Chapter 76

Wang's voice echoed through the cave, and the remaining team members glared over with hostile expressions.

The tall, thin man who had spoken earlier rushed forward in three long strides to the spring.

After a brief inspection, he exclaimed joyfully:

"Captain, it's confirmed—this is an S-class terrestrial spirit spring! And there's enough for five people!"

We're done for. They've found us.

S-class heavenly treasures are immensely valuable, even to top-tier factions.

This group of third-rank adepts could never possibly share an S-class terrestrial spirit spring with us two second-rankers.

Worse still, if we anger them, whether we can even leave alive is questionable.

Realizing this, Jiang Chuxuan abandoned her last shred of hope.

She took a deep breath and spoke slowly:

"Since Captain Wang and you've all figured it out, then these terrestrial spirit springs—"

"And the rare flowers and herbs—belong to you. We'll take nothing."

"Xuechang, let's go."

Saying this, Jiang Chuxuan reached out to pull Xu Jingming beside her.

But she found him rooted to the spot, immovable as a nail.

"Xuechang, you said it yourself—heavenly treasures belong to those with the strength to claim them."

"Captain Wang and his team are all peak third-rank adepts. We can't compete with them."

Jiang Chuxuan panicked instantly, urgently pleading:

Their guard team was a third-rank elite squad, with the captain and vice-captain both peak third-rank experts.

The other three members were all at least mid-third-rank!

Such a team was terrifying in strength—even a slightly weaker fourth-rank beast could be held at bay.

Though Xu Jingming could instantly kill a third-rank lower-tier earth-digging dragon, against this team, the power gap was still far too great!

"Little sister, you yourself said heavenly treasures belong to those with strength—I don't think I'm weaker than them."

Crackling—pop!

Amidst a sound like a thousand birds shrieking, the purple thunder that had been restrained around Xu Jingming suddenly flared with brilliant lightning!

At the same time, Xu Jingming's clear, black-and-white eyes glowed with an unprecedented chill:

"Besides, even if we handed over every heavenly treasure, they wouldn't let us go."

From the moment the S-class terrestrial spirit spring was exposed, the final outcome between both sides was already sealed.

"Hah! You're bold in speech, boy—but you guessed right. I never intended to let you go."

Captain Wang's eyes flashed with icy light, and the rest of the team spread out, blocking every exit from the cave.

Seeing this, Jiang Chuxuan's face turned pale in shock: "You already have all the heavenly treasures—why won't you let us go?"

"Of course, it's because of you, Miss Jiang."

Captain Wang smirked:

"A blogger with ten million fans—go back and post any video crying about your misfortune, and how will we ever survive afterward?"

"So why not just make you disappear? That way, we avoid the trouble."

"As for your old lover beside you—we'll take care of him too."

"As for your old flame beside you, I'll take care of her along the way."

Jiang Chuxuan felt ice flood her limbs.

Indeed—

Since they'd already decided to monopolize all the terrestrial spirit springs, they certainly wouldn't let an unstable element like her walk away.

Since the other party had already decided to monopolize all the Earth Spirit Spring, they naturally wouldn't let an unstable factor like him leave.

"I'll swallow the Blood-Raging Pill to buy us a moment—then you break out while they're distracted."

Jiang Chuxuan whispered softly, her beautiful eyes flashing with resolve.

Then, a dark red pill appeared on her fingertip, and she swallowed it in one swift motion.

Then, a dark-red pill appeared at her fingertip, and she tilted her head back and swallowed it directly.

A sickly flush spread across Jiang Chuxuan's face as the powerful aura of a third-rank adept erupted from her body!

Simultaneously, a bone-chilling cold radiated from her, plunging the entire cave's temperature sharply downward.

In an instant, it dropped to over ten degrees below zero!

Ice crystals formed on the cave ceiling, and even the small pool of terrestrial spirit spring froze over with a thin layer of ice.

"Jiang Chu takes me. Zhou Chong, deal with her old lover first. The rest of you, hold the exit."

"Jiang Chuxuan is mine. Zhou Chong, go take care of her old flame first! The rest of you, just guard the cave entrance."

A team member wielding a long blade grinned wickedly as he stepped toward Xu Jingming.

Meanwhile, Captain Wang slowly advanced toward Jiang Chuxuan.

The others stood at the exit, smirking, ready to watch the show.

"Miss Jiang, I'm sorry—but you'll leave your life here today."

Captain Wang's face twisted into a feral grin as two sharp fangs grew from his mouth.

At the same time, his limbs swelled with muscle, and gray-yellow fur sprouted across his exposed skin.

On his forehead, the fur subtly formed the shape of a "Wang" character.

On its forehead, the fur even faintly formed the shape of the character "王" (king)!

Enhanced Beast-Type C-Rank Ability — "Saber-Toothed Tiger"!

In beast form, it dramatically enhances physical strength in every aspect.

Merely by using this beast form, he didn't even know how many ferocious beasts and human ability users he'd killed!

"Captain, take it easy, don't kill her outright — the guys are still looking forward to some fun."

At the cave entrance, a male team member stared at Jiang Chuxuan's graceful curves, his gaze burning hot.

"Relax, such a top-tier beauty won't be killed outright."

Captain Wang licked his lips.

Far away, Jiang Chuxuan, witnessing this scene, could not help but show a look of despair.

They had assigned separate team members to deal with both her and her senior, and left the rest guarding the exit.

Now, no matter how she tried to break out, escape was impossible.

"If I'd known this, I never should've brought my senior here — otherwise he wouldn't be dragged to die with me."

Jiang Chuxuan felt deep regret in her heart.

But just then, a thunderclap suddenly rang out from the side, followed by an extremely shrill scream.

"Zhou Chong, what the hell are you doing? Fighting a second-rank upper-tier ability user and making this much noise..."

Captain Wang frowned and turned his head — his words cut short as his pupils shrank.

Before him, not far away, Xu Jingming's spear had pierced through Zhou Chong's heart, lifting his body high into the air with a shocking force.

Ziziziz~~~

The terrifying lightning surging along the spear had turned Zhou Chong's chest and battle uniform into charred black ash!!

"C... Cap... Captain..."

Zhou Chong struggled to utter two words, then his head slumped limply — his life force vanished completely.

Then Xu Jingming yanked his spear back violently, pulling it from the corpse.

With a puch! sound, blood gushed wildly from the heart's major artery.

The corpse, now deprived of support, fell heavily to the ground like a broken doll.

"Looks like your team members aren't that impressive..."

Xu Jingming's Dark Cloud Gale Spear trembled slightly, emitting a sharp, resonant hum.

Combined with the flickering, terrifying lightning swirling around him, a powerful aura swept across the entire scene.

"Zhou Chong's dead?!"

Xu Jingming's kill happened in the blink of an eye.

By the time the remaining team members reacted, Zhou Chong was already dead beyond any doubt.

Each of them glared furiously at Xu Jingming.

But due to their team's discipline, they did not leave their posts against the captain's orders.

"Zhou Chong may only be third-rank middle-tier, but he's not someone anyone can kill easily."

"So... you're the real troublemaker..."

Captain Wang took a deep breath, his gaze turning dangerously sharp.

He immediately abandoned Jiang Chuxuan, his body flashing forward to stand before Xu Jingming, face twisted in fury as he swung his blade:

"Then you'll die with Old Zhou! Tiger Roar Slash!"

Roar—

Accompanied by a low tiger roar, the massive blade slashed toward Xu Jingming as if tearing the air apart, radiating overwhelming pressure.

Yet Xu Jingming remained utterly calm — lightning surged beneath his feet as he dodged sideways with "Lei Shan."

Boom!!

The blade struck the cave wall, instantly carving out a crater over three meters in diameter!

Rocks rained down continuously.

Seeing this, Xu Jingming frowned — from sheer attack power alone, this third-rank peak captain was indeed far stronger than him.

But with Lei Shan, escaping was troublesome, yet still possible — even escaping with Jiang Chuxuan in tow wouldn't be impossible.

"Too bad I want this S-Rank Earth Spirit Spring and all these rare flowers and herbs too..."

Xu Jingming took a deep breath, then a faint smile curled at the corner of his resolute, handsome face:

"If that's the case, I'll have to eliminate all of you... Thunder Ultimate Form!"

Boom!!!

Before the stunned gaze of Captain Wang and the others, countless blue-purple lightning bolts erupted from Xu Jingming's center!

Crackling —

The entire cave instantly became a miniature thunderstorm zone, lightning flashing and thunder roaring.

Blue-purple lightning, carrying the primal essence of the heavens, rained down relentlessly, splattering soil everywhere!

What terrified Captain Wang and the others even more was that Xu Jingming's aura kept rising, and his height kept growing!

One point nine meters... one point nine five... two meters... two point zero five...

Boom!

Xu Jingming's upper-body battle suit exploded into shreds, revealing his bare torso like a work of art.

Muscles coiled tightly, radiating brutal beauty!

At the same time, Xu Jingming's cold, sharply defined black-and-white eyes flipped violently.

Transformed into a pair of blue lightning-wrapped, bestial dragon pupils, brimming with savage fury!

What now stood before Captain Wang and the others was a towering figure wreathed in blue-purple lightning.

Over two meters tall, with a massive build, a terrifying figure radiated a brutal aura like that of the most supreme dragon-type beast.

"Wha... what kind of monster is this?!"

Staring at Xu Jingming's figure that seemed like an iron tower, Captain Wang swallowed hard.