The Entry-plundering Demon Hunter

Chapter 260: Chapter 257: Venturing into Jail City Alone

He watched as the Black Gold Tiger Head Spear came thrusting toward him.

Xu Tai quickly ducked, the tip of the spear grazing past his body.

Lin Yi was shocked. He hadn’t expected Xu Tai to actually dodge the thrust.

Just as he was about to press down on the spear shaft with both arms and slam it downward...

...he caught a glimpse of Xu Tai’s Dragon Pattern Spear thrusting upward from below out of the corner of his eye.

’Not good...’

Lin Yi hastily retracted his spear and dodged to the side.

At the same time, Xu Tai twisted at the waist, forcefully spinning a full one hundred and eighty degrees.

He put some distance between himself and Lin Yi.

The thrilling exchange took place in just a few seconds.

If Xu Tai had been a moment later, the Black Gold Tiger Head Spear might have pierced right through him.

A cold sweat broke out across his back.

The same went for the senior students watching the fight.

"It’s just sparring! Are you trying to kill him?"

"That last thrust was way too dangerous! If our senior hadn’t been so quick to dodge, anyone else would’ve been run through!"

"This kid’s spear technique is so bizarre. One moment it’s ferocious, the next it’s full of unpredictable changes..."

"The president has been on the ropes several times, but that kid doesn’t seem to be in a rush to win!"

"He’s using the president as a training partner..."

The senior students outside all began to murmur amongst themselves.

Lin Yi, however, retracted his spear, cupped his fist, and said with a smile, "My apologies, senior. I couldn’t pull back that last thrust and almost caused a disaster... It seems I still lack experience!"

"How about we call it a day? I’ll come back for more pointers from you tomorrow, senior!"

At these words, Xu Tai’s brow furrowed slightly.

"You’re coming back?"

"My spear technique is still imperfect, and I lack experience. Of course I have to come and ask for your guidance, senior!"

Hearing Lin Yi say this, Xu Tai’s expression grew solemn.

He felt like he’d gotten himself entangled in something he couldn’t shake off.

Lin Yi’s obsession with the spear was beyond Xu Tai’s comprehension.

All the martial arts in the world—be it spear, fist, blade, or staff techniques...

...would certainly have imperfections if one studied and refined them alone.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be classified as low-grade, mid-grade, and top-grade martial arts.

Some didn’t even qualify to be graded at all.

If Xu Tai had to give an honest evaluation after two straight days of sparring...

Yesterday, Lin Yi’s Tiger Roar Spear Technique had been incomparably ferocious.

He had ultimately won because the technique itself was superior, leading to Xu Tai’s defeat.

But today, while it may have looked like they fought to a draw, Xu Tai had actually been on the verge of being overwhelmed for some time.

Lin Yi, on the other hand, had largely abandoned his ferocious style today, relying more on skill to gain the upper hand.

If not for the fact that Xu Tai had practiced the Xu Family’s Spear Technique since he was a child...

...and that his Breaking Army Spear Technique had now reached the stage of great completion...

...anyone else probably wouldn’t have lasted a single round before suffering a crushing defeat at Lin Yi’s hands.

Therefore, in Xu Tai’s eyes...

Lin Yi’s Tiger Roar Spear Technique was worthy of being classified as a Top-grade Spear Technique.

Yet even so, Lin Yi wasn’t satisfied.

He was actually planning to seek him out for more sparring...

If he refused, Xu Tai would lose face, and worse, tarnish the reputation of an heir to the Breaking Army Spear Technique.

But accepting against his will would be a form of torture.

Still, torture or not...

...through today’s sparring, Xu Tai discovered that his own spear technique seemed to have improved as well.

He had also gained more practical combat experience.

In this way, Lin Yi wasn’t the only one benefiting.

He stood to gain something as well.

With that thought, Xu Tai nodded. "Fine. I’ll be waiting for you."

"Then thank you very much, Senior Xu Tai! I’ll take my leave now!"

A look of delight crossed Lin Yi’s face as he quickly cupped his fist in salute.

Then, he walked out...

The moment he left, the other senior students swarmed over.

"President, what’s that kid’s deal? His spear technique is incredible!"

"Wasn’t this supposed to be a sparring match? It looked to me like he was out for blood!"

"Maybe he’s just not proficient with his spear technique yet and couldn’t pull back in time. Good thing the president dodged."

"That scared the hell out of me. We were this close to a major incident!"

"President..."

Listening to the chaotic chatter around him...

Xu Tai said impatiently, "Alright, that’s enough. Stop crowding around me. Are you all done with your practice? Don’t you have spear techniques to work on?"

Hearing this, the others quickly shut up.

"Get back to practicing. If you have this much free time, use it to reflect on the shortcomings of your own spear techniques!"

"When you graduate and join the Demon Hunting Bureau, if you’re facing down demon beasts and aberrant beasts, you won’t even have the skills to save your own lives!"

Xu Tai’s reprimand made the others wilt like frostbitten eggplants.

They returned to the training grounds with their heads lowered, each resuming their own spear practice.

Xu Tai, however, did not leave.

He remained, replaying the recent sparring match in his mind.

He repeatedly analyzed and dissected every one of Lin Yi’s thrusts, every one of his moves.

He mentally calculated how to counter them.

Setting aside everything else, that last thrust from Lin Yi... he had dodged it out of pure luck.

If it happened again, he might not be so lucky.

’I have to figure out a counter to that thrust. Otherwise, I’ll definitely lose out next time!’

Xu Tai muttered to himself. After everyone else had left...

...he took up his Dragon Pattern Spear and began to practice alone.

...

「Zone 1 Dormitory Cafeteria.」

"Where’s Lin Yi? Is he skipping dinner again?"

Wei Nan, Zhou Qi, Sun Tao, and Shen Mengyi had just sat down when they noticed Lin Yi was missing.

Zhou Qi couldn’t help but ask. Wei Nan sighed and shook his head.

"Don’t even start. He’s completely possessed. He spends every day in the dorm studying that Tiger Roar Spear Technique. It’s a good thing I don’t use a spear, otherwise he’d definitely drag me off to be his practice dummy..."

"Still studying it? Isn’t his Tiger Roar Spear Technique already pretty much perfect? Why is he still at it?" Sun Tao asked, astonished.

Wei Nan shook his head. "He says there are still several areas that need to be perfected. He’s crazy. The man is just crazy!"

"Honestly, I never even saw him this dedicated during the martial arts examination!"

"Well, the Tiger Roar Spear Technique is something Senior Brother Lin created himself. Of course he’s going to strive for absolute perfection. If I had the talent to create my own archery technique, I’d be trying to perfect it every day too..."

A look of admiration flashed in Shen Mengyi’s eyes.

Her words made sense to the others.

They decided not to discuss the matter any further.

"Get a plate of food for Lin Yi to take back with you later," Zhou Qi said with a frown.

Wei Nan nodded. "Of course, I’ll grab him some food. Old Wei and Old Feng still aren’t back, so it’s just the two of us in the dorm right now."

"He’s in one of his obsessive states again. If I don’t look after him, who will?"

"By the way, the mission cooldown period is over, right? Any plans to take a mission? Thinking of going to Jail City?"

Wei Nan glanced at them with a smile.

But when they heard the words "Jail City"...

...a shadow of fear inexplicably surfaced in their hearts.

The last time they went to Jail City, they’d almost lost their lives.

Even now, just thinking about taking a mission there, the fear hadn’t dissipated.

Sun Tao shook his head. "Count me out. I plan to practice a blade technique and get my realm to 2-star first. Otherwise, going to Jail City is just too dangerous."

"Me too. I’m going to focus on breaking through to the next realm. I wouldn’t feel confident going there now."

Wei Nan and Shen Mengyi also nodded in agreement.

Jail City had cast a long, indelible shadow over all of them.

The only way to overcome that mental block was to reach a realm where they could utterly crush the demon beasts and aberrant beasts there.

In any case, it had only been about a month since the semester started.

They still had nearly a year to improve.

As for the academic credit assessment, there was more than enough time.

Therefore, they were now more focused on cultivating their martial techniques and realms.

They didn’t plan on setting foot in Jail City again until they were absolutely sure of their success.

They feared Jail City.

Lin Yi, however, had no such worries.

On the contrary, he was eager to go to Jail City and find a few demon beasts to test out his spear technique.

[Confirm Mission Acceptance?]

Lin Yi tapped the word [Confirm] on the screen.

[5-Star Mission Successfully Accepted]

[5-Star Mission: Hunt and kill two 3-star Demon Beasts. Time Limit: 7 days.]

[Mission Reward: 750,000 Cash, 1x Grade 3 Composite Potion, 80 Academic Credits]

His wristband vibrated.

Lin Yi glanced down; the mission had been accepted.

He then left the mission hall, planning to return to his dorm first to feed Xiaoqi.

Once it had eaten and drunk its fill, he would head straight to Jail City for the mission tonight.

But just as he was leaving the hall...

...a few students who also lived in Zone 1 spotted him.

"That kid just now looked a little familiar. Isn’t he one of the martial exam students from the Old District, the one who hangs out with Sun Tao and Zhou Qi?"

"That’s him. I heard he’s the Martial Arts Examination Champion Scholar."

"Hah, Martial Arts Examination Champion Scholar? Last time in Jail City, we didn’t go after them because they had numbers. And today he dares to come accept a mission all by himself!"

"What’s the plan? You wanna go after him?"

"Damn right. What right does a hick from the Old District have to live in Zone 1 with us?"

"Don’t forget, he’s the Martial Arts Examination Champion Scholar from the Old District..."

"So what if he’s the Martial Arts Examination Champion Scholar? There’s a bunch of us. You think we’re scared of one guy? Are we doing this or not?"

"Exactly. If there were a bunch of them, we’d let it slide. But it’s just him. What’s there to be afraid of?"

"Let’s get him! I get pissed off just looking at these beggars from the Old District!"

The group was suddenly as worked up as if they’d been shot up with adrenaline.

After making their decision, they headed straight into the mission hall.

They planned to ambush Lin Yi in Jail City that very night...

"You’re going to Jail City?"

Wei Nan’s expression changed in shock the moment he heard the news, having just returned to the dorm with food from the cafeteria.

Lin Yi nodded. "You guys just focus on your cultivation. I’ll be back once the mission’s done. I’m also going to test out my spear technique."

"Wait, you’re just ditching us like that? You’re not going to include us anymore?" Wei Nan said quickly.

"Even if I did invite you, would you dare to go? Why don’t you go accept a mission now, and we can all leave together tonight?"

Lin Yi said with a faint smile.

In the end, Wei Nan couldn’t overcome his inner fear of Jail City.

Shaking his head, he said, "Better not. I’d only drag you down if I went. Once I’ve raised my realm, I’ll definitely go Demon Hunting with you in Jail City!"

"But you have to be careful in Jail City by yourself."

"The demon beasts aren’t what’s scary; people are. Especially those students who call themselves ’natives’. If you run into them alone, try to avoid conflict as much as possible..."

"Conflict? If they really come looking for trouble, I’ll just kill them," Lin Yi answered nonchalantly.

Wei Nan was left speechless.

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