Chapter 82 – Grey-Blood Valley

An hour later.

Lin Ze and the others finally stepped into the second ring area.

Between the second ring and the third ring, there was likewise a ring-shaped colossal wall.

Only, unlike the Pale Wall, it was different.

The colossal wall surrounding the second ring was pitch-black all over, as deep and somber as obsidian.

Hence, it was also known as the Deep Dark Wall.

After passing through the gate of the Deep Dark Wall, what came into view was a vast, boundless expanse of gray land.

There was not a single plant on the land.

All that existed were countless jagged, grotesque rocks and weathered bones.

“Our destination is Grey-Blood Valley.”

Song Ting spread out the map and pointed to a marked location on it.

“Head northwest, and we’ll be there in less than five kilometers.”

Grey-Blood Valley was rich in Grey-Blood Stones.

The latter was a rather rare material.

A one-kilogram Grey-Blood Stone could be sold to the academy’s logistics department for as much as 2,000 Resource Points.

Besides that.

Grey-Blood Valley was one of the few locations in the second ring with relatively lower danger.

Low risk, high reward.

In light of this, most students who came to explore the second ring of the Stone-Condensing Secret Realm would choose to go to Grey-Blood Valley to mine ores.

Lin Ze and the others were naturally no exception.

Moreover, with Guo Xinyi’s Spatial Item at hand, the amount of Grey-Blood Stones they could collect and store far exceeded that of an ordinary team.

It was foreseeable that this trip would yield no small harvest.

“Be careful—from here on, large numbers of Tier 5 Ferocious Beasts will be appearing!”

Song Ting warned with a grave expression.

Tier 5 Ferocious Beasts, which were still rare in the third ring, were everywhere here.

With their team’s strength, they could still handle single-digit numbers of Tier 5 Ferocious Beasts smoothly.

But if they encountered more than twenty Tier 5 Ferocious Beasts, they could only flee in panic.

Upon hearing this, the others all nodded solemnly.

Only Lin Ze nodded on the surface while inwardly hoping they would encounter more Ferocious Beasts.

It had been barely over half a day since entering the Stone-Condensing Secret Realm.

Rock Ghost’s Growth Rate had already increased by more than 10%.

Soaring straight to 80.23%.

Its Level had also risen to Tier 5, Stage 3.

The efficiency of strength enhancement far surpassed wilderness hunting.

“After all, the Levels and density of Ferocious Beasts in the Secret Realm are much higher than in the wilderness.”

Lin Ze sighed inwardly.

Even if he didn’t gather materials to earn Resource Points, the Secret Realm was still a very suitable training ground just for raising Growth Rate.

Lin Ze made up his mind that after Xiao Xue and Rock Ghost evolved, he would find another opportunity to enter the Secret Realm alone for training.

“The academy’s Secret Realm has headcount requirements, but the Beast Tamer Association’s doesn’t—though you do have to pay to enter.”

While pondering, Lin Ze took the time to summon Rock Ghost’s Pet Beast panel.

His gaze then fell on the last unlocked Skill.

[Boulder Impact]: An Advanced Skill of ‘Stone Shot Volley’. Condenses Earth Element to create a massive boulder and hurl it at the enemy. Unlock requires 80% Growth Rate and 300 Achievement Points.

Lin Ze still had over 500 Achievement Points on hand.

Without hesitation, he immediately unlocked the Skill.

In an instant.

The information on the panel changed.

[Name]: Rock Ghost

[Level]: Tier 5, Stage 3

[Skills]: Earth Thorns, Boulder Impact, Stone Burst, Rock Guardian

[Divinity Path, next Evolution Form [Spirit of the Earth], requirements: 100% Growth Rate, Superior Earth Element Essence X30, Spirit-Bearing Stone X3]

Closing the panel, Lin Ze looked ahead.

The instant his gaze shifted, a cracking sound like stone shattering suddenly came from the darkness ahead.

Everyone immediately halted, assuming combat stances.

The next moment.

Over a dozen skeletal humanoid figures emerged slowly from the darkness, wielding bone-forged weapons.

Rumble, rumble, rumble…

The monsters advanced with eerily synchronized steps, their heavy footfalls shaking the ground and kicking up dust.

The low, rumbling sound pounded against their eardrums.

Though their numbers were hardly overwhelming, they created the momentum of a charging army.

“They’re Earthborn Monsters!”

Gu Lengyan said in a low voice.

The girl’s expression was somewhat grave.

Earthborn Monsters were Tier 5 Ferocious Beasts of the dual Earth and Undead Attributes.

Most of the time, they lay dormant buried deep underground, only awakening and bursting forth from the earth when they detected prey.

Their entire skeletal bodies were covered in sharp, armor-like protrusions.

They looked fragile, but were in truth as hard as rock.

Attacks below Tier 5 barely affected them.

In addition, they possessed formidable strength, considerable speed, and could wield their bone weapons with great dexterity.

Earthborn Monsters were only Tier 5, Stage 1 in Power Level.

A single one wasn’t much of a threat.

But once they were allowed to gather in groups and organize into army-like formations, they became a real headache.

The number before them was undoubtedly troublesome.

Without waiting for the Earthborn Monsters to attack, everyone struck out simultaneously with unspoken coordination.

In that instant.

Countless ranged attacks rained down upon the Earthborn Monsters like a violent storm.

Rock Ghost struck first, condensing a millstone-sized boulder between his hands out of thin air.

Then he hurled it viciously at the Earthborn Monsters.

Boulder Impact!

With a piercing whistle through the air, the massive stone descended from above carrying wild, violent force, slamming hard into the leading Earthborn Monster.

Its skeletal frame, tough enough to withstand cannon fire, cracked and shattered under the boulder’s impact.

Countless bone fragments burst and scattered in all directions.

The Earthborn Monster struck by the boulder was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground and unable to get up for a long while.

A single strike.

And it had gravely wounded a Tier 5 Earthborn Monster.

Witnessing this, the girls widened their eyes in shock.

Liu Man and Song Ting exchanged glances, both seeing the bewilderment and surprise in each other’s eyes.

How did it feel like… Lin Ze’s Earth Attribute Ferocious Beast had grown considerably stronger?

And also.

The Skill he had just used seemed to have increased greatly in power as well.

The two’s impression was still stuck on the pre-evolution Stone Shot Volley.

So naturally, they were utterly astonished by the power of the evolved Boulder Impact.

Liu Man couldn’t help but steal a glance at Lin Ze’s profile.

She felt that the more she interacted with him, the more mysterious and inexplicable this junior became.

He gave off an increasingly enigmatic and unfathomable impression.

The battle lasted for about half an hour.

Though their individual strength far surpassed their enemies, facing a number of Ferocious Beasts twice their own, everyone still had to put in considerable effort to wipe out their opponents.

After collecting the materials, Lin Ze’s group didn’t linger and continued forward.

Along the way, they advanced in fits and starts, eliminating several waves of Ferocious Beasts without much danger.

After nearly three hours, everyone finally arrived at Grey-Blood Valley.

Looking out before them.

The vast valley stretched in a bleak expanse of greyish white.

Sheer cliff faces, rubble scattered across the ground, winding hollows… everything in sight was tinged with a chilling, eerie greyish-white hue.

Only when their eyes wandered did they occasionally spot a tiny speck of crimson blood-red.

And that was the goal of their journey—the Grayblood Stone!

With their Pet Beasts clearing the path ahead, the group cautiously made their way into the valley.

But not long after they entered the valley,

Xu Bing and his companions also arrived nearby.