Chapter 116: The Sleepy Bug That Needs to Evolve Again

As the darlings of the earth, Mud Men possess two lives, granting them a significant advantage in combat, along with group synergy skills. Although the Gold Men possess much higher sharpness ratings, they often find themselves helpless against the Mud Men, frequently falling into a disadvantageous position. Yet, it is equally difficult for the Mud Men to kill the Gold Men, leading the two sides to remain locked in a life-and-death struggle, locked in a cycle of mutual destruction for countless years.

Beyond the control of this realm, the focus of their conflict lies in the struggle for treasure-rich lands. Both sides harbor grand ambitions, seeking to claim these lands, slaughter the monsters lurking on the path of life and death, and rule over vast territories. Thus, any notion of living in harmony or mutual development is merely a joke to them. However, this situation changed completely the moment Qin Chuan arrived in the Seven-Star Region.

At this moment, the Mud King, unaware that the Gold Men had been wiped out, was still plotting how to finish off the Gold King.

"That blockhead Gold King is truly stubborn!"

"If he would just obediently submit to me, I might even reward him with a bit of mud every day if I were in a good mood. Wouldn't that be delightful?"

The Mud King spat out a glob of black mud, laid back down, and closed his eerie eyes. "Comfortable, truly comfortable."

However, at that very instant, faint screams echoed from the distance, leaving him startled. "What is going on? Could the Gold Men be invading?"

A Mud Man came tumbling toward the mud pool, panic etched on his face. "Reporting! G-Great King..."

The Mud King opened his eyes and roared, "What is there to panic about? I can handle any calamity! It’s just the Gold Men, what is there to be afraid of?"

"No, no, Great King, it’s not the Gold Men! There are three incredibly vicious creatures outside; we can't hold them back at all!"

"What?! What kind of spirits dare to run wild in our Mud Kingdom? Let me go out and tear them to shreds!"

The Mud King, being quite short-tempered, felt relieved that it wasn't the Gold King. Aggressively, he grabbed his large club and charged out.

"G-Great King, let me finish!" The Mud Man had intended to warn him to be careful, but the King was too impatient.

Under the state of slaughter, Qin Chuan was terrifying. His basic attacks already had a sharpness rating exceeding 1500. Even with the Mud Men's passive ultimate ability to reshape, they could not withstand such abnormal attacks. The only issue was that it required a little more time. By the time the Mud King arrived, Qin Chuan had just pierced through the last Mud Man.

The shrill screams and the corpses littering the ground instantly drove the Mud King into a frenzy.

"Where did you come from, you wretched black sword? Prepare to die!"

Before the Mud King had taken many steps, he felt his speed drop significantly, and he was struck by great shock. Qin Chuan spotted the Mud King immediately and was pleasantly surprised.

"Damn, I thought this would take some effort, but now that you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, it saves me quite a bit of trouble."

"Chirp!"

Qin Chuan activated his "Flow Strike" without hesitation. The Dragon-Pattern Cold Jade Sword shot out a long phantom trail as he charged toward the Mud King. Seeing the sword piercing through the air, the Mud King was not frightened, but delighted. He planted his feet and swung his heavy black club downward with all his might.

"Earthquake Smash!"

Earthquake Smash: Increases sharpness by 5% per level. If damage exceeds 10%, it causes a 0.5-second stun. Currently level 9.

The Mud King’s total stats were similar to the Gold King's, though distributed differently: Sharpness 850+, Speed 800+, Toughness 1100+. At this moment, his Earthquake Smash sharpness was over 1230, but under the influence of Qin Chuan’s slaughter effect, his final sharpness was reduced to just over 1050. Still, if it hit Qin Chuan, it would be quite painful and induce a 0.5-second stun.

Seeing the club descending, Qin Chuan calmly activated his Body-Protecting Dragon Aura, instantly raising his toughness to over 1680.

"Clang!"

The result was self-evident: the black club snapped in two, while the Dragon-Pattern Cold Jade Sword remained unscathed.

"This... impossible!" The Mud King stared at his broken club, his dark, bead-like eyes nearly popping out in shock.

"Puff!"

"Ah!"

Qin Chuan pierced through the Mud King’s body with a single thrust. With only 935+ toughness, the Mud King could not withstand the sharpness of the Dragon-Pattern Cold Jade Sword. This strike alone took away more than half of his life. If not for the Mud King’s passive 20% damage reduction, this single blow would have left him near death.

"Ding! 40% slow effect triggered."

"Glide!"

After passing through the Mud King, Qin Chuan swiveled and glided back with another strike. It all happened in the blink of an eye—hardly 0.5 seconds. The screaming Mud King had no time to react and was struck again.

"Ding! Freeze triggered, duration three seconds."

With the freeze in effect, the Mud King’s first life was宣告ended; two more strikes from Qin Chuan finished him off. Shattering into ice shards, the Mud King began to rapidly reform, reappearing after 0.5 seconds. Unfortunately, his reshaping only allowed him to revive in place, and Qin Chuan struck him again immediately.

"Metamorphosis!"

Terrified to the point where his spirit core nearly burst, the Mud King transformed into a puddle of black mud and seeped into the ground, narrowly avoiding the strike.

"Mother of mine, where did this black sword come from? Why is it so vicious!"

Having lost one life the moment they met, the Mud King had long lost the courage to fight. He slithered along the ground, resembling a black venomous snake.

"Blink!"

Qin Chuan blinked, appearing right behind him and stabbing his sword into the black mud.

"Ah! Big Brother, why are you following me again! Mercy, spare my life, Big Brother!"

"Ding! 40% slow effect triggered."

"Calling out is useless. I'm sending you on your way to reunite with the Gold King!"

"Ah! What?! The Gold King... he’s dead?"

In that instant, an indescribable emotion surged within the Mud King. He had never expected that his rival of many years would die, and that he himself would not survive either. It felt somewhat like a shared destiny.

In the following moments, Qin Chuan swiftly ended the Mud King’s life. With a final regret, the Mud King passed away, truly becoming one with the earth. From this point on, the Seven-Star Region returned to its primitive state. Perhaps in countless years, new spirits would emerge, but that was no longer a concern for Qin Chuan.

"Ding! Killed level 29 Mud King, gained 315,000 experience points. Bonus 100% experience for killing a higher-level target. Congratulations to the host for gaining 630,000 experience points."

A moment later, Qin Chuan found an Earth Source Bead and a white bead, and dug up quite a few treasures from the mud pool. After consuming them, his stats increased once more: Sharpness +15, Speed +35, Toughness +30.

Sharpness: 1354+
Toughness: 889+
Speed: 940+

At this time, the Sleepy Bug, having swallowed the Earth Source Bead, lay on the ground in a deep slumber, wrapped in a thick cocoon.

"Damn, little brother, don't tell me you're about to break out of your cocoon as a dragon?" Qin Chuan was pleasantly surprised. Although he knew it was likely unrealistic, he couldn't help but say it aloud.

Zizi also widened her eyes, circling the bug with great interest. "Tsk, tsk, little bug is evolving again. I’m very curious what he’ll turn into."

Qin Chuan teased, "He’ll probably turn into a snake."

Zizi glared at Qin Chuan, pouting her small lips indignantly. "A snake? I don't want that; that would be too scary! He won't be cute anymore!"

At that moment, a gentle breeze ruffled Zizi’s long hair. Seeing her look so cute yet angry made Qin Chuan’s heart flutter. It was a completely different scene compared to their time in the volcanic cave.

And, Qin Chuan couldn't help but recall an event that had once taken place in that volcanic cave.