43: You dare slay my dragon? Then let's have some fun!

Over the next three days, a "terrifying legend" began to spread through the fourth floor of the catacombs:

An elusive Fourth-Order Steel-Armored Earth Dragon was specifically hunting down teams that were injured or alone.

And whenever a team was in despair, the man named Lin Fan would always appear "miraculously," fighting off the Earth Dragon despite getting injured himself and charging a high rescue fee.

The strange thing was:

1. The Steel-Armored Earth Dragon never actually delivered a killing blow, as if it were playing a game of cat and mouse.

2. Lin Fan's appearance every time was "just right."

3. Before the Earth Dragon escaped each time, it would give Lin Fan an "unwilling" glance.

4. Lin Fan's injuries... were "heavier" each time, yet he could always continue to "risk his life."

Teams began to suspect:

"Is that Earth Dragon being raised by Lin Fan?"

"How is that possible! How could a Fourth-Order Exotic Beast be subdued by a Martial Master?"

"But this is just too coincidental..."

But suspicion was just suspicion; when the terrifying figure of the Steel-Armored Earth Dragon actually appeared before them, no one dared to gamble.

"God Fan! Save us! We'll give you all our points!"

"Brother Fan! From now on, we candidates from Beijiang Province will follow your lead!"

"Lin Fan, Daddy! Please!"

Lin Fan's points soared like they were on a rocket:

End of the fourth day: 4,100 points, ranked 1st.

End of the fifth day: 6,200 points, leading by a wide margin.

Evening of the sixth day: 8,500 points, nearly triple that of Xuanyuan Potian's team (3,200 points) in second place!

And Lin Fan's "injuries" had become so "heavy" that he needed Qin Yue and Su Muyu to support him just to walk.

The bullet chat went from initial shock, to later suspicion, and now to... numbness and worship:

[I'm too lazy to analyze if it's acting anymore; I just know God Fan is first in points.]

[Even if it is acting, being able to control a Fourth-Order Exotic Beast is a skill in itself!]

[Other teams are still miserably killing monsters while God Fan has already opened a chain rescue company in the catacombs.]

[I suggest the National Examination organizing committee give Lin Fan the 'Best Business Model Innovation Award.']

[Am I the only one concerned about God Fan's injuries? The blood at the corner of his mouth hasn't stopped...]

[To the person above, I bet fifty cents that it's ketchup.]

...Late at night on the sixth day.

Lin Fan's trio hid in a concealed cave, counting their "harvest."

"Tomorrow is the final day." Qin Yue looked at her watch. "We have 8,500 points now. Second place has 3,200, third has 3,000... Unless they can kill dozens of Fourth-Order beasts, first place is secured."

Su Muyu stared at Lin Fan. "Can you still act out your injuries tomorrow?"

Lin Fan was gnawing on a roasted beast leg; hearing this, he patted his chest. "Don't worry, I don't have many virtues, but I am professional."

As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

Through the Steel-Armored Earth Dragon's vision, he "saw" a special team.

They weren't being hunted.

Instead... they were actively hunting the Steel-Armored Earth Dragon.

"Interesting." Lin Fan grinned. "Someone actually wants to counter-kill my pet?"

Qin Yue: "What's wrong?"

Lin Fan stood up and stretched his muscles. "A big business opportunity has arrived."

"A team... that wants to slaughter a dragon."

The fourth floor of the catacombs, Lava River Valley.

Xuanyuan Potian held a longsword, with lightning light swirling around him.

Behind him were over a dozen teammates—all geniuses from various schools in Dragon Capital, forming a temporary "Dragon-Slaying Alliance."

"Are you sure that Steel-Armored Earth Dragon frequently appears in this area?" Xuanyuan Potian asked coldly.

"Certain." A tall, thin boy nodded. "I've tracked it five times over these three days and found its movement patterns are regular. Every time it finishes hunting a team, it returns to this valley to rest."

Another girl frowned. "Captain, I always feel like something is wrong... That Earth Dragon's behavior is too abnormal, and Lin Fan's timing..."

"Regardless of whether Lin Fan is behind it or not." A sharp look flashed in Xuanyuan Potian's eyes. "Tonight we ambush here. When it returns, we'll surround and kill it!"

"A Fourth-Order Exotic Beast is worth 1,000 points!"

"More importantly... if this beast really is controlled by Lin Fan, then killing it is equivalent to cutting off one of his arms!"

The dozen or so people dispersed, lurking behind the rock walls on both sides of the valley.

They set up three Trapping Formations, prepared seven attack Talismans, and even had a precious "Air-Seal Talisman"—to prevent the Earth Dragon from escaping into the ground.

In the darkness in the distance, Lin Fan watched all this through the Earth Dragon's vision and smiled.

"Want to slaughter a dragon?"

"Then I'll play with you."

He gave the Steel-Armored Earth Dragon a new command:

[Return to the valley normally. After entering the ambush, pretend to be caught in the Formation, and then... erupt with your full strength and have a good 'play' with them.]

[Remember, don't kill them, but you can seriously injure them.]

[I want them to know... some dragons aren't for just anyone to slaughter.]

The Steel-Armored Earth Dragon let out a low growl in response, its massive body slowly slithering toward the valley.

The night was still long.

The good show was just beginning... Lava River Valley, heat waves steaming.

Xuanyuan Potian held his breath, the lightning light on his longsword surging darkly.

Behind him, seventeen prodigies from various Dragon Capital schools (studying elsewhere, taking the local Martial Arts Examination) crouched like leopards, their gazes locked onto the valley entrance.

"Final confirmation." Xuanyuan Potian lowered his voice. "Three Trapping Formations, covering a fifty-meter radius."

"Seven Thunderstorm Talismans, all locked onto the damaged scales on the Earth Dragon's head."

"The Air-Seal Talisman will be activated by me personally—once it tries to burrow, I'll seal off this space!"

"Captain, with our lineup, isn't killing a Fourth-Order too risky?" a boy wearing glasses asked softly.

"Risky?" Xuanyuan Potian sneered. "That beast was beaten by Lin Fan at least eight times in the last six days, escaping with injuries every time."

"Even if it's acting, at least seventy percent is real and thirty percent is fake!"

"Right now, it's at most at its wit's end!"

Just as he finished speaking.

Rumble... The ground trembled.

At the valley entrance, a massive black shadow slowly appeared.

The Steel-Armored Earth Dragon!

It looked even more "miserable" than three days ago: its left eye was tightly shut, oozing dark golden blood; a large patch of scales on its neck had fallen off, revealing a mangled wound; even its iconic giant tail was missing a section.

Its aura was even weaker, only at the Third-Order Peak level.

"It really is heavily injured!" A brilliant light burst from Xuanyuan Potian's eyes. "Everyone, get ready!"

The Steel-Armored Earth Dragon seemed completely unaware, dragging its "battered body" as it slowly crawled into the center of the valley, lowering its head to lick a pool of lava.

Now is the time!

"Activate the Formation!!!"

Xuanyuan Potian roared!

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Three golden pillars of light shot up from the valley triangle, weaving into a giant light net that instantly enveloped the Steel-Armored Earth Dragon!

At the same time, seven Thunderstorm Talismans transformed into purple lightning snakes, tearing through the night sky and striking hard at the wound on the Earth Dragon's head!

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

Lightning exploded, and lava splashed!

The Steel-Armored Earth Dragon let out a "shrill" wail, its massive body struggling frantically within the Formation, yet it could not break free!

"It worked!" someone shouted excitedly.

Xuanyuan Potian, however, frowned.

It was too smooth.

So smooth... it felt a bit fake.

But at this moment, the arrow was on the string and there was no time for second-guessing.

"Air-Seal Talisman—Seal!"

He threw out the final earth-yellow Talisman!

The Talisman burned, turning into an invisible force field that covered a hundred-meter radius.

The ground instantly hardened like iron, completely cutting off any possibility of burrowing!

"Slaughter the dragon!!!"

Seventeen people erupted simultaneously, various Martial Skills raining down like a storm on the Earth Dragon in the Formation!

Sword Qi, blade glows, fist prints, ice spikes... the Steel-Armored Earth Dragon "retreated step by step" under the siege, its scales constantly shattering and blood gushing like a fountain.

"It's failing! Keep it up!"

"Kill it! The 1,000 points will be ours!"

"If Lin Fan knew his cash cow was being cut down by us, his expression would surely be magnificent!"

Everyone grew more excited as they fought.

Only Xuanyuan Potian felt the unease in his heart growing stronger.

He stared intently at the Earth Dragon in the Formation.

Although it seemed heavily injured and on the verge of death, deep within its remaining right eye... why did there seem to be a flash of... ridicule?

"Something's wrong!" Xuanyuan Potian suddenly barked. "Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

But it was too late.

In the Formation, the Steel-Armored Earth Dragon suddenly stopped struggling.

It slowly raised its head, the pupil of its right eye turning from dark gold to crimson.

Its originally decaying aura suddenly surged like a volcanic eruption!

Third-Order Peak... Fourth-Order Early Stage... Fourth-Order Middle Stage!!!