I pressed deeper into the heart of the Demon Mountain, the towering trees now dense with silence and tension. As I stepped into Level Five, the atmosphere grew eerily still—no beasts, no sounds, just the heavy pressure of something watching.
Then I heard it.
A sharp, resonating roar cracked through the air like thunder. I turned just in time to see a massive beast emerging from the shadows near a cliffside waterfall.
A hulking figure covered in white-blue fur streaked with arcs of lightning—a Thunder Tiger.
Ding!
Warning: Rank 3 Mid-Tier Thunder Tiger Beast detected.
Grinning despite the danger, I raised my sword. "Yoo, little beast. Come on, let's have a little fight."
The beast let out another thunderous roar and charged.
Its claws slashed like lightning, tail whipping like a thunderbolt. I parried and dodged, but its power was overwhelming. One claw tore across my chest and launched me backward into a tree with a painful crack.
Blood dripped from my mouth.
"Damn… this thing's out of my league."
I turned and fled through the forest, branches slapping at my face as the beast chased me relentlessly.
"System! Can I break through?"
Ding!
Host can perform one breakthrough.
"Do it! Now!"
Ding!
2000 XP deducted.
My body flooded with energy—stronger, more vibrant than ever. My wounds sealed instantly, my veins surged with power, and I felt my cultivation rising.
Ding!
Breakthrough Successful!
Qi Refining – 4th Layer
+100 Strength
+100 Agility
+80 SE
+35 HP Regen/minute
A glowing status window appeared before my mind:
---
STATUS WINDOW
Name: Zhen Huan
Level: Qi Refining – 4th Layer
HP: 450/450
SE: 420/420
Strength: 400
Agility: 388
Intelligence: 20/20 – MAX
Charm: 90/100
Luck: ???
Skills:
• Inferno Slash – First Form
• Meteor Rain of Sword
---
I stood tall, my blood burning with new power.
"Now… I'll kill you."
The Thunder Tiger roared and summoned lightning around its body. A bolt fired from its mouth—but I rolled aside and countered.
Inferno Slash – First Form!
A blazing arc of flame shot from my sword, slicing into the beast's shoulder. It howled in agony, smoke rising from its wound.
SE: 250/420
I didn't hesitate. "Now… Meteor Rain of Sword!"
Thousands of fiery spiritual swords materialized in the sky. With one command, they descended like a flaming rainstorm, tearing into the beast with explosive force. The Thunder Tiger shrieked once, then collapsed, its body charred and motionless.
SE: 50/420
Ding!
You killed Rank 3 Mid-Tier Thunder Tiger Beast – XP Gained: 3800
I exhaled heavily, wiping blood from my chin. "Hah… I killed that freaky beast."
With a thought, I stored the beast's corpse in my system inventory.
Now… it was time for the waterfall.
---
I arrived before it—an immense cascade that roared with ancient power. Water crashed into the rocks below, mist rising in curtains. I looked around.
"Is the second sword here? Under the water?"
I dove in—but saw nothing in the depths.
Then I remembered something.
"In the old comics, it's always behind the waterfall."
With narrowed eyes, I swam past the crashing water—and sure enough, a hidden cave entrance stood behind the curtain of water.
Inside, the cave grew wider and darker. The air was thick with history. And then I saw it.
A massive skeleton, larger than any beast I'd seen. Its ribcage arched like a stone cathedral, and nestled at the center—a sword.
Its design mirrored the Sword of Inferno, but its hilt was etched with deep green veins, and its blade shimmered with the essence of earth.
I approached, breath held, and reached out.
The sword leapt into my hand.
"Huh… did it just recognize me as its master?"
Ding!
Scenario Mission Completed
You have found the Sword of Earth.
Reward: 2000 XP
Ding!
Current XP: 7010
Then, without warning, both Sword of Inferno and Sword of Earth began to glow and float from my hands. They hovered in midair, spinning around each other faster and faster—until their auras intertwined.
A blinding light filled the cave.
"They're… combining?"