Chapter 169: Consecutive Advancements

The supplies were piled high on several rafts. The entire population of the Golden Convergence Center Building, totaling eighteen people, plus Su Li, set off in a mighty fleet of rafts, leaving the Golden Convergence Center Building.

Jiang Shuijue looked back at the Golden Convergence Center in the distance. She had been staying there for some time, and now that she was leaving, a faint reluctance rose in her heart. However, her anticipation for moving to the Purple Wind Building was much greater.

This excitement completely outweighed her reluctance.

The Golden Convergence Center Building was approximately five kilometers in a straight line from the Purple Wind Building. The journey was uneventful; no accidents occurred, and they were not attacked.

When they were about one kilometer from the Purple Wind Building, the lookouts there grew alert. Many people grabbed their weapons and rushed to the corridors, peering out the windows at the approaching fleet of rafts.

Xu Haishui was particularly nervous. With Su Li gone, he considered himself the acting leader of the Purple Wind Building, bearing significant responsibility. He immediately mobilized forces, preparing to meet the potential enemy.

It wasn’t until Xu Xuehui emerged that they relaxed. Her eyesight was exceptionally keen. Even from a kilometer away, she could clearly see Su Li on the raft.

Hearing that Su Li was on the rafts, everyone breathed a long sigh of relief. It was a false alarm.

“That kid brought a lot of people and a lot of supplies! He’s really something,” Ding Longyun laughed heartily.

Most of the people then guessed the reason. They rushed downstairs to welcome the newcomers.

Su Li’s party arrived at the Purple Wind Building. Ding Longyun, Gong Xiao, Xu Xuehui, Xu Haishui, and the others were already waiting below.

“Su Li, you are truly amazing! You are still the best,” Ding Longyun laughed, greeting Jiang Shuijue, Gu Mingfeng, and Ling Yi with a cheerful mix of humor and sincerity.

Jiang Shuijue and the others also greeted the crowd. Since the Blood Crystal Beast incident, the three of them had worked alongside Gong Xiao, Xu Haishui, and Luo Jun and were now familiar with them.

Su Li ordered everyone to help move the supplies from the rafts.

“Haishui, remember to settle everyone in properly. From now on, we are all brothers and sisters. There is no distinction between people from the Purple Wind Building or the Golden Convergence Center. Everyone is equal. If I discover any instance of bullying, I will not spare the culprit…”

Su Li spoke slowly, looking at the assembled crowd, his expression extremely serious. He was making a pre-emptive warning to prevent the original Purple Wind Building residents from bullying the newcomers.

Xu Haishui quickly replied, “Don’t worry, Brother Su. I’ll arrange everything. I would sooner let the original Purple Wind Building people suffer a grievance than allow the newcomers from the Golden Convergence Center to be mistreated.”

Su Li nodded to Xu Haishui, then smiled at Jiang Shuijue. “Shui Jue, just tell me where you want to live. You have your pick of any room in the Purple Wind Building.”

Jiang Shuijue’s beautiful eyes shone. “Where do you live?”

Su Li replied, “I live on the top floor.”

Jiang Shuijue declared, “Then I want to live right next door to you.”

Su Li was stunned. He thought: Ding Longyun, Gong Xiao, and Xu Xuehui live in the rooms next to mine. I can’t ask them to move.

Ding Longyun seemed to realize what was happening and immediately chuckled. “It’s great that Miss Jiang wants to live next door to you! I’ll move over for her.”

Jiang Shuijue did not stand on ceremony. She offered Ding Longyun a sweet smile. “Thank you, Brother Ding.”

She had an excellent memory and remembered Ding Longyun’s name.

Ding Longyun was highly pleased to be called “Brother Ding” by Jiang Shuijue. He winked at Su Li. He sensed there was something going on between Jiang Shuijue and Su Li. Otherwise, why would she, a proper young woman, insist on living next door to Su Li in front of everyone?

Gong Xiao stood to the side, silent. She suddenly felt someone lightly tugging her sleeve. She turned her head slightly and saw Xu Xuehui standing beside her.

Xu Xuehui quietly whispered, “That older sister likes him.”

Gong Xiao knew she was referring to Jiang Shuijue’s interest in Su Li. She showed no visible emotion on her face, only whispering in a cold voice, “If she really likes Su Li, that’s fine. They would make a very suitable couple.”

Xu Xuehui fell silent. She looked at Gong Xiao, then at Jiang Shuijue, and finally back at Su Li, her expression thoughtful.

The eighteen people from the Golden Convergence Center Building, plus the thirty-one original residents of the Purple Wind Building, brought the total population to 49.

Jiang Shuijue, Gu Mingfeng, and Ling Yi were all moved to the 38th floor, per Su Li’s instructions. This signified the importance he placed on the three of them.

After all, they were the three leaders of the Golden Convergence Center Building. Now that their people were integrated into the Purple Wind Building, Su Li naturally had to treat them with respect.

The remaining fifteen people were entrusted to Xu Haishui to arrange. All supplies were centrally moved and stored on the 37th floor.

By the time everything was settled, the sky was completely dark. Almost everyone gathered in the 34th-floor canteen for dinner. The meal was exceptionally lavish, serving as a welcoming banquet for the eighteen newcomers. The atmosphere was pleasant and lively.

After dinner, the group rested briefly and then began hunting on the floating island.

For the people who came from the Golden Convergence Center, this was their first time hunting on the floating island, and they found it quite novel.

“I can’t believe this floating island is so useful,” Jiang Shuijue said in surprise. “This certainly saves us the trouble of luring monsters. It’s very convenient, much better than when we were in the Golden Convergence Center.”

Gu Mingfeng said, “Yes. It seems joining the Purple Wind Building was the right decision. With this many monsters, if there are enough Level 6 monsters, I might even break through to Level 7 tonight.”

The 49 people gradually entered the floating island. The island was already swarming with various Spiritual Source Beasts. Their arrival startled the monsters, who immediately began to surround them.

Su Li made the hunt mandatory for everyone. The incident with the Golden Eagle Alliance had instilled a sense of crisis in him. Now, the danger came not only from monsters but also from other human factions. No one could guarantee that a second Golden Eagle Alliance wouldn’t appear.

Su Li observed the monsters. They were mainly Level 5. The number of monsters below Level 5 was rapidly decreasing. However, the number of Level 6 monsters had increased significantly compared to last night. Level 7 monsters were still rare.

Based on Su Li’s speculation, the monsters’ levels reflected the current human Level 5 Wielders were the mainstream. The number of Level 6 Wielders was rapidly increasing, and Level 7 Wielders would likely begin to emerge in the next day or two.

He had met Ding Shijie and knew his pace of evolution was not the fastest. Ding Shijie had already broken through to Level 8 when Su Li reached Level 7.

“Since Ding Shijie could break through to Level 8, there might be a second or third person like him in the city. The Level 7 monsters are scarce. Passive hunting is suitable for the majority, but to surpass them and join the absolute elite, passive hunting is clearly insufficient.”

Su Li thought of his battle with Ding Shijie and his dive into the deep water, which had disturbed the Level 7 Bloody Giant Earthworms. The number of seven-level monsters climbing onto the floating island now was still quite low.

This made Su Li feel an urge to dive into the deep water again, but night was when the Spiritual Source Beasts were most active. He didn’t know what terrifying monsters might be lurking in the deep water. Even with his strength, he rationally suppressed the impulse and decided to wait until tomorrow morning.

The hunt lasted for over an hour. With everyone helping each other, all the Level 4 Wielders successfully broke through and advanced to Level 5

Su Li found eighteen Level 7 Common Spiritual Source Beasts, which yielded him eighteen effective Spiritual Sources. Combined with his previous gains, he now had 41 Spiritual Sources, but he was still short of the 110 Spiritual Sources required for his breakthrough.

Su Li calculated that with another hunt tomorrow night, the proportion of Level 7 monsters would surely increase. Since monsters grew stronger every day, the proportion of higher-level monsters would also increase. He should be able to break through to a Level 8 Spiritual Source Wielder no later than the day after tomorrow.

Xu Xuehui also successfully broke through tonight, advancing to Level 6.

In addition, two other people successfully broke through and advanced to Level 7 tonight. This was within Su Li’s expectations. The proportion of Level 6 monsters had significantly increased tonight, making it easier to advance to Level 7.

He believed that the proportion of Level 6 monsters would increase again tomorrow night, and more people would advance to Level 7.

The first person to advance to Level 7 tonight was Gong Xiao, which did not surprise Su Li. Gong Xiao was a highly competitive woman who hated to fall behind, so she fought relentlessly, pushing for more Spiritual Sources.

Her strong-willed nature surpassed that of most men.

The other person who advanced was Ling Yi, which surprised Su Li.

He had a shallow impression of Ling Yi, even less than of Gu Mingfeng. Ling Yi was extremely silent, almost never speaking, like a closed-off person who simply followed Jiang Shuijue and Gu Mingfeng.

Su Li couldn’t recall Ling Yi speaking a single word since they met. He sometimes wondered if the man was mute. Yet, he had successfully advanced to Level 7 along with Gong Xiao tonight.

The Purple Wind Building now had three Level 7 Spiritual Source Wielders.

The number of Level 6 Wielders had reached eighteen, and the remaining twenty-eight people were all Level 5.

Before the Golden Eagle Alliance incident, Su Li would have been satisfied, thinking this strength was formidable enough. But now, he understood. While the overall strength of the Purple Wind Building was rising, others were not idle. Everyone was racing against time. A single day of slacking off could leave one far behind.

However, Su Li believed that the overall strength of the Purple Wind Building was not weak. Ding Shijie, who had advanced to Level 8, was likely one of the few who could reach that level in Nanjiang City.

(End of Chapter)