Then, Zheng Dong and Xiao Zi each conjured multiple clones. Zheng Dong’s clones prepared to use the Clay and Shadow Control skills to manipulate the Earth Splitting Bear, while Xiao Zi’s clones readied their attacks.
But in the next moment, the Earth Splitting Bear struck first, using the skill Earth Collapse.
In front of the Earth Splitting Bear, an area of over a hundred square meters rapidly caved in, as if there were a bottomless pit beneath, attempting to bury Zheng Dong, Xiao Zi, and their many clones.
Immediately after, it used the skill Lava Eruption.
Scalding lava spewed forth from the ground fissures, seeming to engulf and melt everything.
Facing the formidable Earth Splitting Bear, Zheng Dong did not panic. He used the Earth Evasion skill to quickly retreat from the Earth Splitting Bear’s attack range.
The Earth Splitting Bear’s mastery of Earth Collapse and Lava Eruption was only at the beginner level. The eruption range was limited, and the attack power weakened with distance.
After evading the Earth Splitting Bear’s assault, Zheng Dong began his counterattack. His thirty-six clones intended to simultaneously cast the Clay skill, transforming the ground into a muddy swamp, while another thirty-six clones planned to use Shadow Control to suppress the Earth Splitting Bear.
Zheng Dong’s clones, one by one, used the Earth Evasion skill to burrow underground and position themselves beneath the Earth Splitting Bear. Then, they collectively used the Clay skill, layering the skill repeatedly to form a vast muddy swamp.
The Earth Splitting Bear had already expended considerable energy using Earth Collapse and Lava Eruption. Just as it was preparing to gather strength for another attack, its footing gave way, and half its body sank into the muddy swamp.
Enraged, it prepared to use Lava Eruption again.
At this moment, Zheng Dong’s other clones, using the Shadow Transformation skill, had already infiltrated near the Earth Splitting Bear. Simultaneously, they used the Shadow Control skill to suppress it.
Meanwhile, Xiao Zi and its clones launched a fierce assault on the remaining five transcendent-level Earth Bears.
They first used the Caltrop skill, with peculiar bombs that left the Earth Bears somewhat bewildered.
Following that, Xiao Zi used its Rending Gold Claws to dispatch them one by one.
However, as Xiao Zi was dealing with these Earth Bears, Zheng Dong’s clones were nearing their limit in suppressing the Earth Splitting Bear.
The Earth Splitting Bear possessed immense strength. Even without using skills, it could continuously overturn the clones using Shadow Control.
Furthermore, the continuous use of Shadow Control by Zheng Dong’s clones was also exhausting. One by one, they vanished as their energy depleted.
Seeing that the Earth Splitting Bear was about to break free, Zheng Dong instructed his remaining clones to use the Caltrop skill.
Peculiar bombs rapidly materialized within the muddy swamp surrounding the Earth Splitting Bear. They then detonated with a roar, catching the Earth Splitting Bear off guard. Soon, it was blasted to pieces, its flesh torn.
But it did not die. It roared and unleashed the Lava Eruption it had been holding back.
Unfortunately, Zheng Dong had already retreated far away.
On the other side, Xiao Zi had also dealt with the five Earth Bears and used Earth Vein Resonance to recover its expended energy. It then reconstituted the clones it had lost, bringing the total number of clones to eighty-one.
These clones quickly surrounded the Earth Splitting Bear and continuously used the Caltrop skill, conjuring peculiar bombs to bombard the enraged Earth Splitting Bear.
Despite its ferocity, the Earth Splitting Bear’s ordinary skills could not simultaneously eliminate all of Xiao Zi’s clones. At most, it could destroy a dozen or so of Xiao Zi’s clones with each attack.
As for the Lava Eruption and Earth Collapse skills, their energy consumption was too high for the Earth Splitting Bear to use continuously. Each time it used these skills, Xiao Zi’s clones would evade in advance.
Xiao Zi used these clones to wear down the Earth Splitting Bear. Whenever a clone was destroyed, Xiao Zi would reconstitute it, maintaining a constant number of clones.
Xiao Zi’s own energy consumption was rapidly replenished by using Earth Vein Resonance.
This was where the power of a super-tier skill became evident, enabling Xiao Zi to wear down the Earth Splitting Bear.
Zheng Dong, unable to imprint the super-tier skill Earth Vein Resonance for the time being and thus unable to replenish his energy quickly, did not continue the fight.
Only when the Earth Splitting Bear was sufficiently depleted, unable to even use its ordinary skills, did Xiao Zi quietly approach it and use Rending Gold Claws, unleashing five times its normal strength, to finish it off.
The ninth stage was cleared. Although it took a bit longer, it still left Principal Ma and the others astonished.
“Could Zheng Dong’s talent be skill sharing?” Principal Ma asked Principal Liu in surprise.
Principal Liu nodded proudly.
“Your school has indeed found a genius this time! Passing the ninth stage has already broken the record of the past five years, but the tenth stage is even more difficult than the ninth. I doubt he can pass it!” Principal Ma sighed.
The principals and representatives from other schools also nodded in agreement.
Being able to clear nine stages consecutively was already a rare sight, but passing the tenth stage was incredibly difficult. Since the Hexi Ruins were deciphered, no one had ever completed the tenth stage challenge. It was said that the difficulty of the tenth stage was greater than the sum of the previous nine stages combined!
Principal Liu knew this, of course, but he still held onto a sliver of hope and said stubbornly, “That’s not necessarily true!”
After clearing the ninth stage, Zheng Dong received a reward of 30 Ethereal Stones. After a thirty-minute rest, he was teleported to a steep, rugged mountain, the territory of the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk.
A Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk with a wingspan exceeding ten meters stared at Zheng Dong with wide eyes.
It couldn’t understand how a human had suddenly appeared in its territory.
It showed no courtesy, flapped its wings, and took to the air, spewing a mouthful of scorching flame towards Zheng Dong.
Zheng Dong, having just been teleported, was immediately attacked and quickly used Earth Evasion to dodge.
Fortunately, his Earth Evasion skill had reached the Perfection level, becoming an instinctive reaction that allowed him to quickly burrow underground.
The orange-red flame missed Zheng Dong but melted the hard rocks on the ground.
Zheng Dong emerged from the ground at a distance and was shocked by what he saw.
So fierce!
He quickly scanned the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk with his pet beast compendium.
[Name] Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk
[Attribute] Fire, Wind
[Race Level] High Monarch
[Growth Level] Lord
[Energy Value] 32564
It was actually at the Lord level, with over thirty thousand energy points! This difficulty clearly indicated they didn’t want anyone to pass!
Principal Liu was also shocked. Although he had prepared himself mentally, he hadn’t expected the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk to be at the Lord growth level, two levels higher than Zheng Dong’s Treasure Hunting Rat.
At this point, Principal Ma patted Principal Liu’s shoulder again.
“Old Liu, accept it! The tenth stage is impassable!” Principal Ma said with a smile.
The principals and representatives from other schools also began to discuss. An old principal with white hair said,
“I think this tenth stage was never meant to be passed. Perhaps when it was established, it was intended for geniuses like Zheng Dong to experience a loss!”
“Yes, yes, that must be the reason. A slight setback allows one to fly higher!”
…
However, Zheng Dong still wanted to try!
He felt that the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk flying in the air was difficult to deal with, but conversely, it wouldn’t be so easy for the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk to attack them hidden underground.
Zheng Dong still had a miniature forbidden bomb, but he intended to save that for the Spirit God Cult.
Besides, this was a ruin trial, and external forces were not allowed.
Zheng Dong looked at the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk. The Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk flew angrily in the air, letting out piercing screeches. Its ruby-like eyes fixed on him, drawing his attention. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Zheng Dong remembered that the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk’s eyes were relatively vulnerable, the weakest part of its body.
This might be a breakthrough.
Zheng Dong summoned Xiao Zi.
Because of its previous heavy exertion, Xiao Zi recovered faster in the beast-taming space. Thus, during the half-hour rest, Xiao Zi had been in the beast-taming space.
Zheng Dong planned to have Xiao Zi use Shadow Arrow to blind the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk.
Xiao Zi’s mastered high-tier skill, Super Vision, had reached the Proficient level. Combined with Shadow Arrow, there was a chance to hit the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk.
But at this moment, the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk attacked again.
It flew into the air and used the high-tier skill Fire Dragon Tornado.
A tornado formed of orange-red flames, connecting heaven and earth, swept towards Zheng Dong and Xiao Zi. Wherever it passed, it became a sea of fire. Even fist-sized rocks were swept into the sky and melted into lava.
Zheng Dong did not panic. He and Xiao Zi used Earth Evasion to hide underground.
Although the Fire Dragon Tornado was powerful, it could not penetrate deep underground. After the outside calmed down, Zheng Dong and Xiao Zi emerged again.
Immediately, Xiao Zi used Shadow Arrow, shooting towards the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk.
With the assistance of Super Vision, Xiao Zi possessed excellent dynamic vision, easily judging the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk’s location.
A shadow-like sharp arrow pierced fiercely into the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk’s ruby-like eye.
Chirp…
The Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk let out a piercing shriek, struggling painfully in the air. Its eye was injured, but it was not blinded.
The enraged Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk then used its super-tier skill, Skyflame!
Skyflame, a super fire-elemental skill, could turn the sky into a sea of fire, forming countless meteor-like fireballs to attack the opponent. Instantly, the surrounding sky turned crimson, as if the sky were burning intensely. Then, countless fireballs descended, seemingly melting the mountain itself.
Large chunks of rock on the mountain melted into lava, emitting steam and flowing down the mountain with a sizzling sound.
Even Zheng Dong, hidden underground, felt an intense heat.
Fortunately, the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk’s mastery of the super-tier skill Skyflame was not high, and its attack range was not very large.
Moreover, Skyflame dealt significant damage to targets in the air and on the ground, but for Zheng Dong and Xiao Zi hiding underground, its power was comparable to the high-tier skills Earth Collapse and Lava Eruption.
This also gave Zheng Dong and Xiao Zi an opportunity to evade the attacks of Skyflame.
The Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk’s use of Skyflame also consumed a considerable amount of energy, and it did not use it continuously.
Thus, Xiao Zi seized the opportunity and used Shadow Clones.
It conjured thirty-six clones and, along with them, used Shadow Arrow, shooting towards the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk again.
The dense Shadow Arrows were silent and extremely fast. The Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk intended to evade, but it couldn’t dodge many of them.
Because the clones also used Super Vision, possessing excellent dynamic vision, and multiple Shadow Arrows could be stacked together, making it harder for the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk to defend.
Furthermore, the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk needed to keep its eyes open at all times while flying, which also gave Xiao Zi and its clones an opening.
With a pained cry from the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk, one of its eyes could no longer withstand it, blinded by the Shadow Arrows.
This scene stunned Principal Ma, his mouth agape. For a few seconds, he was speechless.
This… this… how is this possible!
A transcendent-level Treasure Hunting Rat injuring a Lord-level Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk seemed unbelievable.
But upon closer reflection, it seemed quite reasonable.
Super Vision combined with Shadow Arrow gave Xiao Zi an opportunity to hit the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk. If it were other Treasure Hunting Rats awakening with Rending Gold Arrows, it wouldn’t work. Rending Gold Arrows not only made noise but also couldn’t be stacked together like Shadow Arrows, making it easier for the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk to evade.
Moreover, the super-tier skill Earth Vein Resonance gave Xiao Zi the ability to outlast the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk. If it couldn’t succeed once, it could succeed a hundred or a thousand times to blind the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk.
In addition to this, the Perfection-level Earth Evasion skill was the most crucial, preventing Xiao Zi from being instantly killed by the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk, thereby significantly reducing the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk’s attack effectiveness.
As for the principals and representatives from other schools, they were so astonished they felt like cursing.
Damn it, a monster!
How could a Treasure Hunting Rat be so strong?
How did it learn so many skills?
…
Various questions filled their minds, but no one spoke. They all stared at the large screen, watching to see what would happen next.
The enraged Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk once again used the super-tier skill Skyflame.
This time, it was truly furious. It wouldn’t stop until it burned Zheng Dong and Xiao Zi to death.
Meteor-like fireballs fiercely struck the mountain, scattering flames and debris, forming a sea of fire. Continually, melted rocks formed lava and flowed down the mountain, resembling a scene of doomsday.
Immediately after, the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk used Fire Dragon Tornado, Flame Bullets, and other skills.
Then, it continued to use the super-tier skill Skyflame.
It attacked repeatedly in this manner.
However, Zheng Dong was not only unafraid but also somewhat pleased. The more intensely the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk erupted, the more energy it consumed, and the greater his chances became.
He and Xiao Zi were constantly burrowing deeper underground, evading the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk’s attacks.
They would also conjure clones to attract the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk’s attention.
Every so often, clones of Zheng Dong and Xiao Zi would emerge from the ground, only to be easily destroyed by the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk.
The more this happened, the angrier the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk became. It knew it was being toyed with, as it was only destroying clones.
It unleashed a barrage of fierce attacks.
Unfortunately, after a while, due to its intense energy expenditure, it could no longer use the super-tier skill Skyflame, and could barely even use Fire Dragon Tornado a few times.
Zheng Dong felt that an opportunity had arrived.
However, killing the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk flying in the air was still not easy.
But he did have an idea.
He voluntarily emerged from underground and returned to the surface to draw the Crimson Flame Dragon Hawk’s attacks.
Xiao Zi and its clones, meanwhile, were setting traps underground.