67: Chapter 67 The Invincible Will, Second-Tier Upper-Rank—Swift Wind Demon Ape
"Thunderstorm Star" has just been grasped; it still needs real combat to be honed. Perfect timing to test it out!
His eyes lit up. He pivoted on his feet and walked towards the advanced simulated combat pod!
Paid with credits, selected the mode.
[Mode: Extreme Challenge (Pain Sensitivity: 10%)]
[Target: Second-Order Upper Tier Demonic Beast - Gale Demonic Ape x 1]
[Environment: Windstorm Canyon]
[Mission: Eliminate Target]
"Gale Demonic Ape..." A flicker of excitement passed through Zhou Heng's eyes.
This was a notoriously tricky demonic beast famed for its speed and savage strength, perfect for testing his new spear technique and his power after the breakthrough!
The scene transformed!
Instantly, he found himself in a perilous canyon howling with fierce winds!
Steep cliff walls rose on both sides. The gale whipped up sand and gravel, producing a mournful, whistling shriek. Visibility was extremely low!
ROAR——!!!
A savage, bloodthirsty roar exploded from within the wind and sand!
A massive, cyan-colored figure tore through the gale, lunging forward at a speed difficult for the naked eye to follow!
It was a giant ape nearly four meters tall, its muscles bulging and knotted!
Its entire body was covered in dark cyan fur, the tips of the fur shimmering with the luster of wind-attribute energy!
Its simian arms were abnormally long, its sharp claws like scimitars gleaming with a cold light!
Its eyes were crimson, brimming with brutality and killing intent!
[Target: Gale Demonic Ape (Second-Order Upper Tier)]
[Characteristics: Extreme Speed (Wind-attribute enhancement), Terrifying Strength, Strong Defense, Berserk, Excels at Close-Quarters Combat and Throwing Attacks.]
[Status: At Peak Condition, Highly Aggressive]
[Skills: Berserk Rend, Gale-Splitting Claw, Giant Rock Throw, Wind Shadow Step...]
[Weaknesses: Waist is relatively fragile, Fears Powerful Thunder and Extreme Control]
"So fast!" Zhou Heng's pupils contracted. The Omniscient Eye instantly captured its trajectory, but his body's reaction could barely keep up!
Thunder Flash!
He exploded into motion towards the side without hesitation!
SHRRRIP!
The ground where he had been standing was torn apart by the demonic ape's claws, leaving three deep grooves!
Missing its strike, the demonic ape locked its crimson pupils onto Zhou Heng, dropped to all fours, and pushed off violently!
BOOM!
The ground shattered! It transformed into a cyan-colored afterimage, its speed skyrocketing once more! Wind Shadow Step!
Zhou Heng's vision blurred. The demonic ape was already upon him!
A massive claw, carrying an edge capable of tearing through anything, swept down towards his head! Gale-Splitting Claw!
"Well met!" Zhou Heng neither dodged nor evaded. Lightning flashed brilliantly in his eyes as his Minor Accomplishment Spear Intent erupted! The nascent form of Invincible Intent burned within his chest!
"Shocking Thunder Break!"
Thunder energy condensed around the dragon spine spear as he thrust it forth ferociously, a direct clash of spearpoint against claw-tip!
CLANG!!!!
Spear and claw collided! A deafening metallic clangor erupted! Lightning and wind blades exploded wildly!
Zhou Heng felt a terrifying force transmit through his arm. His arm trembled violently, and his body was thrown back several meters, carving two furrows into the ground!
The demonic ape merely had a few bloody gashes torn open on its claws. Its figure faltered slightly, its ferocity intensifying!
"Its strength truly is monstrous!" Zhou Heng shook his numb arm, but his eyes grew even more excited. "Perfect for practicing my spear!"
The demonic ape roared and lunged again, even faster this time. Its claws swept through the air, trailing sharp wind blades that blanketed Zhou Heng's surroundings!
Zhou Heng pushed Thunder Flash to its limit, evading frantically within a narrow space. Simultaneously, his long spear darted out like a venomous snake, constantly aiming for the demonic ape's joints, eyes, and other weak points!
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of fierce collisions were incessant! Zhou Heng completely abandoned defense, meeting offense with offense! He employed Rushing Thunder Thrust and Thunder Break to their utmost limits!
New wounds continuously appeared on his body, sliced open by wind blades, blood flowing freely. But he paid no heed. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, his fighting spirit soaring higher the longer the battle raged!
That newly-born Invincible Intent grew increasingly refined under the high-pressure combat! It was as if a conviction supported him: Invincible against peers! Invincible even when surpassing ranks!
"ROAR!" Unable to defeat its foe after prolonged assault, the demonic ape grew increasingly irritable. It suddenly scooped up a massive boulder, infused it with wind-attribute demonic power, and hurled it at Zhou Heng like a cannonball! Giant Rock Throw!
Zhou Heng's gaze turned fierce. Instead of retreating, he advanced!
"Thunderstorm Star!"
He roared lowly, his body spinning rapidly, the dragon spine spear whirling! Thunder yuan energy was madly injected!
BOOM!!!
A lightning vortex over three meters in diameter, even more condensed and spinning even faster, abruptly formed! Within the vortex, countless solidified thunder spear-lights flickered like stars, emitting a destructive, grinding force!
Man and spear merged into one, transforming into a violent thunder tornado that crashed headlong into the incoming boulder!
BOOM-RUMBLE-RUMBLE——!!!
The moment the boulder made contact with the thunder vortex, it was ground into dust by countless thunder spear-lights! Reduced to powder!
The thunder vortex's momentum unabated, it charged straight at the demonic ape!
A flicker of fear passed through the demonic ape's eyes. It wanted to evade, but Thunderstorm Star's area of effect was vast, its speed extreme!
ZZZAP-ZZAP-ZZAP-ZZAP——!!!
Countless thunder spear-lights instantly engulfed the demonic ape! Grinding and tearing madly!
"AOOOW!!!" The demonic ape let out a painful howl. Countless wounds, deep enough to reveal bone, were torn open across its body. Lightning ran rampant, paralyzing its movements!
But after all, it was a second-order upper tier demonic beast famed for its defense. It actually withstood this wave of grinding! Roaring, it tore through the lightning, its claws viciously slashing towards Zhou Heng at the vortex's center!
"I was waiting for this!" A ruthless glint flashed in Zhou Heng's eyes. He forcibly terminated Thunderstorm Star, his body jolting to an abrupt halt. The long-prepared Shocking Thunder Break erupted once more! A spear thrust that concentrated all his power and Minor Accomplishment Spear Intent shot with pinpoint accuracy towards the opening at the demonic ape's waist, exposed due to its pain!
THWUMP!!!
The dragon spine spear instantly pierced through the demonic ape's waist! Terrifying annihilating thunder yuan and shockwave force exploded!
The demonic ape's massive body stiffened abruptly, its movements ceasing instantly, its eyes filled with disbelief!
Zhou Heng didn't pause for a moment. He withdrew the spear and thrust again! Rushing Thunder Thrust! Consecutive strikes!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The spear tip flashed like lightning, instantly piercing several bloody holes in the demonic ape's heart, throat, and other vital points!
The demonic ape let out a despairing wail and collapsed with a heavy thud!
[Second-Order Upper Tier Gale Demonic Ape (Simulated Body) Eliminated. Practical Combat Experience Significantly Increased!]
[Thunderstorm Star Proficiency Increased!]
[Shocking Thunder Break Proficiency Increased!]
[Invincible Intent Further Refined!]
[Ability to Handle High-Speed Moving Targets Improved!]
[Combat Evaluation: S-Rank!]
The simulated environment slowly dissipated.
Leaning on his spear, Zhou Heng breathed slightly heavily. He had quite a few wounds, but his eyes were bright as stars, brimming with the exhilaration of a satisfying battle!
"Intense! That Gale Demonic Ape certainly packed a punch! Thunderstorm Star is indeed effective for clearing the field and applying suppression!" He replayed the recent battle in his mind, constantly reviewing and summarizing.
"But the consumption is also huge. A single strike drained nearly thirty percent of my yuan energy... Need to control the timing of its use."
He didn't leave immediately. Instead, he paid with credits once more.
"Continue! This time... let's try two second-order middle tier ones!"
He needed greater pressure to temper his spear technique and refine his fighting spirit!
A new simulation began...
For the entire afternoon, Zhou Heng immersed himself in the simulation pod, constantly challenging stronger opponents—from one second-order upper tier, to two second-order middle tier, to three... even attempting to challenge a third-order lower tier demonic beast (instantly defeated)...
In the midst of combat, he continuously tempered his control over Thunderstorm Star, optimized his yuan energy output, and sought the optimal moment forbreak out. Simultaneously, he integrated Shocking Thunder Break, Rushing Thunder Thrust, Thunder Flash, and that still-unfamiliar phantom technique into a seamless whole. His fighting style grew increasingly sharp and ruthless, carrying an overbearing aura of charging forward without hesitation, a 'who but me?' dominance!
That invincible conviction grew ever more steadfast with each victory and challenge!
When he finally walked out of the simulation pod, utterly exhausted, lanterns were already lighting up the evening outside.
[Thunderstorm Star: Proficient!]
[Overall Practical Combat Ability Significantly Increased!]
[Invincible Intent Nascent Form: Stabilized and Strengthened!]
[Qi, Blood, and yuan energy Control More Exquisite!]