Su Li's heart trembled slightly. This guy was indeed a fifth-level Source Spirit user, no wonder he was so arrogant. But he knew about special skills—what exactly was this "Source Spirit Technique"?
As Chen Xiangyu finished speaking, he kicked off the ground and launched a sudden attack. He had no weapon; his fists were his weapons, charging at Su Li like a tiger bursting from its cage.
The tattooed man wielded a military spike, rushing toward Gong Xiao. However, since he needed to capture Gong Xiao alive, he didn't dare strike lethally. His plan was simple: stall Gong Xiao, let Ni Jianrong and Chen Xiangyu kill Ding Longyun and Su Li respectively, then come help.
Gong Xiao saw Ni Jianrong charging at the injured Ding Longyun and knew it was bad. Ding Longyun had just taken a punch from Chen Xiangyu, breaking several ribs in his chest and spitting blood. That punch was devastating—though it hadn't killed him outright, it left him severely wounded, unable even to get up. How could he withstand Ni Jianrong?
Gong Xiao let out a furious shout, extending her left hand to activate "Vine Entanglement," aiming to snare the tattooed man's thrusting spike before rushing toward Ding Longyun to block Ni Jianrong.
The tattooed man let out a weird, lecherous chuckle, his eyes roving over Gong Xiao's entire body. After days of pent-up frustration, a young man with such vigorous energy suddenly seeing a stunning beauty—his gaze was like a starving wolf's. If not for Chen Xiangyu being there, with the boss getting first dibs, he'd have wanted to pounce on her directly.
This tattooed man was no pushover—also a fourth-level Source Spirit user, moving swiftly. He saw through Gong Xiao's intent: when she attacked, he retreated; when she tried to dash elsewhere, he struck quickly, not fighting to the death but just tying her up, preventing her from breaking free, all while cackling to rattle her focus.
Ni Jianrong, unhurried and swaggering, walked up to Ding Longyun lying on the ground, laughing heartily: "Ding Longyun, you were lucky not to die yesterday, but fate's decreed you'll die by my hand. I won't hold back now, haha—"
Ding Longyun struggled desperately on the ground, glaring at him with blazing fury: "You beast... don't get cocky..."
Suddenly, Ni Jianrong stomped on his chest, pressing down on the broken ribs. Ding Longyun felt a piercing agony and let out a scream like a stuck pig.
"Haha, seeing you in such pain, I'll put you out of your misery—"
Ni Jianrong said, revealing the bone spur on his right hand, and drove it straight down toward Ding Longyun's heart, fast and ruthless, showing no mercy.
In this world where law and order had collapsed, survival was paramount. Since they'd become mortal enemies, there was no room for softness. Everyone who'd made it this far was ruthless, having killed countless monsters—and even... their own kind.
He could kill Ding Longyun coldly without blinking. Though they had no prior grudge, surviving this great flood itself was the original sin.
On the battlefield, several pairs were locked in combat. Xu Haishui had it easiest, heading straight for Xu Xuehui. But he didn't harm her, since Chen Xiangyu wanted her alive. Though Xu Xuehui was a third-level Source Spirit user, she was no match for Xu Haishui.
He easily grabbed her, twisting her arm behind her back, and placed his short spear against her neck. If she resisted, the spear would pierce through.
Among them, the fiercest fight was between Chen Xiangyu and Su Li.
Chen Xiangyu had the highest evolution level, the only fifth-level Source Spirit user. Su Li was a level lower, but his talent ability granted him an extra enhancement, making him nearly equivalent to a fifth-level Source Spirit user.
Their battle was intense, even brutal.
Su Li swung his machete with all his might. Chen Xiangyu laughed loudly, his arms like iron, charging head-on without dodging the blade.
Su Li was shocked to find that not only were Chen Xiangyu's arms like iron, but the machete clanged against his legs, chest, and back with metallic sounds. Chen Xiangyu seemed to have an iron head and steel back, impervious to blades.
How could he defeat such a monster?
Seeing Su Li's shock, Chen Xiangyu reveled in it, brimming with smugness.
"This is my 'Steel Skin' ability—absorbs all physical attacks. How's that? Not bad, huh? Didn't scare you, did it? Haha—"
Su Li's face grew grim. Several strikes proved useless, and Chen Xiangyu's relentless assault forced him to retreat step by step, moving backward.
Not far behind him, Ni Jianrong had his foot on Ding Longyun and was about to drive the bone spur into his heart.
Just then, as Su Li retreated, phantom leg shadows appeared around him. "Spider Walk" activated again. He turned like a ghost and shot forward.
The explosive speed from "Spider Walk" was so fast that even Chen Xiangyu, a fifth-level Source Spirit user, couldn't catch up or track him.
Su Li had deliberately feigned weakness against Chen Xiangyu, retreating toward Ding Longyun and Ni Jianrong, closing the distance to within five meters.
Within five meters, "Spider Walk" closed the gap in an instant. It all happened in a flash. Ni Jianrong never expected that Su Li, supposedly overwhelmed by Chen Xiangyu, could break away to attack him—it defied logic.
In his mind, Chen Xiangyu was an invincible force. Su Li, barely able to save himself, couldn't possibly launch a surprise attack.
When Ni Jianrong sensed something wrong, a flicker of shock crossed his face, and then his head flew off. The world spun before his eyes as blood spurted from his neck. His headless body remained half-crouched, one foot still on Ding Longyun, right hand extended with the bone spur, frozen in the motion of stabbing down.
A Source Spirit emerged from Ni Jianrong's headless corpse and sank into Su Li's forehead.
"Fourth-level Source Spirit user: Source Spirit 18/50"
"Ah—" Chen Xiangyu's eyes bulged as he roared, watching Su Li suddenly turn and dash five meters to slice off Ni Jianrong's head. He was furious.
Not because Ni Jianrong was killed, but because he felt insulted—this was Su Li's blatant contempt for him.
The harm was minimal, but the humiliation was immense.
The tattooed man, still locked in combat with Gong Xiao, also paled. He paused briefly, then turned to look at Su Li behind him.
Su Li's counterattack, beheading Ni Jianrong, caught him completely off guard. Like Ni Jianrong, he never imagined Su Li could split his focus to ambush him while facing the mighty Chen Xiangyu.