Level up is hard? I can Directly Purchase infinite Levels!-Chapter 100: Bait, the Hunt for Human Prodigies

On a mountain platform at the other end of the valley.

Three figures stood there in silence, their gazes fixed on the lilybell, yet none of them made a move to pick it.

"Young Master Maurice, human prodigies are approaching,"

one of the three—a young man dressed in a black robe—said with a cold sneer as he looked toward the distant mountain forest.

"Still, they’re more cautious than we expected."

Before him stood a tall figure clad in dark, scale-like armor, standing perfectly upright.

His aura almost blended seamlessly into the surroundings, yet there was an indescribable sense of vastness about him.

This was Maurice, the sole prodigy painstakingly cultivated by the blackwater clan at the cost of immense resources!

Maurice indifferently watched the few human prodigies probing their way closer, showing no concern that the lilybell might be taken.

Because this had been a bait he deliberately laid from the very beginning!

Outside the valley.

Four human prodigies had already locked onto the location of the golden lilybell, judging from its fragrance that it was of extremely high grade.

After the Crimson Moon anomaly, Nex tides swept across the world. Many plants underwent mutations and became anomalous flora. In some dangerous, uninhabited regions, anomalous flora revered by the alien races as sacred medicines could even be born!

Thus, the appearance of a precious anomalous flora in the Koshi Range was not surprising.

However, anomalous flora usually grew in places guarded by powerful alien beasts or other dangers, so caution was required.

Before long, they sensed many figures rushing toward the area from different directions. Fearing that alien-race prodigies were closing in, the four dared not delay any further.

"You stay alert. I’ll take it,"

Abby, the leader, instructed his companions.

"You guard the valley exits and block the alien races coming from behind."

The other three nodded.

Abby immediately rushed into the valley and soon arrived before the golden lilybell.

With a grasp through the air, he plucked the lilybell and instantly flew back out.

He had already gathered all his defensive measures, prepared for an attack from any guardian alien beast.

Yet, until he was nearly out of the valley, there was still no movement at all. This abnormal calm stirred unease in his heart.

Looking back, the valley remained utterly silent!

He didn’t dare to stop. Bursting out of the valley, he shouted in a low voice,

"Move!"

The three waiting outside were also bewildered—success coming so easily only made things feel more ominous.

At that moment, the figures rushing over began to appear one after another.

There were human prodigies, prodigies of other alien races, and even local alien beasts from the Koshi Range mixed among them.

The four immediately chose a direction with fewer people and retreated at full speed.

"It’s time to close the net."

A cold arc curled at the corner of Maurice’s lips.

He stepped forward.

The aura he had been suppressing exploded outward.

A black ripple swept across the land. Endless black mist erupted like a gale, rapidly condensing into a gigantic black formation diagram spanning dozens of miles, spreading in all directions with him at its center.

"Seal."

Maurice took another step.

The enormous black formation diagram seemed to be trampled beneath his foot as it slammed violently toward the ground!

Not only did Abby and the others instantly feel an overwhelming pressure, unable to move, but all humans, alien races, and alien beasts that had entered the area were likewise imprisoned by this terrifying force.

"Damn it—we fell for it! This is a trap!"

Abby reacted instantly, his expression changing drastically.

He desperately circulated his Expert-rank Nex, trying to break free of the restraint.

Boom... boom...

Heavy, muffled impacts echoed through the air as footsteps struck the void itself, sending a shudder through his entire body.

He looked up.

A towering figure bathed in flowing black light, clad in dark scale armor, was stepping through the air toward them.

With each step, the void trembled once, and the pressure of the black formation intensified further!

Abby’s pupils shrank violently as he stared at that dazzling figure.

The aura emanating from him was utterly terrifying—the energy carried a natural suppression of heaven and earth, impossible to resist.

He was like a god walking the mortal world, posture arrogant, gaze contemptuous.

"An alien-race... prodigy...!"

The pressure slammed into Abby’s heart like a sledgehammer, plunging him into profound despair.

The three companions beside him felt equally powerless.

They had never imagined that a powerful alien-race prodigy would go so far as to set such an elaborate trap just to hunt them down.

The existence known as a prodigy was at least Master-rank, and their combat power far exceeded common sense.

Crushing Expert-rank cultivators like them would be no harder than crushing ants!

They were... doomed!

Despair filled Abby’s eyes, but within it burned a trace of unwilling madness.

He threw his head back and roared, crazily pushing every last bit of Nex in his body upward!

BOOM—!

The black formation diagram was actually shaken—if only slightly.

"This is an alien-race prodigy’s trap—run!!"

Using his final strength, Abby let out a hoarse roar that echoed in all directions, warning the other human prodigies outside.

Immediately after, he could no longer hold on—blood gushed wildly from his eyes and mouth.

...

"There’s an alien-race prodigy inside?!"

"Damn it—this was a trap!"

The suppressed human prodigies turned pale in horror, instantly realizing this was a conspiracy.

They began to struggle frantically, trying to break free from the suppression.

Once targeted by a prodigy, death was inevitable.

If they didn’t seize the chance to escape now, numbers would mean nothing.

"A single alien-race prodigy actually used a precious anomalous flora as bait just to hunt human prodigies... that’s truly ruthless."

Even the alien-race prodigies caught under suppression felt a chill in their hearts.

At this critical juncture of falling stars, who would have thought that a powerful alien-race prodigy would forgo the fight for opportunities at the Starlight Archipelago, instead setting a killing trap here in the Koshi Range to slaughter human prodigies?

Most human powerhouses were stationed at fortresses. Only the most important prodigies were assigned powerful guardians.

There was simply no ability to protect these ordinary talents.

These poor souls, caught in such an ambush, would likely be wiped out in one sweep!

Although the alien-race prodigies were also suppressed, they had Master-rank guardians at their side who could free them at any moment.

This was an advantage the human prodigies could never match.

Yet they were in no hurry to break free. Instead, they locked onto the human prodigies, guarding against their escape.

Even the few alien beasts held their ground, warily watching the depths of the clouds.

"This is a snare I specially prepared for you. Did you really think you could save them like this?"

"How laughably naïve."

Maurice looked down at Abby with disdain.

The pressure surged like a flood, further suppressing everyone present.

He had long anticipated that human prodigies would risk crossing the Koshi Range to reach the Starlight Archipelago, which was why he had deliberately laid this killing field here.

If he let them escape now, wouldn’t all his effort be wasted?

"Scum—someone like you dares call himself a prodigy?"

"Come on! You think I’m afraid of you?!"

Abby and the others wore ferocious expressions, refusing to submit even though they knew death was inevitable.

"You lowly human insects should have gone extinct long ago."

"We let you cling to life until now, and you thought that meant you could change your fate? How ridiculous!"

The black-robed youth stepped forward. Before him, the black formation diagram condensed into one killing-intent-filled black energy sword after another, all aimed at Abby and the others.

"Let’s move too!"

"Finish off these prodigies quickly!"

Seeing this, the alien-race prodigies outside also issued commands.

Several Master-rank guardians took action, releasing them from suppression.

They immediately soared into the air, charging toward the human prodigies like lambs awaiting slaughter.

KRAAACK—!

Suddenly, a heaven-shaking thunderclap exploded within the nearby clouds, causing every movement on the battlefield to freeze for an instant.