86: Chapter 86 Three Bowls and You're Over the Hill! [Humanity - Slaying the Tiger]

[Human Dao · Tiger-Slaying Great Hero]

The arena hung suspended in mid-air, golden light paving the ground, making the ferocious lion appear even more menacing.

The Western Deities probably felt victory was assured, as even the commentary was thoughtfully displayed on the sky screen:

【Nemean Hide: Conceptual Level Defense. Rejects all sharp weapon penetration, immune to all kinetic energy impact. Only Divine Power can break it.】

As soon as these words appeared, the global survivors, who were already shrouded in gloom, exploded.

"Physical immunity? What the hell are we supposed to fight with!"

"Even if we bombed it with a nuclear missile, couldn't the shockwave and high temperature still fail to kill it?"

"This is cheating! They claim it's a competition, but it's clearly bullying. Most of the Heroic Spirits on our Dragon Summer side fight with cold weapons. Isn't this like hitting a steel plate with our heads?"

The survivors from the North were even more sympathetic. They grew up listening to the stories of Heracles, and this lion was an unsolvable existence in mythology, only finally being strangled to death. But that was the God of Strength; what Mortal could possess such strength?

In the command hall, Old Daoist Priest Zhang's face was grim. He had just tried to release a wisp of Sword Qi, which was his ultimate pure Yang Sword Intent. The result? The Sword Qi was repelled by an invisible rule shield before it could even touch a single hair on the lion, not even leaving a white mark.

"How do we fight this?" Elder Wang also frowned. Although he had just returned to his youthful vigor and was full of energy, facing such a 'rogue' rule, even if he swung his fists hard enough to spark Mars, it would be useless.

This was like trying to cut a tank with a kitchen knife. Even if you were the world's best swordsman, the final result would only be a chipped blade, while the tank wouldn't even lose a speck of paint.

Those high-and-mighty Western Deities clearly intended to use this simple and brutal method to tell everyone: Stop struggling. The rules are an insurmountable chasm. The means of Mortals are not even worthy of scratching the surface before Mythology.

"How about... trying a magical attack?" Qin Shuangyue quickly analyzed the data, trying to find a breakthrough point. "Since physical attacks won't work, let's use lightning Spells or fire attacks? After all, it's a living creature; it must have a weakness."

"It's useless," Long Yi shook his head, his gaze cold. "Those Deities aren't fools. Since they dared to let it out as the vanguard, this lion's fur is likely highly resistant to magic, not just physical attacks."

Everyone's gaze finally converged on Su Yun.

This young man who had repeatedly helped the great Xia stand firm was currently closing his eyes, seemingly sensing something.

The System interface unfolded in the Void Realm.

The skill [Martyrs Protection] glowed faintly.

"System, search target: Nemean Lion. Attribute: Beast/Feline. Weakness: Arrogance."

【Searching the foundation of Huaxia Mythology...】

【Option One: Martial Saint · Guan Yunchang.】

Su Yun looked at the majestic figure holding the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade and shook his head slightly, immediately crossing it out. The Second Master was someone who could slay Dragons and hack Deities; he was a Martial Saint of unparalleled loyalty. Asking the old gentleman to deal with such a brainless big cat was beneath him and felt like using an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken.

【Option Two: Overlord of Western Chu · Xiang Yu.】

It was true that he could lift mountains and overpower the masses, but the Overlord's temper would easily lead him to demolish the stage upon arrival. Furthermore, Xiang Yu was an enemy of ten thousand men, not a beast doctor.

Su Yun's finger slid further down until a name, both familiar and unfamiliar, jumped into view.

This name did not carry the word 'God' nor had he achieved the status of 'Saint'. But what he did made every Dragon Summer man feel uplifted for thousands of years.

It had to be you.

Su Yun locked his intent.

"We won't engage in flashy Divine Power confrontations. Since the opponent wants to play the game of physical fitness and raw wildness, today we'll play something down-to-earth, the most primitive aesthetic of violence."

【Host's will detected...】

【Skill 'Martyrs Protection' is being released...】

【Determining... Talent 'Territory is Domain' intervenes.】

【Enemy detected possessing the 'Absolute Physical Immunity' Law; conventional physical attacks cannot take effect... Extracting historical foundation... Searching for the concept of 'Defense Penetration'...】

【Search Source: 'Water Margin', Folk Legends, Heavenly Calamity Star Destiny. Keywords: Jingyang Ridge, Eighteen Bowls, Bare Hands, Specifically targeting tough bones.】

【Concept reshaping in progress... Using the body of a Mortal to crush the King of Beasts... Skill mutation complete.】

— —

【Human Dao · Tiger-Slaying Great Hero】

【Description: The red sun slants over Jingyang Ridge, the strong man's hands are like iron. Long ago, a traveler, drunk, passed through the forest. Whether you are a great tiger with glaring eyes or a demon with bronze skin and iron bones, under those fists, you must obediently turn into a pile of mud. This is the ultimate art called 'Violence,' and also the most primitive contempt the Human Race pioneers held for beasts.】

【Effect One: Penetrating Force · Striking the Ox Through the Mountain. Grants the user the trait of 'Internal Force Penetration'. All attack judgments no longer act upon the 'skin/armor' but directly penetrate to the target's 'bones, internal organs, and energy core'.】

【Effect Two: God of Wine · Three Bowls and Cannot Cross the Ridge. Special buff state. For every bowl of high-concentration strong liquor consumed, the user's Strength judgment +500%, Critical Hit Rate +100%, Pain Sensation reduced by 100%. Upon consuming all eighteen bowls, enters 'Drunken Kill' mode. Attacks are guaranteed critical hits, and deal +300% True Damage to all 'Beast' targets, accompanied by a 'Fear Deterrence' effect (forcibly interrupts enemy skill casting).】

【Effect Three: Heavenly Calamity Star · Demon Subduing (Passive). Possesses inherent status suppression against all 'non-humanoid' Beast/Demonic Beast units. Enemy all-attribute reduction is forcibly set to -1000%, and they cannot inflict 'Instant Kill/Execute' type damage upon the user (Lock Blood).】

【Note: What? Your skin is thick? Coincidentally, this person has no other skills, except that he specializes in dealing with all kinds of itchy skin.】

...

The ten-minute countdown in the arena hit zero.

The Nemean Lion had long grown impatient. It tilted its head back and let out a heaven-shaking roar toward the Dragon Summer direction. The sound wave rolled, shattering the clouds in mid-air, and foul saliva dripped from its mouth, sizzling as it corroded the stage.

"ROAR— —!!!"

The roar was filled with contempt, seemingly mocking human cowardice and incompetence.

Above the clouds, the illusory figures of the Western Deities let out sneers. It seemed Dragon Summer was preparing to forfeit; after all, facing absolute defense, not wanting to die was only natural.

However, just then.

A gust of wind blew by.

This wind was neither cold nor hot, nor did it carry any terrifying pressure. But strangely, the wind was mixed with a scent.

It was faint at first, like the smell from an old distillery's jar that had just been unsealed in a deep alley.

Immediately after, the smell grew stronger and more potent, instantly overpowering the lion's stench and sulfurous odor. It was like an eighteen-year-old aged wine, mixed with the rough strength and heroism of a Shandong strongman, so mellow that one whiff made one dizzy.

"Is that... the smell of wine?"

The global audience was dumbfounded.

On the stage of a life-or-death battle, why was the aroma of wine suddenly wafting? Did Dragon Summer plan to set up a banquet to treat the lion to a meal?

"Tap, tap, tap."

Footsteps sounded.

There were no earth-shattering entrance effects, nor the chanting of gods and Buddhas filling the sky.

Only from the void on the other side of the stage did a person stagger out.

This person looked to be only in his thirties, his physique sturdy like a wall, his shoulders broad, his muscles seemingly carved from granite. But he wore no divine armor or holy vestments; instead, he wore a tattered, grey cloth robe with the collar open, revealing a bronze-colored, sinewy chest.

His black hair was messily draped behind his head, tied only by a casual strip of cloth. In his hand, he carried a seemingly ordinary wooden stick—upon closer inspection, it was a cudgel, still bearing half the bark that hadn't been stripped off, and even a few wormholes.

The most absurd thing was his condition.

This gentleman walked unsteadily, swaying left and right, as if his feet were stepping on cotton. His face was flushed with the redness of heavy intoxication, his hazy eyes half-closed, and he was mumbling incomprehensibly.

"One... one more bowl!"

"Shopkeeper... is your wine... hiccup... watered down?"

He grabbed at the void with a large hand, actually pulling out a large, chipped ceramic bowl from thin air.

The bowl shimmered, and the aroma of wine overflowed.

He lifted it, threw his head back, and downed it in one gulp.

"Gulp, gulp."

The crystalline liquor streamed down his stubble, soaking the front of his robe.

"Hah—! What a relief!"

A long shout followed, carrying seven parts drunkenness and three parts madness.