The Qi and Blood Martial Path experts around began to become restless. Some turned to flee, others roared and charged forward, while there were also those who calmly stood their ground to watch the situation unfold.
Lu Ren was undoubtedly one of those observing the changes. His dual pistols in hand were enough for him to handle the current demon ghost attacks... as long as no Asura or those sinister Yin Souls appeared.
"Hey friend, want to fight our way out together later?"
A man standing still like an iron tower nearby approached Lu Ren, noticing he remained unmoved.
Lu Ren tilted his head to glance; it was a braided man, about two meters tall or more, with muscles knotted all over. Even in heavy armor, his bulging muscles were unmistakable.
He was almost as large as a bear!
Lu Ren asked, "Can you gather Qi and Blood?"
The man replied, "Of course, anyone who comes here can pretty much gather Qi and Blood. My name is Rita!"
I should have guessed!
Lu Ren couldn’t help but internally remark, his face remaining calm as he said, "My name is Luffy!"
Casually making up a name, Lu Ren continued, "Brother Li, you take care of those swirling with Yin wind; leave the rest to me."
Rita’s face twisted, "Brother, I’ve shown my cards to you. Look at my size; do I seem like the type to deal with those feminine Yin Souls? I’m made for sparring with Asura-level roles!"
"I can’t gather Qi and Blood for attacks, and if possessed by those Yin Souls, I’d be very endangered."
Rita hesitated, "And if you are possessed?"
Lu Ren replied earnestly, "I’ll rely on my spiritual will to resist."
He suddenly regretted talking to Lu Ren, assuming from his calm demeanor in the crowd and precise movements suggesting an expert vibe.
Who would have thought he’d be someone incapable of gathering Qi and Blood.
Despite feeling quite regretful, Rita, out of pride, proceeded boldly, "Alright then, let’s do as you said."
After a moment, he couldn’t help but ask, "Are you sure?"
He glanced at the exquisite pistols in Lu Ren’s hands, "Are these some kind of hidden weapon?"
Lu Ren tilted his head, "You could say that."
Rita didn’t hesitate anymore, confident in his abilities, and said in a deep voice, "Brother, let’s agree; it’s a temporary team-up, no hard feelings. If you can’t keep up with my pace, too bad!"
Lu Ren nodded casually, "No problem, Chentai City’s going down sooner or later, whether now or later doesn’t really matter."
Rita: "...Even though what you said is true, why do you seem so indifferent about it? Aren’t you afraid of death?"
"Of course I am, but what good does fear do?"
Lu Ren looked around. With the Demon Extermination Bureau unable to assist, most of the martial artists had already grouped up and were leaving Chentai City.
Squinting, Rita watched with shock as Luo Tiancheng and Asura fiercely battled several hundred meters away, struggling to maintain a calm tone, "There’s still a way out of Chentai City."
Lu Ren turned his head in surprise, "You’ve got a way out?"
Rita smiled mysteriously, "Why else would I be so confident?"
Lu Ren nodded slightly, estimating the time in his mind as he murmured to himself.
"...Twenty-nine hours left."
Rita couldn’t help but ask, "Twenty-nine hours until what, is it a time?"
Lu Ren shook his head slightly, about to speak when the surroundings slowly filled with screams and the crashing sound of collapsing buildings echoed.
He said, "It seems the Demon Extermination Bureau can no longer contact us. Which way do we go now?"
Rita didn’t hesitate, turned to lead, "Just follow me."
With that, he strode forward, his pace accelerating swiftly.
Lu Ren said nothing, recognizing that Rita intended to test him. If he couldn’t keep up, Rita wouldn’t mind.
He calculated quickly, deciding to follow. Better to stick with this guy than wander aimlessly.
Having decided, Lu Ren stepped forward like a tightly drawn bow releasing its arrow.
The muscle coordination of his waist, thighs, and toes allowed Lu Ren to burst into a sprint as swift as an arrow released from a bow.
His physical training continually increased, and with growing skill levels, though not dramatically enhanced, he improved significantly.
Hearing the commotion behind, Rita glanced back, his pupils shrinking as he saw Lu Ren maintaining a steady ten-meter distance behind him.
Rita was choked with emotion; how could someone unable to gather Blood and Qi have such superb physical strength?!
He could tell Lu Ren’s steps were quite crude but highly precise in bodily control, conserving every ounce of energy for critical points, so minimal loss resulted in such speed.
Moreover, under his sharp observation, despite the rapid pace, there was no panting; Lu Ren’s breathing remained calm.
From this perspective, his physical prowess was terrifying.
Despite being unable to gather Blood and Qi Power, his physical strength alone could surpass many others.
Rita involuntarily slowed down, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, maintaining pace with Lu Ren.
Down on the streets, hordes of demon ghosts rampaged unchecked, yet no Demon Extermination Bureau personnel could be seen.
Chances were, bigger issues kept them busy. The Bureau’s resources were too scarce. Regular martial artists had little means against the demon ghosts. Without strong martial skills, the Bureau often resorted to sacrificial tactics.
Within a single night, a large hole’s appearance in the Yang Membrane rendered Chentai City defenseless, quickly turning into a Ghostly Realm.
This was terrifying, implying humanity was utterly unprepared for the Underworld.
And just how many top-tier martial artists like Luo Tiancheng could there be in such resource-strapped areas?
"About sixty meters ahead is the Governor’s Mansion, specifically the side pavilion of the Inner City courtyard, below which lies an underground passage," Rita turned to tell Lu Ren.
Lu Ren raised his eyebrows, unsurprised. It would be odd if such a large city didn’t have a couple of escape routes.
Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows, let alone humans.
Suddenly, Rita stopped abruptly, prompting Lu Ren to halt immediately.
Rita called out low, "Careful, there’s a demon ghost!"
Before Lu Ren could comprehend, a troop clad in ancient armor, wielding long halberds, marched with synchronized steps.