"SOMEONE'S COMMITTING SUICIDE!!!"
The soldier's terrified scream echoed across the top of the wall, but it was quickly drowned out by the roar of gunfire and the sounds of battle. All attention was focused on the main front; no one noticed a small "accident" happening behind them.
Lam Minh plummeted like a meteorite. The wind whistled past his ears, the feeling of freefall sending a surge of adrenaline through him. For a normal person, a jump from a height of 50 meters was nothing short of suicide. But for a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, he was in complete control.
He channeled qi to his feet, using it as an invisible cushion. Just before hitting the ground, he tucked his body, using parkour skills learned in his previous life to minimize the impact.
THUD!
He landed with a perfect roll, making only a small sound. Dust billowed up around him.
"Phew... this feeling is as awesome as ever," he muttered, dusting himself off.
Without wasting a moment, he immediately dashed towards the energy control station. The speed of a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator was pushed to its maximum as he glided through the shadows of the ruined structures like a ghost.
As he drew near, he hid behind a large concrete slab and observed the situation. The group of five Madakaros had arrived. Four Qi Refining creatures stood guard while the large Early-stage Foundation Establishment creature was using its sharp claws to tear at the station's steel door.
SCREEE... SCREEE...
The sound of metal being rent was ear-piercing. The sturdy steel door was gradually being destroyed.
Lam Minh frowned. He couldn't let it succeed. He needed to draw their attention.
But how? Him alone against one Foundation Establishment and four Qi Refining creatures? No matter how confident he was, he knew this was a suicide mission. But... that was exactly what he wanted!
"Alright, time to act!"
He took a deep breath, then burst out from his hiding spot, holding the gleaming Blacklight dagger, and yelled with "brave but foolish" valor:
"You damned monsters! Stop! As long as I'm here, you won't succeed in your destruction!"
His action immediately caused all five Madakaros to freeze. They turned their heads, looking at him as if he were an insect that had just willingly flown into a spider's web.
The Foundation Establishment creature narrowed its third eye, sensing the weak Late-stage Qi Refining aura from Lam Minh. In its eyes, this was just a slightly tougher piece of prey.
It let out a roar, signaling to the other four Qi Refining creatures. "Deal with him."
The four creatures, two at Mid-stage and two at Late-stage, charged towards Lam Minh in unison.
"Come on, you bastards!" Lam Minh grinned ferociously, getting into a stance.
He had no intention of winning. His target was the Foundation Establishment creature. He needed to get past these four to "touch" his main objective.
He plunged into the encirclement. The Blacklight dagger in his hand danced in deadly arcs. With his superior strength and skill, he easily gained the upper hand.
SLASH!
He carved a deep gash across the chest of a Mid-stage creature.
STAB!
He drove his dagger straight into the shoulder of another.
But he didn't finish them off. He only injured them, making them more frenzied. He deliberately exposed a few openings, letting their attacks graze his body. The nano-suit underneath mitigated most of the damage, but on the outside, he "acted" as if he were heavily injured, panting, his clothes torn and tattered.
The Foundation Establishment creature stood by with its arms crossed, looking somewhat impatient that its four subordinates couldn't handle one small fry.
After a few minutes of brawling, Lam Minh felt it was time. He let out a yell, channeled his power into the dagger, and used a vicious technique to pierce through the heart of a Late-stage creature, killing it instantly.
At the same time, he "deliberately" left his back exposed to another.
Sharp claws raked a deep wound down his back.
"Ah!" he cried out in pain as fresh blood (controlled by qi) sprayed out. He staggered forward, right in the direction of the Foundation Establishment creature.
Seeing this, the creature smirked cruelly. "Fool."
It gave him no further chance. It stepped forward, raising its giant hand, and a dark green ball of energy began to gather in its palm. This was an energy attack, something only Foundation Establishment cultivators could use.
"Perfect!" Lam Minh cheered inwardly, but his face showed a look of despair and unwillingness to accept his fate.
He weakly raised his dagger, attempting a final defensive gesture.
The energy ball shot out, engulfing him.
A pain that felt like it was tearing his very soul apart washed over him. The power of the Foundation Establishment Realm was on a completely different level. It didn't just destroy the body; it attacked the spirit itself.
Before his consciousness faded to black, Lam Minh had only one thought.
"This time... I must have gotten a ton of points!"
10... 9... 8...
[Host has revived.]
[Death in the real world. Killed by an Early-stage Foundation Establishment creature with an energy attack. Damage level: Annihilated. An extremely glorious death. Received 2200 Immortality Points.]
[[INVULNERABILITY] STATE ACTIVATED. TIME REMAINING: 29:59]
Amidst the smoke and dust left by the explosion, a figure slowly emerged, completely unscathed.
The Foundation Establishment creature and the three remaining Qi Refining ones were stunned. Their third eyes were wide open. The prey they had just ground to dust, how could it be alive again?
Lam Minh stood there, feeling the endless energy coursing through his body. The feeling of omnipotence from the [Invulnerability] state was truly incredible.
He cracked his neck, making popping sounds, then looked at the four petrified monsters and gave a cold smile.
"Thanks for helping me level up."
[Current Immortality Points: 8250/8000 (for breakthrough to Peak Qi Refining).]
"System, breakthrough!"
[CONFIRMED. CONSUMING 8000 IMMORTALITY POINTS. BEGINNING QI SEA CONDENSATION PROCESS.]
An even more powerful stream of energy than before erupted in his dantian. The qi no longer rampaged through his meridians, but began to compress, becoming as thick as mercury, forming a miniature "sea of qi." His power skyrocketed once again. If the Late-stage was a river, then the Peak-stage was a reservoir brimming with energy, ready to explode.
The entire breakthrough process happened in the blink of an eye.
Lam Minh opened his eyes, his aura completely different.
"Now then," he looked at the four still-baffled monsters, the Blacklight dagger in his hand glinting with a deadly light. "Time to return the favor."