Swallowing the Stars: Starting with Panlong

Chapter 68: Australia

The Australian continent, before its great rebirth, was called Australia, and its population was only a little over ten million.

The Great Rebirth has arrived. A virus has swept the globe, and monsters have mutated wildly. The Australian continent was already home to many unique wild animals—kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles, venomous snakes… These animals, catalyzed by the virus, have transformed into monsters far more terrifying than humans could have imagined. They reproduced at an astonishing rate, conquering the entire continent in just a few years. Humans either had to evacuate or perish. Today, the Australian continent is devoid of any human cities, only endless wilderness and mountains teeming with monsters.

This place, along with the Sahara in Africa and the Amazon in South America, is considered one of the three most dangerous places on Earth.

Early on the morning of August 1, 180 fully armed trainees, led by more than ten top-notch instructors, headed to Hongning Base City Airport.

Lin Yun wore an SS-level combat suit and carried an SS-level battle sword on his back. Underneath the suit, he wore the Black God Set—a relic of an ancient civilization, incredibly magical. After absorbing blood, it would penetrate the skin and integrate directly into the body. When needed, with a thought, it would emerge from beneath the skin, forming a full-body protective suit. Lin Yun had completed the binding process last night, and the Black God Set lay dormant beneath his skin, ready to be activated at any moment.

Nearly two hundred people were transported by passenger plane and arrived in Australia from West Asia in almost an hour.

Stepping off the plane, the first thing that catches the eye is an endless expanse of wilderness. There are no buildings, no roads, and no trace of human activity. Only withered yellow grass, scattered shrubs, and distant, faintly visible hills. The sky is hazy, with low-hanging clouds, creating a sense of oppression.

After dropping everyone off, the teachers all left. The passenger plane took off and disappeared into the clouds, officially marking the beginning of everyone's life-or-death adventure.

Only 180 trainees remained on the wasteland.

The trainees gathered in small groups of three or five, forming teams with stronger fighters. For the weaker trainees who had just joined the training camp, surviving alone on the Australian continent for 28 days was an absolutely impossible task.

Lin Yun had already arranged to team up with He Lingruo before setting off. Shi Jiang, Chu Qiang, and several other members of Huaxia formed a team, and the others also found their own teammates.

Soon, the 180 people were divided into nearly 30 groups, each heading in a different direction. Lin Yun and He Lingruo also chose a direction and headed into the wasteland.

The climate of Australia is almost the opposite of that of China. It's early August now, the hottest time of the year in China, but late winter in Australia, with temperatures around four or five degrees Celsius. However, for Lin Yun, whose physical abilities have reached the peak of the Advanced War God level, temperatures of tens of degrees below zero have little effect.

He Lingruo walked ahead, her steps light and steady. Her silver-gray combat uniform stood out starkly against the hazy sky, and a long, silver-white spear was slung across her back, its slender shaft and tip gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Her weapon differed from that of ordinary martial artists—most used knives or swords, but she wielded a spear.

Lin Yun followed behind her, his gaze sweeping over their surroundings. He didn't use his mental power—that was his trump card, something he wouldn't easily reveal unless absolutely necessary. In this unfamiliar land, he needed to remain vigilant, but he also needed to learn to sense danger like an ordinary martial artist, using his eyes and ears.

"Senior sister, have you been to the Australian continent before?" Lin Yun asked.

"I've been here twice," He Lingruo said without turning her head. "The first time was three years ago, and the second time was last year."

"How are you feeling?"

"It's very dangerous." He Lingruo's tone was calm, but Lin Yun could hear the caution in it. "The monster density here far exceeds that of City 1001. Lord-level monsters are everywhere, and King-level monsters are not uncommon either. Last year, our team encountered a King-level monster, and three of us died."

Lin Yun remained silent for a moment. A King-level monster—that's an existence beyond the Lord level, equivalent to a planetary-level human. With his current strength, if he encountered a King-level monster, he'd be lucky to escape.

"So we shouldn't venture too far," He Lingruo continued. "Staying in the outer areas and hunting down a few lord-level enemies is enough. Getting back alive is more important than anything else."

Lin Yun nodded without refuting.

Less than an hour later, they encountered their first lord-level monster.

It was a monitor lizard, about the size of a small elephant, covered in dark gray scales, with thick limbs and a tail like an iron whip. It lay on a boulder, lazily basking in the sun. Although the late winter sun wasn't strong, it was warm enough for a cold-blooded animal.

He Lingruo drew the spear from her back and was about to step forward when Lin Yun stopped her.

"Senior sister, let me do it," Lin Yun said.

He Lingruo glanced at him, put away her gun, and took a few steps back.

Lin Yun drew his SS-grade battle sword from his back, and with a swift movement, his body shot out like lightning. He was so fast that the armored giant lizard didn't even have time to react.

"laugh--"

The blade tore through the air with a piercing whistling sound. The armored giant lizard's scales were like paper before the SS-grade battle blade; its neck was severed in a single stroke. Blood gushed out, and the armored giant lizard let out a mournful roar, its body twisting wildly as its thick tail swept across.

Lin Yun dodged to the side, simultaneously unleashing his second strike. This strike utilized the third level of the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade technique; the combined force of the three layers caused a dazzling blue light to erupt from the blade.

The armored giant lizard's head fell off with a thud, and its massive body crashed to the ground.

He Lingruo stood there, looking at Lin Yun, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"The fourth level of the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade?" she asked.

"Fifth level." Lin Yun sheathed his sword, squatted down, and began processing the monster's materials.

He Lingruo's pupils contracted slightly. The fifth level of the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, 4.2 times the power—in her four years at the training camp, she had seen many students practicing the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade, but Lin Yun was the first to reach the fifth level at the age of sixteen.

"How long have you been practicing the Ninefold Thunder Blade?" she asked.

"Less than half a year," Lin Yun said without looking up.

He Lingruo fell silent. In less than half a year, he had progressed from the first level to the fifth level—what did that even mean? Most people taking several months to reach the first level of the Nine-Level Thunder Blade technique, one to two years for the second, and three to five years for the third. Lin Yun had reached the fifth level in just half a year; such a speed of progress was simply unbelievable.

"What about your swordsmanship level?" He Lingruo asked again.

"Half-step into the realm of artistic conception." Lin Yun put the armored giant lizard's scales and fangs into his backpack. "I just touched the threshold a few days ago, and it's still unstable."

He Lingruo looked at him, her gaze now holding something deeper. She had honed her marksmanship for ten years to reach perfection. Half-step into the realm of mastery—that was the goal she was still pursuing.

"Let's go." He Lingruo turned around and continued walking forward.

Lin Yun slung his backpack over his shoulder and followed.

As evening fell, the two set up camp in a sheltered spot on a small hill.

In late winter on the Australian continent, darkness falls quickly. As soon as the sun sets, the temperature plummets below zero. He Lingruo took a portable heater from her backpack and boiled a pot of water. Lin Yun, on the other hand, visually surveyed the surrounding terrain, and only sat down by the fire after confirming there was no danger.

The two sat by the fire, drinking hot water and eating compressed rations. The firelight reflected on He Lingruo's face, softening her cool and aloof features.

"Senior sister, you've been in the training camp for four years, why haven't you graduated yet?" Lin Yun asked.

He Lingruo was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm waiting."

"What are you waiting for?"

"I'll wait for my ninth first place." He Lingruo's gaze fell into the darkness in the distance, her voice carrying a hint of determination. "I've already won first place eight times, just one more. Once I win first place for the ninth time, I can become the master's apprentice and learn 'World Destruction'."

Lin Yun was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected that this seemingly aloof and cold senior sister would also have her own obsessions.

"Is the owner your idol?" Lin Yun asked.

He Lingruo nodded, a glint of light flashing in her eyes: "From the first day I became a martial artist, the head of the school has been my goal. His 'World Destruction' spear technique is the strongest attack secret technique on Earth. I practice spear techniques, and if I could become his personal disciple and learn the essence of 'World Destruction,' even if I only learn one or two moves, I would be satisfied."

She looked down at the spear in her hand, its shaft gleaming faintly in the firelight. This spear had been with her for many years; several fine scratches on the shaft bore witness to every life-or-death battle.

Lin Yun remained silent for a moment. He understood He Lingruo's feelings. The world's strongest martial artist, "Hong," was a god-like figure to every martial artist on Earth. To become his personal disciple was an honor countless people dreamed of.

"You can definitely do it," Lin Yun said.

He Lingruo glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Thank you for your kind words."

A night breeze blew, causing the fire's flames to flicker. In the distance, the howls of monsters echoed through the darkness.

"Senior sister, what level is your marksmanship at?" Lin Yun asked.

"Perfect level," He Lingruo said, "one step away from the half-step realm of artistic conception."

Lin Yun nodded. Her perfect marksmanship, combined with her overall strength, was already enough to rank her first in the training camp. But if she could break through to the half-step Intent Realm, her combat power would experience a qualitative leap.

"And you?" He Lingruo suddenly asked, "Why did you come to the training camp?"

Lin Yun thought for a moment and said, "To become stronger."

"And then what?"

"After becoming stronger..." Lin Yun smiled, "I will protect the people I want to protect and do the things I want to do."

He Lingruo looked at him, a flicker of something in her eyes. She didn't ask any more questions, but simply picked up her cup and continued drinking hot water.

"Get some rest." He Lingruo stood up. "We have to travel tomorrow."

She went into the tent and zipped it up.

Lin Yun sat by the fire, watching the flickering flames, silently calculating in his mind. He needed to find a suitable opportunity to go to Fog Island. But before that, he needed to find out the location of Fog Island, prepare enough supplies, and wait for the right moment.

He took out an ancient book about the Australian continent from his spatial ring—a book he had bought at a high price from the House of Limits, containing a detailed map of the continent and the distribution of monsters. He needed it to find the exact location of Fog Island.

Over the next few days, the two continued hunting in the wilderness of the Australian continent.

Lin Yun's strength has been fully demonstrated in the past few days. His swordsmanship is as fast as lightning. With his half-step Intent Realm swordsmanship combined with the power of the fifth level of the Ninefold Thunder Blade, monsters below the level of high-level lords cannot withstand more than three strikes from him. His movements are fluid and graceful, navigating complex terrain as if it were flat ground.

He Lingruo's marksmanship also left a deep impression on Lin Yun. Her marksmanship was sharp and precise, each shot carrying an indomitable momentum. Although she hadn't reached the half-step realm of intent, her perfect marksmanship, combined with her peak advanced war god strength, was more than enough to deal with a mid-level lord.

The two worked together more and more seamlessly. Lin Yun took the lead in attacking, while He Lingruo provided support. When they encountered lone lord-level monsters, Lin Yun would take them out directly. When they encountered groups of beast generals, He Lingruo's advantage in spear technique became apparent—her spear was long and had a wide attack range, and a single sweep of her spear could knock away several monsters at the same time.

He Lingruo's attitude towards him has also undergone a subtle change in the past few days.

On the first day, she only saw him as a promising junior who needed to be taken care of.

The next day, she began to acknowledge his abilities and stopped seeing him as someone who needed protection.

On the third day, she began to take the initiative to discuss tactics with him and listen to his opinions.

On the fourth day, she let him fight a high-level lord alone for the first time, while she watched from the sidelines.

That high-ranking lord was a mutated marsupial lion, the size of a rhinoceros, covered in brown fur, with claws like knives and fangs like swords. It was extremely fast and its attacks were ferocious; even ordinary high-ranking war gods couldn't last long against it.

Lin Yun went to meet him. He didn't use his mental powers, but relied solely on his swordsmanship and agility to fight the Tasmanian lion.

The battle lasted for nearly ten minutes. Lin Yun's blade flashed around the marsupial lion, each swing precisely striking its vital points. The marsupial lion's counterattacks grew weaker and weaker, until finally, Lin Yun severed its head with a single stroke.

He Lingruo stood aside, not making a move throughout. Her gaze followed Lin Yun's figure, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

"Your swordsmanship has surpassed everyone else in the training camp." She sheathed her gun, her voice soft.

"You flatter me, Senior Sister." Lin Yun wiped the blood off the knife.

"It's not an overstatement." He Lingruo shook her head. "I practiced spear techniques for ten years before reaching the perfect level. You reached the half-step realm in less than a year. This isn't a matter of talent, it's... your understanding of power is different from mine."

Lin Yun did not answer. He knew that his rapid progress was not due to exceptional talent, but rather to the advantage of cultivating simultaneously in two worlds. He comprehended the laws in the Panlong World and honed his swordsmanship in the Swallowed Star World; the two systems mutually reinforced each other, allowing his progress to far surpass that of ordinary people.

But he couldn't tell anyone these things.

On the fifth day, He Lingruo began to carefully observe his every move during his battles. Her gaze was very focused, as if she were learning something.

On the sixth day, she finally couldn't help but ask, "How did you develop your swordsmanship?"

Lin Yun thought for a moment and said, "It's just that I've practiced a lot."

He Lingruo clearly did not believe this answer, but did not ask any further questions.

On the evening of the seventh day, the two set up camp in a sparse grove of trees.

Over the past seven days, they have hunted down hundreds of monsters. Most of them were Beast General level, but there were also quite a few Lord level monsters—beginner, intermediate, and advanced, you name it. Lin Yun's backpack was filled with valuable monster materials, which could be exchanged for a large number of battle points and contribution points.

But Lin Yun's mind wasn't on these materials. He was secretly searching for clues about Kirishima.

He found several locations in ancient books that resembled Kirishima Island—near the east coast of the Australian continent. He needed to verify them one by one.

"Tomorrow, we'll head to the east coast," Lin Yun said to He Lingruo.

"The East Coast?" He Lingruo was somewhat surprised. "There are even more monsters there, and it's more dangerous."

"I know," Lin Yun said, "but I need to go over there and take a look."

He Lingruo glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions. She was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."