Invisible Security Guard-Chapter 2426 - 2445: Encounter

Silently and without a trace, many people entered the Thunder Area from different directions, with Yusuf Zuck leading the way at the fastest pace.

Of course, there were others close behind him, notably Halley Merritt who had caught up with Poppy Merritt.

Halley Merritt, the third-ranking member of the Quan Zhen Hui martial group, was a woman who rivaled men in courage and strength. Within the Quan Zhen Hui, even Derrick Newman had to show her respect.

She was accompanied by six others, including the second-ranking Nan Gong Li Shang, a rebellious son of the Nan Gong clan. This man was known for his innate evil; legend had it that when he defected from his family, he not only killed his siblings but also all his aunts, showing he had lost all trace of humanity.

As for the reason for his defection, few knew. The Nan Gong Clan opted to distance themselves quietly, stripping him of the Nan Gong surname and expelling him from the clan.

Nan Gong Li Shang was second only to Derrick Newman. It was said he was adept with dual swords, with each hand capable of executing different swordsmanship. When combined, he could slay gods and demons alike.

Moreover, he was a loyal follower of Halley Merritt.

The seven of them moved at an incredible speed, catching up with Poppy Merritt’s group of ten a day later, despite the head start.

"Ayden Acme came and fooled you all?" Halley Merritt raised an eyebrow.

Poppy Merritt gritted his teeth and replied, "He played the humble outside, even claiming he knew you. But as soon as we entered, he followed, moving faster than us, and escaped in another direction!"

"Did he come alone?" Halley Merritt asked.

Poppy Merritt replied, "He claimed he came alone!"

"Not necessarily, maybe Gabriel Freeman is here too," Halley Merritt laughed. "If Gabriel Freeman is truly here, I’d like to see what Divine Skills he possesses!"

"Heh, I have no interest in Gabriel Freeman, but I’m interested in Ayden Acme," Nan Gong Li Shang, the second-ranking member, spoke up, laughing. "I’ve heard the Great Self-Contained Divine Powers are among the most carefree and mysterious secret techniques. That Ayden Acme can leap nine levels in one breakthrough; he is definitely not simple and could be one of the Five Sons of Heaven’s Path!"

"Then capture him, drain his blood, and cut off his flesh!" Halley Merritt said coldly.

"Alright, I’ll listen to you, Halley. Let’s drain his blood and strip his flesh!" Nan Gong Li Shang chuckled.

"Let’s go, we should hurry!" The group of seventeen continued to advance towards the central area!

There were seventeen because the leader Derrick Newman and Fernando Graham were absent.

Fernando Graham returned to Patrick Ruiz’s dimension and left alone. She did not participate in the meeting at Buzhou City, nor did she hold a position in the Nine Surnames Alliance; she wasn’t a protector elder.

As for where she went, no one knew.

A month later, Yusuf Zuck finally approached the legendary Thunder Pool Land, only a mere hundred feet away from the Thunder Pool.

The so-called Thunder Pool was a circular pond, with mercury-like water flowing within, dazzling to the eye.

However, Yusuf Zuck was at a standstill, for a hundred feet away lay a chasm. Advancing would submerge him in Thunder Water, and after such a long journey, he was severely depleted. He needed to recover before devising another plan.

Of course, recovering was challenging too, as relentless thunder continued to strike him overhead like an antenna connected to his head, forming a thunder column constantly attacking him.

The World Cauldron shielded him as did the barrier, but this onslaught was exhausting him too quickly.

Moreover, after enduring days of thunder, his Purple Blood Beads showed no reaction or signs of activation.

"Hmph, reception!" He sat cross-legged, suddenly retracting the World Cauldron and the barrier, using the Heavenly Dao ring to receive the thunder column.

"Boom~" The thunder column and the ring formed a line, then the ring absorbed and transformed all the thunder’s power, augmenting his body.

He unexpectedly began Body Refinement this way, and at a rapid pace. Sparks crackled over him continuously, and the more he refined, the more his physique seemed flawless. Wounds self-healed, and his initially Golden Body turned into a golden-blue hue.

His Golden Body became a Thunder Body. He wasn’t sure what his fully thunder-transformed body would be like, but he noticed after absorbing thunder continuously, the damage seemed to lessen.

Three days into his body refinement, as his physique neared full Thunder Body completion, he heard thunderclaps from behind—the sound of someone being struck. Shocked, he turned back to see four individuals appear.

Indeed, only four, who were the second to fifth in ranking among the Quan Zhen Hui, while Poppy Merritt and others dared not come close, as the Thunder Pool’s edge was no place for mere humans.

Halley Merritt, Nan Gong Li Shang, and two others were also covered in scars, their breaths unstable, and the three men wore only shamecloths. Halley Merritt covered herself with a watery garb obscuring her attractive figure but leaving much to imagination.

Yusuf Zuck didn’t know these four, but sensed danger upon seeing them, as their aura exuded a murderous intent, their gazes unfriendly.

Overhead, they too had formed thunder columns, paused yet still undergoing lightning punishment.

"Gabriel Freeman?" Halley Merritt raised an eyebrow.

Yusuf Zuck squinted, not replying but instead asking, "Who are you?"

"Heh, it seems you are indeed him!" Nan Gong Li Shang stepped forward with a sinister smile, "Nan Gong Li Shang." He introduced himself voluntarily.

Yusuf Zuck had never heard of any Nan Gong or Bei Gong, and asked with a puzzled look, "Are you here for me or treasure hunting?"

He assumed they came to kill him, perhaps as righteous heroes from Patrick Ruiz’s dimension to rid evil for the people.

"Yusuf Zuck, they are from the Quan Zhen Hui!" At that moment, another bolt of lightning flashed, followed by Ayden Acme rushing to Yusuf Zuck’s side in a disheveled state!

Seeing Ayden Acme’s pitiful state moved Yusuf Zuck deeply; Ayden could’ve stayed away, and even if treasures lay ahead they weren’t his. Yet, he entered just to deliver a message or aid him.

"The Quan Zhen Hui!" Yusuf Zuck took a deep breath, his expression turning cold, "That defeated opponent of mine, Derrick Newman, why hasn’t he come?"

"How presumptuous!" Halley Merritt suddenly proclaimed, "You only bested one of Derrick’s avatars with trickery, but Gabriel Freeman, today is your day of reckoning!"

"Let me."

With a "swish," Nan Gong Li Shang suddenly leapt forward, brandishing twin long swords like a snake striking at Yusuf Zuck!

Halley Merritt and the two others remained still, letting Nan Gong Li Shang and Yusuf Zuck duel one-on-one!

Clenching the ring tightly with fury rising, Yusuf Zuck faced the Quan Zhen Hui, who acted as if confronting a mortal enemy. Today, he would make sure the Quan Zhen Hui became a thing of the past!