Chapter 21: Fierce Battle

Before Ren Jie could respond, Ye Yue narrowed her eyes and said, "Don't trust him. Once you join the Demon's Claw, there is truly no turning back."

"Although this world harbors many prejudices against Demon Contractors, the Demon Suppression Bureau will never attack you based on your status. As long as you keep your heart towards the light and uphold your principles, what does it matter if you are a Demon Contractor?"

"I have always firmly believed that power itself is neither good nor evil; it is the person who wields it who decides. Perhaps we cannot choose our fate, but we can choose what kind of person we become!"

Ren Jie had just become a Gene Warrior and an incredibly rare type of Demon Contractor; Ye Yue did not want his path to go astray from the very beginning.

Li Zhan sneered, "Feeding him chicken soup for the soul and dangling empty promises is useless. You cannot change reality. Kid! Make your choice!"

Ren Jie looked hesitant, then scratched his head shyly. "Um... may I ask, does our Demon's Claw have an internship period? Are there two days off a week? What about the salary and benefits? Do you pay overtime? Is there triple pay for holidays? Do we sign labor contracts? Do you provide social insurance and housing funds?"

Li Zhan: "???"

"What the hell kind of labor contracts and social insurance? Do you think we’re some sort of legitimate company?"

Ren Jie looked disappointed. "Oh? Then I won't go. Someone like me, a decent person, can't work for an illegitimate company. I was a top scorer in the college entrance exam!"

He wasn't stupid. This "Demon's Claw" sounded incredibly shady; it would be dangerous to go with them. Besides, those three gunshots earlier were clearly intended to maim him. Given the current situation, sticking with the Demon Suppression Bureau was the safer bet. They were an official organization, and their integrity was at least guaranteed.

Ren Jie just couldn't figure out one thing: he had become a Demon Contractor only yesterday, so how was his identity exposed today? How did the people from the Demon's Claw know?

Chen Hua grew impatient. "Why waste breath on this kid? Let's just take him down first!"

She had been holding back her anger all day and could no longer suppress it; she was determined to avenge the humiliation of nearly dying.

Li Zhan grinned hideously. "Kill the Demon Suppression Officers first! Remember, bring the kid back alive!"

As he spoke, pitch-black demonic energy erupted from Li Zhan’s body. His arms transformed into giant steel blades, and he shot toward Ye Yue like an arrow released from a bow.

At the same time, Ye Yue and her team tightened their formation, shielding Ren Jie firmly in the center.

"Take out the Barrier Master first! Ye Huai, leave it to you!"

Ye Huai pulled two AK-47s equipped with 75-round drum magazines from his coat. "Got it! Four against three—the advantage is ours!"

In the next instant, Ye Huai leaped into the air. Both AKs spewed fire, unleashing a hail of bullets toward the Barrier Master’s position.

Chen Hua narrowed her eyes. "Heh—four against three? Are you sure?"

With a wave of her hand, she scattered hundreds of human skins into the air. "Sowing Skins into Soldiers!"

As the skins hit the ground, they inflated and stood up, transforming into Painted Skin Demons—hollow vessels with nothing but a hide. The backs of the demons split open, sprouting flesh-covered tentacles tipped with blades that thrashed wildly in the air.

The student girl and the yoga instructor Ren Jie had seen earlier were all among them. The sight was beyond horrifying.

"Go! Strip their skins off for me!"

Hundreds of Painted Skin Demons charged at the group like lunatics.

*Clang!* Li Zhan’s steel blades collided violently with Ye Yue’s moon-blades. The sound of the clash made Ren Jie’s ears ring, and rolling shockwaves tore through the air. Li Zhan laughed maniacally, his arm-blades slashing wildly, manifesting streaks of cold, lethal light in the air with speed that left afterimages.

Ye Yue gritted her teeth, manifesting two blood-blades to duel him. Amidst the flurry of blades, sparks flew, and the sound of clashing metal was incessant. During the exchange, several cuts appeared on Li Zhan’s body, and crystalline droplets of blood sprayed into the air.

Ye Yue’s eyes turned scarlet. She struck at the flying blood droplets with her blades. "Blood Explosion!"

*Boom!*

Li Zhan’s blood droplets, including the blood inside him, detonated instantly. Li Zhan coughed up blood, his facial orifices bleeding, his clothes soaked through. Yet, his expression remained crazed.

"Not enough! It’s not enough! You bitch, don't you know that Demon Contractors have powerful self-healing abilities? We are demons—undying demons!"

"Thousand Blade Break!"

As Li Zhan swung wildly, the blade-edges formed a storm, pressing down on Ye Yue. She was forced back, sustaining several deep cuts; her black stockings tore, and blood stained her white shirt red.

Having driven Ye Yue back, Li Zhan raised his leg to kick Ren Jie, a massive steel blade extending from his shin. Wu Yunqing roared and threw himself in the way.

"Rock Lizard Heavy Armor!"

In an instant, the human-formed Wu Yunqing underwent a grotesque transformation. His physique bulked up, earthy-yellow scales sprouted over his body, and a thick, muscular lizard tail burst through his trousers. He had become a hulking, earthy-yellow lizard-man.

Li Zhan’s blade-kick landed directly on Wu Yunqing!

*Clang!* Sparks flew everywhere! Wu Yunqing was sent flying, crashing into the chemical plant.

Just then, Yun Xiao, standing beside Ren Jie, radiated an intense surge of spiritual energy, her entire body glowing. A smiling sunflower phantom emerged behind her.

"Sunlight Domain!"

A golden protective shield formed instantly, blocking Li Zhan’s blade-kick.

"Sister Ye Yue!"

Ye Yue, who had been knocked away, scrambled to her feet. Blood gushed from her wounds, coalescing into a large, crimson spear.

"Frenzy Blood!"

At that moment, the veins beneath Ye Yue’s skin glowed red. Crimson eyeshadow appeared beneath her eyes, and blood-red patterns spread across her cheeks to the back of her head. Her body vanished from where she stood, transforming into a streak of crimson light as she charged at Li Zhan.

She struck at him with the large blood-spear, and Li Zhan barely managed to block with his blades. *Boom!* The deafening shockwave sent Li Zhan flying.

"Protect him!"

Ye Yue swung her spear, pressing the attack against Li Zhan, while swarms of Painted Skin Demons surged forward.

Yun Xiao gritted her teeth. "Dragon-Binding Vine!"

Green vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the demons' feet, only to be sliced apart by blade-tipped tentacles.

"Old Wu! Hurry up! Sunflower Light Rain!"

From the sunflower phantom, thousands of sunflower seeds shot into the sky, turning into a rain of light that fell upon Wu Yunqing and Ye Yue. The wounds on both of them, as well as their spiritual energy, began to recover.

Wu Yunqing burst out from the rubble. "I'm coming! Falling Rocks!"

Boulders tore from the ground, smashing into the Painted Skin Demons! Wu Yunqing himself, relying on his formidable defense, waded into the fray. However, the Painted Skin Demons were virtually unkillable; even when their skins were torn, they quickly fused and repaired themselves.

Chen Hua hid among the demons, making it impossible to locate her true body. The violent combat prowess of the Demon Contractors was on full display.

Ren Jie watched the scene, his face turning grim. He really had the worst luck imaginable!