Chapter 37 Massacre Starts....
"A Nine Star Qi Building Realm demon beast should have offered more experience," Anos thought, disappointed. "Perhaps I should seek alternative methods."
A sly grin spread across his face as he contemplated an unconventional strategy.
"I could charm the girls for experience fruits. Each fruit is worth 1,000 experience points. That might be a more efficient way to level up."
Anos\' eyes sparkled with amusement at the prospect.
The Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf\'s lifeless body lay still on the ground, a testament to Anos\' overwhelming power. Taking down the beast in a single move was only expected, given Anos\' superior cultivation.
"A Five Star Spirit Condensation Realm unable to defeat a Nine Star Qi Building Realm?" Anos thought, chuckling. "That would be laughable. I\'d be worthless as a cultivator if I couldn\'t even handle this."
Confidence radiated from Anos as he gazed at the motionless corpse.
According to Sofia\'s insight, the Academy\'s Advanced Class boasted experts at the Arcane Body Realm. Anos was merely five levels away from achieving this esteemed realm, with nearly a month to bridge the gap.
However, Anos recognized that his peers were also advancing. By the time he reached the Arcane Body Realm, they would likely have improved their cultivation as well.
To gain a decisive advantage, Anos needed to surpass them. His lack of attributes put him at a disadvantage, restricting his access to potent martial skills. While his opponents might not possess Earth Rank skills, they likely wielded Mystic Rank techniques, outclassing Anos\' Yellow Rank abilities.
Anos pondered the impending competition within the Academy\'s Advanced Class. Given the exceptional talents of his peers, it was only natural that each possessed Mystic Rank martial skills. Anos, too, had access to formidable techniques, but the absence of attributes hindered their full potential.
This disparity created an awkward situation. In terms of martial skills, Anos was at a disadvantage compared to his counterparts. Their Mystic Rank skills likely surpassed his Yellow Rank abilities, putting him at a tactical disadvantage.
However, Anos held two crucial advantages:
His attribute exchange system granted him unparalleled access to resources, allowing him to acquire attributes and enhance his abilities.
His superior level, surpassing his peers, provided a significant edge in combat.
Anos\' strategic mind began to weave a plan, leveraging his unique benefits to counterbalance his deficiencies. He would utilize the attribute exchange system to secure attributes, bridging the martial skills gap. His higher level would serve as a trump card, ensuring victory in critical moments.
With renewed determination, Anos set his sights on the upcoming challenges.
...
As Anos walked past the Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf\'s lifeless body, he ventured deeper into the unforgiving landscape. Time lost meaning as he traversed the desolate terrain, his senses on high alert. The frequency of demon beast encounters increased, fueling his anticipation.
"I need a stronger adversary," Anos thought, his resolve unwavering.
Two minutes passed, and Anos\' extraordinary spiritual power detected subtle movements around him. The ground trembled, signaling an underground presence. The vibrations intensified, indicating the unknown entity\'s approach.
"A demon beast capable of burrowing underground?" Anos wondered, intrigue sparking within.
Anos\' eyes narrowed as he pinpointed his opponent\'s location. With lightning speed, he sprang forward, unleashing his Cosmic Fist.
"Cosmic Fist!" he declared.
The Cosmic Fist collided with an unseen force, producing a deafening boom. The ground shuddered, and a massive crater formed.
Anos extended his hand, digging into the earth. He pulled out a blood-red rat, approximately a meter long – a Mutated Demon Rat.
In virtual combat, Anos had encountered these creatures before. Their attack strategy involved ambushes from underground, utilizing sharp claws to pierce a martial artist\'s chest and razor-sharp teeth to sever the neck aorta.
This particular rat wasn\'t dead yet, but Anos\' swift kick sealed its fate.
"Ding... You killed the Mutated Demon Rat. Experience Points + 100."
Anos\' expression remained stern, despite defeating the Mutated Demon Rat. He knew that these creatures rarely traveled alone; they were typically found in packs.
"The Mutated Demon Rats\' weakness lies in their individual strength," Anos thought, "but their collective ferocity makes them a formidable foe."
His senses heightened, Anos scanned his surroundings, anticipating the arrival of more Mutated Demon Rats.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, and faint scratching noises echoed through the air. Anos\' eyes narrowed.
...
Anos\' senses alerted him to the rapid approach of multiple auras. "Damn it! A Spirit Weapon would come in handy now!"
Fighting demon beasts bare-handed increased the risk, but circumstances didn\'t permit otherwise.
The Mutated Demon Rats possessed another unsettling trait: they feared demon beasts, but showed no reverence for humans. Their boldness stemmed from sheer numbers, and a disregard for death.
"These rats are notorious for their fearlessness," Anos thought, bracing for impact. "Quantity over quality, that\'s their tactic."
The air grew thick with tension as the Mutated Demon Rats closed in.
...
"Bring it on!" Anos exclaimed. "A hundred or so experience points from this pack is worth more than taking down a few high-level demon beasts!"
His aura flared, and the ground beneath him began to tremble. Suddenly, the earth gave way, collapsing into a five-meter radius sinkhole. The Mutated Demon Rats had burrowed underground, creating a trap.
If Anos fell in, the rats would swarm and devour him. But Anos reacted swiftly, leaping away just as the ground collapsed.
He landed gracefully, eyes scanning the perimeter. "They\'re coordinated. This isn\'t just mindless pack behavior."
The rats\' tactical maneuver sparked Anos\' interest.
...
The Tunneler Terrors, low-level Demonic Beasts, hovered around the Four or Five Star Qi Building Realm. Anos could dispatch one with a single strike. The last rat\'s survival was due to the ground absorbing the impact.
"It\'s time to come out!" Anos\' eyes narrowed, and he swiftly turned around.
A Tunneler Terror had silently climbed a tree, lunging at Anos\' throat with razor-sharp claws!
Bang! A powerful punch sent the rat flying through the air.
Anos\' swift reflexes saved his life.
"Ding... You have killed the Mutated Demon Rat, Experience + 110."
As the last rat fell, the surrounding area erupted with movement. Ten or more Mutated Demon Rats emerged from the shadows.
"Hehe, if all demon beasts were as reckless as you, that would be ideal!" Anos thought, amused.
Recalling the Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf\'s swift retreat, he realized that if low-level demon beasts like the Mutated Demon Rats were equally brainless, hunting would be effortless – no need to chase them down.
Anos\' gaze swept across the approaching horde.
In unison, the Mutated Demon Rats charged towards Anos from all directions. A cultivator with a lower cultivation level would be utterly overwhelmed, surrounded and devoured by the snarling horde. Even a Qi Building Eighth Star might struggle to escape alive.
The stark reality of the outside world hit home: danger lurked around every corner, and complacency was a death sentence.
Anos\' current location was considered relatively safe, but he knew the true dangers lurked further away. The most powerful demon beasts had already ventured deeper, seeking the legendary Demon Kings.
Even among the demon beasts, those in the Spirit Condensation realm were considered low-level. The truly fearsome ones could besiege and raze human cities to the ground. Some could even transform into human forms, blending seamlessly into the shadows. Their ability to adapt and deceive made them all the more terrifying.
Anos was aware that the demon beasts had a unified force, rivaling the human\'s Holy Temple and Trial Union. This force was the Myriad Demon Alliance – a formidable, terrifying existence that orchestrated nearly all attacks on human territory. Their strategic coordination and sheer numbers made them a constant threat.
The Myriad Demon Alliance\'s hierarchy was shrouded in mystery, but rumors spoke of:
- Demon Kings: Apex leaders wielding unimaginable power
- Demon Lords: Powerful subordinates commanding legions
- Demon Generals: Strategic commanders orchestrating battles
- Demon Soldiers: Foot soldiers fueling the alliance\'s war machine
Anos\' resolve hardened. To protect humanity, he must strengthen himself. The Myriad Demon Alliance would stop at nothing to claim dominion over the human realm.
"Tonight, let\'s start a massacre!" Anos\' mouth curled into a menacing grin, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination.
The darkness seemed to tremble in anticipation as he cracked his knuckles, ready to unleash his fury upon the Tunneler Terrors.
...