42: Zhang Benyifeng

Shen Xiaochuan had been out Cultivating for several days. Feeling that his strength had improved, he was preparing to return to Skydome City.

Suddenly, he sensed a vibration coming from the ground. Following the sound, he passed through several dilapidated buildings and discovered a hidden underground entrance.

He stood upon a high platform, gripping his thunder blade tightly in his right hand, the tip pointing toward the ground. Seven thousand Believers stood in neat formation, gazing up at him.

He swung his first strike.

The air was torn apart, emitting a crisp "snap." A wisp of electric light flashed across the blade, vanishing in an instant.

He furrowed his brows slightly.

This technique was called "Thunderous Overlord Slash." It looked impressive, but it was actually extremely difficult to control. He lacked sufficient strength, and his movements did not perfectly align with the rhythm. In that last strike, the lightning had failed to fully erupt, and the power was only half of what it should have been.

He slashed ten more times in succession, his arms gradually growing sore. The lightning on the blade flickered in and out, intermittent and disconnected.

The crowd below was silent.

He knew where the problem lay: although he had mastered the skill, he had not yet perfected it. His combat power was displayed as 179 points.

He was still 8 points away from 187.

He remembered this number clearly—there was a Diamond Treasure Chest in the Faith Mall that required 187 combat power to open; it might contain an S-rank skill book or even a scroll to summon Heroic Spirits.

However, Skydome City had entered a state of combat readiness, and all resources were prioritized for the front lines. He could not occupy supplies for personal improvement. Regular training only increased his combat power by 0.3 points per day.

By this calculation, it would take more than twenty days.

He could not wait that long.

Shen Xiaochuan sheathed his thunder blade, turned, and walked down the high platform, his footsteps echoing on the stone steps.

"Yang Lie."

"Here!"

"I am leaving the Training Ground to you. Proceed according to the original plan; weapon drills must not be interrupted."

"Understood!"

He said nothing more and headed straight toward the city gate. When passing the Blacksmith Shop, he saw Lolia directing apprentices to move metal ingots. She saw him and was about to speak, but he waved his hand.

"Do not stop work, and there is no need to report. I am heading out for a while."

With those words, he was already out of the city.

Outside the city lay a barren land, where wind whipped up sand and dust, rushing into his face. He traveled north along a dried-up riverbed, bringing no attendants and activating no communications.

This area was near the edge of the battlefield, where powerful exotic beasts often appeared. Although it was not suitable for battle formations, it was an excellent place for solitary sharpening.

On the first night, he set up a simple camp beneath a rock wall. By midnight, three Wind Wolves approached silently—their bodies were gray-white, their eyes glowed green, and they charged toward him.

Shen Xiaochuan drew his blade to meet the enemy.

The first strike missed, the second grazed a wolf's shoulder, and the third finally hit its flank. Lightning exploded, and one Wind Wolf fell to the ground on the spot.

The remaining two turned and fled.

He did not pursue, sitting down to catch his breath and check his injuries—his left arm had been scratched, leaving a bloody mark.

He gained from this battle; combat power +0.4.

The next morning, he continued onward. On the way, he encountered a group of Rock-Armored Lizards that launched a surprise attack while hiding in rock crevices. He used the terrain to dodge and killed five of them in succession, seeking the rhythm and feeling of exerting force with every strike.

By evening, he could finally steadily release lightning with the "Thunderous Overlord Slash." His combat power rose to 181 points.

At dawn on the third day, he discovered a One-Eyed Giant Lizard in a rocky beach. The beast was massive with thick armored skin, making ordinary attacks ineffective.

He circled and maneuvered, and after finding a weak point, he suddenly lunged sideways, plunging his blade into its eye. Lightning spread along its nerves, and the giant lizard twitched a few times before collapsing with a boom.

combat power +1.

At noon on the fourth day, he encountered a Two-Headed Demon Ape.

This monster was nearly three meters tall, its arms as thick as tree trunks; it could both throw giant boulders and mimic his movements.

The two fought fiercely for nearly half an hour. Shen Xiaochuan used his speed to maneuver, gradually probing for its weakness. Finally, taking advantage of a moment when it switched hands, he surged forward and pierced the thunder blade from its jaw through its skull.

The Demon Ape fell, kicking up a sky full of dust.

The System prompted: "combat power +2, current total combat power: 184 points."

He sat beside the corpse to rest briefly, drinking water to moisten his throat. Before sunset, he killed two more mechanical beasts—they were guardians left behind by the Ancient Divine Realm.

In the early hours of the fifth day, before the light of dawn, he stepped into a scorched ruin.

This place had once been a city; now, only broken walls and burnt steel frames remained. The wind blew through them, moaning like a lament.

He sensed movement ahead.

Locking his gaze onto every move of the Fire-Maned Lion, he tensed his entire body. The moment it pounced, he swiftly dodged to the side and backhanded a strike across its hind leg. Lightning exploded, scorching the flesh and filling the air with a pungent stench.

The Fire-Maned Lion roared and turned to pounce again.

The second strike landed on its shoulder, lightning burst forth, and the sound of cracking bone was clearly audible.

The third strike was crisp and decisive, severing its neck completely.

The head flew two zhang away, and the body collapsed with a crash.

【combat power Breakthrough to 187 points!】

As the System notification popped up, the first light of dawn appeared.

He stood still, his breathing gradually steadying. The thunder blade in his hand still had wisps of smoke, and the edge was slightly curled. But he knew that what he had gained on this journey was far more than just an increase in combat power.

He could now execute three consecutive strikes of the "Thunderous Overlord Slash." When to draw lightning and when to store power were all clear in his mind.

He looked up at the sky.

It was time to return.

But just then, a vibration came from the distance.

It was not an earthquake, but the roar of machinery starting up.

He immediately lowered his body, sneaking along the broken wall. Passing through a few ruined buildings, he saw an underground entrance with two people standing in front of it, wearing black robes with cherry blossom patterns embroidered on their chests.

He held his breath.

From within the cave came the sound of chains dragging on the ground, followed by the sound of rapid footsteps, mixed with coughing and low cursing.

He peered down through a broken ventilation shaft—below was a huge pit, surrounded by iron cages. People were imprisoned in each cage; their clothing came from different Divine Realms, but most bore the marks of Huaxia.

These people looked exhausted, some with scars on their faces.

A tall man walked in slowly.

He was dressed in a black robe with snake-patterned designs on the cuffs; his pace was steady, precise with every step.

Zhang Benyifeng.

He had never heard this name before, but this person was certainly no ordinary character.

The man ascended the high platform, looking down at the cages.

"You are all weak gods."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, "With insufficient strength and few Believers, your Divine Realms will be swallowed at any time."

"But I did not capture you for the sake of slaughter."

His tone was calm, "I want you to live. Because there is one person who will definitely come to save you."

He paused.

"Shen Xiaochuan."

Upon hearing this name, several captives lifted their heads, a sudden flash of light appearing in their eyes.

The subordinate lowered his voice, looking slightly uneasy: "My lord, all forty-seven people have been located, without a single one missing. But setting the coordinates as a public signal, refreshing every two hours—is that not too obvious? What if Shen Xiaochuan sees through this as a trap and does not come?"

Zhang Benyifeng's lips curled slightly, a cold sneer: "You do not understand. This Shen Xiaochuan values relationships and righteousness; he will never abandon these Huaxia gods. What I am betting on is precisely his mettle. He will definitely come."

The subordinate asked again: "Then if he comes, how shall we respond?"

Zhang Benyifeng's eyes turned cold, his tone firm: "I am already prepared. He will walk in himself, and then—"

Before he could finish his sentence.

Shen Xiaochuan had already quietly withdrawn from the ventilation shaft.

He moved quickly along the edge of the ruins, avoiding the patrols, and did not stop until he had run five kilometers.

Leaning his back against a broken wall, he raised his hand and swiped lightly.

A virtual panel appeared before his eyes.

He opened the communication interface, intending to contact the city.

His finger hovered for a moment, then slowly retracted.

He could not use conventional methods. The opponent dared to broadcast the signal publicly; they must have already set up surveillance.

He closed his eyes and focused, recalling what he had just seen.

Forty-seven Huaxia gods captured and concentrated in the Dongying-controlled zone. Zhang Benyifeng was personally in command, with a clear goal—targeting him.

This was no ordinary attack.

It was a trap specifically set for him.

He opened his eyes, his gaze like a blade, looking toward the east.