Published: February 12, 2025
Ye Zhongming found a secluded spot and crafted a set of leather armor from the skin of the serpent, which was likely of green quality. After putting it on, he felt a bit more secure.
Although the green armor was far inferior to the purple one he had worn before, it was better than having nothing at all. With a short sword and leather armor in hand, even without his main profession, Ye Zhongming's confidence was restored. He wandered casually, continuing to search for useful items in the rainforest.
Compared to the tropical rainforests on Earth, this place was even more bizarre and vibrant, but also far more dangerous. Although he did not encounter any more eighth-level life forms like the serpent, he frequently came across sixth and seventh-level creatures.
Level six was the lowest mutated life form that Ye Zhongming had seen here. These creatures posed no real threat to him and instead contributed a pair of shoes and some bone nails as hidden weapons.
After resting at a water source for a while and finding no immediate dangers, Ye Zhongming cautiously approached to drink, contemplating what the challenges here might be.
Suddenly, his expression changed as he continued to drink water. Just as his head dipped slightly, a hand supporting the ground swung out fiercely, sending several bone nails flying into a nearby tree trunk.
A shadow leaped down from above, launching two cold beams toward Ye Zhongming.
However, after releasing the bone nails, the King of Cloud Summit had already repositioned himself and rushed to the tree's side. With a single push against the trunk, he soared up with his sword aimed at the shadow.
The shadow wavered in midair, transforming from one figure into three. One blocked the two bone nails while another lunged toward Ye Zhongming's short sword.
With two sharp sounds, the two shadows were dispelled, releasing a cloud of thick smoke that carried a potent fragrance, causing Ye Zhongming to retreat instinctively.
His body did not move forward but instead dropped naturally. As he touched the ground, he pushed off with his hands, launching himself in another direction. The cold beams that he had previously evaded unexpectedly returned, cutting into the King of Cloud Summit's shoulder.
At the same time, the smoke erupted with light as the shadow, wielding some unknown weapon, slashed toward Ye Zhongming's chest!
Raising his short sword in defense, a clang sounded as the freshly crafted weapon shattered, leaving a wound on Ye Zhongming's chest and slicing through his green leather armor as well.
Taking the opportunity, Ye Zhongming rolled backward and fired off a few more bone nails, not aiming to injure but rather to drive the enemy back.
The shadow dodged to the side, clearly wary of the bone nails.
After a round of exchanges, the two entered a brief standoff.
Only then did Ye Zhongming get a clear look at the shadow's form. It resembled a human almost completely, except for a pair of wings.
If the wings were white, Ye Zhongming might have thought she was an angel. Of course, black ones might suggest a demon.
But these wings were a light pink.
A birdman?
Ye Zhongming narrowed his eyes, unsure if she was part of the test here.
The female birdman was also sizing up Ye Zhongming, and upon seeing the wounds on his shoulder and chest, she looked somewhat disdainful.
Ye Zhongming produced two bone nails in his hands and smiled slightly at the female birdman. Gravity began to affect her, and a small star-shaped object appeared above his head, moving in tandem with him.
The female birdman clearly did not expect Ye Zhongming to possess such abilities. Her agile body became slightly heavier, and unable to dodge the two bone nails swiftly, she closed her wings around herself. The motion generated a strong wind that formed a wind wall, obstructing the speed of the bone nails.
With two clinks, the bone nails were deflected, leaving only two white marks on her wings. Just as the female birdman was about to spread her wings and counterattack, a bright light struck her, causing her to stagger backward.