199: Chapter 200 Xu Ruohan: I probably can't even beat her.

Deep within the territory of the Thunder God Tiger Clan, the air was filled with a unique, fresh scent carrying a faint hint of ozone, yet it also vaguely contained a heart-palpitating, violent energy. Led by three Nation-Guarding Level Experts including Xu Ruohan, Lin Muyang and his group walked along an ancient forest path covered in thick blue-purple moss and charred fallen leaves.

Gu Shuanglin had changed into a black, tight-fitting combat suit that outlined her slender yet powerful figure, and she followed closely by Lin Muyang's side. At this moment, it wasn't just her; everyone in the team, including Lin Muyang himself, found it difficult to remain completely calm. What they saw and felt was entirely different from the arenas of a modern city; it was a primitive scene—wild, ancient, and full of power—giving them a brand-new, shocking understanding of the nation's foundations and its relationship with transcendent existences.

"mythic grade monster clans can actually reach a certain tacit understanding, or even cooperate with the country..." Lin Muyang observed his surroundings quietly through the Eye of Creation as he walked. In his perception, at least a hundred powerful life signatures were lurking within the dense forest, behind the rock walls, and even behind the clouds overhead! They were massive in size, elegant yet powerful in posture, and their bodies were wrapped in fine, scalp-numbing arcs of azure lightning. These were the masters of this place—the Thunder God Tigers.

The aura of each of these Thunder God Tigers was as deep as an abyss; the lowest among them exceeded Level 200, and a few particularly massive signatures even made Lin Muyang feel a faint hint of pressure, likely exceeding Level 250 or even higher! They lurked silently in the shadows, their golden vertical pupils occasionally flickering with scrutiny and vigilance as they watched this group of humans intruding upon their territory. If not for the presence of Xu Ruohan and the other Nation-Guarding Level Experts leading the way, and the fact that they seemed to have communicated with the Thunder God Tiger King in advance, Lin Muyang had no doubt that their team would have been met with a devastating strike the moment they stepped into this area.

The information flow brought by the Eye of Creation made Lin Muyang understand that these Thunder God Tigers were fundamentally different from the monsters encountered in the wild before. They were not wild mobs "refreshed" by Blue Star, but an intelligent race that had truly migrated from a high-dimensional world like Atlantis. Killing them would not yield experience points, nor would it drop loot. They possessed their own social structure, culture, and logic for survival. Making an enemy of such existences offered low rewards and extremely high risks. Conversely, if cooperation could be reached and a mutually beneficial relationship established, it would be advantageous for both sides.

The upper echelons of Xia Country clearly understood this well. Through a powerful Class Transferee with the Beast Tamer class who possessed special communication abilities, they had established preliminary contact with the Thunder God Tiger Clan. Xia Country provided this powerful mythic clan with a relatively stable habitat and necessary resource replenishment when needed, while the Thunder God Tiger Clan provided Xia Country with military deterrence or defensive assistance in certain specific situations. This was a relatively loose alliance based on strength and interests. One could imagine that Xia Country's similar "allies" or "friendly forces" definitely extended beyond just the Thunder God Tiger Clan. Behind this lay a long-term strategic layout at the national level.

The purpose of arranging today's special match here was definitely not simple either. On one hand, it utilized the natural and powerful electromagnetic and energy interference fields of this place to ensure that the combat process and details remained absolutely confidential. On the other hand, it also served as a display—showing the Thunder God Tiger Clan the potential and combat power of humanity's top new-generation geniuses, deepening mutual understanding and friendship, and laying the foundation for longer-term cooperation. Of course, having over a thousand mythic grade Thunder God Tigers responsible for the outer perimeter security was a level of protection sufficient to deter any ill-intentioned forces.

"The lightning elements nearby are too active; my perception is being heavily interfered with," a nearby Summoner complained in a low voice. He tried to use his mental power to probe the surroundings, but it felt like sinking into a quagmire, with the feedback being vague and unclear.

"All electronic devices have failed; even mechanical watches aren't running," another person said, shaking their head helplessly at the stagnant hands on their wrist.

This was precisely caused by the special environment of the Thunder God Tiger territory. The dense lightning elements formed a natural, powerful interference field that not only blocked all modern electronic signals and detection methods but also had a strong suppression effect on the conventional perception skills of Class Transferees. If not for Lin Muyang's over-the-top ability like the Eye of Creation, he would only be like the others, vaguely sensing eyes watching him without being able to determine the exact number or location. In this environment, confidentiality was almost at its peak.

"Lin Muyang..." Just then, Gu Shuanglin, who had been walking right next to him, quietly reached out her small hand and tugged at Lin Muyang's sleeve. She looked up at him, her beautiful eyes filled with tension and a trace of subtle concern, and asked in a low voice, "Are we really going to fight in a bit? Should I secretly help you?"

Lin Muyang turned his head and looked at the young lady's expression—clearly nervous yet trying to act calm—and found it somewhat amusing and a bit cute. He shook his head and said calmly, "No need. Just follow your usual fighting style and show your strongest strength. Otherwise, some people might think I won unfairly."

Hearing this, Gu Shuanglin's cheeks flushed slightly. She gave a soft "mm" and lowered her head, feeling a sense of relief in her heart, along with a bit of sweetness. Lin Muyang didn't treat her as one of "his own" who needed special care by asking her to go easy; this attitude of equality made her feel comfortable. At the same time, the phrase "some people" also made her realize that Lin Muyang wanted an undisputed victory that would convince everyone. She secretly clenched her small fists, deciding to perform well later. Even if her opponent was Lin Muyang, she would show her value! This was a rare opportunity to show off in front of him!

Besides Gu Shuanglin, Wang Meng and Zhao Man also naturally walked closer to Lin Muyang, vaguely forming a small circle centered around him.

Wang Meng, this burly and hearty man from the Northeast, currently had no realization that he was about to participate in besieging Lin Muyang. Instead, he looked excited, calling out "Boss, Boss" all the way in a booming voice that made the other contestants frequently look over. He was truly impressed. Wang Meng, a Level 166 Titan Giant Summoner, had always prided himself on his strength and defense, rarely finding an equal among his peers and those of the same rank.

But Lin Muyang's appearance had completely overturned his understanding. His level was lower and he was younger, yet the young ladies under his command were each more terrifying than the last. In the previous two brawls, Su Daji's absolute control and Alice's power of blood had made his scalp tingle; he knew he would have no chance of winning if he faced them. This gave him a heartfelt respect for Lin Muyang, even bordering on worship. In his view, Lin Muyang was destined to be a top figure standing at the peak of the world in the future; if he didn't cling to this powerful ally now, when would he?

He had also privately asked Lin Muyang if he needed him to go easy or cooperate, but Lin Muyang had explicitly refused. This instead made Wang Meng admire Lin Muyang even more—this was the bearing of a true big shot! One against thirty-one, and he didn't need anyone to yield! He looked forward more and more to which young lady Lin Muyang would send out next and what kind of world-shaking combat power he would display.

As for Zhao Man, this charming young woman, she maintained an elegant and enchanting smile throughout, following at a moderate distance. Her gaze toward Lin Muyang was full of inquiry and intense interest. Lin Muyang was like a treasure waiting to be discovered; every time she thought she had seen his limit, he could always show an even more shocking and incredible side. She had also privately sent a voice transmission asking if he needed help, receiving a response similar to those of Gu Shuanglin and Wang Meng.

This raised her evaluation of Lin Muyang by a few more points—confident and proud. She was very curious as to where the source of Lin Muyang's confidence came from. Could it be that his remaining summons were all as monstrous as Su Daji and Alice? That was simply inconceivable.

Surrounded by the three of them, Lin Muyang, the protagonist who was about to be besieged by thirty-one people, appeared the most calm and composed, as if he were just here for an ordinary outing.

The team moved through the strange blue-purple forest. Occasionally, they could see thick, charred trees—"Thunder-Struck Wood" left behind after being hit by the lightning power dissipated from the Thunder God Tigers' daily activities—yet they still grew tenaciously, emitting a faint lightning element aura. The tiny electric arcs in the air became more frequent, and the tingling sensation on their skin became increasingly obvious.

Finally, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

They arrived at a huge valley basin surrounded by several steep mountain peaks. In the center of the basin was a lake as clear as a mirror, though lightning occasionally moved beneath the surface; the water was a strange deep blue. The mountain walls around the basin were steep and craggy, with various strange lightning-resistant plants growing on them. Most striking was the vast space above the lake shrouded by an invisible force field, where the air was slightly distorted and lightning flickered, forming a natural, massive enclosed "colosseum." Without a doubt, that was the battlefield where the final showdown would take place.

The tops of the mountain peaks surrounding the lake had been cleared into relatively flat areas to serve as spectator stands. At this moment, Xu Ruohan and the other Nation-Guarding Level Experts, along with several accompanying staff members and high-level Class Transferees responsible for recording and refereeing, had already arrived at the main peak with the best view.

"Lin Muyang, and the other contestants, follow me." Xu Ruohan's clear voice rang out as she took the lead and flew up, landing lightly on the highest mountain peak like a red cloud.

Everyone used their own means to keep up. With a slight thought, Lin Muyang condensed invisible wind elements beneath his feet to lift him up, landing steadily on the peak. The view here was excellent, allowing one to overlook the entire basin and the central lake battlefield. Around the mountain peaks, one could vaguely see massive shadows wrapped in lightning weaving and lingering through the clouds and forests—those were the Thunder God Tigers responsible for security. The invisible pressure emitted by over a thousand mythic grade creatures intertwined, making the atmosphere in this area so heavy it was almost solid.

After Xu Ruohan settled the others, she moved with graceful steps to the side of Lin Muyang, who was standing alone by the cliff, gazing down at the "Thunder Pool" battlefield.

Dressed in white, her clothes fluttered in the whistling mountain wind, making her look like a celestial maiden. Her beautiful eyes, which seemed able to see through one's heart, fell on Lin Muyang's profile with undisguised admiration and curiosity. With the corners of her lips slightly curved, she said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Lin Muyang~ the final rule is three against ninety-three. Which three lovely young ladies do you plan to have take the stage? You can tell me first so I can make arrangements in advance. The list of starting summons for the others is also being compiled."

Lin Muyang withdrew his gaze and looked at Xu Ruohan. This beautiful Nation-Guarding Level Expert possessed a mature charm and powerful confidence, but the look in her eyes now was like a child who had discovered a novel toy. He did not hesitate and directly replied via voice transmission: "Elf Princess Lilia, Succubus Elabess, and... Yama, Gui Wanwan. Just those three."

"Elf Princess... Succubus... Yama, Gui Wanwan..." Xu Ruohan repeated these three names in a low voice, the light in her beautiful eyes growing brighter and brighter. Her pupils constricted slightly, especially when she heard the last name and title.

Elf Princess sounded noble and powerful, possibly related to nature, life, or some kind of mysterious magic. Succubi were a very special branch of abyss demons, known for charm, control, and mental attacks, making them tricky and hard to defend against. And the combination of "Yama" and "Gui Wanwan"... instantly made her think of that group of Buddhist monks under Hu Daming in Tianhai City who looked as if they had lost their souls! So it was her! That mysterious black-short-haired young lady who possessed a soul-shuddering ability!

"Yama..." Xu Ruohan silently repeated this title, a chill quietly creeping up her spine. In Eastern myths and legends, Yama rules over life, death, and reincarnation, and is one of the masters of the underworld! Lin Muyang actually used such a title to name his summon? Was it to describe the terrifying nature of her ability, or did she truly have a connection to that legendary existence? Either way, it was enough to illustrate the horror of this "Gui Wanwan." No wonder even the determined Buddhist monks were like lambs to the slaughter before her.

"Three against ninety-three..." Xu Ruohan suppressed the shock in her heart, her gaze toward Lin Muyang becoming even more complex and full of expectation. "Lin Muyang, you really... bring surprises every time. I'm starting to wonder if even I personally took the field, whether I could force out your full strength."

She was indeed telling the truth. From Su Daji's absolute control to Alice's rule distortion, and then to this Yama who sounded chilling just by the name... the young ladies under Lin Muyang's command displayed abilities that were each more inconceivable and rule-breaking than the last. Even as a dignified Nation-Guarding Level Expert, she felt these abilities were somewhat troublesome and she wasn't even certain of victory. This had already raised her evaluation of Lin Muyang to an unimaginable height.

Hearing this, Lin Muyang only smiled faintly and didn't respond.