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墨書 Inktalez
"Too hot! I can't take it anymore!"
After killing the thirtieth Flame-Tailed Wolf, Fang Lin Kong suddenly shouted in anger, the joints in his body cracking softly. Just as another Flame-Tailed Wolf, oblivious to its fate, lunged at him again, Fang Lin Kong swung his hand back and delivered a powerful chop to the wolf's head. A crisp sound of shattering bone echoed as the wolf was sent flying over thirty meters away.
Though the Flame-Tailed Wolves were fierce, Fang Lin Kong had absorbed enough energy to elevate his strength significantly, allowing him to perform a simple Giant Spirit Transformation. With a slight focus, the muscles in his arms, thighs, and abdomen swelled rapidly as if inflated, making his entire body bulkier and unleashing an astonishing divine power.
At this moment, Ye Lisha had exhausted her spirit bullets, and the fear barrier released by Fang Lin Kong had lost its effectiveness. However, there were still more than a third of the Flame-Tailed Wolves remaining. Over ten of them were surrounding Lin Yu, biting at him. Ye Lisha could only desperately evade, not wanting to become a burden to Lin Yu. Both Lin Yu and Ye Lisha, who had gradually fallen into despair, were astonished and delighted to see Fang Lin Kong suddenly unleash his power.
After transforming into his Giant Spirit form, Fang Lin Kong cleared the battlefield in less than ten minutes.
Looking at the last Flame-Tailed Wolf attacking him, he hurled his staff with fury, piercing through the small body and pinning it against a nearby tree. Exhausted, Lin Yu and Ye Lisha could no longer hold on and collapsed onto the ground, refusing to get up.
After killing the Flame-Tailed Wolves, Fang Lin Kong did not revert from his combat state. He sensed a strange spiritual pressure fluctuating nearby. It was sending dangerous signals to him, akin to how a kitten plays with its prey before hunting.
On high alert, Fang Lin Kong slowly approached Ye Lisha and Lin Yu. He carefully pulled out the staff embedded in the tree. Once Lin Yu and Ye Lisha relaxed even slightly, they found themselves unable to muster any fighting spirit. The situation had turned into one where Fang Lin Kong needed to protect both of them. Things hadn’t improved much since before.
"Hiss!"
A low hiss sounded as a black beast strolled out.
Fang Lin Kong initially thought he was facing some sort of wicked creature that was provoking him. However, upon seeing this beast, the only thing that came to mind was the legendary Unicorn from Western mythology.
With fur as glossy as polished ebony, it was tall and robust with an elegant physique. Atop its head was a single black horn—sharp, smooth, and shimmering.
"Eerie Dark Phantom! It's a level twenty-four magical beast! Fang Lin Kong, be careful!"
Ye Lisha was just about to stand up to assist Fang Lin Kong in battle when she felt a wave of pain wash over her body, as if every muscle were being pierced by countless needles. Lin Yu managed to rise as well, but his condition was hardly any better. It seemed they would be of no help to Fang Lin Kong.
Ye Lisha activated her mind, desperately thinking of ways to aid Fang Lin Kong. She had to fight for the lives of herself and her companions; even the slightest glimmer of hope was worth pursuing.
Fang Lin Kong had never faced an enemy as formidable as this one, completely unarmed. Ever since his life had been disrupted by the first treasure of the Dark World, Gouli Heaven's Tome, he had been pursued by various factions for the first time. With Fire Prayer, Electric Ghost, and Kazama protecting him, he had relied on countless treasures during his encounters with Liu Mu Tian Lang's relentless pursuit. Since returning from Fengshan Village, he had never felt so helpless against any foe.
For a long time, Fang Lin Kong had grown accustomed to being protected by the Great Freedom Heaven Realm Seven Treasures Banner and wielding the destructive power of the Liexie Twin Hooks. In the past, whenever he possessed treasures, he would conjure dozens of layers of shields because he feared being harmed.
Although Fang Lin Kong had shown more daring than most children from a young age, he was not someone who disregarded life. He feared death and was terrified of confronting enemies he felt powerless against.
The Eerie Dark Phantom, a level twenty-four magical beast with a Demon Power Index of three hundred, loomed before him. At that moment, Fang Lin Kong had less than a ten percent chance of victory.
Though Lin Yu and Ye Lisha saw Fang Lin Kong gripping his staff with unwavering steadiness and no sign of fear on his face, he was indeed terrified inside.
"Such a powerful creature; I'm just walking into my own death! What should I do? What should I do..."
The Eerie Dark Phantom excelled at manipulating others' minds, and it sensed Fang Lin Kong's inner retreat, which subtly affected its aura. This only fueled the beast's ferocity as it released chilling demonic energy that continuously pressed down on Fang Lin Kong.
Despite his fear, Fang Lin Kong was not one to easily give up. Confronted with an unprecedentedly strong enemy, he desperately sought to amplify his power. The pale white flames within him were ignited into a frenzied blaze. After the fierce battle, the life energy of over a hundred Flame-Tailed Wolves was spilling out, greedily absorbed by the expanding pale white flames.
Unbeknownst to him, as Fang Lin Kong faced off against the Eerie Dark Phantom, he felt a surge of intense energy gathering in his dantian. The pressure from the Eerie Dark Phantom's chilling demonic energy seemed to grow heavier until suddenly, Fang Lin Kong felt an icy flame erupt from his lower abdomen.
Ultimately, the Eerie Dark Phantom was still a magical beast; while its intelligence surpassed that of ordinary animals, it had its limits.
When it saw its prey glowing faintly under its overwhelming demonic pressure—first shimmering softly before developing a faint silver halo that eventually transformed into flickering silver flames—it realized that things were not going well for it. Planning to toy with its prey, the Eerie Dark Phantom suddenly charged forward like a bolt of black lightning towards Fang Lin Kong. Accompanying this attack was a powerful mental shockwave as it unleashed its signature psychic control waves.
In a state of constant tension, Fang Lin Kong instinctively took a half step back, and in an instant, his figure vanished. All that remained was a burst of soil erupting from the ground, propelled by the force of Fang Lin Kong's powerful kick. When he reappeared, his staff had already pierced out from under his arm, accurately striking the Unicorn of the Eerie Dark Phantom.
The collision of two immense forces caused the entire forest to tremble. As the dust storm stirred up by the clash between man and beast gradually settled, Lin Yu and Ye Lisha looked on in astonishment at the fierce struggle unfolding before them.
The Eerie Dark Phantom stomped its hooves on the ground, snorting loudly as it flicked its beautiful tail. It was then that the two girls noticed that the tail of the Eerie Dark Phantom was made up of four smaller tails, each shimmering with different starlight. Each tail was covered in long black fur, but when it swished through the air, it left behind a trail of four-colored starlight. The points glimmered like fireflies, shining brightly like lights—truly beautiful.
Fang Lin Kong's silver flames grew more intense. However, it seemed that his staff could not withstand such a fierce contest; it crackled with explosive sounds, and cracks began to appear along its midsection.
"Fang Lin Kong! Be careful, get away quickly! Your staff is going to break!"
Lin Yu cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted with all her might to warn Fang Lin Kong.
Fang Lin Kong bitterly smiled to himself; he could see that his staff was about to snap as well. But at this moment, could he simply evade? One misstep and the Eerie Dark Phantom's Unicorn would surely pierce him through.
Sensing Fang Lin Kong's predicament, the Eerie Dark Phantom seemed even more exhilarated. Every muscle in its body erupted with powerful strength, forcing Fang Lin Kong to retreat inch by inch.
Fang Lin Kong stood firm, but the ground beneath him was dragged out into two deep trenches.
"Damn it! Four legs have an advantage over two. This stupid horse has quite a bit of strength!"
Everyone present failed to notice anything unusual about the Silver Flame surrounding Fang Lin Kong. Even Fang Lin Kong and the Eerie Dark Phantom, who were locked in their struggle of strength, did not realize that this strange silver flame was continuously absorbing all vitality from their surroundings. The demonic energy from the Eerie Dark Phantom was being siphoned away bit by bit by Fang Lin Kong. Although the Eerie Dark Phantom still held an advantage due to its formidable power as a Level 24 magical beast, Fang Lin Kong felt his own strength growing more abundant with each use. An inexhaustible power surged forth from every part of his body.
If this back-and-forth continued for much longer, Fang Lin Kong would eventually overwhelm the Eerie Dark Phantom. However, at this critical moment, Fang Lin Kong's staff—
With a loud crack, it broke in half.
"This is bad!"
“Fang Lin Kong!”
Lin Yu and Ye Lisha exclaimed simultaneously, but it was too late to save Fang Lin Kong, who had been pierced through the chest by the Eerie Dark Phantom's Unicorn.
Fang Lin Kong closed his eyes, believing he was doomed. With a mindset of mutual destruction, he swung his palm blade fiercely. His hand struck hard against the Eerie Dark Phantom's Unicorn.
Boom!
Fang Lin Kong, who had been violently thrown to the ground, felt pain all over his body. His chest, where he had been hit by the Eerie Dark Phantom, felt as if all his ribs were broken. Curled up on the ground, Fang Lin Kong awaited the reaper's arrival, only to feel an intensifying pain.
“Why doesn’t this stupid horse come over and give me a kick to end this suffering? What is it still thinking with that foolish brain?”
Finally opening his eyes for one last look at the world, Fang Lin Kong was greeted by the sight of two beautiful girls with radiant smiles.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you so happy just because I’m about to die?”
Lin Yu excitedly replied, “Die? What are you talking about! Fang Lin Kong, your last strike broke that black horse's Unicorn. It has already fainted and won’t be getting up anytime soon. We’re safe now!”
Fang Lin Kong gritted his teeth, wincing in pain as he gasped, “Then why aren’t you two quickly taking advantage of that stupid horse being down and stabbing it? If it wakes up later, we’ll all be dead!”
Ye Lisha chuckled and said, “What a waste to kill such a great magical beast! I’ve already done something to it; when it wakes up, it will become our mount. Traveling will be much easier for us!”
Fang Lin Kong was skeptical of Ye Lisha’s words. Noticing the doubt in his eyes, Ye Lisha calmly explained, “The Patriarchs of Kunlun Celestial Path have also had a tradition of taming Divine Beasts and Celestial Birds. These spirits have cultivated for a long time and possess considerable Divine Ability; they are generally not easy to tame. Therefore, the Patriarchs developed a special talisman that can be drawn on these beasts to produce marvelous effects. It subtly alters their memories, making them accustomed to being ridden and loyal.”
Fang Lin Kong stuck out his tongue and said, “I hope you won’t draw that thing on your husband in the future. It makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it. You must never see me faint.”
Ye Lisha couldn’t help but laugh and said, “This talisman isn’t that magical; it only affects creatures with lower intelligence and merely increases their fondness. If the master is too incompetent, these subdued spirit beasts will still rebel. In the future, we’ll still need to rely on proper care for taming! It’s not a one-time solution.”
Fang Lin Kong set aside his worries and felt the pain in his body gradually easing. He reached out to touch his chest; although it sent a sharp pain coursing through him, there seemed to be no blood.
What he did not realize was that the enhancement from the Giant Spirit Transformation, combined with the barrier of Silver Flame Qi, had saved his life. If the Eerie Dark Phantom's Unicorn had pierced through him, no matter what, he would not have survived.
Even so, he was still severely injured.
Ye Lisha's subjugation talisman was indeed remarkable. After waking up, the Eerie Dark Phantom became much more docile. Fang Lin Kong was helped onto the back of the beast by the two girls, and together they began their journey back to the castle. The life-and-death training had matured Lin Yu and Ye Lisha considerably. On their way back, they encountered no threatening beasts, only a few Single-Eyed Black Snakes, which Ye Lisha dispatched with a shot to the head.
When they finally saw the castle gates, a sense of relief washed over them. After nearly a day of cultivating to heal his injuries, Fang Lin Kong was not yet fully recovered but could at least move without hindrance.
By now, more than half of the candidates had returned to the castle. They too had endured hardships and were preparing for what lay ahead.
However, this time the stalls in front of the castle square had changed their offerings. Not only were there many more varieties available, but all items were no longer free; payment was required.
Fang Lin Kong and his companions had no money on them; they had entered empty-handed. Consequently, he got into a heated argument with the examiner who had set up a temporary stall.
"What do you mean by this? Why didn’t you say before we entered that we needed to pay for equipment? Now you tell me—where am I supposed to get money!?"
The examiner smiled wryly and replied, "You can't bring outside currency in here. Even if you did, you wouldn't be allowed to use it! Here, you need to exchange hunted beasts for euros."
Fang Lin Kong was taken aback and exclaimed, "Why didn’t you say so earlier!? I killed over a hundred Flame-Tailed Wolves and didn’t have time to bring any back!"
The examiner shrugged helplessly and said, "This rule is clearly explained in the game instructions. If you didn't read it, whose fault is that?"
Upon hearing that it was mentioned in the game introduction, Fang Lin Kong turned to Ye Lisha. She shrugged slightly and said, "To drag you back here despite your injuries, even if I knew about this rule, I couldn’t just leave you behind to hunt some Flame-Tailed Wolves."
Just as Fang Lin Kong felt utterly dejected, Ye Lisha stepped forward and asked the examiner, "How much can we sell this Unicorn for? This is a level twenty-four beast—the Eerie Dark Phantom's Unicorn!"
The examiner glanced over the item and said, "According to regulations, this is worth about two thousand euros. But don't blame me for not warning you. Many candidates received the task to hunt the Eerie Dark Phantom this time. If you were to sell it, its value might be even higher. As far as I know, this is the first one that has been hunted down as a Task Beast!"
Fang Lin Kong felt a surge of joy when he saw Ye Lisha take out the Unicorn. However, he was somewhat puzzled by the examiner's words. Yet, being as perceptive as he was, Fang Lin Kong certainly wouldn't voice his confusion in front of the examiner, especially since the Eerie Dark Phantom was right beneath him.
Ye Lisha entrusted the Unicorn to the examiner for auction at the castle's auction hall and helped Fang Lin Kong back to their room to rest. As for the Eerie Dark Phantom, it was led away by Lin Yu to the castle's stable for care.
Once they were alone and saw no one around, Fang Lin Kong voiced his doubts.
"Isn't the exam about candidates hunting magical beasts? Why can what we hunted also count as someone else's task item?"
Ye Lisha patiently explained, "In this exam, it's impossible to monitor how candidates complete their tasks at all times. Therefore, as long as candidates submit their task items, it's acceptable. The task to hunt the Eerie Dark Phantom requires retrieving this magical beast's Unicorn. Although purchasing it with money doesn't align with the exam's original intent, they believe that if a candidate can gather enough money to buy task items, it indicates that they have already hunted down magical beasts of a comparable level. It can also be seen as having undergone sufficient trials. Thus, this behavior is tacitly permitted."
Fang Lin Kong clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "If that's the case, passing the exam would be much easier. One could just hunt some low-level magical beasts around the castle, save up enough money, and buy the task items!"
Ye Lisha smiled and replied, "That possibility is slim. The prices of high-level magical beasts are bound to be very expensive unless someone plans to stay here for over a decade."
After seeing Fang Lin Kong back to his room, Ye Lisha took her leave. Exhausted from recent events and still recovering from serious injuries, Fang Lin Kong had initially wanted to check if Wen Yi and the others had returned but soon fell into a deep sleep due to fatigue.
(To be continued)
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