Chapter 168: Integration

Su Li took the raft from the Golden Convergence Center and headed toward the Purple Wind Building. Looking at the sky, it was already late afternoon. Su Li was already ravenous. Fortunately, he had a few vacuum-sealed pieces of bread with him. He tore open the bag and ate them to stave off his hunger.

His appetite was growing rapidly. With his body’s constant evolution, his energy consumption was immense. The body needed to be supplemented through food. Unfortunately, the energy content in this kind of bread was too low. It could barely curb his immediate hunger but couldn’t meet the daily energy requirements of his current physique.

“If this evolution continues, food will become a bigger problem. Ordinary food will be insufficient. I need higher-grade, more nutritious food.”

“Killing a Spiritual Source Beast grants Spiritual Sources, whether effective or not. Spiritual Source is a form of energy, and in principle, it should meet the energy needs of my body. Yet, I am still so hungry. It seems Spiritual Source energy is primarily involved in physical evolution, strength, and stamina. The body cannot rely entirely on Spiritual Sources for survival. It still needs to supplement essential nutrition through food. So, no matter how many Spiritual Sources I absorb, I still need food for nutrition.”

Su Li put away his dual swords and took the paddle. He paddled faster and faster. With his current strength, one powerful stroke of the paddle would move the water so forcefully that the raft shot across the surface like an arrow.

Soon, the Purple Wind Building was in sight. Su Li looked into the distance and suddenly saw a raft approaching. There were three people on the raft: two men and one woman.

“It’s them?” Su Li was surprised by the coincidence. He had encountered Jiang Shuijue, Ling Yi, and Gu Mingfeng en route.

The three on the other raft also noticed Su Li. Both parties adjusted their course, paddling toward each other.

“Su Li—” Gu Mingfeng waved from a distance, shouting excitedly.

They had been worried about Su Li’s safety after he fled and was pursued by Ding Shijie. Seeing Su Li now, all three looked overjoyed.

Su Li smiled faintly. “You all thought I was dead?” He glanced at Jiang Shuijue. Her lips were tightly pursed. Although she didn’t speak, her eyes were slightly red. Clearly, she was deeply moved but was trying to suppress her emotion.

Gu Mingfeng laughed heartily. “Yes! Quick, tell us, how did you escape?”

Su Li didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “What about you three? What are you doing here?” He glanced at the distant Purple Wind Building. He wondered if they had been there.

Jiang Shuijue finally spoke. “After you left, the Golden Eagle Alliance sent a lot of reinforcements. We were no match for them. We were about to fight to the death, but I remembered what you said: I must safely escort Brother Liu back to the Purple Wind Building. That was the favor you asked of me, and I couldn’t break my promise. So, I used the ‘Mist Maze’ and escaped with Mingfeng and Ling Yi, delivering Brother Liu safely to the Purple Wind Building.”

“And now you are…” Su Li vaguely guessed their intention.

Gu Mingfeng laughed heartily. “We’ve fulfilled our promise. Brother Liu has safely returned to the Purple Wind Building. It’s only right that we return to the Golden Convergence Center and fight those cowardly bastards to the death. Even if we die, we won’t abandon the brothers and sisters of the Golden Convergence Center.”

Su Li’s heart trembled slightly. He looked at Gu Mingfeng, then at Jiang Shuijue and Ling Yi. Jiang Shuijue and Ling Yi were silent, but all three had a subtle air of tragedy about them.

They were determined to fight to the death. Even though they likely knew that returning meant suicide, they were resolute.

“No wonder I heard people say Jiang Shuijue fled. I thought it was unlike her personality. It turns out she was forced to flee because of my words; she had to escort Brother Liu…”

Su Li was suddenly moved by this outwardly delicate woman’s inner strength. Although she looked like a gentle woman, her core determination surpassed that of most men.

Su Li quietly let out a breath and smiled faintly. “You don’t need to worry. I’ve already driven the Golden Eagle Alliance away. Everyone is safe.”

Jiang Shuijue’s eyes brightened. Gu Mingfeng was both surprised and delighted. “Really? What about the one who was chasing you?”

He was referring to Ding Shijie.

Su Li was pursued by Ding Shijie but reappeared near the Golden Convergence Center Building and drove the Golden Eagle Alliance away. It was unbelievable. Although they believed Su Li wasn’t lying, it was hard to accept.

Su Li’s face remained smiling. He reached his left hand toward his chest, and a translucent sword hilt automatically emerged.

He gripped the hilt and drew the translucent Ice Python Sword out.

The Ice Python Sword, an ice sculpture with snake scales on its surface, was familiar to Jiang Shuijue, Gu Mingfeng, and Ling Yi. Seeing the sword, they gasped sharply, their faces showing indescribable shock.

This sword was more shocking than any words.

It was Ding Shijie’s Spiritual Source Weapon. The fact that it was now in Su Li’s hands meant only one thing: Ding Shijie was dead.

“You… you killed him…” Gu Mingfeng could barely speak.

Although they knew Su Li was strong, they never imagined he was powerful enough to kill Ding Shijie.

After all, he was the leader of the “Golden Eagle Alliance,” a man the three of them combined might not be able to defeat.

Su Li slowly retracted the Ice Python Sword. He only nodded. “Yes. Ding Shijie is dead.”

Gu Mingfeng mumbled, “So that guy was called Ding Shijie.” For a moment, he was speechless. He wanted to praise Su Li’s skill, but he couldn’t find the words. The feat was completely beyond his comprehension.

Jiang Shuijue’s eyes shone. She looked at Su Li and suddenly said, “Brother Su, we want to join the Purple Wind Building. Is that possible?”

Su Li was stunned. Gu Mingfeng and Ling Yi were also surprised, looking at Jiang Shuijue. They hadn’t expected her to suggest this so suddenly.

Jiang Shuijue, seeing the surprise on their faces, explained, “There aren’t many people in our Golden Convergence Center—only eighteen people. Our strength isn’t enough. Now that the Golden Eagle Alliance has shown its hand, we were almost defeated. But with Brother Su’s help, the crisis was averted. Who can we rely on next time?”

She looked at Gu Mingfeng and Ling Yi. “Instead of living in fear, it’s better to merge into the Purple Wind Building. I wasn’t against the Golden Eagle Alliance’s proposal, but their conditions were too harsh for me to accept. Brother Su is not like them.”

Gu Mingfeng nodded. “Yes, I agree. Although I’ve only met Brother Su a few times, I trust him. At least he’s not a lunatic like Ding Shijie.”

Ling Yi remained silent, only nodding, signifying his agreement.

“Brother Su, are you willing to accept us?” Jiang Shuijue asked. She was smiling beautifully, her eyes sparkling, making her look incredibly cute and alluring.

Su Li froze, then laughed. “Of course! It’s great that you’re willing to come over. From now on, we are brothers and sisters fighting side-by-side. Let’s go. I’ll come with you to help you move. Do you have enough manpower? If not, I’ll call some people from the Purple Wind Building to help.”

Seeing Su Li’s excitement, Jiang Shuijue couldn’t help but chuckle softly. She quickly covered her lips, looking slightly embarrassed, her face flushing.

“We have enough people. Let’s return to the Golden Convergence Center now, and we’ll move all the supplies together,” Gu Mingfeng said, asking for Jiang Shuijue’s approval.

Jiang Shuijue nodded in agreement.

Su Li postponed his return to the Purple Wind Building and joined the three, heading back to the “Golden Convergence Center Building.”

Jiang Shuijue gathered all her people and informed them of her decision.

The Golden Convergence Center Building, including Jiang Shuijue’s group, had a total of only 18 people. Since Jiang Shuijue and the two Level 6 Wielders made the decision, the others naturally had no objections.

The three women who were rescued earlier were not only agreeable but excited to move to the building where Su Li lived.

The group then began moving all the collectible supplies from the Golden Convergence Center Building onto the various rafts.

Su Li offered to help, but Jiang Shuijue stopped him.

“You are our leader now. How can we ask our leader to move things?” Jiang Shuijue said with a gentle smile.

Su Li shook his head. “The management of these people is still up to you. I know nothing about management and have no interest in it. And please, don’t call me ‘Leader’ anymore. Just call me Su Li.”

Jiang Shuijue paused. “Then I’ll call you Brother Su.”

Jiang Shuijue’s voice was very pleasant, soft, and gentle. The way she said “Brother Su” melted Su Li’s bones. He wished she would say it a few more times. But he couldn’t show his delight too overtly. He nodded. “Alright.”

“If I call you Brother Su, what should I call you? I can’t keep calling you Miss Jiang, can I?” Jiang Shuijue’s eyes were captivating, wide and sparkling like a clear, deep pool, fixed on Su Li.

The more she looked, the more attractive she found Su Li.

Su Li smiled faintly. “Then I’ll call you Sister Shui Jue?”

Jiang Shuijue shook her head. “That doesn’t sound right. Try something else.”

“Sister Jiang?”

Jiang Shuijue shook her head again. “That sounds even worse. Try again.”

“I know! I’ll call you Sister Shui from now on?”

Jiang Shuijue was speechless.

(End of Chapter)

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