Chapter 138 | The Otherworld Journey That Starts From a Slime

As everyone arrived at the arena, Talia couldn't help but ask, “Junior, are you really going to fight him?”

“Once you step onto the stage, there's no backing out.”

Zhang Ye waved his hand. “Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. The sooner we finish this, the sooner I can go back and make soup.”

“Make soup?” Talia blinked. “So you came to the canteen just to find ingredients for soup?”

Zhang Ye smiled. “Why else?”

“Interesting!” Talia suddenly grinned and clapped Zhang Ye on the shoulder in a very manly way. “Alright, if you can't beat him later, just concede, and I'll beat him up for you afterward!”

Zhang Ye smiled, then stepped onto the arena stage.

Albert couldn't wait to jump onto the stage as well.

The mentor acting as the referee explained the rules and guidelines before signaling for both sides to prepare to start.

“Kid, although we aren't allowed to kill, if you end up half-crippled and your future school career is ruined, don't blame me,” Albert said with a fake smile. “After all, magic has no eyes.”

Zhang Ye smiled slightly. “Of course.”

“Ready, start!” As soon as the referee gave the command, Albert erupted with blazing flames, and two seconds later, he raised his hand to blast a Tier Ten magic spell forward.

Seeing this, Zhang Ye chuckled.

These flames were far inferior to Big Nana's.

Furthermore, Albert specialized solely in magic and had not trained his physical body, so his physical strength was only at Tier Six.

After all, those who practiced Magic-Martial Dual Cultivation were geniuses, while Albert could only be considered an “ordinary person.”

He had only managed to become the vice leader of the Flame Snake Guild because he clung to a powerful backer and was relatively obedient. In terms of strength, he was far inferior to Talia, which was why he had been beaten to tears by her before.

In other words, Albert did not possess the “cross-tier combat power” that geniuses had. Tier Ten late stage was just Tier Ten late stage!

His information was written crystal clear in the analysis. Zhang Ye even knew every single Sub-tier magic spell he had mastered. Knowing oneself and one's enemy ensures victory in every battle—this was why Zhang Ye dared to challenge him!

An ordinary person... hehe, how could he compare to our protagonist?

Looking at the surging flames rushing toward him, Zhang Ye chuckled.

This flame was, after all, a Tier Nine magic spell cast by a Tier Ten Mage, and its power was hardly inferior to a Tier Ten spell. If it hit him head-on, even his physical body would struggle to withstand it.

But... would Zhang Ye let it hit him?

“I'm in a hurry to go back and make soup, so I don't have time to waste on you. Therefore...” Zhang Ye grinned. “I'm going all out!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he used Blink to bypass the terrifying flame magic, instantly appearing right in front of Albert.

“What?!” Albert was shocked, never expecting Zhang Ye to possess such a movement technique.

At light speed, he couldn't react in time at all!

In the next instant, flames erupted all over Zhang Ye's body, the blue fire surging and churning.

【Hydrogen-Oxygen Enhanced · Flame Power Rampage】!

Not only that, but thick currents of blue electricity also crackled across his body.

Albert was horrified.

Lightning-Fire dual-attribute?!

Lightning and fire were the two attributes with the most terrifying burst power!

Thus, at this moment, Zhang Ye exuded a terrifying aura that made Albert's eyelids twitch wildly.

Blue lion claws materialized in his hands, further enhanced by crackling lightning.

And that wasn't all!

【Triple Thunder Prison Kill】!

Nan's signature technique!

Two lightning clones instantly appeared on either side of Albert, rushing toward him along with the original. The lightning lion claws in their hands and Zhang Ye's flame-and-lightning lion claw fell simultaneously!

At this moment, a Tier Nine Peak physical strength, accompanied by two of the most explosive and terrifying types of mana, along with the two clones conjured by Triple Thunder Prison Kill, struck simultaneously!

Albert turned pale with fright.

Zhang Ye's speed was too fast; Albert had no time to dodge at all. He could only hastily cast a Tier Nine defensive spell on himself.

With the boost from his Tier Ten late stage level, this Tier Nine defensive spell possessed defensive power fully on par with Tier Ten.

However, would that be enough?

Lightning and fire fell at the same time!

“Boom!!!”

A blue mushroom cloud laced with lightning instantly erupted, sending Albert flying backward.

This instantaneous power actually shattered Albert's Tier Nine defensive spell directly. Although most of the force was neutralized by the defensive spell, the remaining impact was still not something a pure Mage like Albert could withstand.

His physical strength was barely Tier Seven!

He curled up like a shrimp, coughing up blood, his eyes bulging with utter disbelief.

The instantaneous burst of power from this freshman was something even a Tier Ten late stage like him struggled to defend against!

This was also the price of underestimating his opponent; he hadn't cast his strongest defensive spell right from the start.

But that was combat; victory and defeat were decided in the blink of an eye.

As his body soared through the air, his internal mana was thrown into complete chaos by Zhang Ye's strike, leaving him entirely unable to counterattack.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ye's figure appeared in the air above, landing a heavy axe kick directly onto his back.

Albert crashed violently into the ground, causing the earth to crack as his upper body was driven straight into the dirt.

When I, Zhang, make a promise, I keep it!

I said I'd beat you into the ground, so into the ground you go!

Looking at Albert, who was slumped on the ground with half of his body buried in the dirt, the mentor froze for a moment before running over to check on him. He then announced, “Albert has fainted and is unable to continue. Zhang Ye wins!”

As he spoke, his gaze toward Zhang Ye was filled with a hint of admiration and awe.

This mentor happened to be the very same one who had refereed the duel between Zhang Ye and Nan last time.

Back then, Zhang Ye couldn't beat Nan at the Tier Nine late stage, but now he could defeat Albert at the Tier Ten late stage?

Had this kid held back back then?

“This is what a genius is...” he thought with a sigh.

Clapping his hands, Zhang Ye hopped off the stage.

Everyone stood frozen in place, and Talia was no exception, her mouth slightly agape in utter shock.

Then, her eyes lit up as she ran up to Zhang Ye. “Congratulations! So your name is Zhang Ye. Are you an Easterner?”

“You could say that,” Zhang Ye replied with a smile.

The Westerners of this world seemed to have some sort of inexplicable awe for Easterners. Is the East really that powerful?

“You're really strong. Would you consider joining our Rock Guild?” Talia extended an invitation.

Previously, she had only invited him because she liked how Zhang Ye stood up to Albert, but now she was completely won over by his strength.

To instantly defeat a Tier Ten late stage as a Tier Eight Newly Advanced—even if underestimating the opponent played a part, and Zhang Ye wouldn't have won so easily if Albert had been on guard.

But this didn't diminish Zhang Ye's incredible strength!

“There are many benefits to joining a guild, like extra cultivation resources, a dedicated training area, and activities that can boost your strength!” Perhaps fearing that Zhang Ye would refuse out of ignorance about guilds, Talia quickly explained.

The Rock Guild wasn't what it used to be. Her brother would be graduating soon and wouldn't be able to protect the guild forever, so they urgently needed fresh blood.

Someone like Zhang Ye was perfect.

Freshmen held limitless potential.

If he could already fight across more than two tiers as a Tier Eight Newly Advanced, how terrifying would he be once he fully matured?

If he joined the Rock Guild, they would gain a powerful champion for the future!

Zhang Ye smiled but didn't agree immediately. He wanted to go back and discuss it with everyone first; it would be best if they could all join the same guild.

Still, he had a pretty good impression of Talia.

“I appreciate your kindness, Senior, but could you let me go back and think it over?” Zhang Ye asked with a smile.

Talia paused, then smiled wryly.

Indeed, someone like Zhang Ye likely had a substantial background. In her eyes, he probably had his own family's guild to join, so her sudden invitation might have been a bit presumptuous.

She nodded. “No problem. If you do decide to join, you will be more than welcome.”

“Thank you.” Zhang Ye smiled. “I'll give the Rock Guild top priority.”

With that, he waved his hand. “I still have to go back and cook, so I won't chat any longer. Goodbye.”

Talia nodded, then warned, “Albert is the vice leader of the Flame Snake Guild. Now that you've beaten him, the Flame Snake Guild won't let it slide. Their leader, Flame Snake Melte, is almost as strong as I am, and they might try to pull some underhanded tricks on you. Be careful.”

“If you need anything, you can come find me at the Rock Guild's territory.”

This gesture earned Talia even more of Zhang Ye's goodwill. He nodded with a smile. “Alright!”

Watching Zhang Ye leave, Talia glanced at Albert, who was currently being pulled out of the dirt by his peers, and let out a hearty laugh before turning and walking away with swagger.