Level Up in Martial World

"Can you tell if those creatures are human or not, system?"

[No]

"What about their strength?"

[From the aura they are subtly leaking, it looks like they are at least second-stage martial realm.]

The cold, mechanical voice of the system resounded in Lu Zhen\'s head as he woke up to the cold reality.

He was going to die!

There was nothing around that he could escape to. If he went too far, who knows what terrifying dangers awaited him. Although the forest was cleared by martial artists from beasts, it was only around the city. The forest was vast, with many overlapping forests.

In simpler terms, Lu Zhen might be able to compare the entire continent from his previous world, which would be comparable to the vast forest or this forest can be even bigger. To Lu Zhen\'s knowledge, only first-stage martial artists could cross this distance.

Despite having a physical body that could be compared in raw strength to a second-stage martial artist, Lu Zhen was acutely aware that this was just one aspect. He remained well aware of the significant gap that separated him from a true martial artist of the second stage in terms of skill and experience.

Lu Zhen\'s thoughts whirred like a finely-tuned machine, churning out countless calculations and possibilities. He had to strategize quickly. His mind worked in overdrive, sorting through options, assessing risks, and seeking a way out. Despite the storm of thoughts raging inside him, his exterior bore a mask of stoic calmness.

Yu Bai, having witnessed Lu Zhen\'s deep contemplation, patiently waited. Although Lu Zhen\'s inner monologue might seem long, it transpired within a matter of mere seconds.

The father and son who shared the carriage with him looked on with curiosity, intrigued by Lu Zhen\'s thoughtful expression.

Among them, Xiao Yu held a deep admiration for Lu Zhen, a sense of awe that was growing by the moment. He clutched the book tightly to his chest, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"I finally have the means to protect myself and my father," he thought, as he held the book close, the prospect of newfound strength filling him with hope and determination.

Meanwhile, the trio of grand elders maintained their patient vigil, exuding an air of seriousness that had lingered throughout the day.

"That brat still hasn\'t arrived, making me wait a whole day. How dare he? The audacity of that bastard. It\'s his honour to meet his end at my hands," Xia Jiang grumbled as he struggled to contain his growing impatience.

"Once we capture him, I\'ll ensure he regrets the day he was born. Death will be a blessing for him," he added with a menacing tone.

The middle aged man and Xia Ku exchanged knowing glances, silently acknowledging Xia Ku\'s noticeable lack of patience.

"He is the oldest but the most impatient one." This thought reverberated between them.

Xia Ku\'s gaze shifted upwards, noting the gathering clouds that obscured the once-clear sky.

"It\'s going to rain soon," he forecasted, yet none of them moved even a single bit. They remained still in their positions.

Before long, the dark clouds converged overhead, and the surroundings echoed with the resounding booms of thunder, enough to startle ordinary mortals.

Pitter-patter!

Rain began to fall heavily, yet in a curious twist of nature, not a single droplet touched the grand elders\' garments. Their clothes remained miraculously dry, untouched by the water.

It was as if water itself was avoiding them. The rain that fell on them strangely bent as it reached them.

Even the rain that fell to the ground seemed to encounter an invisible barrier, as if a protective force field had been erected. This was a special trait of second-stage martial artists.

Their qi was so condensed that it formed a passive shield, making them nearly invulnerable to mere mortal weapons and even if one can have enough power to damage them the power is significantly reduced by the shield, unless they depleted their qi.

The three grand elders continued to wait patiently in the rain.

As the rain eventually ceased and the sun set in the distance, there was still no sign of Lu Zhen anywhere.

The moon slowly appeared in the distance as night fell, but Lu Zhen seemed to have vanished without a trace.

"We\'re running out of time," Xia Jing frowned as he observed the setting moon.

"Could that brat somehow know we\'re waiting for him?" he pondered, but quickly dismissed the idea. They had taken every precaution to minimise their presence, and within a 2 km range, their keen senses would detect him, especially since he was travelling by carriage.

"What should we do now? We\'re running out of time, and the tournament will soon begin. The Lu family will likely start searching for him if he doesn\'t show up," Xia Ku stated, his eyes narrowed.

"Let\'s split up," Xia Jing suggested, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"You stay here, and we two will search for that brat," he said, directing his attention to the middle-aged man.

"I suppose I\'ll have to stretch my abilities to repay the favour," Xia Ku added with a nod. Both of them instantly vanished from their position, leaving the middle-aged man alone.

"Sigh, what am I doing here? I should be enjoying time with my grandkids," the middle-aged man muttered with a sigh, his eyes scanning his surroundings.

Unbeknownst to them, a figure barely visible to the naked eye blended into the shadows, concealed behind a tree about half a kilometre away, watching them as the two grand elders left.