The Fourth Disaster: People become gods through high martial arts and gaming

Chapter 229 First-Class Genius

"Deputy Commander Mihos has fled."

"Those three monsters are dead."

"Were all of these made by the Obsidian Martial Arts School?"

Lin Yan watched the players looting the spoils, and for a long time she couldn't believe it.

Putting aside the escaped Mihos, the strength of those three monsters alone was enough to rival a Bone Forging Realm expert when they joined forces. It's hard to imagine that the martial arts disciples of the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy could actually fight against them, and even kill three of them.

"It's hard to believe, but it's true. Vice Commander Mihos escaped, and now it seems that Master Lin has also joined the fight." Wu Zhuoqun looked at the completely altered terrain below and the haphazardly scattered corpses of the garrison commanders in the rift valley. He couldn't think of anything other than a battle between Bone Forging Realm cultivators, and couldn't help but sigh, "These three are dead, and so many captains have died. The Three-Eyed Clan, the Crystal Clan, and the Half-Scale Clan must be furious."

Becoming a member of the garrison in the City of Light is easy, but becoming the captain of the garrison is not. It requires the strength of a high-level martial artist, and without a certain amount of talent, it is really difficult to achieve.

The sudden loss of so many members of the three races is a significant blow, especially since all three of their monsters are gone. This will make many things in the wild much more difficult.

“Isn’t that great?” Lin Yan rarely showed a smile. “Those three clans used to rely on those three monsters to cause a lot of trouble in the wild. Now that those three monsters are gone and so many captains have died, we can be much more relaxed when we move around in the wild in the future.”

The various races in the city are not living in harmony. It is only because martial artists are prohibited from fighting each other in the city that it appears peaceful. However, outside the city, the various races have fought each other quite a bit for various resources and territories.

Such underhanded actions can only be tolerated by whoever suffers the loss, because tearing off the mask of civility benefits no one.

“Indeed.” Wu Zhuoqun nodded, which was rare for him, and then said with a smile, “Then let’s go back and quickly inform the elders about this.”

Wu Zhuoqun and Lin Yan immediately returned to the City of Light and reported this astonishing news to the clan's higher-ups.

"Elder Xiang, that's all the information." Wu Zhuoqun looked at the old man who was listening to the report with his eyes closed in deep thought and said with great respect, "The three clans suffered great losses this time. They may be very likely to harm the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy afterward, especially the disciples of the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy who were able to kill those three monsters. They might resort to underhanded tactics."

"They dare! Old Liu may be dead, but I'm not!" The old man opened his eyes, and his blood and qi surged, instantly filling the entire hall, making Wu Zhuoqun feel that he couldn't move for a moment.

"Elder Xiang, you've broken through?" Wu Zhuoqun looked at the terrifying aura and blood energy that the old man was unleashing, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

The human race is not doing well in the City of Light. They are only slightly better off than the weaker races, and their influence in the city has greatly diminished.

All of this is because there is no top-level Bone Forging Realm martial artist in charge.

If Elder Xiang, a veteran high-level Bone Forging Realm martial artist, could become a top-level Bone Forging Realm martial artist, then the lives of the human race in the City of Light would undoubtedly be much better.

“It’s not that easy to break through.” Old Xiang shook his head. “The top-level Bone Forging Realm seems to be only half a step away from the high-level Bone Forging Realm, but that half step is a huge gap. However, I have indeed made some progress. Recently, I finally managed to get the super-level martial arts I learned to the second level of perfection. Although I can’t compare to those top-level Bone Forging Realm experts, I can still exchange a few blows.”

"Has the second level of the super-grade martial skill been perfected?" Wu Zhuoqun couldn't help but show a happy expression upon hearing this.

Although Elder Xiang did not break through to become a top-tier Bone Forging Realm expert, reaching the second level of perfection in the seventh stage of a super-grade martial art is still extraordinary. After all, most high-level Bone Forging Realm martial artists find it difficult to even master the first level of a super-grade martial art, let alone reach the second level of perfection.

Now, Elder Xiang can be considered a semi-top-level Bone Forging Realm expert.

With such strength, even other powerful clans would not break off relations unless absolutely necessary. After all, a half-top-level Bone Forging Realm expert already has the qualifications to assassinate a high-level Bone Forging Realm expert. If a half-top-level Bone Forging Realm expert were to focus on assassinations, no clan in the City of Light could withstand it, so naturally they would not act recklessly.

"What I'm doing is nothing." Elder Xiang smiled as he looked at the excited Wu Zhuoqun. "Whether our human race can regain its former status in the City of Light depends on your junior sister. As long as she can enter the Domain City, our human race can once again become one of the top ten strongest races in the City of Light."

While Wu Zhuoqun was reporting the news, all the races and major forces in the City of Light also received the message from the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy, and they were all in an uproar.

"What did you say? Those three monsters are dead?" The elegant noblewoman of the Feather Clan looked at the message sent by the golden-haired gorilla and could hardly believe it.

“It’s not just those three monsters who died.” The golden-haired gorilla of the ape clan said with a sense of helplessness, “I’ve received information that Mihos of the three-eyed clan also went there, but he has now fled back to the city. I heard that he was seriously injured. Now many forces are speculating that Lin Qi, the master of the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy, may have made a move.”

"Isn't Lin Qi a newly promoted expert in the Bone Forging Realm?" the elegant noblewoman asked in surprise. "Mihos has been promoted to the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm for more than half a year. He is considered a top expert among the mid-stage Bone Forging Realm experts. How could he possibly defeat Mihos?"

“But Mihos is indeed injured. Regardless of whether Lin Qi has reached the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm, he already has the strength of the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm,” the golden-haired gorilla said. “He is so young and has the strength of the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm. The human race will definitely protect him to the death. It will probably be difficult for us to take over Crimson Moon Town now.”

While those at the initial stage of the Bone Forging Realm are important to all races, they are not considered experts worthy of serious attention.

But once you advance to the middle stage of the Bone Forging Realm, things are different. Even in a powerful clan, you will become a master who can serve as an elder in the clan. You will be a prominent figure in the clan and will no longer be an insignificant person.

"It's just an advancement to the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm." The refined noblewoman curled her lip, completely unconcerned. "With monsters running rampant these days, the cleanup work on the front lines is becoming increasingly difficult. It's only a matter of time before we Bone Forging Realm cultivators are conscripted to clear out those monsters. With his meager strength, it's hard to say whether he'll even survive."

"It's a minor matter indeed," the golden-haired gorilla chuckled. "The city lord has already issued a summons, specifically gathering us high-level Bone Forging Realm warriors to hunt down that earth dragon. We'll have to deal with those high-ranking lords guarding the sidelines, which is no easy task. Right now, the human race only has two high-level Bone Forging Realm warriors. One is guarding a key town on the front lines, and the other is an old guy who's going to be with us this time. If that old guy dies this time, the human race will be completely finished."

Whether a race can live well in a city depends entirely on the strength of its top echelons. The human race has already lost a top-level Bone Forging Realm expert and is now relying on two high-level Bone Forging Realm experts to support it. If it loses another one, it will be completely reduced to a weak race.

At that point, let alone rural towns, even the residential areas in the city center will be difficult to preserve.

City of Light, White Feather Shop on the outskirts.

"None of them have returned?" Isaac asked, his face grim as he listened to his subordinate's report.

The losses this time are enormous!

Not only have his hard-earned group of martial arts subordinates disappeared, but even the treasures he took from Crimson Moon Mountain have now been seized by Obsidian Martial Arts School.

Now he can't even slowly grow his business in the City of Light.

"Chief, why don't we run away quickly?" an elder said. "It's obvious that the Obsidian Martial Arts School is targeting us this time. If we don't escape, we might not even be able to save our lives."

The entire stronghold was wiped out, not a single survivor. They were so ruthless that no one would believe the Obsidian Martial Arts School wasn't targeting them.

They are merely Refining Organs Realm martial artists; once targeted by a Bone Forging Realm expert, even staying in the city would not be safe.

"Run away?" Isaac's face turned ashen, and he hesitated for a moment.

He had worked hard for many years in the City of Light, and if he were to leave the City of Light and start over in another city, who knows how much time that would take.

But if they hadn't tried to escape, being watched by a mid-stage Bone Forging Realm martial artist would have been a sure way to die.

"No! I still have a chance!" Isaac gritted his teeth and said, "Since Lin Qi won't let me live, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Chief, that's a mid-level Bone Forging Realm expert who defeated Mihos." The White Feather Gang elder said with some fear, looking at Isaac, who had a somewhat crazed expression.

Facing a mid-stage Bone Forging Realm expert, they would be lucky to escape; if they dared to provoke him, they would truly have no chance of survival. "The only powerful figure in the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy is Lin Qi. Once Lin Qi disappears, the entire Obsidian Martial Arts Academy will be finished," Isaac sneered. "Although I can't deal with him, someone else can. Once he's dead, I'll have a chance to regain my footing in the City of Light."

"Chief, do you mean to..." Upon hearing this, the elder of the White Feather Gang immediately understood something, his face filled with trepidation.

"The Red Moon Merchant Guild was willing to spend five thousand energy crystals to buy that body-strengthening secret technique. I don't believe that five thousand energy crystals can't buy his life!" Isaac's eyes were filled with madness as he prepared to make one last desperate gamble.

The vast wealth he accumulated from Crimson Moon Mountain is now stored at his stronghold. It's clearly impossible to take it back from Obsidian Martial Arts School. However, if Lin Qi, the school's leader, dies, he will still have a chance to snatch it back. Even if he can only recover a portion, he can still make a comeback.

City of Light, an underground bar in the city center.

Although the sun had just risen, the bar was still bustling with noise. Everyone in the bar possessed strength above that of a quasi-martial artist. They were either discussing something or gathered around the large screen in the lobby, watching the battles and fights on the screen, with people placing bets from time to time.

Isaac walked into the bar, already used to the situation there, and went straight to the largest private room.

The two high-level martial artists guarding the private room checked the red moon emblem on Isaac's body, and after confirming that the emblem was correct, they opened the door of the private room and let Isaac in.

The private room was not decorated in any luxurious way, except for a sofa and a holographic projection of a red moon.

"I want to discuss a business deal with you." Isaac sat down on the sofa and spoke directly to the projected red moon. "Is the price for that body-strengthening technique you wanted to buy still valid?"

As Isaac spoke, the holographic projection of a red moon quickly responded with a mechanical voice: "Our Red Moon Merchant Guild always conducts fair trade, and the prices we offer never change. Guild Leader Isaac, please rest assured on this point."

“Alright.” Isaac then took out a pale silver metal plate from his clothes. “I want you to kill someone. His name is Lin Qi, and he is the master of the Human Race Obsidian Martial Arts School.”

"Wait a moment, let me check." After a brief reply, Hongyue's mechanical voice quickly said, "Lin Qi is the master of the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy, a top-tier potential genius of the Martial Arts Association, and his strength is suspected to have reached the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm."

"What would it cost to kill him?" Isaac asked.

The Red Moon Merchant Guild is spread across multiple regions and has a base in every city. As long as you pay, they will do any kind of transaction. They have taken business away from major cities, but the major cities have always turned a blind eye to it.

The Red Moon Merchant Guild's most popular business is undoubtedly assassination.

Whether they are nomads in the wilderness or experts in the Bone Forging Realm, the Red Moon Merchant Guild will accept anyone as long as they pay. However, the Red Moon Merchant Guild's prices are extremely high, and ordinary forces simply cannot afford them. They usually choose the cheaper wanderers.

However, this time he wanted to kill Lin Qi, a mid-level expert in the Bone Forging Realm. It was impossible for a wanderer in the wild to do this. Only the Red Moon Merchant Guild had this ability, and they didn't have to worry about being investigated afterward.

“3500 energy crystals,” Red Moon’s mechanical voice replied coldly.

"Why is it so expensive?" Isaac frowned slightly; he roughly knew the prices of the Red Moon Merchant Guild.

The initial stage of the Bone Forging Realm costs 300 to 500 energy crystals, while the intermediate stage costs 1000 to 2000 energy crystals. Only the advanced stage of the Bone Forging Realm costs 4000 to 10000 energy crystals, and top-tier Bone Forging Realm experts are extremely expensive, with a starting price of 20,000 energy crystals.

Lin Qi is currently only at the mid-stage of the Bone Forging Realm, yet his price is almost on par with that of the high-stage Bone Forging Realm.

“According to the information we have, Lin Qi’s strength is likely close to the high-level of the Bone Forging Realm. He needs to be close to the top-level Bone Forging Realm to complete this task. This price is very fair,” Hongyue explained. “Moreover, Lin Qi’s progress is very fast. He is a rare first-class genius. This price is just the current price. It will probably go up in a few days.”

"He was actually judged as a first-class genius by you?" Isaac was also taken aback upon hearing this.

The Martial Arts Association's criteria for judging genius martial artists are quite simple. However, for truly powerful forces, such as the geniuses recruited by Domain City, a top-tier potential rating is merely the minimum requirement.

Although being recognized as a genius martial artist by the Martial Arts Association is already a remarkable achievement, granting easy access to the city's genius training camp, there are still differences among geniuses.

The people that Domain City recruits each time are all geniuses among geniuses; ordinary geniuses are simply not considered.

Therefore, according to the classification of the Domain City, geniuses can be divided into four levels, with the third level being the worst and the special level being the best. Generally, martial artists who can be recognized as second-level geniuses can almost all enter the Domain City. First-level geniuses are also outstanding among the geniuses in the Domain City, with more than a 70% chance that they can reach that level in the future and become the lord of a city.

"Are you sure you want to do this deal?" Red Moon Machinery asked.

“Of course!” Isaac handed the pale silver metal plate directly to the Red Moon Merchant Guild without any hesitation.

If this future city lord is dealt with sooner rather than later, he will probably have no peace of mind.

"The deal is done. We will take action within three days. The remaining 1500 energy crystals will be safely delivered to your designated location one day from now."

As Red Moon finished speaking in her cold, mechanical voice, the door to the private room slowly opened, indicating that Isaac could leave.

Isaac had no doubts and left the bar.

He had traded with the Red Moon Merchant Guild more than once, and it was precisely because of the Red Moon Merchant Guild's excellent reputation and confidentiality that all the major forces in the city were willing to come and trade with them.

"Three days. I have three more days to prepare. However, those disciples from the Obsidian Martial Arts Academy are not easy to deal with. It seems I will need to hire a Bone Forging Realm expert."

Isaac checked the time. He still needed to find a Bone Forging Realm expert to come and help within three days. Otherwise, with the remaining members of the White Feather Gang, it would be impossible to retake the stronghold.

After Isaac left the Red Moon Merchant Guild, the guild issued internal bounties in various cities.

Wanxing City, Wanxing Building.

A young demon with four arms and skin as hard as steel continuously demonstrated his swordsmanship to a group of young demon men and women in the audience. These young demons, who were clearly martial artists, watched with rapt attention, their eyes filled with admiration.

This young man from the Asian Demon race was none other than a legend of the Asian Demon race, and also the only genius from Wanxing City to pass the Domain City assessment three years ago.

Fred the Four-Armed Swordsman!

Now that he has returned to Wanxing City to visit his family, he is willing to teach swordsmanship to these martial artists who are preparing to enter the genius training camp. This is something that other races would never even dare to dream of.

However, right after Fred finished giving his instructions, the smartwatch emitted a notification sound.

"Two thousand energy crystals, suspected to be a mid-stage Bone Forging Realm genius, a first-class genius, that's quite a big order." Fred laughed after seeing it. "What a pity for this first-class genius, if he could enter the Domain City, he would definitely perform exceptionally well."

"A bounty from the Red Moon Merchant Guild?" A woman with golden hair, two long silver-gray horns on her forehead, a devilish figure, and a beauty that surpassed even Ye Qinglu's, frowned slightly and said, "Don't forget that our teacher didn't arrange for us to come here just to play around."

"Don't worry, it's just a mid-stage Bone Forging Realm cultivator. I'll be right back and won't delay your business." Fred smiled and walked towards the landing pad outside the window.

(End of this chapter)