Chapter 11: The Unyielding Wall and the Ultimate Ability

More and more Demon Roar cultists rushed over. They were frenzied, charging forward only to meet their demise.

Zhang Luan merely waved his hand. The Blazing Stars annihilated these monstrous cultists, leaving no trace behind.

Moreover, these creatures yielded significantly more experience points upon death than goblins. Though grinding monsters was a tedious affair, Zhang Luan approached it with remarkable patience.

The benefits were considerable. His experience soared, and his mastery over the Blazing Stars became even more refined. Now, he could even manifest the Blazing Stars into a humanoid form to perform a dance without issue.

Truth be told, the sinister man in black robes was starting to panic.

Observing Zhang Luan’s effortless demeanor, he had already devised a plan for escape. Fighting was undoubtedly futile, but fleeing offered a glimmer of hope.

Even though this individual’s rank didn’t seem high, he possessed such terrifying abilities. The man in black robes realized he had to inform the elders of the Demon Roar Church. This menace needed to be eradicated swiftly, before the young man became an insurmountable problem.

He commanded all the surrounding Demon Roar cultists to surge forward, then slowly retreated two steps. Instantly, he transformed into a wisp of smoke, darting towards the forest’s edge. That was where the Demon Roar Church elders were holding back the Akamana Temple forces.

Zhang Luan noticed his movement but made no attempt to stop him. The continuous onslaught of Demon Roar cultists kept him occupied, forcing him to keep annihilating these monsters.

Nan Fenghua silently clasped her hands together, offering a prayer.

These Demon Roar cultists were once human. Transformed into such grotesque beings, perhaps death truly was a form of salvation for them.

****

When the sinister man in black robes reached the forest’s perimeter, a barrage of magic was bombarding the ground, while strength-based fighters clashed in fierce combat.

He cautiously made his way towards the Demon Roar Church’s position. Though he was an elite of the Demon Roar Church, in a battle of this magnitude, he was, at best, mere cannon fodder.

“Hmm? What brings you here? Was that recent flare you lot’s doing? Where is the Saintess?! Don’t tell me you’ve become so useless you can’t even find a little girl?”

Before he could utter a word, the white-haired old man before him launched into a scathing tirade. The sinister man offered a fawning, cringing smile.

“We found the Saintess, it’s just…”

“Just what? Stop being so wishy-washy! What kind of behavior is that?”

The old man snorted coldly, retracting his hands. A tendril of black smoke pierced through the chest of an Akamana warrior.

Frightened, the sinister man apologized profusely, then recounted everything that had happened since encountering Zhang Luan. When the old man heard about the power of the Blazing Stars that Zhang Luan unleashed, his pupils constricted, and a look of avarice immediately spread across his face.

“Such powerful flames, you say? Good! Once he’s dead, I’ll have his flesh transplanted into me. My strength will undoubtedly advance even further! You’ve done well. Lead the way. After we return to the Church, I will personally arrange a high-level modification for you!”

The sinister man secretly wiped away a cold sweat, complimenting in a hushed tone:

“With the Elder’s intervention, they will surely be captured with ease. That boy and the Saintess now have no wings to escape with.”

****

At the same moment, Zhang Luan drew his bow and released an arrow, impaling the last Demon Roar cultist onto a tree. The creature struggled and roared, attempting to continue its assault on Zhang Luan, but as the Blazing Stars consumed it, it vanished completely.

“Is it over?”

Nan Fenghua looked at the gruesome scene around them, a hint of sadness in her eyes. These people were once ordinary citizens, brainwashed and transformed. Now, consumed and purified by Zhang Luan’s flames, it truly was a great deed.

Zhang Luan did not immediately submit the quest. Instead, he sat quietly on a tree stump he had blasted apart, gazing in the direction the sinister man had fled, and drew his bowstring.

“Here they come.”

Following Zhang Luan’s gaze, a white-bearded old man flashed into view like a bolt of lightning, stirring up gusts of dark hurricane-force winds.

Nan Fenghua, somewhat frightened, hid behind Zhang Luan. She recognized this elder; her godmother often used stories of him to scare her when she was a child.

Releasing the bowstring, a volley of multi-helix arrows shot forth, infused with the Blazing Stars’ flames, heading directly for the old man’s head.

“Heh, what an impatient brat. The force is decent, and these flames are truly hot, hahahahaha.”

The old man’s hands erupted with dark gases. In a few blinks, the spinning, powerful arrows were instantly caught.

Even the Blazing Stars covering them, attempting to explode, were enveloped by the dark energy, losing their power and eventually dissipating.

Observing the old man’s appearance, Zhang Luan knew exactly who he was.

His information appeared in Zhang Luan’s vision, and he immediately scanned it.

[Demon Roar Church Elder · Yinafu]

Level: 30

Category: Ability User

Race: Modified Human

Main Attribute: Intelligence (1080)

Health: 55000

Ability Power: 3000

Profession: Ability User

Talent: [Abominable Flesh Devour]

Abilities: [Scorching Black Smoke], [Speed Arm], [Storm]

—

Simply looking at these attributes, he was already far stronger than that Goblin Warrior. Furthermore, he was an Ability User, and those three abilities were each more troublesome than the last. In his previous life, Zhang Luan had even participated in the battle to suppress him.

[Scorching Black Smoke]: Controls ultra-high-temperature black smoke, possessing suppression, scorching, and stun effects. When attacking, there’s a chance to reduce defense by 1%, stackable up to 30 layers.

[Speed Arm]: Super-fast arm speed, capable of grappling, smashing, and tearing. Has a chance to catch enemy unit attacks.

[Storm]: Summons a large-area storm for attack, can be combined with other abilities for elemental fusion to add extra effects.

These three abilities, wielded by this old man, formed an unyielding wall in combat.

Zhang Luan remembered clearly that this old man could use Speed Arm to catch all ranged attacks, then use Black Smoke to suppress all offenses. If too many players gathered, he would unleash Storm, combined with the Black Smoke’s special effects, to trap everyone and inflict continuous damage.

One could say that for anyone else at this point in time, it would be impossible to solo this old man.

Moreover, in terms of level, Zhang Luan was still a bit shy of reaching level 15.

However, it didn’t matter.

Because he knew how to kill this guy. He had already won.

Nan Fenghua nervously clutched Zhang Luan’s clothes. She was terrified, completely at a loss for what to do, having heard dreadful stories about this elder since childhood.

“Brother Zhang Luan… let’s run quickly. We can’t win against him…”

Zhang Luan waved his hand, not responding to Nan Fenghua’s words.

Run?

That was impossible. The moment he showed his back to this man, he would be enveloped by an endless storm and black smoke.

And besides, why should she say he couldn’t win? In his previous life, he had been chased relentlessly by this guy. This time, he would eradicate this evil old man.

As for how to fight?

Charge forward and fight to the death!

At this very moment, on Zhang Luan’s character panel, accompanied by his extreme excitement, the four grand characters of ‘Ultimate Ability’ glowed brilliantly.