As someone in sequence 001, I also want to give up today.

City center square.

The monster did not attack immediately after landing.

It stood at the edge of the square, its black scales gleaming eerily in the sunlight.

The dense tentacles thrashed wildly, as if probing everything around them.

Then it moved.

Instead of rushing towards the crowd, he turned to look at the lava worms lying on the ground, trapped by Li Yu's cutting force field.

On that face without eyes, a remarkably human expression appeared.

ridicule.

Yes, mockery.

It's like looking at a good-for-nothing.

The lava worm sensed that gaze, and its body, which had already given up struggling, began to tremble slightly.

Its two remaining limbs clutched its head, buried its face in the ground, and let out a weak, almost pleading cry.

The sound, translated into human language, would roughly be:

"I was wrong... I shouldn't have run so slowly... I shouldn't have been so useless... Please don't hit me..."

The monster withdrew its gaze and let out a low, disdainful hiss.

The meaning of that neighing was quite clear:

Waste is waste.

Everyone who witnessed this scene had the same thought simultaneously—

This monster is intelligent.

Moreover, it is not ordinary intelligence.

Its gaze and expression just now clearly showed it was mocking its own kind.

It could even be said that they were mocking this group of humans.

Li Yu and Chen Zhe exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

This thing is much stronger than the last one.

It's not just about superior energy intensity, but also about overwhelming intelligence.

It knew to send the lava worms up first as cannon fodder to deplete their energy.

It just didn't expect that the lava worms were so useless that they couldn't even manage to do something that required a little effort from them.

Chen Zhe hadn't even had his fill when it lay down.

Miscalculated.

The monster stood still, its tentacles continuing to sway, as if assessing the situation on the field.

It looked at Chen Zhe, then at Li Yu, and then—

It actually spoke.

The voice was hoarse and deep, like the sound of sandpaper polishing metal, each word carrying a harsh, abrasive quality.

"Two S-rank humans..."

It speaks human language.

Although it was stiff and harsh, it was indeed human language that could be understood.

Everyone's expression changed drastically.

It's no secret that powerful S-class alien beasts can talk.

But someone who can speak human language, and so fluently, must be an ancient monster who has lived for hundreds of years.

These kinds of exotic beasts usually hide deep in the mountains and forests and never show themselves easily.

Because the longer you live, the more you realize how terrifying humans can be.

Those young, reckless S-class alien beasts often don't live past ten years.

Those who can live for hundreds of years are truly cunning old foxes.

Zhang Jie's voice trembled: "How...how long has this thing been alive?"

No one answered him.

The monster ignored Chen Zhe and Li Yu.

Its eyeless face slowly turned in one direction—

At the edge of the square, at the very back of the crowd.

That guy who just stood there the whole time, never actually making a move, only occasionally throwing out a psychic attack.

Li Xian.

He was making a phone call in the back at that moment.

The monster stared at him, its tentacles thrashing wildly, as if confirming something.

Then it opened.

"You... have the aura of a god."

Li Xian had just finished arranging Lingdang's pick-up and drop-off after school when he heard what the monster said and was stunned for a moment.

The aura of God?

What the hell?

The others were also stunned.

What does this mean?

Li Yu and Chen Zhe's expressions changed almost simultaneously, and they instantly stood in front of Li Xian.

Li Yu unleashed her cutting force field, an invisible sharpness permeating the entire arena.

Golden flames flickered in Chen Zhe's eyes, and the temperature suddenly soared to 20,000 degrees.

Regardless of what the monster meant by "the aura of gods," they only knew one thing—

This thing has its eye on Li Xian.

Then there's nothing more to say.

beat.

Li Yu's voice was as cold as a knife: "Say that again?"

The monster ignored her threat.

It continued to stare at Li Xian, its whiskers swaying even faster.

"Three years ago... I saw a human... He also had this aura..." the monster said hoarsely, "That person... was called the God Emperor..."

Li Xian's pupils contracted slightly.

God Emperor?

Does it know the God Emperor?

That "divine aura"...

He remembered.

Back in Australia, when he was dealing with the God Emperor, he did indeed come into contact with a certain being through the causal thread.

Xumi.

The God Emperor spoke of that name before he died.

That so-called god.

The "aura of the gods" that the monster mentioned was probably referring to that.

But how did it know?

Li Xian stared at the monster, his Myriad Manifestations Power quietly operating, analyzing its energy structure.

S-rank peak, space-type.

They have lived for two thousand years.

and--

Indeed, a faint trace of aura, originating from the same source as the fragment within the God Emperor, remained on its body.

It had been in contact with that world.

Or rather, it has come into contact with things from that world.

The monster seemed to sense Li Xian's probing, and its tentacles suddenly stiffened.

It stared at Li Xian, and a hint of... apprehension appeared on its eyeless face.

Something's wrong with this human.

Something is very wrong.

It has lived for two thousand years, seen countless powerful figures, and also seen several S-class peak monsters.

But no one has ever given it this... dangerous feeling.

It was as if something had seen right through me.

It had only ever experienced that feeling with so-called "gods".

It was silent for a few seconds, then spoke.

The voice was still hoarse, but the tone had changed.

It was no longer the condescending scrutiny of before, but rather carried a hint of... negotiation?

"Humans, hand over the spiritual plant," it said. "These people will all live."

Spiritual plants?

Everyone was stunned again.

Li Yu frowned: "What kind of spiritual plant?"

The monster looked at her, and its tentacles twitched.

"Spatial chaos... a spiritual plant is emerging..." it said. "I sense it... right here..."

Everyone looked at each other.

What kind of spiritual plant?

What kind of spatial chaos?

What is it saying?

Li Xian was also a little confused, not knowing what the monster was saying.

He was aware of the spatial chaos.

But how come he didn't know about that spiritual plant?

Seeing that he didn't speak, the monster assumed he was hesitating and continued speaking.

"I only want the spiritual plant... it won't harm anyone..." it said. "Hand it over... and I'll leave..."

Li Yu sneered, "You think you can just hand it over like that? Who do you think you are?"

The monster looked at her, its tentacles slightly raised.

"I've killed three S-rank humans..."

It said this in a calm tone, as if stating a fact.

"You... are no match for me..."

Chen Zhe's flames surged, his voice icy: "Then let's try."

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

The monster, however, showed no intention of making a move.

It stood there, its tentacles swaying slowly, as if it were thinking.

Then it said something that stunned everyone.

"I've lived for two thousand years..." it said, "and seen far too many powerful humans... the greatest characteristic of your species..."

It paused, and the eyeless face turned towards Li Xian.

"Shoot one, and a whole bunch come."

"After defeating the weak, come and fight the strong."

"After defeating the strong, an even stronger one will come."

"It will never end."

Its hoarse voice actually carried a hint of...感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both emotion and reflection).

"So, I won't fight."

It withdrew its gaze and continued to look at Li Xian.

"Hand over the spiritual plant, and I'll leave."

"If you don't pay, I'll find it myself."

"I'll kill anyone who tries to stop me until I find it."

After it finished speaking, it paused for a few seconds, then added another sentence.

"I'm not some useless lava worm...you can't keep me here."

Everyone fell silent.

This monster is indeed completely different from the lava worm.

It was too calm, too rational.

It knows when to fight and when to negotiate.

It even knows that the most terrifying aspect of humanity is not individual strength, but its endless ability to provide support.

Such opponents are the most troublesome.

Because it doesn't fight you to the death; it only pursues its goal.

Once it achieves its goal, it turns and runs away, and you can't catch it at all.

Li Yu and Chen Zhe exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

They are not afraid to risk their lives.

But these old foxes who don't risk their lives and only seek wealth are the most difficult to deal with.

Standing at the back of the crowd, Li Xian looked at the monster and suddenly felt like laughing.

Having lived for two thousand years, I ventured into a human city just for a spiritual plant whose very existence I don't know.

Moreover, his very first words exuded a "divine aura."

This old man has lived a long time and has a lot of experience, but he doesn't seem to be that smart.

It thought it was the hunter, but in reality, it might be the prey.

As Li Xian was pondering this, the monster suddenly spoke again.

This time, it was addressed to him.

"Human..." it said hoarsely, "the divine aura within you... is faint... but pure..."

"Have you seen things from that world?"

Li Xian paused for a second, then nodded.

"I've seen it."

The monster's whiskers suddenly stiffened.

"Alive?" it asked.

Li Xian thought for a moment.

Is the God Emperor considered alive?

No, the God Emperor is a person of this world.

That guy named Xu Mi...

"I don't know," he answered honestly.

The monster was silent for a few seconds, then let out a low, sigh-like sound.

"That world... is very dangerous..." it said. "I've lived for two thousand years... and I've never dared to go near it..."

"You survived after seeing that... that's impressive."

Upon hearing this, Li Xian suddenly realized that the old monster wasn't so bad after all.

At least, it knows its own limitations.

It came to Jiangcheng not to die, but to survive.

When one's lifespan is nearing its end and a breakthrough is urgently needed, one will risk venturing into human cities to find spiritual plants.

This is gambling with your life.

If you win the bet, you'll live for hundreds more years.

I lost the bet and will die here.

It knows exactly what it is doing.

Li Xian looked at it and suddenly asked a question.

"What does the spiritual plant you want look like?"

The monster paused for a moment, seemingly not expecting him to ask that question.

The tentacles twitched a few times, and then it spoke.

"have no idea."

Li Xian: "..."

I don't know what you're looking for.

The monster seemed to sense his speechlessness and continued to explain.

"A spatial spiritual plant... a once-in-a-millennium occurrence... no one has ever seen one before..." it said, "but I know... its birth will cause spatial fluctuations..."

It paused, then added, "Just like Jiangcheng these past few days."

Li Xian fell silent.

He was aware of the spatial fluctuations in Jiangcheng these past few days.

Those are remnants of a spatial rift, ripples created by the collision between that world and this world.

It's not some kind of spiritual plant that has been born.

This old monster has come to the wrong place.

But Li Xian didn't say it.

He simply looked at the monster and said calmly, "What you want is not here."

The monster's whiskers suddenly stood on end.

"Impossible," it said. "I sensed it very clearly—"

"What you're sensing is the remnant of a spatial rift," Li Xian interrupted, "not a spiritual plant."

The monster was stunned.

A spatial rift?

Having lived for two thousand years, it certainly knows what a spatial rift is.

That was a rift created by the collision of two worlds.

If there really is a spatial rift in Jiangcheng...

The fluctuations it sensed might indeed just be remnants of the crack, rather than a spiritual plant.

But it was not willing to give up.

Its lifespan is coming to an end; this is its last chance.

It remained silent for a long time.

So long that Li Yu and Chen Zhe began to suspect that it was building up a powerful attack.

Then it moved.

It was not an attack.

It's a turn.

Its massive body slowly turned, and its four thick, segmented limbs spread out as it walked toward the edge of the square.

After taking a few steps, it suddenly stopped.

He didn't turn around, but that hoarse voice rang out again.

"Humans..."

"What's your name?"

Li Xian paused for a moment, then said.

"Li Xian".

The monster remained silent for a second.

"Li Xian..." it repeated, "I'll remember you."

"The divine aura emanating from you... makes me very uncomfortable."

"If you're still alive when we meet next time, I'll kill you."

After saying that, its enormous body suddenly burrowed back into the ground.

gone.

They just left like that.

The square was silent.

After a long while, Zhang Jie finally let out a long breath, his legs went weak, and he almost sat down on the ground.

"It...it's gone?"

Magneton stared at the detector in his hand, his voice trembling: "The energy fluctuations... are gone... they're really gone..."

Everyone finally relaxed completely.

Old Zhao plopped down on the ground, panting heavily.

Wang Tao leaned against the barrier, his face pale.

The five-person team collapsed completely.

Chen Zhe extinguished the flames and looked at Li Xian.

"Brother Xian, what did it mean by 'divine aura' just now?"

Li Yu also looked at him, her eyes filled with inquiry.

Li Xian thought for a moment and said, "It might be remnants from the God Emperor's side."

"The God Emperor?" Chen Zhe frowned. "You've met the God Emperor?"

Li Xian nodded: "I've met you before."

"Where?"

"In the video."

Chen Zhe: "..."

The person you saw in the video could be imbued with the aura of some god.

Kill me?

But he didn't ask any more questions.

There are some things that Li Xian doesn't want to talk about, and asking won't help.

He simply patted Li Xian on the shoulder and sighed.

"Brother Xian, you're really mysterious."

Li Xian didn't reply, he just smiled.

Li Yu walked over, looked at Li Xian, and hesitated to speak.

He only said one last thing: "Brother, I'm glad you're alright."

Li Xian nodded.

Li Yu and Chen Zhe took the dying lava worm back to the branch office.

Others also gradually evacuated.

Soon, only Li Xian remained in the square.

He stood there, looking in the direction the monster had disappeared, and remained silent for a long time.

The breath of God.

Xumi.

That world.

It seems that some things are not over yet.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Lin Mo.

"There's something going on in Jiangcheng. Come over when you have time."

Lin Mo replied three seconds later.

"??? What's wrong now?"

"There was an old monster who had lived for two thousand years, and he said he smelled the aura of a god."

Lin Mo was silent for three seconds, then sent a voice message.

Upon clicking, one hears Lin Mo's voice breaking down.

"Li Xian!!! I just want to play a game in peace and quiet!! Can't you give me a couple of days of peace and quiet!!!"

Li Xian's lips curved slightly as he replied:

"It's gone, everything's fine for now. Just letting you know."

Lin Mo replied instantly:

"What do you mean 'it's okay for now'? Can you please speak clearly?!"

Li Xian did not reply.

He put his phone away and turned to walk towards Su Wenjin's house.