High-Martial World: System Arrives 30 Years Late-Chapter 60: Devouring the Heart, Ruthless Demon Cultist

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Devouring the Heart, Ruthless Demon Cultist
Inside the armed vehicle heading to the Black Market, Su Mu’s face was somewhat pale as he relied on meditation to recover. Cultivating Blade Qi consumed a significant amount of energy and Qi and Blood.
Noticing this scene, the other six felt disdain, becoming more convinced that this person had used connections to sneak into the assessment.
However, Su Mu was not a troublemaker; it was enough to obey orders. As they were currently on a mission, they didn’t plan to create additional complications.
In the vehicle, aside from the seven individuals taking the assessment, there was also Luo Cheng, nearly fifty years old, the branch president of the Linjiang Martial Arts Association. Luo Cheng was expressionless, seemingly lost in thought.
These days, he found it hard to accept that Chang Yuanqing was a spy from the Demon Sect. They had known each other for years, and he didn’t believe Chang Yuanqing was a spy. Moreover, there were many suspicions surrounding the matter; it was quite peculiar.
Before long, the voice on the intercom broke the silence in the vehicle.
Several people picked up the intercom.
"We’ve discovered the suspect’s whereabouts. Five individuals are loitering near an abandoned factory close to the Black Market."
"Good. Continue monitoring them, but don’t get too close. Wait for us to arrive."
Upon hearing there were five individuals, the remaining six in the vehicle became even more excited. They were worried there wouldn’t be enough Demon Cultists for all of them.
Su Mu, waking from his meditation, wasn’t surprised. After all, Wang Heng’s information was temporary, and discrepancies in the information were normal.
He immediately took out a set of wrist and knee guards to wear, which he had temporarily dismantled from his Third Level Battle Armor. In urban combat, wearing the full set of battle armor would greatly affect flexibility.
Luo Cheng glanced at Su Mu with slight curiosity, noticing that he was somewhat different from the other nine, lacking that outward arrogance.
The other six in the vehicle couldn’t help but sneer, easily recognizing that what Su Mu held were merely joint guards from a Third Level Battle Armor.
They were all Fourth Level Martial Artists, strong and robust. They didn’t believe these pieces of scrap metal would be of much use; agility was more important in alley fights. At this moment, they only thought Su Mu was too afraid of death.
Su Mu paid no mind to the others’ gazes, meticulously securing the joint guards, then stood and moved to ensure they didn’t hinder flexibility before looking out the window.
...
"Chairman Luo, the civilians near the abandoned factory have been evacuated, but they seem to have noticed. Currently, two individuals remain at the factory, while three have left towards the south."
"South? ... Their target should be the dock. Not good, they intend to escape!" Luo Cheng immediately made a judgment.
"Time is of the essence. Let’s split up. Number Eight, Number Nine, and Number Ten, you three will lead a team to the abandoned factory. Chairman Luo, the five of us will pursue the group heading to the dock," Zhang Wei of Number Four spoke.
"Time is tight, so let’s do it that way. You three take two squads to the factory; everyone else, follow up and maintain contact, ing any anomalies promptly!" Luo Cheng made the final decision.
Su Mu nodded without objection. The other two appeared displeased, but with Luo Cheng’s decision, they couldn’t say much.
"Move out!" Number Eight, a round-faced woman, called out coldly.
The team on this mission was comprised of elites. Others were responsible for evacuating the crowd and coordinating the operation. Two squads from the Martial Arts Association, totaling twelve Third Level Martial Artists.
Immediately, Su Mu and fifteen others rushed through the old industrial area, sprinting towards the abandoned factory.
"Number Ten, take a squad to the back door to guard the exit. My request is not to let any escapees through. Number Nine, come with me into the factory, quickly resolve the issue, and then head to support the dock," the round-faced woman issued the plan.
"Understood."
Su Mu nodded, immediately leading a six-member squad towards the back door.
At this time, Number Eight and Number Nine led another squad from the main entrance, stepping into the abandoned factory. This was once a medium-sized chemical raw materials plant, shut down due to severe pollution. The factory was sizable, with an internal steel structure of three floors.
Due to years of neglect, the factory was devoid of lighting. As soon as they entered, they heard commotion from upstairs.
"Upstairs, let’s chase them!"
Thump, thump, thump.
Moving on the steel plates produced a loud noise. Soon, both sides met. A fat and a thin man across from them showed no panic upon seeing Number Eight and others, instead bearing mocking expressions.
Immediately, those with Number Eight felt something was wrong. Number Nine tried to use the intercom to request support but found communication was down, as the factory surely had jammers.
Thump, thump.
Urgent footsteps came from the back staircase, and three people emerged from the shadows, blocking the eight’s retreat. They were surrounded.
"Number Nine, let’s kill them. Everyone else, take on those behind and buy us some time!" Number Eight drew the Long Saber in her hand.
"Understood."
Without hesitation, Number Nine roared, gripping the iron hammer tightly as he charged forward.
Only in the next second did Number Eight and Number Nine’s expressions drastically change, their pupils contracting.
In the darkness, the two mocking individuals emitted a strong Qi and Blood wave. Subsequently, a layer of blood light circulated around their bodies, solidifying and not dispersing.
"Qi Blood Emission... Fifth Level Martial Artist?!"
"Not good, we’ve been tricked!"
In a moment of distraction, the opponents moved. The tall, thin man stomped his feet fiercely. With a loud noise, his feet left an imprint on the solid steel plate. At this moment, both revealed predatory fangs, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep.
Clang!
Sparks flew.
A heavy metal staff swung down menacingly, the air seeming to solidify for an instant under the staff’s presence. Number Nine took the blow head-on, his palm tingling, blood seeping, and his body suddenly sunk, the steel plate beneath his feet denting slightly.
"Good, true to those taking the Training Camp assessment. Let’s see how many more strikes you can take!"
The metallic weapons clashed fiercely, producing explosive sounds.
Clang, clang, clang!
The staff swung repeatedly. Number Nine’s eyes turned blood-red, roaring as the Qi and Blood within poured unreservedly into his arms and weapon, but he could only struggle bitterly.
Crack.
With another swing, a dense bone-cracking sound came from Number Nine’s right arm. He suddenly spat a mouthful of blood, staggering backward a few steps before kneeling on the ground.
The clash between the two caused the entire Third Floor to tremble.
"Number Eight, hurry!"
Yet, after witnessing the opponent’s strength, Number Eight no longer harbored thoughts of killing the two. Without hesitation, she turned to break through the barricade behind her.
Nine, watching this, was furious and desperate. At this moment, the other Fifth Level Demon Cultist, who hadn’t taken action, moved too.
"Do you think you can escape?"
A cold flash appeared as a sinister spear manifested in his hand. He took a step forward, then leaped, landing a foot on Number Nine’s right shoulder and thrusting the spear with his right hand.
Ah!
A piercing scream erupted from Number Nine’s mouth as his right shoulder was crushed under the opponent’s foot, flesh mangled, tendons shattered, a shard of white bone exposed.
But the scream abruptly ceased as an iron staff expanded in Number Nine’s pupils.
Pssst.
Blood splattered, a head exploded like a watermelon.
The tall, thin man twirled the staff, smoothly switching it to his left hand, then suddenly reached forward with his right hand to extract a still-beating heart.
He bit down, blood spraying, the tall, thin man revealing a hint of enjoyment, devouring it in a few bites before licking his lips, his aura faintly stronger.
"Skinny, I’ve told you to hold back. This body is of little use now."
"Hehe, Fatty, you go ahead. I’ll take care of the backdoor. This time I’ll leave the body intact."
"Scarface, you go along too."
"Hehe, no need. Tonight, the Linjiang Base’s main forces are not with us. The rest are no threat."
"Alright, we’ll wait for you at the secret passage exit." The others quickly lifted the body and departed.
...
Guarding the backdoor, Su Mu could hear the commotion of battle inside the abandoned factory. He guessed both sides had engaged, but with no information from Number Eight and others via intercom, support was likely unnecessary.
For now, they just had to guard the backdoor to prevent any escapees.
Within a few brief minutes, the sounds of fighting inside the factory ceased, and the swift resolution of the battle made Su Mu’s heart tighten.
"Sure enough, those taking the Training Camp assessment are formidable."
As footsteps approached, the six from the Martial Arts Association squad showed joy, except for Su Mu.
Su Mu’s right eyelid twitched. He discerned that only one individual was approaching, and it was an unusual gait.
It didn’t resemble the footsteps of Number Eight, nor Number Nine...
"Fall back."
Su Mu lowered his voice, speaking solemnly, then quietly stepped back a few steps, his right hand silently resting on the knife handle.