

She suddenly swung her sword. Brilliant blue light gathered around the blood-red blade, transforming into a crescent-shaped sword aura that shot toward the star mark at the center of the Earth Desolate Bull Beast's forehead.

Crescent Sky Rush!

Lin Yuan recognized it at once. This was a Stellar Force Secret Art called Crescent Sky Rush.

Though it was only of ordinary grade, it was highly destructive and relatively easy to learn, making it one of the essential secret arts mastered by most Starry-Sky Warriors.

Whoosh!

The crescent sword aura was incomparably sharp and stretched several meters long. It struck at precisely the critical moment after the Earth Desolate Bull Beast had unleashed its Natal Talent.

It had no time to evade and was hit squarely between the brows.

Splurt—

Blood sprayed everywhere.

How could the power of a Stellar Force Secret Art be ordinary?

A single strand of Natal Stellar Force weighed a hundred thousand jin. When formed into a Stellar Force Secret Art, it became extremely condensed, and its power increased explosively.

Even the tough hide and bones of the Earth Desolate Bull Beast could not withstand such force.

Its skull was torn apart by the sword aura, scattering flesh and blood and revealing a brilliant blue, star-core-like crystal.

"That is the source of the Star Beast's power and the core of its life—the 'Astral Realm'!"

Lin Yuan and the others watched without blinking as Captain Gu spoke from the side.

"Star Beasts possess incredibly tenacious vitality. Their essence, including their souls, lies within the 'Astral Realm' in their bodies."

"Piercing their hearts or even severing their heads cannot completely kill a Star Beast."

"Only by utterly destroying the Boundary within their bodies can their lives truly end..."

"Boundary"?

The crystallization of all a Star Beast's power and soul?

What a truly strange race...

As they spoke, Wu Junru looked down from above, gathered strength, and lashed out with a flying kick, sending the panicked Earth Desolate Bull Beast—whose Boundary had been exposed—crashing to the ground.

Boom!

The sight was rather shocking.

A Stellar Behemoth seven or eight meters tall had been kicked over by a woman. Its massive body slammed into the earth with a dull crash.

"Crescent Sky Rush!"

Wu Junru's gaze was icy. Without the slightest hesitation, Stellar Force gathered around her blade once more, and she slashed out another crescent-shaped sword aura.

This sword aura was larger and stronger.

More than one strand of Natal Stellar Force had been infused into it, making its power even more terrifying.

Crack—

The sword aura cut through the air and instantly struck the exposed Astral Realm at the center of the Earth Desolate Bull Beast's forehead.

A tiny crack silently appeared, then rapidly multiplied like falling dominoes, spreading outward in a spiderweb pattern.

"Moo—"

Its Astral Realm shattered, and the Earth Desolate Bull Beast let out a mournful cry.

Its life force suddenly weakened, fading into nothingness until no trace of life remained.

One-Stripe Rank Earth Desolate Bull Beast, dead!

The entire battle had taken no more than ten seconds. Wu Junru made no unnecessary movements; two sword auras and one flying kick had ended the fight.

Decisive and efficient!

Her movements flowed as smoothly as clouds and water, but beneath that simplicity lay deep foundations and battle-hardened experience.

Even Lin Yuan could not help but praise her.

A heroine who did not yield to men...

Moreover, he could tell that Wu Junru possessed far more Natal Stellar Force than they did. It was definitely not merely a few strands or a dozen or so.

Otherwise, she would not have been able to unleash two Stellar Force Secret Arts in succession while remaining so composed and effortless.

"In the First Realm of the Stellar Martial Path, nine strands of Natal Stellar Force form the boundary between each stage."

"One to nine makes the first stage, two nines make the second stage... until nine nines return as one. Once eighty-one strands of Natal Stellar Force have been condensed and one reaches the peak of the Mortal Transcendence Realm, they can begin challenging the Second Realm."

"I wonder which stage Sister Junru has reached..."

As Lin Yuan pondered, Wu Junru had already returned in victory. Her steps were light and her figure graceful, while her full, snowy-white curves bounced with each movement, making for an enchanting sight.

"Did you see it clearly?"

Captain Gu nodded slightly, then looked toward Gu Yiyi and Lin Yuan.

"Mm."

The two nodded and exchanged a glance.

A blazing fighting spirit flashed in both their eyes.

Star-Martial Prodigies were no weaker than anyone!

Even though this was their first time fighting a Star Beast, their pride would never fade. It would only grow sharper.

"Good."

Captain Gu was quite satisfied.

She then led them to another part of the valley.

They found another lone Earth Desolate Bull Beast.

But this time, Lin Yuan was going up!

"Be careful, watch for the right moment, and kill with one strike."

Captain Gu kept her advice brief and direct.

Lin Yuan smiled faintly and stepped forward.

"I wonder how many exchanges it'll take Little Brother Lin Yuan to take down that beast..."

Watching the young man's unflinching back, the women of the Goddess Luo Squad all smiled.

Hu Meiniang, the voluptuous beautiful woman, had a flirtatious gleam in her eyes as she chuckled softly.

"How many exchanges? Meiniang, you think quite highly of Lin Yuan..."

"I think he'll need at least several dozen exchanges."

"No, no, several dozen exchanges would be underestimating a Special Constitution too much... I'm guessing he can win within ten exchanges."

"It's his first time fighting a Star Beast, and he only just became a Starry-Sky Warrior. He has only one strand of Natal Stellar Force, and once he uses it, it's gone. It would already be impressive if he wins. How could you hope for just a few exchanges?"

"That applies to other people. Is Little Brother Lin Yuan ordinary? You know how powerful a Special Constitution can be."

"I'm guessing within ten exchanges too. Little Brother Lin Yuan clearly isn't ordinary. That calmness and confidence aren't an act..."

"Hmph, you're all underestimating Lin Yuan. I bet it won't take more than three exchanges!"

"Oh? Yiyi is already defending her sweetheart? As far as I know, he hasn't agreed to be yours yet, has he?"

"Three exchanges is too exaggerated. That's just seeing him through rose-colored glasses... I'll bet on within ten exchanges too. That seems safer."

The group chatted noisily, eagerly guessing how powerful Lin Yuan would be in his first battle.

But aside from Gu Yiyi, most of them guessed that he would need around ten exchanges to win.

Even ten exchanges would have been astonishing, but Lin Yuan had given them a good impression, and they felt he was worth betting on.

"Hmph, just wait and see..."

The young girl pouted in dissatisfaction, staring unblinkingly at the young man's figure as her gaze gradually turned dreamy.

Even the way he turned and walked away looked so good...