Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3081: No Longer Covert

For over four hundred meters, the tunnel shook violently as the attack obliterated everything in its path, leaving a deep, jagged trench in the stone floor. The sound of crumbling rock echoed long after the bolt’s energy dissipated.

Elyon stood there, slack-jawed, his earlier composure completely shattered.

Even Cattaleya blinked a few times, her expression flickering between awe and disbelief. The sheer destructive power had exceeded even that of her immortal stone marbles—something she had once considered among the strongest ranged strikes in her arsenal.

"What... Was the name of that skill?" She couldn’t help but ask.

"The Elephant Shredding bolt." Lin Mu replied casually.

"Oh that skill you got during the expedition?" Daoist Chu remembered.

"Yep." Lin Mu nodded. "It’s power is quite good. Looks like we won’t face any resistance on the way now. The hidden golems should be destroyed." he added.

"...You know," she finally said, her tone somewhere between impressed and resigned, "I’m starting to think lending you that slingshot was a mistake."

Lin Mu just gave a faint, knowing smile, handing it back without a word.

The reason Lin Mu had been so... explosive with the Titan String Slingshot came down to one simple conclusion—stealth had lost its value.

From the very moment the golems had been activated, Lin Mu had felt it.

That prickling in the back of his mind, the same instinct that had saved him countless times before, told him that their enemies were already aware of their presence.

Whether through some hidden detection formation, a sound-based alarm tied to the golems, or even an active detection technique, the result was the same—they weren’t moving in secrecy anymore.

If the enemy knew they were here, there was no sense in wasting time creeping forward like shadows. Lin Mu decided it was far better to push forward with overwhelming force, tearing through obstacles, formations, and any resistance they encountered before their enemies could fortify their defenses or complete whatever schemes they had in motion.

If he was right, speed would be their greatest weapon now, and destruction would be their warning shot.

That was why his attack had been so loud, so blatantly destructive. It wasn’t just about hitting the target—it was a statement.

Still, even while making this strategic choice, Lin Mu couldn’t deny that the Titan String Slingshot had caught his attention. He had never seen a weapon quite like it before.

Most ranged weapons were designed for either physical strength or qi channeling, not both—but this slingshot was different. It was a true hybrid, crafted specifically for dual cultivators who honed both body and qi.

Its ability to merge the raw force of a cultivator’s physical pull with the precision and destructive power of condensed qi made it a deadly tool in the right hands. The ability to combine Immortal Essence and Immortal Qi together was something Lin Mu had only been able to do properly with the Mountain Collapsing Fist before.

And that was a skill that came at a great cost and couldn’t be used too many times in a row. As such Lin Mu could see why Cattaleya valued the slingshot so highly.

And yet... the slingshot’s form factor wasn’t ideal for him.

After years of wielding the Wonder Seeker Bow, he was used to a weapon with superior range, flexibility, and pinpoint accuracy. The Titan String Slingshot, by contrast, excelled in raw impact but felt restrictive in reach.

In closer engagements, it would shine, but it couldn’t quite match the adaptability of his bow which was also better at adapting qi skills into it to turn into arrows.

The ringing echo of his shot was still fading when Meng Bai spoke up, concern etched into his voice. "Was that really wise? Such a strong attack... it’s bound to draw more trouble to us."

Lin Mu didn’t slow his pace, only glancing briefly at his junior before answering with calm certainty. "It doesn’t matter if they notice us anymore. They already know we’re here. Hiding is pointless. From now on, we focus only on reaching the end and eliminating the enemy."

Meng Bai hesitated, clearly weighing the logic of that statement. After a brief pause, he gave a reluctant nod, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

Daoist Chu, who had been quietly observing the exchange, added his own thoughts. "If they are truly aware of us, they may already be preparing to flee rather than face us directly. Especially if they know who you are."

Lin Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly, his tone firm. "Then we’ll just have to be faster. No hesitation, no detours. We cut through everything in our way."

The words settled over the group like a battle drumbeat, steady and commanding. Without further discussion, they resumed their advance, each step more determined than before. The time of subtlety was over—now came the storm.

The descent into the depths became a relentless march of destruction.

Lin Mu, Meng Bai, Daoist Chu, and the others pressed forward without pause, carving through every last barrier in their path.

The resistance they encountered was almost laughably predictable now—wave after wave of golems, all designed with slight variations in size, weaponry, and defensive capabilities, but ultimately sharing the same fate.

Some were humanoid, armed with stone-forged blades or spears that clanged uselessly against Lin Mu’s defenses. Others resembled hulking beasts of metal and rock, charging forward with thunderous steps only to be shattered in a single strike.

Daoist Chu’s strikes were methodical, dismantling them with precision, while Meng Bai cut through their ranks with sharp, swift spear strikes. Lin Mu, however, was the most direct—every attack of his was a declaration, each strike a display of force meant to break more than just stone.

Cattaleya was the same, destroying the golems with her raw power, while Elyon took the more silent route, causing the golems to sink into the shadows while he’d break them apart with his claws tainted with darkness.

Bit by bit the group was progressing and their enemies were getting anxious with each passing kilometer.