Chapter 161
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Chapter 161: Title
Though unaware of her name, Jiang Nan understood one truth clearly—the little girl was undoubtedly a big shot, an existence not to be trifled with.
Battleground · Illusionary Battlefield.
"What’s going on?!" Yang Xingyu dashed frantically through the undergrowth, the menacing creature’s hot breath practically searing his back as it pursued relentlessly.
"Move!"
A woman clad in utilitarian long sleeves and pants swept past him, Long Knife gleaming as she targeted not him, but the monstrosity trailing behind. Yang Xingyu twisted mid-stride, scrambling up a gnarled tree trunk just as steel met flesh with a visceral crunch.
Peering down, he witnessed the bisected remains of his pursuer. A shiver crept down his spine—this warrior’s ferocity matched only by her prowess. Her aura alone confirmed she surpassed his own capabilities.
Yet such a formidable extraordinary individual remained unmentioned in headquarters’ briefings. Regional branch operative perhaps?
"Warrioress, stay a moment!" Yang Xingyu called as she turned to leave. "Might this humble one inquire your name? Our partnership could prove mutually beneficial."
He struck his chestplate with a clang. "Yang Xingyu at your service—adaptable as tank or DPS, emergency heals included. You’ll find no better ally!"
The swordswoman paused while examining her newly acquired Heavenly Law points. Though disheveled, she recognized this man—one of the first government-sanctioned extraordinary individuals plastered across newsfeeds.
"Jiang Shuying." She sheathed her blade with finality. "I walk alone."
A lone wolf then, Yang Xingyu mused, surveying the unnatural terrain. Mere moments ago he’d been strategizing with Daoist Priest Li’s group before teleportation strands yanked him into this alien wilderness. No allies. No foreign operatives. Just endless trees and a sky vomiting increasingly powerful monsters bearing that loathsome Abyssal aura—similar yet distinct from true abyss creatures.
Initially manageable, the onslaught soon overwhelmed him, forcing tactical retreat. Now understanding these kills granted Battleground points, he saw Jiang Shuying’s purpose.
"Points hunting’s more efficient with support," he pressed. "I’ll draw their attention like before." He gestured unabashedly to the still-twitching monster carcass.
Jiang Shuying’s fingers drummed her scabbard. As a melee fighter, confronting stronger foes alone risked much. That last creature had exceeded her capabilities until Yang’s intervention created an opening.
"Teaming up… is that possible here?"
Before Yang Xingyu’s shrug completed, the system’s chime reverberated through the air:
【Participants 031, 047, and 0129 have activated team formation protocols.】
Yang Xingyu gaped. Monsters. Party systems. The surreal parallels to virtual games left him disoriented. Was this reality or some twisted simulation?
"I consent." Jiang Shuying’s declaration snapped him back.
"Excellent!" Yang Xingyu recovered swiftly, bowing with theatrical flourish. "Honored to collaborate, Lady Jiang." Silently, he probed the system interface.
【#4698 requests alliance with #3458. Accept?】
Jiang Shuying suddenly heard a voice and turned to Yang Xingyu. "Did you do this?"
"Yes."
Jiang Shuying instructed her system to confirm, inquiring about the numbering system.
【The numbering ranks all participants in the Heavenly Law Battleground according to their accumulated Heavenly Law points.】
A fiery gleam ignited in Jiang Shuying’s eyes. So 3458 marked her position? She’d believed her monster-slaying spree substantial, yet this revealed an alarming gap.
"Yang Xingyu, move out."
Yang Xingyu blinked in momentary bewilderment. When had this woman become so battle-fervent? Since when did modern girls embrace such visceral combativeness?
He swallowed his thoughts, choosing instead to wholeheartedly endorse Jiang Shuying’s command. His own ranking likely languished among peers – understandable, given his limited monster engagements.
Within the celestial phantom of floating terrain, the black-and-red earthen wasteland teemed with enhanced predators. Li Canghai pressed against a dirt mound, sword in hand and breath suppressed, observing creatures several tiers above his capability. Confrontation would be suicidal.
He whispered to Young Monk Huixin, "This place reeks of danger. We maintain position."
The monk nodded solemnly, stealing glances at the prowling horrors. Survival demanded patience, not valor.
Meanwhile, four figures carved through opposition in the opposite sector. Monsters crumbled to ashes beneath their onslaught, yet the horde surged forward undeterred.
An emerald-eyed elf extended slender arms, her elven song weaving through the battlefield. Before her, a grayish seed erupted into a gigantic vine plant that thrashed violently, pulverizing monsters with whip-like strikes.
The delicate-appearing elf’s melody crescendoed, belying her savage efficiency that outshone even the spirit cultivators flanking her.
Beside her stood the red-haired young man – chiseled features framing draconic pride. His Western giant dragon heritage radiated tier eight potency, a veteran of maturity’s trials.
Moon-eating Celestial Dog yawned. "Since when do elven Daoist rituals sprout carnivorous flora?"
"That’s druidic craft," corrected Bai Ze. "This maiden wields dual callings." The mystical beast’s omniscient knowledge manifested effortlessly, heaven’s gift requiring no study.
"Old Bai, any progress locating our position?"
"Ninety percent certainty: we traverse a world fragment."
"Then where’s the competition? We’ve marched leagues through ever-thickening hordes."
"Recall the square’s rabble?" Bai Ze countered. "Tier One weaklings would’ve dissolved within minutes here."
His gaze swept across the multiplying abominations. Not a single entity below tier two challenged them – a death sentence for ordinary warriors. The sage sighed as shadows gathered.
"The darkness… it swells."
Suddenly, they looked up in unison toward a specific direction. Bai Ze gazed gravely at the Moon-eating Celestial Dog. "Did you hear that? That sounded like phoenix song."
"I heard. Xuanfeng’s cry – he’s reverted to true form."
Bai Ze pressed, "What’s he facing?"
"Unknown. But it must be dire."
The red-haired young man snapped toward them, "Instead of chattering, assist! Aivira’s energy wanes rapidly."
The Moon-eating Celestial Dog intercepted Bai Ze’s impending reply – knowing his companion’s accommodating nature – with an arched brow. "I’ll handle this. Bai Ze, stay behind me so you don’t get wounded." His form rippled into a sleek obsidian-furred beast, sinewy muscles coiling as he thundered toward the monstrosities.
Bai Ze exhaled ruefully. "Don’t presume beyond your capabilities, Yue Xi. Though no warrior, I needn’t cower behind you." His eyes shifted toward the crimson-haired figure, enunciating the foreign syllables with care. "Stefensofeyl. Swift resolution – we engage now."
The youth nodded, flesh warping into a scaled leviathan with membranous wings. Ascending with thunderous wingbeats, he rained fiery breath upon the writhing horde below.
When Bai Ze’s transformation completed, mist swirled beneath his hooves as opalescent light emanated from his twin horns.
Within the pinnacle palace of Heavenly Law Battleground’s central peak, Jiang Nan gnawed his cuticles. The ornate hall concealed a futuristic nerve center – hovering screens encircling plush chairs displayed real-time feeds from the Illusionary Battlefield.
"Are spirit cultivators always this brutal? Demon lords indeed! Have they ingested battle tonics? Slaughtering these beasts like wheat before scythes!"
His tension eased when observing human cultivators’ feed. "Better. Fortunately, fewer anomalies among mankind… though casualty rates remain concerning."
"Silver Sparrow. Chrono-check."
【Illusionary Battlefield duration: Thirty-six minutes, forty-two seconds.】
Jiang Nan winced at the plummeting monster survival rates. This simulation followed Battleground’s precise parameters for world fragment mergers – calamities far beyond current manifestations. The true antagonists hadn’t even appeared.
"Four hours remain. Must I activate phase two prematurely?"
Current monsters were mere automata – dull-witted and predictable. But "wisdom" inoculation via abyssal creature Dark Lords would shift paradigms entirely.
Jiang Nan’s throat tightened. Intervening now would brand him a meddler, yet as Heavenly Law Battleground’s Champion, tempering combatants through trials was his mandate. This debut test permitted no failure.
"Forgive me, all. World-salvation justifies this… and aren’t true abyssal creatures cunning adversaries?"
His finger hovered above the crimson interface button. One tap, and lucidity sparked within every monster’s gaze across the battlefield.
——The tides turned.
