Lin Tian caught up with Lin Yue; their silent advance forward was broken only by distant screams and the echoes of battle.
— Do you think they found something valuable? — Lin Yue broke the silence, glancing around.
— If this place stayed hidden for so long, there must be something worthwhile here, — he replied without slowing down. — Most likely unique herbs, ores, or precious stones. Though the chances of spiritual stones are small.
— And you're not interested in that?
— I am. But what matters far more is where this passage leads, — his gaze remained fixed ahead.
— Why do you think so?
— The widest path usually leads to the most important place. If my guess is correct, we'll find something truly valuable.
«ROAAARRR»
Lin Yue was about to argue, but at that moment a thunderous roar tore through the cavern, echoing off the stone walls.Both froze, exchanged a glance — and instantly picked up speed.
A hundred meters later they ran into a crowd of people fleeing in panic. Barely slipping past them, the pair burst into a vast, illuminated two-level chamber.
Before them lay a great lake — and at its center rose a rearing Dragon.
Its power was overwhelming, and Lin Tian, after glancing back at Lin Yue, allowed himself a smug smile.
— Now this is really interesting.
The Earth-Rank aura pouring from the dragon pressed down on the cavern like the weight of a mountain, forcing weak cultivators nearby to collapse to their knees.
He let out a roar that made the cave walls tremble, shaking loose a shower of stone dust from the ceiling.
Each movement of the dragon stirred up new waves, threatening to wash away anyone who stood on the shore.
His jaws opened, revealing rows of knife-sharp teeth. A torrent of water burst forth, crashing into the shore with such force that several people were thrown aside.
Not eager to act recklessly, Lin Tian decided to change his position first.
Moving away from the main tunnel, he found an empty spot and surveyed the battlefield.
Near several neighboring passages, other cultivators stood their ground as well — people who hadn't panicked or fled the moment the dragon appeared.
Keeping their presence in mind, the young man focused his gaze on the dragon, against whom nearly a hundred cultivators were desperately trying — and failing — to hold the line.
[Name: —
Race: Flood Dragon
Cultivation: High Earth Rank
Condition: Healthy (Advancing)
Threat Level: Deadly]
[System Comment:
"Target lies far beyond the user's current capabilities. Engaging in combat without thorough preparation or a significant number of allies is equivalent to suicide."]
Closing the window, Lin Tian narrowed his eyes, absorbing what he'd seen.
"High Earth Rank… Even if Wang Lei, Xue Meili, and Du Shaofu joined forces, they'd only slow it down a little. But this dragon… it's an opportunity beyond rare. If I can claim it, I'll advance several levels at once."
— System, — he called mentally.
[System activated.]
— What can you offer to kill it?
[Analysis complete. Available options:]
1.Unite all nearby cultivators for a combined assault.
Difficulty: Medium
Chance of victory: 30%
Chance of killing the dragon: 5%
[Reason for low kill chance:The dragon can retreat into the water or escape through the fissure.]
2.Wait until the dragon kills the others, then poison the water using a strong toxin.
Difficulty: High
Chance of victory: 15%
Chance of killing the dragon: 50%
[System Warning:The dragon may leave the cave or avoid the poisoned water.]
3.Purchase the "Heaven's Retribution Poison" for 110 bonus points.
Difficulty: Deadly
Chance of victory: 65%
Chance of killing the dragon: 100%
[Poison Description:A venom capable of disabling a Heaven-Rank warrior. Anyone below that level will die without exception.]
Lin Tian narrowed his eyes, weighing the options.
But his thoughts were cut short by a loud crack — Wang Lei had released a powerful arrow, illuminating the cave for a moment.
The brief flash allowed Lin Tian to see the battlefield more clearly.
The dragon unleashed another blast of water, flinging cultivators aside.
Though the fight had lasted only minutes, casualties were already severe: several bodies lay dead or gravely wounded.
Xue Meili, recognizing the futility first, shouted for a retreat and rushed into one of the tunnels.
Wang Lei followed her.
Their formation collapsed, and the dragon's next attack shattered what remained of their order.
Du Shaofu and Du Fei ended up on opposite sides of the cavern.
— Fei-Fei, run! Now! We'll meet later!
With no choice, the girl clenched her teeth and darted into the nearest tunnel.
Lin Tian watched the chaos with cold detachment, missing nothing.
The cultivators' plan had completely fallen apart — the bodies scattered across the shore and the blood soaking the stone made that painfully clear.
However, another group caught his attention: knights in silver armor.
They stood on the opposite side of the cavern, discussing their strategy with tense focus.
"One at Mid-Earth Rank, two at Low, and the rest… Ninth Mortal Rank. Quite the impressive lineup. Who are they?"
Lin Tian activated Appraisal, letting his gaze slide over each of them.
Meanwhile, the knights were preparing for battle.
The first one — their leader — turned to his companions.
— Second, where are the others? — his voice was strict, though not irritated.
— Someone strange attacked us. Unknown abilities. He split us up, but I don't think they're dead, — the Second answered, brow furrowed.
The First nodded.
— Fine. If they're alive, they'll regroup. How's the plan?
— Evidence placed, part of the targets removed, the rest allowed to flee, — Third reported curtly.
The First allowed a faint smile.
— Good. We finish this. Our target is the dragon. Do NOT let it return to the water. Second and Third with me — vanguard. The rest provide support. Understood?
The formation tightened instantly.
At that moment, the dragon finished devouring another corpse.
Sensing a new threat, he lifted his long neck.
The knights didn't give him a chance to act.
Pulling collapsible spears from behind their backs, they activated them with a click. Runes carved into the shafts lit up with a bluish glow, sparks crackling along the metal tips.
— Forward! — the First shouted, leaping from an outcropping and driving his spear into the dragon's left flank.
The spear pierced the scales, and a surge of electricity tore through the beast's body, forcing a thunderous roar from its throat.
The water boiled, waves smashing against the shore, nearly knocking the knights off balance.
Second and Third followed.
Their strikes hit the dragon's neck and chest.More knights circled from afar, throwing spears to avoid the creature's massive claws.
Electric arcs danced wildly across the dragon's body, partially numbing its movements.
But a beast at the peak of the High Earth Rank was anything but easy prey.
With one sweep of its tail, it sent three knights flying dozens of meters, their armor clanging violently against the cave walls.
— Hold the line! Don't falter! — the First shouted, striking again. His spear hissed as it drove into the dragon's side, releasing another powerful charge.
One knight didn't dodge in time.
A single swipe of the dragon's claw tore him apart, blood painting the stone.
The others gritted their teeth and held their positions, slowly wearing the beast down.
The dragon felt its strength fading.
Each wound, each burst of lightning, slowed it further.
He roared, shaking the cavern so violently that the remaining water on the shore foamed in response.
Then, pushing off the ground, it turned sharply toward the underground lake.
— He's trying to escape! Stop him! — the First yelled, throwing another spear.
The arcs burned trails across the dragon's body, but gathering its remaining strength, the creature broke through the encirclement.
His wings spread wide, the gust of wind making the air in the cavern howl.
A swipe of his claw lifted a veil of water, obscuring dragon from sight for a heartbeat.
— Damn it! He's getting away! — Third hurled his spear, but it only scraped the scales.
Lin Tian's expression didn't change.
"If he leaves… that opportunity vanishes."
He activated the system.
— Buy Heaven's Retribution Poison.
Three smooth black tablets the size of a palm materialized in his hand.
[System Advice: Channel spiritual energy into the tablet and insert it into the target's body by any means.]
— Stay here. If anything happens – run, — he told Lin Yue.
Without wasting a second, he leapt onto the dragon's back.
Grabbing its wing joint, he quickly thrust the poison into an open wound.
The venom was absorbed instantly.
The dragon screamed, body convulsing, eyes flooding with a red haze.
His movements turned wild and spasmodic, churning the water into a violent boil.
— Who is that?! — the First shouted, spotting Lin Tian.
The knights charged toward him, but it was already too late.
Lin Tian moved with firm precision and slipped back to the second level of the cave.
Meanwhile, the poison tore through the dragon's insides.
Wracked with agony, the beast hurled itself toward the lake, leaving a thick trail of blood.
Water exploded upward when it plunged in, drenching the knights with icy spray before settling again.
— Damn it! — the First slammed his spear into the ground. — We cannot let him escape! Second, Third – with me! The rest, hold the shore!
Without hesitation, the trio dove into the water after the dragon.
"You think I'll let you claim my kill? Not a chance."
Lin Tian smirked and activated his movement technique.
His body slid into the water like a shadow, wrapped in spiritual energy that smothered every trace of his presence.
Following the trail of blood, he dove deeper.
The lake was far larger than he'd expected, and soon he noticed an underwater passage descending into darkness.
Midway through, a notification appeared:
[Flood Dragon killed!
70,000 XP gained.
Level up! Limit reached!]
[System Advice: Find a safe location to advance to Earth Rank.]
— Not now.
A hundred meters in, he saw the dragon's corpse.
The knights had already reached it and were trying to secure ropes around the massive body to drag it back.
Using his mask, Lin Tian saw far better than they could with their crystal lights.
He circled the corpse from a distance, staying in the shadows.
When he slipped behind the knights, he pressed a hand to the dragon's body.
— System, store the dragon in the inventory.
A moment later, the enormous body vanished.
In Lin Tian's hand appeared a small black orb the size of a fist.
Channeling spiritual energy into it, he activated the artifact.
The orb pulsed with dark light.
Smirking, he left it where the dragon had been before slipping into the darkness.
The knights pulling the ropes suddenly felt all resistance vanish.
They spun around – just in time to see a wave of dark energy rushing toward them from the artifact Lin Tian had left behind.
— What is that?! — the Second cried before the wave swallowed them, disorienting and overwhelming them.
Gliding along the cavern wall, Lin Tian watched their confusion.
"A fine tool. I'll buy more once I earn more points," — he thought with satisfaction, moving toward the exit.
Halfway back, a system notification hit him like a strike.
[Your subordinate Lin Deming has been killed!]
His expression turned to ice.
Without hesitation, he surged upward, emerging far from the remaining knights, and rushed toward Lin Yue.
She spotted him immediately and ran over, worry in her voice.
— Did you succeed?
— Yes, — he answered coldly, the killing intent around him almost palpable.
— Did something happen? — she asked cautiously, sensing the tension.
— Deming is dead, — he threw over his shoulder, without slowing his pace.
Lin Tian stepped into the tunnel without another word.
Lin Yue froze for a heartbeat, then hurried after him, trying not to fall behind.