Chapter 123: Devouring All, The Bloodline Evolution of the Demonic Dragon (I)

Chen Chu stayed on the thirty-third floor for a little over an hour before returning to the third.

Exiting the elevator, Chen Chu encountered Xia Youhui coming out of Pang Long's office, who looked back at him and asked with curiosity, "Ah Chu, I heard from Old Pang that you went to choose your secret art. How did it go? Which one did you choose?"

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Not far away, Lin Xue, Yi Rui, and Luo Fei, who were sitting in the rest area chatting, also looked over curiously.

Upon returning from the trial, they had also obtained the privilege to exchange for secret arts. However, unlike Chen Chu, they needed 100 contribution points to exchange for one.

Chen Chu's mouth twitched slightly. "...I haven't decided yet whether to choose the Weapon Refining Art or something else."

Xia Youhui suggested, "I think the Weapon Refining Art is a good choice. Your swordsmanship is formidable, and if you start learning it now, you'll be able to forge your own transcendent weapon once you break through to the Fourth Heavenly Realm."

"I'll think about it some more..." Chen Chu's tone sounded somewhat melancholic.

Choosing the Weapon Refining Art would essentially be wasting 100 contribution points; even if he didn’t choose it now, he would still have to exchange for it later down the line, or else risk arousing even more suspicion when he enhanced his weapons further. The exaggerated rate in the growth of his strength was already attracting too much attention as it is.

"Ah Chu, why do you sound unhappy?" Xia Youhui was a bit puzzled.

No shit. Just thinking about the hundred contribution points going to waste like that, who wouldn't be unhappy?

But despite grumbling inwardly, Chen Chu said aloud, "Well, maybe a little. I’m actually more interested in another secret art."

"Hey! I get it, you want it all."

As they arrived at the rest area, Chen Chu had just sat down when Lin Xue suddenly said, "Chen Chu, Mr. Pang said that you've cultivated the Dragon Elephant Art to the level of True Martial Spirit?"

Chen Chu was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Pang Long to reveal this matter. Could it be that he had wanted to create a ripple effect?

Then he modestly replied, "It's just luck. I didn't even expect to be able to cultivate the Dragon Elephant Art to such an advanced level."

Hearing Chen Chu admit it himself caused Lin Xue and Yi Rui to pause slightly. They had already been surprised earlier, but now....

As the class monitor and martial arts representative, possessing the best talent in the class, neither of them had expected that after just two months away, they would be overtaken by Chen Chu by such a large margin.

It was one thing to reach the middle stage of the Third Heavenly Realm, but to actually cultivate the Dragon Elephant Art to the level of True Martial Spirit was something else entirely.

This is a realm that even the creators of the art haven't envisioned, surpassing perfect compatibility. No wonder this guy was able to beat a mid-stage Fourth Realm Blood Emissary.

Both of them still thought that that Blood Emissary had been in the middle stage; nobody had told them otherwise.

In contrast to the two’s complex emotions, Luo Fei's face displayed a faint smile.

Xia Youhui chuckled, saying, "Even I was surprised that night. I didn't expect Chen Chu to cultivate the Dragon Elephant Art to that level. I wouldn’t be surprised if he suddenly breaks through to the Fourth Realm in a month."

"

Cough!

Don't listen to Old Xia's nonsense. Breaking through to the Fourth Heavenly Realm in a month is too exaggerated, how is that possible?" Chen Chu coughed dryly, then changed the subject.

"By the way, Lin Xue, you both know about the purge that will be announced in a couple of days, right?"

Lin Xue nodded. "Yes, we know. Mr. Pang mentioned it earlier, how it’s going to be assisting the local authorities in clearing out the mutated creatures in the surrounding deep mountains and forests."

"But these low-level mutated beasts pose no pressure to us anymore, so I'm considering going to the mutated beast battlefield instead."

Uh... It's not because of the pressure I brought, is it?

After thinking for a moment, Chen Chu suggested, "I don't think it's necessary to be so impatient. We've only recently broken through to the Third Heavenly Realm, and you haven’t fully absorbed and refined the resources you exchanged for earlier. We just finished the first semester of our first year, so we’re not short on time.

“I think it might be better if you consolidate everything and try to break through to the middle stage of the Third Heavenly Realm first. Then, use the purge missions to accumulate contribution points so you can exchange for a secret art, and work on pushing your combat power as far as you can.

"By that time, applying to go to the mutated beast battlefield would be more efficient in terms of both safety and killing mutated beasts. What do you think?"

Chen Chu had also looked at some information about the mutated beast battlefield earlier.

Although one could register as soon as they reached the Third Heavenly Realm, not only were there level 3 mutated beasts there, but also many 4, 5, and even level 6 beasts. Going there would only put them at the bottom of the proverbial food chain, and the danger level would be much higher than the trials in Kyrola.

Even the second-year martial arts students over there were mostly just bystanders. The real main force consisted of elite seniors about to graduate from the third year, each of whom was at the Fourth or even Fifth Heavenly Realm, with extremely strong combat prowess.

Chen Chu was planning to follow the strategy he had just laid out himself. His next goal was to obtain the high-level Dragon Elephant Tyrant Body art, and the upcoming purge would give far more of the needed contribution points than the mutated beast battlefield.

He also needed to prepare for his avatar’s fourth evolution. Compared to the ocean, the mutated beasts on land were both better known and easier for him to obtain. The purge would also allow him to investigate which low-level mutated beast’s ability would be the best option for the Sword Armored Beast to absorb.

Luo Fei brushed aside a strand of hair from her ear and nodded slightly. "I think Chen Chu is right. We're still just freshmen, there's no need to be so impatient."

Xia Youhui chuckled. "I don't mind. My defense is very strong now. A level 3 beast can crash into me and I’d just stand there."

"But you also can't kill it." Chen Chu's sudden remark made Xia Youhui's smile freeze for a moment.

Cough!

Ignoring him, Xia Youhui grinned and said, "And also, my brother sent me a few more Blue Crystals. My cultivation speed has been soaring right now. Maybe I'll break through to the middle stage even before you guys, so it doesn't matter to me whether I take on missions or not."

With the improvement of his strength, Xia Youhui had been able to make use of many resources prepared by his brother, resulting in signs of surpassing Lin Xue and others in cultivation speed and combat power.

Chen Chu, on the other hand, had to rely on himself for everything. While Lin Xue’s parents were high-level cultivators, their own cultivation consumed a lot of resources, and what was left over needed to be shared with her sister.

As a result, Xia Youhui’s boastful tone made Chen Chu, Lin Xue, and even Luo Fei feel like not talking to him anymore.

***

Chen Chu had his lunch at the cafeteria. Even though it was winter break, the cafeteria was still open. The meals were just as cheap as they were at any other time, and the mutated beast meat they provided was higher in nutrition, quality, and even taste than anything he would have been able to eat at home. He wasn’t the only one taking advantage of this; it was another reason why many martial arts students, especially ordinary ones, came back to school during the break.

When he returned to the thirty-third floor, he searched through the bookshelves until finding what he was looking for: the latest edition of the comprehensive encyclopedia on low-level mutated beasts, comprising a total of seventeen volumes.

Over the years, with each purge, the authorities had discovered over ten thousand different species of low-level mutated beasts. Many of them were derived from ordinary wild animals undergoing mutations, while others were descendents of first generation beasts that had mutated further. There were even cross-species mutations and evolutions, something that perplexed countless biologists.

Every three years, the data on low-level mutated beasts was reorganized and updated, creating a new encyclopedia.

Pulling out the first twenty-centimeter-thick volume, Chen Chu went back into his usual spot. However, Luo Fei wasn’t here today. She had chatted with Chen Chu and the others for a while earlier that morning before heading home.

Once seated, Chen Chu turned to look out the window. The sky was clear, and the sun shone brightly, its light streaming through the glass and casting a gentle warmth upon him.

With such great weather, it seemed a waste not to go out and do some killing.

Chen Chu's lips curled into a faint smile as he lowered his head to flip open the book, while part of his consciousness drifted over to the Sword Armored Beast.

The waves undulated on the surface of the sea as a giant black beast, eleven meters long, floated atop the water. It lifted its head slightly to gaze ahead, where three small orcas were frolicking.

The three orcas, each measuring ten meters in length and covered in black and white scales, leaped repeatedly out of the sea, splashing torrents of water into the air with each descent. There were also two adult orcas swimming nearby, measuring twenty-seven and twenty-eight meters in length respectively, and their bodies covered in even thicker scales.

The twenty-eight-meter-long orca had a horn growing on its head and was surrounded by swirling water currents, emitting a powerful aura. Even with the existence of mutations, they still stood at the top of the food chain.

Suddenly, the massive orca with the horn on its head started to swim toward the Sword Beast with a flick of its tail, creating a wake several dozen meters high.

Instantly, a powerful sense of oppression hit the Sword Beast head-on. Those who hadn't faced it couldn't even begin to imagine how terrifying a nearly thirty-meter-long, two-story-tall orca could be. Its enormous mouth was like a black hole, devouring everything in its path.

Facing the approaching orca, the Sword Beast’s head, resembling that of a dragon, emerged from the water. Its six pairs of bright red feathered horns on each side spread open, emanating a ferocious aura and conveying a subtle warning.

Although the orca’s aura was formidable, the Sword Beast didn’t show much apprehension. With on its defense and speed, it was confident it could retreat unscathed if it couldn't win. If provoked, the Sword Beast wouldn't mind seizing the opportunity to discover what an orca tasted like. With its evolution speed, it could wipe them out in at most a month.

As if sensing the daunting presence of the black mutated beast, or perhaps for another reason altogether, the colossal orca circled in the distance for two rounds before suddenly emitting a squeaky cry towards it.

...? I don't understand your beast language.

The Sword Beast gazed at the distant, massive but surprisingly juvenile sounding male orca, its face revealing confusion.

Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!

The orca performed several leaping motions around the Sword Armored Beast, then with a loud splash, dove into the sea and swam beneath the surface, twisting and turning.

After swimming a considerable distance away, it returned and surfaced again, its head poking out of the water as it continued to emit squeaky sounds towards the Sword Beast.

Are you suggesting I should follow? Roar!

The Sword Beast was increasingly perplexed, and emitted a deep, resonant growl, reminiscent of a tiger's, its mouth slightly agape.

Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!

Roar! Roar!

The Sword Beast was uncertain if it was misunderstanding, or if the orca was comprehending its roars. After circling the Sword Beast two more times, the orca swam back toward the others.

Seeing this, the Sword Beast hesitated for a moment before its ferocious body slightly shifted, following along.

The male orca ahead turned back. When it saw the Sword Beast following, it continued emitting its squeaky calls, with a hint of joy in its tone. Soon, it rejoined the pod of orcas.

Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!

The two adult orcas began communicating in orca language, leaving the Sword Beast somewhat astonished.

Even before the New Era, orcas had already been considered one of the ocean's dominators, renowned for their ferocious combat prowess and high intelligence. It seemed their intelligence had only increased after mutation.

Soon, the two orcas finished their exchange. Then, the female orca and three young orcas all turned to look at the Sword Beast, their eyes gleaming with intelligence.

Squeak! Squeak!

The male orca emitted two squeaks towards the Sword Beast. Then, with a sudden turn of its massive body, it seemed to indicate that it wanted to take it somewhere.

Should I go and take a look?

After a moment of hesitation, the Sword Beast followed along, curious about what the orca wanted to show it.

The two mutated beasts swiftly swam further across the sea. Occasionally, the orca would glance back to check if the Sword Beast was keeping up.

After approximately an hour and covering one to two hundred kilometers, the orca suddenly dove deep beneath the surface.

The Sword Beast followed closely behind. In the blink of an eye, the two massive beasts reached depths of three hundred meters, four hundred... seven hundred meters below the surface.

As they reached a depth of eight hundred meters, darkness enveloped their surroundings, and the water pressure intensified several-fold from all directions. Simultaneously, the Sword Beast keenly detected a trace of heat emanating from the water.

The temperature rose, and the concentration of transcendent energy within the water increased.

The Sword Beast grew excited and hastened its pace to keep up with the orca ahead. Soon, they reached a depth of one kilometer, where faint red light appeared below.