Chapter 645: Zerg and Battle Achievements

In the Nine Continents cultivation world, merit points and combat achievements, though displayed as mere numbers in a cultivator's battlefield imprint, are in fact a form of wealth that allows cultivators to acquire many tangible resources. Both are crucial for cultivators.

There are generally three ways to earn merit points: killing enemies, selling items to the Heavenly Secret Treasure Vault, and receiving them from the garrison's defense envoy while in the Spirit Stream Realm. Beyond these, there are no other major avenues.

Combat achievements, however, have more diverse sources, besides killing enemies in specific circumstances. For instance, during the last trip to the Myriad Beast Domain secret realm, Lu Ye didn't earn many combat achievements simply by killing enemies. Yet, by leading Pang Dahai and others to resolve the source of the Myriad Beast Domain's crisis, he gained a substantial amount of combat achievements. Therefore, combat achievements can be acquired not only by killing enemies but also by completing specific events, and the quantity obtained this way is often much greater than through mere kills.

Comparatively, combat achievements are undoubtedly more important because they can be directly used to purchase spirit talismans. Merit points, on the other hand, cannot. The only way to exchange merit points for spirit talismans is by participating in spirit talisman auctions. This is also why many Cloud River Realm cultivators enjoy seeking out and participating in various secret realms within the Cloud River Battlefield.

The Spirit Stream Battlefield often offers inheritances, while the Cloud River Battlefield is rich in secret realms. The former allows cultivators to build a more solid foundation, and the latter enables rapid growth. This dynamic ensures that powerful cultivators are born generation after generation in the Nine Continents cultivation world.

Since entering the Cloud River Battlefield, Lu Ye has only been to one secret realm, the Myriad Beast Domain. Firstly, he hasn't been in the Cloud River Battlefield for very long, and secondly, he hasn't explored many areas. Additionally, some secret realms only open at specific times. However, this does not mean that secret realms are rare in the Cloud River Battlefield. If cultivators are truly dedicated to exploring secret realms, they typically have an opportunity to do so once a month. Many of these secret realms offer combat achievements. This allows cultivators to earn combat achievements through their actions in these secret realms and then exchange them for spirit talismans. While this method is arduous and dangerous, it is certainly better than waiting for heaven-bestowed spirit talismans or cultivating in low-quality spiritual lands.

During his last visit to the Myriad Beast Domain secret realm, Lu Ye gained a significant amount of combat achievements. After exchanging some for spirit talismans, he was left with only fifty-six points, a number that had remained unchanged since then. Now, those fifty-six combat achievements had transformed into five hundred seventy-six points, meaning an increase of five hundred twenty points... This amount was enough to exchange for two or three white spirit talismans.

Lu Ye immediately realized that what he had gained from killing the insectoids was not merit points, but combat achievements! This made him somewhat overjoyed. Relatively speaking, combat achievements were undoubtedly more useful, and he was not lacking in merit points at the moment.

After a quick calculation, he found that the relationship between the number of combat achievements gained and the strength of the insectoids was not significantly different from that of merit points. For example, if Lu Ye gained forty merit points for killing a Cloud River Fifth-Level cultivator, then killing an insectoid equivalent to a Cloud River Fifth-Level cultivator would yield forty combat achievements! Therefore, the dozens of insectoids equivalent to the Cloud River Realm had just contributed five hundred twenty combat achievements.

While thrilled, he also became increasingly vigilant, because matters involving combat achievements are rarely simple. Cultivators in the Cloud River Battlefield had summarized a rule: secret realms that offered combat achievements were far more dangerous than other secret realms. Although Lu Ye had entered a mirage realm this time, not a secret realm, all the clues suggested that this mirage realm was far from a benevolent place. Even with his current strength comparable to the True Lake Realm, he couldn't guarantee his safety.

Dispelling distracting thoughts, Lu Ye remained alert. The entire second-floor was littered with scattered insectoid corpses, their emerald green blood staining the floor a vibrant green. A pungent odor hung in the air. There was a bed, seemingly a resting place, but like the first floor, no one was in sight. Judging by the dust accumulated in the corners, it appeared to have been uninhabited for a long time. While encountering insectoids in a mirage realm was common, Lu Ye had no clue what this particular place was.

The second-floor space was not large; a single glance provided a clear understanding of it. There was a wooden window, wide open, through which the insectoids likely flew in. Just as Lu Ye was about to close the window, there was a sudden thud, and the room's light dimmed. A figure the size of a small calf climbed onto the window ledge from outside. Its triangular head peered into the room, and two grayish-green compound eyes reflected Lu Ye's image.

Another mantis-like insectoid had arrived, and this one felt significantly more dangerous than the ones he had previously killed. It could be a coincidence, or perhaps the aura from his recent actions had attracted it. The moment it saw Lu Ye, the insectoid immediately lunged through the window, wielding two scythe-like blades. It moved like a blade-wielding soldier expert in dao arts, stirring up a storm of slashes within the not-so-spacious room.

Lu Ye raised his Pan Mountain Blade, and amidst the flashing blade light, he was already engaged in combat with the insectoid. Clanging sounds resonated continuously, and the surging spiritual power left the room in disarray. Having suddenly gained power comparable to the True Lake Realm, Lu Ye was still somewhat unaccustomed to it. After all, he was only a Cloud River Fifth-Level cultivator himself, so he couldn't unleash his full strength until he completely familiarized himself with his newfound power.

And this newly appearing insectoid was indeed much stronger than the previous ones. At the very least, its scythe-like blades were incredibly tough, capable of blocking the Pan Mountain Blade's slashes. This was definitely a True Lake Realm insectoid!

Lu Ye was curious whether, if he killed this insectoid, the combat achievements he gained would be calculated based on his current True Lake Realm-comparable strength or his actual Cloud River Fifth-Level cultivation. If it were the latter, then the gains from this single insectoid would be quite substantial.

In the merit point calculation system, a True Lake Realm cultivator represented a base of one hundred merit points, with an additional one hundred points for every minor level increase in cultivation. In other words, a True Lake First-Level cultivator represented one hundred merit points, a True Lake Second-Level cultivator two hundred, and a True Lake Ninth-Level cultivator a full nine hundred merit points. If a Cloud River Fifth-Level cultivator killed a True Lake First-Level cultivator, crossing five minor levels, the merit points obtained would be six times the base amount—six hundred merit points. The same applied to combat achievements. Six hundred merit points could be exchanged for a green spirit talisman. And this was calculated based on a True Lake First-Level opponent. The insectoid before him likely possessed strength beyond True Lake First-Level. The stronger it was, the greater the benefits he would gain from killing it, in a multiplier fashion.

These thoughts flashed in and out of his mind in an instant. Lu Ye didn't dwell on them, instead moving nimbly within the room, parrying the opponent's furious barrage of slashes. The swift exchange of blows in the confined space allowed him to gain a more skilled command over his current state.

Seizing the moment the insectoid raised its scythe-like blades, Lu Ye activated Windwalk, moving like a shadow and striking like lightning, covering a distance of ten feet. A brilliant light flashed on his Pan Mountain Blade, and extremely intricate patterns appeared on its dark surface. It was imbued with the Twin Peaks Sharpness spiritual纹. The sharp scythe-like blade descended, aiming for Lu Ye's back, but it only grazed his body and struck empty air. With a squelch, the Pan Mountain Blade pierced the mantis's chest. The moment the Thorny Blade spiritual纹 activated, the insectoid's body convulsed violently, emitting a short shriek from its mouthparts. As another scythe-like blade chopped down, Lu Ye swiftly retreated, his Pan Mountain Blade pulling out pungent, emerald-green blood that splattered onto the floor.

The heavily wounded mantis-like insectoid stumbled, instinctively flailing its two scythe-like blades. With a deafening crash, the second-floor wall shattered, sending splintered wood raining down and stirring up clouds of dust. When the dust settled, the mantis-like insectoid was dead, but Lu Ye was not in the mood to check the change in his combat achievements. Instead, his eyes widened as he gazed at the distant sky.

The sky seemed to have split open, revealing a colossal rift. Within it, another world appeared to be hidden. At this very moment, vast numbers of insectoids were swarming out of the rift, pouring into this world. The insectoids varied in form; many were familiar from Lu Ye's previous encounters in the mirage realm, while many others were entirely new to him. Like cats smelling fish, they swarmed into this place from an unknown spatial location.

Lu Ye didn't observe for long, taking only a hasty glance before averting his gaze, suppressing his shock and numerous questions. His expression grew solemn. He had been inside the house earlier and hadn't been aware of the situation outside. However, after his battle with the True Lake Realm mantis-like insectoid shattered the second-floor wall, the scene outside became visible to him.

As far as his eyes could see, there was a street lined with what seemed to be familiar-looking houses, many of which had collapsed. On that street, amidst the shattered walls and rubble, countless insectoids of various shapes and sizes flew and crawled. The sudden commotion here had clearly alerted these insectoids. As Lu Ye saw them, they also spotted him. The sound of flapping wings filled the air as winged insectoids took flight. Others, resembling hounds but covered in carapaces, with long slender tails and sharp fangs in their mouths, moved with agile bodies, swiftly darting towards his location.

The situation was dire! When he first appeared in this house, he had thought the place was safe. But upon reaching the second floor, he discovered that safety concealed some dangers. Now, he finally saw the truth. The safety he had perceived simply did not exist. All around him, in every direction, were various insectoids. He hadn't noticed them before, partly because they hadn't made much noise, and partly because he had arrived here through a projection combined with an out-of-body spiritual essence. His senses hadn't fully recovered, leaving him unaware of the external situation, even of the insectoids on the second floor.