141: Chapter 141 Thunderous Black Wind Valley

Ahead lies the 'Misty Forest,' the edge of the Level 3 Zone.

The 'Phantom Shadow Leopards' inside all have the strength of the Penetration Realm. Their speed is like a ghost, and they can easily dodge your attacks. Many sophomores have suffered losses there."

Old Zhou glanced at the electric light flowing from Zhang Wen's fingertips and added, "However, for an SSS-Rank Talent at the Middle Stage of the Penetration Realm like you, they are excellent practice targets."

Zhang Wen did not respond, merely gazing out the window.

Dark shadows flashed through the thick fog, moving so fast they left only afterimages.

He could feel those gazes scrutinizing them through the armored vehicle's window, greedy and cold.

He unconsciously tightened his grip on the jinglan pendant at his chest. The cool touch reminded him of how Ding Siyi looked when she gave it to him—blushing as she stuffed the pendant into his hand and whispering, "This is Meditation Jade; it can calm the mind and protect the heart."

Back then, the sunlight had spilled over the tips of her hair, much warmer than this hazy, misty light.

The off-road vehicle bumped along the rugged road for over two hours. When the headlights finally pierced the darkness, illuminating the brightly lit camp at the canyon entrance, Old Zhou let out a long sigh of relief: "We've arrived. The Azure Mist Frontline Outpost."

Zhang Wen looked up. Several ten-meter-high alloy defense towers stood tall at the entrance of Black Wind Valley, connected by energy power grids that enveloped the entire camp, making it as solid as a fortress.

Dozens of silver-gray barracks were neatly arranged within the camp. Many students wearing Azure Mist uniforms shuttled between them; some were dragging the corpses of hunted Vicious Beasts toward the supply depot, while others sat around campfires maintaining their weapons.

The air was thick with a mixture of sweat, blood, and metal.

"Second Lieutenant Zhang Wen?"

A young man wearing an instructor's uniform stepped forward. His shoulder straps indicated he was the Base Counselor.

After the two exchanged salutes, the man said, "I am Zhao Feng, responsible for receiving New Students. Your dormitory is in Barracks No. 3. Please follow me."

Zhao Feng introduced the area as they walked: "The outpost is divided into three zones: the east side is the living area, the middle contains the Mission Hall and the resource exchange center, and the west side is the training ground.

The primary Vicious Beasts in the Level 3 Zone are in the Penetration Realm. I suggest you start by hunting Phantom Shadow Leopards and Steel-Spine Wolves to accumulate credits and exchange them for Cultivation resources."

As they passed the training ground, several students who were sparring stopped, their gazes focusing on Zhang Wen in unison.

A tall, sturdy boy whistled. "This is that number one New Student? Only at the Middle Stage of the Penetration Realm; I reached that last year."

The girl beside him nudged him with her elbow. "Give it a rest, how old is he? I heard his Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder can cross levels to heavily injure Vicious Beasts at the Peak of the Penetration Realm."

Zhang Wen acted as if he hadn't heard these discussions; his gaze fell upon the bounty board in the Mission Hall.

At the very top was a conspicuous bounty notice—'Bloodthirsty Vine King, Realm: Peak of the Penetration Realm, Reward: 5,000 Credits.'

5,000 credits was enough to exchange for quite a few resources to stabilize his Realm.

Zhang Wen's pupils contracted slightly, and the lightning at his fingertips flickered involuntarily.

Zhao Feng noticed his gaze and warned, "The Bloodthirsty Vine King is entrenched deep within the Level 3 Zone. Its vines can crush even alloys."

"Several students at the Late Stage of the Penetration Realm have already fallen there. Since you've just arrived, it's best not to act rashly."

Zhang Wen said nothing, merely committing the coordinates on the bounty notice to memory.

He gently rubbed the jinglan pendant in his shirt. Beneath the cool touch was an irrepressible Battle Intent.

"Your dormitory is here."

Zhao Feng's voice pulled him back to reality.

Pushing open the door, the simple barracks contained only a bed, a desk, and a storage locker in the corner.

Zhang Wen set down his backpack and took out the thermos his mother had prepared.

When he opened it, there was still residual warmth. The aroma of marinated eggs wafted out, mixing with the camp's characteristic scent of blood into a peculiar fragrance.

As he ate the eggs, he remembered the red rims of his mother's eyes as she packed them, his father's words to "come back alive," and the way Ding Siyi's gaze had gradually lost focus as she looked at him for the last time.

Outside, the roar of beasts sounded again, closer than before, as if they were wandering around the perimeter of the camp.

Zhang Wen set down the thermos. With a phantom grip of his right hand, the sky-splitting startling thunder spear appeared in his palm. He then spent 100 points in the System to exchange for a set of lightweight armor and put it on.

He walked to the window and looked toward the impenetrable darkness deep within Black Wind Valley. The green glow of Phantom Shadow Leopard eyes flickered in the forest, as if issuing a challenge.

"I'll start with you."

He whispered to himself, pushed open the door, and blended into the night.

When the camp's patrol saw him, they simply nodded and let him pass—S-Rank authority granted him the right to move freely within the Level 3 Zone.

Zhang Wen didn't go far, stopping at the edge of the dense forest surrounding the camp.

This was an active area for Phantom Shadow Leopards; he could quickly encounter opponents, and in an emergency, he could retreat to the safety zone in time.

He restrained his aura and stood still under an ancient pagoda tree, deliberately suppressing the purple-gold lightning at his fingertips, leaving only a faint halo.

Before long, an extremely slight sound of breaking air came from the left, moving so fast it almost exceeded the limits of reaction.

Zhang Wen was prepared. While sidestepping to dodge, his right hand formed a claw. The Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder surged along his arm, condensing into a half-meter-long lightning blade that slashed precisely toward the source of the sound.

"Screech—"

A shrill beastly roar pierced the night sky as a pitch-black leopard was struck in the flank by the lightning blade. The smell of charred flesh immediately filled the air.

It struggled to counterattack but was hit in the head by a second bolt of lightning. Its massive body crashed to the ground, twitching a few times before falling silent.

This was a Phantom Shadow Leopard at the Early Stage of the Penetration Realm. Although fast, it could not withstand his well-prepared strike.

Zhang Wen stepped forward and used a dagger to extract the Phantom Shadow Leopard's beast core—the proof needed to exchange for credits.

The beast core was warm, its surface bearing marks of lightning burns. He stowed the core and continued deeper into the forest.

Over the next three days, with the camp as his center, Zhang Wen conducted a carpet-style sweep of the Level 3 Zone's edges.

The points on the System interface grew slowly, and his Realm improved through repeated bouts of extreme exertion.

On the evening of the third day, while pursuing a fleeing Steel-Spine Wolf, he accidentally entered the nest of some 'Thunder Claw Fierce Beasts.'

Three Thunder Claw Fierce Beasts at the Late Stage of the Penetration Realm pounced simultaneously. They were shaped like leopards but were even more agile.

Their bodies were covered in dark blue scales, and their sharp claws were entwined with hissing arcs of electricity. They left trails of afterimages as they moved, completely blocking his retreat.

Zhang Wen's gaze sharpened. Instead of retreating, he advanced, the Thunder Core within his body rotating frantically.

"Tremor Step Treading Thunder Marks!"

He gave a low shout as dazzling lightning exploded beneath his feet. His figure dragged out a zigzagging electric trail like a ghost, narrowly avoiding the lethal encirclement.

In the next moment, he already held the sky-splitting startling thunder spear in his hand.

The spear tip pointed into the distance as lightning surged. Facing three Vicious Beasts at the Peak of the same stage, he unhesitatingly activated his strongest defensive lightning technique—'Indestructible Thunder Body'!

In an instant, boundless Thunder Power erupted from his body, condensing into a solid suit of purple lightning armor around him. Electric arcs jumped, emitting a heart-palpitating aura of destruction.

The Thunder Claw Fierce Beasts roared and pounced again. Their electrified claws collided with the lightning armor, producing a grating sound of metal on metal and splashing sparks of electricity everywhere.

Zhang Wen's palm shook violently and his blood surged, but the Indestructible Thunder Body stubbornly withstood the violent tearing.

"Not enough!"

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He spun his spear in a horizontal sweep to force back the enemies in front, then shifted the spear to his left hand and thrust his right arm high toward the sky. "Myriad Thunders Coiling Dragon Break!"

Boom! With him as the center, countless violent electric snakes as thick as a child's arm erupted, twisted, and merged, instantly transforming into three ferocious, roaring lightning dragons.

Carrying a majestic heavenly might, they pounced toward the three Thunder Claw Fierce Beasts respectively! The entire nest was completely illuminated by the blinding lightning, and the roars of the Thunder Claw Fierce Beasts were instantly drowned out by the thunderous explosions.

The explosions were deafening. Two Thunder Claw Fierce Beasts were torn apart on the spot by the dragon-like lightning, their charred corpses emitting green smoke.

Although the last one was heavily injured and near death, it relied on its final ferocity to tear through the residual lightning. Covered in scorch marks and flickering arcs, it pounced madly toward Zhang Wen, its claws aiming straight for his throat!

Zhang Wen's old strength had just been spent, and his new strength had not yet risen. In this moment of crisis, however, no panic could be seen in his eyes.

Lightning flashed beneath his feet, and his body slid back half a step like a swimming fish, narrowly avoiding the lethal claws.

At the same time, he flipped his wrist. The sky-splitting startling thunder spear let out a light hum as the remaining lightning power poured into the spear shaft like flowing mercury.

The spear tip vibrated, emitting a low rumble of thunder. He did not choose a head-on collision but instead seized the momentary opening when the Thunder Claw Fierce Beast's pounce missed, delivering a precise and swift straight thrust!

This spear strike was as fast as a flash of lightning, yet it felt as light as a feather, carrying a brand-new understanding of Thunder Power.

"Squelch—" The spear tip accurately struck the Thunder Claw Fierce Beast's vital throat area, and the condensed thunder energy instantly pierced through, severing its life force.

The Thunder Claw Fierce Beast's forward momentum came to a sudden halt. The fierce light in its eyes quickly dimmed, and its massive body crashed to the ground.

Zhang Wen stood with his spear, breathing slightly. Though there was fine sweat on his forehead, he did not look particularly disheveled.

Although the consumption of spiritual energy in his body was great, it was not exhausted.

However, in that instant when the victory was decided and his mind relaxed slightly, the accumulation from days of continuous fighting was like water overflowing from a full cup—suddenly, everything clicked!

The solid Bottleneck within his body, under this natural Epiphany, shattered with a "crack."

A more pure and boundless Thunder Power surged from the depths of his Dantian, flowing gently yet rapidly throughout his body, nourishing his Meridians and restoring what had been consumed.

His perception of the surrounding thunder-attribute energy became exceptionally clear, and the lightning dancing at his fingertips grew increasingly condensed and profound.

"Late Stage of the Penetration Realm!"

Zhang Wen felt the new power surging within him and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

He easily performed a spear flourish, and the sky-splitting startling thunder spear let out a cheerful hum.

He looked up, his gaze crossing the valley toward the depths.

"Next, it's you."

His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable confidence. Lightning flowed in the depths of his eyes, shining brilliantly.