Chapter 165: Chest Explodes from Anger

Ding Shijie had just advanced to Level 8 and understood the system’s logic: Level 7 to Level 8 was only a minor increase, but Level 8 to Level 9 would bring a qualitative leap in power.

He finally understood. Su Li had been Level 8 before and had just advanced to Level 9, resulting in a sudden surge in strength that enabled him to defeat the already-Level 8 Ding Shijie.

This was all just his speculation; he wanted to hear Su Li confirm it.

Hearing Ding Shijie’s question, Su Li was slightly stunned, then shook his head. “No, I just advanced to Level 7.” He wondered why he thought he was Level 9.

Ding Shijie froze, unable to believe his ears.

“You’re only Level 7?”

He felt the world spin. Su Li had only been Level 6 before, just advanced to Level 7. Yet, he, now Level 8, was completely defeated by him.

“Ha—haha—”

Ding Shijie suddenly burst into loud, maniacal laughter. Tears and snot, mixed with blood, sprayed out as he laughed.

He had always believed himself invincible among his peers, the only one capable of killing those of a higher level. He constantly assumed Su Li was a much higher level and even suspected Su Li had just broken through to Level 9.

His arrogance and pride shattered. He couldn’t accept that Su Li was a lower level yet far superior to him.

Su Li’s final statement utterly crushed his arrogance and confidence. After the manic laughter, a gurgling sound erupted from his mouth. His face turned purplish-blue. His eyes rolled back. His already split chest suddenly tore open. Amidst the surge of air, his internal organs sprayed out, creating a miniature explosion.

Su Li watched, stunned. The sheer rage from my last sentence actually made his chest explode? How angry must he have been?

His chest ruptured, and a Spiritual Source appeared, merging into Su Li’s forehead.

“Level 7 Spiritual Source Wielder: Spiritual Source 4/110”

Ding Shijie was one level higher than him. Killing Ding Shijie granted him four Spiritual Sources.

After absorbing the Spiritual Source, Su Li suddenly noticed that the ice sword in Ding Shijie’s hand was shrinking. It instantly transformed into a translucent ice sphere that flew toward his chest and disappeared inside.

“Hmm?” Su Li watched the ice sphere fuse into his chest. Immediately, a powerful energy began to form in his chest, and a new message appeared in his mind.

“Ice Python Sword: Upon slaying the Rare-class lifeform Ice Python Tyrant, the Tyrant’s core elixir merges with Spiritual Source, materializing as the weapon Ice Python Sword. Activating the Spiritual Source within the weapon can unleash the remnant soul of the Ice Python Tyrant to simulate one powerful attack, named ‘Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour.'”

Processing the information, Su Li floated on the water, watching Ding Shijie’s corpse slowly sink. He was surprised that he had acquired the opponent’s weapon. He now possessed not only the Dragon Rhino Sword but also the Ice Python Sword.

“So, that phantom giant ice python was called ‘Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour.’ The power was certainly immense. However, Ding Shijie was no match for me due to the massive difference in strength, which is why the ‘Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour’ was suppressed by my ‘Dragon Rhino Slash.’ Of course, this doesn’t mean ‘Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour’ is inferior to ‘Dragon Rhino Slash.'”

Carefully examining “Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour,” Su Li quickly realized that while “Dragon Rhino Slash” was straightforward, “Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour” was far more flexible and varied. It could be released to coil around the body or ensnare an enemy.

Comparing the two techniques, Su Li immediately understood: “Dragon Rhino Slash” excelled in sheer killing power, but “Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour” was superior in flexibility. Particularly in crowded combat where attacks came from all directions, “Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour” was superior to “Dragon Rhino Slash.”

“I see. No wonder my Dragon Rhino Slash was able to overpower it. It’s not entirely because my strength far surpassed his, but also because ‘Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour’ is more suited for group attacks. In a one-on-one fight, it is inferior to ‘Dragon Rhino Slash.'”

Su Li extended his left hand toward his chest and drew the Ice Python Sword out. He now held the Dragon Rhino Sword in his right hand and the Ice Python Sword in his left. Feeling the surging energy in both swords, Su Li felt an unprecedented level of power.

Acquiring the Ice Python Sword was another leap forward in his strength.

“I need to check on Jiang Shuijue and the others. Without Ding Shijie, those men from the Golden Eagle Alliance should be no match for them.”

The Golden Eagle Alliance men were overly arrogant. Ding Shijie was so cocky that he thought he could handle the Golden Convergence Center Building alone without bringing his main force. His arrogance was certainly backed by power. If Su Li hadn’t intervened, Jiang Shuijue’s group would have been easily defeated.

A single use of “Ice Python Tyrant’s Devour” would have instantly defeated them all.

Su Li retracted both the Dragon Rhino Sword and the Ice Python Sword into his chest and began swimming toward the Golden Convergence Center Building a few hundred meters away. He repeatedly activated “Spider Walk” underwater, moving as if he had grown eight legs, kicking up huge waves and accelerating like a torpedo.

Dark shadows surfaced in the water below. Su Li swept his gaze downward, seeing the shadows were Level 6 White Jade Centipedes and Level 7 Bloody Giant Earthworms.

His fight with Ding Shijie had disturbed the monsters below, and they were now chasing him.

Su Li saw the monsters surging upward. He frowned slightly. He reached out and drew the Dragon Rhino Sword from his chest.

He continued swimming toward the Golden Convergence Center Building while occasionally swinging the Dragon Rhino Sword at the monsters below. The White Jade Centipedes and Bloody Giant Earthworms were no match for the metal-cutting sword. Any monster struck was instantly shattered.

He was now a Level 7 Wielder. Killing White Jade Centipedes yielded no Spiritual Sources. Only killing the Bloody Giant Earthworms granted him one effective Spiritual Source each.

However, advancing to Level 8 required 110 Spiritual Sources.

He was eager to reach Level 8. The last time he killed the Blood Crystal Beast, he acquired a mysterious Blood Crystal that required him to reach Level 8 to unlock its power. He was curious about what kind of treasure the Blood Crystal contained.

He continuously slew over ten White Jade Centipedes and seven Bloody Giant Earthworms along the way, gaining seven effective Spiritual Sources. Using the speed of “Spider Walk,” the large swarm of monsters couldn’t surround him effectively. In a short time, he was close to the Golden Convergence Center Building.

“These guys are persistent. They’re still chasing me relentlessly.” Su Li saw the water below churning, and the swarm of White Jade Centipedes and Bloody Giant Earthworms was only growing, not dispersing.

Su Li reached the backside of the Golden Convergence Center Building and began swimming along the wall toward the front, wondering if Jiang Shuijue and the others had defeated the “Golden Eagle Alliance” group.

He quickly saw many rafts and climbed onto one. A White Jade Centipede leaped out of the water, pouncing on Su Li.

Su Li easily sliced the White Jade Centipede in two with a single swing. He vaulted across the raft and leaped toward the next one.

Behind him, a large number of White Jade Centipedes and Bloody Giant Earthworms climbed onto the rafts, chasing Su Li.

Su Li quickly reached the front of the Golden Convergence Center Building. He saw no sign of Jiang Shuijue or Gu Mingfeng. Instead, he saw a group of strangers holding various weapons, standing on different rafts. Some rafts were laden with supplies. Most alarmingly, one raft held three women whose hands and feet were bound with rope. Several men surrounded them, one hand holding a blade against the women’s necks, the other acting inappropriately.

The three women looked furious but dared not resist.

People were busy moving supplies up and down the building’s stairs.

Su Li was stunned. What is this scene? The commotion attracted the attention of the men on the rafts. They all looked at him, surprised to see the swarm of White Jade Centipedes and Bloody Giant Earthworms chasing him.

“You bastard!” One of the men recognized Su Li and shouted in surprise.

Su Li recognized the man too. He was one of Ding Shijie’s subordinates from the “Golden Eagle Alliance.” Ding Shijie had pursued Su Li into the water, and now Su Li had reappeared, but Ding Shijie was gone.

Su Li quickly realized what happened. The men here, holding the weapons, must be the “Golden Eagle Alliance” reinforcements. They had clearly arrived after he left, conquered the Golden Convergence Center Building, and were now looting supplies. The three bound women must be from the Golden Convergence Center.

“I wonder what happened to Miss Jiang.” Su Li’s heart tensed. He quickly accelerated, charging toward the men.

The man who recognized Su Li was astonished. Su Li had struggled against Ding Shijie and fled into the water. Now he had reappeared, and Ding Shijie was nowhere to be seen.

Su Li was formidable. The man had witnessed it. Seeing Su Li charge toward them, he immediately retreated and shouted, “Everyone be careful! This guy is dangerous! Everyone attack him together—”

He was shouting for a group attack but was retreating himself, preparing to observe the situation first.

(End of Chapter)