Chapter 758 - 751: Challenge

Chapter 758: Chapter 751: Challenge

Zhou Yuanjue looked at the number one spot on the regional leaderboard, a hint of surprise on his face. He remembered the intel from Zoros and the others stating that the top-ranked individual in the Deep Blue Safety Zone was Chishan, the leader of the Red Scale Organization. But now, it was a different name.

Dorobaku Hurricane?

’A strange name. I’ve never heard it before.’

For Zhou Yuanjue, who had just entered the True Realm, the title of the Elemental Clan was completely foreign.

Then, he saw Chishan’s name, ranked second on the regional leaderboard.

’He was defeated? Interesting.’

A look of interest appeared in Zhou Yuanjue’s eyes. It seemed the situation in the Deep Blue Safety Zone had changed considerably.

However, that had little to do with him.

He had come here for one reason only: to challenge someone stronger.

Who held the number one spot didn’t matter. What mattered was whether that person was strong enough to give him the pressure he sought.

He focused his thoughts on the name at the top of the regional leaderboard and activated the mandatory challenge function.

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「Deep Blue Safety Zone.」

Dorobaku was in a Cultivation Room, practicing his Forging Technique.

He wasn’t afraid of retaliation from the Red Scale Organization. Or, more accurately, he didn’t believe they would dare to retaliate now that their leader had been defeated.

In fact, as the victor, he received treatment similar to what Zhou Yuanjue had in the Ziying Safety Zone. The Red Scale Organization gave him ten percent of their daily income as "Tribute" for his presence in the Deep Blue Safety Zone.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!!

A fierce wind whipped through the Cultivation Room. Dorobaku was not wearing his black cloak, leaving his entire body exposed.

His body was a translucent, humanoid form that seemed to be made of solidified gas. It had no gender or physical characteristics, and its surface was perfectly smooth. The only discernible features were his pair of pale green eyes.

GURGLE! GURGLE!

A pale green sphere was currently moving about within his transparent body.

This was his Life Heart Core, the most vital part of his body and its only living organ.

This Heart Core seemed to have a somewhat fleshy structure, beating faintly like a heart, yet it was distinct from ordinary flesh.

These fleshy structures had all grown into the shape of Runes. They were densely packed, the Runes themselves forming the flesh, and the flesh forming the Runes.

These were the legendary Eternal Runes, the very essence of how the Elemental Race possessed such a powerful affinity for Elemental Energy, allowing them to use most Rune Abilities without a reserve.

Through countless years of effort and adjustment, their life forms had become fundamentally different from ordinary beings.

Suddenly, all the surrounding wind and Energy subsided. He slowly opened his pale green eyes, a flicker of disappointment in their depths.

’The Forging Technique isn’t progressing as I’d hoped.’

’That state of near-perfect, harmonious resonance is simply too difficult to achieve on my own, even with my innately powerful Elemental Body.’

However, he refused to rely on drugs or devices to reach that state, even though many beings considered them necessary means to break through the boundary.

But as a member of the Elemental Clan, he was privy to more secret information.

’Aids like drugs and devices are indeed shortcuts, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Taking a shortcut may yield great returns quickly, but it always comes at a price.’

’Perhaps there’s no discernible difference in the resulting Energy Level or abilities immediately after the breakthrough, but it creates huge disadvantages in the long run.’

’Relying on such shortcuts to break through means that when you reach higher realms, you’ll need even more external assistance.’

’For ordinary experts, that’s fine. But for powerful beings at Type Three or above, there are very few things in this True Realm that can assist them, and all of them come at an enormous cost. At that stage, the slightest differences in one’s foundation are magnified infinitely.’

’Ordinary experts can rely on drugs and devices to succeed, but the top-tier experts can only rely on themselves.’

Therefore, while still at a low realm, he would never even consider relying on drugs.

’It seems the elders in my clan were right. Only under immense pressure, with a sufficiently heightened Spirit and emotional state, can I achieve that ultimate resonance. I must keep searching...’

Dorobaku slowly stood up. He had been in the Deep Blue Safety Zone for half a month, and he was ready to begin the next leg of his journey.

Just then, however, the Life True Talisman within his Life Heart Core suddenly vibrated.

A message entered his mind.

"A mandatory challenge message?"

An expression of astonishment appeared on Dorobaku’s face after he read the message.

’A mandatory challenge message? And it’s a challenge initiated across Point tiers?’

’Even after I defeated Chishan, and with my identity as a Descendant of an Elemental Clan known, someone in this tiny Level 2 Safety Zone still dares to challenge me?’

’Could it be some powerful genius like myself, from a prominent clan, who just entered Chaotic Paradise?’

’Zhou Yuanjue...’

’That strange name... I’ve never heard it before. He shouldn’t belong to any of the known major clans.’

’Well, this is interesting. Just what kind of person has the guts to challenge me?’

He thought for a moment, then spent a large number of Points to look up Zhou Yuanjue’s information via his Life True Talisman.

’His strength is below the First layer Transformation Boundary? What is this guy’s deal?’

A look of confusion crossed Dorobaku’s face. ’People who can initiate a cross-tier challenge are usually not nobodies. For one, achieving Third level Authority isn’t easy. Then there’s the fifty thousand Value Points required for the challenge itself. Without the backing of a powerful faction, or immense personal strength, it’s extremely difficult for a candidate with Third level Authority to afford that. No one would waste such a vital resource on a gamble.’

"An unknown opponent? I’m actually starting to look forward to this. To think I’d run into something so interesting right before I was about to leave."

"It’s highly unlikely he’ll be able to stand against me, but who knows? Maybe there will be an unexpected surprise."

Dorobaku said with a smile.

And soon, news that Dorobaku—the recent center of the storm in the Deep Blue Safety Zone—had accepted a mandatory challenge spread like wildfire, causing another massive uproar.

Who on earth would dare to issue a mandatory challenge right after Dorobaku had so easily defeated Chishan?!