Qi Refining

They couldn't save anyone, they could only keep firing, retreating as they did.

Lu Chengchuan cleared the way in front, using up all his rifle bullets in a few minutes, killing dozens of monsters. Unfortunately, he quickly ran out of bullets. Without them, he dropped the rifle, pulled out his pistol and longsword, and continued to clear the path.

With each swing of the longsword, another monster fell. The team slowly approached the light circle.

The light circle was close, but more and more monsters surrounded them.

The monsters didn't want to let them out, blocking their way and desperately intercepting them. The last stretch would only take a minute, but that minute was incredibly difficult.

One by one, the Dare-to-Die Squad soldiers died at the hands of the monsters. Lu Chengchuan fought his way step by step to the light circle.

"Go! Hurry!"

He stood his ground, resisting the onrushing monsters. Sharp teeth and claws struck him, tearing his clothes and leaving wounds all over his body.

His body was impervious to ordinary weapons, but with so many monsters attacking, some of them could hurt him.

If it weren't for helping the people behind him, he would have already run out.

"Ah!!"

Just as the team approached the light circle, Huang Xuan from the Investigation Bureau, exhausted, was about to reach it when he relaxed slightly. Suddenly, he tripped over something and fell to the ground.

His teammates didn't expect this, and neither did Huang Xuan. In that instant, several monsters pounced on him. Before he could say anything, he was dragged away by the monsters and disappeared into the horde.

"Huang Xuan!"

Several teammates watched helplessly as he was dragged away, screaming hysterically.

"Keep moving! Don't stop!"

Zhou Yaning didn't have time to think too much. Even though a teammate had been captured, she had to order a retreat. Lu Chengchuan wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer. If they hesitated, not many of them would make it out.

Urged by her, everyone ran towards the light circle.

Zhou Yaning ran past, passing Lu Chengchuan. "Hurry!"

Before her voice faded, she plunged into the light circle. Lu Chengchuan slashed his sword, killing a zombie that lunged at him, and then jumped into the light circle.

The moment he jumped into the light circle, darkness enveloped his vision again. Then, light returned, and he was out of the Black Mist, standing in the mall once more.

Eighteen people went in, but only eight came out. The Dare-to-Die Squad suffered heavy losses, and even the Investigation Bureau lost one.

Lu Chengchuan's clothes were torn to shreds, and his body was covered in wounds. He turned to make sure no monsters were chasing them before stopping to catch his breath.

"Captain, Huang Xuan, he..."

The members of the Investigation Bureau sat on the ground, their morale low after their teammate was killed by the monsters.

"Don't say it. Let's get out of here."

Zhou Yaning didn't want to say much. The situation had been urgent, and she hadn't had time to think too much. Now that they were safe, Huang Xuan's screams echoed in her mind, and she felt terrible.

But what could she do? Entering the Black Mist was inherently risky, and anyone could die inside.

"Are you alright?"

As she led the others out, Zhou Yaning turned back and saw Lu Chengchuan, covered in wounds. He looked terrible.

"I'm fine, just need a day to rest."

Lu Chengchuan shook his head. These were just superficial wounds, nothing serious. He hadn't even lost much blood. In comparison, he had killed dozens of monsters, and now his remaining lifespan was: 1 year 281 days.

With over a year of lifespan, the Life-Sacrificing System prompted him that he could upgrade his martial arts level.

Although this trip was dangerous, the rewards were plentiful. He gained over a year of lifespan from a single trip. If the monsters hadn't kept coming, he would have liked to stay inside.

As soon as they came out, the soldiers waiting outside quickly surrounded them.

The soldiers saw their battered state, and the leaders who had been waiting for news rushed in. "What did you encounter? You were only in there for a minute, how did only this many of you come out?!"

The leader fired off a series of questions. Zhou Yaning, hearing that they had only been in there for a minute, was immediately surprised.

"One minute..."

Picking up a clock, the hand had moved at least twelve minutes. How could only one minute have passed outside?

"The Black Mist space is vast, you can't see the end of it... We walked for ten minutes inside when monsters suddenly appeared, and we had to run out." Zhou Yaning told everyone what they had encountered inside.

In addition to the leaders from the province and city, there were also some experts and scholars. Upon learning the information about the Black Mist, they immediately wrote it down and then asked Zhou Yaning if she had made any special discoveries.

Zhou Yaning shook her head. They were moving slowly and didn't go far, so they didn't find anything special.

Lu Chengchuan remained silent on the side. He had sensed some strange calls, but he didn't want to mention them.

Leaving the mall, they returned to the makeshift outpost. A doctor came to treat their wounds. Lu Chengchuan's wounds had already healed, so he just changed into a clean set of clothes and didn't need any further examination.

The first attempt was declared a failure. Zhou Yaning and the others had their wounds bandaged and found the leaders to continue selecting soldiers. This time, they would send in even more people. She refused to believe that the monsters inside were endless.

While they were talking, Lu Chengchuan focused his attention on the Life-Sacrificing System.

Now he could spend a year of lifespan to raise a martial art to perfection. He might have to go in again soon, and increasing his combat power was important to him.

As long as he killed enough monsters, he could make up for the lifespan he spent.

Thinking this, Lu Chengchuan focused his attention on the Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill.

Improving the Everspring Skill could increase his lifespan, while the Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill could greatly increase his combat power. Lu Chengchuan thought for a moment, and a guess suddenly appeared in his mind.

He shifted his gaze to the Everspring Skill, silently focusing on upgrading it.

The moment he had the thought, a year of his lifespan vanished instantly. The Everspring Skill automatically activated, and warmth surged from his Lower Dantian.

The warmth flowed through his body for nine cycles. Afterward, a wisp of tangible 'Qi' emerged from his Lower Dantian. Immediately, the warmth returned to his Lower Dantian, nourishing the Qi and causing it to grow stronger.

A few minutes later, Lu Chengchuan opened his eyes, a glint of sharp light flashing within them.

"Hoo..."

He exhaled a long breath. The Everspring Skill had reached perfection, and his body felt an unprecedented level of comfort.

Life-Sacrificing System

Host: Lu Chengchuan

Realm: Qi Refining

Martial Arts: Everspring Skill [Yellow Grade/Level 3], Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill [Yellow Grade/Level 2] (Upgradable)

Current Lifespan: 10 years, 147 days.

Host's bodily functions restored, unknown disease not yet cured.

The Everspring Skill reaching perfection and his realm improving to Qi Refining instantly granted him a dozen years of life. Not only could the Everspring Skill reach perfection, but now the Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill could also be upgraded to perfection.

Earlier, he wondered if the Everspring Skill reaching perfection could increase his lifespan. Now, he knew his gamble had paid off. A perfected Everspring Skill allowed him to break through his realm and even added ten years to his life.

Lu Chengchuan didn't hesitate and directly consumed a year of his lifespan to upgrade the Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill.

The warmth surged again, and the Qi from his Lower Dantian flowed throughout his body along with the warmth. A few minutes later, the Qi and warmth sank back into his Lower Dantian, and the Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill also reached perfection, making his Qi even stronger.

With both martial arts perfected and his realm improved to Qi Refining, Lu Chengchuan was certain that he could now easily crush his former self.

After increasing his strength, Lu Chengchuan stood up and stretched his body.