Systemless Villain - Chapter 268: Pursuit of Strength

The atmosphere within the portal remained bright, as if night and moon had ceased to exist—a strange world beyond comprehension.

Even in the original plot, the appearance of the portal was mysterious and left unexplained.

At this moment, Long Tian and Alexia were traversing through a somewhat sparse forest, with tall trees towering overhead.

Their gazes lowered to the ground, where numerous footprints, slashes, and cuts were evident. It was clearly a site of past skirmishes.

Long Tian’s hand closed around a broken sword hilt, his eyes narrowing in contemplation as he inspected it, his chin cradled in his other hand.

“This skirmish couldn’t have lasted long, perhaps just a few hours ago,” he mused. His gaze swept over more shattered weapons strewn ahead, his tone grave. “A battle involving over 30 combatants… It appears that more individuals entered this portal than we anticipated. And judging by the ferocity of the conflict, they were undoubtedly vying for something of great value.”

Alexia observed in silence, marveling at Long Tian’s ability to decipher the signs left behind.

“To the northeast, it seems they headed in that direction,” Long Tian announced.

“Then let’s go there!” Alexia replied without hesitation.

“Wait a moment,” Long Tian interjected.

As Alexia waited in silence, he gestured with his finger and intoned, “Arise.”

Four dark souls, Alter, Hou Dian, Ju Yin, and Lu Dan, materialized before him, exuding an aura of darkness that seemed to consume the surrounding light.

Not forgetting about his enchanced strength, Long Tian touched Alter’s forehead, igniting its form in black flames and crackling lightning.

“Now, scatter and seek out other humans!” he commanded.

The four dark souls nodded obediently and promptly vanished from view.

Long Tian couldn’t help but feel somewhat inadequate; these four dark souls comprised his entire remaining forces. Yet, he already had a strategy in mind to bolster their numbers, especially in this place, where he anticipated encountering formidable adversaries.

Meanwhile, Alexia couldn’t contain her admiration. “So, those black creatures were the ones who discovered the mysterious Chamber that ensnared us? You truly possess versatile abilities, Long Tian,” she remarked with a smile.

“I’m grateful for that,” Long Tian replied, returning her smile.

“Alright then, let’s proceed. My hands are itching for a real fight!” Alexia exclaimed eagerly, her aura unconsciously emanating intimidation.

Long Tian chuckled softly and nodded in agreement. With that, they swiftly ascended towards the northeast, where dense forests lay in wait.

——

As Long Tian and Alexia ventured further into the depths of the forest, the dense canopy above cast deeper shadows, enveloping them in an eerie silence.

Suddenly, Long Tian came to a stop, prompting Alexia to halt as well, her expression reflecting confusion as she turned towards him.

“What’s the matter?” she inquired.

Long Tian didn’t respond immediately; instead, he closed his eyes in concentration.

Utilizing his unique ability, he established a connection with his dark souls, allowing him to view the surroundings from a vantage point above the trees.

In that moment, he beheld a grassy clearing amidst the dense foliage, spanning a radius of 5 hectares. Despite the towering trees blocking much of the sunlight, the clearing remained visible, albeit tinged with a dusk-like hue.

Yet, it wasn’t merely the clearing that captured his attention; it was a colossal temple-like structure towering over 100 meters, seamlessly integrated into the cliffside.

Of particular interest were the three imposing heads of sacred beasts—Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin—adorning the temple’s facade.

Long Tian’s focus shifted to the entrance, where a group of ten individuals, predominantly men, congregated. Most appeared to be in their thirties or older, with only a few seeming younger.

As he observed, three young men emerged from the temple, their faces familiar to Long Tian. Among them was Zhou Yan, a member of the holy knight lineage. From his lineage alone, it was evident that he possessed remarkable talent.

Though Long Tian lacked extensive knowledge of holy knights, he understood they were not to be underestimated.

“Hey kid, I don’t care where you’re from. But that artifact will belong to our Heaven-Defying Fist Sect!” declared a burly man, his body adorned with various wounds, exuding a menacing aura.

Long Tian’s intrigue deepened at those words. He immediately directed his dark soul, leaping from one tree to another to gain a clearer view of the unfolding scene.

With the mention of the artifact, it became evident that Zhou Yan must have retrieved it from within the temple. And its worth was undeniable, considering Long Tian and Alexia alone had received five precious gifts, not to mention the dual cultivation.

The expressions of those present now mirrored hungry wolves eyeing their prey as they fixed their gazes on Zhou Yan and his companions.

“The Fist Sect should know its place with their strength. There are ten of us here, and I’m certain we all share the same goal,” remarked a bald old man with a long beard, wearing a smirk.

“I have an idea. Should we eliminate that kid before fighting for the artifact?” suggested another.

“Excellent idea.”

“I’m on board.”

“It’s the smartest move in a situation like this.”

“…”

The rest immediately voiced their approval, their faces contorted with grins and malevolent intent.

It was clear they were aware of the artifact; previously, a tall, handsome spectral figure had administered a test, and those who succeeded could enter the temple and uncover its contents.

And now, here stood Zhou Yan and his two companions, having passed the test and emerged successfully. Zhou Yan sported a bracelet adorned with three gemstones, a clear indication of an item obtained from within the temple.

Zhou Yan, however, grinned with unwavering confidence.

“So, you’re all aiming for me, huh? Do you even know who I am?” he asked casually.

“Even if you were the king of the world, this realm is isolated from the outside, and no one would know if you were to perish,” retorted a middle-aged man disdainfully.

Zhou Yan’s grin widened at this response, his demeanor resembling not that of prey cornered but rather a predator on the prowl.

His aura exuded a purple hue, causing the ground to tremble, and small stones around him lifted and vibrated.

“Then I’ll make sure to send you all to your graves!” he proclaimed with a sinister grin.

Just in that moment, Long Tian’s vision abruptly darkened, and was jolted back to consciousness, tumbling backward only to be caught by Alexia.

“Long Tian, are you alright?” she inquired, her expression etched with concern.

Rubbing his eyes, Long Tian felt a piercing sensation, as though needles were pricking both of his eyes.

It appeared that despite enhancing his dark abilities, his capacity to see through his dark souls remained limited. Clearly, more training was needed rather than relying solely on the free upgrade.

After a brief moment, his vision gradually normalized.

“Hey, are you listening to me?” Alexia probed once more, her worry lingering.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Mrs. Alexia, just a slight discomfort, but it’s passed now,” Long Tian reassured her.

“Oh, thank goodness. You froze all of a sudden, your eyes wide open with a dark, intense color. So, did something occur?” Alexia pressed curiously.

Long Tian grinned, “Indeed, I witnessed something intriguing,” he replied. “Let’s proceed, Mrs. Alexia.”

“Where to?” Alexia queried.

“To join the battle!” Long Tian declared with a smirk.

Though Alexia didn’t fully grasp Long Tian’s words, she nodded in agreement. Without delay, they soared off, Long Tian taking the lead.

Their destination? Without a doubt, it was the vicinity of the temple.