Chapter 78

In the Ghost Forest's outskirts, the Hooked-Tusked Wild Boar lived a comfortable life, thanks to its thick hide and aggressive charges. The combination of these traits made it nearly invincible, allowing it to roam freely without fear.

After dodging twice, Xu Dong finally figured out the boar's attack pattern. Seizing the moment when the boar turned to charge again, he swiftly moved like a nimble deer, quickly sidestepping the boar.

The Hooked-Tusked Wild Boar suddenly swung its head and turned its body, its large tusks drawing arcs as they lunged toward Xu Dong. The sharp tusks could easily cause fatal injuries with a single strike.

Xu Dong pursed his lips and let out a soft breath. He extended his hands and slapped the surface of the tusks, then nimbly leaped and rolled over the boar's head, landing gracefully.

The moment Xu Dong landed, the boar, sensing the mortal danger, turned its body like a small mountain and started to flee frantically.

A cold glint flickered before the boar's eyes, dazzling and deadly. Just then, a chill struck from the center, like a snake's bite or a bolt of lightning, piercing the boar's eye socket without warning.

*Pfft!*

Conical blood spurted, the vitreous humor shattered, and the triangular dagger penetrated the boar's brain, turning it into a mush before stopping. The half-ton boar collapsed, unable to unleash its final frenzy.

Xu Dong pulled out the triangular dagger and muttered to himself, "Indeed, only by facing strong opponents can one become stronger. My techniques, speed control, and judgment of the opponent's actions have all improved significantly. Now, I can easily slay a one-star Awakened warrior or a precious beast."

Having defeated the one-star Awakened Hooked-Tusked Wild Boar, Xu Dong began to dissect the beast's body. The boar's hide and fur were materials for making external equipment, and its tusks were excellent for crafting shields or weapons. Xu Dong first removed the tusks, then gutted the boar and skinned it.

Xu Dong, accustomed to the smell of blood, activated the Devour skill and began to feast on the meat, consuming it with a frenzy.

The meat of a precious beast was far superior to that of ordinary beasts. During the duration of the Devour skill, the muscles were digested by powerful stomach acid, transforming into the simplest form of life energy, which then circulated through his body, integrating into every cell.

With the first bite, Xu Dong was shocked to find that his physical attributes had significantly improved!

It took him an hour, or two activations of the Devour skill, to finish the half-ton boar. Despite consuming such a large amount of food, his appearance did not change. If someone saw this, they would be utterly astonished.

Xu Dong felt a warm and tingling sensation throughout his body. Each cell was like a dry field, and each strand of life energy was like a drop of rain. The cells greedily absorbed the life energy, leading to a miraculous chemical reaction—strengthening from the inside out, starting from the bone marrow, then the bones, tendons, muscles, and finally the skin.

The feeling of growing stronger was intoxicating and exhilarating!

When the enhancement ended, Xu Dong felt a sense of incompleteness. He pondered, "There are still at least ten hours until nightfall. During these ten hours, I should use the Fierce Tiger Stance to strengthen my body and hunt precious beasts. By highly consuming life energy, I can keep my cells in a state of hunger, maintaining high absorption capabilities. This way, I will have a better chance with my next target!"

Thus, Xu Dong began his intense training in the Ghost Forest's outskirts, honing his will and body through hunting and being hunted.

※※※

Xu Dong specifically targeted Hooked-Tusked Wild Boars. These thick-skinned beasts had few natural enemies, making them one of the largest species in the Ghost Forest. To find them, he only needed to pay attention to the surroundings. The boars were solitary, and even when in groups, it was usually due to family, making them ideal targets for practice.

At first, Xu Dong used the Tiger Pounce Heavy Strike to quickly close in, then tried the Tiger Crouch Split Strike as an attack method. Without weapons, using only his body to kill a Hooked-Tusked Wild Boar was challenging, requiring endurance and willpower.

Often, at the last moment, the boar would use its charge ability to escape. In such cases, Xu Dong had no choice but to use the triangular dagger to finish it off.

However, as time went on, Xu Dong's mastery of the Tiger Pounce Heavy Strike improved, and he began to exhibit the same aura as Yang Buqu, who had practiced for years. The Tiger Crouch Split Strike also became more proficient. Later, he could continue to pursue the boar using the Small Steps skill, wearing it down until it died.

By the end, the Tiger Pounce Heavy Strike became instinctual, deeply ingrained in his mind, and the Tiger Crouch Split Strike was also mastered. With his body constantly improving, he could even intercept a charging boar and wear it down using these techniques.

To be honest, Xu Dong's relentless and life-risking training spirit was rare in Blood Helmet City.

Hard work pays off. The path of enhancement is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you retreat. His physical attributes steadily improved as he continued to defeat enemies.

At this point, although not exaggerated, Xu Dong's physical attributes had made significant progress. This feeling of steady improvement made him more confident, as a solid foundation is crucial for building a tall structure.

Now, without activating the Blood Meat Armor, Xu Dong's punch had the power of a one-star Awakened warrior, his speed and reflexes were on par with an agile one-star Awakened, and his resistance to attacks, though not at the level of a constitution-based one-star Awakened, was close.

Activating the Cang Mang Leg Armor further enhanced his overall attributes. When facing Yang Buji again, he might not win, but he could see a glimmer of hope, rather than the initial despair.

On the other hand, Xu Dong had killed eight Hooked-Tusked Wild Boars, giving him sixteen tusks and eight hides in his storage.

In just one day, he had made significant gains. When he emerged from the Ghost Forest, he felt a sense of rebirth. He looked up at the sky.

The night sky was illuminated by a full moon, with countless stars adding to its charm.

Xu Dong smiled, bare-chested, and walked forward in the night breeze. His face showed a hint of confidence and calm. This was due to his survival from Yang Buji and his improvement in the Ghost Forest.

Indeed, his last chance lay in the military camp. Only by storming the camp and finding the commander to receive a blessing could he complete the task.

Since he had to succeed, why not believe he could?

The journey was not peaceful. The night was silent, but it concealed restlessness.

As Xu Dong approached the military camp, two figures suddenly emerged from a bush. They were fast and agile, clearly agile one-star Awakened. They had been lying in wait for some time, ready to ambush their prey.

The wilderness was always a good place for ambushes. If you were a two-star Awakened with a blessed examination qualification, killing you would be beneficial, as it would grant the attacker the right to continue the exam. If you were just a one-star Awakened, killing you and looting your money or precious beast materials would be a small fortune.

These two had been working together for a long time and moved in perfect unison, attacking from both sides with full force.

"Want to kill me?" Xu Dong's eyes were cold. "Don't blame me for being ruthless!"

In the darkness, a cold glint flashed on the left, like the surface of a midnight pond disturbed by the wind, radiating a deadly aura.

Before the cold glint reached him, the wind cut his face, and the air seemed to condense. The technique was unique and innovative. Even a regular two-star Awakened would be injured if caught off guard.

At the same time, the other person let out a roar, which vibrated through the air, causing dizziness and a sensation like a needle piercing the eardrums. This sound wave attack had a disorienting effect, and those with weak wills would suffer greatly.

One attacker dealt damage, while the other controlled the battlefield. Their ambush and sudden attack were well-coordinated, giving them the ability to kill a two-star Awakened.

However, Xu Dong's will was as strong as steel, and he had been through the refinement of the Insight skill. A simple roar was not enough to scare him.

"Looking for death!"

Xu Dong's expression hardened, and without activating the Cang Mang Armor, he launched the Tiger Pounce Heavy Strike. His understanding of this technique was profound, making it seem as if a tiger leaped from a rock to strike its prey.

Majestic and fierce, the attack was swift and powerful!

His figure moved, deftly avoiding the blade, and he instantly closed in on the attacker.

In the moonlight, the attacker only heard the wind, and in a blink, Xu Dong was in front of him, his eyes cold. The attacker was terrified, knowing he had met his match, and instinctively tried to retreat.

*Peng!*

Xu Dong's lips pursed, and he struck with a claw, his fingers like hooks, hitting the attacker's neck.

*Swish!*

A large chunk of flesh was torn, and blood splattered. The attacker was thrown back, unconscious in mid-air. If Xu Dong had mastered the Fierce Tiger Power, he could control the force of his strike, avoiding the attacker being thrown and instead causing dizziness and immobility.

In an instant, one attacker was down. The other, who had intended to rescue his companion, was stunned by the ferocity. Fear gripped his heart, and he turned to run.

Xu Dong pursued with speed, using the explosive power of the Tiger Pounce Heavy Strike to close in. He then used the Tiger Crouch Split Strike, his hands forming claws, and plunged them into the attacker's back, causing him to convulse in pain.

With a powerful pull, Xu Dong tore open the attacker's body, feeling the spine through the flesh.

The attacker screamed, "You want to kill me, but I won't let you off easy!"

He didn't realize that it was their greed that led them to ambush Xu Dong.

Unfortunately, he had no chance. A sharp triangular dagger swiftly cut across his throat.

PS: This week has many highlights. Sharing is caring, so please leave comments and reviews. I will add essence in bulk.

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