Showing His Edge in His First Saint-Level Battle, Gaining Insight into All Laws Through the System's Gift

The sun sank behind the mountains, and the mist in Mist Canyon grew denser, gently enveloping the man and dragon. Hillman leaned against the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon's scales, enjoying this rare moment of peace, when an urgent system notification suddenly sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Saint-level random quest triggered-Defend the Canyon]

[Quest objective: An early Saint-level Gold-Eater Demon Ape is approaching Mist Canyon. This savage creature leaves devastation wherever it goes. Repel it before it enters the canyon's core area!]

[Quest reward: Introductory Comprehension of All Earth Element Laws]

[Time limit: One hour]

[Failure penalty: The ecosystem surrounding Mist Canyon will suffer catastrophic destruction. The Spined Iron-Armored Dragon's favorability will decrease significantly.]

Hillman sprang to his feet, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. He had read about the Gold-Eater Demon Ape in the Dragonblood Secret Manual. Covered in golden fur, the creature possessed an incomparably powerful body and excelled at overcoming techniques through sheer strength, making it an extremely troublesome opponent for others of its level.

"Old friend, we have a visitor. One who can put up a fight." Hillman patted the Spined Iron-Armored Dragon's head, a trace of fighting spirit in his voice.

The Iron-Armored Dragon raised its head at his words, a flicker of vigilance crossing its blood-red eyes. Then it let out a powerful draconic roar and slowly rose to its feet, the spines along its back glinting coldly as it readied itself for battle.

Without further hesitation, Hillman darted toward the canyon entrance. He circulated his Saint-level battle qi and pushed his earth affinity talent to its limit, flitting through the mist like a phantom at incredible speed.

The one-hour time limit passed in a flash. When Hillman reached the canyon entrance, a golden figure fully ten meters tall was striding into the canyon with an ancient, towering tree over its shoulder.

It was the Gold-Eater Demon Ape!

Its golden fur looked as though it had been cast from gold, gleaming brilliantly in the mist. Its bell-sized eyes were bloodshot and filled with viciousness. Every step sent a dull rumble through the ground and left a deep footprint.

"Human, get out of my way!" At the sight of Hillman, the Gold-Eater Demon Ape unleashed a deafening roar. Its voice carried such intense pressure that the surrounding mist churned violently.

Hillman sneered and tightened his grip on the Fine Iron Longsword. Saint-level battle qi surged wildly through his body, and an earthen-yellow glow burned around him like flames. "You're not getting through!"

"You're asking for death!" the Gold-Eater Demon Ape roared, violently hurling the ancient tree from its shoulder. The tree whistled through the air and hurtled toward Hillman like a battering ram.

[Ding! The Gold-Eater Demon Ape has used Brute Force Throw. Power assessment: Peak early Saint-level!]

[Recommendation: Invoke Laws of the Earth: Heaviness and withstand the attack head-on with an earthen shield, then restrict its movements with Earth Cage!]

An idea stirred in Hillman's mind. He slammed his left hand against the ground and bellowed, "Earth Shield!"

In an instant, a thick earthen shield fully ten meters high and five meters wide rose from the ground. A faint glow of laws flowed over its surface, giving it an air of indestructibility.

"Boom!"

The ancient tree slammed into the earthen shield with an earthshaking crash. The shield shuddered violently, countless cracks spreading across its surface, yet it did not shatter.

Surprise flashed in the Gold-Eater Demon Ape's eyes. Clearly, it had not expected this human's defense to be so formidable. With a furious roar, it drove off all four limbs and launched its massive body at Hillman like a cannonball. Its golden fist hurtled straight toward Hillman's face with world-destroying force.

"Just what I wanted!" Excitement flashed in Hillman's eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced, pouring all his battle qi into his longsword and invoking Laws of the Earth: Heaviness as he slashed at the Gold-Eater Demon Ape's fist.

"Clang!"

The clash of metal rang through heaven and earth, sending sparks flying.

Hillman felt a terrifying force travel along his longsword. His arm went numb and ached, and the impact drove him back three steps in succession. The Gold-Eater Demon Ape fared little better. A sharp pain shot through its fist, and the sword's radiance had actually severed several strands of its golden fur.

"Roar!"

Thoroughly enraged, the Gold-Eater Demon Ape threw back its head and roared. The golden glow around it surged, strengthening its body once more. Its fists hammered wildly at Hillman like golden iron hammers.

Hillman dared not let his guard down. He darted through the barrage of fists like an agile cat while repeatedly casting Earth Cage. Earthen spikes erupted from the ground and wound toward the Gold-Eater Demon Ape's limbs. But its body was simply too powerful. The moment the spikes touched it, they were shattered.

[Ding! The Gold-Eater Demon Ape's powerful body renders it immune to Earth Cage's physical restraints!]

[Recommendation: Change tactics. Invoke Laws of the Earth: Devouring to absorb the force of its punches, then counterattack with Laws of the Earth: Explosion!]

Understanding dawned on Hillman. He stopped dodging, planted his longsword in the ground, and slammed both hands against the earth with a bellow. "Laws of the Earth: Devouring!"

In an instant, the ground within a hundred-meter radius of Hillman lit up with an earthen-yellow glow. The Gold-Eater Demon Ape's fist slammed down in front of him, but its terrifying force vanished like a clay ox sinking into the sea, slowly devoured by the earth.

"What the hell is this thing?!" A flash of terror crossed the Gold-Eater Demon Ape's eyes. It tried to withdraw its fist, only to discover that its strength was being continuously devoured. It could not break free at all.

A cold sneer curled Hillman's lips. He abruptly exerted his strength and bellowed again, "Laws of the Earth: Explosion!"

Humm!

The devoured power erupted in an instant. A terrifying shock wave burst outward from Hillman and blasted straight at the Gold-Eater Demon Ape.

"Boom!"

Caught off guard, the Gold-Eater Demon Ape took the full force of the shock wave. Its enormous body flew backward like a kite with a snapped string and crashed heavily into the ground. It spat out a mouthful of golden blood, and its golden fur lost much of its luster.

It struggled to rise, its eyes filled with fear. It could sense that the human before it was far stronger than it had imagined.

"Get lost!" Hillman barked coldly. His Saint-level pressure surged, bearing down on the Gold-Eater Demon Ape like a mountain.

The Gold-Eater Demon Ape shuddered. Not daring to hesitate, it scrambled and tumbled out of the canyon, soon disappearing into the mist.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on successfully repelling the Gold-Eater Demon Ape and completing the Defend the Canyon quest!]

[Distributing quest reward... Introductory Comprehension of All Earth Element Laws has been transferred into the host's mind!]

The instant the system's notification ended, a vast stream of information flooded Hillman's mind. Heaviness, Devouring, Explosion, Growth, Quicksand... insights into numerous branches of the Earth Element laws flowed through his consciousness like gentle streams, raising his understanding of Earth Element power to an entirely new height.

Hillman slowly closed his eyes, allowing these insights to settle and merge in his mind. He could clearly feel his connection to the earth growing ever closer, as though he could call upon the power of the entire expanse of earth with a mere lift of his hand.

The Spined Iron-Armored Dragon slowly approached his side and gently rubbed its enormous head against his shoulder, its blood-red eyes filled with approval.

The final ray of sunset pierced the mist and fell upon Hillman. The earthen-yellow glow intertwined with the golden light, outlining his tall, straight figure.

At this moment, he had truly joined the ranks of Saint-level powerhouses and taken a firm step toward greater heights of martial prowess.