Chapter 7

Hearing these words, everyone was taken aback, then they all looked at Wang Xu.

"Wang Ge!" Song Zhen glared at Xu Yuan, "If Wang Ge leaves, I'll leave too. I absolutely won't stay with such a despicable person!"

"Me too!" Tang Yan stepped forward, "Wherever Wang Xu goes, I will follow!"

The two of them expressed their opinions without hesitation, especially Tang Yan, which made Xu Yuan's face turn dark instantly.

"Song Zhen, Tang Yan," Wang Xu said, "You go in, I'll leave."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yan and Song Zhen wanted to speak, but Wang Xu stopped them, "Don't argue. The Thousand-legged Softworm is almost upon us. If you stay, you'll only slow me down."

The two were speechless. Indeed, Xu Yuan had made up his mind not to let Wang Xu in, so Wang Xu had to face the Thousand-legged Softworm alone. They were all third-stage students and could do nothing against a fourth-stage elite insect beast!

"Brother Zhang, I hope you can look after them. Thank you." Before leaving, Wang Xu said to Zhang Xinglin, who looked at him and nodded seriously.

Wang Xu's actions were clear; he didn't trust Xu Yuan. Even if Song Zhen and Tang Yan could enter the energy barrier, they might not be able to win his favor. At this moment, only Zhang Xinglin could ensure their safety.

After saying this, Wang Xu ran away under everyone's gaze.

As soon as Wang Xu left, the Thousand-legged Softworm arrived, its massive body creating a huge trench on the ground. Seeing Tang Yan, Zhang Xinglin, and the others, it immediately opened its bloody mouth and pounced.

Xu Yuan kept his word and opened the energy barrier before the Thousand-legged Softworm pounced, letting the few of them in.

"Bang!" The massive body of the Thousand-legged Softworm hit the purple light screen, causing countless ripples, but it was still blocked outside, unable to break through.

Moreover, this radiation area made the Thousand-legged Softworm very uncomfortable. It took a few steps back, looked at the people inside the energy barrier with resentment, let out a strange scream, and then turned to chase after Wang Xu.

...

Wang Xu ran for his life, taking advantage of the fact that the Thousand-legged Softworm hadn't noticed him yet. He had already run several kilometers, his speed comparable to a car.

But before he could celebrate, a loud rumbling sound approached, making Wang Xu's heart tremble and his face turn pale.

In the isolated and dark environment, his vision would be obstructed, and his escape speed would greatly decrease. In the end, the Thousand-legged Softworm would catch up, and Wang Xu would become its dinner!

The Thousand-legged Softworm was much faster than before, having been blocked by the energy barrier and affected by the radiation. It was already angry and determined to eat the human fleeing in front of it!

Wang Xu ran for his life while looking around, trying to find a place to hide. To his disappointment, the area was covered in forests, and even the few abandoned warehouses and buildings could not stop the Thousand-legged Softworm, which could easily flatten them.

"Got it!" Suddenly, Wang Xu's eyes lit up with joy.

Just after crossing a hill, Wang Xu found a small cave entrance!

The entrance was just big enough for a person to squeeze through. Without hesitation, Wang Xu rushed towards the cave!

The Thousand-legged Softworm was almost upon Wang Xu. Its massive body moved quickly, and if not for the buildings and trees along the way, Wang Xu would have been caught long ago.

"Hurry! Hurry!" Cold sweat dripped from Wang Xu's forehead. Even though his legs were sore, he dared not stop for a moment!

One step slower meant death!

Suddenly, the Thousand-legged Softworm let out a strange scream, its entire body leaping up and pouncing towards Wang Xu!

A huge shadow loomed over Wang Xu. He didn't dare to look back, focusing on the narrow cave entrance. As he approached, he leaped!

Despite its narrowness, the cave entrance, which could only accommodate half a body, allowed Wang Xu to pass through without any obstruction!

"Boom!" The massive body of the Thousand-legged Softworm hit the cave wall, causing the entire cave to tremble, but it didn't collapse. Clearly, the Thousand-legged Softworm's strength, though terrifying, was not enough to destroy the cave.

He was saved!

In the dark cave, a narrow beam of light shone through the entrance, and Wang Xu collapsed, feeling immense relief at his narrow escape.

Looking out of the cave entrance, the Thousand-legged Softworm hesitated, trying to hit the cave wall again. After several attempts, the cave remained undamaged, and the Thousand-legged Softworm lost patience, turning to leave.

"Phew~" Seeing this, Wang Xu let out a long sigh of relief, having narrowly escaped.

"Ugh..." Suddenly, a muffled roar came from behind Wang Xu.

Wang Xu was startled and turned around, seeing a third-stage Iron Wire Beetle in the light from the cave entrance.

Wang Xu's mind quickly pieced things together.

No wonder there was such a narrow cave entrance with walls as dense as steel. It was because an Iron Wire Beetle lived here.

The Iron Wire Beetle was about the size of a soccer ball, resembling a beetle with a body covered in black lines like iron wire. It lived in dark places, such as underground, caves, and completely enclosed areas. Interestingly, it would periodically seek sunlight, so it would create a small opening in its home to let light in.

This cave was clearly the Iron Wire Beetle's lair.

Although the Iron Wire Beetle had indirectly saved Wang Xu's life, Wang Xu still had to draw his long knife from his spatial ring.

Wang Xu could clearly see the killing intent in the Iron Wire Beetle's eyes. Insects and humans seemed to be natural enemies, destined not to coexist peacefully.

The Iron Wire Beetle, without hesitation, attacked Wang Xu in a single breath, using its weapon—six iron wire legs. Each leg had sharp, steel-like spines, which it used to freely dig caves.

Wang Xu's eyes narrowed, and he thrust his long knife, perfectly executing the "Blood Drop Strike," aiming directly at the Iron Wire Beetle.

"Clang!" A metallic sound echoed as the Iron Wire Beetle's strength was no match for Wang Xu, and it was sent flying backward. However, it showed no intention of retreating, spreading its shell and flying up again.

The "Blood Drop Strike" had no significant effect, but Wang Xu was not worried. He drew a sharp arc with his long knife, meeting the Iron Wire Beetle head-on.

Both were third-stage, and the Iron Wire Beetle was a high-tier third-stage insect beast. An ordinary third-stage student would have been killed by a third-stage Iron Wire Beetle, unable to match it.

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" ...

After several collisions, Wang Xu had learned the Iron Wire Beetle's attack patterns and angles. Seizing the opportunity when the Iron Wire Beetle was pushed back, Wang Xu stepped forward and thrust his knife at one of its iron wire legs.

The iron wire legs were the Iron Wire Beetle's strongest and hardest weapons. Normally, one would avoid a direct confrontation and look for a weakness. However, Wang Xu noticed that one of the legs was weaker and almost useless, so he didn't hesitate.

"Ugh..." Wang Xu's strike severed one of the Iron Wire Beetle's legs, causing it to let out a strange, muffled roar and immediately spread its shell to escape.

With six legs unable to handle Wang Xu, the remaining five were even less effective. The Iron Wire Beetle was afraid and instinctively chose to flee.

But how could Wang Xu let such a rare opportunity slip away? Without a word, he pounced, using the "Nine Lightning Blade" technique, striking the Iron Wire Beetle with the "Wind Splitting Strike" and "Blood Drop Strike."

At first, the Iron Wire Beetle could withstand a few attacks, but as the fight continued, it became overwhelmed, covered in wounds.

Realizing it was no match for Wang Xu and would eventually be killed, the Iron Wire Beetle let out an angry roar, then curled into a ball and charged at Wang Xu!

Wang Xu, not expecting this move, immediately raised his long knife to block the Iron Wire Beetle's charge.

The intense impact shook Wang Xu's internal organs, nearly making him spit out blood. The Iron Wire Beetle, however, was also in pain, with cracks appearing on its shell. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Xu ignored his own injuries and swung his long knife with all his might!

"Thud!" Without a doubt, Wang Xu's strike split the defenseless Iron Wire Beetle in two, blood splattering everywhere.

With the Iron Wire Beetle dead, Wang Xu could no longer hold back, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Wiping the blood from his lips, Wang Xu reflected inwardly, vowing never to be careless again. If the Iron Wire Beetle had fought with such determination from the start, it would have only taken two strikes to rupture his internal organs!

After the Iron Wire Beetle's death, Wang Xu took out a few healing pills from his spatial ring and swallowed them, then sat on the ground to rest.

"Hmm? My stomach feels so hot, what's happening?" Feeling a burning sensation in his abdomen, Wang Xu frowned. Before he could understand, a red flame suddenly emerged from his skin, heading straight for the Iron Wire Beetle's corpse!

Wang Xu was stunned. When did this flame enter his body? And how could a flame move on its own? What was happening?!

The flame quickly enveloped the split Iron Wire Beetle's corpse, forming a flame in the shape of the Iron Wire Beetle, then gradually shrinking. Slowly, the Iron Wire Beetle seemed to be consumed by this mysterious flame, disappearing completely.

Wang Xu watched the mysterious flame float in the air, and as it finished consuming the Iron Wire Beetle's corpse, it swiftly returned to his stomach, leaving him no time to react.

"What... What is happening?" Wang Xu couldn't comprehend.

Suddenly, his abdomen felt even hotter, and this time the heat was more intense. The heat seemed to flow from his abdomen to his limbs and head!

Wang Xu's face contorted in pain. He felt as if his meridians were being scorched by the flame, almost burning up, and he was in unbearable heat and pain.

"Ugh..." Wang Xu's veins bulged, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. At the same time, black, foul-smelling stains seeped from every pore on his skin.

This pain lasted for at least half an hour. During this time, Wang Xu felt as if he had gone to hell and back. Every time his meridians were scorched, a mysterious warm current would make them clear and bright, giving him a moment of immense comfort. But this would quickly be followed by more burning pain.

This cycle repeated several times, and Wang Xu gritted his teeth, enduring the pain. Instead of thinking about why he was suffering, he thought about his family in the safe zone. If he died here, what would happen to them?

Because of this belief, Wang Xu endured the pain, not letting out a single scream.

Suddenly, Wang Xu's eyes widened. He felt his energy surging, his strength increasing, and the invisible restraints in his body breaking, filling him with joy!

He was breaking through!

This was a breakthrough!

Wang Xu had experienced the transition from first to second stage and from second to third stage, and the situation was almost identical. At the moment of breakthrough, his energy and strength would change dramatically, and he was experiencing this transformation now!