As he spoke, he looked at Su Li and laughed heartily. "I've long found that Zhao guy annoying—always putting on airs like some superior expert, and now he's taken such a big fall, making a fool of himself. Little did he know that you, Brother Su, are the real master. If he still had the face to stay, that would be strange."
Su Li shook his head. "I'm no master either; that was just luck."
Jiang Xiaodong sighed. "Brother Su, you're too modest. Though our strength can't match yours, we still have some discernment. Setting everything else aside, just that speed of yours when you charged forward—we couldn't even see it clearly, let alone defend against it."
He had witnessed Su Li's killing of the fully evolved Fusioner and was genuinely impressed.
Wang Xu's mood was somewhat low, a hint of worry on his face. "Zhao Haoyang lost face today; he'll probably find a way to get back at us. From what I know, he's not exactly broad-minded, or else he wouldn't have left without saying goodbye just now."
Jiang Xiaodong said, "He's incompetent himself—how can he blame others? If it weren't for Brother Su today, I reckon his life would've been lost here."
"Oriental Tower is mainly run by Zhao Haoyang. If he really wants to save face, Brother Su naturally doesn't need to fear him, but being so close to Oriental Tower is a bit troublesome for us." Wang Xu frowned slightly.
Su Li's mind stirred. "Isn't Oriental Tower said to have another leader? Why is Zhao Haoyang in charge?"
Wang Xu explained, "Although Zhao Haoyang is nominally the second leader of Oriental Tower, he's the one who actually calls the shots. The first leader is Mo Xingxuan, just a figurehead—reportedly very timid and lacking real skill. But Mo Xingxuan has a younger brother, Mo Ziyuan, commonly called the Madman. Mo Ziyuan isn't very sharp mentally, but he's extremely formidable. Zhao Haoyang latched onto Mo Ziyuan's strength and thus propped up his brother Mo Xingxuan as the leader, because Mo Ziyuan only listens to Mo Xingxuan."
Jiang Xiaodong added, "Yeah, Oriental Tower has three leaders. The first leader, Mo Xingxuan, is a useless figurehead, negligible. The third leader, Mo Ziyuan, is a madman—powerful but simple-minded and doesn't handle specific affairs. The real manager is the second leader, Zhao Haoyang."
Su Li nodded slightly. "I see. So who is stronger, Zhao Haoyang or Mo Ziyuan?"
He now had a basic understanding of Oriental Tower: a total population estimated at over a hundred, with three leaders—Mo Xingxuan, Zhao Haoyang, and Mo Ziyuan. Mo Xingxuan was just a figurehead, he had just seen Zhao Haoyang in action, and Mo Ziyuan, called the Madman by outsiders, was simple-minded but likely very strong.
Jiang Xiaodong said, "Previously, outsiders said Mo Ziyuan was the strongest in Oriental Tower, and Zhao Haoyang was average. But today, it seems Zhao Haoyang is hiding his true strength. Though he was defeated later, there's no denying he's very strong. As for who's stronger between him and Mo Ziyuan, it's hard to say now."
"Qin Xin, take some people to catch a few monsters up here. I can't stand the pain anymore." Wang Xu grimaced, baring his teeth. Though he had the ability to peel and regenerate skin, the Fusioner's punch had broken the bones in his chest, and this ability couldn't help him. He had endured until now but couldn't hold out any longer.
"Alright." Qin Xin led You Zhenghao and the others to go catch some Spirit Source Beasts.
Jiang Xiaodong pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to Su Li, who declined. Jiang Xiaodong lit one for himself and looked at Wang Xu. "Want one?"
Wang Xu also shook his head in refusal, then looked at Su Li. "Brother Su, it's already noon. We have to eat. How about we go to Financial City for a bit?"
Su Li smiled and shook his head. "Next time. I should be going now."
Wang Shixian's big eyes were fixed entirely on him, looking very reluctant. "Su Li, are you really not coming to Financial City?"
Su Li smiled and shook his head at her. Once he made up his mind, he wouldn't change it. "It's not that far. When I have time, I'll come find you."
"Alright, you promised me. You can't go back on your word." Wang Shixian looked at Su Li seriously.
Su Li nodded, agreeing to her.
Only then did Wang Shixian show a look of joy.
The others, seeing this, understood somewhat that Su Li and Wang Shixian had a close relationship. Their gazes toward Wang Shixian shifted slightly, realizing that this woman shouldn't be offended lightly.
Jiang Xiaodong lit his cigarette, took a deep drag, and wore a relaxed expression. "Brother Su, next time you come, don't just go to Financial City and skip us."
Su Li smiled. "Of course not. Well, it's getting late. I should go. Everyone, I hope we meet again next time."
Su Li took his leave. Wang Shixian's eyes showed reluctance; though she wanted to persuade him to stay, she knew he wouldn't, and felt a pang of disappointment.
The group escorted Su Li to the edge of the rooftop when suddenly they noticed a giant turtle surfacing from the water. Jiang Xiaodong extended his right hand, his arm transforming into a massive blood-and-flesh spear, the cigarette still dangling from his mouth as he mumbled, "Just in need of some Spirit Source to heal wounds, and a monster delivers itself." He was about to fire at the giant turtle.
Wang Shixian quickly blocked him, shouting, "Don't—"
Jiang Xiaodong was momentarily stunned, but then saw Su Li suddenly leap down, landing steadily on the giant turtle's back. He looked up at the group above and said, "Everyone, until we meet again!"
He sat cross-legged on the turtle's back. The Crocodile-Toothed Turtle let out a faint, low roar, then suddenly turned in the water, carrying Su Li as it cut through the waves and sped away.
The group's eyes widened. Jiang Xiaodong's mouth fell open, and the cigarette he was holding dropped.
"Damn, this, this—"
"This giant turtle is his mount," Wang Shixian explained, a look of envy on her face. "It's incredibly fast."
She didn't need to say it; everyone could see the Crocodile-Toothed Turtle swimming through the water like an arrow, taking Su Li dozens of meters away in no time.
"Brother Su is truly an extraordinary man," Wang Xu praised.
Jiang Xiaodong muttered, "Is he even a survivor of the same flood? How many days has it been? Not only is he freakishly strong, but he even has a mount now."
Wang Shixian added, "You don't know, he also has a Spirit Source Weapon. He just didn't use it when killing that monster earlier."
"What?" Everyone was shocked and turned to look at her.
Wang Xu looked at her in astonishment. "You mean this Su Li has a Spirit Source Weapon? Like the one Zhao Haoyang was holding?"
Wang Shixian nodded. "Yes, he retracted it into his chest. If you don't believe me, ask Qin Xin and the others—they saw it too."
Just then, Qin Xin and a few others climbed back, dragging several low-level beasts and dropping them on the ground. Wang Xu quickly asked them, and after confirming that Su Li indeed had a Spirit Source Weapon, he and Jiang Xiaodong exchanged glances, both horrified.
"So, this Su Li killed that humanoid monster without even using his full strength? Impressive, truly impressive. What kind of person is he? How did he gain such power?"
Jiang Xiaodong gazed into the distance, watching the figures of the man and turtle grow smaller and smaller on the distant water, until they finally vanished from his sight.
...
...
...
Su Li rode Crocodile-Toothed Turtle No. 1, bidding farewell to the group, heading westward. Though this trip hadn't yielded much, making acquaintances with Wang Xu of Financial City and Jiang Xiaodong of Maple Scenic Center Building made it worthwhile.
Soon, he returned to the waters where Huating Residential Area was located.
Su Li had the turtle stop here, looking down at the water below, a conflicted expression on his face.
If he wasn't mistaken, the Huating Residential Area below had become a lair for high-level undead. Venturing in alone was far too dangerous. Even someone as strong as Su Li didn't dare take the risk.
The underwater environment was different from land. On land, Su Li might have tried, but underwater, visibility was limited, and both speed and strength were greatly reduced. The undead might harbor the most terrifying assassins, making it impossible to guard against them.
He hesitated for a moment, then sighed, patted the turtle, and had it continue westward, preparing to return to the Golden Eagle Alliance.
"Unless I bring Gong Xiao and Shui Jue along, maybe I could try. But alone..."
Su Li shook his head. He hadn't wanted to trouble others to accompany him on this risky venture, which was why he had come alone. But now that it had turned into an undead lair, it was nearly impossible for him to break in alone. He would need enough people to have a chance, which left him feeling frustrated.
He couldn't ask the people of the Golden Eagle Alliance to risk their lives underwater for his personal matters. If nothing went wrong, fine, but if danger arose and someone got hurt or killed, it would all be his responsibility. Even if no one blamed him, he would feel guilty—after all, this involved life and death.
Sighing, Su Li looked helpless. He still wasn't strong enough. If he were, he wouldn't be hesitating like this. If he were powerful enough to single-handedly storm the undead lair in Huating Residential Area, he wouldn't be stuck here agonizing.
Soon, the Jinhui Center Building appeared ahead. Su Li felt hungry and took out a piece of bread he had with him, eating it as he went. By the time he finished the bread, the turtle had carried him around the Jinhui Center Building.
Suddenly, Su Li noticed the sky darkening.
"Huh?" He looked up and saw clouds gathering overhead. The clear sky had quickly become overcast.
"Why the sudden change in weather? Is it going to rain again?" The thought had barely crossed his mind when lightning flashed in the clouds above, followed by the rumble of thunder in the distance.
The rain came quickly. Su Li had only traveled less than three hundred meters from the Jinhui Center Building on the turtle when he felt raindrops hitting his face.
Though it was noon, the sky had turned completely dark.
"Quick, turn around, head for the building." Sensing something was wrong, Su Li remembered the two previous rains. Each time it rained, the Spirit Source Beasts underwater grew restless and surfaced en masse. Not only that, the first rain had brought the Blood Crystal Beast, and the second had drawn the undead to attack the Golden Eagle Alliance.
Of course, he didn't know if the second undead attack on the Golden Eagle Alliance had targeted only their three buildings or if other human survivor strongholds had also been affected.
He realized he had forgotten to ask Wang Xu and Jiang Xiaodong about this earlier.
But judging by how familiar they seemed with the undead, it was very likely they had encountered them before, and it wasn't just the Golden Eagle Alliance that was targeted.
As the raindrops grew larger and denser, the turtle turned and sped toward the Jinhui Center Building three hundred meters away.
Though he had seen monster figures in the building earlier, it was the closest shelter now. He had to enter here to wait out the rain.
Even if Su Li were twice as bold and twice as strong, he wouldn't dare ride the turtle through a storm.
As the rain intensified, he began to see dark shapes emerging from the water around him—swarms of Spirit Source Beasts about to surface again for their unique frenzy.
The Crocodile-Toothed Turtle seemed to sense the danger too, swimming at full speed. It finally reached the Jinhui Center Building just before the rain fully set in.
Su Li leaped up onto the balcony of the thirty-first floor.
"Number One, stay on the thirtieth floor."
The turtle seemed to understand Su Li's words and slowly crawled into the thirtieth floor, which was submerged nearly a meter deep.
Of course, as a Spirit Source Beast itself, other beasts generally wouldn't attack it.
Su Li stepped onto the balcony of the thirty-first floor, let out a soft breath, and looked inside the room. Seeing no monsters, he turned to look outside.
The rain had fully begun. On the water's surface, more and more Spirit Source Beasts appeared, rising up to greet the falling rain, which seemed to have a fatal allure for them, making them excited and jubilant.
Su Li looked up at the gloomy sky, a hint of worry in his heart. He wondered when the rain would stop. If it continued until nightfall, he would be trapped here for the day.
Just then, he spotted a small kayak in the distance, speeding toward him at an incredible pace.
The surfaced Spirit Source Beasts grew agitated, trying to block it, but the kayak was too fast. Before they could react, it had already shot past them.
The sudden appearance of the kayak caught Su Li's attention. Its speed amazed him.
Inside the kayak, he could vaguely make out a figure. But how could a person paddling with their hands make a kayak go so fast? The speed was no less than that of the Crocodile-Toothed Turtle.
At least Su Li knew he couldn't achieve that himself.
As the kayak drew closer, he could finally see a young man in his early twenties inside.
The young man was simply gripping the edges of the kayak, not paddling. The kayak was moving at high speed on its own, leaving a long spray of water behind it.
"No, something is pulling the kayak from the front." Su Li's sharp eyes, combined with the decreasing distance, allowed him to notice a rope attached to the front of the kayak, connected to a dark shape in the water. He hadn't noticed it earlier because of the water and the many surfaced beasts.
"Interesting. Is that thing pulling the kayak a tamed Spirit Source Beast like the Crocodile-Toothed Turtle?"
As Su Li pondered, the kayak had already entered within two hundred meters of the Jinhui Center Building.
More and more monsters gathered around the building, forming a dense crowd. The sudden intrusion of the kayak stirred them up, and they swarmed toward it in a dark mass.
The kayak came under attack.
Then, a strange sight unfolded. Vines sprouted around the kayak, adorned with green leaves and colorful flowers. In an instant, the kayak transformed into a tree boat woven from vines.
The vines intertwined and expanded outward, protecting the kayak and the young man inside.
The monsters that lunged at it crashed into the vine boat, blocked by the interwoven vines, while the kayak continued its approach toward the Jinhui Center Building without slowing.
Su Li didn't know the young man's identity, but seeing him command a Spirit Source Beast to pull the kayak and display such a special ability to protect himself and the vessel, he knew the young man was no weakling.
In fact, anyone daring to travel alone on the water like this couldn't be weak.
Protected by the vine-woven boat, the kayak charged through the swarm of monsters, nearing the Jinhui Center Building. Su Li slowly retreated, pressing himself into a corner of the balcony, hiding his figure as he watched.
The closer the kayak got, the denser the monsters became, making it harder to push through. Its speed had to slow down.
Su Li understood that the young man on the kayak would have a tough time breaking through the swarm to enter the Jinhui Center Building.
Though the kayak was now only thirty meters from the building, these would be the hardest thirty meters.
As the kayak slowed, the vine boat protecting it dispersed. The interwoven vines suddenly launched a counterattack, coming to life like green pythons, striking at the swarm of monsters ahead.
With a series of "swish, swish" sounds, they pierced through at least four monsters in an instant.
The vines shot out with the force of javelins.
The young man on the kayak let out a low grunt. A black light burst from his chest, and within it, a black energy beam shot out. He grabbed it with his right hand, pulling it completely from his chest, transforming it into a massive, pitch-black broadsword.
Su Li's eyes flickered. That was a Spirit Source Weapon.
The young man gripped the black broadsword with both hands, leaped from the kayak into the water, and swung the blade forward.
Where the blade passed, the ordinary monsters in his path were like clay and wood, utterly defenseless.
Now he was the one clearing the way, with the kayak following behind.