Chapter 137: The Apocalypse Squad Reveals Themselves

Chapter 137: Chapter 137: The Apocalypse Squad Reveals Themselves

Ye Xinglan also looked at Granny Fu, her expression complex.

She opened her mouth as if wanting to say something.

But in the end, no words came out.

Lin Ji broke the silence.

"Let’s keep moving."

He said, his voice calm.

As if that bizarre scene moments ago had never happened.

The team began moving again.

This time, everyone’s steps were even more cautious.

Soon, the team made it through the remaining stretch of the withered wood passage without incident, stepping onto the relatively solid ground on the other side of the swamp.

The moment they reached the shore, several of the female members let out long sighs of relief, feeling as if they had narrowly escaped death.

But Lin Ji did not let his guard down.

His Eye of Insight remained active, scanning the forest ahead.

The trees here were taller and denser.

The light grew even dimmer.

A faint smell of humus lingered in the air.

"Safe for now."

Lin Ji said.

He deactivated the Mantis Exoskeleton Armor.

The black armor receded like a tide, withdrawing back into his body.

Qin Yao walked over to him and said in a low voice:

"That old woman, there’s something off about her."

Lin Ji nodded.

"I know."

"Let’s not worry about her for now."

He looked at Ye Xinglan.

"President Ye, have your people rest for five minutes."

"Regroup and adjust."

Ye Xinglan nodded.

She turned to make arrangements.

The female team members found places to sit, taking out their water bottles to drink and calm their nerves.

Granny Fu, meanwhile, walked alone to the side, leaning against a large tree and closing her eyes to rest.

Lin Ji also found a rock to sit on.

Su Qingyue naturally sat down beside him.

Shen Manyun hesitated for a moment, then also sat nearby.

Qin Yao stood on Lin Ji’s other side, arms crossed.

The three women subtly surrounded Lin Ji.

The atmosphere grew somewhat delicate.

Lin Ji paid no attention to this.

In his mind, he replayed the details of Granny Fu’s earlier move.

That Shadow Energy was very strange.

Devouring life, nourishing oneself...

It reminded him of some rather unpleasant things.

Just then—

Granny Fu, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

A faint, dark light flashed in her eyes.

Then, she slowly turned her head, looking back in the direction they had come from.

A hoarse voice rang out in the silent forest:

"Come out."

"You’ve been following us the whole way."

"Isn’t it tiring, hiding like this?"

As her words fell.

Everyone’s expressions changed.

Lin Ji stood up abruptly, his gaze sharp as he looked in the direction Granny Fu was watching.

Qin Yao, Su Qingyue, and Shen Manyun immediately went on alert.

Ye Xinglan and the female members of the Rose Society nervously tightened their grips on their weapons.

Deep in the forest.

A deathly silence fell.

Only the rustling of leaves in the wind.

A few seconds later.

A low chuckle emerged from the shadows.

"Heh heh..."

"As expected of the Rose Society’s elder, Granny Fu."

"Your perception is indeed sharp."

Following the laughter.

A figure slowly stepped out from the shadows behind a thick, sturdy tree.

The voice was raspy, dry, like two rough sheets of sandpaper rubbing together.

Carrying an undisguised mockery.

Everyone’s bodies stiffened.

They turned sharply toward the direction of the voice.

Lin Ji’s pupils contracted abruptly.

He hadn’t sensed anyone there at all!

Even Qin Yao, who had remained vigilant all along, instantly darkened her expression.

The shadows of the dense forest writhed.

A figure clad in a black cloak slowly emerged.

The hood of the cloak was pulled low, covering most of the face, revealing only a sharply defined, cold jawline.

The material of the cloak was unusual, seemingly capable of absorbing light.

It made his entire figure appear to blend into the surrounding shadows, giving off an unreal, illusory sensation.

His build was not particularly tall, even somewhat slender.

Yet, standing there, he exuded an icy, bone-chilling aura.

Like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness, ready to strike and devour at any moment.

The atmosphere within the group instantly plummeted to freezing point.

The girls from the Rose Society instinctively shrank back, their faces etched with fear.

Even Ye Xinglan tightened his grip, his expression grave.

Granny Fu narrowed her eyes, her dark red wooden staff slightly raised.

Lin Ji frowned.

This person had concealed himself too well.

With his attention entirely focused on the swamp and Granny Fu earlier, he had completely failed to detect this person’s presence.

This was highly unusual.

The cloaked figure’s gaze slowly swept over the group.

It was cold, devoid of any emotion, as if appraising a herd of lambs awaiting slaughter.

Finally, his gaze settled on Lin Ji.

From within the shadows beneath the hood, an extremely faint, cold chuckle seemed to emanate.

"You, are the one called Lin Ji?"

The hoarse voice sounded again.

The tone was impolite, each word dripping with undisguised killing intent.

Lin Ji’s frown deepened.

He did not answer immediately, merely watching the other calmly.

Qin Yao stepped forward, positioning herself at Lin Ji’s side.

Her body tensed slightly as she lowered her voice.

"Be careful."

"This guy is an A-grade Talent Awakener from the Apocalypse Guild, codename Anying."

"He’s extremely skilled in Concealment and assassination."

"Even before coming to this world, he was a top-tier killer."

Qin Yao’s tone was serious, clearly showing great wariness toward this "Anying."

Lin Ji nodded, indicating he understood.

He continued to watch the cloaked man, his eyes showing no fluctuation.

"Yan Ji."

Anying spoke again, this time addressing Qin Yao.

"Betraying Apocalypse for such a weakling."

"Have you lost your mind?"

His voice was filled with mockery.

"To deal with trash like him, I alone am enough to wipe him out."

"And you actually chose to stand by his side?"

The words were spoken with extreme arrogance.

Completely disregarding Lin Ji and everyone else present.

Lin Ji snorted coldly.

But he did not move.

Nor was he provoked.

The other’s words were clearly meant to goad him into making the first move.

In a situation where the enemy was hidden while they were exposed, and the opponent excelled at concealment and ambush,

rushing forward recklessly would only play into the other’s hands.

Lin Ji’s gaze, seemingly casual, swept over the dense forest behind Anying.

His Eye of Insight had already quietly activated.

Within his field of vision, several faint traces of life energy appeared in the seemingly calm woods.

As expected.

He wasn’t alone.

Seeing that Lin Ji had not taken the bait and instead directed his gaze behind him, the corner of Anying’s mouth beneath the hood seemed to twitch.

"Tsk."

"Quite alert."

He rasped.

"It seems provoking you won’t be enough to make you willingly walk to your death."

As his words fell.

From the dense forest behind him came the faint sound of footsteps.

Leaves rustled.

Another group emerged from the shadows of the woods.

Leading them was a woman.

She was exceptionally tall, with a perfect, almost devilish figure.

She wore a tailored dark blue combat suit that accentuated her breathtaking curves.

But what drew the most attention was the aura she exuded.

Cold.

Utterly cold.