REWARDS

As Zhen's guns blazed, firing shots at the wisps from a distance, Huomei and Xin surged forward to engage the menacing creatures.

Xin's velocity was nothing short of astonishing, leaving behind barely a trace of his movement as he sprinted. With a swift gesture, he extended his arms horizontally, releasing unbound blades that shot through the air like precision-guided arrows, impaling the shadow hounds and gloomstalkers upon hit.

[Shadow Hounds: resemble large, skeletal dogs with obsidian fur. These creatures hunt in packs, upon spotting prey, they unleash swift and coordinated attacks, their bite capable of draining a victim's life force and weakening their defenses.]

[Gloomstalkers: These venomous arachnids lurk in the corners, their bodies blending seamlessly with the shadows. With elongated legs and dripping fangs, they weave intricate webs that ensnare unsuspecting prey.]

His modern garb transformed into a deep black xiaofu, adorned with intricate patterns in vibrant shades of crimson red and gleaming gold. On the back of the robe, a subtle yet striking dragon motif is embroidered in gold thread. His trousers, also black, are tucked into his boots adorned with golden accents. His once-short red hair now cascaded down his back, framing his features with a fiery halo, and accentuating the gleam of the golden earrings that adorned his ears.

Huomei matched Xin's pace but halted mid-stride, adopting a focused stance. Her arms assumed a diagonal position before her, elbows sharply bent, fingers poised as if she's narrowing down her targets.

She unleashed streams of scorching flames from the palms of her hands. With a steadfast lower stance, she grounded herself to brace against the forceful impact of the inferno she wielded.

Simultaneously, Xin's blades joined her assault, the combination sending the monsters hurtling through the air from the force of the impact, engulfed in the radiance of her fiery dispersion.

Huomei's loose attire transformed into a long, flowing black robe that cascaded around her like a gentle flame. The robe is designed with an open front, and the sleeves are wide and billowing, giving her an ethereal silhouette as she moves. Beneath the robe, she wears loose-fitting, comfortable leggings. Her feet are adorned with simple, delicate anklets that chime softly as she moves.

"Woah, witness those two conjuring a tempest upon this floor," In the distance Zhen marveled, his bullets finding their mark among the flying orbs with both ease and precision. A chuckle escaped him, however, as he observed his companions' attire. "What's the deal with those outfits?" he quipped between well-aimed shots, his amusement clear as he cautiously avoided firing at his own allies.

"But seriously, these two are exceeding all expectations. It's pretty uncommon to come across awakened individuals with martial arts skills at this level," Zhen remarked.

Bullets materialized at his sides, a clear indication that he was stepping up his game as he unleashed rounds from his pistols. "Considering it's them, I'm pretty confident they can dodge these babies," he mused with a confident tone.

Dozens of bullets materialized at Zhen's sides in a horizontal path, ready to fire at any time.

The three warriors pressed on, unrelenting in their assault. Xin's movements resembled those of a dancer, his body flowing with grace and precision as he launched into a series of swift kicks.

His right leg surged forward, its flexed foot striking the obsidian-furred head of a skeletal hound. Upon impact, an emei piercer, Huai emerged from the back of the creature's skull, skewering through it and piercing into a group of hounds nearby.

His left leg followed suit, rising gracefully as his stationary toe pointed above the ground, adding momentum. His body twisted and pivoted, enabling him to strike from a different angle. After the second kick, his right leg gracefully arced upwards, the knee ascending toward his chest. His arm mirrored this action, initially bending sharply inwards before straightening, mirroring the trajectory of his leg. The motion culminated in his right leg extending outward with astonishing speed.

A symphony of blades resonated in the wake of his every motion. His arms unleashed a barrage of free-flying blades, propelled by his extraordinary speed. As his last kick connected, a pair of venomous arachnids were launched airborne, propelled by the force of impact. Hui materialized beside him, then surged forward. Hui, the second emei piecer darted forth, each strike bringing down a multitude of monsters.

Huomei seamlessly shifted into a stance that mirrored the elegance of a crane in flight. One leg was raised and bent at the knee, perfectly aligned with her chest, while the other leg provided a solid base of support. As she twisted her upper body to the right, her previously lifted left foot touched down at an angle slightly across from her stationary foot. Both legs bent in unconventional angles, crafting an odd cross shape as her upper body angled to the right. The joints of her feet flexed, and her arms mirrored the angle of her legs, crossed, hands clenched, creating an intricate web of motion.

With graceful continuity, she shifted her right leg towards the right side, placing it past her left foot. Her arms unlocked and swung in opposing directions, igniting sparks of flames. This seamless transition guided her legs to embody the low tiger stance—her right leg bent, her body leaning toward it while her left leg extended to the opposite side. Her arms extended in harmonious opposition, releasing torrents of fire that engulfed the arachnids encroaching upon her and the webs they sought to unleash.

As a pack of shadow hounds closed in, Huomei's movements remained poised. She bent her straightened left leg, her upper body pivoted to the left, while remnants of fire still danced along her fingertips. With her left hand supporting her weight above the rocky ground, her body assumed a sharp acute angle. Her right leg swept in a circular motion, emitting a blazing arc of fire that resembled a whip, incinerating the shadow hounds into nothingness.

Remaining in her coiled position, her body maintained contact with the ground through both hands and feet. A quick adjustment, and her left arm moved backward as she twisted once more. Her left leg swept across the ground in a wide 170-degree arc, expelling another scorching burst of fire aimed squarely at the hounds. The flames resembled intricate swirling whips when viewed from a higher vantage point.

Just as she poised herself to execute another sweeping kick, a voice pierced the chaos—Zhen's voice. "Watch out for the bullets." Her eyes widened in an instant, registering the impending danger as a torrent of bullets bore down upon them.

"That guy's absolutely nuts," Xin's internal thought echoed. Swift as a phantom, he navigated the onslaught with uncanny grace, dancing through the hail of bullets as if they were mere raindrops. Two blades became extensions of his will—one to parry the bullets themselves, deftly altering their trajectory to redirect the deadly rain toward the encroaching monsters.

The other blade was an instrument of swift destruction. His lithe form fractured into a flurry of afterimages, multiple monsters fell victim to the slashing force left in his wake, their bodies shredded and sent flying.

In the midst of the mayhem, Huomei's focus shifted to her own survival. She channeled her exceptional flexibility into a defense that bordered on artistry. With her upper body gracefully arching backward, she leveraged her supple form to narrowly escape the path of the oncoming bullets. The lethal projectiles skimmed mere centimeters from her face.

Rising from her elegantly contorted stance, she seized control of the situation. With a fluid motion, she transitioned into an upright posture and directed her fists toward the ground. A burst of fire erupted from her clenched fists, propelling her upwards in a fiery ascent. The flames propelled her above the trajectory of the bullets, effectively removing her from their line of fire.

[Challenge Complete!]

[First Floor of Umbraeth's Tower]

[Gloomstalkers: 300/300]

[Spectral Wisps: 500/500]

[Shadow Hounds: 200/200]

[Clear time: 7 minutes]

Achievement Unlocked: Record Breaker!

[Congratulations! Your team has shattered the previous record for clearing Umbraeth's first floor by an astounding lead of 5 hours and 51 minutes!]

"That was fast," Huomei quipped.

"Indeed, by the way, you guys are incredible! I have the best teammates!" Zhen exclaimed with a grin.

"Says the one who nuked half of the monsters on his own," Xin chimed in, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. He utilized Qi Flowing Harmony once again, a soft green aura enveloping him as he healed.

"Come on, I just wanted to get into you guys' good books!" Zhen responded, feigning innocence.

"You wanted to win us over by bombarding us with bullets?" Huomei raised an eyebrow, amusement tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Sort of, haha," Zhen chuckled, scratching his head.

To steer the conversation away, he remarked, "But your outfits sure are something! I mean, pfft..."

"What? Is there something wrong with my outfit?" Xin interrupted his healing, glancing down at his clothes in mild alarm.

Zhen burst into laughter. "You look like a character straight out of a wuxia novel! What are those? Hanfus? And those golden earrings and that long hair! Pffftt. People would think you're royalty just by looking at the dragon on the back of your ancient swag robes."

A faint nerve appeared on Xin's jaw. "It's not a Hanfu, it's a Xiaofu! There's a big difference. This attire is designed for martial arts!"

Meanwhile, Huomei stood silently, anticipating that Zhen's playful commentary would soon be directed at her outfit.

"Most of the awakeners rock modern battle attire—hooded jackets, sleek tight outfits, especially for the ladies. They're practically hosting a fashion show while they fight. But you, Huomei..." Zhen's voice trailed off mischievously.

Huomei's pale skin darkened slightly, not from a blush, but from a shadowy kind of frustration.

"Looks like you can't decide between a sleepover and a martial arts tournament!" Zhen quipped, laughing so hard he had to wipe tears from his eyes with his pink-painted nails.

"Hey, you realize you're not exactly a fashion icon either, right? You're like a mashup of Western Texan attire and Ghost Rider's jacket, but with a little extra length!" Xin's shark-like grin revealed his amusement as he pointed at Zhen's clothing.

Zhen's laughter only grew louder at Xin's retort.

"I'm just relieved I'm not the only one looking like I'm heading to a funeral on this team," Zhen managed to say between fits of laughter.

[Ahem... Are you done now? I repeat, "Congratulations! Your team has achieved a remarkable feat by surpassing the previous record for completing the first floor of Umbraeth's Tower with a remarkable lead of 5 hours and 51 minutes.]

[Your remarkable achievement will be broadcasted on every hunter's system screen! This is a mandatory announcement. Please enter your team name: ____________]

"Team name?" Huomei mused, her hand resting against her chin.

"Any suggestions?" Xin inquired.

"You first," Zhen urged.

"Alright, how about... Crimson Dragon Legion?" Xin proposed.

Huomei's eyes lit up. "I've got it! How about 'Iron Phoenix Regiment'?"

Zhen could only bury his face in his palms. "Really? That's the best you can come up with?"

Xin turned to Zhen. "Well, what's your idea then?"

"We Rain Blades, Flames, and Bullets," Zhen declared.

Xin raised an eyebrow. "Is that a team name or just a statement?"

Huomei chimed in. "Honestly, that's a bit literal, don't you think?"

"Fine, let's just go with that and move on. We have a lot more ahead of us," Xin decided.

"Sure thing, Mr. Impatient. Your hair's practically on fire," Zhen said as he entered the name.

[Congratulations, "We Rain Blades, Flames, and Bullets"]

[Here are your 1st floor tower rewards]

[x1 Chaos Core]

[x1 Dark Essence]

[x1 Spirit's Essence]

[x1 Metal's Essence]

[Here are your Achievement Rewards]

[Tower's Mark]