He feigned madness for eighteen years, all for the power of a god.

He didn't shout like Wang Meng, nor did he flash his sword like Chen Mo.

He simply raised his head, and his eyes, hidden in the shadows, instantly turned as black as ink.

It was so deep that it seemed to devour all light.

[Twisted Shadow]!

An invisible force, like a pebble thrown into water, creates ripples in the air.

The bizarre mantis that was pouncing on Wang Meng and forcing him into a retreat suddenly froze in mid-air.

Immediately afterwards, its body, as hard as steel, was gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand and then twisted violently!

"Snap!"

A sickening sound of bones and shells shattering rang out.

That arrogant and bizarre praying mantis didn't even have time to utter a mournful cry.

His entire body was instantly twisted and folded, turning into a bloody, mangled mass of flesh that was indistinguishable from head to tail, which crashed heavily to the ground.

At the same time, another twisting force precisely targeted the grotesque creature that was about to kill its injured teammate.

Its sharp claws, which were about to strike, suddenly stopped less than a centimeter from Chen Mo's neck.

Immediately afterwards, its sharp claws, along with its entire indestructible arm, were twisted into a lump of scrap metal like a pretzel!

Before it could even react to this bizarre turn of events...

A dark shadow flashed by like a ghost!

Bai Ye's figure had appeared in front of the injured teammate without anyone noticing.

He didn't even use the Shadow Blade; he simply used his bare palm as a chopstick to strike the head of the grotesque creature that had launched the sneak attack.

boom!

A dull, loud bang!

Pure, unadulterated physical force, bursting forth without any frills!

The mantis's bizarre head looked as if it had been struck by an invisible giant hammer.

His entire head was smashed into the hard concrete!

Spiderweb-like cracks spread outwards from its head.

The whole process was incredibly smooth and fast!

From the moment Bai Ye made his move to the instant kill of the three new and bizarre creatures that had plunged the entire team into a fierce battle and brought them to the brink of collapse, it all took less than three seconds!

The entire corridor fell into a deathly silence.

Only heavy breathing and the cries of his injured teammate, who had survived the ordeal, could be heard.

Wang Meng stared blankly at the shapeless lump of flesh on the ground.

Then he looked at the grotesque figure in the distance whose head had been smashed into the ground, its mouth agape enough to fit an egg, unable to utter a single word.

He was just... he was just mocking this "quack doctor" as a good-for-nothing who came to make money.

But now, this "useless" guy... took down three monsters that almost wiped him out in three seconds?

What the hell... are you kidding me?

Even the usually composed Chen Mo was visibly shocked at this moment.

He stared at the twisted claws so close to him, and a fine layer of cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Just a moment ago, he had even prepared himself to be severely injured.

He knew perfectly well that with his own strength, he absolutely could not withstand the combined attack of those two bizarre creatures.

But the result...

He turned his head and looked at "Zhao He," who was standing in the shadows as if he hadn't done anything, his eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

At the very back of the line, Lingxia's beautiful big eyes were wide open, her mouth slightly agape, her face full of disbelief.

She saw it most clearly just now.

Bai Ye's movements were so fast that they were impossible to see.

But that effortless, overwhelming power was deeply imprinted in her mind.

"This...this is Zhao He?!" Wang Meng finally found his voice. He muttered to himself, as if asking himself or someone else, "This fighting power...is it fake? Am I seeing things?"

He rubbed his eyes hard, but the bloody scene before him told him with unmistakable realism that it was all true.

That quack doctor, whom they all looked down upon, possessed terrifying strength that could crush them!

At that moment, they all remembered the news that had been circulating in the club a few days ago.

In the club lobby, "quack doctor Zhao He" crippled the local bully Feng Tao with a single move.

When they first heard this rumor, most people's first reaction was disbelief.

I think it's an exaggeration and a misconception.

How could a doctor who makes a living by cheating and swindling possibly beat Feng Tao, who is known for his fierceness?

But now, they believe it.

No, they had no choice but to believe it!

To be able to so easily defeat this level of bizarre is something even Feng Tao couldn't have done.

Even the top players in the club might not be able to do that!

This guy... did he have some kind of extraordinary encounter? How did he suddenly become so strong!

Bai Ye ignored the shocked looks on everyone's faces.

He intervened not because he was particularly kind-hearted and wanted to save the people who had just looked down on him.

It's because the "bomb demon" hiding in the shadows hasn't shown up yet.

The situation is still unclear.

One more person means one more cannon fodder to draw fire and one more chance to probe the enemy's hand.

Maintaining a sufficient number of pieces on the board is essential before the final hunter bares his fangs.

Bai Ye's powerful move acted like a shot in the arm, instantly stabilizing the situation.

The team, which was on the verge of collapse, has temporarily stabilized.

Wang Meng, who was once the most arrogant, now looked like a rooster with its neck being choked.

I dare not utter another word of nonsense.

His gaze toward Bai Ye had shifted from disdain to deep apprehension and a hint of...fear.

In this underworld, fists ultimately decide.

After a brief silence, the atmosphere in the group became unusually eerie.

Wang Meng, who had been making a ruckus, fell completely silent, only occasionally glancing at Bai Ye with a look of awe and complex emotions.

Chen Mo remained silent, but his grip on the hilt of the knife loosened considerably, clearly reassured by Bai Ye's display of strength.

As for the unfortunate injured guy, after a simple bandage, he obediently hid at the back of the line, not daring to make any more rash moves.

"Everyone... let's take a break first." Chen Mo broke the silence, his voice a little hoarse.

The successive battles, especially the sudden encounter just now, had pushed everyone's nerves to their limit.

Wang Meng nodded, plopped down on the ground, and began to pant heavily.

Then, a strange scene unfolded.

Wang Meng took a small hourglass out of his pocket.

Then, he stood upside down against the wall in a perfect headfirst position.

His enormous head looked both comical and bizarre.

This is the price he pays for using his ability "Stone Skin"—standing upside down for ten minutes.

On the other side, the calm and collected Chen Mo pulled out a deck of cards from his pocket and began to tell his fortune without any expression.

He draws a card, glances at it, puts it back, shuffles, draws another card... and repeats the process.

His price is that he must draw the Ace of Spades three times within ten minutes.

This seemingly absurd behavior is the very reason they survive in this cruel world.

Every time a powerful force is borrowed, it must be repaid to that mysterious and unpredictable underworld in another way.

Bai Ye watched this scene, a knowing glint in his eyes.

He remembered Zhao He's price—smoking five cigarettes in ten minutes.

So he also took a crumpled pack of cigarettes out of "Zhao He's" pocket.

He pulled out five sticks and put them all in his mouth, then took out a lighter and lit them with a very practiced motion.

Pretending to pay the price.

In reality, he doesn't need it at all.

Since devouring the Dean and stepping into the twentieth rank, the hunger that originated from the "Gluttony" authority has almost disappeared.

Bai Ye guessed that it might be because he had "eaten" too much in a short period of time, and his body's energy reserves were already quite sufficient.

Just like someone who has just eaten a full meal, they will naturally not feel hungry again for a short period of time.

He even had a feeling that he was now incapable of using the first level of abilities.

Even if you play "Twisted Shadow" and "Shadow Blade" to the fullest extent, you won't feel tired at all.

This is the terrifying aspect of the "costless".

Seeing Bai Ye skillfully light a cigarette and exhale smoke, the last trace of doubt in the hearts of the others vanished.

Judging by his demeanor, he's definitely a heavy smoker, just as rumored in the rumors about Zhao He's price.

At the back of the group, the red-haired girl, Lingxia, blinked her big eyes at Bai Ye, her gaze filled with curiosity and admiration.

She leaned closer and asked in a low voice:

"Brother Zhao... Brother Zhao He, you're amazing! How did you do that? You twisted the monster like a pretzel from a distance! That was so cool!"

Her voice was clear and melodious, carrying the innocence unique to young girls, which eased the oppressive atmosphere somewhat.

Bai Ye glanced at her but did not answer.

All he could think about now was that "bomb monster" and his damn promotion mission.

After paying the price, everyone gathered again to discuss their next move.

Chen Mo's expression remained solemn:

"Something's not right."