Chapter Fifty-Nine: Shock Upon Shock

The King-class beast corresponds to a human Supergod, that is, Planetary level. At the Planetary level, flight is already possible.

Behind him, the python soared into the air, its hundred-meter-long body undulating, suspended across the sky like a mythical dragon. Its speed was astonishing.

“Humans and the monsters of the land made a treaty: those above King-level must not intervene. Today you pursue me, tomorrow you’ll be slaughtered and served at the banquet!” Qin Ming called out behind him.

Yet his steps did not falter for an instant.

The python hesitated briefly, then continued its pursuit, its vertical pupils narrowing with even greater ferocity.

The distance closed rapidly.

Qin Ming grew increasingly anxious. Though the python was not adept at flight, it was, after all, a King-class beast—faster even than the White Mist Owl King. Not even his mastery of movement techniques could compensate.

“I can’t make it in the sky!”

“The ground is no better!”

“What now?”

Qin Ming’s mind raced.

He suddenly realized it was as though he were cursed—whenever he ventured into the wild, inexplicable dangers awaited him. His first hunt, he’d encountered a tide of rats, with his teammates suffering heavy casualties. He’d even witnessed a brutal battle in an underground cavern. This time, he’d run into a flock of White Mist Owls, barely managed to turn the tables, and now this monster had appeared.

In the blink of an eye, it was nearly upon him.

“There’s no choice but to fight!” Qin Ming spun around, abruptly doubling back to land above the python’s head. The S-rank Bloodshadow Saber in his hand cut a shimmering arc through the sunset as he brought it down toward the python’s skull.

Bang!

Before the blade could fall, the python’s tail lashed out, sending him flying.

“What reflexes!”

Qin Ming’s ribs ached, but he was otherwise unharmed. By his calculations, this python was likely only at the first stage of the Planetary level. That strike just now carried about two million kilograms of force, but his Black God suit absorbed ninety percent, leaving just two hundred thousand kilograms to reach him. With his physique, he could withstand that.

“It’s faster than me!”

“It’s stronger than me!”

“Its reflexes are sharper than mine!”

“Who can tell me what to do?”

Qin Ming could only look to the heavens in despair.

Yet he didn’t stop—using the recoil from the blow, he shot forward at breakneck speed.

A stretch of forest appeared ahead. His eyes lit up and, without hesitation, he plunged into the trees.

Moments later, a series of thunderous crashes erupted behind him. The python smashed through the trees, shattering trunks in its wake.

“At least I can catch my breath!” Qin Ming realized that the trees slowed the python down, if only a little.

He pushed through the forest, suddenly emerging into open space. The woods were behind him. He caught his breath, spotting a cave ahead. He hesitated briefly, then continued onward through the air.

Dive into the cave? Absolutely not! With the python’s strength, it could easily bring down the mountain, burying him alive with no chance of survival.

In the distance, a group of people were surrounding and killing an Iron-armed Ape, a low-level Commander-class beast. The four elite trainees worked seamlessly together, dispatching the ape within moments.

“This one will fetch at least two or three billion!” William exclaimed excitedly. “Let’s try to hunt thirty of these in a month!”

“Thirty? You’re dreaming!” Candice shook his head.

He hadn’t felt happy these days. He’d lost two and a half billion betting on William, and had lent him another two billion, which had yet to be repaid. His family had scolded him harshly for it. If not for his status as an elite trainee, he’d have been sent packing long ago.

“If we run into a mid-level Commander-class beast, that’s worth at least ten of these!” William was still optimistic. “Candice, no matter what, I’m going all out this month. I hope you’ll help me. Help me, and you help yourself!”

Candice’s face twitched; he wanted nothing more than to cut William down right then.

Just then, the ground began to tremble. Clouds of dust rose in the distance.

“That’s quite a commotion!” They were alarmed.

In a few breaths, a golden lion three or four meters tall charged toward them, taking them all by surprise.

“A Golden Lion—that’s a mid-level Commander-class beast!”

“Back up! Back up!”

“No, wait, it’s wounded and looks desperate—as if fleeing something!”

“Being chased by a high-level Commander?”

Their expressions changed again.

At that moment, a figure soared through the air, a black spear in hand. With a flick, the air within a dozen meters was sucked dry.

To William and the others, only the spear’s tip remained visible—a terrifying point that made them pale and recoil instinctively.

With a sharp sound, the figure landed. The spear tip drove diagonally through the golden lion’s skull via the back of its neck. The lion died instantly, without even a cry.

“So strong!” William was stunned.

“Chu Qiang—no wonder he’s ranked number two!” Candice recognized the newcomer and took a deep breath.

“Yes, even the four of us together couldn’t handle that beast!”

“No, not couldn’t handle—we’d have almost no chance!”

They hurried to greet him.

Chu Qiang nodded, withdrew his spear, and was about to start dissecting for materials when he suddenly looked up.

William and his companions also sensed something and turned.

The next second, their faces went blank—even Chu Qiang was visibly shaken.

“That—that’s Qin Ming! He’s so fast! But more importantly, why is that python chasing him flying?”

“If it can fly, it’s a King-class beast!” Candice’s face drained of color, his whole body trembling.

“He’s being chased by a King-class beast—how could he possibly escape?” William’s teeth chattered. “That’s the equivalent of a Supergod!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In the distant sky, several collisions sent shockwaves rippling hundreds of meters before fading. They saw Qin Ming fleeing in disarray yet again. He seemed to glance their way, then veered off in a different direction.

“He can actually contend with a King-class beast?!” Chu Qiang was even more stunned. “How—how is that possible?”

“Yes, how could it be?” William and Candice were at a loss.

They’d just killed a low-level Commander together and felt proud of themselves; seeing Chu Qiang single-handedly slay a mid-level Commander, the Golden Lion, had deeply impressed them—they couldn’t compare.

But what did they see next?

They saw a junior who’d only been in the elite training camp for a month fighting a King-class beast.

Even if he was being hunted!

“So this is what they call a heaven-defying genius…” Chu Qiang sighed.

William and Candice nodded vigorously, unable to help themselves.

When Qin Ming saw Chu Qiang and the others in the distance, he immediately decided to lure the python elsewhere.

Otherwise, if the python noticed the group of trainees, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Forests, rivers, lakes, marshes—Qin Ming continually fought and fled, but couldn’t shake his pursuer.

His strength waned, his speed dropped.

“What should I do?” Qin Ming wondered, his breath coming in hot bursts.

The python was closing in.

“If all else fails, I’ll dive into a cave—find an underground river, then call for help!”

Qin Ming was loath to take this step, but for the sake of his life, he had to consider it.

He crossed the mountains and came upon a barren plain.

“Hm?”

He saw a series of strange peaks towering over a hundred meters high, scattered across the land. They could be called peaks, but they were relatively straight, formed of compacted earth, and riddled with countless bowl-sized holes.

His eyes narrowed as he noticed fist-sized red dots flitting through the air.

“Could it be…!”

His heart skipped a beat.

“Damn it!” Qin Ming turned and flipped the middle finger at the pursuing python. “Come on, if you dare!”

With that, he dove headlong into one of the earthen mounds, the Bloodshadow Saber carving a tunnel as he burrowed swiftly downward.