Su Li's heart trembled slightly. The man was indeed a Level 5 Spiritual Source Wielder. No wonder he was so arrogant. Su Li understood the 'Special Skills,' but what was this 'Spiritual Source Technique'?
Chen Xiangyu finished speaking, pushed off with his feet, and immediately launched his attack. He had no weapon; his two fists were his only armament. He charged at Su Li like a fierce tiger released from its cage.
The tattooed man's weapon was a bayonet. He rushed toward Gong Xiao, but since he needed to capture her alive, he dared not kill her. His plan was simple: stall Gong Xiao, allowing Ni Jianrong and Chen Xiangyu to kill Ding Longyun and Su Li, then come back to help.
Gong Xiao saw Ni Jianrong charging toward the injured Ding Longyun and knew the danger. Ding Longyun had been struck by Chen Xiangyu's punch. Several of his ribs were broken, and he was spitting blood. The punch was so powerful that although it hadn't killed Ding Longyun instantly, he was severely wounded and couldn't even stand up, let alone fight Ni Jianrong.
Gong Xiao roared in defiance. She extended her left hand, activating the "Entangling Vine," aiming to bind the tattooed man's bayonet, and then charge toward Ding Longyun to intercept Ni Jianrong.
The tattooed man grinned crudely. His eyes continuously raked Gong Xiao's body. Having been repressed for so many days, the sight of a stunning beauty made his eyes gleam like a starved wolf's. If Chen Xiangyu hadn't been there—and if Brother Xiang didn't insist on savoring the pleasure first—he would have rushed her immediately.
The tattooed man was formidable, also a Level 4 Spiritual Source Wielder. His movements were extremely swift. He immediately saw through Gong Xiao's intentions. When Gong Xiao attacked, he quickly retreated. The moment she tried to charge past him, he swiftly intervened, only tangling with her to prevent her from leaving, not engaging in a serious fight. He kept up his crude laughter to distract Gong Xiao.
Ni Jianrong, meanwhile, was in no rush. He sauntered up to the fallen Ding Longyun and laughed heartily. "Ding Longyun, you were lucky yesterday not to be killed. But fate has decreed you'll die by my hand today. I won't be polite, haha—"
Ding Longyun struggled fiercely on the ground, his eyes burning with fury as he glared at him. "You beast, don't… don't be smug…"
Ni Jianrong suddenly stomped on his chest, pressing down on the broken ribs. Ding Longyun screamed in agony, a sound like a pig being slaughtered.
"Haha, seeing you suffer so much, I'll put you out of your misery—"
Ni Jianrong said this while exposing the bone spur on his right hand. He quickly and viciously stabbed it toward Ding Longyun's heart, showing absolutely no mercy.
In this world where law and order were nonexistent, survival was paramount. Since the two groups were already sworn enemies, there was no reason to show leniency. Those who survived until today were ruthless. They had killed countless monsters, and possibly… their own kind.
Ni Jianrong could kill Ding Longyun dispassionately, without even batting an eye. Although there had been no personal feud before, simply surviving the Great Flood was the original sin.
The fight had devolved into several individual struggles. Xu Haishui had the easiest task. He charged directly at Xu Xuehui. He did not hurt her, as Chen Xiangyu required her alive. Although Xu Xuehui was also a Level 3 Spiritual Source Wielder, she was no match for Xu Haishui.
Xu Haishui easily subdued her, twisting her arm and holding his short spear against her neck. If she dared to resist, the spear would pierce her skin.
The most intense fight was between Chen Xiangyu and Su Li.
Chen Xiangyu was the most highly evolved person present, the only Level 5 Spiritual Source Wielder. Su Li was one level below him, but his talent, which granted him an extra enhancement, essentially put him on par with a Level 5 Spiritual Source Wielder.
Their fight was intense, even brutal.
Su Li swung the machete with all his might. Chen Xiangyu, laughing loudly, charged directly at the machete, meeting the blade with his bare arms as if they were made of steel.
Su Li was shocked. Chen Xiangyu's arms were not just like steel. When the machete struck his legs, chest, and back, it made a metallic clang. Chen Xiangyu was like a copper-headed, iron-backed monster, impervious to conventional weapons.
How could such a monster be defeated?
Chen Xiangyu clearly reveled in Su Li's astonishment. He enjoyed the feeling of superiority.
"This is my 'Steel Skin' ability! It can absorb all physical attacks. What do you think? Pretty effective, right? I didn't scare you off, did I? Hahaha—"
Su Li's face was grim. After several ineffective strikes, he was gradually forced to retreat by Chen Xiangyu's relentless assault.
At that moment, not far behind him, Ni Jianrong had pinned down Ding Longyun and was preparing to stab the bone spur into Ding Longyun's heart.
Just then, Su Li, who was feigning a desperate retreat, suddenly had afterimages of legs appear around his body. "Spider Walk" activated. His figure shot out like a phantom.
The ultra-high speed unleashed by the "Spider Walk" state was so fast that even Chen Xiangyu, a Level 5 Spiritual Source Wielder, couldn't track it.
Su Li had intentionally acted as if he was overpowered and desperately retreating, but the direction of his retreat was precisely toward Ding Longyun and Ni Jianrong, closing the distance to within five meters.
Five meters was instantly covered by "Spider Walk." Ni Jianrong never expected the retreating, seemingly defeated Su Li to suddenly break away and attack him. This was completely illogical.
In his mind, Chen Xiangyu was an unstoppable force. Su Li was no match and was fighting for his life. How could he suddenly attack Ni Jianrong?
Ni Jianrong was still processing the shock when his head flew off. The world spun and tilted in his eyes. Blood spurted from his neck. His headless body remained half-crouched, one foot still planted on Ding Longyun's chest, his right arm still outstretched, the bone spur in his palm fixed in the motion of stabbing downward.
A Spiritual Source emerged from Ni Jianrong's headless corpse and merged into Su Li's forehead.
"Level 4 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 18/50"
"Agh—" Chen Xiangyu's eyes were wide with fury. He had watched, stunned, as Su Li suddenly spun around, shot out, and beheaded Ni Jianrong. He was enraged to the extreme.
He wasn't angry that Ni Jianrong was killed; he felt personally insulted. Su Li's action was a blatant display of contempt toward him.
The damage was minimal, but the insult was profound.
The tattooed man, who was tangled with Gong Xiao, also paled. His body froze slightly, and he turned to look at Su Li behind him.
Su Li's sudden counter-ambush and beheading of Ni Jianrong was completely unexpected. Like Ni Jianrong, he never imagined that Su Li could break away from the powerful Chen Xiangyu to strike Ni Jianrong.
(End of Chapter)