Abyss Summoner

Chapter 562 - 549: Ambition Unleashed

Su Tan had a nightmare. She dreamed that the camp was destroyed, all the survivors lay in pools of blood, bodies scattered everywhere, the once-familiar homeland reduced to ruins, everything sacrificed in vain.

And the coalition formed by Shi Xiong and his group stood by, sneering, holding a few heads in their hands. Among them, apart from Cottonwood and Ah Fei, was a head in someone’s hand — it was shockingly her own!

"Huff!"

Su Tan opened her eyes, a sheen of sweat on her forehead, her small face pale, evidently shaken by the nightmare she had just experienced.

"You’re awake?" Cottonwood stood by her side, her black eyes like stars and the moon, though she lowered her voice deliberately, a faint tremor of excitement could still be heard.

The two were initially discussing something, but Su Tan became somewhat fatigued and lay on the table, soon dozing off.

Su Tan’s abilities included some Soul Attack elements, and after using them intensively, mentally she would become exhausted, leading to increased drowsiness.

"How long did I sleep?" Su Tan, aware of her condition, brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her black hair flowing like a smooth wave, and asked Cottonwood.

"Not long, just an hour."

"How is Ah Fei’s situation?"

"You should know her recovery ability; I’ve already arranged for someone to take care of her. At most, in two days, she’ll be back to normal."

"It’s just that..."

Cottonwood hesitated, her face turning a bit troubled, and asked, "Are you really going to accept that man’s proposal and declare war on Shi Xiong and his group?"

Su Tan fell into contemplation.

With a brief interaction, Su Tan had formed a rough impression of Chen Feng. He possessed formidable strength. But that wasn’t what truly convinced her; it was the terrifying and overwhelming presence emanating from the cracks he had opened thereafter that truly stirred her.

From this perspective, all her previous judgment was no longer important. Chen Feng, a stranger from afar, didn’t rely on Yan Xiu but on his real power. No wonder he didn’t care about subordinates like Void Ghost, as terrifying strong individuals gathered around him.

"With Wang Duan’s death, Shi Xiong has suffered significant losses. Even if they manage to enlist Lin Tianxiu and Chen Ligang, they merely stand equal to that man, and... this is our only chance, isn’t it?" Su Tan’s eyes flickered, her expression growing ever colder.

Cottonwood furrowed her eyebrows and said, "Although Shi Xiong has suffered heavy losses, if he unites with Lin Tianxiu, most of the forces of Xiangmen will be mobilized. Can we withstand such a tremor then?"

Cottonwood, who served as a strategist for Su Tan’s forces, sharply perceived Su Tan’s thoughts at this moment.

"We don’t have many ways, but some people do."

"You mean?"

"Yes, that outsider."

"What have Shi Xiong and those people done for Xiangmen? Everyone lives in greed, completely forgetting their original intentions. If possible... I wish to change this place and the fate of everyone." Su Tan’s expression was firm, and for some reason, the look in Chen Feng’s eyes suddenly appeared in her mind.

He seemed to possess the ability to see through people’s hearts, immediately pointing out the secrets hidden in Su Tan’s heart.

The apocalypse was a large dye vat, and who could come out unstained?

Why should men get to indulge in luxury and wield deadly power?

Why can’t women become rulers of this world, instead of being treated like pets, subjected to endless humiliation and torment by men?

Su Tan wasn’t as indifferent to fame and fortune as she appeared on the surface. She was merely lurking at a corner, like a hunter in the learning stages, waiting for her prey to reveal their flaws, then move in for the kill, snapping at their necks.

Unwilling to stay beneath men.

Because Su Tan had seen the women without power and authority, who were toyed with by men, regardless of how much they cried and begged, fate would abandon them at the most inappropriate moments.

Just like Li Hongyi, when he turned live girls into specimens, who stood up for women or defended them?

All these left severe wounds on her soul, and it was then she realized how crucial strength and power were, especially living in an apocalyptic world.

It was precisely because she had witnessed too much injustice and the destruction caused by men to women that Su Tan was determined to create her own force. She couldn’t ensure that no evil would sprout from her ranks, but she could ensure her personal safety and that of those she deemed important.

Before, there was no opportunity.

Because Xiangmen had reached a delicate state, where any side choosing to start a war might face a collective assault.

But now, Li Hongyi’s death was the best opportunity. Su Tan smelled the scent of blood, and her ambition slowly surfaced from the swamp with Chen Feng’s insinuations, watching to see if any prey would venture into her territory.

All these changes hinged on that man.

He didn’t even force her to follow him; he simply displayed his power and then casually left.

Su Tan could not forget that expression; he wasn’t much concerned whether she genuinely allied herself with him. As he said, recruiting her was merely for better management of the city in the future, and beyond that, she wasn’t attractive to him at all.

Whether she would inform Shi Xiong or collaborate with him against Chen Feng was not important. Because if a war broke out, he was confident he could kill her and Shi Xiong’s people.

Su Tan felt she was merely a betting chip for the other party.

Moreover, it was like a wealthy gambler, winning could buy many things they liked, losing didn’t matter much either.

In comparison to Chen Feng, Su Tan found herself with the choice. Following Chen Feng meant declaring war on Shi Xiong, and this wasn’t child’s play. Once decided, it was a face-off to the finish.

Su Tan wanted to establish her power, allowing more people to escape slavery, and more importantly, she wanted her people to live well.

"This is our best chance; as long as we defeat Shi Xiong’s people, the threat of Xiangmen will cease to exist."

"Cottonwood, use your abilities to tell him..."

Su Tan looked up, her expression somewhat solemn as if she had made an important decision: "I accept his invitation and formally declare war on Shi Xiong!"