The hissing shriek sounded like a deflating balloon mixed with the grating screech of nails on a chalkboard, making one's hair stand on end.
"That must be a Silver-Scaled Python..."
Hearing the sound, Han Ning's mind flashed back to when he had just transmigrated. He recalled the distant glimpse of a terrifying python, nearly ten meters long, as it relentlessly reaped life after life.
Silver-Scaled Python was a temporary Race name assigned based on the great python's appearance.
The school's teachers had given a corresponding Race name to every terrifying Soul Beast.
Demon Eye Frogs and Iron-toothed Snakes alone couldn't have caused such a sharp drop in the number of survivors. Among the Soul Beasts that had invaded the School of Engineering, there were some truly chilling behemoths. Each one was over two meters in size, and a single swing of their Body could kill several, or even a dozen, people.
They seemed to have their own territories and wouldn't normally leave them unless they smelled a large amount of blood...
"Let's go. We need to leave. Load the supplies into the cars. We'll divide them up according to contribution once we're back at the dorms."
It wasn't just the distant hissing; dozens of Demon Eye Frogs and Iron-toothed Snakes were prowling nearby, eyeing them hungrily. However, daunted by the large number of armed humans, they didn't dare approach for the time being.
Of the hundred or so people, one group was left to clear the Soul Beasts blocking the path ahead while the other group continuously loaded the gathered supplies into the cars.
Han Ning had Lin Tianhe and Chen Linyu move the supplies. He walked to the front line and signaled for Yin Yi to attack the Soul Beasts blocking their way.
In just over ten seconds, under Han Ning's command, Yin Yi shot out five Silver Thorns, instantly killing five Soul Beasts and clearing a small area.
While Yin Yi attacked, he wasn't idle either. He continuously nocked and loosed arrows, using the strong Penetration Power of his Compound Bow to kill two Demon Eye Frogs himself.
As the hissing grew closer, the teacher in charge immediately signaled for everyone to stop attacking and loading goods and to get into the cars.
"Go, let's go! Don't linger! Just take what we can and go!"
He roared at the surrounding people, started his car, and sped off toward the dormitories.
Hearing this, Han Ning didn't dare delay. He immediately ran back and got into the passenger seat of the Audi.
By now, Lin Tianhe and Chen Linyu had already stuffed the car full. Without hesitation, they started the engine and raced toward the dorms.
The roar of engines rose one after another.
In the final second before the Ninth Canteen building disappeared from view, Han Ning couldn't help but look back.
A silver python, well over ten meters long and with a body thicker than his own waist, was continuously devouring the Soul Beast corpses that the humans hadn't had time to take.
'That's terrifying... Even if it just stood still and Yin Yi shot Silver Thorns at its scales, I doubt they could even break through its defense.' Han Ning subconsciously swallowed.
'Thankfully, these monsters are territorial. Otherwise, given the sturdiness of the walls around our dorm, I doubt they could withstand the impact of such a colossal beast.'
...
One after another, the cars pulled into the parking lot beneath the dormitory buildings.
Han Ning had Lin Tianhe and Chen Linyu carry the Soul Beast corpses to their dorm room first.
He himself, along with the others, dragged bags of all sizes through the dormitory area's main gate and into the lobby of Building A.
Although university students were generally well-behaved, it was better to be safe than sorry in case some less-scrupulous individuals tried to steal the Soul Beast corpses.
At this moment, the ground floor lobby was crammed with supplies the students had scavenged from the canteen. As for the Soul Beast corpses, they were considered personal spoils of war and were not on the distribution list.
The students who had participated in the expedition formed a long line, waiting to receive their share of the supplies.
Before long, Lin Tianhe and Chen Linyu had also stored the Soul Beast corpses and ran to the back of the queue to line up.
Those who had risked their lives to go out and explore were entitled to a larger share.
Soon, it was Han Ning's turn.
"Han Ning, right? Five cases of instant noodles, five cases of water, eleven pounds of flour, two boxes of snacks, two bars of soap... one box of cold medicine, one box of anti-inflammatories..."
The teacher in charge of inventory recited a list of over a dozen supplies while his assistant pushed cases of food, daily necessities, and medicine in front of Han Ning.
Han Ning thanked the teacher, pushed the supplies to the side, and began carrying them back to his dorm, case by case.
This would be enough food for him for quite some time.
Since forming the contract with Yin Yi, his constitution had grown stronger, making it much easier for him to carry over a dozen cases of supplies.
Before he transmigrated, hauling more than ten boxes up to his third-floor dorm would have practically killed him.
About half an hour later, Lin Tianhe and the others finished moving their supplies and came to Han Ning's dorm, dragging the Soul Beast corpses in burlap sacks.
The hazy light from outside the window shone into the room, creepily illuminating the palm-sized, mangled spider corpses inside the sacks.
"I don't want the small spider corpses. I'll take two-thirds of the large spider. As for this large piece of a head that fell off, you two can split it."
Han Ning said after mentally tallying the number of spiders in the three sacks.
Besides the spiders, there were also two Demon Eye Frog corpses that he had picked up while covering the supply run. They had left in such a hurry that he hadn't had time to collect many of the other bodies.
"We... we can't accept that. We didn't participate in the fight with the large spider at all. We can just take some of the small ones..."
Chen Linyu waved his hands dismissively.
"Just take it. We can only survive if we all get stronger together. Let's work toward the day we can drive all the Soul Beasts out of the school and no longer have to live in fear."
Han Ning clapped his two roommates on the shoulders.
"Alright, then."
Seeing Han Ning's firm tone, the two of them didn't insist further, taking the spider corpses and returning to their own dorms.
Silver Lotus Wood was a plant-type Soul Beast that could draw nutrients from the corpses of other Soul Beasts.
The more Energy they absorbed, the more they could mutate.
Luo Chen's Silver Lotus Wood was a good example; it had played a significant role during the battle with the giant spider.
Han Ning believed that as everyone's Silver Lotus Wood grew stronger, they could gradually expand the area of human activity and eventually establish a safe haven.
'Unfortunately, it seems we can only form a contract with one Soul Beast for now. Otherwise, I could have contracted with a newborn spider and gained another battle partner...'
He had once tried to form a contract with a juvenile Iron-toothed Snake someone else had captured. He remembered that when he tried, his brain suddenly felt like it had been struck by a sledgehammer, and the attempt naturally failed.
Shaking off his wandering thoughts, Han Ning suppressed his nausea, pulled on a pair of gloves, and touched the mangled bodies of the two giant spiders.
[Energy +0.8]
[Energy +0.9]
'Not bad. These two giant spiders are comparable to seven to nine Demon Eye Frogs. Higher risk, higher reward.'
Muttering to himself, he moved his hand to the Demon Eye Frogs.
[Energy +0.19]
[Energy +0.2]
Current remaining Energy: 5.09
With five points of Energy now on hand, Han Ning felt little joy.
After all, many vibrant lives had been lost in the process of acquiring this Energy.
'Same as always. I'll continue to strengthen Yin Yi's Spiritual Energy.'
Han Ning called up Yin Yi's panel, converted the 5 Energy points into 2.5 Spiritual Attribute Points, focused on the Spiritual Energy option, and thought, 'Add points!'