Chapter Ninety: Earth: The Beast Tide (Thirty-One)

Although I had long since prepared myself for this, I still felt a jolt of surprise when I heard that number. I really hadn’t expected that, apart from us, there would be so many others who had reached this stage. Mu Xingye said this, yet his face showed no sign of astonishment.

Given how many civilizations were taking part, that number might even be an undercount, Pix said. And he was right. The information the other side had provided proved that they were neither the first group to be questioned nor the last. The other side had also shown no intention of forcing the issue, and it was obvious that many had already turned them down.

What information do we have about that place? Sun Meng asked. Cooperation was fine, but he was afraid of entering somewhere they knew nothing about and then being dragged entirely along by the other side’s rhythm, just as Pix and Mu Xingye had once led them into that ruin. The outsiders felt they had not lost out, and the members of the team felt the same, but in truth only Pix had taken the lion’s share.

It was not really about greed. This was still a good outcome. If they were cheated in a place they understood nothing about, who knew what price they would have to pay?

First of all, one thing is certain: that area should block investigative methods from the outside. Even the small robots I sent in could only detect a range of less than a meter around themselves. The energy responses are extremely strong, not just from those monsters, but from the plants and the ground as well. It is as if that place belongs to a higher level of existence, Pix said, displaying some data.

In other words, your advantage would be suppressed to a very low degree, Mu Xingye said, looking at Pix.

Yes. That is why I never brought it up. In that state, it is not suitable for us to explore. But I do not know how much they have already learned about it, Pix said.

I think they already know about this, Mu Xingye said, narrowing his eyes. Remember the one who spoke? He said they needed participants with strong combat ability.

Then do we agree or not? Our progress has been getting slower and slower lately, and the civilization’s internal development is the same, Cocoralu said.

We will have to face the problems inside eventually, but this time we will have to take some risks. Still, I think it should be like the mutation in the mining cave before: a certain degree of danger, but within what we can bear, Sun Meng said after some thought.

I think so too. Besides, we should get to know these competitors as well, shouldn’t we? Don’t forget our earlier conclusion: the earlier a civilization advances to the third rank, the better, he added.

Three days later, they arrived at the gathering point provided by the earlier participant, now less than ten kilometers outside the area they were preparing to explore.

By then, there were not just the twenty-seven participants mentioned earlier, but forty-one in total. Add Sun Meng and the others, and there were forty-five people altogether.

Welcome, welcome. I am Wu Gaduomo, from the Wuxi Civilization, and the initiator of this exploration operation. Five of those who agreed earlier have not arrived yet. According to the plan, we will wait another half day. Until then, please rest and recover in the camp. We have prepared some information about the interior. If you have anything new to add, please say it as well. After all, this is for everyone’s safety, said a bald, purple-skinned participant built like a giant.

Although he was trying his best to show goodwill, Sun Meng instinctively felt repelled and disgusted by him. His appearance, especially his face, was an absolute challenge to Sun Meng’s aesthetic sense. That thing on the center of his face, which looked like it could have been either a mouth or a nose, was something he liked to keep touching whenever he smiled. In short, the sight of him was revolting beyond measure.

When the others in the camp noticed newcomers had arrived, they naturally paid attention. After all, the strength of three second-rank perfect-level experts was no joke. Soon afterward, several auras were released from within the camp.

Sun Meng raised an eyebrow. He could sense that these auras all belonged to cultivators. He had not expected that there would really be other civilizations following this path.

He smiled faintly and released his own aura. Golden-red inner energy, like a bright flame, sent a signal to those people.

Almost at once, three people appeared before Sun Meng, two men and one woman.

Dumeka, bloodline martial arts.

Furisis, sky bow path.

Lorenda, battle beast martial arts.

Looking at the three of them, Sun Meng smiled and said, Sun Meng. Cultivator.

Dumeka said, Interested in a spar? There is still half a day left. Sitting around here is boring.

I can feel that your arrow intent is very powerful, Furisis said, looking at Sun Meng, her eyes full of fighting spirit.

Why do I feel a powerful beastly life force in his aura? Lorenda looked at Sun Meng. A bit abrupt, perhaps, but I still want to ask: what is the source of that aura?

Sun Meng thought for a moment and immediately understood. It is the bloodline of a very powerful being: the Three-Legged Golden Crow. It is only because of inheritance that it has become tinged with this aura. It is not the real thing.

Lorenda looked somewhat disappointed. Is that so? If you have time, could you tell me about that Three-Legged Golden Crow? He had thought Sun Meng’s cultivation method shared some common ground with his own, but it turned out not to be so. Still, if he could obtain information about a powerful beast, that would not be bad. Once he had that information, he could always try to find clues in future tasks.

Sun Meng nodded. No problem. He did not think the system would provide detailed information at the level of the Three-Legged Golden Crow before a civilization had enough rank, so even if he told the other party, it would not be of much help in the short term.

This way. There is a temporary sparring ground here, Dumeka said impatiently.

Sun Meng gestured to Mu Xingye. You go ahead. I’ll be over in a moment.

It was called a sparring ground, but in truth it was just a cleared area blasted into existence. He did not know whether it had been like that from the beginning or had been formed through repeated bouts.

Since this is a spar, I’ll let you attack first, Dumeka said as he rolled his shoulders, full of confidence.

Furisis curled her lip. Arrogant fool. Then she looked at Sun Meng. Don’t disgrace the bow and arrows in your hands!

Sun Meng smiled at her and nodded. His bow and arrows appeared in his hands as he looked at Dumeka. Then I won’t hold back. He drew the bow and loosed the arrow, and a blur of afterimages appeared.

Are those clones or phantoms? Dumeka glanced at the numerous Sun Meng figures that had appeared before him. With a roar, his body grew twice as large, and a shell-like layer of cartilage appeared over him like armor.

Great Strength Vajra, Immovable as a Mountain!

A massive ape-like phantom covered in golden fur appeared over Dumeka’s body. The phantom slammed both fists into the ground, and a layer of golden barrier-like light blocked Sun Meng’s attack.

Heh. For an archer, as long as I can defend against your attacks and restrict your speed, I’ll be unbeatable, Dumeka said, stamping his right foot heavily. A yellow-brown halo lit up and spread outward in all directions.

Although it is only a half-finished domain, it is enough to restrict your speed!

Speed? That has no effect on me, Sun Meng said calmly, sensing the change in the surrounding gravity. Then the patterns on the Houyi Bow in his hands lit up, and his inner energy condensed into arrows. Nine arrows were layered together as they shot toward Dumeka.

Mountain Power!

As Dumeka pushed both hands forward, a golden shield appeared in front of him, trying to block Sun Meng’s attack.

But the smile on his face vanished the next moment, because the arrows simply bypassed the shield and rushed toward his chest.

Mountain Fist!

Although Dumeka did not know why the other party’s attack could still curve, he would not use his own body to take it head-on, especially not an attack that clearly was not weak. Yellow-brown energy wrapped around his fist as he met Sun Meng’s attack directly. The force of the nine overlapping strikes was driven straight into Dumeka’s body.

Heh heh, is that all you’ve got? Nothing special! Dumeka roared and scattered the energy arrows. Though he had blocked them, the expenditure had not been small.

Your strength is very strong. I acknowledge you, he said.

Then he saw the surprised expression on Furisis’s face.