88: Chapter 88: Encountering Ye Ling'er, Xiao Jing! Invincible Thunder!

Returning to the Sword Prison Plains,

The sunlight spilled down, yet it could not dispel the chilling aura of this ancient battlefield.

The sword intent and blade intent permeating the air were even clearer to his perception now, but they could no longer exert any substantial pressure on him.

"So this is the power of the Ninth Star..."

Zhou Heng clenched his fists, feeling the blood surging like a river and the yuan energy as dense as mercury within him. A confident curve hooked at the corner of his mouth. "I feel... like I could kill my former self with a single punch!"

He glanced at his Tactical Watch.

[Ranking: 1st place!]

[2nd place: Ji Cang - 1,500 points]

[3rd place: Lu Chenxin - 1,480 points]

[4th place: Xiao Jing - 1,420 points]

[5th place: Chen Ye - 1,350 points]

"Oh? I've been overtaken?" Zhou Heng's eyebrows twitched, but he quickly realized that he hadn't submitted the spiritual plants he'd collected for points yet; his current score only included kill points. "Ji Cang and Lu Chenxin are biting hard... and Xiao Jing and Chen Ye have caught up too?"

The pressure remained immense! The final day would be the true sprint and decisive battle!

"I need to hurry!" No longer hesitating, he fully deployed the Omniscient Eye. His figure transformed into a bolt of lightning as he began moving across the plains at high speed, searching for high-value targets.

After stepping into the Ninth Star, the perception range and clarity of the Omniscient Eye had improved once again!

Many sensations that were previously blurred now became distinct.

Soon, he locked onto an area where energy conflicts were exceptionally violent!

[Northeast direction, 3 kilometers! Violent energy fluctuations! Multiple people in a chaotic battle!]

[Energy attributes: Scorching Fire, Boundless Life, Sharp Metal Qi, Thick Earth Power, Frigid Water...]

[Number of people: At least ten or more!]

[Intensity: Spirit Awakening Fifth to Eighth Star!]

"Hmm? A free-for-all? Fighting over a BOSS?" Zhou Heng's heart stirred, and his speed surged again as he stealthily approached.

He soon reached the edge of the battlefield, hiding behind a massive broken sword.

He saw a mess ahead; the battle was incredibly intense!

Two people were being besieged!

One was a tall man wielding a broad, thick heavy sword burning with raging flames. His swordsmanship was bold and expansive, each strike carrying the momentum of a prairie fire, with flames reaching the sky!

However, he already had multiple wounds, and his breathing was ragged. He was clearly exhausted, struggling to fend off the three people attacking him.

[Xiao Jing: S-grade Divine Seal - Heaven Incinerating Flame Seed, Spirit Awakening Seventh Star Peak]

[Status: Fierce battle, injured, 7% yuan energy consumed, angry]

[Skills: Prairie Fire Strength, Explosive Flame Slash, Flame Emperor Protection...]

[Weakness: Defense focused on the front, slow recovery of breath, fears extreme ice and mental impact...]

The other was a petite girl with lively twin tails. She was surrounded by a green halo full of vitality, constantly casting rain-like healing light to support the swordsman while evading sneak attacks from two others. Her face was pale, and she was in constant peril.

[Ye Linger: S-grade Divine Seal - Life Chant, Spirit Awakening Seventh Star]

[Status: Fierce battle, fatigued, 8% yuan energy consumed, nervous]

[Skills: Life Bloom, Nature Entanglement, Bramble Armor, Vitality Recovery...]

[Weakness: Extremely weak close-combat ability, healing consumes massive energy, fears wither and death energy...]

There were a total of eight people besieging them!

Judging by their clothing and coordination,

they were clearly a small group from the same place. Their strength ranged from Fifth to Eighth Star, and they coordinated perfectly.

Attacks of various attributes emerged one after another, clearly intending to completely eliminate Xiao Jing and Ye Linger from the competition!

"Damn it! Zhao Biao! Does your 'Golden Stone Alliance' have no shame? Eight against two? And you even used a sneak attack?"

Xiao Jing cursed as he forced back a man wielding a saber with a sword strike.

The leader, an Eighth Star man holding a golden spear, sneered, "Xiao Jing, blame yourselves for having so many points and being isolated! In the Freshman Competition, everyone relies on their own ability! Hand over your points and withdraw voluntarily to avoid physical suffering!"

"Pah! In your dreams!" Xiao Jing spat out some bloody phlegm, the flames on his heavy sword surging again. "Explosive Flame Slash!"

Boom!

The flaming sword qi forced two people back, but he also staggered, his injuries worsening.

"Brother Xiao Jing!" Ye Linger cried out, quickly casting a green healing light.

Xiao Jing's injuries recovered slightly, but the attacks from the besiegers became even more urgent!

"Get the healer first!" Zhao Biao shouted.

Immediately, more attacks turned toward Ye Linger! Her vines were torn apart, and her armor was on the verge of shattering!

Ye Linger was pale with fright, her twin tails nearly standing on end.

Zhou Heng took in the situation and rubbed his chin. "Xiao Jing... Ye Linger... old acquaintances."

"Hehe, let's do a good deed today, and while I'm at it... earn some extra cash."

Just as an assassin with a dagger was creeping up behind Ye Linger to deliver a fatal blow—

BOOM—!!!!

A violent thunderbolt, like heavenly punishment, descended from the sky without warning!

It struck precisely in front of the assassin!

The ground exploded! Lightning splattered in all directions!

The assassin screamed as he was sent flying by the shockwave of the lightning strike, his body twitching and emitting black smoke!

This sudden turn of events startled everyone! The battle stopped instantly!

"Who?!" Zhao Biao was both shocked and furious, looking toward the direction the lightning had fallen.

A figure, surrounded by blue-purple lightning, slowly descended from the air like a thunder god descending to earth, blocking the path to Ye Linger.

The newcomer held a Purple-patterned Thunder Spear, his aura boundless and his gaze disdainful. It was Zhou Heng!

"Brother Heng?!" Xiao Jing was stunned when he saw the newcomer, then immediately became ecstatic!

"Zhou... Zhou Heng?" Ye Linger also recognized him, her large eyes instantly filling with the light of hope.

Zhou Heng didn't look back.

He flicked the lightning from the tip of his spear and looked at the eight people with ugly expressions, saying lazily, "Yo, quite lively here? Eight grown men ganging up on a girl and an injured guy... is your 'Golden Stone Alliance' made of lead weights? You only know how to press down on people?"

Zhao Biao's face turned ashen. "Zhou Heng! You want to meddle in our business? Don't think we're afraid of you just because your rank is high! If all eight of us attack together, you won't have a good time either!"

"Rank is high?" Zhou Heng seemed to just remember, glancing at his watch. "Oh, you mean this? What? Jealous? Envious? Want to experience the joy of gaining points quickly too?"

His tone was full of punchable mockery.

"You!" Zhao Biao was so angry he nearly spat blood.

"Stop wasting words with him! Everyone attack! He's just one person!" a Seventh Star burly man beside him roared.

"Who said he's alone?" Xiao Jing immediately stood by Zhou Heng's side, holding his heavy sword horizontally. "Now there are three of us!"

Zhou Heng waved his hand. "Old Xiao, go rest on the side and protect Linger. These small fry aren't even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth."

Xiao Jing: "..." Though he was moved, weren't these words a bit too arrogant?

Zhao Biao and the others laughed in anger. "Arrogant! Form the array! Take him down!"

The eight people instantly dispersed, forming a simple combined attack array. Their yuan energy connected, and their momentum surged!

Attacks of various attributes were ready to be unleashed!

Zhou Heng sighed. "I gave you a chance..."

The next moment, his gaze turned sharp!

Thunder Instant Transformation! Activate!

His speed instantly soared to the limit!

Thunder Flash!

His figure vanished like a ghost!

"Thunderstorm Star!"

When he reappeared, he had already broken into the enemy's formation!

A massive lightning vortex suddenly erupted, enveloping all eight of them!

"Not good! Scatter!" Zhao Biao cried out in alarm!

But it was too late!

BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!

Endless lightning spear beams strangled them frantically! The combined attack array was instantly torn to shreds!

The eight of them were like people thrown into a lightning-powered drum washing machine, being shocked until they cried for their parents, stumbling and falling!

The two with weaker cultivation directly screamed and activated their Teleportation Talismans, vanishing into white light!

Zhou Heng's figure flickered within the lightning, his spear striking like a dragon!

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Shocking Thunder Break was precisely delivered!

He specifically targeted the wrists, ankles, and other non-vital areas of those who were dazed by the Thunderstorm Star!

Screams echoed one after another! Weapons were dropped! They were knocked head over heels!

In less than ten seconds!

The battle was over!

Eight people lay on the ground, each charred black and twitching, having lost their ability to fight.

Only Zhao Biao barely remained standing, but the hand holding his spear was trembling violently, his face full of horror.

Zhou Heng's spear tip rested against his throat as he said calmly, "Your points—will you hand them over yourselves, or should I help you?"

Zhao Biao's face was ashen. Gritting his teeth, he painfully activated his watch and transferred 5% of his points.

The others followed suit.

[Defeated contestants x8, seized 5% points: +3,150 points!]

[Current total points: 15,265 + 3,150 = 18,415 points!]

[Ranking: 1st place]

Zhou Heng nodded in satisfaction. "Get lost."

Zhao Biao and the others activated their Teleportation Talismans and quickly left the Folded World.

Only then did Zhou Heng put away his spear and turn toward the dumbfounded Xiao Jing and the star-eyed Ye Linger.

"Brother Heng! Awesome!" Xiao Jing excitedly punched Zhou Heng's shoulder. "That was so timely! From now on, I, Xiao Jing, am following you!"

Zhou Heng smiled. "It's a small matter. Are you guys okay?"

"We're fine, we're fine!" Xiao Jing grinned. Ye Linger's healing rain had already fallen, and his injuries were rapidly recovering.

Ye Linger came skipping over, her twin tails swaying. Her large eyes were sparkling as she looked at Zhou Heng. "Zhou Heng, Zhou Heng! Thank you! You were so handsome just now! Much more powerful than Brother Xiao Jing!"

Xiao Jing: "..." That's a low blow, friend.

Zhou Heng laughed. "Just average, third in Donghuang."

Ye Linger suddenly raised her short staff with a serious expression. "You've consumed a lot of energy, right? Let me help you recover! Life Bloom: Double Care!"

Zhou Heng thought to refuse. "Forget it, Lin—"

Before he could finish, a sudden change occurred!

A surge of green life energy poured into his body, seemingly producing some kind of strange chemical reaction with his newly breakthrough,

exceptionally active thunder yuan energy?!

Zzzzt—!!!

Lightning suddenly erupted from Zhou Heng's body! It burst out uncontrollably, making him look like a lightning-covered hedgehog!

"Eh?!" Zhou Heng was stunned. He felt his yuan energy instantly refill—and even overflow? His blood also inexplicably boiled for a moment!

[Status: yuan energy recovered to 120%! Blood briefly excited! Thunder activity increased by 50%, duration: 10 seconds!]

[Side effect: Brief decrease in thunder control, slight energy dissipation.]

Zhou Heng: "..."

Xiao Jing put his hand to his forehead. "It's over... Linger's 'poison milk' has arrived, though a bit late..."

Ye Linger tilted her head with an innocent expression. "How is it? Is the effect especially good? I feel like my healing arts have improved again!"

Zhou Heng looked at the lightning crackling uncontrollably all over him and his mouth twitched. "...Yeah, the effect is outstanding. Next time... next time, give me a heads-up first."

How was this healing? This was a berserk potion!!

Ye Linger smiled happily. "Okay, okay!"

Zhou Heng quickly circulated Thunder Breathing to calm the restless energy in his body.

"What are your plans next?" he asked.

Xiao Jing had mostly recovered and shouldered his heavy sword. "We plan to meet up with Shi Feng. He sent us a signal earlier; it seems he's found some big fellow and needs help."