Chapter 14

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Song Duoduo trained alongside Xu Jintang and the others, gaining extensive practical combat experience. The moment the green venomous scorpion appeared, she quickly activated her supernatural ability. A dark purple mandrake flower slowly began to grow wildly outside the cave. As a gentle breeze swept through, the mandrake swayed, releasing hallucinogenic pollen that gradually filled the air.

The green venomous scorpion, crawling outward, inhaled the pollen and soon appeared dazed, halting in place. It looked as if intoxicated, its once-raised tail drooping down. This was the perfect opportunity.

“Scarlet Flame of the Nine Heavens!” Song Tianqi acted swiftly, expertly summoning nine flames of crimson fire that crashed toward the green venomous scorpion.

“Hissss…” The first green venomous scorpion to emerge collapsed immediately. Its tail continued to twitch helplessly on the ground.

Before they could celebrate, the remaining three green venomous scorpions inside the cave poured out.

Seeing three scorpions appear simultaneously, Song Duoduo grew anxious. “What should I do? I can only control one.”

“I’ll handle the other two,” said Xu Jintang, crushing two attack runes in his palm.

Two blades of air, formed from his energy, shot out toward two of the scorpions just emerging from the cave.

“Cling—”

The air blades struck the scorpions’ shells with a crisp collision, leaving deep gashes behind. Green venomous scorpions were notoriously vengeful; whoever struck them would become their sole target. After Xu Jintang intervened, the scorpions’ hatred immediately focused on him.

The two injured scorpions raised their tails and swiftly crawled toward Xu Jintang’s position. A faint glow flickered around him as he activated his supernatural ability—Domain of Slowness.

The domain’s power enveloped the entire area, and the scorpions that had been agile moments ago now seemed weighed down by an invisible burden, each step heavy and sluggish.

Taking advantage of this, Song Duoduo and Song Tianqi pulled one scorpion aside and engaged it in combat.

Xu Jintang turned and ran swiftly backward. Since the green venomous scorpions were poisonous, he had no intention of recklessly facing two opponents alone. His goal was simply to hold off the two scorpions until Song Tianqi and Song Duoduo finished off the one they were fighting, then come to his aid.

After putting some distance between himself and the scorpions, Xu Jintang stopped, turned around, and produced a dagger with a chipped blade. This dagger had suffered considerable damage in previous battles, and he hadn’t had time to repair it yet. He would have to make do for now.

The two green venomous scorpions halted, their tails raised high as their glowing stingers shot out rapidly toward Xu Jintang.

He dropped into a crouch and rolled twice on the ground, narrowly avoiding the poison needles. Supporting himself on the ground, he stopped rolling and fixed his gaze on the scorpions.

Rain mixed with the soil to form mud, all of which stuck to his palms.

Suddenly, one scorpion slammed its tail into the ground with force, emitting a powerful psychic wave. At the same time, the Domain of Slowness was shattered.

Squinting, Xu Jintang acted quickly, raising his dagger as he charged one of the scorpions.

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The dagger’s blade pierced toward the scorpion’s eye. Though quick to evade, the scorpion was grazed, blood welling from the injury.

Infuriated, the wounded scorpion fiercely sprayed poison needles.

Xu Jintang sprang to his feet, slashing incoming needles with his dagger.

“Cling—”

The needles were deflected by the blade, falling harmlessly to the ground.

Seizing the moment, Xu Jintang lunged forward and stabbed hard with his dagger. The sharp blade penetrated the scorpion’s body, releasing a spray of green blood.

The scorpion died instantly, collapsing lifelessly.

The remaining scorpion was soon dispatched by the combined efforts of Song Duoduo and Song Tianqi.

Xu Jintang exhaled in relief, withdrawing his dagger and turning to look toward the cave.

The rain grew heavier, soaking their clothes and weighing them down, hampering movement.

Xu Jintang wiped rain from his face, only to have mud mix with the water on his sleeve and smear across his cheek.

“Only the second-tier green venomous scorpion remains,” Song Tianqi observed, retreating to one side alongside Song Duoduo. Both kept watchful eyes on the cave.

First-tier beasts were limited in their attacks and easier to handle, but second-tier beasts were a different matter.

The ground trembled as a massive, sinister green venomous scorpion—almost filling the entire cave—slowly appeared before the three.

Its emerald shell was more vibrant, and its raised tail measured over a meter, with a thicker stinger at the tip.

Feeling the terrifying aura of this second-tier beast, Song Duoduo swallowed nervously. “Can we… really defeat it?”

While first and second tiers seemed close in rank, their strength could differ by three or four times.

Xu Jintang calmly flexed his wrists. “How will we know if we don’t try?”

At that moment, the enormous green scorpion swung its tail violently, shooting three poison needles in a flash.

“Watch out for the needles,” Xu Jintang warned, swiftly rolling to the side.

Song Duoduo and Song Tianqi followed suit, running apart to either side.

The poison needles missed and embedded into the earth, rapidly turning the soil black and releasing green toxic fumes.

“Damn, that poison’s intense,” Song Tianqi cursed under his breath.

Song Duoduo looked worried. “Here’s a problem—my hallucinogenic power only affects enemies of the same tier. This second-tier beast might be immune.”

“No worries, I’ve got this,” Song Tianqi said, excitement rising as he began summoning the crimson flames.

Xu Jintang gripped his dagger, eyes gleaming as he charged forward.

Song Duoduo sighed and prepared to join the fight.

The second-tier green venomous scorpion moved and reacted noticeably faster.

When Xu Jintang reached it, the scorpion quickly retreated, swinging its tail again to launch a volley of poison needles.

Xu Jintang was forced to halt his attack and dodge sideways.

At that moment, Song Tianqi arrived, surrounded by nine swirling crimson flames. Wherever he moved, intense heat followed.

Seizing the scorpion’s momentary unawareness, Song Tianqi dashed forward and raised his hands, directing the nine flames to strike.

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“Sizzle—”

Though the scorpion dodged swiftly, two of the crimson flames struck it, scorching its once-smooth shell and leaving burnt patches. The beast looked disheveled and enraged.

It let out a sharper shriek, raising its tail high and crawling toward Xu Jintang, who was nearest.

Song Duoduo quickly cautioned, “My hallucinogenic effect won’t work against higher-tier enemies. Don’t rush in recklessly.”

Xu Jintang sprang up and retreated swiftly. Against a higher-tier foe, his Domain of Slowness was ineffective, and he had no intention of wasting energy activating it again.

Now the scorpion was nearly upon him, tail raised high, aiming its sting at him.

In the face of imminent danger, Xu Jintang snapped fully alert and dodged to the side, feet firmly planted as mud splattered around.

“Squad leader, what now?” Song Duoduo asked anxiously. “Besides Song Tianqi’s flames and attack power, our control abilities are useless.”

Continuing the fight would certainly put the three of them at a disadvantage.

Xu Jintang pursed his lips, deep in thought, about to speak when Song Tianqi interrupted.

“Can you buy me ten seconds? I have a way to finish it off.”

Song Duoduo blinked, surprised. “Really?”

Xu Jintang glanced at him as well.

The scorpion, clearly impatient, missed its strike and immediately swung its tail again, launching another barrage of poison needles.

Song Tianqi dodged while speaking, “It’s true. I have a method, but it requires time.”

The scorpion slammed its tail into the ground, poisoning the nearby earth black.

After hesitating, Song Duoduo said, “I can only hold it off for three seconds—that’s my limit.”

This surprised Xu Jintang. Despite seeming unreliable, both had hidden trump cards.

“Long Ge (Brother Long), if I fully activate my ice element, can I hold for seven seconds?” Xu Jintang asked the ice dragon within his spiritual sea.

The ice dragon’s voice came swiftly: “Yes.”

Xu Jintang immediately gained confidence, halting his retreat. “I’ll take the remaining seven seconds.”

Song Duoduo and Song Tianqi exchanged glances.

The situation was too urgent for prolonged deliberation.

Song Tianqi withdrew his gaze, inhaled deeply, and stopped dodging the scorpion’s attacks. “Then I’ll start.”

He raised both hands, and the Vermilion Bird Talisman, glowing red, appeared before him.

As an offensive skill, Scarlet Flame of the Nine Heavens was formidable, but the Vermilion Bird Talisman’s role for the First Military Academy’s special recruits was far beyond mere attack power.

Soon, the nine flames slowly formed under Song Tianqi’s control. His expression grew serious as he forced the flames to coalesce.

This was the second form of Scarlet Flame of the Nine Heavens: Scarlet Flame Explosion.

By compressing the nine flames into one concentrated fireball, it created a far more destructive blaze.

As the flames were compressed, crackling bursts echoed through the air.

A terrifying power was brewing in Song Tianqi’s hands.

Nearby, Song Duoduo and Xu Jintang stood side by side, faces grave, readying themselves against the second-tier green venomous scorpion.