Alarm interspersed with horror took over the girl. She hastily began to chant a magic incantation, intending to cast an even more powerful spell.
Whoosh!
Meng Lei appeared quietly in front of her.
“I’m a kind, thoughtful, and gentle man. I’ve never been one to hit women, so you don’t need to worry about that.” Meng Lei gave her a warm and mild smile as he went on. “But I’d like very much to have a taste of what it feels like to hit one now. Are you ready?”
And then...
Smack, smack, smack!
Bam, bam, bam!
Chapter 170: Betraying Boss? A Chaotic Battle At The Cliff
“One Saint Domain magic core, 38 ninth-grade magic cores, and innumerable magic cores of other grades. For a woman that’s even operating solo to collect these many magic cores in just a short half a day, just how many unlucky bastards has she tricked?”
Meng Lei was infinitely filled with emotion as he sighed. “What a moral-less world we live in now. People are no longer what they used to be. There aren’t many kind and upright contestants like me anymore!”
“Yeah, right!”
The corners of Ol’ Amos’ lips were spasming as he scoffed. “If you’re that kind and upright, then why were you playing possum to rob Carlos and gang? If you’re that kind and upright, then why did you treat a young lady that way?
“No offense, but you’re simply too heartless and have absolutely no idea how to treat a woman. You actually beat up a proper young lady like that to the point that she was unrecognizable. How is she supposed to face others in the future?”
“Hahaha! I did it for her own good!” Meng Lei burst into laughter. “Given her current level of strength, she’s not going to be able to go far. Rather than becoming destroyed by perverts like Carlos, she might as well just withdraw from the competition while it’s still early.”
“Then why did you rob her of her spatial rings? And all three at that?” Ol’ Amos side-eyed him.
Meng Lei was full of righteousness and justice as he replied, “It’s also for her own good! Lest she becomes the target of someone else’s greed!”
“As if I’m gonna believe you! I know you’re a terribly sly one!” Ol’ Amos snorted lightly as he went on. “But on the contrary, I’m relieved now. Seeing as to how you’re so sly and cunning, other contestants can only lament their misfortune if they run into you!”
The two of them chatted idly on and off. As the warm, comfortable sunlight shone onto him, Meng Lei suddenly felt rather drowsy, and he said to the Multi-Armed Behemoth and Uni-Horned Rose Python, “The two of you, continue moving forward while I nap a little.”
“Yes, Boss!”
“Yes, sir!”
The Multi-Armed Behemoth’s shoulder was very broad and full of densely-packed long fur. Meng Lei made a nest for himself, and then, he fell asleep comfortably.
Before long, the sound of snoring rang out.
At the sight of Meng Lei entering deep sleep, the Uni-Horned Rose Python went up to the Multi-Armed Behemoth. Then, it lowered its voice and called out, “Sacas!”
“What is it?”
The Multi-Armed Behemoth cast a glance at the Uni-Horned Rose Python.
“He’s fallen asleep. Should we...”
Then, the Uni-Horned Rose Python’s lips formed the words 'slip away”!
“You’re thinking of betraying Boss?”
The Multi-Armed Behemoth’s voice suddenly raised in volume as flames of fury surged in his eyes. “Clara, snakes like you have no honor to speak of at all indeed!”
His volume almost frightened the Uni-Horned Rose Python into a heart attack. “Lower your volume! Lower your volume, big bro! I’m begging you...”
“Hmph!”
The Multi-Armed Behemoth let out a muffled snort.
“I was forced to come along with him against my will. I have neither pledged allegiance to him nor entered a contract with him; from whence does the talk of betrayal come?”
The Uni-Horned Rose Python lowered its voice and went on. “We’re Saint Domain Magical Beasts. We’re creatures that stand at the apex of the continent’s pyramid of lifeforms, the rulers among Magical Beasts! We should be living freely and unfettered without anything holding us back, rather than being his slaves and mounts like what we’re doing now!”
The Multi-Armed Behemoth sank into silence at Clara’s words.
Thinking that it had convinced the Multi-Armed Behemoth, the Uni-Horned Rose Python began to speak with even more enthusiasm. “You should know that once Saint Domain Magical Beasts like us fall asleep, we’ll need a very long time before we can wake up. He’s already fallen asleep. Now’s our best chance to escape!
“Let’s escape together. And soar as freely as the birds do in the sky and swim as freely as the fishes do in the ocean. Why should we follow him and let him boss us around?”
“You can leave if you want to. I’m not leaving!” The Multi-Armed Behemoth resolutely turned down the Uni-Horned Rose Python’s bewitchment. “Since I’ve been defeated by him and already pledged to submit, then I will never go against my words. The proud and lofty Behemoths always honor their promises!”
“Sacas, you...” The Uni-Horned Rose Python was infuriated. “You’re a Multi-Armed Behemoth, you know! The king of terrestrial battles on par with a Golden Behemoth! Are you really willing to be bossed around by—”
The Uni-Horned Rose Python was in the midst of speaking when it suddenly froze. Then, with much difficulty, it slowly turned around, only to be greeted by the sight of Meng Lei, who was currently watching it with a broad smile on his face.
“S-sir... I... I...”
At once, a huge jolt went through the Uni-Horned Rose Python, and a smile that looked even more awful than a crying face appeared on its countenance.
“Thinking of leaving?” Meng Lei raised an eyebrow.
“No, no, no! I’m not!”
The Uni-Horned Rose Python shook its head incessantly. “I’m willing to be Sir’s follower forever until the oceans are barren and the forests wilt—”
“You can leave if you want to.” Meng Lei said calmly, “Now that I have Sacas to bring me around, you’re just an extra around here. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”
The Uni-Horned Rose Python was rather stunned. “S-sir, are you being serious? You’re really willing to let me go?”
“Hurry up and get lost if you want to.” Meng Lei waved it away impatiently. “Sacas, speed up!”
“Yes, Boss!”
With a sound of acknowledgment, the Multi-Armed Behemoth put in a burst of speed, and then it flew a few hundred meters away instantly, leaving behind the dazed Uni-Horned Rose Python.
“I... I’m free? I’m free! I’m finally free! Haha, I’m f— Ugh!”
A golden ray suddenly appeared and instantly sliced the Uni-Horned Rose Python’s throat. A bloody line quietly appeared, and then its head gradually left its body.
...
“You didn’t let it off, after all.” Ol’ Amos shook his head lightly. “I knew it! How could you possibly be that kind-hearted?”
“Even if I didn’t kill it, someone else would.” Meng Lei smiled lightly as he said, “With its strength, it’s not going to survive for long. If that’s the case, then I might as well kill it.”
“What a fool!” Ol’ Amos sighed. “The continent is a perilous place right now. Contestants are hunting Magical Beasts everywhere.
“Saint Domain Magical Beasts, in particular, are even luscious pieces of meat that all the contestants are fighting for. It’s still somewhat safe if it follows you around, but leaving? Only death awaits it, then!”
“Who can stop it from seeking death if that’s what it wants?”
Then, Meng Lei shut his eyes and continued to sleep.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the front of a cliff. The cliff rose a thousand feet sheer and stood tall and straight—it looked extremely dangerous.
The top of the cliff
was riddled with densely-packed, beehive-like holes. They came in a variety of sizes—big, small, wide, narrow...
It was just that the place was currently extremely lively.
50 to 60 contestants had actually been drawn to the area, and they were currently fervently attacking a bird-type Magical Beast that was a snowy-white color throughout.
With the body of an albatross, the mouth of a crocodile, and the claws of a hawk, its wingspan was over 20 to 30 meters wide and covered in white feathers.
It was the social Magical Beast, the Crocohawk Albatross!
As a Wind-Elemental Magical Beast, the Crocohawk Albatross was relatively strong. Most of them were Seventh-Grade Magical Beasts, with a handful being eighth-grade. The outstanding ones reached ninth-grade while their king was a Saint Domain Magical Beast.
Given such strength and terrifying numbers, no wonder those social Magical Beasts could attract that many contestants.
“Kill!”
“Kill them all!”
“Protect the Magicians!”
“Hurry! Don’t let them take everything!”
All the contestants saw red from bloodthirstiness as they hunted the Crocohawk Albatrosses in an almost insane manner. Despite their sheer numbers, the Crocohawk Albatrosses couldn’t do anything about them at all.
Not only did every contestant possess the strength of a ninth-grade expert, but the vast majority of them were even Dragon People. They could be said to be double cultivators of magic and martial arts; how could the Crocohawk Albatrosses possibly be their match?
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Bam, bam, bam!
Boom!
Boom!
Densely packed wind blades!
Blazing fire dragons!
Thunderstorms of astonishing might!
Tornadoes that engulfed all!
Churning and surging ocean waves!
Vines covering every expanse of land!
Booming explosions and animal cries!
Sounds of collisions and furious shouts!
“The battle sure is fierce. This is much more exciting than even Hollywood visual effect blockbusters!” Meng Lei couldn’t help but sigh emotionally. “But I can’t just watch from a safe distance and cash in on the situation. I have to act, too!”
Chapter 171: Barbarossa Says, “These Magic Cores Are Mine”
“Sacas, hide here while I go over.”
Then, Meng Lei turned into a stream of light and flew into the battleground.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Several ice blades launched forcefully toward the Crocohawk Albatrosses in the sky. Ice blades were just low-grade spells, but in Meng Lei’s hands, they held astonishing might.
Splurt! Splurt!
Amid soft, continual sounds, the ice blades impaled the Crocohawk Albatrosses’ heads one by one with utmost accuracy, reaping their lives.
On top of that, Meng Lei was also rather sly and crafty—he went exclusively for the stronger Crocohawk Albatrosses like the eighth-grade and ninth-grade ones; he was above hunting the weaker ones.
“Ding! 1 Crocohawk Albatross killed. 9,000,000 gold coins gained!”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +1,987!”
“Ding! 1 Crocohawk Albatross killed. 6,790,000 gold coins gained!”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Magic Power +498!”
“Ding...”
As Meng Lei listened to the system’s cold and emotionless voice notifications, he felt as if he was listening to celestial music. While humming The Most Dazzling Folk Style[1], he also released ice blades to the beat.
“The boundless horizon is my love!
“At the foot of the stretching mountains the flowers bloom!
“What kind of rhythm is the most...”
His movements were leisurely and carefree as if taking a stroll in the park.
It was just a shame that the battle was simply too chaotic, so even a ferocious tiger like Meng Lei had become completely inconspicuous among the dogs. He didn’t catch anyone’s attention at all.
Boom, boom, boom!
The massacre continued without even a moment’s pause, and large numbers of Crocohawk Albatrosses perished at their hands. At last, their actions finally enraged the Crocohawk Albatross King.
Screeeech!
A sharp and crisp, loud and resounding cry that could almost shatter someone’s eardrums suddenly rang out. Then, a massive Crocohawk Albatross with a golden crown on its head and a wingspan of over 100-meters-wide shot out of a cave.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Countless wind blades shot down everywhere!
“The Crocohawk Albatross King!”
“It’s the Crocohawk Albatross King! Be careful, everyone!”
“The Crocohawk Albatross is a Saint Domain Magical Beast! Let’s work together to slay that beast! We can discuss how to split the spoils thereafter! What say everyone to that?”
“Alright!”
“That’s the only choice we have! We mustn’t be negligent and careless when up against a Saint Domain Magical Beast!”
“Attack!”
Apart from a minority of lone rangers like Meng Lei, all the other 50 to 60 contestants were obviously split into quite a few teams. After a bit of discussion, all of them made their decisions.
Then, they charged toward the Crocohawk Albatross King together.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The Dragon People Warriors flapped their wings and soared into the sky, while the Magicians chanted magic incantations and cast high-grade spells.
Boom, boom, boom!
Overwhelming attacks engulfed the Crocohawk Albatross King!
At the same time, a dazzling golden light also flew toward it with the other attacks. Hidden among the rest of the attacks, it cut across the Crocohawk Albatross King’s head!
“Ding! 1 Crocohawk Albatross King killed. 11,000,000 gold coins gained!”
Squawk!
The Crocohawk Albatross King froze in mid-air. Its wings that were capable of blotting out the whole sky also became weak and powerless at this moment. Then, its head went limp, and it crashed toward the ground with a deafening boom before its movements ceased completely in the end.
(⊙o⊙)
“What’s going on?”
“It died just like that?”
“Were our attacks so sharp and powerful that we could even straight up kill a Saint Domain Magical Beast?”
The contestants looked absolutely stupefied. However, their reactions were in no way slow—all of them flew toward the Crocohawk Albatross King at lightning-fast speed!
“The magic core is mine! Don’t any of you dare fight me for it!”
“No, it’s mine!”
All the contestants’ eyes had turned red from agitation.
However, a sudden turn of events occurred at this point.
Whoosh!
The sharp whiz of something shooting through the air rang out. By the time a golden ray of light flashed past the contestants, someone had already appeared in front of the Crocohawk Albatross King.
A head of dazzling golden-blond hair!
A suit of golden armor!
A pair of golden horns on the forehead!
A huge golden sword underneath his feet!
He was suave and handsome, domineering, and outstanding!
He gave off an incredibly noble and elegant air, every action of his exhibiting a gentleman’s grace!
A coexistence of dominance and elegance, he was someone who had both looks and power!
“Barbarossa!”
“It’s Prince Barbarossa!”
All the contestants froze on the spot, none of them daring to take another step forward.
Without any hint of emotion on his countenance, Barbarossa’s golden eyes swept across the place as he uttered lightly, “This Saint Domain magic core is mine!”
Then, without paying any heed to t
he others anymore, he turned and flew toward the Crocohawk Albatross King.
“This...”
All the contestants looked at one another. Despite being incredibly frustrated, none of them dared to step forward to stop Barbarossa.
Prince Barbarossa’s terrifying strength aside, his identity alone was already enough to stop them from acting rashly.
Not only did he possess terrifying strength that placed him at 148th place in the Genius Ranking, but he also had a powerful identity—someone destined for the throne!
Who would go against him just for a mere Saint Domain magic core?
Forget it, forget it!
I can’t afford to offend him! Nope, not at all!
Countless miles away, while all of this was happening, everything that had taken place had also coincidentally entered the sight of the emperor and the others.
It actually wasn’t quite appropriate to say that it was “coincidental”, though.
The chaotic battle at the cliff had simply been too intense. It had attracted Frederick the 32nd’s attention a long time ago, so he had specially gotten someone to switch the display to the area.
Barbarossa showing up was purely coincidental and not some kind of special attention on him.
However, at the sight of Prince Barbarossa’s actions, ingratiating compliments rang out one after another, and there was no pause to the praises lauding his actions.
“He killed the Saint Domain Crocohawk Albatross King with just a swing of his sword!”
“He easily scared off 50 to 60 contestants with just a simple word or two!”
“Is that the might of Prince Barbarossa?”
“As expected of Prince Barbarossa!”
“The empire is so blessed to have him...”
Upon his subjects’ praises and compliments, Frederick the 32nd only gave a noncommittal smile. Then, he got ready to get someone to switch the display to other contestants.
However, something unexpected occurred at that point.
“Where did you come from? How dare you steal my magic core?”
A bright and placid voice suddenly rang out. At the silent cliff, it sounded especially crisp and clear.
(⊙o⊙)
All the contestants froze at once and looked at the owner of the voice in disbelief.
Prince Barbarossa, who had just flown over to the Crocohawk Albatross King and was about to gouge out its magic core, also paused slightly.
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