Joining Forces Against the Enemy

Chen Qing looked back. Yang Sanjin was bathed in golden light.

He called it Iron Wall, but it was really something like a shield conjured in front of him.

Yang Sanjin seemed to know it would not withstand Shadow Cat's attack.

"Go!" Yang Sanjin kept his eyes fixed on Shadow Cat as it charged him.

At the same time, he roared at Chen Qing.

"I'm not leaving!" Tears flashed in Chen Qing's eyes.

Shadow Cat's claws stabbed toward Yang Sanjin.

The Iron Wall shattered in an instant!

Chen Qing was horrified. "Condensed Water Shield!"

It worked much like Yang Sanjin's Iron Wall, though its effect was different.

The five elements countered and reinforced one another, but their strength also mattered.

Shadow Cat's attack was plainly physical. If Iron Wall could not withstand it, how could a magical shield like Condensed Water Shield?

The moment Shadow Cat's claws touched Condensed Water Shield, it dissolved into a puddle on the ground.

Killing intent raged in Shadow Cat's eyes. Yang Sanjin was in mortal danger!

"Xiao Qing! Go!" Yang Sanjin's leg was badly injured. He could no longer dodge the fatal blow.

Even then, his first instinct was to tell Chen Qing to leave.

It was the last thing he could do as captain of the City Guard Team!

"Captain!"

Chen Qing dropped helplessly to her knees.

She hated how weak she was, how useless she was...

At that critical instant, two rows of wooden posts suddenly rose from the ground in front of Yang Sanjin.

The rows joined together just as Shadow Cat's claws struck.

The difference between this and the two earlier shields was stark.

Shadow Cat's claws sank into the Wood Release and stuck fast, but the Wood Stockade Wall did not collapse.

Yang Sanjin stared in astonishment at the huge defensive wall that had appeared before him.

"Get clear!" a voice called from nearby.

Yang Sanjin snapped back to his senses. Grabbing the Wood Stockade Wall with one hand, he vaulted over it.

His blade slashed down!

Chen Qing watched in delight. Was that beast finally going to die?

But Yang Sanjin was stunned!

Clang!

Shadow Cat had caught his full-strength strike with its other claw.

Man and cat locked in a standoff!

Yang Sanjin knew he could pull back and escape unharmed. But who knew when he would get another chance to kill this Level Seven Mutant Beast?

He gritted his teeth and put even more force behind his blade!

Shadow Cat might have been a beast, but with one claw trapped in the strange wall and the other holding off his attack, it could not break free either.

"Xiao Qing! Now!"

Yang Sanjin roared, straining with all his might.

Seeing her chance, Chen Qing snatched up the long blade on the ground and rushed at Shadow Cat.

Her talent was water, and her attacks covered a wide area.

With Yang Sanjin so close, she plainly could not attack using her talent.

Chen Qing reached Shadow Cat, fury in her eyes. She raised her blade high overhead and brought it down with all her strength.

"Die, you beast!"

"Meow!!!"

Shadow Cat took Chen Qing's blow head-on. Though she was in the Fifth Awakening Realm, she barely managed to cut through its defenses even with a weapon.

One fighter in the Sixth Realm and another in the Fifth against a Level Seven Mutant Beast—it was no easy fight.

Feeling the wound on its back, Shadow Cat grew furious.

It poured all its strength into its claws and shattered the Wood Stockade Wall.

Yang Sanjin's face changed. He hurriedly retreated.

Chen Qing also took two steps back, watching Shadow Cat warily.

Then Ye Chen's voice rang out. "Brother, I can use my talent skill one more time. I reckon I can hold it for a second or two..."

Yang Sanjin immediately recognized the unfamiliar voice as belonging to the man who had just saved his life.

He narrowed his eyes. "Got it!"

Chen Qing steeled herself for the fight.

The attack had clearly enraged Shadow Cat. It fixed its fierce gaze on Chen Qing.

Despite her resolve, fear showed in her eyes.

After all, she was the beast's target now!

But she had no choice but to face it.

With that in mind, Chen Qing deliberately backed up two steps and pretended to fall, leaving herself open.

Shadow Cat seized the opportunity. Killing intent surged as it lunged at her.

As Chen Qing fell, she rolled and came up on one knee, holding her blade across her chest.

"Watch out!" Yang Sanjin strode forward, trying to channel metal energy into his blade.

But the spiritual energy in his body had run dry. He could not strengthen his attack.

"Silent Killing Binding Technique!" A figure burst out of the dark alley.

He pressed his palms together, chanting under his breath.

It was Ye Chen!

As Ye Chen charged toward Shadow Cat, two branches shot forward from behind him.

Just as Shadow Cat was about to strike Chen Qing, the branches wrapped tightly around its body.

"Die!" Yang Sanjin and Chen Qing shouted together, elated by the opening.

Their two blades pierced Shadow Cat from the front and back!

"Meow!!" Overwhelmed by pain, Shadow Cat howled.

Even so, it seized its chance and swiped a claw at Chen Qing's head.

Chen Qing went pale with fright. Ye Chen's heart lurched.

I went through all that trouble saving her, and you damned cat—!

A wooden spike slid from Ye Chen's sleeve into his hand.

He raised his right arm high, ready to throw.

His left foot planted, his right leg lifted.

Ye Chen hurled the spike.

Blood streaked through the air.

A shriek rang out. Shadow Cat was finally dead.

Yang Sanjin released his blade and collapsed, breathing hard. He closed his eyes and let the rain wash over him.

Chen Qing had escaped death by a hair. Her legs gave way, and she sank to the ground with a smile.

Ye Chen breathed a sigh of relief too.

"Level Seven Mutant Beast Shadow Cat killed. 70 points awarded."

"Points Draw unlocked. Host, please check it yourself."

Ye Chen paused and opened the system interface.

A Points Draw had appeared beside the Myriad Worlds Draw that was already there.

It offered draws for one hundred points and one thousand points.

Ye Chen's mouth twitched. Well, damn...

He could not even afford the hundred-point draw.

Ye Chen shook his head and put it out of his mind.

He walked over to Yang Sanjin, crouched beside him, and gave him a poke.

"Are you all right? Those wounds look pretty bad."

Yang Sanjin struggled to open his eyes and look at Ye Chen. "I won't be if you don't call an ambulance."

Ye Chen smiled, took out his phone, and pressed a button.

"Bad luck. My phone's waterlogged. Looks like you're done for."

Yang Sanjin had no words. He gave Ye Chen a resentful look.

Just then, Chen Qing came to her senses. She pulled out the phone issued by the City Guard Team and hurriedly called an ambulance.

"Guess it's not my time yet." Yang Sanjin closed his eyes and fell asleep.