Conflict!

Rumble—

The torrent swept past, carrying everything in the square ahead of them along with it.

It slammed into the Municipal Building. The entire structure seemed to shudder, and floodwater instantly poured into every room on the first floor.

The next second, the black tendrils began to writhe. It was as if a nest of snakes that had just finished hibernating had come alive, each one scrambling to hunt for food.

The dense, horrifying sight made everyone's scalps tingle.

"Holy shit!"

Someone couldn't help crying out.

What would happen if they'd gone inside?

Pseudo-Cloth Demon: Didn't miss a spot in the field of view, didn't miss a footstep. You know damn well whether you started it or not!!

The terrifying scene left everyone drenched in cold sweat, and they were also thankful they hadn't gone inside.

Song Xia immediately recorded what had happened.

"Let's get out of here. We'll find another place," Peng Liang said.

Everyone turned around at once, wanting nothing more than to get away from the Municipal Building, a place that was clearly nothing but trouble.

"It was nothing but a fluke!" Liao Mingxuan muttered under his breath at the back of the group.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Just as they reached a residential area, a black gale suddenly crashed toward them like a raging ocean wave, setting everything around them clattering.

The sudden demonic wind left everyone bewildered. They had no idea what was happening.

Perhaps curiosity got the better of someone. They glanced back—and froze on the spot.

"W-what is that?!"

Beneath a bank of dark clouds, a pair of leathery wings slowly grew larger as they drew closer.

It was a creature that looked like a giant lizard, but many times larger. Its body was covered in lumps, and its long tail hung halfway down, the tip glinting in the sunlight with a chilling gleam!

Though a residential area lay between them, the overwhelming presence of a Commander Level creature still pressed down on everyone until they could barely breathe.

All they could think about was running, but their legs felt as heavy as lead. They couldn't move a step.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the giant lizard with the enormous leathery wings circled above the Municipal Building like an eagle.

Suddenly, the leathery-winged giant lizard plunged down and crashed straight into the Municipal Building's second tier. Its gaping maw opened wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth the color of stalactites.

Crack—

With a tremendous crash, the structure that had stood there for countless years shattered like a bubble.

As the Municipal Building crumbled, the Pseudo-Cloth Demon hidden inside revealed its enormous stump-like head.

Facing a Commander Level creature, the Pseudo-Cloth Demon, which was only at the Warrior Level, stood no chance. It could only let out one last shriek like an air-raid siren.

Crack—

Another tremendous crash rang out as the Giant Lizard Pseudo-Dragon bit the Pseudo-Cloth Demon's stump-like head to pieces.

Its neck moved in a steady rhythm as it sucked the pulp from inside the Pseudo-Cloth Demon's head.

At the same time, the densely packed black tendrils slowly stiffened and died.

"It... it got eaten..." Someone's face turned deathly pale. They couldn't believe what they'd just seen.

The sated Giant Lizard Pseudo-Dragon seemed thoroughly pleased. It beat its enormous leathery wings, and its massive body soared into the sky.

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

As soon as the Giant Lizard Pseudo-Dragon flew off, the entire Municipal Building collapsed with a roar, raising a cloud of dust that blotted out the sky...

After an unknown amount of time, someone finally came to their senses after witnessing that spine-chilling scene.

"I want to go back."

"Me too."

"Damn it! Is Song He out of his mind? He actually sent us here. How are we supposed to deal with creatures like that?"

There was a Commander Level creature in Jinlin City! Who the hell would still have the guts to keep surveying this place?

"It seems the Hunter Union got the information wrong. This place is far more dangerous than the records said!" Hearing someone suggest they turn back, Lu Zhenghe hurriedly tried to talk them out of it. "Maybe we were just unlucky and ran into those powerful creatures right away. As long as we're more careful from now on, we should be able to finish the mission."

At Lu Zhenghe's words, those who knew him well looked at him in surprise.

What's gotten into him today?

Still, they found a safe place to rest for a while.

This time, they'd found the church from the original story—the very place where everyone had turned on each other—beforehand.

"What are we going to do now?" Zheng Bingxiao asked. "Keep surveying, or head back?"

"Whatever happens, I'm not leaving." Mu Ningxue was resolute.

"Me neither," Mu Nujiao quickly declared.

Mu Nujiao knew that a powerful mage wasn't made through meditation alone. They needed more battles.

"Didn't expect you to be so gutsy," Lan Yu said.

"Hmph! Looks like certain people aren't all that impressive after all. You've got less guts than a woman—you ran faster than anyone just now!" Liao Mingxuan sneered.

"I'd say he's just showing off because of his Summoned Beast's special abilities!"

Finally, my chance. Lan Yu sneered inwardly, then snapped, "That's still my skill, you little scumbag! You're nothing but a clown living off your ancestors' glory!"

"I'll fight you with one hand. Let's see how I leave you crawling on the ground!"

"Enough, stop arguing. We shouldn't waste time. Let's hurry to the next survey point." Mu Nujiao tried to stop them, shooting Shen Mingxiao and Luo Song a glare as well.

"Hah! A clown like that is so ugly he makes my eyes feel violated. You guys go to that survey point. I'll go to another one by myself. That'll save time."

His cooldown was over, and Lan Yu could use the opportunity to go to Douluo Continent.

"Don't be rash!" Mu Nujiao immediately grabbed Lan Yu by the clothes and shook her head.

"Yeah, we'll be safer if we stick together," Zhao Manyan added, trying to persuade him. Mostly, Lan Yu's Summoned Beast could save them a lot of trouble.

"Hmph!" Liao Mingxuan scoffed. "Let him go by himself. I want to see what this guy, who only knows how to throw his Summoned Beast around, can do!"

Lu Zhenghe shot Liao Mingxuan a sideways glance. What the hell, are you taking a jab at me?

"Look, he's the one choosing to leave the group," Luo Song immediately chimed in, fanning the flames.

"Exactly." With someone else taking the lead, Shen Mingxiao quickly joined in.

Lan Yu didn't bother arguing with them. He simply took a few surveying instruments from Song Xia.

Bai Tingting had wanted to follow Lan Yu, but he gave her a look, signaling that she didn't need to come.

"Damn, Lan Yu, you're really leaving?" Zhao Manyan hurriedly called out.

"Since you've made up your mind, stay in touch. As soon as you finish surveying that location, come straight back..."

Mu Nujiao knew that Shen Mingxiao and Luo Song had it in for Lan Yu because he'd gotten to the Shadow Beast before they could.

As for Liao Mingxuan, he was simply jealous and resentful, picking on Lan Yu because they were rivals for someone's affections.

She'd seen it all over the past ten-plus days.

"Don't worry." Lan Yu nodded.

Mu Nujiao hesitated for a moment, then took out a bead that looked like a crystal and handed it to Lan Yu. "Here. Take this."