Chapter 23: Invincible Speed

Lin Lin was so hungry she could hardly bear it. Hearing Lin Qiu’s words, she instinctively opened her mouth.

Her eyes suddenly sparkled, for she sensed food entering her mouth.

After swallowing, the distinctive flavor of octopus shocked her awake.

“Brother, how did you—?!”

Lin Lin’s voice trembled with astonishment.

“Shh, it’s a secret.”

“Open your mouth!”

Lin Qiu whispered. Lin Lin hurriedly complied, and strips of octopus appeared out of thin air, which she devoured.

Both of them ate octopus, and their spirits began to recover. Though they still couldn’t control their bodies, they felt their strength returning.

Just then, the ancient city’s tolling bell finally fell silent.

The moment the imprisoned aquatic creatures regained their freedom, they helplessly sank toward the depths.

After two days and nights of being controlled by the bell, without a moment’s rest, their stamina was utterly depleted.

Some turned belly-up and died halfway down.

At this moment, every aquatic creature had only one thought in their minds—

Hunger.

A desperate, ravenous hunger.

Regardless of the rules here, they began to devour one another.

Lin Qiu fell, catching Lin Lin’s sinking body.

He watched countless aquatic beings surge forward, beginning a frenzied slaughter.

Above the ancient city, the round moon gleamed brighter.

Countless rays of light descended like swords, shattering those engaged in the carnage.

A beam swept past Lin Qiu, making his skin tighten with anxiety.

He drew a sharp breath. “Does this thing even have auto-targeting?!”

“That’s right, Host. The ancient city’s system is fully programmed.”

“Now, every aquatic creature that enters the city is enveloped by the light. Their genes, species, all data are recorded.”

“If they break the rules, the city’s system locks onto their genetic signature with absolute precision.”

“It will eliminate them with thunderous force.”

As the system explained, a ray of light appeared beside Lin Qiu.

“Mistaken identity, surely?”

Lin Qiu’s eyes widened as the sword-like light approached, nearly scaring the soul out of him.

Many aquatic beings far stronger than himself had died instantly beneath these rays. He doubted he could withstand it.

He retreated swiftly, like a flash of light.

But the sword-beam pursued relentlessly, shifting direction again and again, always locked onto him.

“System, what’s happening?!”

Lin Qiu cried out to the system in panic.

“Host, please stop moving.”

The system’s flat electronic voice replied.

“If I stop, I’m dead!”

Lin Qiu didn’t trust the system at all, dodging frantically.

But the light was too fast.

No matter how quick he was, how could he outrun light?

“My fate is sealed!” Lin Qiu watched the ray stabbing straight for him, his heart sinking like a stone.

Just as he prepared to accept his doom, at the instant the beam was about to pierce him, it veered, skimming past his right fin and vanishing.

“I’m safe?!”

Lin Qiu froze, stiffly turning to see the ray chase down a shadow.

The shadow paused—it was a swordfish.

Swordfish, also known as sailfish, belong to the sailfish family.

The most common are the Eastern Sailfish and the Grey Sailfish.

They are massive, reaching up to five meters in length.

In the ocean, they are among the fastest aquatic creatures.

Before mutation, sailfish could swim sixty miles per hour—a true swimming prodigy.

Their mouths are like sharp swords; their dorsal fins, midway up the back, are wider than their bodies.

When swimming swiftly, their dorsal fins wave like flags.

They are fierce predators.

Their flat bodies and flag-like dorsal fins drive them rapidly forward.

Once locked on a target, their sword-like mouths can instantly impale any aquatic creature.

It is said that in the world of martial arts, speed conquers all.

With absolute speed and a sword-sharp mouth, few sea beasts escape them.

The creature Lin Qiu saw was a sailfish.

But the light had caught it.

Before his eyes, it was shredded and purified, vanishing without a trace.

Lin Qiu drew a sharp breath, then was filled with rage.

The breath was for the tyranny of the light; the rage for the sailfish’s maliciousness.

It had tried to use his body as a shield to dodge the light’s pursuit.

No wonder no matter how he moved, the light pursued him.

There was a creature behind him, faster than he, mirroring his every move—a sailfish.

“Serves you right!”

He laughed coldly, feeling relieved.

But he also thought it was a terrible waste.

Any aquatic creature who reached the ancient city had noble ancestry and intelligence.

If these creatures obediently entered his mouth, letting him devour them, his upgrade points would skyrocket.

But as he glanced at the treasure orb overhead, shining like the moon, his fleeting greed vanished.

“I’d rather stay alive!”

He offered a sheepish smile and swam over to Lin Lin.

At that moment, all the rays vanished.

Lin Qiu looked closely, drawing yet another sharp breath.

In just a few heartbeats, the dense crowd of aquatic creatures had dwindled by nearly a third.

All slain by the rays.

“Brother…”

Lin Lin’s spiritual ripple carried fear and trembling.

She was just an innocent, gentle young dolphin—when had she ever witnessed such carnage?

Lin Qiu comforted her, then observed the dolphin clan, finding that aside from those who died of exhaustion, they had suffered almost no losses.

Dolphins are peace-loving creatures.

Of course, to Lin Qiu, that was nonsense.

In the water, who truly loves peace?

Octopus is a staple food for dolphins. Does that mean octopus aren’t fish?

It’s always big fish eating little fish, little fish eating shrimp.

In summary: the weak are prey.

Lin Qiu let his mind wander, then turned his gaze ahead.

Ahead lay a vast plaza, with a pavilion atop it. Hanging from its beams was a bronze bell, three meters in diameter and nine meters tall.

On the bell were exquisitely carved reliefs.

After the system’s modification, Lin Qiu possessed night vision and penetrating sight.

With a glance, he saw the intricate reliefs formed from countless water columns.

It was impossible to count how many aquatic creatures were depicted.

Beneath the bell, a mermaid sat cross-legged.

Yes, cross-legged.

For this being bore scales and was otherwise indistinguishable from a human.

The only differences: fish scales on the forehead, and ears shaped like those of a fish.