Chapter 65: The Heavy Sword Battles the Corrupt Wolf, Gathering the Third Evolution Point

The next day, Zhang Ran once again left Black Hawk City and ventured into the wilderness to hunt.

On this day, Zhang Ran killed a total of twenty-eight mutant beasts, greatly increasing the condensation of his third evolution point to 60.39%. After selling the materials from the mutant beasts, Zhang Ran had dinner and returned to his apartment.

Just as he had the previous night, Zhang Ran closed his eyes, activated the chip’s simulated combat space with a thought, and let his consciousness submerge into that realm.

A flash of silver light, and Zhang Ran’s awareness appeared in the preparation space. With a mental command, the heavy sword “Breaker of Armies” appeared in his hands. Alone in the preparation space, Zhang Ran began his rigorous training, swinging the sword with intense focus.

With yesterday’s experience to guide him, Zhang Ran found that special sensation again in less than half an hour. The heavy sword felt like an extension of his own body, moving with fluid precision and without the slightest impediment.

After another hour, Zhang Ran had become thoroughly familiar with this unity between man and sword. With a thought, his surroundings shifted into a desolate plain, and six elite Rot Wolves appeared at his side. He intended to reinforce and deepen this state through combat.

“Begin!”

Prepared, Zhang Ran murmured the command. Instantly, the six elite Rot Wolves opened their eyes, staring at him with predatory intent, and lunged from all directions, their sharp claws reaching for his face, throat, and chest.

Confronted by the four wolves, Zhang Ran felt no fear. Gripping the hilt of Breaker of Armies with both hands, he swung it powerfully, sweeping it through the air.

With a heavy whoosh, the sword cleaved a cold arc of light through the space, sending all six Rot Wolves flying. Two of them bore long wounds across their necks, flailed a few times, then lay still—slain by Zhang Ran’s strike. The other four had deep gashes from which blood flowed freely.

“Again!”

Stepping forward, Zhang Ran launched an offensive, sweeping the sword horizontally to split open the abdomen of a Rot Wolf before him. Its crimson organs spilled out, and it howled in agony, writhing helplessly on the ground, unable to fight further.

The three remaining Rot Wolves recovered from their earlier blow, eyes glowing red with hatred as they pounced at Zhang Ran, their limbs propelling them with desperate fury.

“Too weak!”

Gazing at the three wolves, a cold light flashed in Zhang Ran’s eyes. He swept his heavy sword once more, sending a chilling arc outward from his position. Each of the three Rot Wolves was struck by a savage wound, nearly severing them in two; after such grievous injuries, they quickly succumbed.

“Excellent! Indeed, compared to the military dagger, the heavy sword is far superior when dealing with large mutant beasts. However, against smaller ones, the heavy sword feels a bit cumbersome. In those situations, I can still use the dagger. Continue!”

With a thought, Zhang Ran left the combat environment and returned to the preparation space, quietly reflecting on the sensations of battle and analyzing his performance.

After a few minutes, feeling he had absorbed the insights from the previous fight, Zhang Ran entered the combat environment again, this time summoning eight Rot Wolves as opponents.

...

An hour and a half later, his mental energy greatly depleted, Zhang Ran exited the simulated combat space.

During that time, the number of elite Rot Wolves he fought against increased from six to ten, pushing him to his limit. He could go no further.

Through practical training, Zhang Ran’s understanding of the heavy sword deepened. Even in the heat of battle, he could perfectly maintain the unity of man and sword, unleashing the sword’s most agile aspect.

By now, Zhang Ran’s mastery of the heavy sword had reached its pinnacle. Even those who had spent thousands of hours training might not surpass his insight. Zhang Ran’s understanding transcended mere technique, approaching the realm of true mastery.

After practicing the Eight Forms of Body Tempering and refining the residual evolution energy in his body, Zhang Ran showered and, aided by the chip, entered deep sleep.

On the third day, after another full day of combat, Zhang Ran slew thirty-one mutant beasts. The condensation of his third evolution point reached 92.41%, only a step away from solidifying it and advancing to a Level 2 evolver.

Moreover, after this period of hunting, Zhang Ran’s stats had improved markedly: strength reached 3.641, constitution 3.552, agility 3.479, and spirit 3.391.

His strength and constitution had already surpassed the 3.5-point limit of Level 1 evolvers—thanks to the “Extraordinary Evolution” rune and the Tree of Evolution breaking his bodily constraints, allowing him to endlessly enhance his attributes.

Returning to his apartment, Zhang Ran, as before, entered the simulated combat space and began training with the heavy sword Breaker of Armies.

Unlike the day before, this time Zhang Ran’s opponents were not elite Rot Wolves, but a variety of other mutant beasts. He also stopped focusing solely on the heavy sword, instead integrating it with his abilities, striving to meld the sword into his combat system and maximize his fighting power.

After three hours of training, Zhang Ran battled dozens of mutant beasts with his heavy sword, further improving his mastery and perfectly combining the sword with his abilities.

On the morning of the fourth day—

“Today, I can condense the third evolution point and advance to Level 2 evolver! A brand-new second ability—I’m looking forward to it!”

Leaving Black Hawk City, Zhang Ran set out to hunt with anticipation.

Three hours later...

A crimson spike of blood shot forth, piercing the head of a Level 1 mutant beast, the Red Scythe Mantis. Evolution energy drifted from the corpse and surged into Zhang Ran’s body.

As the energy entered, it circulated once through his body before quickly merging into his spinal bones.

With the influx of evolution energy, the previously loose embryonic evolution point in his spine began to contract, its color shifting from pale beige to gold.

“Success!”

Sensing the transformation of the evolution point in his spine, Zhang Ran’s eyes shone with excitement, his heart pounding. At the same time, the chip’s notification sounded in his ear.

“Red Scythe Mantis slain. Body absorbs evolution energy. Evolution point condensation +1.14%. Current progress: 100%. Embryonic evolution point undergoing metamorphosis. Advancement to Level 2 evolver will follow upon completion.”

“Red Scythe Mantis slain. Evolution energy absorbed. Physical stats increased: strength +0.002, constitution +0.001, agility +0.001, spirit +0.001. Current stats: strength 3.661, constitution 3.562, agility 3.488, spirit 3.397.”