The player raised a three-meter bone greatsword, using it like a shield.
At the same moment—
"Eight Gates Release: Second Gate, Open!" he roared, forcing open two of his body's meridians and unleashing a surge of power.
"Colored Arm!"
His hands and legs instantly turned jet black, greatly enhancing his strength. It resembled Wang Lufei's Second Gear against the Deep Sea King, except this player's form was far more stable and powerful.
Boom!!!
The bull beast crashed into the massive bone sword with terrifying force. The impact didn't shatter the blade, but the player coughed up blood and was pushed back several meters. Even so, he had successfully blocked the attack.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Another player drew a white bone longbow and fired several arrows into the bull beast's hind legs.
As the creature let out a painful roar, the remaining two players leapt into the air. Both wielded three-meter bone greatswords, their arms and legs coated in Colored Arm while the Eight Gates technique surged through their bodies.
The first player's sword came crashing down onto the beast's neck, carving a wound nearly half a meter deep.
The second strike followed immediately after, stacking its force onto the first blow.
With a single clean slash, the bull beast's head was severed.
Its headless body staggered a few steps before collapsing heavily onto the ground.
"Nice!"
The four players exchanged high fives, grinning in triumph.
The entire battle had lasted less than three minutes.
Four Body Forging Realm cultivators at the fifth and sixth stages had killed a mid–Spirit Vein Realm beast with barely any injuries.
It was terrifyingly efficient.
And this wasn't the only group.
"Hack it down! Keep chopping!"
Not far away, another squad of four players surrounded a Spirit Vein Realm beast, hacking at it relentlessly with their swords.
"Fire! Fire! Don't stop firing!"
Elsewhere, four archers rained arrows onto another Spirit Vein beast, killing it before it could even get close.
Two of them weren't using ordinary arrows, but ice arrows infused with the power of the Cold Ice Art. Every hit drastically slowed the monster's movements.
With two players firing together, the beast was practically frozen in place, left helpless as it was shot to death.
More than a dozen player squads were hunting monsters like this.
Compared to yesterday, their efficiency had increased three- or fourfold. They struck swiftly, retreated cleanly, and fought like seasoned hunters.
To them, the monsters no longer seemed frightening.
Watching all this, He Yiming's eyes flickered.
Maybe… I should leave the advance mission to the players while I support them from behind.
During the previous night's battle, He Yiming had personally led the charge and fought without rest, yet they had only advanced ten miles before he was forced to recover for most of the next day.
At that pace, finishing the system's hundred-mile mission within seven days would already be difficult.
As for killing three Foundation Establishment beasts? That was even less certain.
And even if he succeeded, the mission rating would probably be mediocre, leading to poor rewards.
But what if the players handled it instead?
What if… they created another miracle?
Without hesitation, He Yiming summoned everyone.
"Why did Brother Ming call us over?"
"No idea."
"Quiet. Just listen to Brother Ming."
The players quickly gathered before the chariot, all eyes fixed on He Yiming.
"My disciples," he began calmly, "your performance has exceeded my expectations. I once believed these Hundred Thousand Mountains would stop us in our tracks. The monsters here are numerous and powerful."
"But now… I've witnessed your strength with my own eyes."
"Because of that, I'm entrusting you with an important mission."
As soon as he finished speaking, three system notifications appeared before every player.
[Sect Mission: Advance Without End]
[Objective: Advance one hundred miles
Time Limit: Three days
Reward: 500 contribution points for every participant]
[Sect Mission: Slaughter Frenzy]
[Objective: Kill over 1,000 Spirit Vein Realm beasts
Time Limit: Three days
Reward: 500 contribution points for every participant]
[Epic Mission: Bloody Battle Against Foundation Establishment Beasts]
[Objective: Kill three Foundation Establishment Realm monsters
Time Limit: Three days
Reward: 1,000 contribution points for every participant]
Additional rewards included:
[Rare materials]
[Spirit equipment]
[Special mysterious rewards]
The players froze for a second before erupting into chaos.
"A hundred-mile advance?!"
"Kill a thousand Spirit Vein beasts? My blood's boiling already!"
"Three Foundation Establishment monsters? That's basically three Deep Sea Kings!"
"Can we even beat something like that?!"
"My sword's four meters long now. I'm not scared anymore!"
"If that Deep Sea King shows up again, I'm chopping its fish head clean off!"
The entire player base exploded with excitement.
Some immediately logged off to prepare supplies.
One ordered stacks of instant noodles and takeout at lightning speed.
Another called his boss.
"Boss, I got hit by a car. I need three days off… Yeah, just deduct my pay!"
A student called his teacher.
"Teacher, I was attacked by a pervert today… What? Yes, I'm a boy… Anyway, I'm traumatized, so I need three days off…"
Another player hurriedly called his girlfriend.
"Tell Xiao Mi I've got an important meeting for the next three days, so I won't be coming to the company… No, I'm not seeing another girl! I'm playing a game! … Fine, yes, Xiao Mi Number Two. Bye!"
After settling their real-life problems, the players rushed back online one after another.
Meanwhile, He Yiming mounted his flying sword and set out to scout the terrain ahead, hoping to clear the safest and fastest route for the advancing players.
At the same time, the players abandoned everything else they were doing and gathered together once more.
This time, Star was the one leading the assembly.