Just how strong the Senzhou team members were, Zheng Zha didn't know, but he was acutely aware that at this moment, he and Zero Point were in the most disadvantageous position. Firstly, the opposing pair possessed the best enhanced attributes, wielded the finest exchanged weapons, and utilized the strongest defensive gear. The crucial factor was that they also had the support of a mental control specialist. In contrast, Zheng Zha and Zero Point were fighting completely isolated, essentially existing constantly within the enemy's sights. Regardless of the environment, for Senzhou, nothing would remain a secret, while their opponents could maintain constant surveillance and even coordinate seamlessly.

Beyond the factor of the mental controller, the terrain itself was hardly advantageous for Zheng Zha and Zero Point. This was the underground, teeming with insects everywhere. While Chu Xuan and the others leaving had diverted a significant number of bugs and simultaneously caused the Senzhou team to reveal themselves carelessly, environmentally speaking, this was still the Senzhou team's home ground.

When Zero Point launched the first attack with his Gauss Rifle, it immediately exposed the enemy's powerful B-class protective artifacts. The effectiveness of these artifacts was immense. Zheng Zha had witnessed the power of the Gauss Rifle; while he wouldn't claim it was indestructible, he certainly wouldn't dare stand still while Zero Point shot at him wearing his Dragon Crystal. The Dragon Crystal’s protection relied entirely on its internal energy; once depleted, the crystal was little more than a rock, and given the power of the Gauss Rifle, draining the Dragon Crystal’s energy wouldn't be difficult.

(But that artifact is different. From what I gather, it seems capable of defending against not only long-range high-tech weaponry but also close-combat weapons and legendary magical artifacts. I wonder if it can defend against blade light—formless yet tangible? If so, that defensive artifact is terrifyingly potent, well-deserved of a Dual B-class item... Damn it, does farming rookies really pay that well?)

Zheng Zha cursed inwardly. He then immediately executed the plan previously coordinated with Zero Point: the two split up, darting left and right into the darkness. Though uncertain if the enemy would split to pursue them, this was an excellent way to separate the two pursuers.

The two Caucasians from the Senzhou team paused briefly. Rost took a deep drag from his cigar and spoke to Niyagabin, who held a silver metallic bow nearby, "I'll take on the melee fighter with the blade. You handle the one with the high-tech weapon. We rendezvous here in five minutes. If time is exceeded, we each pay the opponent 1000 Reward Points per minute to enhance physical conditioning. Understood?"

Niyagabin laughed heartily, "That’s fair play, but your enhancement direction gives you an advantage in time—even running would take a few minutes, right? Then I won't link my mental scan to your mind; that way it’s fair? Hahaha, you said it yourself. 1000 Reward Points per minute for physical conditioning—I’m worried you won't have enough points for me to spend."

Rost spat out the cigar butt with a curse, muttered a few times, then pushed off the ground, his entire body transforming into a gust of wind as he chased after Zheng Zha. Niyagabin gave a cold smile at his retreating figure, then turned to the two brown-skinned men, frowning slightly. He snapped at them, "Get back into the insect horde yourselves, damn it. If the Zhongzhou team kills you, I will resurrect you and slowly kill you all over again. Do you believe I can make you die over ten days and nights?"

The two brown-skinned men immediately nodded meekly, their appearance showing utter fear. Only after Niyagabin also pushed off the ground and pursued Zero Point did they quickly scramble back the way they came through the tunnel, moving as if completely devoid of spirit—nothing but dread remained.

Meanwhile, Zheng Zha turned and leaped outward. Although the canopy of the fungal plant had been pierced by an arrow, the plant remained about twenty meters above the ground. Zheng Zha feared none of that height. Turning, he jumped down, and just as he was about to collide with another fungal stalk, he executed his light-body skill, lightly tapping the surface, which propelled him upward again. Just like that, Zheng Zha darted forward through the forest of fungal plants like a bird. His speed was certainly not slow, but before he could run for two minutes, just as he tapped a surface to take flight again, a sharp hiss sounded behind him. Zheng Zha barely had time to turn when a fierce wind sliced past his shoulder, tearing a large gash in the fabric of his shirt.

Zheng Zha didn't leap again this time. He turned to look back and saw the Caucasian man with the cigar standing silently atop a tall fungus behind him. He had no idea when the man had caught up, but Zheng Zha knew this man's speed was extraordinary. In fact, it wasn't just extraordinary; to chase him down from such a distance while he was using his light-body skill, and to approach so closely unnoticed, meant that this man’s speed alone surpassed Zheng Zha’s. Truly a powerhouse raised by a team.

The Caucasian man wasn't smoking his cigar this time. He glared at Zheng Zha and sneered, "What? Still refusing to surrender? Do you need me to tear you to shreds before you'll submit? Look at your shabby appearance; that blade is at best a B-class, or perhaps a Dual B-class legendary magical weapon? What a hypocritical weakling... You must be the strongest one in the Zhongzhou team, yet you fight so desperately for them. If I were you, I'd kill or subjugate everyone on that team except for one or two confidants, hahaha..."

"Shut up!"

Zheng Zha roared in anger. He could no longer restrain himself and unleashed a strike. The blade light from the Tiger Soul blade stretched out to about ten meters. As Zheng Zha struck, he pushed off the ground and charged toward the Caucasian man. The blade swept out, and the invisible blade light carved diagonally across the thick stem of the fungal plant, slicing through the very spot where the Caucasian man stood.

The Caucasian man had been sneering, but as the Tiger Soul's blade light approached, his expression tightened slightly, and he leaped upward. In that critical moment, he dodged the fatal strike. The massive fungal plant beneath his feet had been severed in half by the blade light, leaving only the stump standing there.

As the Caucasian man landed, Zheng Zha retracted his blade and struck again fiercely. This time, the man was mid-air, with no room to dodge. It looked as if the Caucasian man was about to be bisected by the strike, but before the blade light reached him, the man countered with an empty-handed strike. With a loud, metallic clang, Zheng Zha felt the Tiger Soul blade in his hand violently tremble. The blade light, generated from internal energy, shattered into fragments—a situation he had never experienced before. He looked at the Caucasian man, who clearly held nothing in his hands. How could he shatter the Tiger Soul's blade light with bare hands? Let alone this man, even he himself in the 'Destroy' state couldn't do that.

"Can you see my weapon? Hahaha, this is an A-class weapon! Although it's not finished, once it reaches its maximum level, it will become a Dual A-class legendary magical weapon... The Sword of Victory and Vows! You can also call it... Excalibur!" The Caucasian man stood on the severed fungal stump, laughing boisterously.

Zheng Zha stared coldly at the empty hand of the Caucasian man. He stood motionless on the ground. Looking through his eyes, the shape of the man gripping a weapon was indeed visible. Based on the size and grip, the weapon should be a greatsword, which, compared to ordinary longswords, was the only type that could clash head-on with his broad blade. What he hadn't anticipated was that the seemingly invincible blade light would be so fragile.

"How strong are you? To what extent have you unlocked your gene locks?" Zheng Zha asked casually while contemplating his next move.

The Caucasian man froze for a moment, then mocked him loudly, "What? Trying to gather opponent intel now before killing me in one go? But it doesn't matter. It will only take me a dozen seconds to kill you; talking a few extra words won't change that. I am the captain of the Senzhou team, and I have unlocked the second gene lock. Hahaha. I couldn't possibly go to a place where farming rookies is nearly impossible. I've grown fond of this world—crazy, bloody, murderous, and full of pathetic, hypocritical weaklings revealing their true nature. What a wonderful world! To tell you the truth, not only is my power immense, but the 'Main God' has also recognized my potential. I was replicated into the Demon Reincarnation Squad long ago, hahaha... I wonder how my clone is faring over there; I wonder if they can farm rookies there. At least when we meet next time, my clone shouldn't be too much weaker than me."

Zheng Zha’s eyes gradually glazed over with confusion. He clenched the Tiger Soul blade tightly with both hands, then looked at the Caucasian man and said, "So, even if you aren't the captain of the Demon Reincarnation Squad, you must be one of their members? That means that incident must involve you..."

The Caucasian man was about to attack Zheng Zha immediately, but upon hearing this statement, he became interested and asked, "That incident? What incident? Hurry up and say what you have to say. Otherwise, after I kill you, you won't even have a chance to speak."

Zheng Zha swung the Tiger Soul blade, saying, "I won't say anything else. I believe that as the legendary weapon of Chi You, the Tiger Soul blade is certainly not inferior to your so-called Excalibur, right? If the blade light won't work, then let’s fight head-on... As for that incident, you can ask your clone thoroughly when you get to hell! That incident... is the reason I will kill you!"

"Explode!" Leaping to