The Sword Hall rested quietly beneath the morning sun, but Lin Yuan had no intention of staying. His body hummed with the lingering energy of the Mist-Horned Matriarch kill, and the system's soft prompt echoed in his mind.
[Daily Quest Update: Medium-Tier Beasts Cleared – Recommended Next Step: Verdant Labyrinth – EXP ×3, Rare Loot Available]
[Danger Level: Moderate → Recommended Level: 8+]
The Verdant Labyrinth was not a dungeon in the way mortals imagined it—it was an ancient, spiritually dense valley hidden within the outer mountain, long avoided by disciples for the creatures that roamed it and the volatile spiritual qi that pulsed through its mist.
Perfect for leveling, Lin Yuan thought.
He stepped into the valley. The mist was nearly waist-high, and every tree seemed alive with spiritual energy. The faint scent of blood and raw qi throbbed like a heartbeat.
Suddenly, a group of quadrupedal beasts emerged: jagged antlers, glowing yellow eyes, and bodies that shimmered faintly in the mist.
[Targets Detected: Level 5–6 Spiritual Beasts]
Lin Yuan's body hummed. He activated Lightning Body instinctively. Each movement was sharp, fluid, and guided by the system's subtle calculations.
The beasts attacked in unison. Lin Yuan rolled, parried, and countered, weaving Thunder Strike into his movements. Sparks of blue electricity laced every swing. The first few fell quickly, their bodies twitching as the lightning faded.
[EXP +50 ×2]
A low growl drew his gaze upward. The largest beast, clearly the leader, emerged from the mist. Its horns curved like sickles, eyes glowing with an intelligence that made his skin tingle.
[Target Detected: Mist-Horned Elder – Level 7]
Lin Yuan's pulse quickened. The system prompted subtle hints, and his movements became instinctive, almost automatic: dodge, strike, sidestep, parry.
Minutes passed as he battled the Elder. Lightning arced along his body, teeth of spiritual energy shredding the creature's defenses. Finally, with a controlled, downward strike augmented by Thunder Strike, the Mist-Horned Elder collapsed, leaving the valley silent once more.
[EXP +350]
[Level Up! Lv 9]
Emerging from the valley, Lin Yuan felt the difference immediately. His movements were lighter, sharper, more precise. The Sword Hall disciples would notice soon—not only because of his kills, but because his growth was far beyond what a normal disciple could achieve in this timeframe.
He glanced at his system interface. A new icon glowed faintly:
[System Shop Tier Upgraded: Medium Tier Items Available]
The hunt was over—for now—but the real power, he knew, was only beginning.
And somewhere high above the Sword Hall peak, the elder with the wine gourd paused mid-sip, narrowing his eyes ever so slightly.
"…Interesting," he murmured.
"Very interesting indeed."