Chapter 136: Followed All the Way

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Followed All the Way

Lin Ji stepped onto the deadwood.

The wood beneath his feet was slippery, its surface covered in a layer of slimy moss.

He walked steadily.

The Mantis Exoskeleton Armor’s feet were designed with anti-slip features, providing strong grip.

Qin Yao followed behind him.

Her movements were equally agile, like a nimble female leopard.

Su Qingyue walked third in line.

She had already begun channeling the Frost Energy within her body, a thin layer of white frost forming on the surface of her light blue tracksuit.

Shen Manyun followed closely behind her.

Further back were the female members of the Rose Society.

Ye Xinglan walked in the middle of the group, with Granny Fu by her side.

Everyone held their breath.

Their footsteps were light.

The swamp was quiet.

Only the faint ripples caused by the wind brushing over the water’s surface.

And the occasional muffled, low roars of unknown creatures in the distance.

Lin Ji’s Eye of Insight remained active.

He could clearly see the energy patterns of the Iron-Clad Crocodiles beneath the water.

Most of them were in a semi-dormant state.

Their energy flowed slowly.

Only a few were swimming leisurely.

But for now, none showed any intention of approaching this deadwood passage.

Lin Ji felt a slight sense of relief.

He quickened his pace a little.

The deadwood passage wasn’t long, only about fifty meters or so.

But walking it felt exceptionally drawn out.

Every step had to be taken with care.

Afraid of making even the slightest sound.

The group advanced slowly.

They had already covered one-third of the distance.

Just then—

"Ah!"

A short, sharp cry came from the rear of the group.

Lin Ji whirled around.

He saw a short-haired girl from the Rose Society lose her footing, her balance completely thrown off.

The section of deadwood she had stepped on was already rotten; with her misstep, it snapped apart.

The girl screamed as she tumbled toward the murky swamp water.

And right below where she was falling, the water’s surface suddenly churned violently.

Several massive, dark-red figures were rushing up from the depths at an astonishing speed!

Iron-Clad Crocodiles!

They had been startled by the splash!

"Xiao Ling!"

Ye Xinglan’s face paled.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she raised both hands, about to activate Spatial Transfer.

But just as the energy gathered at her fingertips—

A hand pressed down on her wrist.

It was Lin Ji.

Somehow, he had already retreated to Ye Xinglan’s side.

His movements were too fast to follow.

"Don’t."

Lin Ji’s voice was low, yet carried an undeniable force.

"Your Origin is already damaged."

"Forcing your talent again will cause permanent harm."

"That kind of injury can’t be healed, even with healing Skills."

Ye Xinglan’s hand froze mid-air.

She looked at Lin Ji’s face, so close to hers, her lips trembling slightly.

"But—"

"No buts."

Lin Ji cut her off.

He released Ye Xinglan’s wrist and turned to rush toward the falling girl.

But another figure moved faster than him.

It was Granny Fu.

This old woman, always hunched over and seemingly frail as a candle in the wind, now erupted with astonishing speed.

Her dark-red wooden staff tapped the ground.

Her entire body drifted out like a ghost.

In an instant, she appeared in front of the girl named Xiao Ling.

"Captain Lin."

Granny Fu’s voice was hoarse and icy.

"No need for you to trouble yourself."

"Matters within our Rose Society should be resolved by ourselves."

As her words fell.

Granny Fu raised her withered, skeletal right hand.

Her five fingers spread open.

From the center of her palm, a mass of deep, viscous Shadow Energy silently surged forth.

The energy was pure black.

As if capable of devouring all light.

The moment it appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted several degrees.

Not a drop into coldness.

But a kind of eerie, deathly chill.

"Go."

Granny Fu uttered a low command.

The mass of Shadow Energy in her palm suddenly expanded, transforming into several slender black threads of smoke.

These threads, like living venomous snakes, shot precisely toward the several Iron-Clad Crocodiles that had surged from beneath the water.

Extremely fast.

The Iron-Clad Crocodiles had no time to react.

The black threads of smoke drilled into their gaping, bloody maws and seeped into the rough crevices of their skin.

The next moment—

A bizarre scene unfolded.

The several ferocious Iron-Clad Crocodiles stiffened abruptly.

They let out agonized roars, but the sounds seemed choked by something, becoming hoarse and feeble.

Immediately after.

Their bodies began to convulse violently.

From the crevices of their dark red scales, wisps of black smoke emerged.

This smoke shared the same origin as the Shadow Energy released by Granny Fu, but was even more concentrated.

It seemed as if something was being forcibly extracted from within the Iron-Clad Crocodiles’ bodies.

As the black smoke poured out, the crocodiles’ struggles grew weaker and weaker.

Their robust bodies visibly withered at a rapid pace.

Their skin lost its luster, their eyes quickly dimmed.

In just a few seconds.

These several LV4 Mutant Iron-Clad Crocodiles completely ceased moving.

Transformed into several desiccated carcasses.

Floating on the water’s surface.

And the black smoke extracted from their bodies circled once in the air.

Then, like weary birds returning to their nest, it surged back into Granny Fu’s palm.

Granny Fu closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

The deep wrinkles on her face, at this moment, visibly faded somewhat.

Her originally withered skin regained a hint of color.

The aura about her entire person was no longer so deathly.

Instead, it carried a trace more... vigorous vitality.

Lin Ji took all of this in.

His pupils contracted slightly.

Waves stirred within him.

What kind of ability was this?

Devouring life energy to replenish oneself?

And with such a pronounced effect?

The energy fluctuations emanating from Granny Fu were deep, viscous, and icy.

Of extremely high quality.

Lin Ji could even sense that the system within him had issued a warning.

[Detected extremely high danger level energy source]

[Recommend maintaining distance]

Lin Ji narrowed his eyes.

This old woman was indeed not simple.

Her previous display of age and frailty was likely all an act.

Granny Fu slowly opened her eyes.

She glanced at the crocodile carcasses floating on the water, then turned her gaze toward the short-haired girl, Xiao Ling, who was already petrified with fear.

"Th-thank you, Granny Fu!"

Xiao Ling snapped back to reality and hurriedly expressed her gratitude, her voice still trembling.

Granny Fu, however, merely snorted coldly.

"If not for the sake of the Society Leader, and concern for the Society Leader’s Origin being damaged, I wouldn’t bother with you deadweights."

Her tone was utterly blunt.

Xiao Ling lowered her head, not daring to utter another word.

Granny Fu paid her no further mind.

Leaning on her cane, she turned and walked back to Ye Xinglan’s side.

The remaining Iron-Clad Crocodiles in the swamp had all fallen silent.

They seemed to sense the dangerous aura emanating from Granny Fu.

One by one, they slowly sank beneath the water and swam away from the withered-wood passage.

Not a single one dared to approach again.

Just like that, the crisis was effortlessly resolved.

Silence fell over the group.

The female members of the Rose Society looked at Granny Fu with awe and a trace of barely perceptible fear.

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