Inside the cave, the campfire crackled, its dancing flames casting Hillman's shadow long and slender. Leaning against the cold rock wall, he pulled open his blood-soaked robes, exposing the wound on his back that ran deep enough to reveal bone. A faint bluish-black tinge lined its edges-the earth-element toxins clinging to the Rock Armor Giant Rhino's rocky layers were slowly spreading through his blood, bringing waves of numbing pain.
[Ding! Residual earth-element toxins detected in the host's body. Toxin concentration: 3.7%. Muscle tissue is undergoing continuous erosion. Wound healing speed reduced by 50%.] [Emergency quest triggered: Eliminate the toxins in your body. Requirements: Gather three stalks of clear spirit grass and refine an antidote, or kill an earth-element magical beast and extract a detoxifying magic core. Rewards: Permanent 15% increase in battle qi recovery speed, earth affinity talent proficiency +200.]
The system's cold notifications rang in his mind. Hillman furrowed his brow, brought up the system panel, and glanced over it. His battle qi was down to just 18/100, his physical condition was "mildly weakened," and the healing potions he carried had long since been exhausted in his fierce battle with the Rock Armor Giant Rhino.
"A detoxifying magic core would require at least a ninth-level earth-element magical beast. In my current state, I have no strength left to fight." Hillman murmured to himself, his gaze falling on the system-marked map. Three li southeast of the cave lay a damp stream valley, where the probability of clear spirit grass growing was as high as 89%.
Clear spirit grass was precisely the remedy for earth-element toxins.
He carefully put the Rock Armor Giant Rhino's magic core and horn into the storage space the system had expanded, then wiped his Fine Iron Longsword clean and fastened it at his waist. He buried the campfire with sand and soil, leaving only a few embers to maintain some warmth. Once everything was done, Hillman brushed aside the vines at the cave entrance and slipped silently into the night.
The night was pitch-black, and mist swirled through the forest, limiting visibility to less than five meters. Hillman activated his earth affinity talent and pressed his palm to the ground. A faint ocher glow flowed around his fingertips.
[Ding! Earth affinity talent (beginner) activated. Perception range expanded to 120 meters. Resonance with the earth while moving increases concealment by 40%.] [No high-ranking magical beast activity detected in the direction of the stream valley. Only a small number of low-ranking Demon Wolves are roaming the area. Danger level: Low.]
The system's notifications eased Hillman's tension. Light on his feet, he slipped between the trees like a wildcat, without making the slightest sound on the fallen leaves and dry branches beneath him. Faint tremors traveled through the soil along his path. He could clearly "hear" a rabbit hiding in the grass a hundred meters away, nibbling tender leaves, and "see" a venomous snake coiled on a tree trunk, flicking its tongue as it watched its surroundings.
This was the wondrous use of the earth affinity talent, and the greatest source of support the system had given him.
As he reached the edge of the stream valley, damp air washed over his face. Moonlight filtered through the thin mist and fell upon the clear stream, making its ripples shimmer. In the cracks between rocks along both banks, several pale green plants swayed in the breeze, their leaves edged with fine serrations. They were precisely the clear spirit grass he sought.
[Ding! Three stalks of clear spirit grass detected, meeting the quest requirements. Tip: The roots contain the highest concentration of detoxifying compounds. Dig out the entire root system intact when gathering.]
Hillman crouched, drew the dagger at his waist, and carefully brushed aside the weeds beside the rocks. He pushed the dagger into the damp soil and slowly pried around the clear spirit grass's roots, afraid of causing even the slightest damage. Before long, he had tucked three stalks of clear spirit grass, soil still clinging to them, into his cloth bag.
Just as he was about to rise and return, the system's warning suddenly sounded.
[Ding! Warning! Three Demon Wolves detected approaching. Distance from host: 80 meters. Level: Six. Threat level: Moderate.] [Demon Wolf traits: Pack-dwelling, keen sense of smell, adept at surprise attacks. Recommendation: Use the terrain to set an ambush and end the battle quickly!]
Hillman's gaze sharpened. He swiftly ducked behind a boulder and tightened his grip on his Fine Iron Longsword. Holding his breath, he stared fixedly at the entrance to the stream valley.
Before long, three gray shapes darted out-the three Demon Wolves. Their fur was unkempt and their eyes vicious. Their noses constantly sniffed the air; they had clearly been drawn by the scent of the clear spirit grass.
The three Demon Wolves spread into a triangular formation and slowly closed in on the boulder.
Hillman silently told himself, My Whirling Slash proficiency is already maxed out. They'll make good practice.
The little battle qi remaining inside him circulated furiously. His right hand gripped his longsword as he waited for the best moment to strike.
When the three Demon Wolves came within ten meters of the boulder, Hillman suddenly sprang out from behind it. His body spun rapidly like a top, his longsword tracing a gleaming arc wreathed in fierce battle qi.
"Whirling Slash!"
Slash-slash-slash!
Three dull sounds rang out almost simultaneously. Before the three Demon Wolves could even react, the longsword slit their throats. Blood gushed out, staining the soil of the stream valley red.
[Ding! Congratulations on killing three sixth-level Demon Wolves. Gained 1,500 experience points!] [A small amount of battle qi restored. Current battle qi: 25/100.] [Trace amounts of earth elemental energy detected within the Demon Wolves. Extract?]
Extract, Hillman replied inwardly.
Three faint gray streams drifted from the Demon Wolves' corpses and merged into his body. A trace of warmth immediately filled his previously depleted dantian.
Not daring to linger, he hurried back to the cave with the clear spirit grass.
Inside the cave, the campfire burned once more. Hillman washed the roots of the clear spirit grass, placed them in a stone mortar, pounded them to a pulp, and squeezed out their pale green juice. The juice gave off a fresh, grassy scent that refreshed the mind.
He spread the juice evenly over the wound on his back, and a cool sensation instantly swept through his entire body. The bluish-black discoloration around the wound faded at a visible pace, and the numbing pain gradually disappeared.
[Ding! Clear Spirit Grass Juice has taken effect. Toxins within the body completely eliminated!] [Emergency quest "Eliminate the toxins in your body" completed. Rewards issued: Permanent 15% increase in battle qi recovery speed, earth affinity talent proficiency +200!] [Earth affinity talent proficiency has reached its maximum. Upgrade?]
"Upgrade!" Hillman replied without hesitation.
A vast surge of earth elemental energy poured from the depths of the system into every part of his body. He could clearly feel his connection with the earth growing stronger, as though the rocks and soil beneath his feet had become part of his body.
[Ding! Congratulations! Earth affinity talent upgraded to intermediate!] [Talent effects: Perception range expanded to 200 meters. Enables deep resonance with the earth, drawing upon earth power to strengthen defense and reduce physical damage by 20%.] [New skill unlocked: Earth Shield. Consumes 30 battle qi to condense earth elemental energy into a shield, blocking one full-power attack from a magical beast below the eighth level.]
Hillman slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of delighted surprise passing through them. He stood and clenched his fists, feeling the power surging within him as a determined smile slowly curved his lips.
With the system's help and earth power at his side, even with danger lurking throughout the Magical Beast Forest, he would eventually tread through these thorns and ascend to the pinnacle of the Saint-level!
Meanwhile, outside the cave, the night lay deep, and a new trial was already quietly brewing.
Before you continue