Qi Refining

They had no way to save anyone and could only keep firing, retreating as they shot.

Lu Chengchuan forged the path ahead, expending his rifle bullets in a few minutes while dozens of monsters died by his hands. Unfortunately, the ammunition ran out quickly; once it was gone, he dropped the rifle, drew his pistol and longsword, and continued to open the way.

The longsword slashed through the air as monster after monster fell before him, the squad slowly drawing closer to the circle of light.

The circle of light was right before their eyes, yet the surrounding monsters grew increasingly numerous.

The monsters had no intention of letting them escape, blocking their advance and desperately intercepting them. The final stretch should have taken only a minute to walk, but that single minute proved incomparably arduous.

Dare-to-die squad soldiers perished at the hands of the monsters one after another, and Lu Chengchuan fought his way step by step to the front of the luminous circle.

"Move! Hurry up and go!"

He stood his ground to fend off the surging monsters. Sharp fangs and claws struck his body, tearing his clothes and leaving trail after trail of wounds.

His body was impervious to blades and spears, but once the number of monsters multiplied, there were entities among them capable of harming him.

Had he not been trying to help the people behind him, he would have already bolted out.

"Ah!!"

Just as the squad neared the circle of light, Huang Xuan of the Investigation Bureau suffered severe physical exhaustion. Seeing that he was about to reach the circle, he relaxed slightly, only for something to trip him by the feet and send him crashing to the ground.

His teammates had not anticipated this situation, nor had Huang Xuan himself. In that mere flash, several monsters pounced. He had no time to speak before the monsters dragged him away, vanishing among the horde.

"Huang Xuan!"

A few teammates watched helplessly as he was hauled off, shouting hysterically.

"Move fast! Don't stop!"

Zhou Yaning had no time to dwell on it; even with a teammate seized, she had to call for the retreat. Lu Chengchuan could not hold out much longer at the front, and if they hesitated any further, very few people would make it out.

Urged on by her, everyone dashed into the circle of light.

Zhou Yaning sprinted over, passing by Lu Chengchuan's side. "Hurry!"

Before her words faded entirely, she plunged into the light. Lu Chengchuan cleaved a rushing zombie in two with a single sword stroke, spun around, and leaped into the circle.

The instant he jumped into the circle, his vision plunged into darkness once more, followed by a flash of light. He had already leaped out of the black fog and was standing inside the shopping mall again.

Eighteen people went in, and only eight came out. The dare-to-die squad suffered heavy losses, and even the Investigation Bureau lost a man inside.

Lu Chengchuan's clothes were reduced to tattered strips of cloth, and his body was covered in wounds. Turning back to confirm no monsters had pursued them out, he finally paused to catch his breath.

"Captain, Huang Xuan... he..."

The Investigation Bureau members sat on the ground; with their teammate slain by the monsters, their moods were far from bright.

"Say no more, get out quickly."

Zhou Yaning did not want to dwell on it. The situation moments ago had been urgent, leaving her no time to think, but now that they were safe, Huang Xuan's miserable shrieks echoed in her mind, and her heart weighed heavily as well.

Yet what use was feeling terrible? Entering the black fog was inherently a hazardous venture, and anyone could die within it.

"Are you all right?"

As she led the people out, Zhou Yaning looked back to see Lu Chengchuan covered in injuries. He looked truly unwell.

"No major trouble, just need a day of rest."

Lu Chengchuan shook his head. These were mere flesh wounds with no serious problems, and he had hardly lost any blood. In contrast, he had slain close to a hundred monsters, and his remaining lifespan was now: 1 year and 281 days.

With over a year of lifespan remaining, the system prompted him once again that he could upgrade his martial arts levels.

Though the trip had been perilous, the harvest was bountiful. Entering once yielded over a year of lifespan; had the monsters not continued surging forth endlessly, he truly would have wanted to stay inside.

The moment they emerged, the soldiers waiting outside quickly swarmed over.

The soldiers witnessed everyone's wretched states, and the superior officer waiting for news rushed forward. "What did you run into? You were only in there for a minute—how did only this handful of people come out?!"

The officer rattled off a flurry of inquiries, and upon hearing that they had only been inside for a minute, Zhou Yaning wore an expression of utter astonishment.

"A minute..."

She picked up a clock; the hands had moved at least twelve minutes. How could only a minute have passed outside?

"The black fog space is enormous, stretching out endlessly to the eye... We walked inside for ten minutes before the monsters suddenly appeared, and we could only run out." Zhou Yaning recounted the events they had encountered inside to the gathered crowd.

Aside from provincial and municipal leaders, there were also experts and scholars present. Upon learning the black fog information, they immediately recorded it down, then asked Zhou Yaning if she had made any special discoveries.

Zhou Yaning shook her head. They had walked slowly, hadn't traveled far, and found nothing out of the ordinary.

Lu Chengchuan remained silent off to the side. He had indeed sensed some strange calling, but he had no wish to speak of it.

Leaving the mall, they returned to a temporarily erected guard post. A doctor came over to treat their wounds, but Lu Chengchuan's injuries had long since healed. He simply changed into a clean set of clothes and required no further examination whatsoever.

The first attempt was declared a failure. After bandaging their wounds, Zhou Yaning and her companions located their superior to continue selecting soldiers. They would take a larger workforce in this time; she refused to believe the monsters inside were inexhaustible.

As they conversed over there, Lu Chengchuan focused his attention on the system.

He could now consume a year of lifespan to elevate a martial art to perfection. Since he would likely have to head back in soon, boosting his combat capability was vital for him.

As long as he slew a sufficient number of monsters, the lifespan he consumed could all be replenished.

With that thought, Lu Chengchuan cast his gaze upon Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill.

Upgrading Everspring Skill could increase his lifespan, while Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill could substantially heighten his combat strength. After pondering for a moment, a conjecture suddenly surfaced in Lu Chengchuan's mind.

He shifted his gaze to Everspring Skill and silently chanted in his mind to upgrade it.

With the thought stirring, his lifespan instantly decreased by one year, and Everspring Skill began to operate automatically, a wave of heat surging forth from the lower dantian.

The heat circulated through his body nine times, after which a wisp of tangible 'Qi' was born within the lower dantian. Immediately following, the heat returned to the lower dantian, nourishing the Qi and causing it to swell and grow robust.

A few minutes later, Lu Chengchuan opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing across them and vanishing.

"Hoo..."

He exhaled a long breath. With Everspring Skill perfected, his body experienced an unprecedented sense of comfort.

Life-Sacrificing System

Host: Lu Chengchuan

Realm: Qi Refining

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

Current Lifespan: 10 years and 147 days.

Host's bodily functions have recovered; unknown disease has not been cured.

With Everspring Skill perfected and his realm advanced to Qi Refining, he suddenly possessed a decade or so of lifespan. Not only was Everspring Skill perfected, but now Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill could also be elevated to perfection.

He had wondered just now whether perfecting Everspring Skill could increase his lifespan, and now his gamble had paid off: the perfected Everspring Skill allowed him to break through his realm and furthermore granted him an extra ten years of life.

Lu Chengchuan did not hesitate, directly consuming one year of lifespan to upgrade Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill.

The sensation of heat surged up once more, the Qi from the lower dantian circulating throughout his entire body alongside the warmth. A few minutes later, the Qi and heat settled back into the lower dantian, and Eagle Claw Iron Body Skill was likewise elevated to perfection, the Qi growing even more formidable.

With both martial arts perfected and his realm advanced to Qi Refining, Lu Chengchuan was certain that the present version of himself could effortlessly crush his previous self.

Having boosted his strength, Lu Chengchuan stood up to stretch and limber up his body.