Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Ambush

As Luo Tian sprinted across the grasslands, his heart was filled with envy for those Yuan Core cultivators who possessed the power to soar through the air. Not only were they swifter, but they were also far less exposed to danger. After all, being able to observe in all directions was a significant advantage.

At this moment, Luo Tian dared not run at his full speed, choosing instead to maintain about sixty percent of his maximum pace. Even so, he easily matched the full speed of ordinary outer sect disciples; even the disciples from the four great families could not compare to his current velocity.

Though Luo Tian had yet to fully master the Nine Beast Fist of Form and Will, the progress he had made thus far had already brought a remarkable improvement to his physical strength. To be honest, his venture deeper into the grasslands was not solely in pursuit of some elusive great fortune. He also wished to find a suitable location, such as a cave, where he could quietly comprehend the forms of the fish and turtle, and thereby completely grasp the "Form" section of the Nine Beast Fist.

It would be enough to skillfully perform each beast form individually, but if he could link them together seamlessly, forging them into one, it would surely create a whole new evolution.

Lost in these thoughts, Luo Tian was suddenly startled by a faint tremor from beneath the ground.

What was that?

A sense of vigilance rose within him, but he dared not leap into the air rashly. Though he had largely mastered the Swallow’s Fold technique, he knew better than to entrust his life to it in a true crisis. If the enemy also knew such a skill, things could quickly spiral out of control.

A muffled squeal of a rodent-type beast suddenly burst from underground, making Luo Tian’s heart leap. His running stride instantly transformed into a forward lunge, his speed erupting in a sudden burst.

Just then, at the very spot where Luo Tian had set his foot, a beast resembling a giant rat shot out with razor-sharp claws slashing toward him. Thankfully, Luo Tian’s foot had barely touched the ground, or else this ambush would certainly have left him wounded.

He could not help but feel fortunate that he infused his movement with vital energy; otherwise, even if he sensed something amiss, his body would not have reacted in time.

Seeing that his assailant was nothing but a giant rat, Luo Tian was a little surprised. This was a Tier Two magical beast, the Fanged Rat, known to dwell under grasslands and fields. Although it ranked near the bottom among its peers, it was formidable in numbers, moving in swarms so fearsome that even some Tier Three magical beasts steered clear of them.

The Fanged Rat was two or three times the size of an ordinary rat, and its four exposed incisors had a terrifying bite force. Tunneling through earth or stone was effortless, and gnawing through a cultivator’s bones would take little effort—an easy feat, though not quite child’s play.

Recalling what he had read about common magical beasts, Luo Tian felt a headache coming on. Though these rats were not slow to react and he was confident he could kill one, if a tide of them came swarming, he would have no choice but to flee. Once a Fanged Rat died, the scent would surely attract more of its kind—a risk Luo Tian could not ignore.

If he ran at full speed, he would have no strength left to deal with unknown dangers. Unless absolutely necessary, he did not wish to do that.

As his mind wavered between options, the Fanged Rat bared its teeth and let out two sharp screeches. Suddenly, it leaped straight for his throat, intent on biting through it!

Most Tier Two beasts could roughly judge the strength of their opponents, but Fanged Rats were an exception: fearless, ferocious, and emboldened by their countless kin, they knew no fear.

Luo Tian was confident he could outrun it, but as the future Senior Brother of the Divine Sun Sect, he could not simply retreat from a mere Fanged Rat—not even if no one was watching. There was a certain pride in being a Senior Brother.

He always held himself to the highest standards, never allowing himself any slack.

“Watch my sword!”

Luo Tian knew that Fanged Rats were not the brightest of creatures. Few magical beasts would leap at a person like that; unable to change direction midair, it was nothing but a sitting duck.

A faint blue light shimmered on his longsword, and with a flash, he struck with perfect precision at the rat’s throat. You try to bite my neck? I’ll cut your throat!

A shrill squeal escaped the rat as it was gravely wounded, and it slumped to the ground, convulsing.

Luo Tian was no longer the naive youth he once was. Be it magical beast or man, if someone harbored murderous intent toward him, he would strike without hesitation or remorse. In this foreign world, some things could remain unchanged, but others must adapt to survive.

For both humans and beasts, the throat was a vital weakness; cut it, and there was no hope of survival.

Feeling that his strike was a touch faster and more precise than before, Luo Tian nodded in satisfaction. The relentless days of practice had brought not only improvements in vital energy cultivation but also in body-tempering techniques, and together they greatly increased his combat power.

After this trial in the secret realm, Luo Tian believed he would be qualified to teach as the inner sect disciples did. He could even lower the contribution point requirement, since he would only be sharing his battle experience, not offering one-on-one instruction—a small loss he was willing to accept. After all, he was determined to become Senior Brother.

The most infuriating thing about Fanged Rats was that their bodies held no treasures, their meat was barely edible, and killing one brought no benefit at all—only the risk of a rat tide and a lingering stench. It was simply not worth the trouble.

Luo Tian sighed at his bad luck and prepared to move on. The other outer sect disciples, as well as those arrogant fellows from the Great Yuan Sect, had already set out some time ago. He needed to hurry—between the daily hours required for cultivation, he would have less time than others to search for treasure. If his efficiency lagged, he might not even make the top three.

What a nuisance!

Just as Luo Tian was about to resume his journey, the Fanged Rat he had just slain suddenly leapt up again, its small eyes blazing with savagery! Yet the wound on its neck had already scabbed over. If not for the dried blood, one might doubt that this near-dead rodent was the same creature from moments before.