Volume One: Emergence of Prominence Chapter Ninety-Three: Reunion

Due to the overwhelming number of student martial artists participating, the Martial Arts Association was ultimately forced to request additional virtual helmets from higher authorities, allowing more students to take the exam simultaneously. Even so, by the time the last group finished, nearly a month had passed.

Ordinary students had long received their results, but those applying to martial schools were still waiting. Most people relaxed after the exam, regardless of whether they would eventually be admitted to a martial school; once the test was over, everyone entered a state of ease, and few were willing to continue rigorous training.

During this month, Wang Jue was anything but idle. Nearly every day, he maintained a routine: traveling to Blood Wolf Valley by day, returning home by night.

On this particular day, Wang Jue swiftly and expertly dissected the blood wolf carcass at his feet. His enhanced combat experience made these wolf encounters feel effortless. His Star Source Points surged by nearly a hundred, a considerable harvest. Because the spoils were so plentiful, Wang Jue abandoned the bulky wolf pelts, limbs, and claws, opting instead for fangs and blood beads. This choice cost him a fair amount of money, but made his journey much lighter. Any martial artist carrying a bag full of trophies would inevitably be hindered in battle.

He tucked the fangs into his nearly full bag, gazing longingly at the spoils he couldn't carry. In the end, he gritted his teeth and left. There was no helping it; the bag was only so large, and even if he wanted to take everything, it was impossible. Sacrifice was necessary. As the old saying goes: "To gain, one must let go."

On the road, Wang Jue suppressed his hunger, found a concealed spot to rest and eat, skillfully unpacking the dried meat he'd prepared, tearing off a slice and chewing it without expression.

"This won't do. I feel like blood wolves are getting scarcer here. It takes ages to find one now. Looks like I'll have to go deeper."

"With my current strength, even if I encounter packs of a dozen or twenty wolves, I can handle them easily."

"As long as I don’t provoke those massive packs—dozens, hundreds, or even several hundred wolves—I don’t have to worry about safety."

"The only problem is, how will I carry back the spoils from now on..."

...

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Blood Wolf Valley, Wu Lei, who had met Wang Jue once over a month ago, led his team back for another hunt.

A teammate asked worriedly, "Captain, we've failed four times already. This is the fifth attempt, and we still haven't found the Nine-Leaf Flower. Could the intel be wrong?"

Over a month ago, their adventurer team had accepted a commission to find a Blood Spirit Flower. The Nine-Leaf Flower is a rare spiritual herb, excellent for both alchemy and personal consumption, and most praised for having no side effects. While it doesn't break cultivation bottlenecks like other herbs, it continuously improves physical constitution.

If the client hadn't offered triple the market price, Wu Lei wouldn’t have handed it over even if he found it.

"Don't worry, the intel is solid," Wu Lei said firmly, opening the map and scanning the surroundings. "If the Nine-Leaf Flower were so easy to find, why would we be needed? It's said to grow in rock crevices, requiring extremely strict conditions. Today, we'll search the cliffs deep inside!"

With these words, the team members' expressions changed. One voiced concern, "Captain, isn't that too risky?"

Others hesitated as well. They weren’t novices, nor was it their first time in Blood Wolf Valley. They knew well: the deeper you go, the greater the danger, but the greater the rewards. This was truly a place where danger and opportunity coexisted. With their team's strength, as long as they didn’t go too deep, they’d be relatively safe.

Wu Lei folded up the map, speaking calmly, "I know your concerns, but this is our last chance. Some of you have hit cultivation bottlenecks. If we complete the mission, you'll have enough resources to greatly boost your chances of breaking through. High risk, high reward—you know the drill."

Several members exchanged glances.

"Let’s do it!"
"Let’s fight!"
"Let’s go!"
"For the resources!"
"..."

Hearing his teammates, Wu Lei grinned, "Since you've all decided, let's stop wasting time and set out!"

...

Elsewhere, Wang Jue, now sated, felt no urge to rest and set off deeper into the valley. As expected, the further he went, the more frequent the blood wolf sightings became. In half an hour, he encountered three packs.

Moreover, in a small valley cave two meters high and ten meters wide, he discovered Wolf Study Flowers—seven in total. Thirty-five thousand credits earned in an instant!

Leaving the cave, Wang Jue pressed on; as soon as he passed through this valley, he’d enter the true core zone. Though he was already in the inner region, he wasn’t yet at the heart.

Soon, his gaze was drawn to a purple flower growing from a crevice on the cliff wall.

"Ah, a spiritual herb!"

He strode over, plucked the violet flower, and the potent Star Force swirling around it sent a thrill through him. Searching his memory, his eyes lit up: "So this is the Nine-Leaf Flower. It’s said to be extremely rare—let’s see if that holds true."

Imagining bundles of cash falling into his pocket, Wang Jue continued scanning the cliff, hoping to spot more Nine-Leaf Flowers. According to the information he’d seen online, these flowers grow in harsh conditions; if one is found, there are likely others nearby.

Just then, a sudden whistling sound split the air. Wang Jue’s expression shifted as he dodged sideways. An arrowhead streaked past, embedding itself into the cliff. Had he not moved in time, it would have struck him dead on.

Frowning, he looked up to see Wu Lei leading his team over, meeting his gaze from afar. "Little brother, we meet again," Wu Lei called out.

With a wave of his hand, Wu Lei’s team fanned out in a semicircle, exuding confidence as if they had the situation well in hand. "That’s our mission item. Kindly hand over the Nine-Leaf Flower."

Wang Jue recalled their prior encounter and narrowed his eyes. "And if I refuse?"

With that, he casually slipped the Nine-Leaf Flower into his jacket pocket.

"Refuse?" Wu Lei sneered, lips curling. "I gave you a chance—do you really think you're some big shot?"

Coldness flashed across Wang Jue's face. "Looks like you're planning to rob me."

"Rob? No, no—we're reclaiming what's ours," Wu Lei said with a bloodthirsty grin, eyes chilling. "Kill him! I want the Nine-Leaf Flower, and whatever’s in that bag of his!"

No sooner had he spoken—

Wang Jue sprang into action, not waiting for the team to move. Sitting back and waiting was not his style. He lunged forward, sword in hand, unleashing his secret technique: Sky Severing Slash.

If there's no room for negotiation, then let battle decide!

Wang Jue’s strike was not only fierce but domineering, the air crackling as he slashed at the nearest foe. It was more reminiscent of a blade technique than swordplay.

How dare he?!

Wu Lei was stunned. He hadn’t expected Wang Jue to attack first, especially outnumbered so heavily—it was as if he didn’t acknowledge them at all.

Anger surged in Wu Lei’s heart, his gaze sharp as a predator. He leapt forward like a panther, fingers curled into claws, veins taut, lunging at Wang Jue’s throat. He wasn’t trying to save his comrade, but to kill Wang Jue as quickly as possible.

In a flash, a ripping sound echoed in everyone’s ears.

Turning to look, they saw one of their teammates, caught unawares, struck by Wang Jue’s sword. A great cloud of blood erupted from his chest; he didn’t even have a chance to react and died instantly.

Wang Jue swept through the blood mist, expressionless, resembling the very embodiment of death.

This scene left everyone aghast.

One strike!

Just one, and they’d lost a comrade!

The horror of witnessing someone killed outright in a single blow sent chills through their bones. Their gazes tightened as they looked at Wang Jue anew, instantly realizing he was far from the weakling he appeared.

"Courting death!" Wu Lei roared, furious at failing both to kill Wang Jue and to save his teammate.

Wang Jue ignored his rage, raising his sword for another strike.

In the next moment, his blade slashed at another stunned team member. The force whipped up a storm, sand and stones flying.

With a sickening thud, Wang Jue’s sword pierced another member’s chest with ease. The victim stared blankly, unable to fathom how he could be slain so effortlessly. In his final moments, he glanced at the hole in his chest, mouth agape, blood spraying, dying instantly.

"Han Li!"

The others were thunderstruck, mouths agape.

Staring at the bloodstained figure nearby, their hearts were shaken to the core.

"You’re this strong?"

Wu Lei’s breath quickened. He turned and shouted, "What are you waiting for? Kill him! Whoever does, the bag of spoils on his back is theirs!"

The loss of two teammates made Wu Lei realize he’d overestimated his own men and underestimated Wang Jue’s ferocity. More importantly, he knew their enmity was sealed. Now, their only option was to kill him—not only to avenge their fallen, but to prevent any retaliation should Wang Jue escape.

The adventurer team’s remaining members hesitated, their expressions conflicted.

"Captain, you mean it?"
"The spoils are really ours?"
"Whoever grabs them first gets them!"
"It’s a deal!"
"..."