Chapter 14: Wisdom and Strength​​

"Keep moving forward. Things might get tricky from here."

Wang Shikong remained calm. The Decayed Manor dungeon contained over three hundred monsters, and this was only the beginning.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

As they pressed on, the sound of barking echoed through the air. Four demonic hounds charged toward them with savage ferocity.

"This time, I’ll attack," declared Fa Xiu Tiancheng, immediately beginning an incantation.

Lao Hu, Yao Yi, and the other two melee fighters rushed forward to intercept. Jing Shan stood at the center, wielding a blade in one hand and a shield in the other. Earth elements gathered around his shield, clearly signaling his path as a defender. Lao Hu’s longsword blazed with fire, while Yao Yi crackled with lightning. All three possessed exceptional combat skills, honed through rigorous training.

Beside Wang Shikong, bolts of light arrows shot forth.

​​[ -350 ]​​

​​[ -350 ]​​

...

The Level 4 demonic hounds had higher defense, slightly reducing the impact of Wang Shikong’s attacks. Still, each strike took out more than half their health. Four light arrows flew in just over two seconds.

He didn’t stop there. Wave after wave of light arrows continued to assault the hounds like a laser gun. Wang Shikong refrained from using other abilities, relying solely on light-element attacks.

First, he possessed the Holy Light Scripture and the Book of Divine Words, granting him +50% damage and +50% casting speed for light-element spells. Second, he never revealed all his cards in front of others—especially not fusion skills like the Five Elements Convergence Technique.

"Never expose all your trump cards."

That was a lesson every cultivator would come to embrace in the years to come. Once your secrets were laid bare, death was never far behind. Due to the interplay of elemental strengths and weaknesses, fully exposing your abilities gave your opponents a 50% higher chance of killing you.

"Swoosh!"

Beside Wang Shikong, Fa Xiu Tiancheng launched a Fireball, only for it to land awkwardly on a hound already slain by Wang Shikong’s second arrow. The wasted effort made him scratch his head in embarrassment.

"Huh, more drops—sixty Yuan Coins and two demonic fangs."

After the four hounds fell, Yao Yi collected the loot and handed it over, her eyes gleaming. "Captain, your attack speed is insane. I should’ve chosen to be a spellcaster too."

Wang Shikong shook his head. "Melee and magic each have their strengths. If you master combat techniques to the highest level, killing monsters at your tier becomes effortless."

He’d seen top-tier melee fighters who could slay foes without relying heavily on skills, using pure combat finesse instead. Some assassin-type melee fighters were even deadlier—striking lethally before vanishing without a trace.

"Techniques, huh?" Yao Yi nodded thoughtfully. Over the past ten days, she’d begun to grasp their importance.

The group pressed onward, soon encountering five more hounds. Under Wang Shikong’s overwhelming assault, they were swiftly eliminated. Even packs of Level 4 demonic servants mixed with hounds posed little challenge.

After dozens of kills, they reached the end of the front courtyard. Ahead lay the central courtyard.

"Captain, the central courtyard is where things get tough," Lao Hu warned. "It’s filled with wandering wraiths and packs of fire rabbits. Especially the rabbits—they attack anyone within twenty meters. The wraiths are Level 6 spellcasters, and the rabbits are Level 4. There are twenty rabbits at a time. Fighting the wraiths draws the rabbits, who charge ahead while the wraiths attack from behind. It’s practically unbeatable!"

"From what we know, no one’s cleared the central courtyard yet."

Wang Shikong gave a slight nod.

He remembered this stage well. In his past life, Ning Qingrou had complained about it for nearly a week. Twenty Level 4 fire rabbits plus a Level 6 wraith—unless a five-man squad was Level 7 or 8 with maxed-out skills and gear, they stood no chance.

Even now, Wang Shikong would need to go all out if he faced it alone. With Lao Hu and the others holding the front line, he’d still have to use some hidden cards.

But later, someone discovered a shortcut.

"Let’s go in."

Wang Shikong signaled, and the three melee fighters stepped in first.

Inside the manor’s central courtyard, a wraith drifted in the distance. Nearby houses burned with flames, clearly housing fire rabbits.

"With the captain’s firepower, handling the wraith shouldn’t be hard, but adding the rabbits..." Jing Shan eyed the wraith, then glanced at the fiery houses, frowning slightly.

"Lure the wraith here," Wang Shikong ordered.

"Lure it?" Lao Hu sounded puzzled but didn’t question it, motioning to Jing Shan.

"A Level 6 Iron Wraith... a spellcaster monster. Three hits would finish me." Jing Shan licked his lips nervously as he cautiously approached the wraith.

Once Jing Shan entered its range, the wraith locked onto him. A beam of dark energy shot toward him.

Jing Shan raised his earth-infused shield.

"Bam!"

The impact rang out as he blocked the attack.

"Come at me!" Jing Shan taunted, growing bolder.

"Argh!"

The wraith let out an eerie shriek.

"Damn it, Captain, save me!"

The next moment, Jing Shan scrambled backward in terror, stumbling and falling. Adrenaline surged through him as he crawled frantically toward the group.

​​[ -230 ]​​

Deep, bone-gashing wounds appeared on his legs.

​​[ Death Claw ]​​

Claws of death erupted from the ground, crippling his legs instantly.

"Only by enduring pain can one become strong," Wang Shikong remarked dryly at the display.

"The Divine says, I love all beings, shedding light to heal the masses—"

Wang Shikong chanted, "Light Healing Divine Art."

Jing Shan, still crawling away, heard only "Light Healing Divine Art" and saw the spell flying toward him. He shuddered, panic intensifying.

"Captain, I messed up, but don’t kill me!" He burst into a desperate sprint, trying to dodge.

Wang Shikong: "..."

The healing light enveloped him, and the wounds on his legs vanished instantly.

"Huh? I... damn, I’m healed?" Jing Shan stood up, feeling warmth spread through his body. He examined himself, his face flushing with embarrassment.

"Hold off the wraith!" Wang Shikong commanded.

Lao Hu and the others snapped into action, rushing to intercept.

Wang Shikong pulled out a torch looted from a gardener and lit it. A stream of Gui Water appeared on the torch, vaporizing into mist as the flame burned. More Gui Water followed, thickening the fog.

"Mystic Wind!"

Wang Shikong waved his arm gently, directing the mist to blanket the nearest fire rabbit den.

"Hold the torch near the mist and keep releasing Gui Water. Don’t let the fog dissipate," he instructed Tiancheng.

"Got it, Captain," Tiancheng replied promptly. Finally useful, he didn’t ask why.

Wang Shikong turned to the three struggling against the wraith. Light arrows streaked through the air.

​​[ -150 ]​​

​​[ -200 ]​​

The barrage instantly eased their pressure. The Level 6 Iron Wraith had only 1,000 HP. Without fire rabbits shielding it, it fell easily.

"Pull another one," Wang Shikong commanded, scanning the area.

"Why... aren’t the rabbits coming out?" Jing Shan muttered in surprise before noticing Tiancheng nearby. "That works?"

"Less talk, more action," Lao Hu urged, eyes brightening with excitement.

Soon, another wraith was lured and swiftly defeated.

Wang Shikong absorbed the Yuan energy and collected the drops, then turned to Tiancheng. "Stop now. Release the rabbits."

"Yes, Captain. You’re incredible—who knew mist could block them?" Tiancheng’s voice held newfound admiration.

"Water counters fire. Fire dislikes water," Wang Shikong stated flatly.

"Twenty fire rabbits, all Iron-tier. We’re counting on you, Captain," Lao Hu said as the rabbits charged furiously.

"Handle them yourselves."

Wang Shikong sat down, not lifting a finger. "The Divine says, to my faithful, I grant courage to charge into battle."

"Divine Inspiration!"

Divine Inspiration boosted attack, speed, and defense by 40% for allies within ten meters. Combined with the light element’s 50% enhancement, Lao Hu, Yao Yi, and Jing Shan’s power surged by 60% instantly.

At Level 5, their stats now rivaled Level 9.

"Damn! My stats jumped sixty percent!" Jing Shan exclaimed in awe.

Lao Hu and Yao Yi stared, dumbfounded. What kind of skill was this? So overpowered?

"Hurry. It drains me heavily," Wang Shikong urged.

"Right!"

They lunged at the rabbits. Against Level 4 Iron-tier foes, their near-Level 10 stats let them kill with two strikes each—each taking less than a second.

In ten short seconds, all twenty rabbits lay dead. Yuan Coins littered the ground, alongside a dropped Iron dagger.

Wang Shikong ended the skill, smiling faintly at the less-than-2-point spirit cost. Early-stage affinity nearing 600 was downright broken.

"Damn, that was insane! I felt like a god!" Jing Shan roared, unable to contain himself.

"Keep going. Clear the central courtyard quickly," Wang Shikong said calmly.

"Haha, we’ll break through the central courtyard soon. First clear is within reach!"

"Having the captain lead us is amazing!"

Tiancheng and the others cheered. Even Yao Yi beamed, her gaze drifting repeatedly toward the calm figure in the wheelchair.