Chapter Seventy-Four: Earth - Beast Tide (Fifteen)

Page 1/3

“The water-element spiritual energy in the air is rapidly expelling all other attributes, and it’s infused with the domain owner’s will. If you want to manipulate water-element energy here, the consumption will be enormous.” As soon as the domain took shape, Sun Meng sensed the changes around him. The avatar behind him shimmered, repelling the surrounding water vapor from his body.

“Its weakness is at its brow, that black, pearl-like organ. Destroy it, and the domain will collapse!” said Peakes. He was really saying this for Sun Meng, as he was the main attacker.

But this didn’t mean the others would just stand by; they were the first to act. The melee fighters charged at the enormous octopus monster, which, in turn, swung its tentacles to manipulate the water, forming giant water-elemental pythons. These water pythons were formed from special toxins inside the octopus monster, combined with water currents. If struck, some of the toxins would inevitably enter the target’s body, gradually making them sluggish and eventually killing them with poison.

The other fighters’ tactics seemed nothing out of the ordinary, relying on weapons and their respective clan’s secret arts to protect themselves. Only Usala stood apart, her idol radiating a green light that enveloped her, causing her body to swell to twice its size. Her attack style now resembled a flail, and wherever she swung, the water pythons shattered, recovering only very slowly.

Meanwhile, Peakes, Mu Xingye, and the other ranged attackers launched assaults at the octopus monster’s head. This was where the advantage of tech-based weaponry showed—they were barely affected by the domain.

Peakes swapped between three different energy guns, and even with the others’ fierce attacks, they only managed to blast one of the octopus monster’s tentacles to shreds. Normally, octopuses have impressive regenerative abilities, and in this domain, that power was further enhanced. According to their initial plans, their attacks should have destroyed at least three of its tentacles by now.

“This won’t work; it keeps protecting its weak spot,” Sun Meng said.

“Didn’t you say your arrow would definitely hit?” Peakes asked, frowning.

“It will hit, but if it uses a tentacle to block, how much power will the arrow have left after passing through?” Sun Meng replied helplessly. He’d only promised it would hit, not that it would destroy the target. A hit is still a hit, even if it just grazes!

“Then use an explosive energy arrow!” Mu Xingye said, taking out a specially prepared arrow for this mission.

“All right, you draw its attention; leave the rest to me.” Sun Meng slowly drew the Hou Yi bow. This time, it wasn't just about loosing an arrow—he wanted to grasp the feeling. He had a premonition: once he could find this sensation without relying on the Hou Yi bow’s powers, he’d break through to Tier Three.

All beasts possess a certain instinct, a sense of danger. As monsters, these instincts were even keener. When Sun Meng aimed the bow at the octopus monster’s weak point, it sensed mortal danger and attacked even more ferociously.

Instinct screamed at it to run!

“Hold it down!” Peakes roared, as his energy gun transformed into a cannon as thick as his waist. After charging for thirty seconds, a beam of light shot forth.

As if on cue, the others unleashed their most powerful attacks, focusing them on a single point and shattering two of the octopus monster’s tentacles in quick succession.

Sun Meng’s eyes turned gold and red, and the runes on the Hou Yi bow blazed with light.

Page 2/3

Sun-shooting Archery—Second Arrow of the Setting Sun!

With a single shot, half of Sun Meng’s inner energy was drained. The avatar behind him shrank back into his body, and he hastily swallowed a recovery pill.

It was the highest-grade synthetic medicine produced on Earth. While cultivation systems provided the framework, these medicines were made using quasi-technological methods. Perhaps due to the nature of their civilization, the medicine was shaped into perfectly round pills.

Glancing over at Mu Xingye, well, with his gene-core technology, all he needed was to replenish his gene energy and everything would restore itself. Peakes, for whom his current body was just a shell, was equally unfazed. As for the others, some used ointments, some injected themselves, others drank potions or even used talisman-like items.

Looking at his own medicine, Sun Meng couldn’t help but feel out of place.

A thunderous explosion rang out. The domain’s effects dissipated—their objective was achieved!

Looking at the octopus monster, its special organ at its head had been blasted to fragments, the surrounding flesh reduced to a bloody mess—one-third of its head was gone. Its recovery was now agonizingly slow, a testament to the devastating power of that blast.

Turning to Mu Xingye, Sun Meng whispered, “How did you make that thing? I didn’t see it in the tech you gave me!” It was an incredible item—having it would increase his personal combat power by a whole level!

Mu Xingye replied, “Forget it. I made it by hand—just that one. Perfecting the tech will have to wait until next month!” Even though his civilization was late-Stage Tier Two, he couldn’t bypass the rule that only one exchange could be made per month.

“Wait! Does that mean even if we obtain the power technology…” Sun Meng suddenly realized—why were they in such a hurry?

Mu Xingye blinked. “Sure, the civilization itself can't start research right away, but that doesn't mean we can't do it ourselves! Don’t tell me you haven’t had that thought in three months!”

Well, that was the difference between technological and cultivation mindsets.

Sun Meng nodded. “I’m not good at this sort of thing. If it were something related to cultivation, I could deduce a few things. Purely technical matters—if I spent a month doing nothing else, my civilization could probably figure it out in a few days after I exchanged it.”

Mu Xingye shrugged. “Makes sense—our civilization paths are different. There’s nothing I can do about that. Still, don’t worry. Maybe there’s a cultivation method inside! Since the system uses this world as a trial, there’s no reason the ruins would only benefit one type of civilization.”

“Let’s hope so,” Sun Meng replied thoughtfully.

Without the domain’s support, Peakes and the others went all out. Ten minutes later, they finally killed the giant octopus, which had become little more than a target. Even without enough firepower, the vitality of a half-step Tier Three monster was formidable indeed.

Page 3/3

The monster’s body was carved up, and everyone received a share of points. The doors to the ruins appeared before them, covered in symbols none of them understood.

Everyone turned to Peakes, since he’d initiated this operation—if he couldn’t open the door, what was the point?

He produced a token, its symbols matching those on the doors. Who knew how he’d obtained it!

A sudden fear gripped Sun Meng’s heart. A civilization that had reached late-Stage Tier Two before the trial was so far ahead of ordinary civilizations like theirs!

Under the glow of the token, the doors slowly opened, and Peakes led the way inside.

“These outer areas are all safe zones—the weapons here are all broken, so there’s nothing to worry about,” he explained, as the token projected a virtual map. Green dots represented their group, while red dots marked threats.

On the way, Sun Meng saw many objects resembling weapons. It seemed this ruin’s civilization had leaned heavily toward technology.

Suddenly, Peakes stopped. “There are three paths ahead—leading to the data archives, the armory, and the cultivation chamber. Each person can only choose one.”

With that, the token split into as many pieces as there were people, one for each.

“That’s not what we planned, Peakes!” Mu Xingye protested.

“How is that my fault? I only exchanged for the token—I’ve never been here before.” Peakes was unconcerned. “Besides, if you’re willing, you can share everything you find after exploring. Then everyone benefits, right?”

Seeing his smile, Mu Xingye snorted and strode to the data archive door. “If this is your little scheme, none of us will let you get away with it. I’ll share all the data I get, so I need at least one person with me.” There were three options, but more people—if they were willing, Peakes couldn’t hide what he found.

But would things really play out as Mu Xingye expected?