Chapter 12: The Pursuit
Bang!
A roar of unwillingness echoed through the air as a massive beast, nearly two meters tall, slowly collapsed.
Fang Qingyun gasped for breath, his chest heaving. Several scratches marred his face, his clothing was torn, and a particularly severe wound bled steadily from his body. Yet his gaze remained sharp and unyielding.
He strode forward and pulled the long blade from the beast’s eye. The blade showed signs of corrosion.
Fang Qingyun frowned slightly. At his current level of combat intensity, this weapon would not last until the end. The main reason was the overwhelming strength of this beast—it was the toughest half-demon, half-devil he had encountered. Both its speed and power surpassed his own.
Fortunately, in terms of constitution, Fang Qingyun was comparable to a true martial artist. It granted him extraordinary endurance, and more than that...
He used the blade as a mirror, examining the small wounds on his face. In just a brief moment, they had already healed halfway.
Endurance, recovery, control over his body, resistance to various attributes—these were the qualities of his physique he had discovered at this stage. Each attribute had its unique advantages. Constitution, by comparison, offered comprehensive enhancement, though not as extreme as strength or speed.
Suddenly, three beams of light shot from the beast’s body and entered Fang Qingyun’s palm. His body grew heavier, his feet sinking into the soft earth.
At least eight hundred pounds!
Such enormous pressure would most likely immobilize an ordinary person, even putting their life at risk.
Fang Qingyun regulated his breathing, excitement gleaming in his eyes, his lips curving upward. His face radiated defiance.
[Spiritual Power +3]
[Spiritual Power: 8]
After the duck, Fang Qingyun had slain two more half-demon, half-devil creatures, earning four beams of light in total.
In his palm, the Demon’s Eye had fully manifested, and an additional transparent crystalline layer appeared.
Fang Qingyun had seen Old Li’s Demon’s Eye before. In fact, the martial artist’s Demon’s Eye resembled a gemstone on the outside—a jewel shaped like an eye.
Now, this eye had opened a narrow slit.
Compared to the rounded gem, it was a third full.
“Almost there!”
“I can feel it—I’m about to transform!”
He checked the time; nearly an hour had passed. The secret realm was about to undergo a change.
He needed to find a safe place and wait for the pressure to reach its threshold.
Perhaps, with this transformation in the first hour, he could become a martial artist.
Then, the entire secret realm would not be able to contain him!
Suddenly, his ears twitched, and his gaze shifted to the side.
“Who’s there? Come out!”
A rustling sound followed. Several figures emerged from the bushes, their eyes cold as they stared at Fang Qingyun.
He was taken aback, then smiled with a hint of mockery. “Oh, Sun the scoundrel, what a coincidence. I was wondering how to find you, but you’re so filial—you came on your own.”
Xu Tao!
The leader was indeed Xu Tao.
He glared at Fang Qingyun with hatred in his eyes.
But Fang Qingyun looked past him, focusing on those behind Xu Tao.
He was surprised.
The people behind Xu Tao were all his followers.
Within Old Li’s class, Zhao Junhong and Fang Qingyun belonged to the group with good martial aptitude.
In addition, there were people like Xu Tao.
They were strong academically, and even if they couldn’t pursue the path of martial artists, they could enter various scientific universities.
Both groups were considered top students.
In the World of Blue Moon, the law of the jungle was even more straightforward; the student circles were no exception. Top students often had many followers.
This was the less successful students’ way of investing in advance.
Now, a problem emerged.
Entrance into the secret realm for college exam candidates was randomly assigned.
Even nobles like Zhao Junhong couldn’t be sure where they would appear. So what was Xu Tao’s situation?
How had he managed to gather so many people?
Xu Tao continued to glare at Fang Qingyun, his hatred intensifying.
Fang Qingyun pondered for a moment, then earnestly said, “Xu Tao, don’t look at me like that. Let me be honest: your girlfriend Wang Xiaoya—I did have some ideas, but I haven’t made a move yet. Also, I didn’t kill your father.”
Xu Tao was stunned, then erupted in a roar, “Fang Qingyun!”
“What’s wrong?” Fang Qingyun feigned surprise. “Look at you, acting like I killed your father or stole your wife. I’m seriously explaining, and you’re getting even angrier?”
Fang Qingyun’s expression grew solemn. “Could it be that it’s not your father or your wife, but your mother or grandmother instead?”
“You… Don’t get too arrogant!” Xu Tao trembled in rage, nearly losing control, held back only by his followers.
Was he looking to die?
In terms of martial prowess, even five Xu Taos together were no match for Fang Qingyun.
“He’s deliberately provoking you. Don’t forget our objective,” whispered a follower, fearfully glancing at the long blade in Fang Qingyun’s hand, then at the fallen beast.
This brought Xu Tao back to his senses. He stared at Fang Qingyun with icy contempt. “Fang Qingyun, hand over your guardian artifact and get lost!”
“What?” Fang Qingyun scratched his ear, incredulous. “Who are you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you know that without an artifact, you could die in the secret realm?” Fang Qingyun feigned shock. “How could you say something so idiotic? Are you still the self-important Xu Tao? Have you been possessed, or have we all been deceived by you? Are you just a well-disguised fool?”
Xu Tao took a deep breath.
I won’t get angry!
I absolutely won’t get angry!
This was Fang Qingyun—yes, this was his style of speaking! Able to drive people mad; if he didn’t, then he was the one possessed!
“Fang Qingyun, you’d better recognize the current situation,” one of Xu Tao’s followers shouted. “There are five of us and only one of you. Hand over the artifact willingly, or things will get ugly.”
Fang Qingyun stared at him suspiciously. “Who are you? You look familiar. I think you’re in my class.”
The boy sneered. “It’s understandable you don’t remember us ordinary folks. Compared to you wealthy big shots—”
“Enough, enough!” Fang Qingyun interrupted. “That’s too sour, and frankly, I don’t bother remembering the names of extras. It’s a waste of brainpower, since you’ll be gone by the next chapter anyway.”
“Fang Qingyun, don’t be too arrogant!” Xu Tao’s voice was cold, each word deliberate. “Look carefully. We have five people, five guns. Can you really stand against us? Especially—”
He glanced at the fallen beast and the blood on Fang Qingyun, malice gleaming in his eyes.
Today, he was determined to eliminate Fang Qingyun.
Want to become a martial artist? Dream on!
“Heh, come and try it!” Fang Qingyun chuckled, positioning his blade in front of him.
Click!
In the next moment, several guns were aimed at him.
Handguns, sniper rifles, even a light machine gun.
“Damn, you lot really have no honor!” Fang Qingyun didn’t hesitate—he turned and ran.
At his peak, he would fear no fight.
But now, he’d just survived a fierce battle, expending tremendous energy.
He was wounded.
The pressure on him had risen to over eight hundred pounds.
How was he supposed to fight like this?
“Too bad, I’m out of bullets.”
Fang Qingyun was a bit frustrated.
If he had one bullet left, with his marksmanship, he could knock someone out on the spot.
With that deterrence, these hyena-like bastards would definitely scatter.
“Should I use an origin point?”
Fang Qingyun summoned the system and stared at the origin point, hesitating.
The next moment, something happened that left him dumbfounded.
[Danger detected; life threatened. System activating!]
[Origin +1]
[Origin +1]
Fang Qingyun paused in confusion before realizing what had happened.
He was used to gaining origin points through suicide, and had forgotten the system also activated in dangerous situations.
But still—
“Damn it, even being hunted by a bunch of worthless nobodies increases my origin points? System, aren’t you ashamed?”
Fang Qingyun trembled.