Realm-Hopping Martial Master

「In the C-level Heaven and Earth Secret Realm.」

It wasn't that it only contained third-order Mutant Beasts; first and second-order Mutant Beasts were just as prevalent. But for the current Jiang Shu, he couldn't be bothered to deal with first and second-order Mutant Beasts anymore. The main reason was that it wasn't worth it and was unnecessary. The flesh of such Mutant Beasts could only provide him with a slight enhancement to his Qi and Blood. Moreover, his primary goal for entering this Secret Realm was to truly hunt a third-order Mutant Beast! He wanted to see the actual gap in combat strength between himself and a third-order Mutant Beast!

As of today, the only third-order Mutant Beast Jiang Shu had truly encountered was that nameless leopard-shaped one. It had been in a critically injured state, and he had merely struck the final blow, picking up an easy kill. It didn't count as a true confrontation. The Fog Python he had seen in the mountains of Pingling County through a telescope had also been affected by Qiu Yushan's schemes and tricks, its combat strength greatly reduced. Furthermore, that Fog Python had just reached maturity; its strength was far from its peak. That was why Qiu Yushan had been able to kill it with just a few slashes.

Only now, with this Mountain Splitting Bear, was it the first time he was up close and personal with a true third-order Mutant Beast!

The Mountain Splitting Bear. Its power might not surpass the Fog Python's, but it definitely exceeded that of the leopard-shaped Mutant Beast!

If I were to charge at it with my current strength, I might not die, but I'd be severely wounded!

A Martial Artist facing a Mutant Beast still had too many shortcomings. Especially now, as he had just stepped into the Refining Internal Realm and advanced to Hua Jing. His internal organs were not yet fully tempered, and he hadn't mastered a single Middle Grade martial art.

However, he wasn't without any trump cards.

Humans, on their own, could not compare with wild beasts. To become the masters of Xuanxing, they relied on their skillfulness in using tools!

A C-rank pistol! For an ordinary Martial Artist, such a pistol isn't very useful because firing it, hit or miss, exposes their position. Only a Hua Jing Master could escape from, or even slay, a third-order Mutant Beast!

He lay stealthily in wait; through his binoculars, the Mountain Splitting Bear's silhouette was still wandering in the valley. One by one, second-order Mutant Beasts brought it flesh as tribute.

It really is a local overlord-level existence, no need to go out hunting for food.

Although the martial paths are different in the two worlds, the direction of mutation and evolution of the Mutant Beasts seems to be somewhat similar.

After becoming a Hua Jing Master, his access in the Martial Artist Alliance was upgraded once again. He could now look over a lot of information that Dark Force Martial Artists couldn't see.

According to the research institute, third-order Mutant Beasts undergo a true mutation and evolution. This isn't just in terms of strength, speed, and agility. Some Mutant Beasts living in lava, after stepping into the third order, suddenly devoured lava and would spit it out during combat! Some in deep waters could stir up whirlpools at will. Others underwent physical changes, spontaneously growing a horn. This kind of mutation was something that second-order Mutant Beasts definitely didn't have.

And the Mountain Splitting Bear, among third-order Mutant Beasts, was an extremely famous existence! Its temperament was irritable, it lived alone, and was extremely bloodthirsty.

Unlike other bear-type Mutant Beasts, the body of the Mountain Splitting Bear was not covered in fur, but layer upon layer of Scale Armor! From afar, it looked like a massive, beast-shaped tank! Such Scale Armor allowed it to easily break through numerous rocks. The more Scale Armor it had, the more powerful the Mountain Splitting Bear was!

After all, given the toughness of the Mountain Splitting Bear's Scale Armor, an ordinary alloy combat saber couldn't completely breach it, let alone the flesh and blood of an ordinary Martial Artist!

The one in front of him now, among its kind, appeared to be one of the weaker ones. Only its claws and back displayed Scale Armor. That meant its other areas were actually weak points that could be injured with a C-rank pistol!

Grasping the C-rank pistol, Jiang Shu's eyes were cold.

If it were an ordinary person firing for the first time, even if they didn't panic, they wouldn't be able to aim accurately enough to hit with a single shot. But for a Hua Jing Master, his body had long been under his complete control; every inch, every piece of his flesh and bone, was perfectly mastered. For such an existence, as long as they wished to learn, there wasn't a single basic bodily change they couldn't learn instantly. Marksmanship—aligning three points—is a skill ordinary people can learn with practice. For Jiang Shu, it was far too simple!

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Three shots in rapid succession!

Jiang Shu immediately rolled away, retreating several steps. Three specially made alloy bullets, traveling at supersonic speeds, shot directly toward the Mountain Splitting Bear's head, eyes, and abdomen.

The bullets moved very quickly, but the Mountain Splitting Bear seemingly sensed the danger at the very last moment. It actually shook its head, dodging the most lethal bullet intended for its head. The one aimed at its eye also missed, hitting an ear instead and blowing it apart. Only the abdomen was accurately struck by an alloy bullet.

Instantly, a roar was heard, and a large amount of blood flowed from its abdomen. The Mountain Splitting Bear had never suffered such a grievous wound until now! It roared skyward, its paw snatched forward, and a second-order Mutant Beast—one that would appear immensely powerful to a Dark Force Martial Artist—was immediately devoured, transforming into Qi and Blood to mend its injuries!

But against the specially made alloy bullets, this slight Qi and Blood replenishment was of no avail. The bullet penetrated deep into the flesh and exploded in its abdomen! The massive impact damaged its internal organs.

It roared incessantly, grabbing another beast and stuffing it into its mouth. Dozens of second-order Mutant Beasts, as if suppressed by a powerful aura, whimpered and sprawled on the ground. They dared not escape, nor make any extraneous movements.

After swallowing three or four second-order Mutant Beasts in succession, the Mountain Splitting Bear's abdominal wounds gradually began to heal somewhat, and the blood no longer flowed as wildly as at first. However, what had stopped was only the external bleeding! The internal damage was still extremely serious!

It looked towards Jiang Shu's position! Its ferocious gaze seemed as if it could penetrate all the underbrush.

In an instant, Jiang Shu felt himself targeted.

Damn it!

Even with his preparations, watching the Crack Earth Fierce Bear's body charge furiously towards him, Jiang Shu couldn't help but curse softly as he sprang up from the underbrush.

Missed the head, missed the eyes.

The Mountain Splitting Bear still possesses formidable combat strength!

It's not an opponent I can contend with right now!

I have to wait.

Although I only hit its abdomen, the power of the alloy bullets is immense; the Mountain Splitting Bear is definitely strong on the outside but weak on the inside!

Moreover, the Mountain Splitting Bear's strength and defense were among the top tier of all third-order Mutant Beasts, but its speed and agility were somewhat lacking!

And I have several kinds of footwork techniques, all at Great Success or above. Although these techniques are somewhat inadequate when used at the Hua Jing stage, compared to the injured Mountain Splitting Bear, I still have the upper hand in speed!

With Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength circulating, Jiang Shu immediately swallowed several Blood Strengthening Pills. He stomped the ground fiercely, fracturing it, and his entire body shot backward!

A C-rank pistol, no matter how good, could only be used for long-range attacks in a stealth situation. In close combat, the Mountain Splitting Bear could completely block with its claws or back! Although it was possible a bullet could still penetrate, the power would be greatly reduced! Besides, he only had about ten of these alloy bullets. He had already used three. The remaining seven were needed for other Mutant Beasts!

If I don't have to use them, I won't!

Jiang Shu's gaze was calm. He continuously maintained a distance of a hundred meters from the Mountain Splitting Bear.

A hundred meters. To an ordinary person, this seemed extremely far. But for him and the Mountain Splitting Bear, it was but an instant.

The Mountain Splitting Bear kept roaring, looking at the small figure before it, its fury unabated. Its claws dug chunks of stone from the ground, continuously hurling them at Jiang Shu! The stones, like meteors, were incredibly fast and powerful. An ordinary Dark Force Martial Artist, if hit, could be knocked down and severely injured. But for Jiang Shu, the Little Dipper Steps were enough to cope.

Facing this Mountain Splitting Bear, he was still extremely confident.

Even if its 'little universe' were to erupt, I could simply throw a C-rank grenade on the spot and instantly transport back to the Da Jing Dynasty! All fears stem from insufficient firepower! With a C-rank pistol and C-rank grenades, I'm already in an invincible position against the Mountain Splitting Bear.

Jiang Shu's eyes narrowed. The angrier the Mountain Splitting Bear became, the more advantageous it was for him!

Animals, no matter how mutated or evolved, ultimately can't match human intelligence! Sunk cost! As long as I keep baiting it, constantly making the Mountain Splitting Bear think it's just a split second from catching me, it will keep chasing. And its injuries will become increasingly severe!

In this place where oxygen is scarce, if we Martial Artists find it hard to breathe, do the Mutant Beasts have it any easier? Wait until it loses more blood. Wait until its internal organs endure more high-intensity strain from the wounds. Wait until this Mountain Splitting Bear's Qi, Blood, and stamina start to decline. Then, I'll make my move!

The alloy combat saber was already gripped in Jiang Shu's hand.

He deliberately slowed down a bit. Jiang Shu felt the Mountain Splitting Bear closing in. He suddenly accelerated.

After repeating this several times, he finally detected unwillingness and rage in its roars. He could clearly sense the Mountain Splitting Bear's breathing growing heavier!

It's time to give it a try!

In this Heaven and Earth Secret Realm, the battle line absolutely cannot be drawn out too long.

Moreover, third-order Mutant Beasts all had their own territorial awareness. This area was the Mountain Splitting Bear's territory.

If I run too far, I might run into the territory of another third-order Mutant Beast. Then I'd really be in trouble. Besides, I've been running long enough. It's time to let this beast taste whether the alloy combat saber in my hand is sharp!

Jiang Shu spun around abruptly. The backpack on him was instantly unslung and tossed aside. Famished Tiger Roar Mountain Strength gathered in his arms, his power erupting terrifyingly!

He leaped up.

The Minor Leaping Skill—Fierce Tiger Jumping!

Towards the relentlessly charging Mountain Splitting Bear, he brought his combat saber down with a slash!