6: First encounter with the crystal core

"This Martial Skill... isn't it a bit too weak?"

Thunderbolt Slash is a common Martial Skill in Shenxia Country.

Anyone who reaches the Body Tempering Realm can go to the Martial Arts Association to learn it for free.

Even if you don't engage in combat, it can still be useful in some daily life situations.

However, the power Wang Dayong unleashed was indeed far weaker than what Li Canglan had imagined.

If you didn't look closely, you might not even notice the additional effects of the Martial Skill.

"Watch out!"

Just then, a monster larger than a normal Crawler suddenly smashed through the wall behind them.

It lunged fiercely toward Li Canglan.

The terrifying force of its movement meant that if it hit Li Canglan, he would likely end up disemboweled.

Although Zhang Ganchao was the weakest, he had been keeping an eye on the surrounding environment.

Upon sensing the danger, he immediately grabbed Li Canglan by the shoulder and pulled him away.

As for himself, he swung his iron rod at the Corroder.

Bang!

The Corroder's immense strength sent the iron rod in Zhang Ganchao's hand flying.

Zhang Ganchao was knocked to the ground by the force.

Fortunately, he dodged the Corroder's attack.

"Take my axe!"

Wang Dayong roared, knowing full well that he was likely no match for this Corroder.

He didn't dare hold back, using all his might to slash at the Corroder's chest.

With a loud bang, the Corroder was sent flying two or three meters away.

"Run!"

Li Canglan grabbed both of them and turned to run.

Although the Corroder was also a low-level monster, it was one step stronger than a Crawler, possessing combat power approaching that of a One-Star Warrior.

If they were to insist on staying, they would likely only become a breeding nest for the Corroder!

They would also be transformed into Crawlers under the influence of the Corroder!

Fortunately, the Corroder didn't have much intelligence and didn't continue to chase Li Canglan and the others.

It turned around and charged toward other citizens.

Li Canglan and his companions fought while retreating, but they were still covered in blood and seriously injured.

While fleeing, Wang Dayong and Zhang Ganchao's faces showed not only fear.

But also deep worry.

Unlike Li Canglan, who was alone and had no family to worry about.

They both had their own families, and the plight of their loved ones left them in a state of chaos.

When the three of them finally found a ruin where they could hide temporarily.

A panting Zhang Ganchao took out his phone, seemingly wanting to let his family know he was safe.

"Don't make that call!"

Wang Dayong suddenly roared and snatched Zhang Ganchao's phone away.

"Uncle, what are you doing?"

Zhang Ganchao glared at him.

"Didn't your teachers teach you in class that you must never make calls when encountering a Spatial Wormhole?"

Upon hearing what Wang Dayong said, Li Canglan also realized the situation.

The monsters that appear in Spatial Wormholes are different every time.

But some of those monsters are extremely sensitive to radio signals.

Once you use conventional communication tools like mobile phones, you are likely to be discovered by those monsters.

"Ganchao, your uncle and aunt might be in danger right now too."

Li Canglan advised, "If you make a call now, you will very likely alert the surrounding Crawlers."

"By then, your uncle and aunt will be the ones in mortal danger."

Zhang Ganchao understood this logic as well; he had just been too anxious to think straight earlier.

He could only sigh and give up the idea of making the call.

Luofeng City, Demon Suppression Division.

The moment the Spatial Wormhole appeared, all the Martial Artists from the security department of the Demon Suppression Division were deployed.

The Demon Suppression Envoy of Luofeng City was named Chen Anmin, and his strength was that of a Six-Star Warrior.

While flying toward the location of the Wormhole Mother Body, he listened to reports from various sides.

"Three Corroders have appeared on Zhenxin Street, many citizens are under threat, and more than ten Martial Artists have already headed over to suppress them."

"Five Swift Runners have appeared in Fandou Garden, causing heavy casualties. Please coordinate for Martial Artists above the Two-Star level to come and assist as soon as possible."

"A Bone Sparrow has been discovered on Banhu Street. We urgently need Martial Artists with anti-air capabilities!"

"The Wormhole Mother Body at the Civic Center is constantly breeding Corroders. Lord Demon Suppression Envoy, we can't hold on much longer!"

The Wormhole Mother Body is the culprit behind every disaster!

The Mother Body itself has no combat ability, but its breeding speed is astonishing.

It can produce one Corroder every minute, posing a great threat to ordinary citizens.

Moreover, when it encounters danger, it will accelerate its breeding speed.

Even if the Wormhole Mother Body dies, it will transfer its core to a random Corroder.

Although the Corroder possessing the core cannot evolve into a Mother Body.

It will possess the ability to breed Corroders.

Even if the strength of the bred Corroders will be somewhat lower.

Unless all the Corroders are wiped out in one fell swoop.

Otherwise, the Corroders hidden in the shadows will cause devastating damage to the city!

Chen Anmin rushed over at top speed; for every minute of delay, the threat to the city increased.

Under the deployment of the Demon Suppression Division, Martial Artists soon joined the battlefield.

The chaotic scenes on the various streets were brought slightly under control.

But the number of Martial Artists was not enough to cover the entire Luofeng City.

For instance, on the street where Li Canglan was currently located, only five Martial Artists had come to suppress the monsters.

Facing the tide of Crawlers, those five Martial Artists were merely a drop in the bucket.

However, Li Canglan had finally witnessed the true strength of a Martial Artist in the real sense.

One of the Martial Artists held a short blade.

Wherever the blade passed, the Crawlers were all sliced in two with a single strike.

These Crawlers were at the very bottom of the monster hierarchy.

They were only a threat to people in the Body Tempering Realm.

Facing a real Martial Artist, even a One-Star Warrior, they had no power to fight back.

"Reinforcements have arrived, let's charge too."

Li Canglan and his companions had been hiding in the ruins, but they now mustered their courage and rushed out.

Although Wang Dayong had not been able to become a Martial Artist, the grit in his bones was still there.

Facing these Crawlers that had chased them earlier, how could he miss the chance for revenge?

Zhang Ganchao held an iron rod and restrained one Crawler.

Li Canglan gripped his horizontal blade and exerted force from his waist.

An arc of light flashed, and the Crawler's head flew off.

Just as Li Canglan was about to engage the next Crawler, he suddenly noticed a tiny fragment emitting a black fluorescent glow on the Crawler's corpse.

"Is this... a Crystal Core?"

Li Canglan's eyes lit up; he didn't care about the dirty, foul-smelling corpse of the Crawler.

He pushed aside the Crawler's corpse and picked up the Crystal Core.

"Although this Crystal Core is a bit small, it's still a Crystal Core."

Li Canglan grinned, which, combined with the blood on his face, looked rather chilling.

【Crawler Crystal Core: Contains manic energy, can be absorbed.】

"Uncle, Ganchao, I'm not feeling very well, I'm going to find a place to hide for a bit."

Having had the experience of taking the Blood Tempering Agent, Li Canglan knew that while refining the Crystal Core, he probably wouldn't be able to spare a hand to deal with Crawlers.

For safety's sake, he couldn't refine the Crystal Core on the street.