Pillar of Yita

The construct’s eyes flickered with red light, evidently at a loss for this situation. It clumsily exerted force, and the lantern frame creaked as if it would collapse at any moment.

Its strength was astonishing, but Xiangzi wouldn’t give it a chance to turn the tables. After rolling on the ground, he got up and kicked the construct’s chest, causing it to lose its balance and fall backward.

Xiangzi released the short staff and pushed forward with his left hand. This time, his target was not the construct but a tall bookshelf to the side.

The bookshelf flew sideways, colliding with the off-balance construct, sending both the construct and the lantern frame crashing into the slanted deck’s bulkhead.

However, Xiangzi hadn’t expected the bulkhead to be so weakened by time. When the construct and the bookshelf collided with it, they opened a large hole in the bulkhead. Bound by the chandelier, the construct was helpless and fell straight down with the bookshelf and countless debris through the hole.

In an instant, it vanished beneath the mist.

Xiangzi was a little dazed by the scene, almost forgetting to retrieve the short staff suspended in mid-air.

He turned his head to look at Fang Hong, who was also momentarily stunned—he had wanted to study this strange construct.

But since the thing had already fallen, it was something no one could have expected, so it could just be considered an accident.

Although regretting it a bit, Fang Hong shook his head and said, ”Forget it, it fell, and it’s gone. As long as we’re all fine, it’s okay.”

In fact, he found it odd since the thing was evidently a Flexible Construct, but from its performance in combat, it didn’t seem like it was being controlled by a craftsman.

Especially after being tangled up by the chandelier, it appeared too cumbersome compared to the keenness it demonstrated in combat earlier.

And would there even be Combat Artisans living on this dilapidated shipwreck?

But Flexible Constructs acting independently without craftsmen is indeed an abnormal phenomenon.

As there was no specimen to study now, Fang Hong glanced at the large hole and decided not to dwell on it anymore. Turning back, he said to the others, ”That construct might be a guard here. Next, let’s check the captain’s cabin.”

The others all nodded.

Xiangzi retrieved the short staff and returned. Fang Hong glanced at him and asked, ”Xiangzi, if you give it your all, how many constructs like that could you handle?”

Xiangzi thought for a moment, ”If it happens again, two shouldn’t be a problem.”

He paused and clarified, ”But after that, I wouldn’t have any means left.”

Fang Hong understood. They gained a lot of experience on the Sand Sea mission. Although he had yet to reach Level 26, Xiangzi, Luo Yu, and the others were catching up rapidly.

Currently, the team levels are roughly divided into three tiers.

Excluding the Big Catfolk, Hilveld, Miss Atira, and Bakins. The first tier is himself and Xiesta, both around Level 25-26.

Next is the original members of the Seven Seas Travel Group, except for Tianlan—Luo Yu, Parker, Gita, plus Xiangzi and Elisa.

This tier ranges around Level 20 to just under Level 24.

Among them, Elisa has the highest level, while Gita has the lowest—because Natural Historians require more Cognitive Experience to level up.

Xiangzi falls in the middle tier, at Level 22.5.

The last, third tier, consists of the newest members of the Seven Seas Travel Group: Tang Xin, Luo Hao, Ai Xiaoxiao, and Pasha, along with Tianlan.

This tier has varying levels, with the highest, Luo Hao, already at Level 17, followed closely by Tianlan at Level 15—this is because the young girl has started working hard recently.

Next, Tang Xin and Ai Xiaoxiao are both at Level 12.

As for Pasha, natives inherently level up slowly and will likely become part of the ship’s Life Profession crew, so combat levels can be disregarded.

This is the level distribution of the Seven Seas Travel Group, beyond which Mr. Greyrock’s team and others in the Forest are around Level 14 and can join as substitute members at any time.

Fang Hong asked Xiangzi how many of those constructs he could handle, intending to gauge the combat strength and classify their level.

However, even though Xiangzi is Level 22, his combat strength far exceeds that of an average Level 22 Invoker.

Take the Dragonfire Guild, for example—a Level 22 Invoker at that level, could not take down an all-out opponent even with a well-rounded five-person team.

Though merely unable to take down, winning in a straightforward fight, Xiangzi obviously couldn’t achieve.

But if facing only three or four people, or if the professions were not perfectly matched, there might indeed be a chance.

Generally speaking, being able to hold your own against two people of the same level approximates leading by two to three levels in combat power.

So based on Xiangzi’s combat strength, Fang Hong estimated the actual level of the construct to be around Level 25 or 26.

In other words, although Xiangzi is only Level 22, his true abilities actually approach those of around a Level 28 Invoker.

Fang Hong even evaluated his own real capabilities and concluded that it’s hard to assess.

It depends on which construct he uses. Just like the Sword Bearer earlier—completely inadequate.