Wen Yuncheng began to hunt demonic beasts more proactively. At first, she would still hunt rabbits that gave no experience just to satisfy her cravings, but now she set her sights on beasts of the same or higher rank.

Lin Jinyu naturally noticed the change in Wen Yuncheng, but she didn’t say anything. She just assumed Wen Yuncheng also wanted to constantly seek out powerful demonic beasts to practice against.

Wen Yuncheng… had many secrets. Lin Jinyu knew this but wouldn’t proactively ask about them. Because everyone had their own secrets. However, seeing this change in Wen Yuncheng still made Lin Jinyu a little happy.

“The Abyssal Crystal Eagle… should be just ahead. I hope we don’t run into too many at once.” Wen Yuncheng prayed silently. Abyssal Crystal Eagles could be solitary or live in flocks; they were quite capricious. Of course, for a hunter like her, she was definitely hoping to encounter a lone Abyssal Crystal Eagle.

“Mm,” Lin Jinyu responded. She looked at Wen Yuncheng and suddenly said, “After the Youth Tournament, I’ll be disappearing for a while.”

“Ah? For secluded cultivation?” Wen Yuncheng was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood. “I know, you want to break through to the Star Lord rank.”

“Every generation’s sect master of the Flowing Cloud Sect must pass an assessment in the sect’s secret realm.” Lin Jinyu only said this much. Break through to Star Lord? It would naturally be good if she could break through in the secret realm, but if not, there was no need to force it. “Once I pass through the secret realm, I will be the Young Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect.”

In other words, the next sect master in the truest sense. At that time, she would gradually take over the sect’s affairs and assume power.

“In such a hurry? You’re only eighteen. Did Sect Master Lin force you?” Wen Yuncheng was stunned. This wasn’t what she had expected at all! Lin Jinyu was only a third-layer Star Master. Why enter the secret realm so early?

“No.” Lin Jinyu shook her head and didn’t continue. “Let’s go.”

Wen Yuncheng bit her lip, her expression shifting. She thought: Has the Flowing Cloud Sect found out something? Has the information left by 1947 been deciphered? The matter of “Fu”… do all the major sects know about it? So… so they’re hoping the disciples of each sect will rise as quickly as possible?

[Not that fast. They only know a part of the transmitted information right now.] 1947 couldn’t help but speak up and explain. [It should be Lin Jinyu’s own wish.]

But… Lin Jinyu was already the designated successor. Why was she in such a hurry to challenge some trial now? She was only eighteen; there was no need to be so anxious. Waiting until she was a Star Lord, or even a Star Spirit or Star King, wouldn’t be too late. Wen Yuncheng’s mind was a mess; she couldn’t figure it out. She sighed and didn’t dwell on it further. On the path to becoming stronger, she wouldn’t interfere with Lin Jinyu. Since Lin Jinyu had made her decision, she would only support it.

I hope… Lin Jinyu will be safe then.

“Over there.” Just as Wen Yuncheng was a bit lost in thought, Lin Jinyu suddenly stopped. She pointed to the treetops, and Wen Yuncheng saw a Abyssal Crystal Eagle that seemed to be dozing off.

A lone one!

Wen Yuncheng’s eyes lit up. She immediately released all fifty-seven of her Enemy-Annihilators. Since they still needed to move, Wen Yuncheng didn’t deploy any turrets to deal with a single Abyssal Crystal Eagle.

Lin Jinyu’s Star Power stirred, and the Profound-rank longsword she had obtained from the secret realm floated behind her. The sword was jade-colored overall, with a pale, moon-white hilt, looking exceptionally extraordinary. With a raise of her hand, her Star Power formed into swords, and a sword formation emerged, trapping the dozing Abyssal Crystal Eagle in the blink of an eye.

The Abyssal Crystal Eagle was startled awake. With a loud and urgent cry, Wen Yuncheng commanded the Enemy-Annihilators to attack with their full Star Power! A dense barrage of energy slammed into the Abyssal Crystal Eagle. Just as it spread its wings to launch a counterattack, Lin Jinyu detonated her sword formation. A massive wave of Star Power washed out, causing the surrounding slender trees to sway violently.

After hearing the experience notification, Wen Yuncheng activated her Mechanical Wings, quickly moved over, and collected the falling Abyssal Crystal Eagle’s corpse into her ring. “Let’s get out of here, quickly.”

The sudden burst of Star Power would definitely attract many demonic beasts. Especially since this was Abyssal Crystal Eagle territory. The cry of that unlucky Abyssal Crystal Eagle had already spread far and wide. If they didn’t leave now, they would probably have to face a whole flock of Abyssal Crystal Eagles.

The Abyssal Crystal Eagle they had hunted was a first-layer Star Lord. It was the ideal hunting level for Wen Yuncheng. It provided bonus experience for defeating a higher-ranked opponent, and its strength was the lowest among Star Lords, making it the easiest to hunt.

Wen Yuncheng and Lin Jinyu returned to the small stream to rest for a bit. After Wen Yuncheng extracted the Abyssal Crystals from the corpse, she was a bit disappointed—there was too little.

A Abyssal Crystal Eagle’s beak and claws were made of Abyssal Crystals, but the bones inside its body were not. One couldn’t extract many Abyssal Crystals from a single Abyssal Crystal Eagle corpse.

“Rumble, rumble, rumble…”

“Hm? What’s that sound?” Wen Yuncheng’s ears twitched. She looked back and seemed to see a giant boulder rolling toward them from somewhere.

“A Stone Golem.”

[Stone Golem, a type of demonic beast. Its entire body is made of stone, and it can freely change its form. Its weak point is the Star Power core at its center.]

“…So it’s one of these.” Wen Yuncheng couldn’t help but sigh. This Stone Golem was a second-layer Star Lord. This type of demonic beast was famous for its defense, which was troublesome. But since the Stone Golem was already rolling toward them…

Wen Yuncheng directly summoned Number One. She commanded ten of the airborne Enemy-Annihilators to attack with freeze rounds, while the rest began to charge up a Star Power attack—there was no choice, as bullets cost points.

The instant the freeze rounds immobilized the Stone Golem, Wen Yuncheng ordered Number One to use its charge skill! Number One stomped its feet, and without the slightest hesitation, slammed its body fiercely into the Stone Golem. However… the Stone Golem was only knocked back a few rolls. It didn’t seem to have taken any damage.

“Let me,” Lin Jinyu said in a low voice. Her Star Power stirred, and Wen Yuncheng only saw an afterimage of Star Power left where Lin Jinyu had been. She herself had already used a movement technique to charge forward.

[To deal with a Stone Golem, you have to focus on its weak point. If you try to break it with brute force or Star Power attacks, you’ll waste a lot of mana. Break the surface from a single point, you know?] 1947 explained at the right moment. [Watch carefully. Although you don’t have any sword techniques, you can try to control all the Enemy-Annihilators to land their attacks on a single spot.]

Wen Yuncheng: But that’s too difficult. That level of control is too precise. I can’t possibly… Alright, I’ll work hard to practice it.

She had originally wanted to say it was impossible, but on second thought, nothing was truly impossible. As long as she focused on training her mental control—that is, her willpower—it might not be impossible to precisely control the attack of every single Enemy-Annihilator.

Lin Jinyu drew her sword. The move wasn’t flashy, without any gaudy special effects or condensed ice flowers. Wen Yuncheng watched her. She only saw Lin Jinyu grip her sword and thrust. In just the blink of an eye, Lin Jinyu had thrust thirteen times, each strike landing on the same single point in the Stone Golem’s center.

The first thrust struck the surface, and an ice flower suddenly bloomed. Following it were the second and third thrusts—

The jade-colored blade turned ice-blue when filled with Star Power. Coupled with the specific icy aura of Lin Jinyu’s sword techniques, the jade sword seemed to have transformed into a sword of ice. The final thrust pierced directly into the Stone Golem’s body, instantly running it through. Lin Jinyu flicked her wrist, her Star Power stirred, and she retracted her sword and retreated. Wen Yuncheng saw the Stone Golem let out a sudden wail and then explode, sending countless stone fragments flying in all directions. Wen Yuncheng watched blankly, noticing the frost condensed on the fragments. Some of the stones that landed on the ground were stained with melted water.

[Your fighting style is different from the people of the Starry Sky Continent.] Fearing Wen Yuncheng would be discouraged, 1947 quickly comforted her.

I know. Wen Yuncheng responded in her heart. She looked at Lin Jinyu, who was calmly sheathing her sword and walking toward her, and had to admit she was once again struck by how cool Lin Jinyu was.

It wasn’t just the sword moves, but also that sword intent. …Is this Lin Jinyu’s sword intent?

Lin Jinyu is really getting stronger and stronger.

“Here.” Lin Jinyu tossed a small, bluish-green stone to Wen Yuncheng. This was the condensed core from inside the Stone Golem. It contained Star Power, and was excellent whether used as an ornament or combined with other materials for forging.

“Thanks.” Wen Yuncheng didn’t refuse. Or rather, she rarely refused anything Lin Jinyu gave her. The two rested briefly, then continued into the Abyssal Crystal Eagles’ territory to hunt.

Five days later.

Host: Wen Yuncheng

Race: Human

Age: 17

Class: Mechanical Master

Level: 36

Experience: 19805/23000

Points: 1962

The five days of battle had been very profitable for Wen Yuncheng. Working together with Lin Jinyu, they could easily defeat Star Lord-rank Abyssal Crystal Eagles. However, this task didn’t reward points. As such, using the freeze rounds caused Wen Yuncheng’s points to decrease instead of increase, dropping back below two thousand.

[Those scholars now know about the other continent!] 1947 said suddenly. [Once the general content is successfully deciphered, the Empire will probably make a move.]

A move?

[Although the Empire doesn’t know what move the other plane will make, the fact that a trash organization like “Fu” within the Starry Sky Continent is involved with another plane… Even if it causes great casualties, the Empire will definitely tear a layer of skin off “Fu”!]

That was right. Once the Empire learned of that news, “thunderous rage” might not even be an exaggeration. However, these were not matters Wen Yuncheng could get involved in at the moment.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, I was just thinking about something unpleasant.” Wen Yuncheng only just realized she had sighed out loud. She scratched her head and replied as such.

Just as Lin Jinyu was about to ask more, she heard cries of “Help!” from the distance, accompanied by the roar of a tiger-like demonic beast… Should we go take a look and save them?

Before she could even ask the question, it became unnecessary. Because the sounds grew much louder, it was clear they were fleeing in their direction.

“ROAR!!—”

Wen Yuncheng froze. “The sound of a Winged Tiger? Why would a Winged Tiger be around here?” Just as she finished her thought, she saw the unlucky soul being chased by the Winged Tiger—Zhou Yaze?

Why is this guy so hard to get rid of?

What Wen Yuncheng saw, Lin Jinyu naturally saw as well. She frowned slightly, but in the end, she still gripped the hilt of her sword. “Let’s save him.”

This Winged Tiger was only a third-layer Star Master. It posed no threat to them whatsoever.