167: The difference between hunter and prey is often just a matter of a single thought!

Five hundred meters deep in the ocean, it was dark and lightless.

Two dark shadows, like ghosts, tore through the water, shuttling at high speeds through the underwater canyons.

These were two high-level Drowned Ones, identical in size to ordinary humans but possessing pitch-black scales and sharp dorsal fins.

The one on the left was thin and gaunt with sinister eyes; he was the Left Protector of Tian Family Town, Tian Zuo.

The one on the right was slightly plump, tightly clutching a jade box emitting a faint blue glow; he was the Right Protector, Tian You.

"Big brother, slow down..."

Tian You took a breath and glanced at the jade box in his arms, his eyes filled with complexity. "The Clan Chief... really went all out this time."

Although the jade box was completely sealed, a hint of refreshing fragrance still leaked through the tiny gaps. Just one sniff made Tian You feel the spirit source within him leap with joy, and even his mind became a bit clearer.

[Saint-Grade Spiritual Plant — sea soul grass].

Reshaping the Soul, purifying the Bloodline.

This was a rare treasure that even Level 9 powerhouses would envy.

"Three stalks..." Tian You gulped, his voice carrying an irrepressible heartache. "Just to buy the head of a Level 6 human, we have to give these three treasures to those ruthless vultures in Fenhai City? This is just too..."

"Too much of a waste, isn't it?"

Tian Zuo, who was leading the way, suddenly came to a halt.

Floating in the seawater, he slowly turned around. His dead-fish eyes flickered with an eerie green light in the darkness, staring fixedly at the box in Tian You's arms.

Tian You felt his skin crawl under that gaze and subconsciously took half a step back. "B-big brother, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Second Brother."

Tian Zuo didn't answer. Instead, he spoke in a low voice, "The two of us have been scavenging for food together since we were Low-Level Floating Corpses. Now we've become Level 8 Drowned Ones. How long has it been?"

"A... about half a year, right?" Tian You looked confused.

"Yes, half a year." Tian Zuo grinned, revealing a mouthful of jagged fangs, his smile grim. "We've been Tian Zhen's dogs for so long!"

"That useless son of his, Tian Yonghua, does nothing but eat people and play with women all day, yet Tian Zhen used resources to force him up to Level 7!"

"And us?! We've fought tooth and nail to finally reach Level 8, but look, when has he ever given us anything truly good?"

Tian Zuo grew more excited as he spoke, the green light in his eyes almost manifesting into tangible greed.

Tian You seemed to realize something. His face changed drastically, and his voice trembled. "Big brother, you... you don't mean..."

"Why not?!"

Tian Zuo suddenly closed the distance, staring intently into Tian You's eyes, his voice like a demon's whisper. "This is sea soul grass! A sacred object for the Soul and Bloodline! If we eat it, could we break through to Level 9? Even if it's just Level 9 Half-Step, would we ever have to answer to anyone again?!"

"This..." Tian You's breathing quickened, his eyes struggling violently. "B-but... this is the toll money for King Xiao's subordinates! If we're found out, we'll be hunted by both Fenhai City and Tian Zhen!"

"Who would find out?"

Tian Zuo sneered and pointed a gaunt finger toward the turbulent surface above.

"That human kid is currently in the Jingshan waters."

"We'll rush over, slaughter him, take his head, and then say... that the sea soul grass has already been given to King Xiao's subordinates."

"Tian Zhen only cares whether that kid is dead or not. Would he dare to question King Xiao's people about whether they received the gift?"

"As for King Xiao's side..." A glint of cunning flashed in Tian Zuo's eyes. "We'll just toss one stalk to the sea-patrolling general and say it's a tribute to him. The remaining two... one for each of us brothers!"

"No one will ever know."

These words were logically sound and extremely tempting.

Tian You's psychological defenses instantly collapsed.

It was true.

As long as the person was dead, who would care about the process?

This was a chance to charge for Level 9!

"Let's do it!" Tian You gritted his teeth, the hesitation in his eyes instantly replaced by hideous greed. "Big brother is right! Fortune favors the bold! We'll eat this sea soul grass ourselves!"

"That's the spirit."

Tian Zuo patted Tian You's shoulder with satisfaction. The two brothers looked at each other and simultaneously let out a bone-chilling, eerie laugh.

"Let's go! Time to take that Level 6 kid's life!"

"We'll send him on his way and then split the loot!"

Boom—!

Two terrifying Level 8 Auras were no longer concealed. They pulled two white torrents through the seabed like deep-sea torpedoes, rushing at full speed toward the fleet swaying in the sea wind with overwhelming killing intent and greed.

In their eyes, Lu Sheng was not a formidable enemy.

But an ant that could be crushed at will.

Little did they know.

The identity of hunter and prey often changes in a single thought!

...Above the sea, the gale was like a blade, and the waves were towering.

The blazing flame bucked violently between the crests and troughs of the waves, letting out a tooth-aching metal groan.

But this didn't affect Lu Sheng inside his single-person cabin at all.

At this moment, this small dark room of less than ten square meters was illuminated like a mythical crystal palace.

Lu Sheng sat cross-legged on the hard bed, with a pile of crystal-clear crystal cores placed before him.

One hundred and eighty intermediate spirit source crystal cores.

Forty-five advanced spirit source crystal cores.

Five top-tier spirit source crystal cores emitting a deep blue light, with what seemed like tides surging inside.

This was his entire net worth, earned by slaughtering the entire Shuangjian Peak Corpse Tide and killing five Level 7 Drowned Ones.

"I'm filthy rich..."

Lu Sheng picked up a top-tier crystal core, feeling the cold touch on his fingertips and the violent energy fluctuations within. The corners of his mouth curled up wildly.

"How should I spend this?"

Looking at the mountain of spirit source crystal cores piled on the bed, he fell into a brief contemplation.

It looked like a lot, but for him right now, it was actually quite awkward.

Upgrade skills?

Although Human-Dragon Form was powerful, that four-minute duration was too short, and the cooldown side effects were obvious.

Upgrading now would at most extend it by a few dozen seconds, treating the symptoms but not the cause.

The same went for Dragon Eyes and Dragon Might; their auxiliary nature was greater than their direct combat utility.

Facing the genuine Level 9 Half-Step Tian Zhen, any fancy maneuvers were meaningless.

Only solid base stats were what truly mattered.

"In the world of martial arts, only speed is invincible, only strength is unbreakable."

Lu Sheng's eyes narrowed as he made a decision. "I'll raise my Rank first! The jump from Level 6 to Level 7 is a qualitative leap. Once my base attributes are up, the multiplier of the Human-Dragon Form will be even more terrifying!"

Having thought this through, Lu Sheng no longer hesitated.

He took a deep breath, adjusted his breathing, and brought his state to its Peak.

Then, he grabbed a top-tier spirit source crystal core and squeezed it hard.

"Absorb!"

In his palm, although the Blood Devour Rune didn't appear, the domineering suction force modified by dragon blood activated instantly.

Crack!

The hard shell of the crystal core was instantly covered in cracks.

Boom—!!!

A terrifying energy, extremely pure and even carrying a hint of deep-sea chill, surged through the Meridians of Lu Sheng's arm like a bursting flood, frantically pouring into his body!

"Ugh!"

Lu Sheng let out a muffled groan, veins instantly bulging on his forehead.

Pain!

It was the tearing sensation of his Meridians being forcibly stretched.

But within this pain, there was also an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

It was like a parched riverbed suddenly welcoming a rainstorm; every cell was cheering, greedily devouring this energy.

[Ding! top-tier spirit source crystal core absorbed. spirit source value +500!]

[Current Rank: Level 6 (1450/2500)]

The System's notification sound rang clearly in his mind.

"Refreshing!"

Lu Sheng snapped his eyes open, a sharp light bursting from his golden vertical pupils.

One core is worth five hundred spirit source points!

This efficiency is practically like being on a rocket!

You know, an Advanced crystal core only adds twenty-five spirit source points.

"Again!"

Having tasted the sweetness, how could Lu Sheng stop?

This feeling of becoming stronger through pay-to-win was even more addictive than anything else.

He grabbed another top-tier crystal core.

Rumble—!

Muffled thunderous sounds came from within his body; it was the sound of blood and Qi surging through his blood vessels.

[top-tier spirit source crystal core absorbed. spirit source value +500!]

[Current Rank: Level 6 (1950/2500)]

...[top-tier spirit source crystal core absorbed. spirit source value +500!]

[Current Rank: Level 6 (2450/2500)]

In just ten short minutes.

Three top-tier crystal cores turned to powder.

Lu Sheng's skin was crimson all over, and white smoke rose from his head. He looked like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

He was only 50 points away from the Level 7 threshold!

"Whew..."

Lu Sheng exhaled a breath of turbid air, but as soon as it left his mouth, it exploded into a string of sparks in the air.

He glanced at the remaining two top-tier crystal cores and shook his head.

"No need to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut. For the remaining spirit source points, Advanced ones will do."

He casually picked up two advanced spirit source crystal cores.

Although the purity of the spirit source energy wasn't as high as the top-tier ones, it was milder.

"The Breakthrough is now."

Lu Sheng closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his body.

He could clearly feel that above the boiling ocean of spirit source, there was an invisible barrier.

That was the shackle of life's level.

Once broken, it would be a whole new world.

"Break... for me!!!"

With a roar in his heart, the two Advanced crystal cores instantly shattered.

Two torrents of energy flowed into his Dantian, transforming into a golden dragon of fury. Carrying an indomitable Aura, it slammed violently against that barrier!

PS: Today's update (2/4).