Splendour Translations.
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Chapter 20: You Will Be My Assistant:
After a short rest, the group continued on their journey, searching the canyon for more magical beasts to hunt.
Xia Yuran and her team were indeed strong and soon achieved considerable success.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ruoxi and Ling Kong followed behind, not engaging in any battles, just following along.
"If we join forces, we should be much stronger than them," Jiang Ruoxi remarked suddenly. "Have you ever thought about... stealing?"
Ling Kong turned to her with a curious look. True to her role as a female villainess, her thoughts were always simple and direct.
"Don't misunderstand, I was just asking out of curiosity. I know you wouldn't want to steal from her," Jiang Ruoxi said, retracting her gaze with a bitter smile.
Although robbing others was allowed in the hunting competition as it was based on personal ability, Ling Kong had been protecting Xia Yuran all along. There was no way he would rob her team.
"It's not that I don't want to; it's that it's not worth it," Ling Kong smiled. "With their abilities, they won't get first place even if they hunt until the end."
"Why?" Jiang Ruoxi asked curiously.
"Even though we haven't hunted any magical beasts and have been feeding this little guy, their results are still not as good as ours." Ling Kong explained with a smile.
"True," Jiang Ruoxi nodded thoughtfully. "But if we keep going, they might surpass us."
Besides Xia Yuran's team, there could be others who were even stronger. Hunting magical beasts didn't solely depend on strength. Technique and luck could also change the outcome.
"Even so, we will definitely be first." Ling Kong said confidently.
"Why?" Jiang Ruoxi was even more curious.
"Because you said you wanted first place." Ling Kong looked at her and smiled.
"I..." Jiang Ruoxi blushed again. His words always moved her deeply.
"In this valley, there's a second-tier magical beast." Ling Kong suddenly said.
"What? A second-tier magical beast?" Jiang Ruoxi's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "How is that possible? Didn't the sect drive away all the magical beasts above the 9th stage of the Spirit Refinement Realm?"
"They did, but the sect left a second-tier magical beast for the top disciples to challenge." Ling Kong explained with a calm smile. In the original novel, a second-tier magical beast had blocked everyone's way near the end of the competition. With his leadership and guidance, they had managed to defeat it together with Xia Yuran and others.
"But that's... a second-tier magical beast! It's equivalent to the Spirit Martial Realm! Even the strongest in the sect, you, are only at the 9th level of the Spirit Refinement Realm," Jiang Ruoxi frowned. "No one can defeat a second-tier magical beast!"
"One person can't, but together, we might manage." Ling Kong smiled.
"I... I can't either," Jiang Ruoxi said. "Although you're very strong, I fear I'd only be a burden against such a creature."
"No! You'll be my assistant!" Ling Kong replied with a gentle smile. In the original novel, he had defeated the second-tier magical beast with Xia Yuran and others. Now, he could do the same with Jiang Ruoxi.
"If we can defeat that second-tier magical beast and collect its crystal, plus the ones we already have, winning first place is assured." Ling Kong continued.
"But... how do we defeat it?" Jiang Ruoxi couldn't understand. That was a second-tier magical beast, equivalent to the Spirit Martial Realm. The difference was too vast.
"If you were at the 9th stage Spirit Refinement Realm, we could do it together." Ling Kong said, smiling.
"But I'm only at the 8th level!" Jiang Ruoxi frowned. She was still one step away from the ninth level, and this time, she felt she had let Ling Kong down.
"That's why you need to make a breakthrough to the 9th stage in the next few hours." Ling Kong replied.
"Impossible! Without any external resources, I can't make a breakthrough in such a short time!" Jiang Ruoxi shook her head. "Sorry, I disappointed you."
"So, we need to find external resources." Ling Kong said with another smile, glancing at Xia Yuran's group ahead. Following them, they would encounter a pair of Blood Spirit Fruits. Eating those would help Jiang Ruoxi reach the 9th stage.
"Find external resources?" Jiang Ruoxi still didn't understand. How could they find something in this canyon that could rapidly increase her strength?
"You'll see soon enough." Ling Kong said without further explanation. Jiang Ruoxi didn't press further. Whatever the case, she was willing to follow Ling Kong's plan if it meant she could get resources.
"How do you know all this?" Jiang Ruoxi asked, still curious. Only the sect elders should know about such things. How did Ling Kong, a disciple, know?
"Special treatment." Ling Kong replied with a light smile. In the original plot, he wouldn't have known, but as a transmigrator, he knew everything in advance.
"The perks of being the sect's top disciple?" Jiang Ruoxi smiled. "So there are such benefits."
The group continued onward, with Xia Yuran and her team killing many magical beasts and collecting numerous crystals, confident they had secured first place. Little did they know that everything was within Ling Kong's calculations. No matter how much they hunted, as long as they didn't defeat the second-tier magical beast, first place would elude them.
Another hour passed as they hunted, and the group arrived at a dense forest. Within this forest was a peculiar tree. It was twisted and gnarled, with no leaves, only strange, contorted branches.
"Is this... a Blood Spirit Fruit tree?" Xia Yuran exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise. "Look, there are two fruits on it!"
-To be continued!
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