God Rank Upgrade System Chapter 5

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

District A20 lay positioned along the northern edge of the city.

This zone suffered contamination from a rampant virus outbreak, while nearby urban areas swarmed with zombies alongside scattered mutated beasts.

Danger lurked everywhere, yet chances for fortune thrived amid the perils.

Various components from mutated beasts served as potent materials, crafting several elite weapons.

Moreover, each mutated beast's brain contained a special item dubbed the ‘Odd Crystal’. These crystalline entities harbored bizarre energy that martial artists could absorb during practice to dramatically boost their cultivation.

As it marked their debut real-combat trip to District A20, Luo Li stayed vigilant and led a squad forward.

They boarded the cutting-edge maglev train at dawn and reached District A20 within just a couple of hours.

The train's blistering speed left Lin Xiu convinced he rode a rocket.

The spot was a compact town ringed by enormous walls that blocked regular mutated beasts and zombies from instant breach, rendering it fairly secure.

“I’m feeling a bit nervous.” Dressed in protective suit and clutching a blade, Yang Tian remarked.

“What’re you afraid of?” Lin Xiu chuckled; outwardly, he stayed completely at ease.

Deep down, though, a flicker of worry gnawed at him. This would be his initial encounter slaying those zombies and mutated beasts, after all.

“You’re not scared, but I am.” Yang Tian muttered under his breath. Following prior incidents, Lin Xiu baffled him now. Defeating Xu Jun proved Lin Xiu had attained beginner warrior prowess.

Could Lin Xiu have hidden his true power from the start?

Yet that seemed impossible—who could stomach the 'trash' label for years on end?

“Gather!” At that moment, Luo Li bellowed sharply from ahead.

His words prompted the group to snap into tidy formations right away, drawing a pleased nod from him.

“You’ve all drilled endlessly at the academy. Reaching beginner warrior strength and armed with battle blades, ordinary zombies and mutated beasts pose no threat. Real combat alone reveals your limits. Only live battles forge unbreakable will and poise.”

“Last year, fear doomed several beginner warriors, letting rank 1 zombies bite and kill them.”

His words turned faces grim; sweat beaded on some foreheads.

“We deploy shortly. Our 20 split into 4 squads—pick your groups freely.”

“Lin Xiu, join us!” Yang Tian called out, scanning the others.

Lin Xiu agreed with a nod as Zhang Yi and Ye Qiu also signed on to his team.

Still, they appeared reluctant, as if teaming with Lin Xiu shamed them.

Lin Xiu ignored their attitudes entirely.

“Final call: All set to join? Beyond these gates lie zombie hordes and mutated beasts. Survival hinges on you alone.” Luo Li propped against the wall by the massive doors, gaze sweeping the assembly.

“Yes!” Their unified shout rang out.

Luo Li nodded approvingly—no cowards among them, regardless of outcomes.

“Stay close; outer zombies and beasts pack serious power.” Luo Li's face grew stern.

Even as a rank 3 martial artist, he struggled against elite mutated beasts.

Xin Yao Academy had outfitted the 20 with battle robes and blades.

Soft to the touch, the robes repelled standard strikes. Forged from unique alloys, the blades sliced with deadly sharpness.

“Head out—and harvest those odd crystals from mutated beasts. Trade them at A20’s supply store for points.”

With Luo Li's briefing done, the group surged outward.

Beyond the gates stretched an infinite forest.

Hidden amid it loomed countless ruined buildings.

The sight stunned Lin Xiu slightly. Overgrown woods had swallowed the old city, erasing its former shape.

The four teams parted ways upon exit.

“Watch yourself—don’t drag us down.” Zhang Yi sneered at Lin Xiu.

Though Lin Xiu had crushed Xu Jun, Zhang Yi scoffed; he outclassed Xu Jun vastly, nearing true warrior tier!

“What’s your problem?” Yang Tian shot back in contempt.

Lin Xiu scanned his environs, shrugging off Zhang Yi's taunt to focus outward.

Power-up strikes had toppled Ma Qiang and Xu Jun, but his core strength remained feeble.

Zombies and mutated beasts attacked humans ferociously, fighting to the death without mercy.

One wrong move spelled doom!

“There!” Vine-choked ruins revealed crimson glints; Yang Tian's eyes narrowed sharply.

Lin Xiu triggered his Analytic Eyes without delay.

“Rank 1, Zombie traits: Extremely slow, sharp teeth, carries virus strain. Overall combat strength: 380”

Damn—even a lowly rank 1 zombie outpowered him!

Frustration hit Lin Xiu hard. His combat strength sat at 291, up from 250 yet pitifully low beside peers.

The zombies detected them and lumbered over.

True to Analytic Eye's scan, their sluggish pace made them simple prey if avoided.

Zhang Yi, Ye Qiu, and Yang Tian broke into chills.

First live zombies: pallid, decaying visages with jagged fangs and oozing gore from gaping maws.

The trio froze in shock.

Lin Xiu buzzed with thrill instead! Experience points!

No doubt, slaying a zombie yielded EXP.

Gripping his razor-thin, lethal battle blade, he lunged at the nearest and cleaved it cleanly in half!

“Ding! Congratulations, Master has successfully killed a rank 1 zombie and obtained 200 experience points!”

“Congratulations Master for increasing your level. Currently at level 2, you have obtained 2 potential points!”