Chapter 37: Preparations for the Hunter Examination (Part-3)

As he took off running immediately, the golem lunged at the same time. A giant fist slammed down where Lin Fang had just been, sending dust and debris into the air.

He rolled to the side, slipped behind a jagged column of stone, and moved again before the golem could turn. The monster groaned and stomped after him, but its movements were slow and heavy.

Lin Fang was already climbing the side of a sloped boulder, then sliding down the other end just before the golem’s punch struck the top. *BOOM.* Chunks of rock exploded outward, but Lin Fang was already gone.

“Alright. This works,” he muttered between breaths. He circled around. The golem turned again.

Another punch.

Another dodge.

This time, Lin Fang used one of the slanted rocks like a shield. When the golem punched, the rock absorbed part of the blow, and as dust exploded outward, Lin Fang used it as cover to sprint away unnoticed.

Lin Fang had survived for nine whole minutes, dodging in the same way he did with the bear in that icy habitat earlier, but then again, not only did he keep his distance, but he also used terrain tricks to outmaneuver the golem.

“I can do this,” he panted, skidding behind another rock, watching the golem’s sluggish movements. “Slow and steady…”

However, in the tenth minute, the glow on the golem’s arms began to flare.

Lin Fang’s eyes widened at the sight. “Wait… What…”

So far, it has only been simple physical attacks, but this time, Lin Fang could tell that it was using a skill.

The golem’s limbs bulged, growing thicker like triple their usual size before both fists slammed into the ground at once.

BOOOOM!

The entire surroundings shook. Cracks spiderwebbed across the terrain like lightning bolts. Jagged rocks tore free from the ground, rising and falling like a wave. Lin Fang barely had time to scream before the entire floor beneath him collapsed.

He plunged into the darkness below without being able to evade it this time.

“Ugh…”

He groaned as his back hit something like a flat rock, perhaps, before rolling onto his side. Dust and grit filled the air, but there was only pitch darkness. The only visible thing… was the system timer, hovering faintly above his head.

[Time Remaining: 19:12]

“F**k.”

Lin Fang coughed and sat up, wincing in pain. He reached a hand out, feeling stone under his fingers. “No way back up. I have fallen like this in that snow world too, but that was a shelter zone. However, I don’t see any notification this time except for the timer. So, this is certainly not a shelter zone,” he muttered, glancing toward the distant, broken ceiling above.

Getting up, he then began walking forward with one hand on the wall to guide him in the total darkness, intending to waste the rest of the time and return home.

After a while, his foot caught on something. He fell hard, and his chin hit the ground.

“Ugh… dammit!”

He pushed back up and kept going.

Along the way, his shoulder scraped stone, his head bumped into the overhangs, he twisted his ankle not once but even twice, and once, he slipped and fell completely, sliding down a short incline into what felt like a dip in the terrain.

But he refused to stop and continued his journey in the darkness.

Finally, after what felt like forever, a glow appeared ahead like the opening of the end of a dark tunnel.

Lin Fang’s eyes strained, and slowly, the path widened into a cavern.

A strange, serene light filled the space from a wide circular hole in the ceiling, nearly twenty feet above. Directly beneath the beam of light, a massive stone mound stood like a natural pedestal.

And on top of it, there was a sword. It was long, broad-bladed, and half-buried into the summit of the rock.

Lin Fang’s eyes widened in surprise. “There are… weapons in here?” he muttered. “I didn’t know the system put treasures inside training zones…”

Just as his words finished while he entered that space, a soft chime rang out in his head.

Ding!

*Ding!

[Congratulations. You’ve discovered a Shelter Zone.]

[You may remain here without incurring sedentary penalties.]

He looked up again.

[Time Remaining: 4:01]

“Hmm… 4 minutes, huh? I suppose that’s enough to climb that rock and get the sword, or I could just wait this out,” Lin Fang whispered under his breath. “Maybe, I could just come back later…”

But his gaze remained fixed on the sword that was embedded in the rock like a legendary Excalibur.

“But this is an opportunity. I don’t know if I’ll ever find this place again. And if it disappears…”

Clenching his fists in determination, he muttered. “Alright. Let’s just try my luck. If it can be done, it is done. If it can’t, then, better luck next time…”

Approaching the base of the stone mound, he placed a hand on it and began climbing. His fingers found narrow holds. His boots scraped for grip. The slope was uneven, forcing him to stop every few seconds to catch his breath or regain his balance.

He didn’t look at the timer again until he was inches away from the blade.

[Time Remaining: 0:27]

“Still half a minute left….”

Lin Fang calmly reached out and gripped the hilt of the sword with both hands.

He tried to pull it out, but it remained sturdy.

“Come on…” he whispered.

He pulled again, using every bit of strength he could muster up; the veins in his arms popped out while his muscles shook, but he didn’t give up.

“Come ON!”

With a sudden jerk, the sword finally stirred, “Raaaa…”

It then came free in one solid pull. “Ha…” The sword was pulled out completely.

At that exact moment, the system chimed again.

*Ding!

[Congratulations! You’ve found the Sword of Goujian (Replica).]

Sword of Goujian (Replica)

Weapon Type: Longsword

Effect: 30% Attack increase

Attribute: Earth.

Skill: Severing Edge — Deals 100% bonus damage with a strike. CD: 300 seconds.

[Limitation: Can only be used within the Cragstone Expanse habitat. Required item to defeat Guardian of Cragstone.]

“Ha… Ha… Ha…” Panting heavily, Lin Fang raised the sword above his head and roared. “Ha! I did it.”

Staring at its blade, he muttered with a nod, “Now, it makes sense. There’s no way I could simply defeat these guardians without any help. System may be a fuc*er, giving me a heart attack through either fear or excitement, but it sure does leave behind a solution for the problem it put forth before me.”

But just as he let out a breath of relief, another notification cut through the silence.

*Ding!

[Warning! You have claimed the Trial Weapon of Cragstone Expanse. Sedentary Mode penalty is now disabled.]

[The Guardian will now actively hunt you from the moment you enter this world.]

[The Golem Lord is selected as the hunter.]

Lin Fang’s expression froze. “You’ve gotta be f**king kidding me.”

The smile dropped from his face, the excitement turning into horror in a matter of seconds. “System, I’m wrong about you after all. My earlier opinion is right. You just love to torture me in this world.”

Before he could digest that any further, the system chimed again.

[0:00]

Ding!

[Exiting simulation…]

The cavern dissolved. But this time, the white dimension didn’t return. Instead, Lin Fang’s eyes opened slowly to find himself in his room. He was back in the real world.

The glow of his system interface flickered in front of him as usual.

*Ding!

[Training Session completed.]

[+5% Earth Resistance (Passive)]

[New Passive Skill: Balance Step]

[Training Inventory is added to Inventory]

[Trialblade of Goujian (Replica) is stored in Training Inventory]

[New Quest Unlocked!]

Defeat the Guardian of Cragstone Expanse

Objective: Slay the Golem Lord to earn its egg token and the real Sword of Goujian. Reward: Sword of Goujian.

“Man…”

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