Chapter 046: Hidden Quest (Please Vote)

“Ninth level?” Ouyang Buchong felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in his mind.

A ninth-level master of alchemy! What did that mean? Such a figure was exalted above all others; with but a wave of his hand, countless martial artists would vie to serve him. Even the Emperor of the Grand Xia Dynasty would treat him as an honored guest! Compared to a ninth-level master of alchemy, the Ouyang family was utterly insignificant!

“No, absolutely impossible! You're so young—how could you possibly be a ninth-level master of alchemy?” Ouyang Buchong cried.

“It's not for you to believe. If you don't want this opportunity, I'll kill you right now!” Xin Lang cared little whether Ouyang Buchong believed him or not. What he wanted was to face his opponent at his peak once more, to gain further combat experience with 'Dark Force.'

Ouyang Buchong had no way out now; his only hope was that Xin Lang spoke the truth, that the potion in his hand was truly of 'Treasure' grade. If so, after healing, he might still have a chance for one last fight.

Ouyang Buchong swallowed the 'Treasure' grade potion Xin Lang tossed him. At once, his internal injuries began to change; the medicinal power swiftly mended his body.

His wounds were severe this time—it would take some time to fully recuperate.

While Ouyang Buchong was recovering, Xin Lang brought up the interface of the Upgrade System once more.

“Upgrade!” Xin Lang’s first priority was to advance himself to a second-level martial artist.

After spending one hundred experience points, Xin Lang successfully advanced. With his promotion, his understanding of Dark Force also deepened, moving from the phase of “Converting Bright Force to Dark Force” into the second stage—“Vibrating Zen Force.”

Vibrating Zen Force referred to a special oscillation that the Dark Force produced upon impact, greatly increasing its destructive power.

After reaching the second level, Xin Lang still had one hundred and seven experience points left. With this much remaining, his gaze turned toward the “Martial Arts Techniques” section…

While recuperating, Ouyang Buchong closely observed Xin Lang. Gradually, his heart calmed.

Half an hour later, Ouyang Buchong suddenly leapt to his feet—

Sensing Ouyang Buchong’s movement, Xin Lang immediately exited the Upgrade System interface and snapped open his eyes. He’d expected a sneak attack, but to his surprise, Ouyang Buchong spun around and darted into the woods, fleeing deeper into the forest.

“So, you’ve finally come to your senses! But it’s too late for that!”

Ouyang Buchong knew too many of Xin Lang’s secrets; there was no way Xin Lang would let him go. Moreover, Xin Lang had crippled his cultivation as a man—he would never risk letting him seek revenge.

“Trying to run?” Xin Lang channeled his strength beneath his feet, his figure shooting after Ouyang Buchong.

“Hmph, you’ve fallen for it!” Ouyang Buchong, instead of truly running, mimicked Xin Lang’s previous tactics and suddenly doubled back to launch a surprise counterattack.

With a vicious grin, Ouyang Buchong shouted, “You’re dead! Dark Force, second stage—Vibrating Zen Force!”

In this moment of mortal danger, Ouyang Buchong had broken through, advancing to a second-level martial artist.

Facing the surging, vibrating force, Xin Lang remained calm and steady. “You’ve advanced? Then my Treasure-grade potion wasn’t wasted after all.”

Ouyang Buchong’s strength had soared with his breakthrough; he planned to kill Xin Lang with a surprise attack.

“Vibrating Zen Force? I know it too!” Xin Lang, too, raised his power to the second-level martial artist realm.

“You? Impossible! There’s no way you advanced so quickly!” Ouyang Buchong had thought his own advancement would catch Xin Lang off guard, but Xin Lang had also reached the second level.

Regret consumed Ouyang Buchong. If he’d known, he would have fled at once. Now, with their strength equal, he realized he was no match for Xin Lang—and it was already too late to escape.

“Then I’ll fight you to the death!” Roaring in fury, Ouyang Buchong unleashed all his power, determined to drag Xin Lang down with him.

“So this is your strongest attack? Then die! Earth-rank High Martial Art—Explosive Inch Fist!” Xin Lang spent twenty experience points to upgrade the Earth-rank Low martial art, “Inch Fist,” to the Earth-rank High martial art, “Explosive Inch Fist.”

Xin Lang’s fist pierced through Ouyang Buchong’s defense, striking him square in the chest.

Thud! The fist seemed to merely press against Ouyang Buchong’s chest, barely making a sound, yet inside his body there was a muffled explosion.

“Ah—” Ouyang Buchong had only time for half a scream before he crashed to the ground, blood gushing from his mouth, nose, the corners of his eyes, and even his ears.

With this strike, Xin Lang drove the Dark Force directly into Ouyang Buchong’s body, using it to shatter his internal organs. Had Xin Lang been a few levels higher, Ouyang Buchong’s body would have been blown apart by the force alone.

Such was the terror of an Earth-rank High Martial Art!

Staring at the dying Ouyang Buchong, Xin Lang felt nothing but calm. Having lived two lives, he’d seen and done more than most; killing Ouyang Buchong stirred little emotion in him.

“Ding! Killed a second-level martial artist, completed a ten-star hidden quest, gained 100 experience points!” A message from the Upgrade System flashed before his eyes, then vanished.

After Xin Lang killed Ouyang Buchong, the system sent him a prompt for the second time. The first prompt had appeared when he’d first mastered Dark Force and used it to break a tree trunk, but he’d been too excited to notice it then.

This time, however, the message was impossible to miss—one hundred experience points stood out so vividly it was impossible to ignore.

“A hidden quest?” This was Xin Lang's first realization that the Upgrade System included such tasks.

PS: Four chapters today! Since I’ve worked so hard, brothers, be sure to support me with your votes!