Chapter 183

Chapter 183

The path before Feng Chen disappeared as the dark matter intelligently gathered around him. He stood in the darkness, gripping his dagger tightly, spreading his mental energy in a dispersed pattern.

One, two, three.

Judging by the footsteps, there were three zombies, mixed with the faint sounds of quantum beasts.

Half a minute later, the mental energy web he had set to his left front was disrupted. He stealthily moved in that direction, recalling Sa Sa Ka back into his mental realm from the cave, then immediately released it again.

He dared not get too close to the zombies, fearing they would detect his scent, so he waited about ten meters away.

As the footsteps grew nearer, when the zombies reached the targeted spot, he suddenly charged forward, with Sa Sa Ka attacking simultaneously.

After running a few steps, Feng Chen leaped into the air, raising his dagger. Before his feet even touched the ground, the blade had already pierced one of the zombies.

Feeling the blade penetrate flesh and halt half an inch deep, he realized he had struck the shoulder-neck area. He swiftly withdrew the dagger and stabbed upwards again.

"Roar—"

The zombie could only let out a brief howl before its temple was pierced, and only now did Feng Chen land on his feet.

In the darkness, his first strike was to determine the zombie's body position, the second was a precise kill. The entire process from leaping to killing the zombie took only two to three seconds, incredibly fast.

After landing, Feng Chen didn’t continue attacking other zombies but turned and ran. A zombie next to him reacted, reaching towards him, but Sasa bit down on its hand.

Sasa didn't linger in battle, quickly letting go and following Feng Chen who had already dashed about seven or eight meters away.

The remaining two zombies and the quantum beast immediately pursued Feng Chen, but after he ran a distance, he turned a corner, lightened his steps, and stood still, holding his breath and focusing.

The two zombies continued straight on their original path.

Feng Chen listened as their footsteps gradually faded away, yet he remained in place, slightly tilting his head.

He was recalling the moment he killed the zombie. Without a test instrument, he roughly estimated that his burst strength had exceeded 700SJ, and his quick strength surpassed 200KS.

This was a figure he found somewhat unbelievable. The maximum burst strength of a B+ sentinel is 650SJ, and quick strength is 150KS, while for an A-class sentinel, it's 700SJ and 200KS, respectively.

If his estimation wasn't wrong, had his sentinel level already surpassed A-class?

Feng Chen allowed himself a brief moment of elation before regaining his composure, aware that two zombies were still at large and needed to be dealt with.

The footsteps of the two zombies had vanished. They probably stopped after realizing they lost their target and were now standing still. Feng Chen anticipated they would turn back soon, presenting an opportunity for an ambush.

He extended his psychic energy again, tracking the two zombies' movements. Sasa had also stealthily moved forward, ready for a joint attack.

Feng Chen was so focused on the zombies that he didn't notice the danger approaching him from behind in the darkness.

Yan Bubu had been watching Binunu carving the stone lion. Sasa, a professional model, sat motionless at the cave entrance, more stone-like than the lion itself.

But in the blink of an eye, Sasa suddenly vanished from the entrance.

"Sasa, Sasa," Yan Bubu rushed to the entrance and looked down. Not seeing Sasa, he quickly realized that Feng Chen had recalled it to his psychic domain.

Feng Chen suddenly recalling Sasa usually meant danger, like when they were tracking the shuttle red spider. Yan Bubu's expression changed instantly, and he looked anxiously at Binunu, who also stood upright, its face tense with concern.

Without any verbal communication, both instinctively started to exit the cave. Binunu climbed along the rock wall, while Yan Bubu slid down using the vines.

Reaching the bottom of the cave, the dark matter parted to reveal a path. Yan Bubu knew it was guiding him to Feng Chen, so he thanked it and hurried forward with Binunu.

But they hadn’t run more than a few dozen meters when a bright light suddenly flashed in his mind, and a large screen indicating imminent danger appeared in his psychic domain.

As the consciousness image lit up, Yan Bubu’s first thought was about what had appeared near him. He immediately froze, motionless, while calling out to Binunu.

However, he quickly realized something was amiss.

The consciousness image, unobstructed by dark matter, was bright and clear. Bathed in moonlight, a figure with its back to him stood amidst a field of mimosa plants. Tall and upright, Yan Bubu recognized at a glance that it was Feng Chen.

Feng Chen stood facing forward, oblivious to a quantum beast of indiscernible species stealthily approaching him from behind, leaping towards his neck.

The quantum beast, its flesh rotting and drooling from its gaping mouth, had crazed and terrifying black eyes fixed on Feng Chen. Yet Feng Chen was entirely focused ahead, unaware of the danger behind him.

Yan Bubu almost cried out in alarm.

As the quantum beast was about to pounce on Feng Chen, Yan Bubu didn’t stop to think, including why Feng Chen appeared in his consciousness image. He rapidly manipulated the image.

He flipped through the screens at an astonishing speed, sweeping away the dimmed displays until only one remained, which he enlarged on the main screen.

Feng Chen, extending his psychic force forward, heard footsteps — the two zombies were turning back. He immediately tensed, ready to strike at the perfect moment.

The footsteps of the zombies drew closer as he counted down in his mind.

Ten, nine, eight—

Boom!

Suddenly, a dazzling light flashed through his mind, followed by a vivid, large image that appeared clearly in his thoughts.

In this mental image, he saw himself suddenly crouching and lifting a dagger upwards. A zombie quantum beast leaped over his head, only to be slashed open from neck to abdomen by his blade, releasing thick black smoke.

Although Feng Chen had never seen Yan Bubu's conscious imagery, he had heard him describe it countless times. So, upon seeing this image in his mind, he instantly understood it was a conscious image and followed its guidance without hesitation.

He crouched slightly, thrusting his dagger upwards, feeling something leap over his head, bringing a foul, bloody wind. His dagger also sliced through something, ripping it open all the way to the ground.

The zombie quantum beast fell in front of Feng Chen, startling two other zombies who rapidly charged towards them.

Feng Chen's plan was disrupted, and he thought to change his location, but then realized the conscious image in his mind was still active, continuing its narrative.

If he paused now and moved a step to the left in two seconds, he would avoid an attack from zombie A. Retreating half a step further would let zombie B's long nails slide past his cheek.

Raising his mental barrier at that moment would block the psychic attacks of the two zombies. Meanwhile, Sasa Ka would charge towards his back, intercepting the remaining quantum beast.

Feng Chen immediately abandoned the idea of changing locations and moved a step to the left. As expected, zombie A lunged at empty space, roaring past him.

He continued as instructed, evading zombie B's attack, and Sasa Ka intercepted the sneaking quantum beast.

Binunu, called by Yan Bubu, saw him standing still, staring blankly ahead as if in a trance.

"Roar..." It growled anxiously and stretched a paw to push Yan Bubu.

Yan Bubu, still operating the small screen, heard Binunu's urging and replied hastily, "Don't worry, they're fine, I'm helping them."

Initially unsure if Feng Chen could also see the conscious imagery, Yan Bubu realized that Feng Chen was acting precisely according to the images he selected on the large screen.

"Brother can see! He's following the exact images I've calculated and selected. He can see them!"

Yan Bubu's heart raced with excitement.

He had always felt a twinge of regret, wondering why he was the only one with conscious imagery and his brother had none.

"Even without his own mental image, Feng Chen can see the dangers he faces and share this ability with his mental image, effectively giving his brother the same impressive skill."

"Roar..." Bi Nunu didn't understand what Yan Bubu was doing and urged him again.

"Don't rush me, don't rush!" Yan Bubu, flicking through his small screen to display selected images on the big screen, excitedly said, "Bi Nunu, go yourself, I'm busy here, I'll just help them fight from here."

Bi Nunu, both anxious and confused, but with Yan Bubu not leaving, stayed, not feeling safe to let him be alone, so he swiped his paw twice on Yan Bubu's thigh.

"Ouch! Don't worry, I'll explain in detail," Yan Bubu said, rubbing his sore thigh, "You know I have a mental image, and now my brother has one too. I can see him fighting with Sasa and help him."

Knowing the power of Yan Bubu's mental image, Bi Nunu's eyes widened in surprise and he stopped urging him.

Feng Chen dodged a zombie's bite, thrusting his elbow backwards, striking the chest of another zombie with a fierce blow that produced the sound of breaking bones.

The struck zombie was sent flying backward several meters. Feng Chen swiftly moved to the right, stealthily getting behind the first zombie, punching forward with his left fist while his right-hand dagger stabbed at thin air.

His punch, bringing a whooshing wind, aimed at the zombie's head. The zombie, not letting itself be hit, shifted to the side.

A muffled thud echoed in the darkness; the zombie unexpectedly ran into Feng Chen's outstretched dagger.

Feng Chen, though blind, knew from his mental image a few seconds earlier that the zombie's neck was pierced through by his dagger.

The second zombie leapt towards him, boots thudding on the ground. Feng Chen stepped heavily to the right.

Both zombies lunged towards his last position, but Feng Chen had already circled behind the second zombie, swinging his fist fiercely forward.

He knew from his mental image that if his punch hit the zombie, its skull would cave in, breaking the membrane embedded in the skull that resisted psychic powers.

Feng Chen's punch connected with the zombie's skull, hearing the satisfying sound of bones shattering. Only then did he realize his explosive and rapid strength had increased, along with stronger bones and muscles.

"These zombies are modified; I couldn't have crushed its skull with one punch before. Even with my current strength, breaking a zombie's skull would normally break my hand."

"Is this the difference between an A-level sentinel and a B+ level? Is the upgrade this significant?"

But he couldn't ponder for long, seizing the opportunity to unleash his psychic power. His power, like a sharp blade, plunged deep into the zombie's brain, stirring violently.

The zombie collapsed silently to the ground.

"The Black Lion was grappling with the zombie quantum beast. Feng Chen was initially worried, but as the beast's roars weakened, he knew the Black Lion was gaining the upper hand and his concern subsided."

"It seemed not only had his sentinel level broken through to A, but the Black Lion had also received an upgrade."

"Wow! Brother is so amazing! That zombie impaled itself on his dagger, puncturing its neck, and now its head can't even stay upright, constantly lolling on its shoulder..."

"Yan Bubu remained standing there, using his psychic tendrils to manipulate the mental image and vividly narrating the scene to Bi Nunu."

"Bi Nunu listened with a tense face, claws opening and closing, emitting a low rumbling growl."

"Brother has killed the other zombie! He used—"

"Aoao..." Bi Nunu raised his voice to interrupt.

"I know, I know, I'm getting to Sasa. Sasa is truly formidable, biting into the back of that zombie quantum beast and tearing off a layer of its skin..."

"Now only the A zombie remained, which was easier to handle. Following the cues from his mental image, Feng Chen dodged the zombie's bites and continually punched at its head from tricky angles."

"He didn't use his psychic power, just relentlessly hammered punches until the zombie's head was smashed beyond recognition, its roars diminishing until they ceased altogether."

"The mental image in Yan Bubu's mind transformed into golden specks of light, signaling the danger was over. He quickly told Bi Nunu, 'Let's head back, brother and Sasa are returning too. We'll meet them at the cave entrance.'"

"When Feng Chen returned to the cave with Sasa, he saw Yan Bubu and Bi Nunu perched high, peering down towards them."

"Yan Bubu, spotting a small path appear in front of the cave, quickly grasped a vine and slid down."

"Slow down, slow down," Feng Chen called out as he saw Yan Bubu sliding down too quickly.

"Hahaha, then catch me!" Yan Bubu exclaimed.

Letting go, Yan Bubu plunged straight towards Feng Chen. Just as Feng Chen opened his arms, the Black Lion leapt into the air, catching him securely, and then swiftly snatched Bi Nunu, who plummeted like a cannonball, in its mouth.

"Oh no, you're not up to it, brother, you're not up to it..." Yan Bubu landed, only to be swiftly lifted from the Black Lion's back by Feng Chen, gripping him under the arms.

"What’s the matter, trying to play tricks, are you?" Yan Bubu laughed heartily.

Feng Chen slung Yan Bubu onto his back and sprinted forward, quickly covering seven or eight meters. The Black Lion, regaining its bearings, followed, still carrying Bi Nunu in its mouth.

Feng Chen's long strides were like the wind, scattering the dark matter ahead and paving a moonlit path before him. The bashful plants on the ground scattered in panic at the approach of his steps, only rustling back into place once Feng Chen and the Black Lion had passed.

Lying on Feng Chen's back, Yan Bubu laughed, urging, "Faster, even faster! Look, you can't outrun Sasa!"

"I've only got two legs, Sasa has four!"

Yan Bubu, seeing Bi Nunu held in Sasa’s mouth, turning to look at him, a hint of smugness on his face.

"Ah, look how arrogant Bi Nunu is, let's catch up and overtake them!"

The canyon was actually circular, wrapping around Chaya Peak, always covered in dark matter. After carrying Yan Bubu for about ten minutes, Feng Chen stopped in a meadow lush with wild grass.

"Let's not run anymore, we can't catch up with them. Let's rest here."

The terrain here was flat, the wild grass thick and soft like a carpet. Feng Chen set Yan Bubu down, while the Black Lion, with Bi Nunu, continued to run, seemingly intent on circling Chaya Peak along the canyon.

Feng Chen sat down on the grass: "Let's just sit here and watch the moon. Can you give me a shoulder massage?"

"Sure." Yan Bubu also sat down, casually plucking two blades of wild grass and handing one to Feng Chen, "Here, chew on this. Watching the moon isn't the same without a blade of grass in your mouth."