TYMIMA Chapter 22

Before Zhan Pingchuan could recover from the shock of being comforted, Lance had already rushed forward with the dagger in hand.

 

He couldn’t handle the troublesome ones, but for these small fry, he still needed to help out.

 

Generally speaking, E-level and above beasts possess their own thinking. As Lance’s aura approached, the Pouncers sniffed vigorously, clearly detecting that Lance’s awakening level wasn’t high.

 

So several nearby Pouncers uniformly turned their fish heads, bared their fangs, rolled their dead-white eyeballs, and suddenly pounced toward Lance!

 

Lance inwardly sneered, slightly shifting his body, avoiding a Pouncer biting toward his shoulder by a hair’s breadth.

 

Just as the Pouncer realized it had missed and was about to turn its head, Lance, with lightning speed, raised his knife and brought it down, cleanly and neatly cutting a deep groove in the Pouncer’s ugly belly.

 

Poof!

 

The deadly poison took effect upon contact with blood. Before the Pouncer could flap its wings, it fell stiffly to the ground.

 

Lance’s Spirit Realm system immediately displayed two lines of text—

 

[Killed Pouncer, body gained 6 points of Excitement!]

 

[6 points of Excitement have been eaten by an unknown entity.]

 

Lance didn’t hesitate. Another Pouncer flew down from the wall, heading straight for his abdomen!

 

Lance kicked the wall hard, using the rebound momentum to gain a bit of space, then stabbed through the Pouncer’s fang-filled fish head. Bloody gore splattered out, staining the Black Mamba’s blade red.

 

[Killed Pouncer, body gained 6 points of Mental Power!]

 

[6 points of Mental Power have been eaten by an unknown entity.]

 

This was why Lance couldn’t develop any skills.

 

Since ancient times, there has been a saying that humans only use 10% of their brains. Scientists have always been troubled by how to make the brain play a greater role.

 

Until the appearance of underground cities, the radiation from crystal ores directly promoted brain development, generating the Spirit Realm system between the frontal and temporal lobes.

 

The Spirit Realm system was like the visualization of the brain’s natural computer, not only generating a consciousness domain based on the Awakened’s own characteristics but also recording various data of self-changes.

 

When values such as strength, agility, constitution, spirit, endurance, speed, defense, critical hit rate, and charm reached a certain level, Awakened ones could create skills that matched their attributes.

 

The more values accumulated, the more skills could be generated, and the fastest way to obtain values was to fight beasts in underground cities.

 

But no matter how many beasts Lance killed or how much mental power he collected, it would all be eaten mercilessly by the Outer God.

 

Because It despised everything, the fact that Its chosen channel was excitedly collecting such insignificant power was humiliating and intolerable to It.

 

In Its eyes, this was like holding a weapon that could destroy heaven and earth, yet marveling at a string of firecrackers like an idiot.

 

So, Lance had to practice physical techniques diligently. Fortunately, he was light-bodied and naturally talented, having mastered weapon killing to perfection.

 

Zhan Pingchuan hadn’t expected this at all.

 

Watching Lance dodge and weave, his small waist as flexible and supple as a spring, his strikes as clean and neat as chopping vegetables, Zhan Pingchuan couldn’t help but cover his chest.

 

His heart felt like it was about to jump out.

 

This scene was incredibly sexy! It completely outshone all those Omega “teachers” who could only throw their heads back and moan.

 

In just a few dozen seconds, Lance quickly dispatched five Pouncers. Viscous blood slid from the tip of his knife, yet not a speck of blood stained his body.

 

The reddish-brown long hair bound by the silk ribbon was now somewhat loose, with several strands escaping from the ribbon, sticking to the side of his face with thin sweat.

 

He casually tossed his head, flinging away the bothersome loose strands, revealing his snow-white, delicate jaw and his glistening, sweat-dampened neck.

 

Zhan Pingchuan felt his breathing becoming unstable. He gazed at Lance with burning eyes, unable to look away.

 

If his previous liking for Lance had been shallow and superficial, now it had penetrated deep into his bones.

 

A violent beauty—wasn’t this exactly hitting his XP?

 

Liu Bo was utterly impressed, blurting out: “Classmate Lance, you’ve been hiding your talents!”

 

Tang Li had wanted to be useful by restoring some health for Lance, but found that Lance hadn’t lost any: “Aren’t you F-level? How did you manage that?”

 

Zhan Pingchuan stepped forward, selfishly taking hold of Lance’s long hair that hung to his waist. Then, with a snap of his fingers, several invisible silver threads shot out rapidly. His pheromones suddenly surged, directly cutting all the surrounding Pouncers in half at the waist.

 

“Baby, leave this dirty work to me.”

 

Corpses fell to the ground with a patter, and Lance’s Sky team’s score suddenly jumped up.

 

Lance turned his head, breathing lightly, his eyes bright as he looked at Zhan Pingchuan: “I can still fight.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan chuckled, his voice deep, like brushing against the most sensitive part of one’s ear: “You don’t really think I’m weak, do you, little Lance?”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, another batch of Pouncers went to meet their ancestors. Lance’s Sky team’s score quickly caught up with Ashlen and Tu Mo.

 

“I don’t.” Lance put away the Black Mamba Fang, inexplicably feeling his ears getting hot. He frowned, raising his hand to repeatedly wipe them with the back of his hand.

 

It had minimal effect.

 

[[High Tower Guild] HomeHasMyDarling: Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!]

 

[[Ghost Eye Guild] NotBuyingBathroom: Are you coughing up phlegm?]

 

Under the wild bombardment of nearly five hundred students, the Pouncers were quickly cleared out, leaving only a mess on the ground with almost nowhere to step.

 

“Next should be this underground city’s boss, the Frightening Bird, right?”

 

“The Frightening Bird is C-level, not so easy to kill. Everyone, pay attention to teamwork.”

 

“Don’t compete with us. The first kill on the Frightening Bird must be Brother Lun’s.”

 

“That’s not necessarily true. Our Brother Mo just needs one C-level beast to develop his first-tier ability!”

 

“The Frightening Bird’s points are definitely rich. Whoever kills it first will probably be the champion.”

 

“This year’s champion will most likely be either Ashlen or Tu Mo, right?”

 

“Not necessarily. I’m standing further back, and I feel like Zhan Pingchuan has killed more.”

 

“How is that possible? Are you sure it was him? Brother Lun is A-level, and they say no one has seen Zhan Pingchuan use his ability.”

 

……

 

In the center of the spacious valley, thick clouds covered the last warmth, and mist stretched into threads, filling the entire open space.

 

Oliver couldn’t help but shiver.

 

Even though the leather coat on his body was warm, because it was permeated with Si Hongche’s pheromones, he felt bone-chillingly cold.

 

Si Hongche noticed this but remained unmoved. He put on the leather gloves hanging at his waist, hooked Oliver’s shoulder, and lightly patted his emaciated face: “Let’s begin.”

 

Oliver flinched and closed his eyes at his touch, instinctively wanting to dodge, yet struggling to control the impulse.

 

Si Hongche’s actions caused him immense psychological pressure. He never knew which touch might turn into a merciless slap, causing him dizziness and ringing ears.

 

His breathing quickly became rapid, his neck tensed—it was fear from the inside out.

 

These leather gloves were particularly painful when used to hit someone, especially, especially painful.

 

Oliver’s instinctive reaction made Si Hongche pause, as a memory he hadn’t managed to suppress invaded his heart.

 

Once upon a time, when he raised his hand, Oliver would happily rest his chin on it like an excited puppy, his golden hair softly falling between his fingers.

 

Not like now—fearful, rejecting, shrinking away.

 

However, Si Hongche only allowed these useless emotions to pierce his heart for a second. He said in a deep voice: “If you’re afraid, then hurry up.”

 

Only after confirming he wouldn’t be hit again did Oliver open his eyes, gazing blankly toward the entrance of the underground city.

 

He extended his hand from inside the leather coat. His fingertips emitted a golden aura. As the olive pheromones spread, the golden aura grew increasingly brilliant, until at a certain moment, the aura burst forth with a heart-shaking resonance.

 

Plant system S-level Awakened third-tier ability [Virtual Realm].

 

Everyone in the valley was shocked and staggered back, their five senses momentarily lost. After a long while, they finally awoke from this irresistible force.

 

Many people looked at Oliver with fear. After many years, they had become accustomed to his painful, humble appearance, almost forgetting what a terrifyingly powerful existence this S-level Omega once was.

 

In the underground city, the advance team had already reached the depths of the passage. The humidity in the air suddenly increased, and on the ground, there were many already weathered bones of Pouncers.

 

“It’s the nest!” someone exclaimed excitedly.

 

Following the direction where the bones increased, in a dark, deep cave, some white mist floated out.

 

That was the mist produced by a giant beast’s breathing.

 

Many of the students present had never seen a Frightening Bird with their own eyes. They only knew it was a C-level beast, and its bones were the best raw material for making knives.

 

Now, seeing the deepest nest, they instinctively thought this was the Frightening Bird’s dwelling, just that this bird was larger.

 

“Everyone make way, Brother Lun is starting the raid!”

 

These people learned to borrow authority quickly, following Ashlen as if they too were A-level Awakened ones.

 

Ashlen flexed his wrist, about to step forward to claim the beast.

 

Tu Mo raised his hand to block him, saying coolly: “Did I agree?”

 

Ashlen looked down and couldn’t help but sneer lightly: “You really want to compete with me?”

 

Tu Mo: “We’re both A-level, with similar attributes. What’s wrong with competing?”

 

Star University never prevented students from killing each other. They always believed that the law of the jungle was the foundation for humans to control and utilize underground cities.

 

It was the cruelty of survival of the fittest that eliminated the incompetent, allowing the power of evolution to purify and overcome all disasters.

 

Tu Mo clenched his fist, his muscles instantly bulging, with veins crawling on his skin like green worms.

 

His blood circulated rapidly, his exhaled breath scalding. He wanted to make Ashlen understand that he was the strongest one here.

 

Ashlen’s face showed an absurd smile. He shook his shoulders, examining Tu Mo, whose body had already become deformed.

 

In an instant, he suddenly narrowed his eyes and raised his right arm.

 

Tu Mo thought he would, like before, beastify his arm into claws to clash with his steel-like bones.

 

However, Ashlen raised his hand high above his head, his open five fingers suddenly clenching!

 

Animal system A-level Awakened first-tier ability [Extreme Bite]!

 

The air behind Tu Mo tore open, and a jet-black cheetah leaped through, precisely biting Tu Mo’s neck in a flash.

 

Crack.

 

The sound of a neck bone breaking.

 

Tu Mo’s head was directly bitten off by the cheetah, fresh blood spurting from the tear toward the cave ceiling!

 

“Aaaaaahhhhh—”

 

“He’s dead, an A-level is dead!”

 

“Tu Mo was killed by Ashlen. Ashlen has developed a first-tier ability!”

 

“I… I… Brother Lun, I’m not close to Tu Mo, just temporarily teamed up. Please don’t kill me!”

 

Amidst the chaos, Tu Mo’s corpse rapidly shriveled, returning to normal size, then collapsed with a thud.

 

Ashlen looked at Tu Mo’s corpse, sneered, and turned to ask: “Anyone else want to compete?”

 

Silence all around, no one dared to respond.

 

“Brother Zhan, we…” Liu Bo was also quite frightened by Ashlen’s move. He wasn’t sure if Zhan Pingchuan could still defeat Ashlen, who now had a first-tier ability.

 

Zhan Pingchuan frowned, his expression darkening.

 

He didn’t like such naked killing, even if the world now seemed to be this way.

 

He raised his hand to touch the two pendants on his ear bone.

 

Ashlen, this beast, was being too rampant—developing a first-tier ability while keeping it hidden, getting so cocky he couldn’t find north.

 

Zhan Pingchuan planned to swing this kid from the underground city back to the valley.

 

Just as he was about to step forward, Lance grabbed his arm.

 

“Scared? It’s okay, big brother will shield you.” Zhan Pingchuan didn’t forget to comfort Lance, raising his hand to cover his eyes.

 

But Lance avoided Zhan Pingchuan’s hand. He seemed unconcerned about Tu Mo’s death, his gaze fixed directly toward the nest.

 

Zhan Pingchuan stopped joking and instead sensitively followed Lance’s line of sight.

 

White mist still puffed out from there, mixed with a kind of eerie fragrance that was difficult to describe.

 

Sha—sha—

 

The sound of sand being rubbed gradually became clearer, almost approaching the cave entrance.

 

Suddenly, Lance’s pupils contracted sharply, his amber eyes filled with disbelief. He opened his mouth, only managing to utter two words—

 

“Run, quick!”

 

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(advanced chapters available on kofi)