Picking Up Attributes From Today c1-406

by Panda Reunion, 团圆小熊猫

  Meng Lei’s eyes twinkled as he replied, “On top of that, this is even the infant of a flying Magical Beast known for its defenses and physical strength. It’s practically the perfect mount for Magicians like us. How can I miss out on this?”

  “Oh? You intend to make a move on it?” Ol’ Amos raised his eyebrows. “Brat, you’d better not become dizzy with temptation. Do only what’s within your means. If you ask me, you really won’t be able to take down those adventurers.”

  “Ol’ President, then you’d better open your eyes wide and watch!”

  The corners of Meng Lei’s lips quirked upward slightly, and he controlled the magic carpet and flew straight out. Without any intention of ambushing them from the shadows or playing any schemes or tricks, he simply jumped out openly just like that.

  “Dumbass, are you out of your mind?!” Ol’ Amos was shocked by Meng Lei’s rash actions. “What kind of person would do that? Can’t you secretly cast a few spells and launch a sneak attack or two first?”

  “Uh...”

  Meng Lei smacked the back of his head. Chagrined, he said, “I forgot all about sneak attacks!”

  “Dumbass! Your stupidity is beyond hope!”

  Ol’ Amos didn’t know what he should say anymore. With his finger pointed right at Meng Lei’s nose, he berated him furiously, “With that IQ of yours, where did you even find the guts to come and hang around Magical Beast Forest? It’s practically a miracle that you’re still alive!”

  “Don’t get mad, Ol’ President! Anger is bad for your liver!” Meng Lei responded as he chuckled sneakily.

  Then, he looked at the highly vigilant adventurers and shouted in a strong and loud voice, “That Magical Beast is mine! You’d better hurry and scram, or else... Die!”

  “What a goddamn retard!”

  Chapter 73: The Ultimate Threat, A Fake Saint Domain

  Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  Boom, boom, boom!

  Deafening booms resounded from the waterfall, and water in the pool flowed rapidly.

  The trees were dense and luxuriant, while the vegetation was thick and lush.

  As the adventurers stared at Meng Lei, who had suddenly come charging out, every one of their countenances changed drastically, and their vigilance reached extreme heights.

  “Damn! We’ve attracted other adventurers here after all!”

  The muscular leader’s countenance, who had just walked over to the front of the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s den, also changed. He quickly dashed over and scowled furiously at Meng Lei, who was seated on the magic carpet.

  Meng Lei was dressed in black magician robes and wore a golden mask on his face. Thus, they couldn’t see what he really looked like or get a clear idea of his background.

  However, the fact that he could reach this part of the forest already signified fairly impressive battle capabilities in itself. On top of that, he even had the guts to wrest food from a tiger’s jaws—this showed that Meng Lei was very confident in his own abilities.

  In a situation where they couldn’t get a clear idea of Meng Lei’s background, no one dared to take him lightly. However, there was absolutely no way that they’d surrender the Titanic Dragon-Ape.

  Out of all those who had the guts to come to Magical Beast Forest to make a name for themselves, which one among them wasn’t putting their lives on the line when they did so? How would a mere few words possibly scare them off?

  “Lord Magician, this Titanic Dragon-Ape is the prey that we, the Fire Cloud Mercenaries, only successfully slew after much painstaking trouble. We’ll never hand it over to anyone!” The leader stepped forward. “As long as you leave now, we can pretend that we didn’t hear what you said earlier.”

  He was neither haughty nor obsequious. In fact, there was even a mild threat in his demeanor.

  The Fire Cloud Mercenaries!

  They were the biggest mercenary unit in the Fire Dragon Kingdom border provinces. They were strong and powerful. They enjoyed great fame in the mercenary circle and were a force that ordinary people didn’t dare to easily offend.

  Once they identified themselves as the Fire Cloud Mercenaries, the leader believed that it would definitely frighten away most of the eyesore-like adventurers. The prey might be attractive, but one’s little life was more important, wasn’t it?

  However, Meng Lei sneered instead. “My mind is set on the Titanic Dragon-Ape. If you know what’s good for you, scram at once!”

  “You’re pushing it!”

  The leader’s countenance changed mildly, and he shouted, “Be on your guard!”

  Swoosh!

  The Fire Cloud Mercenaries proved themselves to be a first-rate mercenary unit, indeed. All the members were well-trained, and at the leader’s command, all the assassins instantly vanished without a trace from where they were!

  Over a dozen Warriors swiftly dashed to where the Magicians were. They surrounded the five to six Magicians and the leader on all sides to protect them, forming a firm and sturdy barrier around them.

  At the same time as that, the Magicians quickly began to chant spell incantations!

  “O’ Snow Goddess in the faraway lands of supreme ice and frost, please heed my call. With your pure and untainted hands... Snow Screen!”

  “O’ crimson lotus flames buried deep in the dark shadows underground, I summon you in my name! Be my sword of magic and crush all that stands in my way... God of Fire’s Fire Blast!”

  “Well-trained and highly coordinated movements! Pretty impressive!”

  As Ol’ Amos watched the Fire Cloud Mercenaries’ members form into a battle formation in just a few short seconds, he couldn’t help but rub his palms in admiration, full of praises for them.

  “These guys are only average in strength, but they’ve gone through bloody and fiery battles to temper themselves. They’re very experienced and have great coordination among themselves, so they produce a favorable chemical reaction when they come together.

  “To put it simply, 1+1+1 equates to more than 3! This is something that genius students living in ivory towers like all of you cannot match up to!”

  Ol’ Amos looked at Meng Lei and said with a laugh, “The academy can teach you magic knowledge and lead you through the grand doors of magic, but it cannot make you a real Magician. All of you still have a long way to go!”

  “Ol’ President, I’ll admit that what you said makes a lot of sense.” Meng Lei didn’t rebut him. “But some people cannot be measured by conventional methods.”

  “Oh?”

  Ol’ Amos raised his eyebrows, remaining somewhat noncommittal. “This old man would like to see just what is so special about you.”

  “You’ll see.”

  Meng Lei gave him a small smile. Then, he slowly raised his right hand. As Thunder Elements gathered in his palm and the light of electricity flashed, a spear formed from surging Thunder Elements quietly took shape.

  “Third-Grade Spell, Lightning Spear!”

  Ol’ Amos shook his head and smiled. “Any Seventh-Grade Magician can achieve instant release of third-grade spells. There’s nothing special about that.”

  “What about this?”

  Meng Lei smiled, and the lightning spear in his palm suddenly began to spin rapidly. Its tip became thin and narrow, while the rear end thickened. Hoops of lightning wound all around it, and it gave off a blinding arc of light!

  “Fourth-Grade Spell, Spinning Lightning Drill!”

  Ol’ Amos was rather astonished. “You can actually instantly release fourth-grade spells?”

  “That’s the Fourth-Grade Thunder-Elemental Spell, Spinning Lightning Drill!”

  A thunder-elemental Magician from the Fire Cloud Mercenaries also exclaimed loudly, “Instant release of fourth-grade spells! Captain, he’s an Eighth-Grade Magician!”

  “What? An Eighth-Grade Magician?!”

  The leader... No, the captain’s countenance changed slightly. “Are you sure?”

  “No... Not very, bu
t according to the laws of magic, only Magicians that are eighth-grade and above can achieve instant release of fourth-grade spells,” replied the thunder-elemental Magician solemnly.

  The other few Magicians also nodded heavily. Magicians could only instantly release spells that were four grades lower than their own Magician grades.

  To achieve instant release for fourth-grade spells, one needs to be at least an Eighth-Grade Magician!

  “An Eighth-Grade Magician... Things have become rather troublesome.”

  The captain’s expression turned rather awful-looking. “However, Eighth-Grade Magicians aren’t that difficult to deal with. That guy’s all alone, and he doesn’t have a magical pet mount to protect him. With the Fire Cloud Mercenaries’ strength, we can defeat him for sure. What’s troublesome are the forces backing him up...”

  With sloppy execution came consequences!

  An Eighth-Grade Magician was a noble and exalted existence, and they were usually involved with a whole lot of other people.

  This was what the captain was the most troubled over!

  However, just as the captain was secretly making plans, the Spinning Lightning Drill in Meng Lei’s hand transformed again. The spinning spear suddenly enlarged, and its diameter expanded to two meters wide in an instant.

  Boom, boom, boom!

  What would happen when a two-meter wide round pillar spun at high speed?

  The answer was... A tornado!

  Over here, it should be known as “Thun-nado”!

  The Thun-nado spun at high speed, and everything that it went near to was crushed to bits. It was as if it possessed a mighty force that could devour everything and destroy anything. The sight of it made one’s heart palpitate in fear and turned their breathing quick and ragged.

  “The Fifth-Grade Spell, Violent Thunderstorm!”

  Ol’ Amos exclaimed in astonishment, “You actually took only a short second to cast Spinning Lightning Drill and Violent Thunderstorm in succession! That’s also considered instant release! Aren’t you a Seventh-Grade Magician? How come you’re able to achieve instant release for fifth-grade spells?”

  “T-that’s the Fifth-Grade Spell, Violent Thunderstorm!”

  “Instant release! He actually insta-cast Violent Thunderstorm!”

  “Captain, he can do an instant release of fifth-grade spells!”

  “H-he... He’s a great N-ninth-Grade Magician!”

  “A great Ninth-Grade Magician?!”

  The captain’s heart began to convulse intensely, and a hint of hopelessness welled up within him. He had the confidence to defeat an Eighth-Grade Magician, but if the one they’d run into was a great Ninth-Grade Magician...

  How the heck were they supposed to fight him?

  There was no way they could beat him!

  Have they already wussed out with just these?

  Meng Lei smiled and stayed quiet. With a casual wave, Violent Thunderstorm suddenly dispersed as if it had never been there before. Just as looks of puzzlement appeared on everyone’s faces...

  Roar!

  An earth-shattering roar abruptly reached them from above. A savage-looking dragon head suddenly emerged from the dark clouds, followed by its mighty and imposing body!

  It was the Seventh-Grade Spell, Thunder Dragon Descends!

  “I-instant release of a seventh-grade spell!”

  “A S-saint Domain Magician! He’s a Saint Domain Magician!”

  Chapter 74: The Dragon-Ape Infant, An Equal Contract

  Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  Dark clouds billowed, and the dragon’s armored scales gave off a savage feel!

  The thunder dragon gave off a majestic aura as it soared into the sky!

  A surging wave of pressure emanated from the thunder dragon, so oppressive that everyone’s scalps were tingling, and they couldn’t quite catch their breath.

  In Heaven’s Vault Continent, seventh-grade spells were already considered high-grade spells capable of causing massive destruction and containing a fearsome level of destructiveness.

  The moment a seventh-grade spell fully struck an Eighth-Grade Warrior, they would suffer serious injuries even if they survived. This was the reason why every single person present there was so fearful of the thunder dragon above.

  However, the most fearsome thing here was that...

  The casting of Thunder Dragon Descends had been completed in just two to three breaths. This meant that it was an instant release of... a seventh-grade spell!

  “A Saint Domain Magician!”

  “He’s a Saint Domain Magician!”

  “C-captain, he’s a Saint Domain Magician! He’s... a Saint Domain!”

  The Magicians’ legs trembled while their countenances filled with shock and fear. A Saint Domain, a lofty Saint Domain high up above... A Saint Domain was actually standing right in front of them!

  “S-saint Domain!!”

  Fear appeared on the faces of the captain and everyone else from the Fire Cloud Mercenaries. There was none of the self-confidence and courage from earlier anymore.

  They could fight an Eighth-Grade Magician, but if the one they’d run into was a Ninth-Grade Magician, then they would have to flee, much less when it was a Saint Domain?!

  “S-sir, we were too full of ourselves and ignorant and ended up affronting you. We’re willing to offer up this Titanic Dragon-Ape, so I hope you can forgive our sins, sir!”

  The captain reacted very quickly. He dropped onto his knees with a loud thud, and hurriedly began to beg for mercy. One by one, the other members of Fire Cloud Mercenaries also knelt down and begged for mercy.

  Even though they were extremely unwilling and reluctant to part with their kill, they didn’t possess even a shred of desire to fight back at all when facing a Saint Domain. What they had was just the desire to survive.

  In Heaven’s Vault Continent, one could offend anybody, with the sole exception of Saint Domains. Otherwise, even their deaths would be in vain.

  So what even if that was a Ninth-Grade Magical Beast? When placed in front of their lives, it could be discarded all the same.

  “You may live, but dismember the Titanic Dragon-Ape first!”

  Meng Lei’s voice was aloof and distant. He’d initially wanted to kill them, but the moment he saw the towering Titanic Dragon-Ape, he changed his mind at once.

  That was such a massive lump of meat. How long would it take if he were to handle it all by himself? So, he’d better make them stay and help out instead,

  “Yes, yes! Glad to offer my services!”

  The captain didn’t dare to be remiss. He hastily ordered his subordinates to dismember the Titanic Dragon-Ape, lest Meng Lei found them too slow and changed his mind.

  For a while there, the sound of flesh being cut and bones being cleaved rang out in the surroundings.

  “Not bad.”

  Meng Lei was very pleased with their performances. With their help, it’d be much faster than him doing it all by himself. If nothing went wrong, they should be able to finish dismembering the Titanic Dragon-Ape before night fell.

  “How did you manage to instantly release a seventh-grade spell?” At that moment, Ol’ Amos’ voice, which was filled with puzzlement and astonishment, rang out. “Are you actually a Saint Domain? But that doesn’t make sense. Your spiritual power is clearly only seventh-grade!”

  “It’s a secret.”

  Meng Lei gave him a smug smile and didn’t pay any more attention to the furious old man. Instead, he turned and walked toward the Titanic Dragon-Ape’s den. He wasn’t afraid that the Fire Cloud Mercenaries would play any no-good tricks!

  The cave was very big. It reached over a dozen meters high, but on top of the 100-meter high cliff, it was no more than a small scar at best.

  The cave was very deep, and it twisted and turned such that one couldn’t see right to the end. Inside were jagged, strangely-shaped rocks and hanging stalactites, and it looked like a whole different world.

&nbs
p; After walking for about 300 to 400 meters, the cave interior suddenly brightened—there were glittering jewels embedded on the walls.

  There were pure, transparent diamonds, colorful, glittering jewels, warm and mild jade, agate the size of a dog’s head, as well as bright and colorful crystals...

  “Damn! What a huge diamond! That’s as big as a pig’s head, isn’t it?

  “The green of this jade is so rich! Like a green hat1!

  “Is this agate...?”

  There was a greenish glow in Meng Lei’s eyes. Looking at this place through the eyes of a human from Earth, every single jewel here was a piece of treasure worth millions and would definitely sell for exorbitant sums of money!

  Everything else aside, the worth of just the diamonds alone was already immeasurable. Even the smallest was as big as an infant’s fist, while the biggest was no smaller than a pig’s head.

  All of these highly valuable treasures had been embedded so casually in the moist and gloomy earthen walls? To act as illumination? How aggravating and frustrating!

  “They’re actually using such treasures as illumination! That’s just treasures covered by dust and a waste of God’s gifts!”

  Meng Lei shook his head and sighed. He’d already made up his mind—he was going to take all the jewels with him and leave not even a single one here when he left later. That bunch of fat, old geezers from the nobility loved glittery things like these the most. He’d definitely be able to sell them for a good price.

  As he went all the way into the depths of the den, the light suddenly dimmed. However, Meng Lei’s eyes lit up instead. Compared to when he’d seen the jewels earlier, the light in his eyes was much brighter by severalfold!

  He was looking at... a nest?

  Meng Lei’s breathing turned quick and ragged as he crept over stealthily. A small nest piled full of weeds, tree branches, and beast furs appeared before his eyes—there was a young beast sleeping soundly inside.

  Under a layer of wet, sticky fluid was soft, supple armor. A pair of bloodstained wings wrapped tightly around its body, while its nose and lips were soft and tender...