Qiao cast an unwilling glance towards Su Chen, realizing that his attempts at gaining Su Chen's attention had been futile. With no other option, he returned to his original position, his disappointment evident.
Witnessing this scene, the survivors, researchers, and soldiers who had initially hoped to approach Su Chen reluctantly backed off, deterred by the situation.
Surprisingly, the trio of bald bosses played a somewhat useful role, managing to convey a message through their gestures.
Su Chen glanced at them, acknowledging their assistance with a slight nod. He then cleared his mind, raising his left hand and beginning a rhythmic swinging motion.
Engaging in the practice of the Earth method, he actively shook his arm to hasten the absorption of energy.
Su Chen noticed a significant improvement in his energy absorption efficiency. Moreover, he realized that the process of strengthening his body involved absorbing and integrating energy into his physical form. While his progress in Tianjing Hotel had been relatively slow, he now experienced a noticeable acceleration. Su Chen attributed this to his recent battles and the frequent accumulation and utilization of energy. However, he sensed that his bodily strengthening had reached a certain limit. Despite the accelerated absorption and intensified energy consumption, the visible effects were not as pronounced. It seemed like an insatiable abyss, requiring hundreds or thousands of energy units for a discernible change. Aware of the cumulative nature of this process, Su Chen understood the need for patience. Even compared to ordinary individuals, his speed of progress was already astonishing.
As the convoy continued its journey, shaking and rumbling, the blood-red hue of the world behind them grew increasingly vivid.
Suddenly, the piercing sound of missiles tearing through the air resonated across the space. Bright trails of light marked their trajectory as they traversed the darkened night sky, heading towards the designated "sacrifice points" in several urban areas—east, west, and central.
Several missiles soared above the convoy, but the majority met interception. Within the dark and ominous sky, a horde of terrifying, pitch-black creatures emerged, snatching the elongated projectiles with incredible swiftness. They smashed the missiles or redirected their course, intercepting them mid-air. Even if they couldn't reach them in time, they had no qualms about sacrificing themselves to block the incoming threat.
Explosions illuminated the heavens, accompanied by the cacophonous roars of the monstrous beings, echoing like a tsunami across the land.
Only a few missiles managed to evade interception, disappearing from sight with a resounding boom, likely hitting their intended targets.
However, the sacrificial ritual at Midtown remained uninterrupted, the sky above still ablaze with a ghastly crimson glow.
Silently, Su Wenhao observed the scene, his thoughts shrouded in silence.
On the other side, Su Chen confirmed that he was not in immediate danger and continued his Buddhist practice.
Hundreds of grotesque monsters, including towering colossal giants, amassed at the various sacrificial sites. Su Chen, powerless to intervene, clenched his fists in frustration and continued to strengthen himself, his determination unwavering.
He awaited the moment when the monsters would disperse, knowing that if they continued to ravage the city in an organized manner, he would be utterly defenseless with the limited energy reserves in his possession. He couldn't even reach the basic level required for combat, let alone bolster his fighting capabilities. Furthermore, should their ritual succeed, the danger would escalate, compelling him to expedite his growth and transcend his limits.
Many onlookers covertly observed Su Chen, still awestruck by his astonishing and awe-inspiring battle against Lin Mo. However, most merely stole glances, hesitant to discuss the matter openly. In this transformed world, being labeled a "Keyboard Man" was no longer a trivial matter. Climbing the ranks was now a hazardous undertaking, with the potential for immediate retribution.
The peculiar trio of bald bosses approached Xia Chuwei, wearing perplexed expressions. One of them whispered in confusion, "Miss Xia...what is he doing...is he practicing handshakes?"
Xia Chuwei cast a brief glance at Su Chen and responded with an indifferent tone, "He's doing rehabilitation exercises."
"Huh?" The bald boss appeared bewildered.
"Indeed, Brother Su has a unique approach to rehabilitation exercises. Could it be a mystical cultivation method?" chimed in another voice, laden with flattery.
Taken aback by the suggestion, the bald boss turned his head to see Qiao Zheng, who displayed great interest in Su Chen's peculiar behavior, his face brimming with admiration for the formidable.
Annoyed, the bald boss retorted, "When did you sneak in again?"
Just then, another voice interjected, "Is Mr. Su's mental state stable? Why is he shaking his hand?" Professor Chen, his gaze fixed on Su Chen, expressed concern. "If his mental state is compromised, the experiment may go awry... However, considering it as a cultivation method does make some sense."
Professor Chen had yet to receive Su Chen's confirmation, but he still hoped for his cooperation in the experiment.
Unbeknownst to Professor Chen, Xia Chuwei regarded him with a complex gaze. Long ago, she had suspected that something was amiss with Su Chen's mindset. However, her opinion changed upon discovering that Su Chen had transformed the Model Mark 45 into an exquisite diamond armor. That secret remained solely Su Chen's to keep.
Her relationship with both Lin Mo and Su Chen had formed amidst trying circumstances. Though seemingly fragile, it possessed an extraordinary strength. Often, relationships forged through shared experiences, irrespective of their brevity, proved more stable than those established over extended periods. The stability of a relationship depends not solely on its duration but also on the nature of the individuals involved.
Unbeknownst to those whispering, Su Chen could hear every word amidst the thunderous roar of missile explosions outside. His enhanced hearing allowed him to discern their hushed conversations, but he saw no need to provide an explanation. After all, he was merely shaking his hand—what harm could it cause?
Yet, Su Chen's training session was abruptly cut short.
As they fled, their convoy neared the outskirts of Midtown but found themselves halted just as they emerged from its boundaries.
To say they were stopped would be an understatement. Su Wenhao had detected the approaching group long before and identified them as a marauding mob organization taking advantage of the dwindling monster presence to pillage resources and equipment from other survivors. Many among them were extremists, caring little for the consequences of their actions in the present or future. Though they attempted to conceal themselves, they stood no chance against the military's scrutiny.
Wenhao had initially planned to evade them, but their convoy and the gang crossed paths, leaving Wenhao with insufficient manpower to ascertain their movements in real-time. Ultimately, they were intercepted.
Without warning, the dilapidated military off-road vehicle ahead abruptly slammed on its brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision with the bus trailing behind. Thanks to the experienced driver's swift reaction, disaster was averted.
Sensing the abrupt change, Su Chen ceased his practice immediately.
A sudden commotion erupted as a tourist bus careened out of an alley, blocking the convoy's path with its massive frame. Chaos ensued, mingling with the terrified screams of the passengers. From the dark corners on either side, as well as the shops and behind the tourist bus, a raucous motorcycle gang burst forth. These wild-styled riders, mostly young and adorned with an assortment of weapons, emerged with a blatant disregard for authority. They fired their stolen firearms into the sky, reveling in the temporary absence of monsters.
The monsters may have vanished, but these extremists saw an opportunity to indulge in their twisted desires. Having been on the fringes of society even before the world's end, their aberrant behavior had escalated to unthinkable levels. Unconcerned about their own survival, they sought only to inflict their distorted version of "happiness" upon others.
The motorcycle gang dispersed, their modified bikes gleaming in vibrant colors. Many riders sported peculiar costumes, and one particularly talented individual spewed a pillar of fire half a meter long, leaving onlookers astonished. The other survivors in the convoy responded with a mix of fear and excitement, their voices echoing through the chaos.
"Surrender your weapons, food, and any attractive women, or we'll slaughter dozens of you!" one of the gang members jeered, taunting the convoy. "Soldiers, don't even think about shooting, or we'll make sure you regret it!"
Su Wenhao's face darkened with a deep frown. Aware of their own manpower shortage and the elongated convoy, the gang had spotted an opportunity for easy gain, minimizing their own risks. He dared not take action, for the lives of Professor Chen and the researchers were at stake. Even the loss of a single person in the ensuing melee would be an unbearable tragedy.
However, Su Chen, unfazed by the imminent danger, made his way forward.
Su Chen had his reasons for stepping up. Firstly, he couldn't simply hand over everything to these marauders. Secondly, regular individuals couldn't be separated from their energy units, but talented individuals like himself could. With the prolonged absence of monsters, these gang members were nothing more than a source of energy waiting to be tapped.
Seizing the opportunity while striving to break through to the second level, Su Chen prepared to enhance his battle armor further. He couldn't afford to waste time here.
Before Su Wenhao could react, Su Chen seized his Miao knife and activated his battle armor, darting forward like a bolt of lightning. Without wasting a moment on words, he struck swiftly. The gang members, still trying to make sense of the situation, were caught off guard, especially the arrogant young man who had breathed fire earlier. Before he could react, Su Chen's blade had already severed his head, sending him and his motorcycle tumbling amidst the billowing dust.
Su Chen's armor had reached a level where he could effortlessly dispatch even the formidable black scale monsters. The threats posed by these gang members were insignificant to him. Their plans to harm the survivors were utterly futile, for they couldn't comprehend how easily they would meet their demise.