Chapter 10: Parting the Forest Down the Middle! Under Dragon's Breath, All Things Turn to Ash!

Lin Yi had not yet made use of the single free cast and the single instant-cast high-tier spell opportunities granted by his passive skills, Mana Storm and Divine Invocation. Much like one's ultimate ability, these are not things to be triggered lightly. After all, who would truly be willing to waste their ultimate ability on a group of mere minions? Lin Yi had always intended to try his luck and see if the Howling Forest harbored any boss-level targets worthy of his full attention. This Tiger King was, without a doubt, the perfect candidate.

However, before Lin Yi could even begin his incantation, five or six rays of white light suddenly erupted from his body in rapid succession:

[You have reached Level 8! Gained 10 free attribute points!]
[You have reached Level 9! Gained 10 free attribute points!]
[You have reached Level 10! Gained 10 free attribute points!]
[You have reached Level 11! Gained 10 free attribute points!]
[You have reached Level 12! Gained 10 free attribute points!]

This spectacle took Lin Yi by surprise. Even the Tiger King not far away was left stunned. What was wrong with this human? How did he suddenly level up so many times? Lin Yi, of course, was unaware that this was due to his two summoned Molten Flame Demons, which had slaughtered the entire beast tide after driving away the other professionals, granting him a massive influx of experience.

This minor interlude merely delayed the Tiger King’s demise by half a minute.

In the next moment, Lin Yi extended a finger and pointed it toward the Tiger King.

The heavens shifted. Terrifying magical fluctuations surged, drawing upon the fire elements in the world until they turned violent. Above the dense forest, which had already fallen into near-total darkness, a deep crimson glow ignited once more, as if the sunset had returned.

"Roar—!"
"Whimper—!"

The entire pack of tigers fell into a panic. Beastly roars and whimpers echoed one after another. Animals have always possessed a much keener sense for disaster than humans; they all sensed that a catastrophe was imminent. Even as the Tiger King roared in fury, it could not suppress the instinct of its kin and followers to flee for their lives. Some of the adult tigers had already begun to sprint on all fours, desperate to escape.

Yet, the fate awaiting them remained one of despair. The seventh-tier spell, Heaven-Flame Dragon Breath, had an unimaginably vast area of effect. Because Lin Yi cast it instantly, he completely bypassed the need for a long, tedious incantation.

The speed at which the strike descended was beyond anyone's imagination!

"Screech—!!!"

The elemental dragon in the sky let out a long, resonant cry, its massive wings beating incessantly. Its high-held head suddenly unleashed a torrent of scorching dragon breath. The breadth of this breath could no longer be measured in meters; it had to be measured in kilometers. The draconic flames swept across tens of kilometers like a curtain of rain. Wherever it touched, the dense forest instantly withered and turned to charcoal. Countless poor creatures did not even have time to react before doom was upon them.

Half a minute later, the dragon breath unleashed by the elemental dragon in the sky had cleaved the entire Howling Forest in two. While the outskirts of the forest remained lush with vegetation, a central area spanning over ten kilometers had been reduced to a scorched wasteland, burning like a purgatory.

Slowly, the magical fluctuations subsided. The figure of the giant dragon, formed from pure fire elements, dissipated at the edge of the horizon.

The professionals who had been retreating rapidly on the outskirts of the forest were spared, as they were not the targets of the Heaven-Flame Dragon Breath. However, the overwhelming heat and terrifying gale that had swept past them during their flight served as a chilling reminder: had they been the targets of this spell, they would have had no time to run and would have already been reduced to ash.

Jiang Xian, the strongest individual in Jiang City and a fellow mage, watched the entire process, trembling from head to toe. Perched on his Pegasus, he looked down from the sky at the entire Howling Forest. This forest, covering over a thousand kilometers, now bore a scar of doomsday in its center—a silent testament to the terrifying power of a seventh-tier spell. It was a god-like power capable of altering the landscape itself.

The one who had arrived in Jiang City was no mere sixth-rank Great Archmage, but a seventh-rank Saint Mage! How could such a figure come to such a small, fifth-level base city, and why would they use such a high-tier spell in such a low-level training zone? Tonight, he suspected that many people, himself included, would find it impossible to sleep.

...

Meanwhile, in the central region of the Howling Forest—or rather, what could no longer be called a forest—everything within Lin Yi’s line of sight was engulfed in raging flames. The trees crackled and popped, scattering sparks as they were calcined in the inferno. Even the massive cave that had stood before him was now laid bare.

The howling wind had died down completely. From this day forward, the Howling Forest would never look the same, and its name would have to be changed entirely. As for the pack of tigers that had been encircling Lin Yi with hostile intent, they had long since turned to dust. The majestic, snarling Tiger King had also vanished, leaving behind only a few pieces of equipment and a white skill book, which lay quietly on the ground.

Lin Yi’s eyes lit up. The Tiger King was indeed a boss; it had dropped loot!

Lin Yi picked up the two pieces of equipment. Upon inspection, they were both plate armor for the warrior class, only of Black Iron grade. Even if sold at an auction house, they would only fetch a few thousand Great Xia coins. The true treasure was the skill book.

In this world, skills are the most valuable commodity. Most professionals are forced to choose between skills due to a limited number of skill points, but everyone understands that the more, the better. Some skills, even if they are of a low tier, can have miraculous effects just by possessing them.

Lin Yi picked up the skill book and checked its attributes:

[Beginner Skill Book: Wind Blade]
[Type: Skill Book (Manual)]
[Class: Mage]
[Required Level: LV.5]
[Effect: Upon use, grants you the new spell: Wind Blade.]

Lin Yi’s eyes brightened. A good find! He hadn't expected his luck to be this good—not only did he get a rare skill book drop, but it was one he could actually use! He had originally intended to sell the book for some Great Xia coins to see if he could buy a skill book for a mage, but it seemed he had skipped the middleman.

There is a massive price disparity between skill books for different classes. For some reason, skill books for "simple" classes like Warriors and Knights are much cheaper, while those for ranged classes like Mages and Archers—especially Mages—are priced at astronomical levels. Moreover, in a small base city like Jiang City, the items available at the trade house are usually only beginner-level skill books; there are no books that instantly grant second or third-tier mastery upon learning.

Lin Yi used the skill book immediately. A moment later, he received a notification:

[Congratulations, the skill book was used successfully. You have learned the new skill: Wind Blade!]