Chapter 159: Ineffable Wonder

The monsters ahead roared, and the mercenary’s hands trembled...

With careful maneuvering, Luo Yong finally found himself surrounded on all sides by the horde of beasts rushing to attack.

If it were any other hero, this would be the moment to cry for help.

But mercenaries were not ordinary heroes.

Some skills were meant to be used in the face of death, finding that sliver of life with pinpoint precision when the odds were against you.

“Tremor Spear Technique!”

With a fierce shout from Luo Yong, solid spear shadows flickered outwards. Spinning his body, in a flash, just as every monster was about to strike, he cut them down cleanly and decisively.

*Clap clap clap!*

The corpses fell to the ground, creating a trail of blood.

Before Luo Yong stood only the last and strongest beast.

Judging by its magical aura, it was roughly level 20.

Unlike the others, this creature was a mutated form, possessing a certain intelligence.

It fixed its eyes on Luo Yong, contemplating its next move.

“Will you come to me, or shall I go to you?” Luo Yong raised his spear, pointing at the beast and asked.

It was a wolf-like monster, bearing the traits of a wolf yet distinctly different—and far more ferocious.

“Grrr…”

The massive wolf growled lowly, warning Luo Yong not to act rashly.

“Fine, I’ll come to you.”

Luo Yong lowered his stance and charged forward swiftly, a cold glint blossoming along his spear.

“Tremor Spear Technique!”

Swish, swish, swish!

This mercenary’s skill was intoxicating to use; in the heat of battle, it felt like a single move could conquer all.

“Roar!”

The giant wolf did not yield; it opened its jaws and unleashed a barrage of ice blades, cutting off Luo Yong’s advance and preparing to pounce.

But Luo Yong met the challenge head-on, wielding only one Tremor Spear Technique, no matter how the beast changed its tactics, he pierced through with a single strike.

*Puff…*

The ice blades shattered against the vibrating spear tip as Luo Yong closed the distance rapidly.

Though lacking extensive combat experience, Luo Yong had always fought aggressively in his few brawls, pressing the advantage relentlessly to crush the opponent without giving them a chance to retaliate.

He aimed to finish this in one go.

“Kill!”

With a mighty shout, Luo Yong surged through a spray of shattered ice, spear shadows blossoming before him, perfectly executing a flurry of solid spear strikes upon the giant wolf.

“Argh!”

The beast howled in pain, dodging desperately. But Luo Yong gave no quarter, following up swiftly. When the wolf struck with a claw, he met it head-on, tearing the claw apart with his spear.

With a flick of his body, Luo Yong closed in, facing the mountain-like beast, unleashing even more furious attacks. The spear shadows before him rained down like a storm.

*Puff!*

A spray of blood erupted.

The giant wolf’s body was pierced through; with a final Tremor Spear Technique, Luo Yong skewered it in two.

*Thud!*

The giant wolf made no last cry; its severed halves twitched a few times before falling silent.

“Level 20, not so strong after all!”

Luo Yong murmured indifferently, pulling out a potion to enhance his stamina and spirit, drinking it down.

In truth, after eating the green fruit, Luo Yong no longer needed such substances—just a bit of time to recover naturally.

Yet, he still preferred to patch up even the slightest wounds, always keeping himself at peak condition.

“Next…”

Standing on the platform, Luo Yong glanced back, pondering. He felt his strength could still be improved.

Now that the Tremor Spear Technique was mastered, he could grind monsters quickly to level up—anywhere would be the same, and here he didn’t need to lure enemies deliberately. This place seemed quite suitable.

Besides, he was curious what lay at the end of this Starry Path.

“After mastering Tremor Spear, it’s time to strengthen other classes!”

Luo Yong muttered to himself and moved forward again, soon encountering another group of monsters.

Unable to resist, he used the Tremor Spear Technique once more.

From training his left hand to his right, from single spear to dual spears.

Two months passed like this.

Luo Yong had now spent three months here.

“Should I try the triple spear style?”

He recalled a triple-blade technique that was supposed to be powerful—two swords in the hands and a third in the mouth.

But he wielded a mercenary’s long spear!

The thickness alone made it impossible to hold in his mouth—was he supposed to bite it?

A pecking style Tremor Spear Technique?

If he tried that, enemies wouldn’t be skewered—they’d be laughing themselves to death.

“Clamp it with my legs? A mounted spear Tremor Technique—any potential there?”

Tsk tsk.

After much thought, Luo Yong simply changed his class, transforming his disguised blade into a long sword.

“Time to practice Gale Zero.”

Starting from level 18, he trained a skill only unlocked at level 20, breaking level restrictions to forcibly boost combat power!

The fourth month passed.

“Next, practice the Wind Dragon skill!”

The fifth month went by.

“Now, the Sword Mage’s Sword Magic!”

Another month slipped away.

By the seventh month, Luo Yong was charging forward at great speed, bursts of intense magical energy exploding around him. Monsters along his path shattered or were sliced in two.

Even those stronger than level 20 could not escape such a fate.

After long practice and slaughter, Luo Yong’s strength had grown, and his mindset shifted—killing monsters several levels above him without even blinking.

When the eighth month ended and the ninth began, Luo Yong finally paused. The path ahead stretched endlessly, seemingly never reaching the other side of the starry sky.

“It’s been too long. Time to leave.”

His long sword shifted back into the mercenary’s spear, and he resumed his middle-aged mercenary appearance.

With the peculiar key in hand, he lightly traced the air. A rift opened, and a familiar figure emerged from the void.

“…5, 4.”

“You’ve been waiting here this whole time?”

Luo Yong stepped through the rift, looking at Ponding, who was counting aloud, and the unchanged dungeon surroundings, puzzled.

“…3, 2, 1.”

Ponding smirked slyly, finishing his count and boasting, “So, did you learn the skill?”

“Of course. After eight months, I should have mastered every skill.”

Luo Yong replied calmly.

“Damn! Eight months? That’s hardcore!” Ponding sighed, then eyed Luo Yong oddly. “But just one Tremor Spear Technique over eight months? That’s too slow for your level!”

“Well, I couldn’t resist practicing a few more skills,” Luo Yong sighed. “Sharpening the axe won’t slow down the woodcutting. Though it wasted some time, it was worth it!”

“Worth it? Absolutely. Since you’re so dedicated, here’s the key for you.”

Ponding waved his hand, his gaze toward Luo Yong tinged with respect.

“What do you mean?” Luo Yong was puzzled, staring at the key in his hand.

“Did you hear me counting? From when you entered the rift, I started from five and counted down. You came out almost immediately—barely wasted a second.”

“What?!” Luo Yong was stunned, unable to believe it. “Really? Don’t lie to me!”

“Of course it’s true!” Ponding rolled his eyes, calm and assured. “This key opens the Unspeakable Realm, an eternal Starry Path. Inside, time does not flow; only eternity remains. It’s truly wondrous!”

“Really? Didn’t they say there was ancient wizard treasure at the end of the path?” Luo Yong asked.

“This path itself is the treasure! What more could you want?” Ponding countered.

“Right, nothing is more valuable to me than time. So, there are still thirty years left—it means those eight months weren’t wasted after all!”

Luo Yong was exhilarated, overwhelmed by joy.

But as he calmed, confusion crept in.

“Such a powerful thing, and you just gave it away?”

“Sigh! You don’t know, once your combat power reaches a certain level, this thing’s effect becomes limited. I went in before, but it didn’t boost me at all—what a wasted chance.”

“One chance? Does it have a usage limit?”

“Not sure. Probably. It just never appeared before.”

“Alright, then I’ll keep going!”

Luo Yong nodded, shaking his spear, and began furiously stabbing the nearby dungeon walls, as if they were his enemies.

“Damn!” Ponding was speechless, unable to remain calm. “Can you stop? Are you just going to keep stabbing forever?”

“What else? To find the energy cornerstone, I have to do this!” Luo Yong said seriously.

“Didn’t I hear that when that thing encounters energy fluctuations, it resonates and glows…”

Ponding mused thoughtfully.

“Huh?”

Luo Yong paused, then suddenly remembered and slapped his thigh. “Right, how did I forget that?”

Swish, swish, swish!

The Cannon Girl and Magical Girl were summoned, unleashing a bombardment throughout the dungeon, mercilessly smashing the ancient stone walls.

Feeling the numbers were too few, Luo Yong produced a golden orb and, before Ponding’s eyes, began another contract.

Soon, their magical warrior team expanded.

“Hey… Old Luo!”

Ponding watched enviously, unable to contain himself. “Brother, I gave you the wizard’s precious treasure, and look at this… isn’t this…?”