The man, none other than Lu Chen, watched as the three girls' faces bloomed with relief. With a flick of his wrist, three vials containing a luminous, emerald liquid arced through the air. The girls caught them instinctively, the scent of potent herbs filling their nostrils. Without hesitation, they drank. A visible wave of vitality washed over them, their pale complexions regaining color, their earlier injuries seemingly melting away.
Lu Chen then turned his attention to the holographic leaderboard shimmering in his vision. His gaze narrowed at his team's ranking: a dismal twelfth place with a mere 2500 points. A mental calculation told him they needed a staggering 1,000 points just to take down a single sixth-level beast. Meanwhile, Chen Fan's team lorded over the top spot with an intimidating 6200 points.
A cold determination settled in Lu Chen's eyes. "Follow me," he commanded, his voice low and resolute. The three girls exchanged glances before falling into step behind him as he headed towards the dense, shadowed depths of the forest. This area was rumored to be a breeding ground for sixth-level beasts, their powerful roars echoing through the ancient trees.
Chu Su hesitated, a flicker of apprehension in her eyes. Yet, the memory of Lu Chen effortlessly dispatching the sixth-level Crimson Horned Boar quelled her fear. If he had done it once, he could do it again.
They arrived at a clearing, the air thick with the musky scent of wild animals. A low growling reverberated through the trees – a pack of at least five hulking sixth-level Shadow Wolves emerged from the undergrowth, their eyes glowing with predatory hunger.
Yun Mu, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon, turned to Lu Chen, a question in his gaze. "Master, what's the plan?"
Lu Chen, however, remained still, a strange calm radiating from him. "Stay here," he instructed, his voice firm. "Do not engage the beasts."
Before they could question his order, Lu Chen leaped onto the branch of a towering ancient tree with surprising agility. A moment later, a blade of pure, incandescent energy materialized in his hand. It pulsed with a terrifying aura, far surpassing anything they had witnessed before. The very air seemed to crackle with its power.
As the light intensified, they finally saw the sword's form – a magnificent weapon radiating the unmistakable pressure of a seventh-level artifact. But it wasn't just the sword. An even more profound shift was occurring within Lu Chen himself. A palpable energy surged around him, his very presence growing larger, more imposing.
The three girls stared in utter disbelief. A low seventh-level master! He had broken through! Their initial shock morphed into a profound admiration. To reach such a level at his age… his talent was truly beyond comprehension. Their faith in him, already considerable, soared to new heights. They watched, breathless, as their young master, now radiating the power of a true expert, prepared to face the deadly pack below.