Chapter 65: Slaying the One-Star Ironclad Azure Bull—An Explosion of Martial Power
Level 1 Star Beast, the Ironclad Azure Bull—this was Zhang Chu's first time seeing one in person.
Yet it felt strangely familiar.
Ever since his certification as a 1-star Dual-Force Warrior, Zhang Chu’s daily routine had included scouring the forums and reading every post about the trials and experiences of others like him.
One thing was constant in the complaints of every Dual-Force Warrior who had ventured into the Boundary Hall’s Star Beast Hunting Grounds: the Ironclad Azure Bull.
According to the collective wisdom of hundreds of popular forum posts, there was only one thing you should do when encountering this creature—run for your life.
“Better provoke a 2-star Triclops Mystic Turtle than go head-to-head with a 1-star Ironclad Azure Bull,” went the common saying among his peers.
There were three reasons for this.
First, among all 1-star Star Beasts, the Ironclad Azure Bull boasted the strongest defense. Its entire body, save for the eyes, was shielded with thick azure-scaled armor that could withstand the full force of attacks from 1-star gear.
Second, its explosive power was terrifying—its running speed could reach up to 300 kilometers per hour.
Third, and most frustrating for Dual-Force Warriors, these beasts favored moving in herds, never less than two at a time.
“Damn it, is the Boundary Hall targeting me specifically?”
Zhang Chu’s luck seemed as dire as ever.
No sooner had he been transported to the hunting grounds than, turning his head, he spotted a hundred Ironclad Azure Bulls charging straight at him.
There was no time to think. He spun around and fled.
And what a chase it was.
The herd had merely been migrating at first, but now, with a target in sight, they thundered after Zhang Chu like mad beasts.
The ground trembled beneath his feet.
There was nothing but endless plain, not a single spot to hide.
The furious roars and howls behind him sent chills down his spine.
“Shit!”
“Screw it—let’s fight!”
He turned, drew his Mysterium Steel Greatsword from his storage ring, and slashed at the lead bull thirty meters away.
The Flame-Forged Thirteen Swords, a 1-star lower-grade technique, amplified by his powerful sword intent.
A three-meter blade of energy cleaved through the air.
Bang!
The sword energy struck the Ironclad Azure Bull with a heavy thud, leaving only a shallow mark, not even breaking its scales.
That single exchange was all it took—the herd was almost upon him.
Damn it!
That was the Flame-Forged Thirteen Swords, a 1-star lower-grade technique!
He was about to be trampled.
Zhang Chu surged with qi and blood, his power reaching its peak.
“Silver Flash!”
He unleashed the 1-star lower-grade movement art, Silver Flash.
His figure blurred into dozens of afterimages as he darted away.
He’d barely dodged a few meters before the spot he’d just vacated was overrun by the bulls, a cloud of dust rolling like a sandstorm.
Zhang Chu ran for his life.
The Ironclad Azure Bulls pursued with relentless fury.
Anyone watching might have thought Zhang Chu had stolen their ancestors’ bones!
The trial lasted four hours.
It took Zhang Chu over an hour to shake off the herd, finally escaping over a hill and into a stone forest, where he collapsed onto a boulder, gasping, and drained a vial of stamina repair serum.
He’d thought he wouldn’t need it.
Who could have predicted he’d use it before even slaying a single beast?
The energy of a level 1 stamina repair serum was potent; in just five minutes, Zhang Chu felt his strength flooding back.
“Roar!”
Just as he recovered, a familiar bellow echoed.
Standing atop the stone slab, he looked down.
The Ironclad Azure Bull he had slashed earlier had followed him alone into the stone forest.
“No way—these bulls really are single-minded. One sword and it chases me all this way?”
A quick sweep of the area confirmed there were no others.
With his greatsword he leapt down.
As he landed, the Thunderstorm Gauntlets and Nano-Steel Battle Armor equipped themselves over his body.
“Roar!”
Seeing Zhang Chu, the bull’s fist-sized eyes blazed with fury, and it charged at him headlong.
A 1-star Star Beast’s combat power was ten times that of a level 6 variant beast.
With the beginnings of “humanoid awareness” awakening in Star Beasts, this Ironclad Azure Bull launched a full-force charge, aiming to use its formidable defense to get in close for a killing blow.
Armed with both his earlier skirmish and the forum masters’ advice, Zhang Chu quickly devised a plan.
If he could wound its eyes, he could break through the armored defense.
When the bull closed in, Zhang Chu continued using Silver Flash, dodging and studying its attack patterns.
Five minutes of skirmishing passed.
The Ironclad Azure Bull grew more agitated.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chu gradually discerned its tactics.
Combining martial arts with mental force attacks was the hallmark of a Dual-Force Warrior.
On the bull’s twenty-fourth charge, Zhang Chu stood his ground, locking eyes with the beast.
“Electrovine Bind!”
The range of the 1-star psychic technique Electrovine Bind was just three meters.
He had to time the distance and speed precisely, ready to leap back at any moment.
“Now!”
As the bull entered his three-meter range, Zhang Chu swung his hand.
A vine of psychic energy, crackling with arcs of electricity, sprang from his palm, coiling around the bull’s limbs like a lightning-fast serpent.
With its limbs bound and a faint current running through it, the Ironclad Azure Bull, caught unawares, collapsed to its knees, charging straight toward Zhang Chu.
Wham!
Zhang Chu’s fist flew.
The Sky-Shattering Cannon, a 1-star lower-grade martial art, exploded with power, amplified by the Thunderstorm Gauntlets.
His heavy punch struck the bull’s eye.
Leaping high, Zhang Chu soared above it.
As expected, the blow to its eye loosened all its scales; some even began to peel away.
“Flame-Forged Thirteen Swords!”
He slashed down, thirteen sword shadows layered atop one another.
Boom!
The bull’s armor shattered under the force.
Strike while the iron is hot—show no mercy!
Zhang Chu unleashed Electrovine Bind again, this time lashing it around the bull’s throat.
With a pitiful wail, the Ironclad Azure Bull crashed to the ground, its throat torn open by the electrified vine, blood pooling beneath it.
Ding!
“Detected: Host has slain 1 star-level Star Beast with Electrovine Bind. Strength +5, Mental Force +5!”
In the next moment, the system’s voice rang in his mind.
Zhang Chu’s eyes lit up.
Killing a single Star Beast granted five points each to strength and mental force—far superior to passive devouring!
Wasting no time, he quickly dug out the Ironclad Azure Bull’s core and tossed the carcass into his storage ring.
The hide, flesh, and blood of a Star Beast were all treasures—he’d make a killing on the black market.
Washing the core with mineral water, Zhang Chu swallowed it whole.
He wanted to see if devouring the core held any special surprises.
Ding. “Detected: Host has devoured 1 star-level Star Beast core. Strength +5!”
Damn! This was a windfall!
Who would have thought the method for increasing strength by devouring cores still worked at the Dual-Force Warrior level?
That meant each star-level Star Beast slain was worth ten strength points and five mental force points!
Zhang Chu suddenly turned toward the direction where the herd of bulls had disappeared.
Two-star Dual-Force Warrior, here I come!
With a flash, he charged after the Ironclad Azure Bulls.
Now that he had mastered the method for slaying them, he had to strike while the iron was hot and take down as many as possible. Otherwise, he’d be wasting his entry fee!