Chapter Sixty-Four: The First Assist

Wang Li had no idea that, in Lin You’s eyes, he had already become a master beyond the Nascent Soul stage and a true senior.

After killing the golden-furred rat, he said to Lin You and Jiang Yu, “The two of you stay behind to repair the city walls. Not a single flame rat must be allowed inside.”

Then he addressed Zhou Qian and several Foundation Establishment disciples, “Follow Zhou Qian. Rebuild the city according to the layout of Vengeance City, and make it quick. The people brought back by Lin Zuo and Luo Heng are also under your command. All I require is that the new city becomes a reliable foothold as soon as possible!”

Once everything was arranged, Wang Li looked at Ling Xiao with a somewhat complicated expression.

Master Sheng wanted him to ensure that Ling Xiao became the greatest winner of the Chosen, thereby reducing the risk of exposing himself. Naturally, he had to comply.

Just now, an opportunity to assist Ling Xiao presented itself.

It was mission number sixty-seven on the task board: eliminate the fifth-rank Flame Rat leader.

This was an individual mission.

The fifth-rank Flame Rat leader wasn’t particularly strong; it was nothing like the troublesome fifth-rank Earth Howl leader. Ling Xiao’s peak Foundation Establishment strength was enough to handle it. The only difficulty was finding the cunning leader, as it was adept at hiding.

The golden-furred rat Wang Li killed was only a fourth-rank Flame Rat, not the core of the main horde. Killing it merely threw the flame rat swarm into temporary chaos; the threat remained. Eliminating the fifth-rank leader was the true solution.

Neither of the Lin brothers had managed to find it, and Wang Li had little hope either. However, Master Sheng could easily locate it.

Master Sheng wanted Wang Li to begin assisting Ling Xiao by helping him eliminate the fifth-rank Flame Rat leader. Wang Li had no reason to refuse; his only hesitation was whether helping Ling Xiao was truly aiding him, or pushing him toward an abyss.

Master Sheng said, “What are you hesitating for? Just do it. The little chubby one is the child of fortune—world consciousness wouldn’t let him come to a bad end for the sake of its own reputation. Otherwise, who would want to be the next pawn?”

“Alright, I trust you!”

With Master Sheng’s reassurance, Wang Li made up his mind and said to Ling Xiao, “Ling Xiao, you’re skilled in mental attacks. Go and slay the rat swarm leader. This will buy time for the new city’s construction and everyone’s return. Are you willing?”

“Ah? I’m only a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I’m afraid I’m no match for a fifth-rank beast,” Ling Xiao replied hesitantly, startled by the request.

Last time, the fifth-rank Earth Howl leader had seriously injured him. Though his wounds had healed, a shadow lingered in his heart; he was in no hurry to face another powerful beast.

Wang Li frowned. “I’ll go with you. What are you afraid of?”

Ling Xiao’s reluctance displeased him, but then he remembered Ling Xiao didn’t know he was a child of fortune and let it go.

Anyone would be afraid under these circumstances.

Ling Xiao’s face changed immediately upon hearing Wang Li would accompany him. He bowed and said, “Your orders, Sir Wang!”

He had seen with his own eyes how Wang Li dispatched the golden-furred rat with a single strike—something even the Lin brothers hadn’t managed. With such a senior by his side, his courage surged.

Master Sheng chuckled, “Heh, this little chubby’s personality... I like it!”

Wang Li replied, “Is this really a child of fortune? He’s a bit timid.”

“He’s not lacking in courage. He simply knows his own limits,” Master Sheng said. “You should learn from him—don’t act recklessly.”

“Let’s go!” Wang Li waved to Ling Xiao, mounted his Blazing Sword, and took off.

“Wait for me, Sir Wang!” Ling Xiao hurried to follow, flying on his sword.

Wang Li wasn’t flying fast—mainly because he couldn’t. After all, his strength had limits.

But to Ling Xiao, this speed was a considerate gesture.

Ling Xiao, still drained from the earlier battle with the flame rats, hadn’t fully recovered. Naturally, his flight speed was affected. With Wang Li’s slower pace, he could recover as they flew... Sir Wang was truly a good man!

Ling Xiao followed Wang Li, who in turn followed Master Sheng’s directions. The two of them drifted leisurely overhead, drawing more attention than they realized.

The fifth-rank Flame Rat leader, hidden among the horde, had witnessed Wang Li kill its subordinate. Even though Wang Li didn’t give off the aura of a master, his unusual attack methods made the leader wary. Seeing Wang Li flying toward it, the leader didn’t dare move a muscle, afraid of revealing its position and drawing attacks from Wang Li or the other expert it had sensed in the city walls.

With Master Sheng’s guidance, Wang Li quickly pinpointed the Flame Rat leader’s location.

One had to admit, this rat was clever. Not only did it know how to disguise itself, but it did so well. It had disguised itself as an ordinary second-rank Flame Rat—fur color and size identical to the others. At second rank, it was neither conspicuous nor expendable. Blending into the countless rats, it was nearly impossible to distinguish as the leader.

But no matter how good its disguise, it couldn’t escape Master Sheng’s perception.

Having confirmed its location, Wang Li quietly transmitted to Ling Xiao, “Do you see that group of flame rats below?”

“Yes,” Ling Xiao nodded slightly.

“Lock onto that second-rank Flame Rat with your mental attack and strike with all your might,” Wang Li said, glancing at the fifth-rank leader.

“Which one?” Ling Xiao asked. There were at least a thousand second-rank Flame Rats below. He couldn’t tell which was the target.

“Uh...” Wang Li was momentarily embarrassed, cursing his own oversight. Master Sheng was in his soul; finding the target was simple enough. But he had no way to share the location directly with Ling Xiao.

After a moment’s thought, he took out a low-grade spirit stone and transmitted, “Get ready. Attack in the direction of this spirit stone. Make it fast—don’t give it a chance to escape.”

“Understood. I’m ready, Sir Wang,” Ling Xiao replied, forming a hand seal in his sleeve. Behind him, a faint sword shadow appeared, nearly invisible to the naked eye.

Without hesitation, Wang Li flicked the spirit stone, sending it hurtling toward the fifth-rank Flame Rat leader.

The spirit stone flew swiftly, tracing a green arc through the air, aimed directly at the leader.

The fifth-rank leader realized its cover was blown and immediately tried to flee.

But Ling Xiao, ever watchful, noticed the leader’s movement at once and locked onto its aura.

His mental attack had a unique feature: once the target was locked, the sword shadow would track and pursue automatically. As long as the target remained within range, it couldn’t evade the attack unless it escaped beyond Ling Xiao’s perception.

The fifth-rank Flame Rat leader was fast, dashing away and leaving a trail of afterimages. But, running on the ground, it simply couldn’t outrun someone flying above. Seeing it escape, Ling Xiao gave chase, refusing to let it slip from his senses.

“Sword, come!”

Ling Xiao seized the opportunity and unleashed the sword shadow.

The sword shadow shot straight for the leader.

Sensing danger, the fifth-rank Flame Rat bristled and, even as it ran at full speed, turned its head and spat a burst of flame at the oncoming sword shadow...