Chapter 88: Quite Interesting
No one knew whether the organizers had randomly distributed the monsters or done so deliberately.
Almost every monster activity zone had been seeded with corresponding high-level monsters.
Here, the high-level monster was called the “Abyss Demon Ape.”
It had been placed right at the heart of the violent ape pack.
The name alone revealed its nature—a creature infected with the aura of the abyss.
Because the two species were similar in both race and appearance, the demon ape, upon entering the group of violent apes with an average level of 45, would soon become the new king of the tribe.
There was even a possibility that the original black-furred violent apes would also become infected by the abyssal aura.
The level 45 violent apes could very likely be promoted to level 50 or above as a result.
Other regions faced similar circumstances—even monsters at level 30 might become infected and advance to level 40.
“The organizers clearly never intended to let ordinary geniuses pass smoothly,” Song Qi speculated as he walked forward.
Chu Shaojiang, anxious not to embarrass himself in the team competition, had already shared his situation with Song Qi.
Over the past month, he had used his family’s resources to obtain “dungeon tickets” that allowed unlimited entry.
He’d hired people to carry him through dungeons and, sleeping only four hours a day, had relentlessly grinded.
Finally, on the eve of the genius tournament, he managed to reach level 25 just in time!
Though he hadn’t drunk any Source Water, he did have a quota of three bottles of All-Demon Potion.
With his family’s backing, he’d consumed eight bottles in total over the month, averaging one every four days.
Combined with herbal essences, the eight bottles had doubled their effect!
His base agility reached 200 points.
With a full set of hero-grade equipment, he gained an additional 300 primary attribute points.
Five hundred points in agility enabled him to hunt level 30 monsters with ease.
Level 40 monsters generally had 600–700 attribute points; in a one-on-one fight, he could barely manage with his skills and talents.
But level 45 monsters... he couldn’t contend with them at all.
Compared to monsters with attributes in the thousands, the gap was simply enormous!
Even if monsters weren’t highly intelligent, their overwhelming stats could crush any weakness.
If Chu Shaojiang was considered the baseline for the genius tournament...
Then the average contestant would be expected to hunt level 45 monsters.
A few could slay level 50 monsters, or at least remain unbeaten against level 60 monsters.
“So... for this round, the organizers are likely to select two types of people.”
“One, those whose strength is so extraordinary that they break all conventions—unrivaled prodigies!”
“Such individuals are, of course, their main focus for cultivation.”
“For instance, myself.”
Song Qi nodded affirmatively.
“The other type are geniuses with leadership potential.”
If ordinary geniuses couldn’t defeat high-level monsters and struggled to earn points, what could they do?
They would have to form alliances.
Monster packs roamed in groups, sometimes with high-level monsters among them!
Solo players couldn’t penetrate such groups.
So, only by teaming up and forming alliances could they break into monster packs, using battle formations to withstand the impact of high-level monsters.
But the issue was—everyone competing was a genius from their respective districts!
After working hard to defeat a high-level monster, who would be pleased if someone else took the points for free?
Thus, at this stage, it depended on who could rally a team and control the group’s morale.
According to Song Qi’s speculation, such special talents—even if their potential wasn’t outstanding—would likely receive some resources after the competition.
As Song Qi walked deeper into the forest, he suddenly stopped and looked to his right.
Shadowy figures flitted between the trees, their roars echoing.
It looked like a pack of violent apes foraging.
“A pack of violent apes?”
“That means I’ve reached the central area.”
“But these apes look normal, not infected by the abyssal aura.”
Song Qi held his breath and observed.
“As for their numbers... it looks like about two hundred.”
“And since this is already the central area, the chance of encountering other ape packs isn’t low...”
“Using an experience card now wouldn’t be wasteful.”
With that, Song Qi took out a triple experience card and decisively crushed it.
The system prompt chimed...
[Ding! Your experience gain rate is now... 300%!]
[Duration... 2 hours!]
“Go!”
Song Qi pointed forward, and seven gusts of wind swept up beside him!
Lu Bu, riding Red Hare, accelerated from a standstill to a blur in an instant.
Six terracotta warriors followed closely, forming a standard charge formation.
With Song Qi now at level 30, Ying Zheng’s mental attribute had reached 3000 points.
The number of terracotta warriors had increased from four to six...
Bang!
Rumble!
[Experience +48000]
[Experience +48000]
[Experience +48000]
...
Before the violent ape pack could react, a streak of red lightning swept through, violently cleaving the group in half!
A dozen apes were instantly transformed into experience, absorbed by Song Qi.
The entire ape tribe fell silent for a moment, then erupted in furious roars.
“Screech screech screech, aaaaah!!”
The violent apes had dominated this region for who knew how long—they were the undisputed rulers.
Now, some creature dared to challenge them?!
The whole tribe simultaneously entered a berserk state; nearly a hundred apes’ bodies began to swell, their muscles engorged!
In just a breath, already robust apes now looked like hulking giants!
Their bulging muscles stretched their fur thin.
“Roar!!”
Their skyward howls shook the forest; countless apes leapt into the air, aiming to tear Lu Bu to pieces!
In Song Qi’s eyes, after the ape pack activated their berserk skill, their strength attribute doubled!
A full 2400 points!
Far surpassing Lu Bu’s normal strength.
But Lu Bu, far from panicking, grinned with amusement and gripped his halberd tightly.
“That’s right... now it’s finally a bit of a challenge.”
“Next...”
Red Hare’s hooves thundered, transforming into a streak of red lightning, charging straight into the ape pack.
The halberd flashed coldly, its silver blade slicing again and again through ape flesh.
Man and horse rampaged through the apes like a ferocious dragon, swift and deadly!
Though the apes were powerful, they couldn’t so much as touch a hair on Lu Bu.
“Screech!~~”
“Roar!!”
As Lu Bu leveled up, the halberd’s edge seemed to grow even sharper!
The apes’ steel-hard muscles were sliced as easily as tofu.
Even blood couldn’t linger on the blade; the moment it touched, it slid quickly away like water on a lotus leaf.
Lu Bu could sense clearly—perhaps, when his lord’s strength ascended another tier, the halberd’s seal would be partially broken.