221: Chapter 221 Commanding the Battle Against Eighth-Tier Zombies

Three days later.

"How do you feel? Never mind, never mind... Ye Yu, show them what you've got. Use your full strength to chop at the black gold pillar." Mu Cheng felt it was about time and spoke.

"Understood!" Ye Yu didn't hesitate, putting all her strength into a slash aimed at the black gold pillar.

Although she couldn't sever it, her black gold blade managed to cut halfway into the pillar.

"Is this really me?" Ye Yu clearly expressed doubt.

Mu Cheng: "Surprised? Unexpected? The preliminary training is considered over. Without the weights, you should basically have no problem chopping through the black gold pillar."

"Next up, it's actual combat!"

Led by Mu Cheng, they soon found a Skeleton Island on the sea surface... its scale was quite large.

"Judging by the scale, this Skeleton Island should have seven floors. Let's decide on this place!"

They quickly landed at the entrance.

"Instructor, the seventh floor must have at least a Tier 8 Zombie. That might be hard to handle, right?" Ye Yu still couldn't help but ask.

Mu Cheng operated his bracelet and replied. "No, no, no. You can handle Sixth-order Zombies alone without a problem. As for seventh-order and Tier 8 Zombies... I never said you had to deal with them alone."

"The instructor means for us to join forces." Bai Chen suddenly interjected.

Mu Cheng: "That's the idea. However, for the first five floors, you can still compete among yourselves."

"This time, let's play something a bit special. The rules are being transmitted to you now."

"Instructor... isn't this a bit too harsh?" Ye Yu took a look and was indeed quite startled.

The rules were still based on a points system, and the rewards were the same. The only difference was... this time, they truly had to fight bare-handed.

"What? Are you scared?" Ling Zhongtian, obviously, was now fully prepared.

Gu Chuyue didn't waste words. "Instructor, can we begin?"

"Yes, instructor, when can we start?" Bai Chen was also eagerly anticipating it.

"Who's scared of who? Instructor, when do we start!" Ye Yu couldn't swallow this grievance and spoke with full confidence.

"Playing like this isn't interesting enough. Add weights to both your feet and hands, each weighing a quarter of your weapon's weight." Mu Cheng thought for a moment and said.

"We begin in one minute!"

Just carrying weights on the back didn't have a very noticeable effect, so he would make them carry weights on both feet and hands...

The six of them were now accustomed to Mu Cheng's sudden changes... so they had no complaints, following the instructions and starting to move.

Mu Cheng also followed closely behind... Bai Chen took a slight lead on the first floor, but by the second floor, Gu Chuyue had overtaken him.

All six were quite fierce, taking less than an hour to clear out the zombies from the first to the fifth floors.

The result was a bit surprising: Ye Yu, Bai Chen, and Gu Chuyue tied for first place, while the remaining three tied for second.

"Ye Yu, distribute these." Mu Cheng operated his bracelet and took out white crystals.

In a short while, the rewards were all distributed.

Mu Cheng: "The next floor has six seventh-order zombies. The reward is one hundred white crystals each, provided you complete the kill."

"Also, you can use weapons, but you must evenly distribute the weights you're carrying onto both feet and hands."

"Instructor... this makes it impossible to even walk." Ye Yu tried multiple times but ultimately gave up.

Over these past days, the total weight of the added loads had reached a staggering six thousand jin or so...

Indeed, anyone would have the same result...

"Ahem, I know you can't walk. But I never said you should go fight the seventh-order zombies right now." Mu Cheng was being cryptic.

Bai Chen was utterly speechless. "Then, instructor... what are we supposed to do now?"

"That's a good question. Over these past few days, you've adapted to absorbing the energy from the white crystals. So now, swallow them as hard as you can."

After speaking, Mu Cheng took out a huge pile of white crystals, numbering at least twenty to thirty thousand.

"Instructor, you... aren't joking?" Gu Churan clearly didn't quite believe it.

Ye Yu also expressed doubt. "Really, no joke?"

"If you won't go, I will!" Bai Chen stepped forward and immediately started grabbing and swallowing them wildly.

Mu Cheng: "What are you waiting for? Hurry up! But I must warn you, the process might be quite painful."

Currently, the six of them were equivalent to fourth-tier martial artists. Continuing to swallow and absorb/refine white crystals would complete a qualitative leap.

Mu Cheng himself had personally experienced this back then...

That's why he had been so harsh on the six of them these past days... to help them endure the pain smoothly.

The remaining five also began swallowing. As expected, just as Mu Cheng had said...

The process was indeed very painful, with screams of agony almost non-stop.

One hour later.

"Is this what it's like to be equivalent to a fifth-tier Ability user or Bloodline Power possessor? It feels like my strength has increased by at least threefold." Bai Chen couldn't believe he had actually endured it.

Ye Yu: "I feel the same, like my entire body is filled with power!"

...

"No need for such astonishment. The suffering you've endured doesn't compare to even one percent of mine." Mu Cheng spoke with great seriousness.

"Today, you've truly stepped onto the path of martial artists. Although you lack Bloodline Power, you can continuously break through your own limits."

"Instructor, I'm quite curious... what exactly is your strength level? Above the Ninth Layer of Wanshi?" Gu Chuyue suddenly asked.

Mu Cheng answered somewhat awkwardly.

"Actually, I don't know the limit of my strength either. But I probably don't have the power to fight the guardian of Dongfang City."

The strength of four Shackles was indeed almost on par with Lu Yunzi's strength, but...

Who doesn't have a few trump cards? Moreover, she was also a powerhouse who returned from the Battlefield. If they really fought, it wasn't certain Mu Cheng could win.

"That guardian of Dongfang City? The woman hailed as a god? Instructor, you're not joking?" Ling Zhongtian found it hard to believe.

Ye Yu also expressed skepticism. "She's humanity's number one powerhouse, second on the hero board. Could it be, instructor, that you are Zero?"

Since Mu Cheng was still wearing a black robe, the six were also very curious about his identity.

"Me? I'm just a young person like you all." Mu Cheng also stopped pretending and threw off his black robe.

"As for the Zero you mentioned, I guess you could say I am."

"Wow! Instructor... you're actually so young. I thought you were an old man." Ye Yu was also shocked.

Mu Cheng's age was similar to these people, all belonging to this generation's youth.

"Wait... instructor, you look very familiar. Let me search my memory." Gu Churan looked at him more and more, finding him increasingly familiar.

She actually managed to recall. "So the instructor... is the only man behind Menglou Pavilion."

"Now I remember. I knew you looked so familiar." Ye Yu expressed the same.

Bai Chen: "It really is. I never expected the instructor... to have such an identity."

...

"Wait, am I that impressive?" Mu Cheng himself looked utterly bewildered.

Ye Yu: "Of course! You are our idol, the hero in our hearts!"

Ling Zhongtian: "Yes. Without Menglou Pavilion, where would today's Guangshen City and Ancient City be? Where would a place for ten million ordinary people to live be?"

"If you hadn't said it, I wouldn't have known." Mu Cheng appeared very embarrassed.

Indeed, he truly didn't know that from the arrival of Global Survival until now, Guangshen City and the Ancient City had grown to a population of ten million.

"Instructor, is your immense strength... the reason you disappeared for a year?" Ye Yu asked curiously.

Bai Chen also asked: "Instructor, with your strength so great... what rank are you on the hero board?"

Mu Cheng replied: "No, no, no. My strength is still very weak. Compared to true powerhouses, it's like heaven and earth."

"As for the hero board... you can guess for yourselves!"

"Also, we still have serious business at hand. So, are you all ready?"

"We are all ready, awaiting the instructor's instructions!"

The six instantly became serious...

"Ahem, now that you're not weighed down, let's add weights first! Add until you can't stand up." Mu Cheng didn't hesitate to say.

Having just broken through to the fifth tier, of course, he had to make them unable to stand first...

Soon, the six increased the weight on their hands and feet until they couldn't stand up.

"Same old rule, even if you have to crawl, cover ten kilometers right here."

Mu Cheng suddenly seemed like a different person, becoming very serious.

Without experiencing wind and rain, how can one see a rainbow? Without Bloodline Power or Abilities, this is the only way to improve.

The resources expended, the sweat shed... must be far more than others.

The six persisted as before, not a single one giving up. Just as Mu Cheng said, although it took three hours,

they still crawled the full ten kilometers.

"Not bad, not bad. Eat these Rice Balls. You'll spend the next three days here." Mu Cheng looked on with great satisfaction.

Three days passed quickly. Not only did the six reach an astonishing load of ten thousand jin, but they were also completely unaffected by it.

"It's about time. Let me see... your true strength. Remove all the weights from your bodies."

"We depart for the next floor in ten minutes. I'll help you take care of a few first. Let you experience one-on-one what it means to be a rookie."

As soon as Mu Cheng finished speaking, in the blink of an eye, he had already leaped to the sixth floor.

Ten minutes passed, and the six also set off on time, heading to the sixth floor.

"First, each of you spread out. I'll send the 'care packages' over." Mu Cheng's voice came through.

That's right. He had already dealt with the zombies, leaving only six seventh-order ones, all tied up.

Soon, the six spread out... all making preparations!

Mu Cheng didn't hesitate, throwing the 'care packages' towards each of the six...

"Is this the strength of a seventh-order zombie? Both speed and power are formidable!" Ye Yu couldn't even dodge.

She had no choice but to defend.

Not just her, but the remaining five were the same... utterly on the receiving end of the beatings.

They finally understood that the 'rookies' Mu Cheng had mentioned referred to themselves...

Fifth-tier against seventh-tier was indeed a complete defeat, but that was precisely the result Mu Cheng wanted.

He wanted them to know that the fifth tier was merely the beginning of becoming strong, not the peak...

Mu Cheng stood up and leaped onto a high pile of rubble, shouting: "Listen up, all of you! Zombies can get tired. So, eat those Rice Balls as hard as you can, eat until the zombies collapse from exhaustion!"

As time passed, after a full twelve hours, the six finally exhausted their respective seventh-order zombies to death.

"Not bad. Next, let's go deal with that Tier 8 Zombie together! Remember to use your brains a bit." Mu Cheng said.

He suddenly changed his mind. "Wait... how about this? Ten minutes. First, each of you come up with a plan on how to deal with the Tier 8 Zombie without depleting its energy! Give me a feasible method!"

"Instructor, is that really possible?" Ye Yu asked doubtfully.

Mu Cheng replied: "Of course it is. So sometimes, using your brain is more reliable than charging in directly."

"Hurry up and put those brains to good use!"

The Battlefield itself is complex and ever-changing. A tiny detail... if overlooked, can lead to utter defeat.

When the disparity in strength is great, you either run, or you stay calm, and while you can still evade attacks,

use your brain to think of a way...

Ten minutes passed quickly.

"How is it? Have any of you thought of something? Or do you think it's simply impossible?" Mu Cheng asked.

Bai Chen was a straightforward person. "Instructor, I really can't think of anything."

"Me neither." Ling Zhongtian said.

As expected, they were completely wiped out... No one could come up with a good method to kill it without depleting the Tier 8 Zombie's energy.

Mu Cheng wasn't surprised by this result. They hadn't experienced major storms themselves, so it was normal they couldn't think of one.

"Alright then. Let's try my plan and see if it works." Mu Cheng operated his high-tech bracelet and sent his plan to the six.

Ye Yu studied it seriously and said, "This method is good... theoretically, it should indeed be possible to kill it."

"Instructor, how on earth did you come up with this?" Bai Chen asked in confusion after reading it.

Mu Cheng: "You couldn't think of it because you lack practical combat experience. However, while the plan is feasible, we still mustn't underestimate the strength of a Tier 8 Zombie."

"After all... it's three levels stronger than you. In the face of absolute strength, an excellent commander is also needed."

"So, let's set off now. I will command you on how to kill the Tier 8 Zombie."

The six didn't hesitate, soon descending to the final floor and finding the Tier 8 Zombie.

Mu Cheng commanded from the side: "A Tier 8 Zombie has the intelligence of an adult. So, just like before you fight, you observe your opponent's strength."

"Therefore, at times like this, we hold the initiative. Bai Chen, Ling Zhongtian, you first follow the plan and catch it by surprise."

Bai Chen and Ling Zhongtian transformed their qianji into chains, instantly binding the zombie's hands.

"Next is Ye Yu. You are responsible for frontal attacks. Gu Churan, Gu Chuyue, you are responsible for diverting its attention." Mu Cheng continued commanding.

With its hands bound, Gu Chuyue and Gu Churan kept circling the Tier 8 Zombie, holding its attention.

Ye Yu utilized her newly gained advantage in speed, continuously attacking the Tier 8 Zombie. Although not extremely painful, it still caused damage.

Because the Tier 8 Zombie had to guard against Gu Chuyue and Gu Churan, it indeed didn't dare to go all out.

This allowed Ye Yu's attacks to gradually inflict pain on it...

However, people always have a breaking point when pushed too far, and zombies are the same...

Knowing escape was impossible, of course, it would use its full strength for a desperate fight.

In an instant, its power increased by more than threefold, not only throwing off Bai Chen and Ling Zhongtian,

but also sending Ye Yu flying. Similarly, Gu Chuyue and Gu Churan didn't fare much better, also taking quite a beating.

Mu Cheng's plan only covered that much. When reading it, it definitely seemed feasible, but an unexpected situation still occurred...

So now, it all depended on who?

Naturally, the commander...

"The Tier 8 Zombie is using its full strength. This heightened power state won't last long. So, all of you attack together now!" Mu Cheng shouted loudly.