The blackness dispersed. Crimson moonlight bathed the land again. I released the dharma manifestation. My body returned to normal size, landing steadily on the bone dragon's massive head. I formed my fingers into a blade, slicing open the skull, digging out a basketball-sized level five crystal core emitting dense black gold light.
Sensing the vast, sea-like energy within the core, I stored it in my companion space, satisfied.
Above, the hundred thousand sea beasts, having lost their king, completely collapsed, retreating to the sea like the tide. Jiangzhou City was saved.
"Mr. Chen, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chen, for saving Jiangzhou's three million people."
A tsunami of gratitude echoed through Jiangzhou's night sky. I stood on the bone dragon's head, holding that black gold level five crystal core in my hand. I didn't bask in the thanks. I just looked at Lei Jian, saying calmly, "Commander Lei, no need for this. If the military hadn't held the beast tide at bay last night, Jiangzhou might not have held out until I arrived."
Lei Jian was taken aback.
I continued. "This battle wasn't won by me alone. Those soldiers who died on the front lines also saved the city."
Lei Jian's eyes reddened slightly. Many officers behind him lowered their heads.
I stored the crystal core into my companion space. "Next, we need to quickly evacuate survivors and repair the defense line. The sea beasts' retreat is only temporary. The real disaster is yet to come."
"Don't worry, Mr. Chen. The order forces will definitely secure Jiangzhou."
"If a level five or higher mutated beast appears again, notify me immediately. I'll handle the high level mutated beasts."
With that, I didn't linger any longer. A black gold light flashed behind me. I transformed into a streak of light, flying back to the Blackstone bunker. The gate slammed shut.
I returned to the monitoring room. I picked up a cup of tea on the table and took a sip. The temperature was just right.
In the specially made core chamber at the innermost part of Blackstone bunker's lowest level, I held that level five sea overturning bone dragon crystal core, emitting black gold light. The energy contained within this crystal core was hundreds of times greater than the previous S-class blood python core. Even the military's strongest superhuman, if they dared to swallow it directly, would be instantly overwhelmed.
But I'm different.
Without hesitation, I pressed the crystal core against my chest, then circulated the primordial power within my body.
Boom.
An extremely violent, ice cold black energy, like a bursting dam's flood, instantly rushed into my limbs and bones. Black frost formed on the surface of my skin. My bones creaked under the strain, trying to rebel against me.
"A dead lizard dares to resist?"
I snorted coldly. The Pangu aspect on my chest suddenly opened its eyes. An overwhelmingly domineering power of creation instantly suppressed and crushed this black energy, then transformed it into the purest primordial power, frantically nourishing my physical body.
At the same time, the Nine Dragons Pulling a Coffin tattoo on my back began to grow hot. The nine black dragons seemed to slowly writhe beneath my skin. On that ancient black coffin, the first crimson chain began to tremble violently. A faint cracking sound echoed from the depths of my soul.
Then the first crimson chain snapped.
An indescribable black gold energy poured forth from the black coffin. Before my eyes, it seemed as if an endless expanse of darkness appeared, and within it, that ancient black coffin slowly opened a crack.
A cryptic piece of information flooded into my mind.
First chain of Nine Dragons Pulling a Coffin, unlocked. Ability: coffin burial devour.
From this moment on, I could actively devour mutated beast crystal cores, residual energy from beast corpses, and portions of a suppressed totem's essence. This energy would be refined by the black coffin, nourishing my physical body, companion space and the four forbidden totems.
In other words, as long as there are enough prey, I will grow stronger with each battle.
As the bone dragon crystal was completely refined, my physical cultivation realm naturally broke through to the peak of level five. My companion space expanded once again. The vast expanse at the edge of the space was now marred by a region of pitch black darkness. It resembled the black coffin's shadow, eerily silent and unfathomable.
A premonition stirred within me. As the Nine Dragons Pulling a Coffin's chains continued to unlock, this dark region would become something far more terrifying than the companion space.
I slowly opened my eyes, my bones cracking like thunder.
Coffin burial devour. Good. From now on, all mutant beasts are my nourishment.
Early next morning, Blackstone base underground training ground. I sat cross-legged on the alloy floor, slowly opening my eyes.
After devouring the sea overturning bone dragon's core, my vital energy had grown several times stronger. The first chain of the Nine Dragons Pulling a Coffin was now unlocked. The coffin burial devouring power was fully integrated into my body.
From now on, common cores offered diminishing returns for my growth. To grow stronger, I must hunt higher level mutant beasts. At least level four or above.
Su Xiaodao walked in, eagerness gleaming in his eyes. "Brother Lie. You soloed a level five bone dragon last night. Xinyi and I barely helped. At this rate, we'll just hold you back."
Jiang Xinyi approached from the other side. She wore a new black combat suit, her long hair tied high. A rare fighting spirit flickered in her cool eyes. "I need real combat too. Just leveling with cores won't grant true power."
I looked at them and nodded. "Exactly what I was thinking. Xiaodao, your Erlang Shen and Nezha are top tier combat totems. The Mystic Maiden has offense, defense, purification and battlefield command. Their potential is immense. But in this apocalypse, potential isn't power. True strength is forged in mountains of beast corpses."
I stood up. "Then let's go."
Su Xiaodao's eyes lit up. "Where to?"
I tapped open the military's shared map of Jiangzhou's outskirts. The screen was dense with red dots scattered across city ruins and suburban forests. One area, an industrial park in southern Jiangzhou, glowed the brightest red, marked by the military as high risk. Suspected level four beast nest.
I pointed at the southern industrial park. "The South Suburb Industrial Park. After last night's sea beast tide receded, a pack of mutants took it over. Military recon drones spotted at least three level four beasts inside, plus many level two and three ones."
Su Xiaodao grinned. "Perfect. Lots of mobs, lots of experience."
Jiang Xinyi studied the map and said calmly, "The South Suburb Industrial Park is not far from the northern district military camp. If the monsters there continue to spread, it will eventually threaten the survivor evacuation route."
"So this trip kills two birds with one stone. We can help the military eliminate a hidden danger."
I dialed Lei Jian's contact. The screen lit up quickly. Lei Jian appeared. He looked noticeably more relaxed than last night, but fatigue still lingered in his eyes.
"Mr. Chen, what does the military need to do?"
I got straight to the point. "The South Suburb Industrial Park in Jiangzhou. I want to clear it. There's a tier four monster nest there."
Lei Jian was stunned. Then his face lit up. "Mr. Chen, that's precisely the area we were about to request support for. The park has many chemical warehouses. If monsters damage them, toxic gas could spread, affecting the northern district camp. If you're willing to act, the military can provide real-time drone surveillance immediately and a perimeter lockdown."
"Fine. You handle the perimeter. Stay out of the interior. I'll take Xiaodao and Xinyi for training."
"Understood. We'll establish an isolation line to prevent monster escape. Please be careful, Mr. Chen."
"They're the ones who should be careful."