On Su Yuâs side, the battle was nearing its end.
While the Bone Turtleâs defense was formidable and its strength astonishing, it was a bit slow.
But Su Yu had his Thunder Collapse Step at the Skilled Realm and a saber intent that could break through defenses. He was, one could say, the perfect counter to this Bone Turtle!
Soon, it was grievously wounded and on the verge of death.
As if sensing the shadow of death, the ferocious aberration let out a mournful cry. It stopped attacking, turned its body, and began to lumber on its thick, massive legs, trying to escape back into the Black Water River.
âTrying to run?â
Su Yu slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.
He gripped his saber with both hands and turned his body slightly, his entire form like a fully drawn bow. His spinal column crackled like a great dragon.
Under the night sky, the blade of the Mo Yuan Saber reflected the desolate moonlight, giving off a layer of chilling, ghostly light.
A sharp glint flashed in Su Yuâs eyes as he took a step forward.
"Ape Arm Star-Picking!"
This strike, enhanced by his saber intent and Thunder Collapse Step, was shockingly powerful!
The one-hundred-and-nineteen-pound long saber carved a perfect crescent arc through the air. The strike was so fast that it left a lingering silver afterimage.
VMMMMâ!
The flash of the blade was like quicksilver pouring across the ground, instantly catching up to the fleeing Bone Turtle.
SHHIIINKâ!
Without any resistance, the sharp blade sliced precisely into the Bone Turtleâs neck.
Its hideous, enormous head didnât even have time to let out a cry before it shot skyward, followed by a pillar of blood!
The massive, headless body stumbled forward a few more steps from inertia before collapsing to the ground.
BOOM!
The ground by the riverbank trembled, and mud splattered everywhere.
Su Yu sheathed his saber, his movements as smooth as flowing water.
The moonlight cast upon the side of his cold, stern face, combined with the enormous headless corpse at his feet, burned a deep impression into the minds of everyone present.
"Itâs... itâs dead?"
Xu Hu and the others stared with their mouths agape, unable to close them for a long time.
That was a Bone-faced aberration comparable to a Second Acupoint Martial Artist, and it was just... beheaded like that?
"A beautiful kill!"
Seeing Su Yu had finished his fight, Cai Yun was not to be outdone.
"Poison Dragon Drill!"
The two water-parting daggers in her hands became streaks of cold light, precisely piercing the human face on the Spider Monsterâs abdomen. With a twist of Power!
HIIISSSâ!
The Spider Monster let out a shrill shriek. The human face on its belly contorted suddenly, spewing out countless streams of black gas.
However, Cai Yun had already anticipated this death throe and agilely retreated to dodge it.
The next moment, the Spider Monsterâs enormous body struggled violently a few times before it collapsed to the ground, limp and silent.
At the same time, Zhao Tie let out a furious roar as the Gua Hammer in his hand came crashing down, smashing the last fleeing water monkey into a paste.
The battle was over.
"Xu Hu, Zhao Tie, keep a lookout! Everyone else, clean up the battlefield and dig out the black stones!" Cai Yun calmed her roiling Qi and Blood and expertly gave out orders.
Su Yu walked over to the Bone Turtleâs corpse, gripped the edge of its carapace with one hand, and with a burst of Qi and Blood, violently flipped it over.
WHAM!
The heavy corpse was forcibly turned onto its back. Su Yu sliced open its abdomen with his saber. After a moment of searching, his fingertips touched a cold, hard object.
He pulled it out to see an ink-black stone with a deep luster.
âThis black stone must be worth at least a thousand merit points.â A hint of joy flashed in Su Yuâs eyes. The quality of this black stone far surpassed any he had found before.
Soon, everyone had gathered the spoils of battle in one place.
"A total of thirty-three! The two largest ones are from the Spider Monster and the Bone Turtle!" Song Mirror announced after finishing the count.
"Well done!" Cai Yunâs beautiful eyes lit up, and she couldnât help but praise, "Not only did we slay two big guys at the Second Acupoint level on this mission, but we also took care of over a dozen ordinary aberrations. When we get back, weâre sure to receive a ton of merit points!"
Of course, she knew in her heart that their outstanding success on this mission was all thanks to Su Yu.
If not for his terrifying saber intent, that Bone Turtle alone could have worn them all down to their deaths.
Thinking of this, Cai Yun turned to look at Su Yu.
The sky was beginning to show the pale white of dawn. A ray of morning light shone on the young manâs handsome and resolute face, gilding his features and making him seem even more heroic and extraordinary.
âHeâs strong, handsome, and so young...â
Cai Yunâs heart pounded like a frantic deer. She subconsciously licked her red lips, the thought in her mind growing ever more resolute:
âThis little genius... Iâm going to make him mine!â
...
When the sky had fully brightened, the corpses of the aberrations on the ground dissolved into black mist.
In the distance, a firework bloomed in the sky.
"Letâs go, time to assemble!"
The group headed towards the main battlefield.
The moment they regrouped, the stark contrast left everyone stunned.
Lin Wanzhuâs main force was covered in dust and dirt. Many of them were wounded, and even the captains, Peng Ye and Sun Dahuhu, were injured.
Peng Ye in particular had his left arm wrapped in thick bandages, with blood seeping through. He had clearly endured a brutal and bitter fight.
In contrast, on Su Yuâs side, aside from Song Mirror and a few others who had sustained minor injuries, Su Yu and Cai Yun didnât even have their clothes ruffled. They were in high spirits.
"Su Yu, Cai Yun, how did it go on your end?"
Lin Wanzhu was bandaging a wounded man. When she saw them return, a flicker of surprise crossed her beautiful eyes as she stood up and asked.
Cai Yun stepped forward. Though her expression was serious, she couldnât hide a trace of pride in her voice. "Reporting to the Commander! We have fulfilled our duty. The Blackrock Beach front drew over thirty aberrations, including two at the Second Acupoint levelâone Spider Monster and one Bone Turtle. After a fierce battle, all have been annihilated. Not one escaped!"
"What!"
Her words caused an uproar among the crowd.
Even Lin Wanzhu was stunned. "Two Second Acupoint-level aberrations? You killed them all?"
"Captain Cai, thatâs not something to joke about."
Peng Ye clutched his injured arm, his face full of disbelief. "I know better than anyone how strong a Second Acupoint aberration is. I just exhausted all my strength to kill one, yet you managed to kill two without getting injured?"
It wasnât that he didnât believe her, but he had just come from a grueling battle himself.
He had encountered an incredibly fast Bone Aberration Shrimp Monster. Its carapace was so hard that a Martial Artist below the Second Acupoint realm couldnât even break its defense!
Cai Yun flashed a charming smile. "Captain Peng, this is all thanks to Captain Su. Our side drew two aberrations comparable to the Second Acupoint level. We were on the verge of being overwhelmed and were about to ask for reinforcements. We never expected Captain Su to be so powerful. He single-handedly killed the Bone Demon Giant Turtle and seven or eight ordinary aberrations, completely turning the tide of battle!"
As soon as she said this, the crowd fell silent again.
Peng Yeâs eyes widened in disbelief. "Captain Cai, are you serious? A normal person canât break through the defense of a bone-type aberration, right? If I recall correctly, Captain Su is at the First Acupoint realm, isnât he?"
"Of course, Iâm serious! The merit points for killing aberrations are distributed based on contribution. How could I possibly lie about this?"
Seeing Cai Yunâs resolute reply, the expressions on everyoneâs faces changed. Their gazes instantly focused on Su Yu, a mixture of shock, doubt, and awe in their eyes.
âSlaying a Bone-faced aberration comparable to the Second Acupoint level while only being at the First Acupoint realm... Captain Suâs strength is even greater than the rumors say!â
âSo killing an expert like Song Qingya wasnât even his limit!â
âI must get on good terms with Captain Su from now on!â
Lin Wanzhuâs beautiful eyes also widened as she stared deeply at Su Yu.
âThat boy Su Yuâs strength has increased again. He was able to break the defense of a Bone-faced aberration... just how did he do it?â
âWait, donât tell me his saber arts broke through to the next level?â
At this thought, she couldnât help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air.
âPreviously, Su Yuâs Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber was already at the Skilled Realm. Could it be that he has now broken through to Minor Achievement?â
âDoesnât that mean he has grasped saber intent?â
âIf thatâs true, his comprehension is simply genius!â
âYou have to understand, among all the fellow disciples practicing the Demon-subduing Saber at the White Ape Martial Arts Hall right now, only the Eldest Senior Brother has managed to grasp saber intent!â
Hissâ!
âIf Master knew about this, I canât even imagine how happy he would be.â
âIs the Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber, which has lain dormant for so many years, finally going to see its glory restored in Su Yuâs hands?â
Looking at Su Yu, who stood before her looking calm and unfazed by honor or disgrace, the admiration in Lin Wanzhuâs eyes had already transformed into amazement, and even contained a hint of inexplicable pride.