Chapter 26 | The Novel Marked Me for Death, So I Found a Cheat Game Instead

“How terrifying! How can this human genius's combat power be so terrifying? Is he really still at the Qi Condensation Stage?”

On the ground, the gorilla, who had actually woken up long ago, witnessed the entire process of Ye Lin, like an invincible god of slaughter, cutting through wave after wave of evil spirits with just a single sword.

His emotions had gradually shifted from the initial shock and anger of being insta-killed by Ye Lin's single punch, to later shock, and finally to his current state of sheer terror.

Ye Lin was too strong. In front of this monster, he felt just like a stray dog on the side of the road. He was terrified that Ye Lin would casually kill him with a single sword strike next.

But just as he was about to casually select two Heaven-grade rewards and choose to teleport away, a calm voice, devoid of joy or sorrow, suddenly rang in his ears.

“Fulfill your final value. Select two Heaven-grade rewards, then hand them over to me.”

Walking over and kicking the gorilla's butt, Ye Lin said in a flat tone.

“I can give you the rewards, and I'm also willing to make a Heavenly Dao Blood Oath to guarantee I won't spread word of what happened today. But can you please spare my life?”

“Also, although our Vajra Savage Ape Clan doesn't get along with you humans, it's all because your human powerhouses are too bullying. They constantly sneak into our clan to steal our wine! We have never humiliated or harmed your human race.”

Having his butt kicked, the gorilla, Yuan Heng, immediately spoke up in a wronged tone.

If he had known earlier that Ye Lin's combat power was so terrifying, he wouldn't have tried to act cool back then. He would have directly joined forces with him to deal with that trash from the Blackwater Serpent Clan, and everyone would have been happy.

Unfortunately, he had been overconfident and suffered terrible luck.

“Daoist Brother, what he says is indeed true.”

“It is indeed because several seniors of our human race were too fond of the Vajra Savage Ape Clan's fine wine and frequently 'visited' their clan as guests, which forced their clan to flee overnight to the opposing camp of the human race.”

At this moment, fearing that Ye Lin might blow up another genius over a single disagreement, Zhao Xiaoyu, Li Xuan, and Qi Changqing all walked over to confirm Yuan Heng's words.

After all, Ye Lin had already killed the genius of the Blackwater Serpent Clan. These major clans all possessed mysterious methods to investigate the scenes of their geniuses' demises.

Thus, they could easily share the burden of offending just the Blackwater Serpent Clan without any fear. However, if they added the Vajra Savage Ape Clan to the mix, the pressure on them would be immense.

“Why are you all looking at me like that? Am I really that bloodthirsty of a person?” Seeing that the three of them looked ready to hold him back at any moment, Ye Lin felt like his reputation was being slandered.

The three of them: “...”

Whether you are bloodthirsty or not, those evil spirits that were decapitated with a single sword strike would have the most right to speak.

If it weren't for the time limit in the second stage of the trial, you would probably happily spend your entire life killing things here.

“There is no deep, life-or-death grudge between us; we were merely competitors in an assessment. As the saying goes, out of blows, friendship grows.”

“Help me choose a movement technique, plus a body-tempering or soul-tempering cultivation method. Then, make a Heavenly Dao Oath, and you can leave.”

Seeing the eager, blazing-sun-like expectant gazes of Zhao Xiaoyu and the other two, Ye Lin fell silent for a brief moment before finally speaking.

Just as he had thought, he was not some bloodthirsty person. Those he killed were either evil spirits or foolish creatures seeking their own deaths.

“Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for your mercy, Big Brother! I'll select the treasures for you right away.”

Seeing that Ye Lin was willing to let him go, Yuan Heng was incredibly eager.

Before long, two cultivation method manuals were delivered into Ye Lin's hands.

Immediately after, he squeezed out a drop of his lifeblood essence and swore a Heavenly Dao Oath never to spread word of today's events.

This oath was witnessed by the Heavenly Dao. Once violated, at best, his Dao Heart would be blocked, making it impossible for his cultivation to progress even an inch in this lifetime; at worst, heavenly lightning would strike, destroying his body and erasing his Dao.

“Goodbye, Big Brother! If you have the chance, you're welcome to visit our Vajra Savage Ape Clan as a guest.”

Waving with a smile, the gorilla Yuan Heng's figure was teleported away.

“Let's go, on to the third trial stage.” Casually tossing the two cultivation methods into his storage ring, Ye Lin turned to Zhao Xiaoyu and the other two.

“Alright!”

The three of them nodded and walked toward the teleportation portal ahead.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

Accompanied by flashes of teleportation light, Ye Lin and his group were quickly transported onto an incredibly vast plaza.

At this moment, many geniuses were gathered on the plaza—humans, demon race, ghost race, fiend race—all sorts of diverse and bizarre beings that dazzled the eyes.

However, many of them were sitting cross-legged to adjust their breathing, heal their wounds, and recover their spiritual power. Clearly, the defense in the second stage had taken a heavy toll on them.

While it wasn't entirely unheard of for someone to clear the second stage as effortlessly and without injury as Ye Lin's group, they were clearly few and far between.

They had been teleported to the edge of the plaza, and because so many people were busy recovering, they did not attract any special attention.

Not long after they arrived, they heard a few lightly injured geniuses ahead chatting while recovering.

“The tower ahead must be the legendary Immortal King's Tower, right? I heard the elders in my clan say that clearing twenty floors rewards you with a Saint-grade item, sixty floors gives you a quasi-immortal-grade item, and going above ninety floors directly grants an Immortal-grade reward.”

“It is indeed the Immortal King's Tower. In the past, there were always one or two seniors who narrowly escaped death to reach above the ninetieth floor, taking away the method of becoming an immortal. I wonder if anyone among us will achieve such an astounding feat this time?”

“I think it might be a bit difficult. Although none of those who can make it this far are simple figures.

But as far as I know, many top-tier geniuses of the major clans from our generation have long been sent to the Lesser Immortal Realm of the Outer Heavens to cultivate.

In other words, we can only be considered second-tier geniuses. I'm afraid no one will be able to reach above the ninetieth floor.”

“Sigh, I really envy those monsters. They only need to go to the Lesser Immortal Realm to cultivate true immortal methods. Unlike us, let alone immortal methods, even obtaining a single Saint-grade cultivation method would make us so happy we wouldn't be able to sleep for months.”

From the discussions of these geniuses, Ye Lin learned a lot of hidden information.

In particular, he had never even heard of the Outer Heavens or the Lesser Immortal Realm.

But it didn't matter. He had only entered the game a few days ago and was still in the early stages, having just left the starting village.

He hadn't even fully figured out the Tianyuan Dynasty in the remote southern continent as recorded in the Compendium of Cultivation Common Sense. It was completely meaningless to worry about other maps right now.

“I originally wanted to continue carrying you guys, but it seems this stage will require everyone to rely on their own abilities.”

Shaking his head to dismiss the unnecessary thoughts from his mind, Ye Lin sent a voice transmission to Zhao Xiaoyu and Li Xuan beside him.

From what he could see, these two were quite decent. They knew their boundaries, were polite, and were very comfortable to be around.

If possible, for the sake of the payment, he wouldn't mind carrying them a bit further.

But now, this Immortal King's Tower was clearly a competition of individual combat power.

“We are already very grateful that you could bring us to this stage, Daoist Brother. We barely exerted any effort along the way, and our trump cards are still intact. We should be able to go further once we enter the Immortal King's Tower.”

“Indeed, Daoist Brother, you have already done more than enough on this journey. If there are other secret realms in the future, we will definitely seek you out again.”

Hearing Ye Lin's voice transmission, both Zhao Xiaoyu and Li Xuan replied in sincere tones.

“Alright, then I wish you both the best of luck in obtaining the opportunities you desire.”

After calmly replying to the two, Ye Lin stood to the side, waiting for the Immortal King's Tower to open.

What he did not know was that when he wished them luck in getting their desired opportunities, both of them mentally replied with the same thought: 'I've already obtained it.'

Because after witnessing his terrifying combat power time and time again, both of them had unanimously agreed in their hearts that their greatest harvest from this trip was not the Immortal Hall.

Rather, it was becoming friends with a peerless genius of excellent character.

While Ye Lin and the others waited quietly, a dark-skinned youth in the crowd looked over with a complex expression.

“To think he actually came to the Immortal Hall's secret realm as well, and even made it to this final trial ground?” The dark-skinned youth stared at the somewhat unfamiliar black-clothed figure, unable to snap out of his daze for a long time.

This dark-skinned youth was none other than Xu Qing'an, the genius whose Saint-grade talent had been detected in Great Desolation Village, who was then taken away by Principal Jiang Lingyuan, and rumored to be sent to the main academy for cultivation.

At this moment, Xu Qing'an was incredibly surprised that Ye Lin could enter the Immortal Hall trial. After all, he himself had only obtained a bronze Guidance Token from a street stall under the deduction of his mysterious master, which gave him the qualification to enter.

Although top-tier geniuses of major clans and sects seemed to have one each, that was built upon having a massive background.

For cultivators of ordinary backgrounds like them, something like an Immortal Hall Guidance Token was an unimaginable opportunity, something they might not even hear of in their entire lives.

Yet Ye Lin had actually obtained one just like him and even made it all the way here. His combat power was bound to be extraordinary, which once again made him realize Ye Lin's exceptional nature.

“Perhaps, like me, he is also one of the chosen ones of this world,” Xu Qing'an murmured to himself in his heart.

Without destiny on his side, given Ye Lin's identity and his talent of only a mid-grade mixed Spiritual Root, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to arrive here.

“This boy is indeed somewhat mysterious, but my disciple, you don't need to care too much. It is normal for the world's geniuses to possess their own opportunities.”

“With your talent, even without my help, you will definitely be able to rush to the hundredth floor. There are three heritages inside; one has already been taken, but as long as you obtain one of the remaining two, you will have the qualification to participate in the selection of that mysterious faction's successor.”

As if sensing Xu Qing'an's emotions, the voice of his mysterious master suddenly came from the jade pendant that had already fused with him.

“Master, rest assured. I will definitely clear the hundredth floor and take the core heritage,” Xu Qing'an murmured in his heart with a determined look.

As for Ye Lin's presence here, he was merely surprised and astonished. He harbored no thoughts of jealousy or covetousness whatsoever.

After all, his grandfather had taught him from childhood that a real man stands tall between heaven and earth, acting uprightly and justly.

“Congratulations on arriving at the final trial ground of the Immortal King's Road.”

“Before you is the Immortal King's Tower, consisting of one hundred floors in total. Starting from the first floor, phantom projections of geniuses will battle against you. For every two floors you ascend, the combat power of the phantom projection will double.”