Chapter 163: Second Form

“This guy didn’t jump into the water to escape; he’s hunting monsters to level up? It seems he must have been close to a breakthrough. He mastered so many top-tier special abilities, yet his strength was only slightly superior to mine. It seems he must also be a Level 7 Wielder like me. But he probably doesn’t know that I’m also close to breaking through—only thirteen Spiritual Sources away from becoming a Level 8 Wielder.”

Ding Shijie had been frantically searching for and hunting powerful monsters. His trip today to the Golden Convergence Center was fueled by the desire not to miss an opportunity to level up, which led him to disturb the large swarm of monsters beneath the building, drawing Su Li’s attention. As such, he had harvested over a hundred more effective Spiritual Sources than Su Li. While Su Li was close to Level 7, Ding Shijie was close to Level 8.

As Ding Shijie was thinking, he lunged forward, stabbing with his ice sword. Su Li twisted his body, activated “Spider Walk” underwater, and the phantom afterimages of his legs appeared. He propelled himself downward, instantly speeding up. Water currents surged around him. He put distance between himself and Ding Shijie again, swinging the Dragon Rhino Sword to sever the head of another White Jade Centipede below.

“Level 6 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 79/90”

Water violently surged around Ding Shijie. His speed also accelerated as he shot downward, chasing Su Li. Clearly, he had deployed a similar speed-boosting ability, once again closing the gap.

The two were diving deep. More and more dark shadows appeared below. It wasn’t just White Jade Centipedes; new monsters were emerging—monsters that looked like giant earthworms.

These giant earthworms were four or five meters long and as thick as a water barrel. A circular mouthpart, lined with rows of serrated teeth, was visible at their front.

Su Li activated the “Peering Rune” and immediately captured the data of the earthworm-like monsters.

“Name: Bloody Giant Earthworm (Xue Xing Ju Qiu). Level: 7. Common species among Spiritual Source Beasts. Prefers to eat prey alive. Extremely cruel and vicious. Has a certain probability of evolving into the Elite species, Bloody Giant Earthworm Beast. Killing the Bloody Giant Earthworm will not grant any special abilities.”

Su Li’s heart leaped with delight. Killing these Level 7 Bloody Giant Earthworms would yield him two Spiritual Sources each. He immediately abandoned the White Jade Centipedes and focused on the Bloody Giant Earthworms deeper down.

He first activated “Spider Walk” and shot downward, putting more distance between himself and Ding Shijie. He swung the Dragon Rhino Sword. Although the Bloody Giant Earthworm was a Level 7 monster, its strength was not significantly greater than the White Jade Centipede’s. Its attack methods were simple. Its only real defense was a layer of tough exterior skin that was difficult for ordinary weapons to pierce. However, the metal-cutting Dragon Rhino Sword had no trouble with it and easily sliced the earthworm in half, granting Su Li two Spiritual Sources.

He was now only nine Spiritual Sources away from his breakthrough.

Ding Shijie had closed the distance twice, only to have Su Li pull away again, leaving him to watch Su Li kill the monsters and absorb the Spiritual Sources.

“That damned little brat is too cunning!” In his fury, Ding Shijie temporarily abandoned chasing Su Li and focused on hunting the Bloody Giant Earthworms himself. Since he was also close to leveling up, he wanted to secure Spiritual Sources to advance to Level 8.

Ding Shijie only gained one Spiritual Source for each Bloody Giant Earthworm he killed. He consecutively slew three earthworms, gaining three Spiritual Sources and leaving him ten away from his breakthrough. Su Li also killed three earthworms in the same period, gaining six Spiritual Sources.

Su Li now had 87 Spiritual Sources. He needed only two more earthworms to break through.

He killed two more Bloody Giant Earthworms, finally collecting the required 90 Spiritual Sources. Messages immediately flooded Su Li’s mind.

“Level 6 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 90/90”

“Beginning Advancement”

“Muscle enhancement begins, Strength increased, Defense increased”

“Base Strength increased to 1,400 jin”

“Defense capability increased to 800 jin”

“Stamina enhanced, Sustained power output time extended to 7 minutes”

“Lung capacity increased, Breath-holding time extended to 8 minutes”

“Speed increased, Vision enhanced, Hearing enhanced”

“…”

“Advancement Complete”

“Level 7 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 0/110”

“Talent: Enhancement Favor”

“Basic Enhancements: Enhanced Lung Type I, Muscle Augmentation Type VI, Super Heart Type I, Steel Bone Type I”

“Special Skills: Peering Rune (Flawed), Gluttony Fangs (Left), Spider Walk, Silver Armor Coating”

“Basic Enhancement Choice: Enhanced Lung Type I, Muscle Augmentation Type VI, Super Heart Type I, Steel Bone Type I, Skin, Tongue”

“Spiritual Source Technique capability will have a significant increase. ‘Demon Muscles’ has entered its second form.”

Su Li immediately chose to enhance his muscles, undergoing his seventh muscle enhancement.

“Muscle Augmentation Type VI upgraded to Type VII. Acquires an extra 1,800 jin of strength.”

“Talent: Enhancement Favor is triggered. Acquires one additional enhancement opportunity.”

“Available enhancements: Enhanced Lung Type I, Muscle Augmentation Type VII, Super Heart Type I, Steel Bone Type I, Kidney, Skin”

This time, Su Li chose to enhance his Heart.

With his seventh muscle enhancement, his current Level 7 status allowed him to fully utilize his strength. His maximum strength had surged to 3,500 jin (approx. 1,750 kg or 3,858 pounds). Compared to Level 6, his strength had increased by 600 jin. However, the true qualitative leap came from his “Demon Muscles” entering its second form.

The second form of “Demon Muscles” consumed stamina even faster, but his overall power output saw a terrifying increase. With his current maximum strength of 3,500 jin, once he entered the second form of “Demon Muscles,” he could potentially unleash over 10,000 jin of force.

This was an unimaginable level of power. It meant Su Li could potentially lift a full-grown elephant with his arms. The destructive power he could unleash with his fists would be terrifying.

This was the true qualitative upgrade. Compared to before, Su Li’s strength increased significantly. He immediately activated “Spider Walk” and entered the second form of “Demon Muscles.”

His seven-times-enhanced muscles began to show signs of a profound qualitative change. They were no longer just hard or alive; they subtly began to transition toward a liquified state.

Su Li suspected that with further enhancement, his muscles might fully liquefy. Having liquified muscles would allow him to perfectly utilize his strength, instantly hardening them into steel for defense, or keeping them liquid for flawless movement and energy transfer, providing an inexhaustible supply of power for sustained bursts. Liquified muscles held infinite possibilities, even completely changing their shape, allowing them to transform into swords, shields, or wings.

Of course, that point was still far away, but the signs were already there.

The second form of “Demon Muscles” consumed stamina at four times the normal rate. Strength, speed, and defense were tripled. His combat power would reach truly terrifying levels. However, the stamina drain was also immense. Fortunately, with his second heart enhancement, his stamina was greatly improved. In a normal state, he could sustain a full-power output for eleven minutes. Even in the second form of “Demon Muscles,” he could sustain it for three or four minutes.

Water currents surged around them. Su Li gripped the Dragon Rhino Sword, suddenly accelerated, and shot forward underwater, charging toward the blood-red right arm of Ding Shijie, who was hunting the Bloody Giant Earthworms.

Ding Shijie was still eight Spiritual Sources away from his breakthrough. He was surprised to see Su Li charge him. He immediately assumed Su Li had leveled up.

However, Ding Shijie was not afraid. Not every breakthrough resulted in a massive power boost.

For example, the first four levels only offered minor increases. The qualitative leap only occurred from Level 4 to Level 5 when the Wielder mastered a Spiritual Source Technique.

The jump from Level 5 to Level 6 offered limited increases, and it wasn’t uncommon for a strong Level 5 to defeat a Level 6.

But the jump from Level 6 to Level 7 was another qualitative change.

Ding Shijie speculated that Su Li was a Level 7 Wielder and that the increase from Level 7 to Level 8 was limited.

If his guess was right, Ding Shijie had nothing to fear.

He didn’t hesitate, swinging his ice sword to counter.

Underwater, the Dragon Rhino Sword and the ice sword clashed again.

Ding Shijie’s face instantly twisted in shock. He felt Su Li’s power was absurdly immense. He couldn’t hold onto the ice sword in his left hand; it was instantly knocked clean out.

The ice sword shot seven or eight meters through the water before losing momentum and sinking.

In his astonishment, Ding Shijie quickly used his special abilities to shoot forward, chasing the falling ice sword.

The second form of “Demon Muscles” was indeed terrifying. A single blow had disarmed Ding Shijie. Su Li immediately activated “Spider Walk,” moving faster than Ding Shijie in the water, and thrust his sword out again.

Ding Shijie couldn’t dodge. He had to raise his blood-red right arm to block the attack.

The red-hot arm sizzled in the water. The heat-generating ability was significantly reduced underwater.

The Dragon Rhino Sword struck the blood-red right arm. Ding Shijie’s face changed again. His arm couldn’t withstand the force. His body buckled downward, and a wound appeared on the blade-proof arm.

“How did his strength become so monstrous?”

Ding Shijie was utterly horrified.

Su Li closed in again. The Dragon Rhino Sword struck down once more.

Ding Shijie’s face was ashen. He extended both hands, and an invisible force appeared, forming a shield between him and Su Li.

(End of Chapter)