Systemless Villain

Chapter 249 Triumph and Sacrifice

In another part of the city, most of the residential areas and roads around Tianzhou lay in ruins.

There were no signs of any humans as everyone had been evacuated, leaving only the shattered buildings ravaged by the soul beasts.

In the midst of this desolation, ten weary cultivators took respite on the ground, their bodies bearing the marks of battle, particularly deep lacerations.

The surrounding structures bore the scars of massive, sweeping cuts inflicted by unseen forces.

Their attention was fixed on the scene unfolding before them, where four figures seemed locked in combat with a formidable soul beast.

CRACK!

A thunderous blast shattered the tranquility as Long Tian's lightning bolt obliterated a towering 20-story hotel, hurling debris in every direction.

Moments later, a deafening roar reverberated through the air, and an orangutan the size of an elephant, brandishing a sword, leaped from the crumbling edifice.

"Attack now!" Long Tian commanded.

In response, Yu, positioned below, swiftly ascended, reaching towards the airborne orangutan. Behind him, his martial spirit, a towering white ape of B-Class, materialized.

Drawing a deep breath, as he closed in on the orangutan, Yu unleashed a thunderous roar, emitting an ultrasonic wave that caused the creature to convulse in pain, clutching its ears and dropping its weapon, completely incapacitated as it plummeted towards the ground.

Observing the scene unfold, Long Tian, his gaze unwavering, raised a hand skyward, conjuring ominous dark clouds overhead.

Without hesitation, he brought his hand down, summoning a colossal bolt of yellow lightning from the roiling clouds, striking the falling orangutan with devastating force.

CRACK!

The lightning exploded upon impact, engulfing the orangutan in searing energy, rendering it immobile, a combination of Yu's ultrasonic assault and Long Tian's electrifying strike leaving it utterly helpless.

Long Tian surged forward, wielding his darkblade with precision. His movements were agile, and in a burst of speed, he soared towards the orangutan.

With expert finesse, arcs of lightning crackled to life around his limbs. Like a lightning bolt, he darted past the orangutan, reappearing in front of it, standing tall with his darkblade now stained with blood.

Behind him, a resounding "Thud!" echoed, signaling the gorilla's collapse, its head severed from its body.

Glancing over his shoulder, Long Tian's smile held a mixture of satisfaction and pride at vanquishing the formidable foe.

The orangutan was no ordinary creature; it was a four-star soul beast that demanded relentless effort to overcome.

Long Tian bore the evidence of the battle in the form of torn clothes, bruises, and cuts scattered across his body.

Yet, he hadn't faced the orangutan alone; Yu and the others had lent their aid in the fight.

On the distant sidelines, the watching cultivators observed Long Tian's feat with admiration; his movements were a blur, culminating in the decisive defeat of the orangutan.

Meanwhile, Yu, Jian, and Yang breathed a collective sigh of relief at the sight of the fallen orangutan. They approached the creature alongside Long Tian.

Up close, their attention fixated on the lifeless orangutan before them.

"I can hardly believe it. We've actually taken down a four-star soul beast," Jian remarked.

"Yeah, this encounter has been invaluable, though my injuries are quite severe," Yang admitted.

"Now that the beast lies vanquished, Long Tian, what are your plans? You were instrumental in its defeat," Yu inquired.

Long Tian took a moment before responding, squatting down to stroke the orangutan's fur.

After a brief pause, he made his decision. "I'll absorb this orangutan's abilities, and as for the remainder, I'll entrust it to you three. How does that sound?" he proposed.

Yu, Jian, and Yang exchanged nods, indicating their agreement.

"Agreed. Given your significant contribution, it's only fitting," Yu affirmed.

With consensus reached, Long Tian smiled. "Very well, give me a moment," he requested.

Seating himself cross-legged, he placed his hand upon the orangutan's body. There was a brief pause before Long Tian's form became enveloped in a yellow aura, linked to the fallen creature.

Yu, Jian, and Yang watched intently, eager to witness the boon bestowed upon him.

As moments ticked by, the yellow aura intensified, signaling Long Tian's absorption of the orangutan's essence.

Then, in a sudden burst of brilliance, four rings of golden light radiated from the orangutan's form, gliding toward Long Tian's forehead. They seamlessly merged into his being, transmuting his aura from yellow to a resplendent gold.

Long Tian maintained his focus on assimilating the orangutan's abilities.

Moments later, the golden aura surged upward, generating palpable fluctuations that Yu and the others keenly sensed.

Yu's expression mirrored admiration as he observed Long Tian. Despite encountering numerous talented youths, none could rival Long Tian's prowess.

It was the discernment of a teacher who had lived for a century.

"Splendid. How shall we divide the spoils of this orangutan's carcass?" Jian interjected, drawing Yu from his contemplation.

"Let's distribute the spoils evenly. I'll lay claim to the orangutan's internal organs," Yu declared.

Jian nodded, "Then, true to my name, I'll take possession of its sword," he announced.

Yang asserted his share, "Very well, the remainder shall be mine," he stated.

sword," he announced.

Yang asserted his share, "Very well, the remainder shall be With their agreement sealed, they proceeded to allocate their portions.

Each part of a soul beast held invaluable benefits—flesh, fur, fangs—all highly prized, particularly from a four-star soul beast, an exceedingly rare find.

Meanwhile, in the distance, ten cultivators could only watch helplessly as Yu, Jian, and Yang divided the orangutan's remains.

None among them voiced protest, acknowledging their own weakness. If Long Tian, Yu, and the others had not come, they might have died. Thus, their safety remained the most precious reward. Although there were some with envious glances, they could only remain silent, acknowledging the gap in strength between them and Long Tian's group.

----------

More than ten minutes had elapsed, yet the turmoil in the city of Tianzhou showed no signs of abating. Swarms of soul beasts relentlessly assaulted various districts, leaving devastation in their wake.

This was certainly due to their emergence from the portal in large numbers. And of course, more cultivators who arrived were facing these soul beasts.

Amidst this chaos, a dozen young men and women emerged from a vehicle, clad in the distinctive uniform of Xuantian Academy—a blend of modern and traditional cultivator garb.

Their collective gaze remained fixed on the unfolding mayhem, devoid of sympathy but brimming with pride and anticipation.

Their pride derived from their status as the elite disciples of Xuantian Academy, renowned as one of the foremost institutions in the Han Empire.

"So, the situation here is worse than reported, huh? I wonder if the soul beasts emerging from that portal pose a challenge worthy of my skills," remarked Zhou Yan, a striking young man exuding confidence with his well-built physique.

His companions remained silent, their unspoken acknowledgment attesting to Zhou Yan's unparalleled talent within their cohort. It was not out of the realm of possibility for him to compete to become the holy son of the Xuantian Academy.

In a measured tone, one of his companions stepped forward, remarking, "It appears that Gu Yixian and the others are still present. I wonder where they might be."

"Ah, Gu Yixian is here as well? Then let's not keep her waiting," Zhou Yan declared, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

In unanimous agreement, they set forth toward the heart of the turmoil, eager to confront the unfolding chaos alongside their esteemed peers.

----

Back to Long Tian, at this moment, he finally opened his eyes, displaying a satisfied expression.

"The abilities from the first four-star soul beast I absorbed are quite impressive," he remarked with a grin.

As he stood up, Yu and the others approached him, eagerly inquired, "You've finally awoken! How did the absorption process fare? Did everything go smoothly? And what new abilities have you acquired?"

Long Tian nodded, his grin widening. "Yes, the absorption proceeded without a hitch. And as for the abilities I've gained, I'm itching to put them to the test."

"Then let's waste no time. With no formidable soul beasts impeding our progress, reaching the portal area should be straightforward," Yu suggested.

Agreeing with Yu's proposal, Long Tian and his companions wasted no time, swiftly departing from their current location under Yu's guidance towards the site of the portal.