"An expert-level palm lightning is the true palm lightning."
Before, it could at most be called lightning palm.
Fang You observed the break marks on the tree trunk and the experience of instantly releasing palm lightning, nodding, "It crosses dozens of meters in an instant, with almost no energy decay, and still maintains considerable destructive power."
"Moreover, fifty to sixty meters is not the limit of expert-level palm lightning; it can go further."
However, at further distances, Fang You also risked missing.
It still lacked an auto-aiming cheat, which was likely related to mental power. The stronger the mental power, the better his control over palm lightning, and the more accurate his aim would be… Before releasing palm lightning just now, he had a premonition that he could hit it, and as expected, he did, as simple as throwing a paper ball into a waste bin less than a meter away.
But any further, like throwing a paper ball five meters, ten meters, or twenty meters, the difficulty increased.
"But as the saying goes, if accuracy isn't enough, firepower will make up for it. The palm lightning just now was just me casually firing; it was far from maximum output."
This time, he exerted his strength, and the lightning gathered and grew from his palm, and a bolt of lightning as thick as an arm suddenly burst forth.
It instantly swept over a hundred meters and struck the ground covered in fallen leaves.
A thunderclap erupted on flat ground! Brilliant lightning flashed, leaves flew up, and smoke and fire emerged.
Fang You jogged forward and saw that the spot hit was charred black, the fallen leaves pulverized, though the pit was still not large enough.
Compared to environmental destruction, lightning is strong in its penetration and life-destroying power. Let alone a bolt of lightning as thick as an arm, even a thin bolt as slender as a finger striking a person could kill them on the spot.
Especially against the killing power of spectral entities, lightning was very effective.
Lightning repels the spectral, which makes sense… although Fang You mused that the spell he cultivated, lightning manifested by life energy, was likely different from natural lightning.
If it were the same, the Investigation Bureau would have electric batons and tasers to deal with spectral entities.
"This palm lightning is close to my output limit, about one unit of life energy, but this is in a normal state. If I enter the 'Lighthouse' state, with a significant increase in mental power, the palm lightning's power can be further enhanced."
He didn't try it. The Lighthouse White Robe had just been acquired, and he was currently saving up Lighthouse energy to use at critical moments, not to be wasted carelessly.
Not only that, but he also had a stronger trump card, 'Burning Faith,' which could further amplify the palm lightning's power to a terrifying level, as long as he could gather enough faith.
He himself didn't know his current limits.
When I unleash my full power, I even frighten myself!
"It's a pity I don't have a two-star spectral entity to practice with. Alas, invincibility is such a lonely feeling."
"Meow~(￢_￢)"
...
Fang You activated the spectral tracker and continued deeper into the remote mountain forest, soon finding his target for this time, a one-star spectral entity.
His face lit up with joy, "This spectral entity, judging by its color, seems to be quite top-tier among one-stars, comparable to the construction site spectral entity. It's arrived at a good time!"
The spectral entity was wrapped in a faint cloud of grayish-black corrupted wind, wandering aimlessly and leaving black hoof prints on the ground.
Perhaps because the distance was still far, the spectral entity had not yet locked eyes with him and did not pounce directly.
Fang You then made a move, and a thin bolt of lightning shot out with a "咻" sound.
It crackled and struck the spectral entity. Fine lightning arcs leaped and surged, and he faintly heard a roar, and the monster's silhouette in the spectral tracker became clearer.
It looked like a bull, two to three meters tall, with thick and fierce hooves. As it ran, it sounded like a drumbeat, kicking up fallen leaves all around. Where its grayish-black silhouette passed, trees snapped and toppled.
This was the spectral entity's peculiar nature.
Spectral entities, when on the offensive, could destroy trees and tear flesh, but when on the defensive, physical attacks, even artillery fire, seemed to hit a phantom.
Only some special items could harm spectral entities; true head-on combat still depended on life energy.
"Not flexible enough."
Fang You retreated a few steps calmly. The spectral entity, with its giant bull-like silhouette, charged past him, creating a whistling wind and crashing over ten meters away, breaking two more trees before turning its body to initiate another charge.
It also let out a long and terrifying roar.
It became increasingly clear, echoing in Fang You's ears. Vaguely, a ferocious face seemed to appear before him, and chaotic noises threatened to flood his mind, reaching the deepest parts of his soul.
But, not enough!
He snorted coldly, and the illusions all scattered. He raised his hand and aimed at the grayish-black silhouette in the distance. Brilliant blue lightning suddenly burst forth.
*Zzzt—*
This time, the lightning was brighter and fiercer, striking directly onto the charging spectral entity. The spectral entity briefly revealed its form, as monstrous and ugly as ever.
It maintained its momentum as it charged, but it was engulfed in lightning, dissipating inch by inch. After a few more steps, this not-weak spectral entity completely turned into smoke and vanished into thin air.
「Ding！」
Fang You took out his phone and checked. A white skill cultivation card was in his possession.
...
After dispatching a small spectral entity and experimenting with palm lightning, his goals for the day were largely completed.
He didn't go home. Since he had already gone out so far to the suburbs, it would feel like a waste not to wander around a bit more and hunt a few more small spectral entities.
Fang You planned the optimal route for himself and started running, with Hei Tong following slowly with his head drooping.
After a while, following the trail of corrupted wind, the second spectral entity was visible in the distance.
"Hei Tong, it's decided, it's you."
...
After some more time,
"Hei Tong, go!"
...
After some more,
"Hei Tong, hurry up."
...
After even more time,
"As a mature little black cat, you should learn to give yourself commands."
...
After still more time,
"Hei Tong..."
"Meow!"
Damn cat servant, this meow is on strike!
He busied himself until evening. Hei Tong was the main combatant, while Fang You researched various uses of palm lightning, occasionally issuing commands and tasks.
He was very busy. Besides giving himself tasks, he also had to glance at the situation of Brother Black Blade and An Jianyou, and plan mission routes for Sister An.
The daily life of a Beacon mentor was this busy, and this foolish cat couldn't even look at a map and find spectral entities on its own.
It could understand novels but not maps, was that reasonable?
Hei Tong looked up, then down, and let out a sigh, "(￢_￢) Meow~"
...
Fang You, returning home in the evening, plopped down and quickly took out his phone to check.
He entered the Salvation Game.
The entire game interface was still as clean and tidy as ever. The balance of Destiny Points in the upper right corner of the homepage had increased to 5.7 units after a day of hard work and combat.
Quite a lot.
The gain from a single small spectral entity was low, mostly 0.2-0.4, with a few reaching 0.5-0.6. But now, whether it was Fang You or An Jianyou, after eliminating a spectral entity, they could rush to the next location without rest, with an efficiency far beyond the pre-awakening state of fighting for three seconds and resting for an hour.
Brother Black Blade, on the other hand, was limited by deployment time, and his work efficiency had dropped to the lowest rank.
After all, there were no more two-star spectral entity missions.
"I can probably handle two-star spectral entities now. If one palm lightning doesn't kill it, I'll use another."
"Perhaps I could even contend with three-star spectral entities."
Three-star spectral entities were bound to be terrifying. Fang You had no intention of encountering such entities. Even if he wanted to test the depth of a three-star spectral entity, he would let Brother Black Blade go first, and he would only be responsible for providing necessary tactical retreats.
He hoped he wouldn't encounter them for now.
He opened the mission dispatch module.
「Emergency Mission: Gate of the Spectral Realm」
「Status: Unstable, Estimated Countdown to Activation: 13:35:56.」
「Rewards: Assessed based on mission completion (number of spectral entities killed, casualty rate, disaster impact level, etc.), varying amounts of Destiny Points, Spectral Crystals, and Cultivation Cards will be awarded. A mission rating of A- or above will receive additional rewards.」
Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, there will be a great battle.