Urban Divine Doctor Descends the Mountain Chapter 2716 - 2715: Strive for First Place

Having absorbed the earth energy from the three-star Demon Emperor, Lin Dong sensed a noticeable boost in his power.

Yet, he remained stuck at the early stage of the Second Layer Heaven, without progressing to the mid stage.

Although advancing from early to mid stage seemed like a minor step, it demanded an enormous amount of energy.

Merely absorbing the earth energy from a single three-star Demon Emperor wasn't sufficient to achieve that breakthrough.

Afterward, Lin Dong set out once more across the Black Soil Plateau, his goals now more defined—tracking and slaying beasts at the Demon Emperor and Demon King levels.

These creatures boasted immense power along with rich energy reserves and valuable resources, serving as the ideal way for Lin Dong to amplify his abilities.

Deep within the Black Soil Plateau, Lin Dong glided like a shadow, quietly weaving through the rugged mountains and dense woods.

With his sharp senses and superior fighting techniques, he managed to take down one demon beast after the next.

Every clash sharpened his mastery over puppets and enriched his grasp of battle tactics.

At the same time, insights gained from each fight steadily elevated his overall strength.

As the tally of demon beasts felled by Lin Dong grew, his position on the Five Elements Stele in the Extraterrestrial Battlefield crept upward unnoticed. Previously, he had rocketed into the Top Ten with astonishing velocity, landing at ninth and drawing eyes from all sides.

Now, merely two days later, his spot had ascended further, claiming eighth place!

This update rapidly circulated across the Extraterrestrial Battlefield, sparking intense interest and chatter among the crowds.

"Lin Dong’s position on the Five Elements Stele has climbed once more! Looks like he’s back to pursuing demon beasts," one voice rang out in surprise.

Indeed, Lin Dong’s ascent was breathtaking, as though he had exploded onto the scene as a fresh luminary in the Extraterrestrial Battlefield in a single night.

"I figure it won’t take much time before he storms into the top five," another remarked.

While this comment held some conjecture, it also reflected acknowledgment and anticipation of Lin Dong’s prowess.

Right then, Lin Dong’s exact placement on the Five Elements Stele and the count of demon beasts he had slain turned into the hot topic for all.

Per the Five Elements Stele’s logs, Lin Dong sat at eighth with seven Demon Emperors and thirty-nine Demon Kings under his belt! Such feats were bound to stun onlookers.

It was crucial to note that beasts at the Demon Emperor level rivaled the might of human Heavenly Realm Martial Artists.

Still, Lin Dong had felled so many Demon Emperors and Demon Kings through his personal might, a clear testament to his formidable capabilities.

"Stories claim Lin Dong started with only First Heaven strength. Wow, it’s unbelievable that a First Heaven powerhouse could claim seven Demon Emperors. And several were three-star ones too!"

"Your intel is old. Word is Lin Dong has advanced from First Heaven to Second Heaven. He’s operating at Second Heaven now."

"Even with Second Heaven strength, taking out that many Demon Emperors and Demon Kings is downright terrifying!"

"I bet he’ll crack the top five before long, huh?"

"Top five? That’s tough, since the top five are all freaks. Plus, their power puts them at the pinnacle just shy of the Secondary Ancestor!"

"..."

Upon the Five Elements Stele, the Secondary Ancestor holds no rank. Everyone listed is a Heavenly Realm martial artist beneath the Secondary Ancestor.

The top five consist of the mightiest below the Secondary Ancestor, all at the Fourth Heaven in their realms.

As for their battle prowess, each peaks at the Fourth Heaven! Unbeatable short of the Secondary Ancestor.

Elsewhere, Lin Dong pressed on with his hunt for Demon Emperors.

On this particular day, Lin Dong employed the Earth Dragon Treasure Technique, darting across the Black Soil Plateau.

His eyes pierced like an eagle’s, scrutinizing every nook and cranny in search of Demon Emperors and Demon Kings lurking in concealment.

That nightfall, he reached the base of a towering snow-capped peak. Icy gales howled, snow gleamed untouched, and the scene felt timelessly suspended.

Just as Lin Dong prepared to venture up the snow mountain for scouting, frantic footfalls shattered the quiet.

He spun around quickly, spotting a ragged and ashen-faced human martial artist fleeing desperately his way, pursued by a one-star Demon Emperor with crimson eyes and exposed fangs, obviously locked onto the man as its quarry.

"Senior, save me!" the man yelled at Lin Dong.

Meanwhile, the Demon Emperor gaped its gore-filled maw, poised to swallow the fellow whole.

"Stop!" Lin Dong bellowed in fury, his form blurring like a specter as he lunged forward. Unsheathing his long sword, a gleam of icy brilliance flashed while he clashed with the Demon Emperor.

Sword images danced wildly, demonic aura billowed toward the heavens, and Lin Dong, leveraging his superior force, spotted the Demon Emperor’s weakness after brief exchanges, driving his blade straight through its core.

The one-star Demon Emperor crashed down heavily, dissolving into wisps of dark mist.

Once he had saved the martial artist, Lin Dong realized the man was a compatriot. His power reached Earth Realm, originating from the Dragon Country.

The martial artist gazed at Lin Dong, eyes brimming with thankfulness and awe, his tone quivering: "Such a youthful Heavenly Realm expert from Dragon Country—might you be Lin Dong Lin Tian, the one who blasted into the Top Ten on the Five Elements Stele with unreal speed lately? That fabled figure hailed as a Ten Thousand Years Myth?"

This caught Lin Dong off guard somewhat. He hadn’t realized his fame had spread so wide on the Extraterrestrial Battlefield.

Concurrently, it was his first encounter with the phrase "Five Elements Stele," piquing his interest.

"Five Elements Stele? What’s that?" Lin Dong questioned.

The martial artist composed himself and proceeded to describe the enigma of the Five Elements Stele to Lin Dong.

As it happened, the Five Elements Stele was an arcane monument in the Extraterrestrial Battlefield that tallied rankings for martial artists based on demon beast kills, gauging by the count of Demon Emperors and Demon Kings eliminated.

The standings updated periodically, and anyone breaking into the top ten possessed extraordinary might.

"Oh? You mentioned I entered the Top Ten at record pace? Where do I stand exactly now?" Lin Dong probed with curiosity.

The Dragon Country warrior replied with enthusiasm: "I’d heard you were at ninth before! If I may venture to ask, have you taken down another Demon Emperor lately? How many Demon Emperors have you defeated since arriving in the Extraterrestrial Battlefield?"

Lin Dong thought briefly before answering: "If memory serves, counting this Demon Emperor right here, it totals eight!"

"Ah? Eight, so you’ve surpassed ninth. You’ve gained another spot, now at eighth!"

"Amazing, you’ve risen to eighth, and I reckon you’ll hit the top five shortly!"

"Should you enter the top five, Lin Tian, you can visit the Five Elements Stele for a prize."

"Oh? A prize, who hands it out?" Lin Dong inquired again, intrigued.

The Dragon Country warrior answered honestly: "The Five Elements Stele itself bestows the prize. That monument is profoundly enigmatic. Whenever your rank lands in the top five on the Five Elements Stele, simply approach it and let a drop of fresh blood fall, and the stele will grant you a cultivation method!"

"That cultivation method gets etched directly into your consciousness straight from the Five Elements Stele."

Faced with this wondrous phenomenon, Lin Dong felt a spark of fascination: "It appears the Five Elements Stele holds great wonders. When I make top five, I’ll go there."

"No, top five isn’t nearly enough. My aim is to claim the top spot! Once I seize first place, I’ll visit the Five Elements Stele for the fitting reward!"

Hearing this, the Dragon Country warrior experienced a jolt of astonishment and grew profound admiration in turn.