Bizarre Survival: I Can Devour Thousands of Talents

Chapter 197, Section 196: Divine Conflict, Guild Encounter

"Believe...believe in Brother Chun?"

Qi Heng's ill-timed lame joke only earned him a few sharp, dagger-like stares.

Seeing that Ye Zhanqing was about to start "bullying" his childhood friend again, Ling Xiao quickly changed the subject.

"In short, no matter what gods they believe in, the threat they may pose is no less than that of the deranged."

He looked around at the group and said solemnly, "Although I get along with them fairly well, the potential dangers are often more terrifying than what is out in the open."

"Therefore, I suggest continuing to observe for a while and not rushing into contact with them."

"That's true."

Qi Heng became quite serious when he got serious. "That ice block last time was really scary. I could feel its terrifying aura from a great distance."

"Oh, right."

Ling Xiao changed the subject and asked about the attack on the camp.

"Those who attacked the camp were also followers of the Swamp Lord, so did they exhibit any different characteristics?"

Qi Heng pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No, it's no different from the ones we encountered before."

"Are there no individuals who have developed consciousness? The kind that can communicate?"

"No,"

Qi Heng shook his head again, "I remember everything you told me. I can't be careless in dealing with these ghostly things; I'm going all out!"

"Fortunately, we didn't find any troublesome monsters among them. Once the Thunder Pool was deployed, they were all instantly killed."

Ling Xiao nodded slightly.

Lord of the Swamp

God of Snowfields and Frost

So far, the lost souls they have encountered are divided into two factions, each worshipping one of these two deities.

Freud, who drew attention and exhausted one of his [Divine Protection] spells, and Tessa, whom he decisively killed, were the strongest known members of the two factions of the Lost Ones.

Based on the information leaked by the latter, the two know each other.

This makes it hard for Ling Xiao not to make some connections...

Floyd was killed on a snowfield north of the mountains.

Not only were there white-haired monsters with ice and snow attributes, but also vine-wielding people from the swamp side.

Dividing by region alone may not be very accurate.

If Tessa, who worships the Lord of the Swamp, only moves in the more lush mountains, how did she know Freud?

I have experienced the local customs and culture of Yalan Town.

Ling Xiao boldly made the following hypothesis:

Angelina and other lost souls also worship different gods. Did those other lost souls with names ever live together?

However, they later split up for some reason and evolved into what they are today?

This explains why Tessa and Freud knew each other.

The reason for their alienation and separation can be traced back to the fact that they each worshipped different gods.

But this raises another question.

Freud and other mentally unstable individuals also frequent this area, and combined with the faith of Aran Town, the local people now worship as many as five deities!

Is this reasonable?!

Ling Xiao doesn't believe in gods or Buddhas, but he knows that faith is very much about having a "base of supporters".

One or two might be able to get by pretending.

Five deities.

There'll be one more player when playing mahjong!

With so many deities vying for incense offerings from believers, won't they start fighting each other in their own divine kingdoms?

Ling Xiao voiced his concerns, which drew sighs from everyone.

"Good heavens! Two were already difficult enough, but there are also followers of three different gods in Aran Town!"

Qi Heng clicked his tongue in amazement, "Couldn't we let them fight it out before they come after us? And they're both heartless and soulless, it's driving me crazy!"

"Didn't you hear what Brother Xiao said?"

Ye Zhanqing said irritably, "The soulless people of Yalan Town are hostile to these monsters."

"That could mean..."

Su Jinxi's beautiful eyes lit up as she suddenly thought of something.

"The two gods worshipped by the heartless are just as at odds with the three worshipped by the soulless people of Aran Town!"

"Hiss...that makes so much sense..."

Qi Heng gasped.

Ling Xiao nodded in agreement.

He had the same idea.

In fact.

After realizing that the [Embers of Light] might have originated from the [Goddess of Light], he became interested in the gods.

The group of people tacitly followed the line of thought and continued their research.

Even if there are differences in intelligence, those who can get into "bar dance" universities won't be too far apart.

It's so enjoyable to chat with smart people; they can deduce the earth-shattering changes that might have happened back then in just a few words.

"First and foremost, this is a premise for all our reasoning,"

Ling Xiao drew a "timeline" on the ground and circled the beginning of the line.

"The Homecoming Ship and the town of Aran both prove that humans existed in this world a long time ago."

"And it was a very... glorious era. The Homecoming was able to sail the oceans to explore, and knights and mages possessed extraordinary powers..."

"However, it seems that later, due to reasons such as the 'Abyss' or the 'Dark Sea,' a massive change occurred that had a far-reaching impact."

The timeline continues.

"Then these indigenous people underwent a transformation; some became mindless, and others became soulless."

"Judging from the differences observed after contact, the person who lost their mind is likely the more evil one, and the deity behind them is no better."

"The soulless seem relatively normal, but when it comes to their belief in deities, they're probably not so benign. The reason I can get along with them now is probably because I haven't triggered any problems yet. Once exposed, they might be even more bizarre and insane than the soulless!"

"This world..."

Ye Zhanqing sighed, "There's nothing normal about them... They're either monsters or weirdos with problems. If I were to travel through time alone, I'm afraid I wouldn't have the courage to survive..."

"Me too..."

Qi Heng, unusually, didn't argue with her.

Ling Xiao opened his mouth, but couldn't think of any words of comfort.

Isn't he the same?

Some people prefer being in a group, while others prefer being alone.

However, humans are social animals, and only a very small number of people can live without social interaction at all.

If you come alone to this world full of monsters and eeriness, even if you survive by sheer luck, your mind will eventually break down.

【guild】

It seems to have been created specifically to solve this problem...

"Um?"

Ling Xiao's sudden upward gaze surprised the others.

They rarely saw the usually calm and collected Ling Xiao exhibit such emotional fluctuations.

Ling Xiao himself was also surprised.

Because a group of people appeared at the boundary of his perception.

This time...

It looks like a real person.

"What? A real person!?"

Qi Heng suddenly stood up. "If they weren't mentally unstable, then there's only one possibility for those fifty-odd people coming together!"

"Other guilds!"

Ye Zhanqing helped him complete his idea.

Realizing that it was very likely another guild was approaching, the group all looked at Ling Xiao.

They wouldn't pay so much attention to a lone survivor.

But the two guilds encountered...

Whether it's the joyful reunion of fellow villagers or the bitter conflict of turning against each other from behind, no one dares to make a definitive judgment...

"We need to make contact beforehand, but it can't be just the few of us going."

Ling Xiao knew that hesitation would only waste time, so he said whatever came to mind and came up with a plan as soon as possible.

"Our guild is number one on the leaderboard, and anyone who's interested will recognize our nicknames, so we need to find someone who's 'unknown' to contact."

Ling Xiao's eyes lit up, and he shouted towards the distance, "Li Xiang! We have work to do!"

……

……

The group of people trudged on through the vast snow-covered plains.

"Wow! Almost there! I can already see the trees on the mountain!"

The blonde woman shouted excitedly, and the tall, muscular black man leading the group straightened up and rubbed his slightly sore back.

He turned around and cheered on the guild members, his eyes also lingering on the woman's ample chest.

This little devil, even in the freezing cold, doesn't forget to cling to me, pestering me until I'm exhausted. If it weren't for the powerful boost from his attributes, he really wouldn't dare to enjoy this bone-scraping knife so thoroughly...

"What are you looking at?"

A woman whose looks were merely average approached him, snuggling against his arm with an incredibly seductive air.

"Once we get into the mountains, will you like to rest for a couple of days? I'll take good care of you..."

"Heh! Watch out, or I'll make sure you're bedridden for days..."

The latest novel is first published here!

The members behind felt uneasy watching their leader flirting.

They've worked themselves to the bone to get to this point, and yet they're treated worse than a woman who joined halfway through and sold her body?

Moreover, being overshadowed by a black man, even if it was because of the latter's strength as one of the top 100, inevitably made these old white men feel resentful.

However, the current situation is still not optimistic, and they can only stick together for warmth.

After all, if you coax this black guy with a few nice words, he's willing to take on some dangers.

However, the differential treatment and daily unpleasantness still caused a significant rift in the hearts of the members of this mid-tier guild.

A black dot appeared in the distance, and the strongest black man was the first to spot it.

"Hey!"

He shouted in astonishment, "Who are you?!"

"And who are you?"

Li Xiang remained calm and composed, showing no signs of nervousness.

Even after joining [Light of Green Hills], his combat strength remained weak.

But at this moment, he was very confident!

It's absolutely amazing!

There is no other reason.

There's someone backing them!

A top-tier expert with a precipitous lead, a leader who almost dominates the rankings!

He's hiding right now in his silhouette!

Li Xiang had never felt so upright before, and even felt a strange sense of comfort!

Although it felt a little strange to have Brother Xiao, a grown man, standing so close behind me...

But right now, I'm practically invincible in the entire region, right?

Fortunately, Li Xiang knew his own limitations and understood that the guild sent him to confuse the other party and interrogate them for information.

Otherwise, he really wanted to take this opportunity to show off his big breasts!

[Dark Horse Broker - Ideal]

Almost everyone who came from afar gave Li Xiang a "sharp eye" of judgment.

Never heard of it...

There was no blood on his body...

Sensing the energy, it doesn't seem very strong.

Black people immediately felt more confident.

"Hey! Are you alone?"

"No, my companions are here too."

There was some commotion among the crowd.

This guy isn't a lone wolf; there are other people with him. Does that mean there are other guilds nearby?!

However, after discovering Li Xiang's nationality, they began to have fantasies.

Perhaps the guild behind this guy should be able to...

Black people aren't very smart, but they're not too stupid when it comes to interests.

After the woman's urgent, soft reminder, he asked with a sincere expression, "Hey! Brother!"

"It's so nice to meet you! May I ask about your guild?"

"Well... I can only tell you that it's probably around average."

Li Xiang had already spoken with Ling Xiao before he arrived.

Reputation is sometimes not a good thing; it can actually be a burden.

When both sides' attitudes are unclear, it's best to keep things to yourself.

"Hey bro! You won't even tell us about the guild, I'm worried you might be planning something against us!"

The Black man was somewhat dissatisfied, and his words were laced with complaints.

Seeing the atmosphere becoming somewhat awkward, Li Xiang promptly reminded everyone, "The reason the guild sent me here is precisely because I'm the weakest, so as not to cause any misunderstandings, therefore..."

"WTF!? Are you threatening me!?"

The black man got excited as soon as he heard that, and before he could process it, he started swearing and ripped off his winter clothes, revealing his muscular physique.

"You son of a bitch! Wait till I slap your ass..."

Seemingly realizing that Li Xiang's fighting ability was indeed lacking, the black man, cursing and swearing, suddenly charged forward, charging straight at him like a mad bull!

This surprised not only Li Xiang, but even Ling Xiao.

They'll start fighting over the slightest disagreement?

Are you really not thinking about the consequences at all?

Stereotypes really do have some truth to them...

Li Xiang cursed inwardly, but his feet remained firmly planted.

Although the black man's speed was among the best of the second-tier awakened ones, the information he had discovered confirmed that he was indeed one of the top 100.

but……

The hand on his shoulder gave Li Xiang the confidence to face any pressure.

Do you enjoy bullying the weak?

Do you like to suddenly become violent and hurt people at the slightest disagreement?

Exactly!

The strongest one is on my side!

The others stared wide-eyed, not at their own president, but at Li Xiang as if they had seen a ghost.

In fact, Ling Xiao's appearance was no different from that of a ghost in legend.

There was nothing unusual, and no special effects like flashing lights.

This guy just casually "slipped" out from behind that weakling!?

The Black man who led the charge saw it too, but he didn't care.

There wasn't much brainpower left to think.

His talent and awakened profession are a perfect match, similar to a beast going berserk.

After activating and strengthening himself with the blood of several monsters, he believed he had entered a combat state. Even if he lost most of his sanity, he could still advance a few more ranks with pure combat power!

He even felt that those ahead of him in line wouldn't be a match for him in a real fight!

Another pretty boy?

What good is it?!

It's been so long since I've tasted human blood, I'm really looking forward to this guy's...

bang—

The black man's forward momentum suddenly froze.

Because an ice flower had quietly bloomed at some unknown time, its rapidly bursting thorns overlapped and intertwined with his body!

However, he does have some ability.

The perfectly cast Ice Spike Trap ultimately lacked the power to trap the target directly.

But the Black man was also thrown off balance by this sudden attack. Despite smashing through the obstacles, he still lost his balance and fell forward!

Before he could even struggle, several more ice flowers bloomed!

One isn't enough? Then bring a few more!

Nowadays, Ling Xiao can cast basic ice magic with almost no energy expenditure.

Black people's most powerful physique and close combat skills didn't even have a chance to be displayed in front of him!

In the blink of an eye.

Black people can't move.

Only its head was exposed; the rest of its body was completely sealed off by densely packed, intersecting icicles.

This was only because Ling Xiao didn't intend to kill him; otherwise, with the continuous ice spike traps, this guy probably wouldn't have been able to withstand more than a few waves before being riddled with holes.

Perhaps annoyed by the black man's rude remarks, a thick, long ice spike "coincidentally" pierced an indescribable spot.

Overwhelmed by pain and shame, the black man's eyes bulged out.

But there was no anger, only confusion and fear.

Because his defenses were breached, he forcibly exited his berserk state and regained his lost mind, and also promptly used the [Eye of Appraisal] to see the person's name.

[...owl]

Just by looking at that brief nickname at the end, the Black man's heart sank straight into an ice cave.

"You...you're Xiao!?"

(End of this chapter)