Chapter 43: A Shift in Perspective

To achieve an effective improvement in ability values, combat intensity is exceptionally crucial, especially when confronting the orc monsters appearing on the current floor.

It is no different from the other floors, except that the mist mechanism shrouding the tenth floor elevates the danger level.

"A monster feast..."

"If I kill a large number of monsters, will it trigger this specific mechanism of the dungeon labyrinth?"

Applying the characteristic of killer ants calling for companions when injured to the dungeon labyrinth, Liang Yue decided it was worth a simple test.

This did not conflict with his goal. He picked up the magic stones dropped by the defeated monsters, slowed his pace, and concentrated on observing the surrounding environment.

Mist filled the air all around. Even when a slash parted the air currents, visibility would only clear up briefly before gradually returning to its previous hazy state as time passed.

"A bit tricky..."

"I need to pass through the current area quickly."

Considering that continuously using "Triple Slash" would impose an immense physical burden and exhaust most of his stamina, Liang Yue put this idea on hold.

One must never judge the treachery of the dungeon with conventional logic. If a monster feast were to suddenly occur while his physical strength was entirely depleted, and without any fellow adventurers to form a party with, acting alone would undoubtedly spell a dead end!

Enduring the extremely poor visibility, Liang Yue cautiously explored the current area to avoid any sudden ambushes by monsters.

His overall advancement speed was relatively slow. Lacking visual reference points, he made a distinct mark on the withered tree trunks with his sword blade whenever he encountered them to prevent himself from walking in circles.

No dangerous episodes occurred. However, as he approached the outer perimeter, the unusually quiet atmosphere nearby alerted Liang Yue.

Aside from the orc he had encountered earlier, no other monsters had been encountered—for the tenth floor of the dungeon, this was deeply abnormal!

And reality proved to be no different from Liang Yue's anticipation. When he stopped in his tracks, he could faintly hear the sound of something rustling through the withered bushes.

Realizing that monsters were about to appear, Liang Yue halted and gripped his short sword tightly, already forming a preliminary judgment in his mind about the upcoming adversary.

They were definitely not bulky orcs. That left only "lesser demons"—monsters with higher intelligence than goblins that favored traveling in tribal packs during combat.

"It really is them!"

"..."

As the monsters continuously drew closer, these lesser demons, their shapes and silhouettes blurred and hidden within the mist, presented themselves before Liang Yue.

Their build was similar to that of goblins. If there was any real difference, it was that they lacked green skin, their entire bodies shrouded in a reddish hide.

Looking closely at their heads, one could still see horns that had not completely degenerated protruding outward, giving them an exceptionally ferocious appearance.

Possessing higher intelligence than goblins, once they adapted to the environment, they would use the mist shrouding the current floor to conceal themselves simply and achieve the effect of ambushing adventurers!

---

What caught Liang Yue's attention was the sheer number of lesser demons appearing before him. Making a comparison based on references and pausing in place for just a short moment, it didn't take long before the surrounding area was swarming with at least several dozen of these minor monsters.

"Quite a large number."

Putting aside the mechanisms of the current floor, using this place as a leveling ground for the "Soul Bender Template" would certainly yield great efficiency. After all, there was a probability of triggering a monster feast.

Scanning the area, having killed countless monsters before, species slightly stronger than goblins posed zero pressure to him at all. To be precise, all these monsters were merely nourishment for his training and capability enhancement!

Looking at the cluster of lesser demons gathering slightly ahead to his side, limited visibility was a problem that always needed to be addressed. Without the cover of the fog, the process would be much simpler.

Seizing the initiative in combat often secured the advantage.

Without continuing to use his dual short swords, he simply put away the mithril short sword, placed his left hand on the scabbard, and gripped the hilt with his right hand.

Liang Yue settled into a lunge and turned his body slightly. Temporarily channeling his power into his right hand, the moment the short sword cleared the scabbard, it left behind only a fleeting afterimage of sword light that was completely imperceptible to the naked eye.

Accompanying this was the sword qi erupted by the Iaido Draw Slash.

The air currents swept up by the sword qi, carrying the mist along, surged toward the direction of the lesser demons, bringing a brief moment of visual clarity.

"Found you!"

Seizing the brief opening for attack, Liang Yue locked his gaze onto his target. The bodily changes brought by his enhanced stats made his short-range burst far beyond imagination.

He gave the lesser demons hiding several meters away, waiting for an opportunity to strike, zero chance to react.

Watching the several monsters within his attack range, he raised his hand and slashed. Even the lesser demons maintaining a greater distance could not escape being sliced apart by the razor-sharp sword qi!

[Exp +91]

"..."

Confirming that this area had been thoroughly cleared, Liang Yue turned around, changed direction, and cast his gaze back toward the mist-shrouded zone.

Iaido techniques similar to "Draw Slash," though manually executed skills, might not be as powerful as the original version, but against large numbers of low-level monsters, they were still useful!

As for the practical combat skills honed against monsters, their utility was limited to the dungeon, because as long as one mastered a monster's combat patterns, they could be easily defeated through clever tactics.

Currently, his PvE capability relied on the sword qi effects of "Li's Weapon Mastery," ensuring he would not face any threats in the upper floors at the very least.

However, regarding practical combat experience against human adventurers, Liang Yue's background was blank in every sense. Any adventurer with even a sliver of skill would never stand in place like a target dummy.

Given the opportunity, he absolutely had to step up his training.

---

First and foremost, he needed to achieve seamless integration and flexible application among the various skills of the "Soul Bender Template"!

Otherwise, no matter how high his level and stats were farmed, he would only ever be a dungeon-crawler and brick-mover, struggling to secure victory when facing opponents of the same rank.

"Then..."

"Let the training begin right now!"

Making changes now was better than suffering losses later when fighting actual adventurers. That was what Liang Yue thought, and he put it into action.

——

The subsequent cleanup of the lesser demons led Liang Yue to abandon the use of the Flowing Stance skills, which provided a wider range of sword qi and damage-boosting buffs.

While high stats were undeniably reliable, relying solely on them over prolonged dungeon training would make one forget the very essence that decided the balance of victory:

"Technique."

Second only to the effects of magic and skills, proficient combat techniques made it easier to find an enemy's breakthrough point during battle and effortlessly defeat them.

If further augmented by sheer stat advantages, the effect would undoubtedly double!

The blueprint laid out before him was vast. Just imagining an adventurer with extremely rich combat skills utilizing flashy techniques to utterly roll right over him made Liang Yue feel quite expectant. This was the ultimate path pursued by a Soul Bender; stats were important, but technique was equally so.

Utilizing his comprehensively enhanced physical fitness after updating his ability values, he broke down the basic sword movements of Li's Weapon Mastery and applied them flexibly to the environmental conditions encountered during his confrontations with monsters.

When encountering monster counterattacks, he analyzed the situation and handled the defense retrospectively. Integrating skills like "Moonlight Slash" and "Backstep Cutter" into his own combat system altered his mindset at a fundamental level.

From the perspective of results, this made Liang Yue's cleanup of the monsters much more proficient, to the point where he became deeply engrossed in it.

Confirming that no surviving monsters remained nearby, he picked up the dropped magic stones.

Just as he was preparing to leave the current area, a fierce wave of crisis suddenly assaulted him, prompting him to halt—the sense of danger was intense.

In the area ahead, about to be refilled by the mist, several bulky orcs could be faintly seen closing in. Not only that, but low-frequency echoes reverberated all around, interfering with his concentration.

The lesser demons he had already cleared out had once again gathered here, rustling as they moved through the low bushes. It could be said that all the monsters on the current floor were converging upon him.

Realizing what was happening, far from feeling fear, Liang Yue felt a surge of adrenaline that ignited a intense fighting spirit.

"I've finally waited for you..."

"Monster Feast!"