What's Wrong With This Madman Elder

"Night's falling. We need to move out quickly!" After regrouping with his disciples and Huang Laodao, Zhang Yun immediately led them toward areas of thinning spiritual energy. By the time the surrounding atmosphere felt less oppressively dense, the sky had fully darkened.

The four took shelter in a massive tree hollow after slaughtering its original occupant—a Foundation Establishment Peak-level brown bear. Its carcass now lay outside the den, its territory claimed.

"Rankings must've slipped. We'll need to pick up pace tomorrow." Sitting cross-legged on a meditation mat, Zhang Yun glanced at his glowing jade bracelet. Since being dragged into the underground ruins, he'd only gained 20 points from the bear. His earlier lead had undoubtedly plummeted. To reclaim first place, they'd need a relentless push over the next two days.

Outside Southern Wind Forest​

The ranking monument blazed under spirit-lantern illumination:

1st: South Mountain Sect's Third Elder - 450 pts

2nd: South Mountain Sect's Fifth Elder - 439 pts

...

9th: Lingxian Sect's Grand Elder - 379 pts

10th: Lingxian Sect's Ninth Elder (Zhang Yun) - 355 pts

...

13th: South Mountain Sect's Grand Elder - 301 pts

"He's scoring again! The madman's moving up!"

"By the ancestors—how does he alternate between droughts and floods?!"

"What's wrong with South Mountain's Grand Elder? He hasn't gained a point in hours!"

Speculation buzzed like angry hornets. Sect Master Ling's jaw tightened as he exchanged glances with Mu Wenxuan. The South Mountain Sect Leader's earlier confidence now wavered.

Impossible. Our Grand Elder could crush any participant here. Has he discovered some ancient ruin?

Among Lingxian's disciples, hope and exasperation warred. "If he'd just stabilize…"

"Two in the top ten would still be decent…"

Sect Master Ling's eye twitched. You brat—if you don't hold top ten, I'll have you scrubbing latrines for a decade!

Suddenly—

"Holy hell! He's skyrocketing again!"

All eyes snapped to the monument. Zhang Yun's points leapt: 370… 383… 400…

Gasps rippled outward as his name blazed past competitors:

1st: Lingxian Sect's Ninth Elder - 459 pts​

The square erupted.

Tree Hollow Clearing​

Thud!

Zhang Yun's blade withdrew from another collapsing bear. Around him, the clearing resembled a grisly abattoir—dozens of Foundation Establishment bears lay strewn about, their throats precisely pierced.

"Guard them," he ordered Huang Laodao without turning, Qingyuan Steps carrying him toward the next snarling beast.

The daoist's Adam's apple bobbed as he complied. Monstrous. Each strike finds the intercostal weak spot between seventh and eighth ribs. No hesitation. No wasted motion.

Inside the hollow, Xu Ming and Wu Xiaopang watched their master's dance of death with rapt awe. Crimson arcs painted the moonlight as Zhang Yun weaved through the frenzy, his blade singing a dirgy hymn.

Crunch.

A paw the size of a banquet platter swiped at his flank. Zhang Yun pivoted, edge sliding upward to sever tendons. The bear's roar died in a gurgle.

"Thirty-seven… thirty-eight…" Wu Xiaopang counted corpses, voice trembling with exhilaration.

ROAR!

An earthshaking bellow erupted from the forest depths. Ancient trees quivered as something colossal approached.