Hearing this, everyone was stunned and immediately looked at Wang Xu.
"Brother Wang!" Song Zhen glared at Xu Yuan, "If Brother Wang leaves, I will too. I will never stay with such a vile person!"
"Me too!" Tang Yan stepped up, "Wherever Wang Xu goes, I will follow!"
The two of them expressed their opinions without hesitation, especially Tang Yan, which immediately darkened Xu Yuan's face.
"Song Zhen, Tang Yan," Wang Xu said, "you go in, I leave."
Tang Yan and Song Zhen wanted to speak, but Wang Xu stopped them: "Don't say more, the centipede creature is about to catch up with us. If you stay, you'll only be a burden to me."
The two were speechless. Indeed, Xu Yuan had made up his mind not to let Wang Xu in, which meant Wang Xu had to face the centipede creature alone. They were all Tier Three students and couldn't help against a Tier Four elite insect beast!
"Brother Zhang, I hope you can look after them, thank you." Before leaving, Wang Xu said to Zhang Xinglin, who glanced at him and nodded seriously.
Wang Xu's move was obvious; he didn't trust Xu Yuan. Even if Song Zhen, Tang Yan, and others could enter the energy barrier, it might not be safe, and only Zhang Xinglin could stand up to protect them.
After saying this, under everyone's gaze, Wang Xu dashed away.
Just as Wang Xu left, the centipede creature arrived, its massive body gouging a deep trench in the ground. Seeing Tang Yan, Zhang Xinglin, and the others, it opened its bloody mouth and pounced.
Xu Yuan kept his word. Before the centipede creature pounced on them, he had already opened the energy barrier to let them in.
"Bang!" The massive body of the centipede creature hit the purple light screen, causing countless ripples, but it was still blocked outside, unable to break through.
Moreover, this radiation area made the centipede creature very uncomfortable. It retreated a few steps, unwillingly looking at those inside the energy barrier, let out a bizarre scream, and then turned to chase in the direction of Wang Xu.
......
Wang Xu was running for his life. While the centipede creature hadn't noticed him, he had already run several kilometers away at a speed comparable to a car.
But before he could celebrate, a rumbling sound approached from afar, causing Wang Xu's heart to tremble and his face to turn pale.
In a situation where he was isolated and helpless, the dim sky would block his vision, greatly slowing his escape speed. Eventually, when the centipede creature caught up, Wang Xu would become its dinner!
The centipede creature's speed had increased significantly. Blocked by the energy barrier and affected by the radiation, it was already somewhat enraged. It was determined to make the fleeing human ahead its delicious meal today and was bent on devouring him!
Wang Xu ran for his life while looking around, hoping to find a place to hide. But to his disappointment, the area was full of forests and trees. Even one or two abandoned warehouses and buildings couldn't stop the centipede creature's pace and could easily be leveled.
"Got it!" Suddenly, Wang Xu's eyes lit up, and a look of ecstasy appeared on his face.
Just over a hill, Wang Xu found a cave with a small entrance!
The entrance was about the size of a person, just enough for one person to squeeze in. Wang Xu, without thinking twice, headed straight for the cave!
The centipede creature was about to catch up with Wang Xu, its massive body moving swiftly. If not for the buildings and trees blocking its path, it would have caught up with Wang Xu long ago.
"Faster! Faster!" Wang Xu dripped with cold sweat, pushing through the soreness in his legs without daring to stop!
A moment's delay meant death!
Suddenly, the centipede creature let out a bizarre scream, its entire body soared into the air, diving straight for Wang Xu!
A massive shadow loomed over Wang Xu's body. He didn't dare look back, keeping his eyes fixed on the narrow cave entrance. As he approached, he took a sudden leap!
Incredibly narrow, just enough for half a body, Wang Xu amazingly squeezed through without a hitch!
"Boom!" The massive body of the centipede creature slammed into the cave wall, causing the entire cave to tremble but not collapse. Clearly, although the centipede creature's power was terrifying, it wasn't enough to destroy the cave.
Saved!
In the dark cave, a narrow beam of light shone through the entrance onto the ground. Wang Xu collapsed, overwhelmed with the relief of a narrow escape from death.
Looking out from the entrance, the centipede creature hesitated there, trying to crash the cave wall again. But after several attempts, the cave remained unscathed, which made the centipede creature lose patience and decide to leave.
"Phew~" Watching this scene, Wang Xu let out a long sigh, finally escaping danger.
Suddenly, a muffled roar sounded behind Wang Xu.
Shocked, Wang Xu immediately turned around and, with the light from the entrance, saw an insect beast in front of him—a Tier Three Iron Wire Beetle.
Wang Xu quickly pieced it together.
No wonder there was a cave with such a small entrance, and the cave walls were as dense as steel. It was because there was an Iron Wire Beetle living here.
The body of the Iron Wire Beetle is about the size of a soccer ball, resembling a beetle, covered with black threads like iron wires. The way it lives is quite peculiar; it likes to stay in dark places such as underground, caves, and completely enclosed areas. Interestingly, they occasionally crave the sunlight, so they would dig an opening in their lair to let the light in.
This cave is precisely the lair of the Iron Wire Beetle.
Although the Iron Wire Beetle indirectly saved Wang Xu's life, Wang Xu had no choice but to pull out a long knife from his Space Ring.
Wang Xu could clearly see the intent to kill in the eyes of the Iron Wire Beetle; the Insect Race and humans seemed destined to be archenemies, doomed to never get along!
The Iron Wire Beetle wasted no time. Within the span of a single breath from Wang Xu, it unfurled its weapon—the six legs of iron wire insects, which were as sharp as steel. These legs were how it freely carved out its burrows.
Wang Xu's gaze sharpened, and he thrust his long knife with the "Blood Drop Strike" executed to perfection, charging straight at the Iron Wire Beetle.
"Clang!" The sound of metal clashing rang out, but ultimately, the Iron Wire Beetle's strength was no match for Wang Xu, being knocked back in the air. Yet, it showed no intention of retreating, spreading its shell and soaring up again.
The Blood Drop Strike did not achieve the expected effect, but Wang Xu wasn't in a rush. The long knife cut a fierce arc, striking directly at the Iron Wire Beetle.
Both belonged to Tier Three, with the Iron Wire Beetle being an upper-range Tier Three Insect Beast. A regular Tier Three student who encountered a Tier Three Iron Wire Beetle would likely have been killed already, not even close to being its match.
"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!"...
After several clashes, Wang Xu had discerned the attack methods and angles of the Iron Wire Beetle. Taking advantage of its retreat, Wang Xu moved in with large strides, stabbing his blade towards one of the Iron Wire Insect's legs.
The legs are the Iron Wire Beetle's strongest and hardest weapon. Ordinary people wouldn't confront it head-on but look for weaknesses. However, Wang Xu noticed that whereas the other five legs were very robust, this particular leg was somewhat weak, even half-crippled, so he didn't hesitate.
"Humph..." Wang Xu struck, severing one of the Insect's legs completely. The Iron Wire Beetle let out a strange muffled roar and, without hesitation, spread its shell to flee.
With its six legs, it couldn't handle Wang Xu, much less with only five. The Iron Wire Beetle was terrified and instinctively chose to flee for its life.
But how could Wang Xu let such a rare opportunity slip away? Without a second thought, he lunged forward, employing the full array of "Nine-Column Thunder Saber" techniques, hitting the Iron Wire Beetle with the Wind-breaking Strike and Blood Drop Strike with great force.
At first, the Iron Wire Beetle could still withstand one or two attacks, but it increasingly became unable to manage, its body covered in wounds.
As if realizing it could no longer match the human before it and would inevitably be killed, the Iron Wire Beetle let out an angry cry, then curled its entire body into a ball and charged fiercely at Wang Xu!
Wang Xu hadn't expected this desperate maneuver from the Iron Wire Beetle and quickly raised his long knife to block its charge.
The violent impact shook Wang Xu's insides, nearly making him spit blood. As for the Iron Wire Beetle, it didn't fare well either, its shell cracking. Seizing the moment, Wang Xu ignored his own injuries and brought his long knife down with force!
"Splat!" Without a doubt, Wang Xu's strike cleaved the powerless Iron Wire Beetle in two, blood splattering everywhere.
With the Iron Wire Beetle dead, Wang Xu couldn't hold back any longer and spat a mouthful of blood.
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Wang Xu silently reflected on himself. He must never be careless in the future. If the Iron Wire Beetle had fought desperately from the beginning, just two hits might have ruptured his organs!
After the Iron Wire Beetle's death, Wang Xu took out several healing pills from his Space Ring and swallowed them, sitting on the ground to rest.
"Hmm? Why does my stomach feel so hot? What's going on?" Wang Xu frowned, feeling heat emanating from his abdomen. But before he could comprehend it, suddenly a red flame drilled out of his skin, rushing straight towards the Iron Wire Beetle's corpse!
Wang Xu was stunned. When did this flame get inside his body? And how could a flame move on its own? What on earth was happening?!
Looking at the flame again, it enveloped the split corpse of the Iron Wire Beetle, forming a flame in the shape of the beetle, gradually shrinking. Slowly, the Iron Wire Beetle seemed to be consumed by this Mysterious Flame, disappearing completely.
Wang Xu stared blankly at the Mysterious Flame hovering in the air. After the flame thoroughly consumed the Iron Wire Beetle's body, it swiftly darted back into his abdomen before he could stop it.
"What... what is going on?" Wang Xu was utterly dumbfounded.
Suddenly, his abdomen heated up again, but this time it was even more intense. Not only that, but the heat seemed to surge from his abdomen, flowing towards his limbs and head!
Wang Xu's expression showed pain; he felt as though his meridians were being scorched by fire, about to ignite, sending him into unbearable fiery agony!
"Ugh..." Veins bulged from Wang Xu's skin, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. At the same time, every pore on his skin oozed black filth, emitting a foul stench.
This agony lasted for at least half an hour. During that time, Wang Xu felt like he was in hell to heaven and back again, for every instance of burning meridians, a strange warmth would wash over them, making them clear. In that instant, Wang Xu felt utterly comfortable, but not long after, the burn pain would resume.
This torment repeated several times, but Wang Xu gritted his teeth and endured. His mind was not focused on why he was undergoing such pain but on his family far away in the Safe Zone. If he died out here, what would happen to them?
Because of this resolve, Wang Xu bore the pain without letting out a sound.
Suddenly, Wang Xu's gaze sharpened. He felt his aura surging, his power increasing, and the invisible shackles within his body breaking with a boom, instantly bringing him immense joy!
He had broken through!
This was a breakthrough!
Wang Xu had experienced the transition from Tier One to Tier Two, and from Tier Two to Tier Three; the conditions were almost identical—at the moment of breakthrough, both aura and power would undergo significant changes, and now he was experiencing such a transformation!