**Chapter 116: Disguise**
Each impact sent a second-level being reeling, coughing up blood as their defenses crumbled.
With practice, Augusta even used electromagnetic heating to melt the metallic sand into molten metal.
She then controlled this searing molten metal, wielding it like a living entity for both attack and defense.
It was a completely one-sided battle!
Faced with Augusta’s overwhelming assault, the scheming enemies soon collapsed.
But now, Augusta had no intention of letting them escape.
For those attempting to flee, she condensed the metallic sand or molten metal into high-density bullets, launching them with electromagnetic force at astonishing speeds for long-range sniping.
The dozen second-level beings, under Augusta’s extraordinary “Electromagnetic Control,” were reduced to helpless prey, easily crushed.
Single-handedly, she suppressed a dozen second-level beings and the fortress’s entire defense system on the battlefield!After minutes of one-sided slaughter, all enemies were annihilated by Augusta.
The swamp fortress’s interior was devastated by metallic sand and molten metal, reduced to ruins.
Finally, the scattered metallic sand and residual lightning converged around her, forming a spiraling thunder pillar with a piercing sonic boom.
The pillar, laced with high-density, red-hot iron sand, pierced the Fallen Priest’s still-healing chest with unstoppable force!
“Ahh!!”
The Fallen Priest let out a brief, despairing scream. His body vaporized under the thunder pillar’s impact, leaving a massive energy void and the stench of scorched air.
With the core priest’s death, the fortress’s divine power link was severed, causing it to collapse rapidly. The remaining corrupted creatures, deprived of divine empowerment, dissolved into foul-smelling sludge.
The battle was over.
A flicker of pain crossed Augusta’s expressionless face; the fight had pushed her to her limits.
The electric glow around her faded, and the metallic sand orbiting her fell lifelessly to the ground.
Her body swayed, and she dropped to one knee, gasping heavily.
Her mental energy was nearly depleted, her body wracked with pain, as if pierced by countless needles.
She had overexerted herself in this battle.
Her teammates stared in awe, never imagining Augusta could be so powerful.
At that moment, the gods’ phantoms reappeared in the sky, and the planar barrier tore open again, signaling the second leaderboard update.
Augusta felt a massive information stream surge in, accompanied by her contribution points soaring!
Her name rocketed to third place on the overall leaderboard.
Yet, she felt no pride.
Her gaze pierced past her own name to the blindingly prominent one at the top—“Jie Ming”!
Augusta pursed her lips, then a pale but resolute smile curved her mouth.
She clenched her fist subconsciously, murmuring, “…Jie Ming, you didn’t disappoint me. But this is just the beginning. I… haven’t lost!”
…
…
Elsewhere, though reluctant to admit it, parting with Amy and Victor gave Jie Ming an unprecedented sense of freedom.
Standing at the camp’s edge, he glanced back at the brightly lit area one last time.
Teaming with them had indeed been helpful. Alone in the wild, constant vigilance drained attention and mental energy rapidly.
With teammates, he could rest briefly at night.
During his advancement to a first-level wizard, the massive energy fluctuations could have attracted enemies, but Amy and Victor’s protection kept him safe.
Even against the Blood Angel, their seamless cooperation bought him the critical time to activate his artifacts, securing victory.
But to spare their feelings, Jie Ming had restrained himself significantly.
Take the leaderboard, for instance.
First place?
It was just a number.
Though it brought tangible benefits, it wasn’t his focus.
For a long time, to consider their emotions and interests, he worked with them on missions, which diverged from his true desire—to truly experience this plane, not just treat it as a mission target.
He removed all Noren Academy insignias, stowed his conspicuous artifacts, and kept only a few core rune artifacts hidden beneath his clothes.
In their place, he donned simple, rugged leather armor, practical like that of Elosia’s common wandering warriors.
“This disguise should suffice,” Jie Ming thought, fingers brushing the short sword at his waist.
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, his physical control was exceptional.
His movements carried superhuman coordination and explosive power, amplified by the wizard’s meditation enhancing his physique, rivaling Elosia’s elite warriors.
Moreover, his Internal Circulation technique wasn’t just for sealing a cultivator’s power.
When needed, he could fully suppress his wizard’s surging mental energy, making his aura indistinguishable from a mortal’s.
Recalling the combat styles of warriors he’d encountered, Jie Ming practiced briefly.
Soon, he mastered channeling a trace of mental energy to subtly draw on ambient elemental forces, enhancing each sword strike with power unattainable by mortals, yet leaving no wizardly trace.
Perfect!
He could now flawlessly pose as a powerful warrior of this world.
No longer fixated on contribution points, he chose to venture deep into Elosia’s heartland.
He wanted to immerse himself in the plane’s culture and vitality.
Simultaneously, he aimed to collect special materials needed for his “artifact crafting” during this exploration.
After days traversing mountains and wilds, Jie Ming reached Golden Harbor, a thriving human city in Elosia, among the top five in prosperity.
But such a bustling city meant stricter regulations. Through his scouting eye, Jie Ming spotted trouble at the city gate.
Despite its medieval technological level, Elosia enforced rigorous population checks.
Entry to another city required identity credentials and letters of introduction, or one faced questioning or arrest.
The only ones free to roam between regions were adventurers.
But adventurers needed their own credentials and registered identities with the Adventurers’ Guild.
Jie Ming didn’t rush in.
He waited over half a month near minor roads outside Golden Harbor, patient as a stalking hunter.
During this time, the leaderboard updated again. His earlier top ranking had spurred other geniuses, dropping him to fourth.
But this meant little to him. He observed passersby, seeking the perfect “target.”
Finally, he found a weary-looking adventurer.
Clad in worn leather armor, carrying a heavy pack, the man’s dust-covered face muttered curses.
From his fragmented words, Jie Ming deduced he had just completed a delivery mission from another town and was heading to the next.
This meant he carried identity and mission credentials for the next stop.
In a secluded ravine, Jie Ming discreetly dealt with him.
Looking at the body at his feet, Jie Ming fell silent.
He realized he had changed—killing a stranger without enmity stirred no emotion.
“Sigh… perspective really shapes action,” he muttered.
Without hesitation, he reached for the man’s head, using a “Soul Search” artifact to extract all his memories!
The memories unfolded like a library in his mind—the adventurer’s name, experiences, mannerisms, speech habits, familiarity with the surroundings, and all mission-related details.
With his formidable mental energy, Jie Ming mastered these memories in moments.
He retrieved several special plant materials collected recently, swiftly crafting a potion with an eerie glow.
This potion, a workshop specialty for planar disguises, was downed in one gulp.
As it took effect, a strange force swept through his body.
His bones creaked faintly, muscles shifted.
In moments, his height subtly changed, and his facial features adjusted.
When it settled, Jie Ming saw a stranger in the Five Aggregates Rainbow Mirror—the exact likeness of the adventurer.
This disguise was semi-permanent, altering bones and flesh. It wouldn’t fade unless he took an antidote.
Jie Ming picked up the adventurer’s identity and mission credentials, his face adopting the man’s weary smile.
Joining the queue to enter the city, he used the fresh memories to handle the guards’ routine checks.
“Next! Identity proof, mission credentials!” a guard barked gruffly.
“Here.” Jie Ming handed them over.
His voice, tone, and even the faint irritation in his eyes matched the adventurer’s perfectly.
The guard glanced at the documents and Jie Ming’s identical face, confirmed he was a penniless adventurer, and waved dismissively. “Three coppers for entry. Go! Be quicker next time!”
“Got it, nag,” Jie Ming grumbled, tossing three coppers and striding confidently through Golden Harbor’s gate.