Chapter Thirty-Two: Drawing the Reward (First Update)

Sorry, today’s update is coming an hour and a half late. Yesterday, because of some personal matters, your humble scribe didn’t get to bed until around six in the morning, and then got up at ten to write. Even now, I've only managed to finish two thousand words. Ah, I’m so tired. I’ll go sleep for a bit, but tonight’s updates at seven and eleven might be late too. But I promise, there will be three chapters delivered today. If you think I’m trustworthy, if you like this book, please add it to your favorites and vote for it. I don’t need to say how important this is for a newcomer—well, I’m not exactly sure how important, but it’s very important, that’s for sure! If you can, please support me. I bow deeply to you all.

As the system notification echoed in his mind, Ke Bei glanced at Luo Ling standing elegantly nearby. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his urge to draw a prize immediately.

"The Divine Clan is dead. The task for the Star Condensation Squad is done. It’s time for me to go back."

Ke Bei’s expression was tinged with desolation. There had been seven members when they set out; now, he was returning alone. The thought that Gu Kun and the others would remain forever in Wushan City brought a wave of grief that flooded his heart.

He didn’t want to linger. Gazing at the endless withered grass in the distance, he was silent for a moment, then waved to Luo Ling and set out alone onto the ruined highway. His solitary, lonely shadow stretched long and thin beneath the setting sun.

Luo Ling watched quietly as Ke Bei’s figure was gradually swallowed by the dry grass. Only after a long while did she let out a faint sigh.

"Just how many secrets are you hiding?"

"Is it that I’m not qualified to know, or is it that you simply don’t want to say?"

Luo Ling lifted her head slightly, her cheeks illuminated by the last rays of sunset, her beauty intoxicating to behold. Yet, at this moment, her exquisite features were overlaid with a helpless, bitter smile.

"Perhaps it’s both," she whispered, sighing softly. She quietly stripped the scales from the Blood-Horned Ox, then took the beast’s horn and scales as well. With a trace of melancholy, she cast one last glance at the spot where she and Ke Bei had slain the Divine Clan member. Then the beautiful figure slowly disappeared into the endless wilderness.

Leaving Wushan City, Ke Bei traveled more than ten kilometers without stopping, his mind busy with plans. First, he would return to the Guardian Squad’s camp to report the completed mission. Then he needed to sell the Divine Pill and use the money to compensate the families of Gu Kun and the others.

Beyond that, Ke Bei had no clear idea what to do. Now he was the only one left in the Star Condensation Squad. He didn’t know whether to join another Guardian Squad or to remain and continue as the sole member.

If he joined another squad, the Star Condensation Squad would be disbanded, and the lifelong efforts of Gu Kun would vanish. But if he chose to stay, Ke Bei would face two problems.

First, the Star Condensation Squad was a two-star Guardian Squad, which required at least one member at peak Level Three strength. Second, his personal contribution had to reach two-star status!

Reaching peak Level Three strength wasn’t too difficult, but the contribution points were another matter. One star required ten thousand red crystal coins; two stars needed a hundred thousand!

Although Ke Bei now possessed a Divine Pill worth a hundred thousand crystal coins, he couldn’t trade that for contribution points. That money was meant for the families of the Star Condensation Squad.

Guardian Squads were reviewed once a month. If, as the only remaining member, Ke Bei failed to reach two-star contribution in a month, the squad would be disbanded.

"A hundred thousand red crystal coins, and only one month left…!"

Gu Kun had built the Star Condensation Squad from scratch, raising it step by step to two-star rank at the cost of endless toil and blood. Ke Bei didn’t want that dedication to go to waste.

He was determined to keep the squad alive! With his current strength, earning a hundred thousand crystal coins in a month was not impossible.

"No point worrying about it now. Let’s draw my reward first."

Ke Bei shook his head, took a deep breath, and set aside the tangle of thoughts, focusing his mind on the system within.

The disc with eighteen slots appeared, only six of them glowing gold as before, the rest shrouded in gray, just like in previous draws.

"Primordial Palm, Void Fist, Azure Wave Palm, Spirit Turtle Step, Ripple Step, and the first volume of the Nine Yang Divine Skill."

Ke Bei’s eyes flashed brighter and brighter as he swept over the six glowing slots. Every technique this time was excellent, but when he saw the Nine Yang Divine Skill and Ripple Step, he nearly drooled with anticipation.

Mastering the Nine Yang Divine Skill, even just the first volume, would grant him formidable inner power. With that, he could unleash the famed Flying Daggers with true, unstoppable force.

Ripple Step was a supreme movement technique. Ke Bei now had strength, but lacked a proper footwork skill. Once he learned Ripple Step, he could escape unscathed even if surrounded by tens of thousands of zombies. The best part? Ripple Step could show its power even without inner strength!

"First choice, Nine Yang Divine Skill. Second, Ripple Step!"

Fixing his gaze on the silver pointer on the disc, Ke Bei silently prayed in his heart.

"Begin the draw!"

With a thought, the silver pointer spun swiftly among the golden slots.

"Nine Yang Divine Skill! Nine Yang Divine Skill!"

"I want the Nine Yang Divine Skill!"

His eyes bloodshot, Ke Bei stared unblinking at the pointer.

Slap!

Ke Bei smacked his thigh hard, watching as the silver pointer landed on the Nine Yang Divine Skill, only to slowly drift onward to the next slot. He wished he could slap the pointer into place, pinning it forever on the Nine Yang Divine Skill!

"Damn it!"

The Nine Yang Divine Skill had slipped away; the next slot was Primordial Palm.

"Move, move, don’t stop!"

Ke Bei stared intensely at Ripple Step below Primordial Palm.

The silver pointer’s speed slowed, inching closer to a stop, still a hair’s breadth away from Ripple Step.

"Move, damn it!"

Red-eyed, Ke Bei roared hoarsely.

What he needed most now was internal energy and movement skills. The Nine Yang Divine Skill was his top choice, but now that it was gone, Ripple Step was his only hope.

Perhaps his roar worked, or perhaps the system sensed his longing. The silver pointer inched forward once more.

"Congratulations, host, you have drawn Ripple Step. Would you like to learn it now?"

Hearing the system prompt, Ke Bei’s eyes flew wide in disbelief, then filled with wild joy.

"Ha! I got it!"

"Learn it!"

No sooner had he spoken than a stream of light flooded his mind. In an instant, Ke Bei had completely mastered Ripple Step.

"Let’s try it out."

A grin brimming with excitement spread across his face. He took a sudden step, his movements strange and swaying. With that single step, he covered ten meters in an instant.

"Damn! Incredible!"

A look of amazement spread across his face as he clenched his fists tightly.

"Ripple Step! Haha! With Ripple Step, what have I to fear?"

"The Divine Clan? They’re nothing!"

Ke Bei recalled his earlier frustration battling the demonic man, when he couldn’t match his opponent’s speed. Now, for the first time, he felt an unprecedented thrill.

If he encountered another low-tier Divine Clan member now, with Ripple Step and his current strength and saber, defeating them would no longer be a problem.

"Time to head back."

Ke Bei’s steps blurred, his body weaving in a bizarre, lurching dance. Though he appeared to stumble and sway, his speed hit its limit, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake. In the blink of an eye, Ke Bei had appeared a hundred meters ahead.

"The Star Condensation Squad will endure!"

He stopped and looked deeply in the direction of Wushan City, speaking softly, as if to himself, or perhaps as a promise to Gu Kun’s departed soul.